UK Gambling Harms Research Centre to assess efficacy of regulations 

Gambling Commission admits faults but backs credibility of Young People and Gambling Survey

France adds new obligations to sign off gambling ad campaigns 

UKGC adds two members to Advisory Board for Safer Gambling

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The UK Gambling Commission has added to its Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG) with the appointments of Dr Virve Marionneau and Dr Spencer Murch.

Marionneau is a sociologist and Director of the Centre for Research on Addiction, Control and Governance at the University of Helsinki, Finland. Meanwhile, Murch is a cognitive psychologist and AGRI Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Calgary, Canada.

Anna van der Gaag, Chair of ABSG, commented: “We are very fortunate to have Virve and Spencer as our newest members. They are highly respected academics, both with a strong record of achievement in the field of gambling studies, and together they will expand the national and international research expertise we offer to the commission.

“Gambling is a global business and the regulatory challenges faced in different jurisdictions have much in common. I am delighted to be welcoming them and have no doubt they will bring valuable new insights to an ever-expanding range of topics which ..

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GamCare introduces night chatrooms to provide accessible support

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GamCare is offering additional confidential, supportive and non-judgmental spaces for people affected by gambling-related harms with the introduction of night chatrooms.

Available every Tuesday between 1am and 2am, the gambling support charity has stated that the night chatrooms will provide more accessible support at night in a moderated, safe and friendly environment to individuals affected by gambling-related harm.

GamCare noted that the night chatrooms will offer individuals, affected by their own gambling or supporting someone else, an opportunity to “connect with others who truly understand what you’re going through” to receive and share support, advice and information.

The night chatrooms will be moderated by an experienced GamCare advisor to ensure a respectful and empathetic environment, guiding conversations and providing resources.

GamCare added that the night chatrooms will provide meaningful conversations about personal experiences, coping strategies and available reso..

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James Browne: Ireland GRB to take hard line on gambling conduct and criminality  

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The Dáil of Ireland has resumed ‘committee stage’ discussions on the Gambling Bill of Ireland (GRB), which will implement a new regulatory framework for Irish gambling.

Sanctioned in November 2022, the passage of the GRB has been stuck in the committee stage of the Dáil since July 2023. The tri-party government has set no timeline for the GRB’s ascension into law, despite mounting pressure from Irish legal authorities to settle on its determination.

Led by James Browne (Fianna Fáil), Minister of State for the Department of Justice, a committee at Oireachtas resumed discussions on the GRB and the articles that will replace the near-century-old Betting Act of 1931.

Ministers probed Browne on the applicability and technical provisions of the GRB applied into law, as the mandate to modernise Irish gambling and its governance of all gambling disciplines (retail, online, horse racing, and lotteries).

No Exemptions on Licensing

On licensing, Minister Browne stated there are “no broad exe..

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FanDuel sued by $22m embezzler for fostering his gambling addiction

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The former Jacksonville Jaguars employee who embezzled more than $22 million from the NFL franchise is taking legal action against FanDuel and its owner.

According to a complaint filed in the U.S. District for the Southern District of New York, Amit Patel is suing FanDuel, its owner Flutter Entertainment, Fox Corp. and Boyd Gaming for allegedly fostering his gambling addiction by incentivizing play. Patel alleges FanDuel and the other defendants in the suit “actively and intentionally targeted and preyed” on him leading him to gamble more than $20 million over a four-year period.

Patel illegally used the Jaguars’ virtual credit card (VCC) to transfer the money to FanDuel. He also spent millions on expensive gifts and trips including a $95,000 Patek Philippe wristwatch. Patel also used the VCC to spend more than $75,000 on private jets, $278,000 on vacation travel, and $47,113 on a putter used by golf legend Tiger Woods in 1996.

In the suit, Patel alleges FanDuel showered him with mo..

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More research needed to inform Canadian gambling ads policy, hears Senate

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In a Canadian Senate Transport and Communications Committee meeting on Oct. 2 discussing Bill S-269, the National Framework on Advertising for Sports Betting Act, witnesses testified that Canada’s gaming and broadcast regulators are doing all within their power to ensure due diligence is taken around gambling ads.

However, while the need for a national framework was contested, there was a consensus that more work is required to equip all parties with the knowledge needed.

“There’s value in coordinated research across the country,” said Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) President and CEO Paul Burns. “There’s a gap, especially around advertising. We as an industry would love to see more. What we learn from evidence-based research gives us tools to better protect players.” Burns suggested that such research could be achieved without legislation.

