Month: May 2022

An investigation from the Commission found that on 13 October and 4 November in 2021, and also 4 February this year, Amber Gaming published content on its website that the regulator said encouraged consumers to gambling. 

The Commission highlighted a number of statements that could be seen as promotional and content intended to draw players to gambling with the operator’s 7bet brand.

These statements included “Online casino: free spins and casino bonus” and “For those who want a greater sense of excitement, 7bet offers live real-time casino games. It gives you even more chances to win”.

Ruling on the case, the Commission said the published information was “aimed at drawing attention to the company, its offer, persuading and encouraging persons to participate in the company’s games”.

This, the regulator said, was considered to encourage participation in games and therefore breached Article 10 (19) of the country’s Ali.

It was established that the published information was aimed at drawing attention to the company, its offer, persuading and encouraging persons to participate in the company’s games, which is considered to encourage participation in games, therefore the company violated the requirements of Article 10 (19).

Amber Gaming was also warned that similar breaches or failure to remove any promotional content could result in the operator having its licence in the country suspended.

The operator does have the option to appeal the decision. 

Lithuania’s ban on gambling promotion came into on 1 July 2021, on the 20th anniversary of the Lithuanian Gambling Commission’s formation.

First announced in May last year after a vote in the country’s parliament, the ban covers “promotion of gambling in any form and by any means, dissemination of information or persuasion”.

Whilst gambling advertising is still permitted, promotional methods such as special events, test games, discounts, gifts, bonuses or anything that incentivises gambling in any way are prohibited.

Any information related to gaming on websites targeting those under the age of 18 won’t be allowed to be published.

The US-based operator has been registered as an operator by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, a final step before it actually receives the licence.

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 was among the most notable absentees when the Ontario market launched on 4 April, and was still not registered as an operator when further applications were approved in the following weeks. Meanwhile, operators such as Unibet, theScore, BetRivers, 888, PointsBet, LeoVegas, Bwin, Bet365, FanDuel, BetMGM and Caesars all secured licences before launch day.

However during the business’ 6 May Q1 earnings call, chief executive Jason Robins said the operator was planning to launch in Ontario “in the near future”.

The opening of the Ontario market followed almost three years of efforts to replace the provincial monopoly with a licensing system. 

The government first revealed plans to end the lottery’s online gambling monopoly in April 2019. Final standards for online betting and gaming were then published in September 2021. The online gaming standards included limits related to game design, such as a ban on autoplay, while the sports betting rules limited marketing and required operators to join an integrity body such as IBIA.

Revenue for the month amounted to $1.2m (£998,550/€1.2m), up 39.8% from $874,012 in April 2021 and 21.9% from $1.0m in March of this year.

Video lottery games accounted for $858,241 of total revenue in the month, while $328,597 came from online table games and the remaining $35,051 from poker rake and fees.

In terms of consumer activity, players wagered a total of $37.2m on online gambling during the month, up 73.0% from $21.5m in the same month last year, but marginally lower than $37.4m in March 2022.

Players wagered $22.1m in video lottery games and $15.1m on table games in April, winning $36.0m in the process.

Delaware Park led the way with $617,702 in revenue from $20.4m in total wagers, ahead of Dover Downs, which posted $366,310 in revenue from $8.9m in consumer bets.

Harrington Raceway, the only other licenced igaming operator in Delaware, drew $237,877 in revenue from $7.9m worth of wagers.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that player spending on sports betting in Delaware fell to a nine-month low in April, with the state’s handle falling to its shortest total since July of last year.

April’s handle was comfortably higher than $236.4m last year but fell short of the $476.8m wagered in March 2022.

Basketball drew the most bets, with players wagering a total of $129.2m during the month, while $56.7m was spent on baseball bets and $3.8m on football. Parlay bets amounted to $91.3m and $76.5m was wagered across other sports.

Turning to revenue, adjusted gross revenue for the month reached $28.7m, up 43.5% from $28.7m last year, but 11.2% behind $32.3m in March this year.

FanDuel partner Blue Chip Casino retained top spot in terms of both revenue and wagers, posting $12.7m in revenue and a $112.4m handle.

DraftKings-partnered Ameristar Casino placed second with $7.1m in revenue off $101.6m in player bets, then Belterra Casino and its FanDuel-operated sportsbook with $3.3m in revenue a $46.7m handle.

The state was also able to collect $2.7 in sports betting tax during the month.

Gross gaming revenue for the month amounted to $3.8m (£3.1m/€3.7m), which was 40.7% higher than $2.7m in the same month last year and also 5.6% up from $3.6m in March this year.

In terms of handle, players wagered a total of $42.9m on sports betting during the month, an increase of 69.6% from April 2021 and 18.5% from $36.2m in March 2022.

DraftKings, which has a state-wide partnership with the Oregon Lottery, generated $3.8m in revenue from a $42.9m in total player bets in April.

In contrast, the Oregon Lottery’s Scoreboard online sportsbook – which has been phased out to be replaced by DraftKings but still pays out on bets placed before this phaseout – took $39,297 in wagers and posted a $3,220 loss for the month.

Looking at player behaviour, basketball was the most popular sport to bet on, drawing $22.1m in wagers on DraftKings and $32,995 with Scoreboard.

Baseball followed with $7.8m in wagers on DraftKings and $108 on Scoreboard, then soccer at $3.7m with DraftKings and $259 on Scoreboard.

As to the type of bets players were placing in April, $31.3m of the total wagers placed with DraftKings were singles and teasers, while the remaining $11.6m of wagers were parlay bets.

This betting pattern was similar on Scoreboard, with $38,548 worth of single and teaser bets placed, while just $759 of wagers were parlay bets.

