New federal legislation seeks to make gambling a public health issue

U.S. Rep Paul Tonko has introduced federal legislation that aims to regulate gambling as a public health issue in line with alcohol, tobacco and opioids.

The New York Democrat says that the SAFE Bet Act will focus on “advertising along with affordability and the AI impact on gambling” and is also supported by advisors from the Northeastern University’s Public Health Advocacy Institute.

“Sports always belonged to the American people, the American family,” said the Public Health Advocacy Institute’s Gambling Policy Adviser Harry Levant. “Sports now belongs to the gambling industry. I would like to think there are people in those leadership positions, and potentially even gambling industry companies, who will say, ‘You know what? This thing has gotten out of control. It needs to be regulated to protect the American public.’”

The SAFE Bet Act is a next-generation version of the Betting on our Future Act that Tonko introduced last year which sought to ban all online and electronic advert..

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Everi Holdings supplies AML solution to Great Canadian Entertainment

Everi Holdings has partnered with Great Canadian Entertainment to supply its anti-money laundering solution to the operator’s properties.

Through the deal, the supplier’s Everi Compliance AML solution will be provided to Great Canadian’s Casino New Brunswick and Casino Nova Scotia properties, joining over 600 gaming properties across North America that use the Everi Compliance AML software.

“We evaluated various AML solutions in our selection process and determined that the Everi Compliance solution best fits our needs,” stated Sukvinder Singh, Chief Compliance Officer at Great Canadian.

“We are looking forward to working with the Everi team to enhance our AML program in our Atlantic properties.”

Everi’s agreement with Great Canadian comes as the supplier undergoes preparations to merge with IGT’s Global Gaming and PlayDigital segments.

The supplier is hopeful that the IGT merger will “create a global leader in gaming equipment, fintech services and casino systems” and a “comprehe..

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ASA rejects complaints over BetMGM marketing

The Advertising Standards Authority has dismissed complaints that challenged whether BetMGM’s TV advert featuring Chris Rock was of strong appeal to those under 18 years old.

Seen on October 4, the advert in question was part of BetMGM’s launch in the UK market, featuring Rock on a golden speed boat with a lion, travelling from the Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas to the River Thames in London, ushering in a “golden era” for sports betting and online casino.

The ASA noted that three complainants challenged whether the ad included an individual who was likely to be of strong appeal to those under 18 years of age, and therefore breached the code.

In response, BetMGM’s UK operating partner LeoVegas noted that an extensive assessment was carried out to select a campaign ambassador who wouldn’t appeal to anyone under 18, including a full risk assessment of Rock’s suitability.

BetMGM believed that because he was 58 years of age and was not a UK-based personality, he was not likely to be k..

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UKGC: ‘Proportionate approach’ needed to evaluate Gambling Act Review impact

The UK Gambling Commission’s Head of Evidence Assurance and Evaluation, David Taylor, has outlined the commission’s “proportionate approach” to evaluating the potential measures of the Gambling Act Review and their effectiveness.

Taylor noted that the UKGC’s involvement in the changes to gambling regulation in the UK does not end once the changes have been implemented, as alongside the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, they will need to monitor and evaluate the measures carefully.

Highlighting proposed changes to UK gambling such as when and how companies interact with customers as well as product content rules in land-based and remote gaming, the UKGC’s evidence head stated that it must be evaluated if the measures are producing the desired effect.

Taylor said: “We need to establish if they are being delivered effectively, understand if they are achieving their intended outcomes and impacts, identify any unintended consequences, and capture learning to inform the implementat..

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MGA: Malta MLROs require deeper training on nuanced AML threats  

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has recognized that, although licensees have a sound understanding of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) regulations, there are still significant gaps that need addressing to maintain a risk-based approach to financial threats.

This observation stems from the completion of a thematic review of Malta’s remote gambling sector by the MGA and the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU).

The purpose of the joint review was to evaluate the AML/CFT regulatory knowledge of licensed businesses, including the application of company policies and procedures by Money Laundering Reporting Officers (MLROs) and other executives of remote-licensed gambling operators.

The review involved 23 compliance examinations and placed particular emphasis on MLROs and employees responsible for AML/CFT compliance.

Interviews with MLROs revealed a solid grasp of essential protections and measures to prevent money laundering, such as ris..

