Month: October 2021

YGAM begins hunt for new CEO as Willows announces departure

Finance director Helen Martin will move into the role of chief operating officer, taking on additional responsibilities until a new chief executive is appointed. 

Willows has served as YGAM’s chief executive since 2014. He set up the charity with Anne and Keith Evans, with the three having all experienced gambling harms. 

Under their leadership, the charity has emerged as a key leader in gambling harm prevention, rolling out training schemes for healthcare professionals, trade unions and parents, as well as large-scale educational programmes for young people.

Willows said it had been “a privilege” to lead YGAM for “seven incredible years”, but with it entering its third strategic cycle, the timing was right to step down. 

“This is a special charity and one that has exciting plans for the future,” he said. “I will always passionately support the exceptional staff team and I look forward to seeing what they can achieve next.
“With the endless support and dedication of my co-founders Anne and Keith Evans, I have been on an extraordinary personal journey, and I feel extremely proud of what we and the staff team have achieved together.

“In 2014, I was determined to use my experiences of gambling harm to create a positive force for good and focus our efforts on evidence-led education and prevention,” he added. “We have since developed a portfolio of award-winning programmes that are now helping to safeguard young people in every region of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.”

Mike Wójcik, YGAM’s chair, thanked Willows for “the tremendous efforts and passion” he had devoted to the charity. 

“Lee has achieved so much for this sector and has established an organisation that is making a real difference,” Wójcik said. “He leaves YGAM in the strongest position to continue our progress and achieve our mission to educate and safeguard future generations.”

YGAM added that its independent board of trustees was to announce further details on the recruitment process for Willows’ successor in due course.

Scopely to acquire GSN Games from Sony for $1bn

Of the $1bn purchase price, half will be paid in cash and the other half in equity of Scopely.

This, Scopely’s board said, would give Sony “the opportunity to benefit from the expected growth of the company and the mobile games industry”.

Scopely’s growth and ability to make the deal was boosted by a $340M in Series E funding round in October 2020.

Read the full story on iGB North America

Enlabs found to have broken Lithuanian bonus ban

The breach in question concerns Baltic Bet running a remote promotion on its Optibet Blackjack product promising players a chance to increase their winnings.

This violates the gambling promotions ban introduced into the country earlier this year,  which prohibits “promotion of gambling in any form and by any means, dissemination of information or persuasion”.

The Gambling Supervisory Authority decided against sanctioning the operator, deeming the offence to be insignificant.

A statement from the Gambling Supervisory Authority said: “The violations committed by UAB Baltic Bet were insignificant and did not cause material damage to the interests protected by law.

“In accordance with the criteria of fairness and reasonableness, it was decided not to apply sanctions to UAB Baltic Bet. UAB Baltic Bet has been informed that for repeated violations committed within one year, the appropriate sanctions will be applied.”

Baltic Bet has already been fined by the regulator earlier this month after it was found guilty of  “organising gambling outside of gambling regulations”.

Betway signs Dallas Mavericks as sixth NBA partner

Under the deal, Betway will serve as the official and exclusive free-to-play partner of the Mavericks.

Betway branding will appear on a range of surfaces inside the team’s American Airlines Center home arena.

“Betway has been a phenomenal partner from the beginning, working with us to navigate this industry in a state where there are still many uncertainties yet potential for massive growth,” Maverick’s senior vice president of corporate sponsorships, Ryan Mackey, said.

Read the full story on iGB North America.

Crown awaits as Victorian Royal Commission delivers findings

The inquiry – the Royal Commission into the Casino Operator Licence – launched soon after the Bergin Report in New South Wales found evidence of widespread failings at Crown and determined it “unsuitable” to operate a casino in Sydney’s Barangaroo region.

The Bergin inquiry found evidence of money laundering and insufficient diligence into junkets with alleged criminal ties. It said that Crown’s “unjustified belief in itself” and “corporate arrogance” led to a lack of thorough investigation of serious claims against its business and an assumption that the claims must have been deceitful.

Following this, Victoria State Premier Daniel Andrews announced a royal commission to consider whether Crown Melbourne should be allowed to hold a Victorian licence to operate its flagship casino and entertainment resort. The Commission was led by Raymond Finkelstein QC.

