SBC Americas

SBC Digital – Player Protection to delve into key RG issues

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A lineup of experts will discuss the key topics surrounding the player protection space in the SBC Digital – Player Protection online conference, presented in partnership with Vixio Regulatory Intelligence, this Wednesday, Nov. 13.

Taking place before Safer Gambling Week 2024, SBC Digital – Player Protection will kick off with a special presentation from lead sponsors Vixio Regulatory Intelligence. Vixio View: Global Player Protection Policy Trends will feature Vixio’s Chief Analyst and VP Americas, James Kilsby, discussing key regulatory trends on responsible gambling in Europe, North America, Brazil and beyond, and focusing on affordability, monitoring and intervention.

This will be followed by a fascinating discussion on whether operator focus on player protection can increase shareholder value. Evoke’s Head of Player Safety, Yardena Almagor, will be joined by leading industry consultant Peter Marcus, founder & CEO of Better World Casinos, Floris Assies, and gambling lawyer Andy ..

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The two-way street between operators and regulators

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Even after hearing that no other operators were coming to the first Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) roundtable on limiting bettors, COO for Bally’s North America Interactive Brett Calaap told his staff there was no way they weren’t attending.

“I very, very much, told our team we’re coming to this meeting. And they were all like, ‘Oh, no one else is showing up.’ We’ve talked to our friends. They’re all going to bail at the last second/ And I was like, ‘Absolutely not. We’re not bailing on this.’ Now we have the power to choose what we share and what we don’t share, but not showing up to something isn’t acceptable at all, from my perspective,” Calaap said as part of a panel at SBC Summit Lisbon earlier this year.

Regulators need to lead the way for operators

Other panelists agreed with Calaap, including Princeton Public Affairs Group Partner Bill Pascrell III and Responsible Gambling Affiliate Association (ROGA) President George Rover. Both of them agreed that on their home turf..

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New Lancet report criticizes industry’s influence on PG research

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A new report from the medical journal The Lancet takes a deep dive into the topic of problem gambling and its conclusions point a lot of fingers towards the gambling industry.

The Oct. 24 commission consulted experts across a range of disciplines and read and analyzed a wealth of material, including 299 different prevalence studies before releasing its findings.

“This Lancet Public Health Commission should mark the beginning of a serious and sustained effort to apply public health logic as countries and communities respond to the rapidly increasing threat of gambling harms,” the report read. “We acknowledge that implementing these recommendations might take time, will not be easy, and will require sustained effort and cooperation from multiple international actors. We hope to establish a clear direction for future action that will lead to effective policy design and implementation.”

Lancet concerned regulators and researchers too close to operators

The commission concluded that the..

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ICRG receives half a million dollars in industry donations

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The International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) received donations totaling $500,000 from major industry stakeholders at recent landmark events.

The ICRG said in a release that the funding underscores “a robust commitment to advancing research and initiatives in gambling disorder and responsible gambling.”

Specifically, the ICRG received a $300,000 donation from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians during the 25th ICRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction. The donation ceremony was marked by esteemed leaders, wich the ICRG said reflected “a community united in its dedication to fostering safer gaming environments.”

Then, at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas, ICRG was presented with a $200,000 check from the proceeds of the 25th Annual AGEM & AGA Golf Classic hosted by JCM Global. That event has raised over $2.8 million to date in support of the ICRG’s research into gambling addiction. ICRG’s donation was presented by leaders including JCM SVP Dave Kubajak, Associati..

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Former New Jersey DGE Director joins IC360 as Special Advisor

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Integrity Compliance 360 (IC360) is adding new talent to its business operations.

The Nevada-based consultancy company has announced the addition of David L. Rebuck as a Special Advisor. Rebuck brings a wealth of experience in compliance to IC360 having previously served as the Director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.

“We are thrilled to welcome David Rebuck as a Special Advisor to IC360,” said IC360 President Eric Frank. “The Director’s efforts in transforming New Jersey’s gaming industry, especially in internet gaming and sports wagering, makes him an invaluable resource for the company and our clients.”

During his time at the DGE, Rebuck was instrumental in navigating regulatory requirements ahead of the launch of iGaming in 2013 and the authorization of sports betting five years later. In his role at IC360, Rebuck will offer his expertise on compliance matters. He will also leverage his regulatory experience to help IC360 thrive in a dynamic gaming industry.

N..

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SBC Webinar: ICRG President slams grey literature for provoking uninformed regulations 

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International Centre for Responsible Gambling (ICRG) President and Secretary Arthur Paikowsky has told SBC Americas that lawmakers and regulators are making too many “uninformed decisions”. Paikowsky offered his insight on the current state of research and regulation in a conversation with Jessica Welman, Editor of SBC Americas, during an SBC Webinar celebrating 25 years of…

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AGA to work with European, UK associations to focus on illegal gambling

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The American Gaming Association (AGA) has announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the European Casino Association (ECA) and the U.K. Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) to collaborate on shared industry values and priorities.

The first initiative under the MOU will be a law enforcement roundtable focused on combating illegal gambling.

Scheduled for January 2025, this roundtable will bring together industry leaders, law enforcement officials, and regulators to discuss the impact of illegal gambling on legal operators, consumer safety and the global financial system. The session will also explore strategies for enhancing cross-jurisdictional communication and developing actionable solutions to address these challenges.

That will be just the first project undertaken by the various industry associations. The AGA said in a release that the MOU formalizes a commitment among the three associations to address key issues facing the global gaming industry including..

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Coalition for Fantasy Sports pairs up with idPair for cross-operator self-exclusion system

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The operator-led Coalition for Fantasy Sports has unveiled a new partnership with idPair, a safer gaming company dedicated to enhancing consumer protection through research and technology.

In a release, the coalition said that the collaborative initiative will enable its operator members to establish a seamless self-exclusion solution.

The coalition is made up of Underdog Fantasy, PrizePicks, Betr and Dabbleand its mission statement is to work together to protect fantasy sports players, promote innovation, ensure responsible play, identify best practices and encourage the growth of the market.

Now, users of any of those brands’ services will be able to choose to simultaneously self-exclude across all platforms, regardless of their location. Players will have the choice on whether they self-exclude on one platform, or on all member platforms. The coalition stated it has broken new ground in the gaming industry by demonstrating high cooperation among four leading operators to raise ..

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NCAA finds prohibitions don’t stop unwanted gambling by students

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The NCAA recently held a discussion on sports betting policies and concluded that prohibitions on gambling are “ineffective” at preventing unwanted gambling. The college athletics association’s Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS) held an informational discussion on the topic in recent days. Committee members met in Indianapolis to discuss the possible deregulation of sports betting, which could allow student-athletes…

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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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