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Georgia adds 1.5m citizens to PM’s gambling ban

The Ministry of Finance of Georgia has updated the ‘electronic registry of citizens’ to comply with upcoming changes to the Caucasus nation’s gambling laws.

Applied via an executive order from the Prime Minister, Irakli Gharibashvili, from 1 July 2024, the new laws of the ‘Code of Administrative Offences’ will come into force in Georgia, which involves a strict tightening of compliance rules across all gambling segments.

Georgia will enforce new gambling laws prohibiting all citizens under the age of 25 from participating in gambling activities (land-based and online).

The Code will further prohibit all government and public sector employees from gambling and those registered with criminal offenses by Georgian courts.

This initiative has been overseen by the Revenue Office of the Ministry of Finance, which updated the government’s ‘electronic registry’ as the central database that will monitor Georgian citizens’ activities with gambling.

As reported by SBCEurasia, the Ministry of ..

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Problem gambling becomes a concern ahead of March Madness

March provides excitement for sports fans across America but the month also provides a unique opportunity to advocate for responsible gambling.

In 2023, Americans wagered approximately $15.5 billion on the men’s NCAA Tournament from a record 68 million people who either placed bets or participated in bracket contests.

March Madness has been a staple in American sports culture but the emergence of regulated sports betting across the country has led to calls for responsible gambling.

“While most can place bets without it becoming an addiction, between 2-4 million Americans will experience a gambling disorder in their lifetime, likely more, considering this data is often outdated and suffers from insufficient funding from comprehensive research. Existing studies offer only a superficial understanding of the problem,” said Dr. James P. Whelan, Ph.D., Professor & Director at The Institute for Gambling Education and Research.

The willingness to address these issues comes during Problem G..

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UKGC assists in illegal South Wales gambling bust 

South Wales’ Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) has collaborated with the UKGC, HMRC and Cardiff City Council Licensing to issue seven warrants across Cardiff on reports of an illegal gambling den in Splott.

The warrants, issued on 28 February, saw the arrest of two males on suspicion of money laundering and breaches of the gambling act. After conducting a search of the Splott premises, authorities seized gambling-related paraphernalia, including six poker tables, a spinning prize wheel, as well as poker coins and chips.

“We are committed to tackling illegal gambling activity across the UK and will continue working closely with law enforcement and partner agencies to achieve this,” a statement issued by Tarian ROCU read.

The operation nicknamed ‘Henhouse’ was part of a wider effort to combat fraud, funded by the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) and organised in conjunction with several police forces and organised crime units across the UK.

Detective Sergeant Emma Br..

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EveryMatrix opens new eco-friendly office in Bucharest

EveryMatrix has officially opened a new eco-friendly office in Bucharest, Romania, in addition to reaching the milestone of 1,000 employees.

The igaming supplier’s more than 400 employees based in Bucharest now have a new “modern, eco-conscious” working space, which was constructed in collaboration with STRABAG Real Estate.

The building – Arghezi 4 – is located near University Square, with a large in-house gym, spa, pool, garden and state-of-the-art amenities across six dedicated floors, as well as free electric car charging points for all staff to encourage switching from fossil-fuelled transport.

The building also has a LEED V4 Gold green certification, meeting sustainable construction practices to minimise environmental and human health risks, as well as using building materials and construction methods that are not harmful to the climate and environment.

“Building our own HQ has been very exciting but has equally involved a great deal of work,” noted Ebbe Groes, Group CEO of ..

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NHS opens Sheffield clinic to boost National Gambling Support Network

The NHS has reached an operating milestone in the support and development of the National Gambling Support Network (NGSN) by opening its fifteenth clinic in Sheffield.

The clinic opened this weekend, expanding dedicated NHS treatment support and recovery services for problem gambling in Yorkshire and the North of England.

Amid growing demand for services, the opening of the new clinic in Sheffield means that the NHS has now almost doubled the number of specialist clinics available within the space of a year in England.

The Sheffield facility sees the NHS expand its network of problem gambling clinics to 15, operating across England with specialist treatment centres located in London, Milton Keynes, Thurrock, Bristol, Derby, Liverpool, Blackpool, Preston, Leeds, Newcastle, Manchester, Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent, and Telford.

NHS Chief Executive, Amanda Pritchard, said: “The opening of the new NHS gambling clinic is a significant milestone and amid record demand for help, it is tim..

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