Individuals grappling with problem gambling face more than just the challenges of their addiction. They confront a system rife with bias, making it significantly harder for them to access necessary treatment compared to those struggling with other dependencies.

Individuals with Gambling Disorder Navigate Inequities in Health Coverage

At the 16th Annual Michigan Problem Gambling Symposium, held recently, University of Oklahoma Law Professor Stacey A. Tovino shed light on the institutional biases encountered by those with a gambling problem. Tovino highlighted how individuals with gambling disorder are often disadvantaged when seeking healthcare through both public health programs and private insurance plans, reported Play Michigan.

According to Tovino, individuals grappling with gambling disorder are often subjected to disparities in health insurance coverage and policies. These disparities manifest in various forms, including limited coverage, lower spending caps, and stricter requirements for outpatient visits and therapy sessions. Remarkably, these obstacles are not typically encountered by individuals seeking treatment for physical ailments.

Tovino emphasized the disparity in coverage between mental health conditions and gambling disorder, noting that insurance companies frequently provide fewer benefits for the latter. She explained that individuals with gambling disorder may receive significantly fewer covered inpatient days or outpatient visits compared to those with physical health conditions requiring similar therapy.

Medical Insurance Companies Fail to Address Gambling Addiction

Moreover, despite efforts to enhance mental health coverage over the years, including through legislation like the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 and subsequent amendments, problem gambling remains inadequately addressed. Despite being classified as an impulse control disorder, akin to other recognized dependencies, insurance companies often exclude coverage for gambling addiction.

The expansion of online gambling further exacerbates the issue, with insurance policies increasingly failing to provide coverage for gambling disorder, specifically targeting online gambling addiction.

In Michigan, where the benchmark health plan lacks explicit provisions for gambling disorder treatment, individuals struggling with problem gambling find themselves particularly disadvantaged. Unlike alcohol or substance addiction, gambling disorder is not universally recognized as a disability, further complicating efforts to secure coverage and support.

Amidst these challenges, Michigan offers various resources for individuals and families affected by problem gambling, including helplines, self-exclusion programs, and support groups like Gamblers Anonymous and Game-Anon.

Last year the Michigan Gaming Control Board(MGCB) announced that it anticipates receiving approximately $51 million in funding for Fiscal Year 2024. This budget allocation is meant to support the MGCB in its efforts to combat illegal gambling, monitor the market, and promote responsible gambling initiatives, including the “Don’t Regret the Bet” campaign.

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Kindred announced that it has secured a new extensive agreement with sports data and analytics specialist Stats Perform. This will provide the former company with access to the latter firm’s RunningBall and Opta product suites and includes comprehensive, real-time official sports data feeds and statistics.

According to Kindred, the new deal will allow it to provide its customers with a frictionless in-play betting experience and trusted proposition betting markets centered on player performance.

The partnership comes as Kindred continues to develop and upgrade its proprietary sportsbook platform, Kindred Sportsbook Platform (KSP). By leveraging the official in-play sports data feed RunningBall and Opta player statistics, Kindred will be able to provide customers with tons of entertaining and informative content.

In the meantime, high-quality and low-latency data will ensure that the overall experience is fast and frictionless.

Kindred described Stats Perform’s RunningBall and Opta products and services as “important components” for achieving a high level of differentiation. The former company also praised the data specialist for its Content Player Pro, which makes the delivery of contextual insights, previews, live expected goals and in-game momentum possible.

Kindred concluded that the new deal is in line with its ambition to build a superior product and experience that is steeped in differentiation.

The New Deal Expands a Long-Standing Partnership

Stats Perform’s chief betting officer, Andrew Ashenden, expressed his excitement about the new agreement. He pointed out that this new deal deepens an already long-standing and highly productive partnership.

We are excited to help take Kindred to great heights through our market-leading, built-for-betting RunningBall and Opta products. We are delighted that Kindred recognizes the value we will unlock together in this exciting new partnership.

Andrew Ashenden, chief betting officer, Stats Perform

Andreas Reimblad, director sportsbook at Kindred Group, was similarly pleased with the expanded partnership, saying that it will “unequivocally benefit” his company’s fans and customers.

We firmly believe that Stats Perform, with its expertise, trusted brands, consistent and unique data points, will be an ally as we continue to develop and roll out our proprietary sportsbook platform.

Andreas Reimblad, director sportsbook, Kindred Group

Reimblad added that the partnership will set new standards in delivering a unique and superior sports betting experience.

In other news, Kindred just posted its Q4 results, highlighting strong metrics across the board. In the meantime, La Française des Jeux (FDJ), the leading lottery and sports betting operator in France, suggested that it is planning to acquire Kindred.

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Sky Bet recently announced adjustments to its best odds guaranteed (BOG) promotion, restricting access to active Sky Bet Club loyalty scheme members. Effective 15 January, customers must stake £30 within the previous week’s qualifying period to avail themselves of this offering. The operator was confident it would remain competitive despite these changes, highlighting the benefits of Sky Bet Club.

