Simon Haworth ‘turns negatives into positives’ as EPIC programme facilitator

EPIC Risk Management has announced the addition of former Premier League and international footballer Simon Haworth who will help deliver its education sessions on gambling-related harm.

The ex-Wales, Coventry City, Cardiff City and Wigan Athletic forward has recently joined the gambling harm minimisation consultancy’s long-standing partner WHYSUP as a programme facilitator.

As an extension of that arrangement, Haworth will join WHYSUP Founder Mark Murray in supporting EPIC’s session delivery across a range of high-risk sectors as an associate.

Haworth said: “It’s brilliant how EPIC raises awareness and educates. It means a lot to me to be able to share my lived experience within the sports industry. I’m looking forward to being part of the EFL programme we deliver, and the prospect of the MLS Players Association sessions too.”

Having seen his professional football career curtailed due to injury during his time at his final club Tranmere Rovers, the player said that he turned to ‘i..

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AGCO bans athletes in changes to Ontario igaming advertising rules

After several months of speculation, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has finally confirmed a blanket ban on the use of athletes in igaming advertising and marketing.

The verdict is not an unexpected one after widespread calls for a toughening of the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming in order to protect society’s most vulnerable, including children.

Subsequently, there are also restrictions on the use of celebrities who ‘would likely be expected to appeal’ to minors, with the new rules coming into effect on Feb. 28 2024.

The new restrictions raise the previous threshold which merely prohibited the use of advertising and marketing content with a ‘primary appeal to minors’, while the updated guidance prohibits operators in the province from using athletes, whether active or retired, except for the exclusive purpose of advocating for responsible gambling practices.

The AGCO’s decision follows months of deliberation, with a ban on sports stars across online g..

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PA regulators ban 4 adults who abandoned children to go gamble

The problem of Pennsylvania adults leaving their children unattended to go gamble is on the decline from 2022 but remains an issue for both casinos and regulators.

Last week, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) banned four people from entering casinos after they were caught leaving their children unattended in their cars to go gamble. The four patrons left children as young as six and as old as 13 unattended for periods of time ranging from 39 minutes to 1 hour and 44 minutes.

This is the third set of individuals banned by the PGCB this year following incidents in both March and April. Last year, dozens of adults were similarly placed on the involuntary self-exclusion list.

These individuals might be worrying about more than just getting banned from state casinos, as they could potentially face criminal charges. Additionally, there is a chance Child Protective Services get involved.

They are far from the only individuals in the state who have chosen the slots over watching..

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Flutter joins WiHTL community for better HTL inclusion 

Flutter Entertainment has joined the charter of WiHTL, a business collaboration community devoted to increasing diversity and inclusion in the hospitality, travel, and leisure industry (HTL).

The initiative sees Flutter become a sponsor of WiHTL’s Women Non-Executive Director (NED) Programme. CFO Paul Edgecliffe-Johnson will also become a founding member of WiHTL’s CFO Committee.

Founded in 2016, WiHTL is a collaborative organisation formed to help HTL businesses establish diverse, inclusive, and understanding environments for a sector impacting five million people globally by 2025.

Tea Colaianni, Founder and Chair of WiHTL, said: “I am thrilled to welcome Flutter Entertainment to our Collaboration Community and delighted that they are sponsoring our Women NED Programme, which is key to increasing diversity in boardrooms across the industry. With its global reach and high-profile brands, Flutter will make a significant contribution to our community.”

Flutter underscored the import..

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BetCity eyes up ‘greater culture of responsible gambling’ with Mindway AI

BetCity.nl has initiated an upgrade of its responsible gambling practices and solutions by partnering with Mindway AI.

The Dutch-facing Entain-owned sportsbook brand will utilise Mindway’s technology and knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI), neuroscientific insights and analysis to deliver a safer gambling experience to its customers.

Mindway’s GameScanner tool will play a particularly important role in the partnership, due to be used by BetCity to analyse player behaviour and detect early signs of problem gambling.

“We are thrilled to partner with BetCity.nl,” remarked Rasmus Kjaergaard, CEO of Mindway AI. “By combining our expertise in early detection of at-risk and problem gambling with BetCity.nl’s innovative online gaming platform, we can provide a comprehensive and effective solution that prioritises player protection and minimises the risks associated with gambling-related harm.”

