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Responsible Gambling Affiliate Association names George Rover executive director

The Responsible Gambling Affiliate Association has appointed former regulator George Rover as Executive Director. Rover’s storied career includes a stint with the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, when online casino sites were launched in the state in 2013. “In the spirit of collaboration – whether it be with state regulators, politicians, legislators or online gambling operators, I look…

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RG Affiliate Association appoints George Rover as executive director

Roughly four months after the Responsible Gambling Affiliate Association was established, it has now named an Executive Director.

The group has appointed former regulator George Rover to the post. Rover’s storied career includes a stint with the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement during the time when the organization helped mobilize and launch online casino sites in the state.

“In the spirit of collaboration – whether it be with state regulators, politicians, legislators or online gambling operators, I look forward to working with key stakeholders and will champion the critical role affiliate companies play in the regulated online gambling ecosystem,” said Rover. “The formation of the RGAA will provide this essential segment of the industry with an important and constructive voice to promote responsible gambling, prioritizing the best interests of consumers through a unified set of high standards and guidelines to achieve long-term success.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Georg..

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NCPG awards Jackpocket Casino with responsible gaming certification

Jackpocket Casino has made history as an emerging iGaming operator.

The New York-based operator has received responsible gaming certification from the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) becoming the first iGaming brand to receive the accreditation.

Jackpocket has received the certification as part of the NCPG’s Internet Responsible Gambling Compliance Assessment Program (iCAP), which sets the highest standard for online RG in the U.S.

Jackpocket received the accreditation following an arduous certification process, which included a product and website evaluation and an audit of the company’s RG policies. The company also had to show a commitment to player safety through its various features.

“In achieving iCAP accreditation, Jackpocket Casino has emerged as a pioneer in prioritizing player protection and responsible gambling practices within the U.S. iGaming landscape,” said NCPG Executive Director Keith Whyte. “We applaud Jackpocket for emphasizing the safety of their use..

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Coalition for Responsible Sports Betting Advertising adds the PGA Tour

The PGA Tour is joining a group of professional sports leagues and media entities that support responsible sports betting advertising.

The organizer of pro golf tours in North America announced on Tuesday that it has joined the Coalition for Responsible Sports Betting Advertising, which launched in 2023. The PGA Tour, which has secured several marketing deals with gambling operators, has also renewed its Leadership Circle membership with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).

“With the proliferation of sports betting in the United States, the PGA Tour remains committed to establishing a safe and healthy marketplace for consumers,” said PGA Tour Vice President of Gaming Scott Warfield. “The Tour is proud to stand alongside its fellow sports leagues and network partners on the coalition, as well as with our colleagues at NCPG, in our continued mission to educate fans on the merits of gambling responsibly and the resources available to address problem gambling issues.”

The co..

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Saturday Night Live spoofs sportsbooks and responsible gambling

Getting the Saturday Night Live treatment is generally an indicator that a person, a business or an industry has fully infiltrated the mainstream.

This past weekend, sportsbooks were the target of a spoof commercial on the program. SNL aired a fake commercial for fictitious operator Rock Bottom Kings, a sportsbook that allows you to wager on the problematic behavior of your peers who may be struggling with a gambling problem.

The ad mimics the look and feel of BetMGM’s spots with Jamie Foxx and the vocal delivery and graphics employed by just about every operator.

More than anything though, the skit sends up the company’s approach to problem gambling, oscillating between humor and the idea you can win from gambling to periodic moments of seemingly insincere concern about addiction.

Gaming industry analyst Steve Ruddock was one who thinks the skit is an indication of how the industry’s RG efforts are landing with the average person.

The skit isn’t going to change hearts and minds..

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New gambling education and safety pledge launched by Tipico Sportsbook

Tipico Sportsbook is taking steps to educate and protect its bettors with a new initiative.

On Monday, the Malta-based operator launched the Tipico Fair Play Pledge, a first-of-its-kind initiative that looks to educate, reward and protect bettors. The pledge is aimed at fostering a safe but enjoyable betting experience while helping users maximize value.

