Month: May 2022

Authorisation from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) was the final regulatory approval Bragg required to proceed with the $30.0m (£24.0m/€28.4m) acquisition that was agreed in May last year.

Bragg said following this approval, which was initially given in December last year ahead of this week’s licence approval, it expects the deal to close before the end of the month.

Nevada-based Spin Games currently holds licences in a number of US states including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Connecticut.

“Reflecting this licence approval, we look forward to completing our acquisition of Spin Games in the next few weeks,” Bragg’s chief strategy officer Yaniv Spielberg said. 

“Since announcing the planned acquisition, we have worked closely with the Spin Games team to complete the technical integration between our remote game server and their technology platform and as a result, we are ready to begin operating in several US markets very quickly following the completion of the acquisition later this month.  

“We expect the Spin Games and our RGS combined offering will deliver the benefits of our advanced player engagement, data tools and platform technology alongside Spin Games’ US market content and operator relationships, providing for a differentiated and widely distributed igaming product offering.”

Under the agreement, Smarkets will launch its SBK sportsbook app in the US state, offering betting exchange services across a range of sports.

Smarkets said it expects to go live with SBK in Iowa later this year following an earlier launch in Colorado in June 2020 via a partnership with Full House Resorts. A further launch is also planned for Indiana with Smarkets having secured a licence in the state.

“I’m incredibly excited about this deal; the potential for SBK is huge in America, so adding our third licensed state is key as we move to our next stage of growth,” Smarkets founder and chief executive Jason Trost said.

“It is particularly meaningful for me as my family is from Iowa, and so I have always wanted the opportunity to launch there. I can’t wait for bettors in Iowa to enjoy SBK’s market-leading odds.”

Affinity Interactive chief executive Mary Beth Higgins added: “We are pleased to help Smarkets add SBK to another US marketplace and look forward to welcoming them to Iowa.”

The new deal comes after Smarkets earlier this month also announced three new C-level appointments, including two internal promotions.

Céline Crawford was appointed to the role of chief people officer, Joe Foulds was promoted to the newly created role of head of engineering, and Arnaud Thiercelin moved into the role of chief product officer.

The code is the result of work that began in January 2020, when the Gambling Commission created industry working groups to tackle a issues such as marketing, VIP schemes and game design. This new land-based code will complement the updated rules for online game design, which banned autoplay and set a 2.5-second minimum speed for slot spins.

The new rules for the land-based sector include one stating that machines may no longer “celebrate” wins that are less than the player’s original stake through visual or auditory fanfare.

“It is significant achievement for the whole industry to reach agreement on such a broad topic,” Bacta chief executive John White said. “Nevertheless, the challenge was one that had to be met and we now have a code which again demonstrates industry’s commitment to socially responsible recreational gaming. 

“It adds to a long list of industry initiatives that have played their part in reducing problem gambling rates to the historically low level of 0.2% of the population.”

BGC Executive Director Wes Himes added that the industry will continue to look for more evidence-based measures to reduce harm.

 “We welcome this code as another example of industry driving higher standards to address the issues of risk and we will continue to introduce further measures based on evidence in our fight to prevent harm.”

Miles Baron CEO of the Bingo Association, meanwhile, said the code demonstrated the ability of different areas of the land-based sector to come together for the common good.

“The Bingo Association is pleased to support this code in partnership with Bacta and the BGC demonstrating the ability of the land-based sector to come together when required to strengthen safer gambling protocols.”

The business said it is “currently noticing a strategic interest from third parties to acquire certain assets”.

This would include assets in its financial trading division and flagship brand AskGamblers, as well as certain other – unnamed – brands.

“In light of this, Catena Media has initiated a strategic review, which will be broad, consider all feasible alternatives and assets of the group to ensure an optimal outcome,” Catena said.

This, it noted, would include looking into the advantages of selling these divisions, “or another kind of structural transaction”.

Catena added that no decision had been taken yet, and after the review it may opt to make no changes whatsoever.

The announcement comes soon after Catena posted a record €45.2m (£38.1m/$47.6m) in revenue in the first quarter of 2022.