This decision marks the latest move among leading bookmakers to either limit or remove the popular promotion. October saw Flutter-owned operator Betfair axe this option for horse and greyhound racing. Industry giant William Hill followed suit in December, limiting the offering and setting this ongoing trend. The promotion likely failed to entice customers to pay more, making it unsustainable in the long run.

Sky Bet’s changing policy also eliminates the 10% bonuses on winning forecasts and the 15% bonuses on successful tricasts. The operator had already ceased best odds guaranteed in races offering additional each-way places, heralding the upcoming broader change. Sky Bet head of sports PR Michael Shinners addressed the modifications, highlighting ongoing industry trends.

Best Odds Guaranteed is an offer that many bookmakers have modified or even pulled altogether over the past 18 months.

Michael Shinners, Sky Bet head of sports PR

Shinners discussed the situation for Racing Post, emphasizing BOG’s integration into Sky Bet Club, highlighting it as the leading loyalty scheme in the industry. He added that the most recent decision would ensure that most horseracing customers could continue enjoying the promotion alongside more of Sky Bet’s premiere offerings.

Sky Bet Aims to Consolidate Its Bonus Offerings

When asked about potential implications where punters might increase their spending to access the promotion, Shinners reaffirmed that the Sky Bet Club has consistently required a minimum £30 stake per week for eligibility and that the recent changes would hopefully increase participation in the program. He also underscored Sky Bet’s ongoing support for racing, drawing attention to the upcoming 2024 Sky Bet Sunday Series.

Despite limiting one of its most popular promotions, SkyBet starts the year with significant momentum after a successful 2023. Last year saw the operator conclude several high-profile partnerships with leading leagues and suppliers, bolstering its competitiveness and allowing it to retain its leadership position in the UK.

Sky Bet’s BOG policy changes echo similar shifts made by other bookmakers recently, aligning with industry trends amid rising media rights costs. The operator likely aims to provide more personalized customer service, bolstering customer engagement and hopefully exposing more users to its loyalty scheme. While this move will likely prove unpopular with some bettors, Sky Bet likely hopes it will improve long-term profitability.

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The leading provider of live casino content and technologies, Stakelogic Live, announced it signed a new partnership agreement with 777.nl, the popular Dutch operator. Details regarding the new partnership emerged Thursday and see the operator become the newest addition to Stakelogic Live’s Chroma Key Studio initiative. Under the terms of the freshly minted agreement, 777.nl will benefit from the Chroma Key Studio’s groundbreaking technology.

Stakelogic Live’s Chroma Key Studio is located in the Netherlands and streams in Dutch. The innovative Studio improves significantly the experience for online players as it revolutionizes online interactions. Thanks to the new deal, 777.nl will benefit from this technology and deliver unique live experiences for its growing customer base.

Ultimately, the collaboration is expected to propel the operator’s presence in the vertical, by delivering one-of-a-kind experiences for its players. At the same time, the agreement boosts Stakelogic Live’s strong position as a leading provider of live casino technology, proven to increase engagement and retention.

The Chroma Key Studio enables seamless integration of branding. Initially, 777.nl will benefit from several games, including 7 Seat Blackjack and European Roulette. Moreover, the operator will bring Absolute Blackjack, Stakelogic Live’s latest addition. What makes Absolute Blackjack a strong addition is the ability to offer an unlimited number of seats for players via a single table. This reaffirms the scalability and potential of Stakelogic’s innovative technology.

Recently, the company confirmed another deal for its Chroma Key Studio by teaming up with Bingoal.nl, another popular gambling operator within the Dutch market. Announced earlier this month, the deal saw the operator benefit from Stakelogic’s new studio. This deal designated Bingoal.nl as the first Dutch operator to access the Chroma Key Studio.

The New Deal Brings Excitement to 777.nl, Stakelogic Live

Cesar Paredes, 777.nl’s country manager, spoke about the significant potential of the live casino segment in the country and the unique experiences it delivers. “This is why we are very pleased and proud of this partnership with Stakelogic Live’s Chroma Key studio,” he added. Finally, Paredes confirmed that the company is committed to engaging with its players and delivering thrilling experiences which will now be elevated further thanks to the new live casino content.

“Welcoming 777.nl to our expanding Chroma Key Studio lineup is a significant milestone for Stakelogic Live.“

Olga Bajela, CCO at Stakelogic Live

Olga Bajela, Stakelogic Live’s CCO, added that the company is delighted to expand its portfolio of partners via the new collaboration with 777.nl. She highlighted the importance of the studio’s customization options that elevate the thrill and excitement while allowing operators to showcase their brands.

Bajela said that Chroma Key Studio stands out with scalability which reaffirms its position within the online gambling sector. Finally, she pointed out that Stakelogic will be delighted to see 777.nl deliver new experiences for its customers thanks to the new deal.