Adrian Finanzio, the counsel assisting the commission into the operator and licence, presented his arguments against Crown’s suitability as a licensee. In July, he said that – based on the evidence submitted to the Commission in Victoria – the operator remains an unsuitable licensee.

The inquiry also heard that Crown had underpaid its tax bill to the tune of AU$37m (£20.0m/€23.7m/US$27.5m) during a period dating back to 2012. As a result, Crown repaid $61m – covering both the bill itself and interest payments – to the state government.

The Victoria government did not reveal the findings contained in the report but said it would take serious action if that proves necessary.

“An incredible amount of work has gone into the Royal Commission into the Casino Operator Licence and we thank Raymond Finkelstein for his report,”  Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation Melissa Horne said.

“We’ll consider the findings and recommendations from the Royal Commission in detail and take whatever action is necessary to strengthen casino oversight in Victoria and ensure this never happens again.”

Fubo Sportsbook named Nascar authorized gaming operator

The sportsbook will be granted use of Nascar’s marketing tools such as at-track assets, in-app use of Nascar-owned track and Nascar marks and logos. Fubo will also gain access to Nascar’s digital and social media platforms.

Fubo Gaming’s chief operating officer Sam Rattner said: “We’re eager to partner with NASCAR, a league with a rich history and passionate followers.

“As an Authorized Gaming Operator, we look forward to building engaging sports betting experiences for new and existing racing fans. Fubo Sportsbook is continuing to expand its marketing footprint, propelling us toward our goal of reaching sports enthusiasts across the country.”

The deal represents Fubo’s first venture into auto racing, having already formed industry partnerships with the NFL’s New York Jets and the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Read the full story on iGB North America.

Veikkaus to lay off between 125 and 190 staff

As part of the downsizing, the operator will close about 15 of its gaming arcades, at venues where it determined sustainability measures such as mandatory ID play and loss limits have made it too difficult to turn a profit. Veikkaus also made “material changes” to the contracts of around 60-110 employees, as well as 50 contractors.

The changes will come into effect in January 2022.

The decision comes after Veikkaus opened negotiations with 830 staff in an effort to cut costs following a decline in business partially caused by the effects of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. At the time, the business said it expected to lay off up to 200 staff.

The exact number of staff to be made redundant has still not been determined, as some staff have the option to take on new roles if they accept.

“The reforms have been designed in such a way that those leaving the company will be offered support during the change,” Jari Heino, senior vice president for channels and sales, said. “Basically, most members of Veikkaus’ personnel that the negotiations concerned will be offered new positions within the company. For example, Casino Tampere, which will be opened in December, still needs dozens of gaming industry and customer service professionals. 

“The sustainable casino of a new era of gaming will offer great facilities and jobs for many people. It is essential that we look ahead and work to make sure that Veikkaus retains its dynamicity today and tomorrow.”

The business said it will save €15m per year through the layoffs, closures and contract changes.

Gambling Commission suspends BGO licence for “failing to protect consumers”

The review – carried out under Section 116 of the 2005 Gambling Act – “follows concerns that activities may have been carried out contrary to the Act, not in accordance with conditions of their licence and that the Licensee may be unsuitable to carry on the licensed activities”.

While the Gambling Commission could not yet provide full details of these concerns, it said that “failing to protect consumers was a key consideration in the suspension decision”.

BGO Entertainment operates the BGO.com brand as well as Powerspins, Vegasluck and Chili.com.

Last year, the regulator imposed new restrictions on BGO – as well as two other operators – after identifying failings in its social responsibility and anti-money laundering (AML) controls. As a result of that ruling, BGO paid a £2m settlement.

The investigation discovering these failings was launched in September 2019, after failings were identified in a previous compliance assessment in September 2018. 

That 2019 investigation found that BGO had failed to apply effective policies and procedures for customers displaying signs of problem gambling between 25 September 2018 and 23 March 2020. This included players gambling six-figure sums without BGO taking action.

As a result of that investigation, BGO agreed to apply enhanced due diligence measures to its comprising the top 125 largest depositing customers, and top 125 customers by losses that were not already on the first list. 

The Gambling Commission did not state whether the current licence suspension was connected to the 2020 licence conditions.