His departure comes after less than two months in the position, and less than a week before he gives evidence for the review of The Star Sydney’s licence.

O’Neill – who had been the operator’s chairman – was appointed executive chair on an interim basis on 1 April, following the resignation of managing director and CEO Matt Bekier.

However, he will now also leave both his role as chair and his executive responsibilities “with a departure date to be agreed”. Star had already commenced a search for a permanent chief executive, while arrangements for an interim chair will be announced when they are finalised.

Much of O’Neill’s term as chairman had been characterised by a review into Star’s business amid accusations that the operator knowingly worked with junkets that had ties to criminal groups and that its anti-money laundering measures were insufficient.

A number of Star staff members have given evidence in a review by the New South Wales Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority into Star’s licence, which covers many of these accusations. O’Neill is scheduled to be the last witness to give evidence, on 23 May.

The review of The Star Sydney began in June 2021, and focused on assessing whether The Star was eligible for an operating licence in New South Wales.

Earlier this week, the government published its final version of a major gambling reform bill, which was first proposed in January.

Hofbauer said that the new updated law helped to address a number of the “gaps” in the initial Gambling Act that came into force at the start of 2019.

“The proposal focuses on consumer protection and a sustainable gaming market, which is positive,” he said. “I perceive it as if the policy has listened to all important stakeholders along the way and has formulated constructive proposals and adjustments based on this. 

“There are gaps in the law and the proposed reinforcements are important for the benefit of serious licensed players and make it harder for illegal gambling. The balance between these is mainly good in the government’s proposal.”

As a result, he said he now hoped to see the legislature pass the law.

“A long process is behind us and now it is up to all parties in the Riksdag to make a wise decision,” he said.

However, Hofbauer also warned that the industry has already faced a number of changes since the launch of the online market, and that too many changes could end up being harmful.

“The time since re-regulation in 2019 has been marked by a number of regulatory changes, also as a result of the pandemic,” he added. “It is important that the gaming legislation now has a chance to settle down and that the industry has time to learn lessons from everything that has happened from supervision, to judgments and yet another new law.

“As an industry, we now need peace of mind. Adapting the business to new laws and regulations is demanding. Measures are necessary, but excessive jerking creates ambiguity for both consumers and gaming companies. This is even though we look forward to the law being updated to close gaps in the law.”

On the other hand, he also argued that when it comes to match-fixing, there is need for further changes in the law.

“We still lack a measures to get a tougher grip on match-fixing and some other essential parts, including the processing of personal data, which would make the gaming laws more complete,” Hofbauer added. “Our call to the government is to speed up that work in order to bring about measures that slow down negative developments when it comes to match-fixing.”

Portugal’s Gaming Regulation and Inspection Service (SRIJ) announced the approval yesterday (19 May). It took effect today (20 May), with the country’s Legal Regime for Online Gaming and Betting amended to include crash games in the legislation.

Crash games are house-banked games that allow players to play against the operator. They are based on a multiplier, which increases from 1 throughout the game to a maximum of 100.

Players aim to withdraw their bet before the game ends, receiving their initial stake times the multiplier if they do so. If they fail to do so, they lose their stake.

The legislation states that the multiplier will go from 1x to 100x. Additionally, the return to player cannot be less than 80%.

Licensed operators in the country may now apply for permission to offer the games.

In March, SRIJ issued a ban on posting odds for live sports events online or in-venue.

Consumers in Ontario can now place bets on a wide range of sports and events through the DraftKings Sportsbook including the National Hockey League, Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer.

Players can also access more than 130 online casino games on the DraftKings Casino such as slots, baccarat, blackjack and roulette.

The double launch comes after DraftKings’ licence application in Ontario was approved, six weeks after the Canadian province opened its sports betting and igaming markets on 4 April.

DraftKings’ application is the 37th to be approved in Ontario, though this includes multiple applications from operators such as Entain and SkillOnNet that intend to offer their services using more than one website.

However, DraftKings is only the 12th operator to be approved for a two-year licence, with all others except the provincial lottery being approved for only one year.