Burns had argued in his opening statement that he doesn’t believe S-269 is necessary, as most of what the bill aims to do is already being don..

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Playtech combines expertise with UNLV for responsible gambling research

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Playtech has agreed to a multi-year collaboration with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) which aims to utilise technology to create a more sustainable gambling environment.

The igaming supplier will work together with UNLV’s International Gaming Institute (IGI), which was established in 1994 and provides the global gaming and gambling industry with research-based solutions, insights and executive education.

UNLV’s IGI and Playtech will combine their expertise on several topics of mutual interest, with the key focus areas being how AI and machine learning can be used to promote and support safer and more responsible gambling.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Playtech in advancing our responsible gambling research,” commented Kasra Ghaharian, PhD, Director of Research at UNLV IGI.

“Their expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning is crucial in promoting safer gambling behaviours amongst players all around the world. Playtech’s dedication to reducing gambl..

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Norsk Tipping fined after mistakenly paying a player NOK 25m

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Norsk Tipping has been fined NOK 4.5m (approximately €383,000) by the Norwegian gambling and foundation authority Lotteritilsynet for a payout error which resulted in a player being paid NOK 25m (approximately €2.13m).

Lotteritilsynet stated that back in March, Norsk Tipping paid a player NOK 25m by mistake from its online casino game KongKasino, despite the game only having a maximum prize of NOK 100,000 and a jackpot prize of NOK 5m.

The operator told the authority that it happened due to an unexpected error that was difficult to predict. However, the error had not been discovered until the player who received the money notified Norsk Tipping of the mistake.

The player paid back the prize to Norsk Tipping in line with its customer agreement.

In July, Lotteritilsynet sent a notice of infringement fees to Norsk Tipping, but the comments it has received from the operator haven’t changed its opinion on the matter.

Within its decision, the authority stated that it “understands that N..

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Openbet partners with Four Winds Casinos on player protection tech

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Four Winds Casinos has selected OpenBet to supply its player protection technology, powered by Neccton.

The casino company, which is owned and operated by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, will utilize Neccton’s responsible gaming and anti-money laundering (AML) software and OpenBet’s wider technology and services at its premier gaming resorts across the Midwestern U.S.

Neccton is part of OpenBet’s growing regulatory tech vertical and demonstrates the provider’s ongoing commitment to building a secure and sustainable industry. The research-based software provides evidence-based interventions including personalized pop-up messaging, limit setting functionality and valuable behavioral insights.

Four Winds Casinos is the latest operator to join OpenBet’s ever-increasing global customer base, which grew by more than 40% during the first half of 2024.

The companies also say the deal reaffirms OpenBet’s strategic efforts to support the U.S. tribal casino community. OpenBet current..

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Four Winds Casinos secures player protection partnership with OpenBet

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Four Winds Casinos has agreed to a partnership with OpenBet for its player protection technology.

Owned and operated by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Four Winds Casinos will implement OpenBet’s Neccton-powered responsible gaming and anti-money laundering software at its gaming resorts across the Midwestern United States.

The player protection software utilises academic research and provides evidence-based interventions such as personalised pop-up messaging, limit setting functionality and behavioural insights.

“Four Winds Casinos is an institution in Michigan and Indiana’s gaming landscape, whose commitment to player protection aligns with our goals and objectives,” commented Dr Michael Auer, Managing Director at OpenBet’s Neccton.

“OpenBet has continually invested in strengthening its protect pillar and with our Neccton technology always evolving with the latest data insights, Four Winds Casinos can be sure they are at the forefront of player protection.”

With the Four..

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DraftKings handed $200,000 civil penalty for posts on CEO’s social media

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DraftKings has agreed to pay a $200,000 civil penalty after being charged by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for selectively disclosing material, nonpublic information to investors via CEO Jason Robins’ social media accounts.

Within its release, the SEC noted that since the same information wasn’t disclosed to all investors, this violated Regulation Fair Disclosure, so a civil penalty was issued to DraftKings to settle the charges.

In an order dated 26 September, the SEC stated that on 27 July 2023, DraftKings’ public relations firm published a post on Robins’ personal X and LinkedIn accounts.

The X post read: “There’s massive potential for growth in new markets — but we’re still seeing really strong growth in existing states. Our 2018-2019 state vintage grew over 80% on the revenue basis year-over-year in Q1. With those numbers, we expect robust growth even without new states opening.”

A similar statement was also published on the DraftKings CEO’s personal LinkedIn..

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