BetCity aims to better conduct interventions with problem gamblers by leveraging Mindway A..

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FOX Bet faces $80k New Jersey penalty before closure

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement has levied an $80,000 penalty on FOX Bet just days before the platform is closed down.

Resolving an issue dating back two years, the regulator has ordered the Flutter and FOX brand to pay the penalty after offering wagering on prohibited sporting events.

Specifically, FOX Bet offered sports betting on college sports events that were not allowed in the Garden State. On August 19, 2021, the regulator filed a complaint after FOX Bet allowed betting on the February 2021 NCAA basketball match between Rutgers University and Northwestern University.

A further filing was made when bets were placed on the NCAA game between Monmouth University and Lehigh University that November. FOX Bet then admitted further breaches on New Year’s Eve 2021 when it took wagers on the game between Fairleigh Dickinson University and St. Francis University and again on two more fixtures in January 2022.

Following discussions that have taken place over the past 18 ..

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GamCare launches new interconnected Online Community

GamCare has launched its new ‘Online Community’ to provide users with seamless access to its online support services.

Branded as a ‘space to connect’, GamCare’s new Online Community has integrated the problem-gambling’s treatment support charity’s forum, chatrooms and MyGamCare into a single destination for users.

“Now through one login and in one integrated space, users can view our growing selection of online tools to help connect with others, as well as manage gambling behaviours,” GamCare explained.

Changes will see users log in through an Online Communities area, using their same GamCare account and password. Once in the Online Communities area, users can navigate back to the main GamCare site through the main menu.

In addition, GamCare has bolstered its Online Community with new features including a new chatroom calendar to see all upcoming sessions, as well as a new forum design and layout.

GamCare maintains that its Forum and Chatrooms will remain strictly confidential ..

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Betsson highlights importance of RG in new marketing concept

Betsson has unveiled a fresh marketing approach that stresses its commitment to responsible gaming across all of its regulated markets.

Initially rolling out across Europe and Latin America, the new concept has seen the introduction of new television ad spots. These spots encourage players to feel the thrill of betting rather than living for the big wins.

Titled “a bet makes the difference”, the campaign reinforces Betsson’s previous messaging to customers that betting should be about entertainment rather than winning money.

Jesper Svensson, CEO of Betsson Group, explained: “As we expand our presence across various markets, we have established an in-house international creative hub. I am really excited to unveil our most ambitious commercial yet, solidifying Betsson as the most exciting brand in the industry.”

The TV ads have been created in-house and were directed by award-winning director Rodrigo Saavedra. They depict a dull and boring sporting event becoming a thrilling spect..

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ACMA launches BetStop as single-point self-exclusion for Australia

Australia has welcomed the launch of BetStop, the new ‘single point’ gambling self-exclusion scheme available across all six federal states.

BetStop is operated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), which in 2022 was instructed to develop a federal self-exclusion scheme to protect vulnerable consumers from gambling risks better.

As agreed by the gambling authorities/boards of the Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania, all licensed operators must register their player databases with BetStop, regardless of the state in which they are licensed.

The ACMA has been entrusted to operate a “comprehensive self-exclusion system, encompassing all licensed wagering providers in the country, covering both online and telephone-based platforms.”

Changes will require operators to prevent self-excluded players from creating accounts, accepting their bets, and sending them marketing content. Furthermore, all licen..

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GamCare appoints D’Arcy Myers as Interim CEO

GamCare has confirmed the appointment of D’Arcy Myers as the new Interim CEO of the problem-gambling treatment support charity and operator of the 24/7 National Gambling Helpline.

Myers’ appointment follows the leadership departure of Anna Hemmings, who ended her five-year tenure as CEO of GamCare in June.

An expert in leading high-profile charity organisations, Myers has led and mentored multiple charities through periods of change, including Allergy UK, The Percy Hedley Foundation, the TV and Film Charity, and The Solicitors Charity.

Further experience in the third sector has seen Myers serve as a founding member of the Small Charities Coalition and as Chair of The Association of Charitable Organisations and The Smallwood Trust.

Welcoming the appointment, Margot Daly, Chair of GamCare Trustees, commented: “I am delighted to welcome D’Arcy to GamCare. His wide-ranging experience will be invaluable for the organisation at a time of great change for this sector.”

Myers takes leader..

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