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Hacksaw Gaming, the provider of award-winning slots, scratchcards, and instant win games for the most popular brands in the industry, has agreed to offer its top content to BetRivers players in Ontario. This will be possible thanks to the new agreement signed with Rush Street Interactive’s (RSI) brand dedicated to the Canadian province. In May, Hacksaw announced it would power BetMGM Ontario with its portfolio of games. 

By partnering with BetRivers, one of the leading gaming brands in Canada’s only province that currently offers fully regulated online gaming services, Hacksaw will significantly strengthen its position in the region. 

The company’s chief commercial officer, Gabrielle Star, expressed delight about being able to add the “top-tier operator” to their ranks while also describing Rush Street Interactive as a highly reputable and trustworthy operator with a wide global reach.

Further commenting on the new deal, Star spoke about the “great strides” that the provider has been making in the Canadian province in the last months. The CCO also acknowledged that the market will continue to be a strategic one for them as they carry on with their plans to expand in more regulated and highly competitive iGaming markets worldwide.

At the moment, Hacksaw Gaming has inked agreements with over 300 partners in more than 20 regulated global markets. 

Ontarians to Access Top-Shelf Hacksaw Titles 

The integration with RSI will now allow Hacksaw to reach an even richer audience of casino fans online and allow them to experiment with its top-tier content that currently counts over 120 games with stunning graphics and the best background music in the industry. 

BetRivers players in Ontario will get access to a versatile selection of titles including veteran or iconic games like Stick’Em, Wanted Dead or a Wild, Chaos Crew, Hand of Anubis, Dork Unit, fresh releases like Mayan Stackways, and Dare2Win titles such as Coins, Boxes, and Mines.

Hacksaw is getting ready to launch even more exciting titles in the following months, so Ontarians have even more reasons to rejoice at the news of the fresh content distribution agreement.

RSI’s chief executive officer, Richard Schwartz, expressed their pleasure to announce the fresh deal with Hacksaw Gaming, which he believes would attract an “exciting mix of new and popular casino games to our valued BetRivers customers in Ontario” via both the BetRivers.ca platform and the dedicated BetRivers app.

Last month, Hacksaw Gaming scooped up a fresh award, released more games, and announced its expansion in Romania with MaxBet. During the same month, RSI and Design Works Gaming expanded their existing partnership, agreeing to supply the operator’s Pennsylvania-based business with its games.

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OKTO, the digital payments solutions provider delivering services for the gaming and entertainment industry, announced a new collaboration with Europe’s leading open banking payments network, Truelayer. Details regarding the new collaboration emerged Thursday and see OKTO benefit from Truelayer’s leading instant bank payment capabilities.

Thanks to the new collaboration, OKTO will supercharge its leading Cashless Solutions by bringing instant bank payment capabilities from Truelayer. Lauded as a strategic partnership, the collaboration will significantly improve the company’s products and enable it to continue to grow its presence by digitalizing the land-based gambling vertical.

Under the terms of the new collaboration, OKTO’s solutions, including OKTO.WALLET, the company’s omnichannel wallet solution and OKTO.DIRECT, the first retail payments gateway, will be powered by Truelayer’s instant payment capabilities. By integrating into the company’s payments network, OKTO’s solutions now can offer customers instant bank payments for withdrawals, as well as depositing.

Joining forces with Truelayer and enhancing its products, OKTO delivers seamless experiences for its growing customer base. At the same time, Truelayer’s capabilities are supported by its anti-fraud systems, which further boosts the security and reliability of the processes.

“We are excited to team up with OKTO and empower their users to leverage instant bank payments, both online and in retail stores.“

Roberto Villani, VP of iGaming at Truelayer

Roberto Villani, Truelayer’s VP of iGaming, shared his excitement by saying that the company is delighted to join forces with OKTO and deliver its leading instant bank payments capabilities. He acknowledged that the solution will power retail, as well as online operations, delivering efficiencies for OKTO merchants and their players in Europe. Villani also spoke about Truelayer’s fast and secure payments. Finally, he pointed out: “We look forward to working with OKTO to continue to drive innovation.”

The Company Is Excited to Team Up with Truelayer

Earlier this year, OKTO expanded further its footprint in Europe by securing approval for its wallet solution in Germany. At the time, the company’s head of Germany, Mikhail Ovsepyan, revealed that the approval marks a milestone achievement for OKTO.

Maria Magoula, OKTO’s payments director, spoke about the deal with Truelayer and explained that the company is delighted to join forces with the leading open banking payments network. She explained that the instant bank payment capabilities from Truelayer complement OKTO’s goal to deliver seamless, fast and secure payment options.

“We are thrilled to partner with Truelayer and integrate their exceptional instant bank payments into our Cashless Solutions.“

Maria Magoula, payments director of OKTO

Additionally, Magoula pointed out that Truelayer’s solutions will enable OKTO to meet the continuously growing demand from its partners by offering a scalable solution. In turn, she predicted that this will help accelerate OKTO’s expansion on the Old Continent. Finally, Magoula said that the collaboration will boost the company’s efforts to digitalize the entertainment and retail gaming verticals.

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