“DraftKings’ entry into Canada with our online sportsbook and online casino products is a significant milestone in our expansion efforts as we reach nearly 40-percent of Canada’s total population,” DraftKings’ co-founder, chairman and chief executive Jason Robins said. 

“We look forward to providing the passionate fanbase in Ontario with the most entertaining and responsible gaming experience possible.”

The report comes in response to the pre-legislative scrutiny on of the General Scheme of the Gambling Regulation Bill, and makes a number of recommendations to adjust how gambling is regulated in Ireland.

The Bill aims to establish a gambling regulator in Ireland.

The report also includes information from meetings with stakeholders, which took place on 8 March and 22 March.

One of the most significant recommendations in the report is a complete ban of “all forms of gambling advertising” before 9pm.

This stemmed from members of the Committee highlighting concerns regarding gambling advertising and the effect it has on children and teenagers.

Representatives from the health industry echoed this, stating that advertising and sponsorship have a “disproportionate and detrimental impact on children and those who have suffered from problem gambling.”

The committee said that stakeholders also supported the pre-watershed ban, recommending that the same cultural attitude that led to cigarette ads being banned and alcohol advertising being reduced should be implemented with gambling.

Similarly, the Committee also stated that the relationship between gambling and sports should be “evaluated”, particularly in the case of advertising during sport aimed at young people.

It was also recommended that the introducing domain name system blocking for unlicensed websites should be considered. Under this system, internet service providers could be made to block websites that would not be licensed in Ireland.

The Committee also suggested that the General Scheme should include specific references to a ban on gambling with credit cards, along with a proposed ban on gambling with credit.

“In October 2021, Deputy James Browne, the Minister of State for Law Reform, Youth Justice and Immigration, forwarded the General Scheme of the Gambling Regulation Bill to this committee in accordance with standing orders for the purpose of pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme,” said Deputy James Lawless, deputy chair of the Joint Committee on Justice.

“The Committee agreed to undertake pre-legislative scrutiny and has sought to scrutinise the proposed legislation and provide recommendations on areas where it believes change or amendments are warranted.”

“I hope that this report will help to inform the legislative process and make a valuable contribution to the forthcoming legislation.”

Online betting provider BetDeluxe was fined $70,000 by for publishing illegal inducements and was also ordered to pay $8,500 in legal costs. 

BetDeluxe pleaded guilty yesterday (18 May) at Downing Centre Local Court to five offences that included 21 Facebook promotions for bonus bets on sports games and enhanced odds on horse racing.

Liquor & Gaming NSW noted this was the first time BetDeluxe had breached state rules on gambling inducements.

PointsBet was also fined a total of $35,000 for the same reason. PointsBet pleaded guilty to two advertisements that included an Instagram promotion to get $50 back in bonus bets.

Liquor & Gaming NSW said this inducement similar to those it offered in 2019 on the Apple App Store, promising $100 cash back on certain bets. This previous breach of state law led to PointsBet being fined $20,000.

In 2018, the NSW Government introduced new laws to significantly increase penalties for operators found guilty of promoting inducements to gamble, with maximum fines now set at $110,000 per offence for a corporation.

Liquor & Gaming NSW’s hospitality and racing chief executive Anthony Keon said that the regulator would continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to the publication of illegal gambling inducements, adding that higher fines could be issued out to reoffenders. 

Since the laws came into effect in 2018, a total of seven operators have been prosecuted on multiple occasions – something Keon said was “completely unacceptable”.

“Clearly some of these operators think gambling inducements are just the cost of doing business, but they are wrong, and they are pushing their luck. We will continue to bring these matters before the courts and seek higher penalties that reflect community expectations. 

“Prohibitions on gambling inducements are an important harm minimisation measure and the increase in maximum penalties, along with our continued prosecution action, should send a clear message to wagering operators about how seriously we view these matters.

“Reoffenders run the risk of the higher range penalties, and more scrutiny, so let me be clear that patterns of poor compliance are not worth the trouble.

Since 2015, Liquor & Gaming NSW has prosecuted 37 cases related to prohibited gambling advertising, resulting in over $642,500 in fines, with nine betting providers currently before the courts.