SBC News

GamStop warns of increase in young adult self-exclusions

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GamStop has recorded a period of record engagement with its national self-exclusion scheme for online gambling during the first half of 2024.

The non-profit organisation reports that more than 49,000 people have self-excluded from online gambling sites in 2024 so far.

In April, GamStop recorded its highest-ever month for self-exclusion registrations since its inception in April 2018, with 8,686 new registrants applying for self-exclusion from online gambling websites.

During the first half of 2024, GamStop registered a total of 49,500 new applicants, bringing the total number of users of its self-exclusion scheme to 482,815.

The UEFA Euros championship had a noticeable impact, with registrations increasing by 8% for the first half of July (knockout stages) compared to the same period last year. Registrations spiked on three particular days: the day after England’s group stage victory over Serbia, the day after England’s extra-time last-16 victory over Slovakia, and the day after th..

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Massachusetts regulators continue to discuss the practice of limiting bettors

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The five commissioners of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission remain committed to examining the practice of sportsbooks limiting bettors. However, a meeting on Thursday resulted in more talk and no action on the matter.

The discussion follows a May meeting where Bally Bet was the only operator to appear as part of a roundtable discussion on the matter. The other operators in the state declined to participate unless they were granted the opportunity to speak in private executive session about their limiting practices.

MA commissioners want actual action, not just talk

The commissioners were eager to hear from operators but were not interested in convening another round table unless operators were willing to have substantive discussions about how they go about limiting bettors.

“It’s hard for me to believe that the operators don’t have an opinion on this policy decision that we may or may not make,” said Interim Chair Jordan Maynard.

Commissioner Nakisha Skinner warned that this di..

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UKGC tracks record Q1 slots activity against sports declines

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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has recorded a 12% increase in online total gross gambling yield (GGY), during the first quarter of the financial year of 2024.

The Commission sourced data on the gambling industry, covering online and in-person gambling with licensed betting operators found on Britain’s high streets. The commission has been collecting data from March 2020 to June 2024.

Providing data for Q1 2024 (April to June), the Commission declared that online total GGY, covering approximately 80% of the online gambling market, reached £1.46 billion, a 12% increase YoY.

Online growth saw Slots activity reach new highs across GGY, spins, and average monthly active accounts, as the segment GGY rose by 10% year-over-year.

The commission noted that it is “currently investigating the categorisation of certain products.” While this could result in some data changes between verticals, it shouldn’t impact the overall totals.

The number of bets and/or spins rose by 11% compared to the..

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SPA publishes rules framework for Brazil Bets’ games and live studios

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The launch of Brazil’s federal online gambling market is nearing its final stages, as the government has published technical ordinances to authorise online casino games and live gaming studios.

Yesterday, the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA), the department that will serve as the federal gambling authority of Brazil, submitted Ordinance No. 1,207 to the government.

The document outlines technical requirements for operating online games and live game studios as required by Law No. 14.790 (Betting Law) – which constitutes the regulatory framework of the Brazil Bets Market.

New ordinances are further required to amend rules and criteria related to fixed-odds games supplied by lottery operators prior to the Betting Law.

Significantly, the SPA provides its legal interpretations for the online criteria of multiplier systems, table games, fixed-odds games, live studio games, multi-player games, and fantasy sports. As such, the SPA provides two annexes to break down key requirements..

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BetBlocker, Caesars and IGT among winners of NCPG Awards

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The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) announced the winners of its 2024 National Awards last week, with BetBlocker, Caesars, IGT, Wisconsin Lottery and a host of others all reaching the top of the podium. Each year, NCPG honours individuals and organisations from around the world for their work on problem gambling and responsible gambling. …

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William Hill handed ASA order to remove welcome bonus promo

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The Advertising Standards Authority has ordered William Hill to remove an advertisement for misleading language around the use of payments for welcome bonuses.

The advert was seen on search engine Bing and featured a promotion advertising a ‘Bet £10 get £60’ welcome bonus from the online casino and sports betting operator.

Raising the issue with the ASA, a complainant noted that, when clicking on the link included in the advertisement, some small print stated that Apple Pay could not be used as a payment method.

This was considered as a significant term of the promotion, and omitting this information from the advertisement has been considered as misleading customers.

The ASA’s assessment sided with the complainant, referring to the Committee on Advertising Practice Code that governs UK advertising and marketing standards and practice.

Under the CAP Code, all marketing communications and promotions must state applicable significant conditions where omission is likely to mislead. ..

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Michel Groothuizen: KOA compliance tightening is simply inevitable

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Michel Groothuizen has expressed that there will be a “continuity and inevitability” to Dutch gambling reforms, regardless of government changes.

Writing his first post as new Chairman of Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands Gambling Authority, Groothuizen underlined his commitment to concluding the reforms of the Remote Gambling Act (KOA).

Having taken office on 1 July, Groothuizen will oversee the remaining phases of the KOA review, under a new coalition government.

Despite changes KSA agents remain in place to finalise a near-three-year process to overhaul KOA laws, which launched the Netherlands online gambling marketplace in October 2021.

As noted: “The new ministers will also use largely the same underlying structure in the departments. And civil servants will support them, enthusiastically or not, but above all loyally, and provide them with expert advice, thereby contributing to a stable and predictable national government.

“And that is a good thing, because otherwise..

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Alabama baseball scandal leads to prison sentence for former player Neff

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Bert Neff has been sentenced to prison for his role in a gambling scandal that led to the firing of the former head coach of Alabama’s baseball program, Brad Bohannon.

According to court documents obtained from the U.S. District for the Northern District of Alabama, Neff has been sentenced to eight months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty in February to one count of obstruction of justice. The Indiana native was handed the sentence after betting at Great American Ballpark.

Last April, Neff attempted to place a $100,000 wager at BetMGM’s retail sportsbook in Cincinnati after being provided with insider information about the Alabama baseball team from Bohannon. Neff attempted to place the wager on Alabama’s opponent, LSU, but was limited to $15,000 by BetMGM staff who flagged the bet as suspicious. According to court documents, Bohannon told Neff to bet against Alabama.

As a result, Alabama fired Bohannon but he has yet to be charged in the case. A..

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