Under the deal, Caesars will become an official sports betting partner of the IMS and the showpiece Indy 500 annual event that takes place at the track, while the Caesars Sportsbook will serve as a sponsor for the remaining IMS races on the 2022 calendar

Caesars will also open the first betting lounge at the IMS in the form of a Caesars Sportsbook Lounge, where visitors can watch live events, access complimentary food and drink view, live entertainment and take part in motor racing games.

In addition, the Caesars Sportsbook will receive access to IMS logos and marks, digital and social media assets, as well as a range of exclusive VIP speedway experiences for its users at IMS that will be made available through the Caesars Rewards loyalty program.

“The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy 500 are iconic American sports traditions,” Caesars Digital co-president Eric Hession said. “Partnering with one of racing’s most iconic venues and ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ provides our customers with unique experiences through Caesars Rewards. 

“This will be an impactful partnership for us that builds upon our commitment to the state of Indiana alongside the investments into our resorts and the communities they serve.”

IMS president Douglas Boles added: “We’re extremely excited about this partnership with Caesars and believe their on-site presence – which is a first for our storied facility – will give fans a new opportunity to engage with the on-track action at the Racing Capital of the World.”

888 agreed in September 2021 to acquire the non-US business of William Hill, soon after land-based operator Caesars acquired the entire William Hill business for approximately £2.90bn, with the intent to dispose of all but its US assets.

As the William Hill assets are larger than the current 888 business, the deal is considered a reverse takeover, and so must be approved by shareholders of 888.

Shareholders voted today (16 May) on the proposed acquisition.

In total, 307.0 million votes – representing 99.7% of voting shares – were cast in favour of the deal, with only 819,264 cast against.

“We are delighted with the support of our shareholders for our proposed acquisition of William Hill and would like to thank them for their continued, constructive engagement as part of this process,” said Lord Mendelsohn, non-executive chairman of 888 Holdings.

“We look forward to completing this transformational acquisition at the end of June, creating a global online betting and gaming leader through the combination of two highly complementary businesses and two of the industry’s leading brands.”

The approval comes just over a month after 888 and Caesars agreed to reduce the purchase price to acquire the assets by £250m, with the cash portion of the deal now set at £584.9m instead of £834.9m.

This, it said, was due to a “change in the macro-economic and regulatory environment”. Most notably, it said that the William Hill business’ licence to operate in Great Britain was under review. This prompted the business had set aside £15m to cover any costs arising from this review. In addition, Caesars provided an indemnity on certain brands to offset any regulatory settlement that may result.

In its prospectus for the merger, 888 said the deal would help it diversify by increasing its exposure to sports betting, while also enhancing its position in locally regulated markets.

The business also said that its newfound scale would help it overcome a number of challenges, such as potential marketing restrictions.

By acquiring the UK’s largest retail bookmaker, 888 said the purchase would also represent “an attractive omni-channel opportunity in the UK”.

Finally, the business said it expects significant cost synergies from the deal, including annual savings of £100m by 2025. 

The deal is expected to officially close this quarter, with a long stop date set on 30 June.

Designed to enable health care professionals to access quality training on gambling and gaming harm in young people under the age of 25, the Mindful Resilience Programme launched in September 2020.

YGAM developed the pilot programme in partnership with psychologists and was informed by academics, health professionals, and individuals with lived experience. The project has also been endorsed by the Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Dr Rosena Alin-Khan MP.

Currently being piloted, YGAM’s long-term vision is to roll-out the programme more widely after extensive evaluation, with the aim of ensuring risks surrounding gambling harm are identified and given greater priority by training health care professionals who can engage with young people and encourage them to access help.

“We are delighted to be able to play a small part in helping to fund an initiative that directs resource into helping to address such an important part of the safer gambling narrative,” Merkur UK general manager Sascha Blodau said.

“As a business we feel strongly that safer gambling goes beyond just the connection that we have with our customers. Our view is that it should be a commitment that gambling entertainment businesses have with society at large. 

“This training connects with the hearts and minds of health professionals, who have a powerful role to play in protecting young people and the vulnerable. We are delighted to play a small part in helping deliver this pilot programme.”

YGAM’s director of business development and fundraising, Ian Shanahan, added: “We’re delighted to receive this fantastic support and commitment from Merkur for the Mindful Resilience Programme. It is a crucially important programme in our portfolio and one that is attracting interest from the health sector. 

“This support will help us continue to grow the initiative to increase its reach, profile and impact.”

This was revealed through a report that analysed how children have been exposed to age-restricted products – such as gambling and alcohol – through advertising from 2010.

The ASA has released annual reports on gambling and alcohol advertising exposure to children since 2019.

It is based on data collated by the Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board.

In 2010, children saw an average of 3 gambling advertisements per week. In 2021, this was 2.2 gambling advertisements per week.

This is the lowest level since the analysis began. It is also half that of the peak of 4.4 in 2013.

Part of the decline was due to lower exposure to advertising in general.

Between 2010 and 2017, gambling advertising made up less than 2% on average of all advertisements seen by children. However, from 2018 to 2021, this has been above 2%, hitting its peak of 2.7% in 2020.

In 2013, children were exposed to 229.2 advertisements per week on average. In 2021 this was 82.8 advertisements per week.

“Our latest report confirms the ongoing decline in children’s exposure to ads for age-restricted products, which is what our rules are designed to achieve,” said Guy Parker, chief executive of the ASA. “But of course that’s not the full story.”

“Children’s media consumption habits are changing significantly, which is why we’re also focussed on protecting them online. Later this year, we’ll publish our findings on the ads they are seeing across the internet and social media as part of our zero-tolerance approach to age-restricted ads being served to children.”

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