“The sportsbook industry is criticized for misleading users with vague language and a lack of protective safeguards. This is not the case at Tipico,” said Tipico U.S. CEO Adrian Vella. “The Fair Play Pledge is much more than just an app upgrade or generic customer service commitment. It is a repositioning of our business, reimagining the relationship with players by putting safety and clarity at the heart of everything that we do.”

The pledge improves the user experience for Tipico bettors through an improved app interface, which includes clear language to help customers better understand what their betting on and its value. Custome..

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Lawmakers introduce bill to ban gambling on Maryland college campuses

Maryland lawmakers are taking steps to prevent college students from gambling on campus.

House Bill 1087 has been introduced in Maryland as a piece of legislation that aims to prohibit online gambling on college campuses across the state. The bill, which had its first reading in the state’s Ways and Means and Appropriations Committee, would allow institutions to establish a virtual perimeter, “geofence,” around their campuses that would block cell phone access to online sportsbooks. Maryland, which went live with sports betting in November 2022 is home to over 10 operators, including FanDuel and ESPN Bet.

HB 1087 would require four-year public institutions, Baltimore City Community College, and local community colleges to secure contracts with geolocation service companies that have deals with licensed sports betting operators in the Old Line State. The bill anticipates higher expenses for institutions that land the contracts but expects no impact on revenue.

If implemented, colleg..

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Study: Connecticut problem gambling declines over past three decades

A first-of-its-kind study in Connecticut has examined the impact of regulated gambling.

Gemini Research, in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, has released a “Impacts of Legalized Gambling in Connecticut” study, which evaluates how the expansion of commercialized gaming affects state residents.

Connecticut first entered the commercialized gaming industry in 1939 with the authorization of bingo games and has since expanded to other verticals including a state lottery, tribal casinos, keno, and sports betting, which launched in the state in 2021.

The study, which surveyed more than 8,000 Connecticut adults, found that 69% of participants had taken part in some form of gambling in the past year. Connecticut has seen residents embrace the popularity of sports betting with 1 in 10 adults wagering on professional sports, including the NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, horse racing and esports.

Those adults placed bets with Connecticut online sports bet..

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Kinectify announces investment from Aristocrat

Kinectify has announced incremental investment from Aristocrat as well as the appointment of Jason Walbridge to the company’s board of directors.

According to the risk management technology company, Walbridge has joined in order to enhance the strategic benefits between Aristocrat and Kinectify. He has spent over two decades in the industry, holding roles at Aristocrat, NYX Gaming and SG Digital.

In 2022 he began an advisory role at Aristocrat focusing on the development of its online real money gaming business, Anaxi.

“I am thrilled to work with Kinectify to pioneer innovation in risk management across the gaming ecosystem. I’ve been impressed by Kinectify’s track record so far with its AML and responsible gaming technology, and I’m excited to facilitate deeper collaboration between our companies,” said Walbridge, commenting on the investment in Kinectify and his appointment to the Kinectify board.

The company also announced the contribution of additional capital from current inve..

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GeoComply debuts illegal gambling prevention campaign

GeoComply is making efforts to prevent illegal gambling across the country.

The geolocation and fraud prevention solutions provider has released a new video campaign to expose the societal and economic impacts of illicit online wagering across the country. The prevalence of illegal gambling has prevented state and local governments from reaping the benefits of an additional stream of revenue. Illicit wagering has also put consumers in danger as offshore and unregulated platforms fail to ensure the protection of their customers.

Despite more than 35 jurisdictions in the U.S. having regulated betting, Americans wager $400 billion annually with illegal and unregulated operators, according to data provided by GeoComply. The illicit betting has led to the legal industry missing out on more than $30 billion in gaming revenue each year with state governments losing nearly $5 billion in tax revenue annually.

Illegal gambling has also hindered economic investment and new employment opportuni..

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