Across Europe, the minimum legal age required for gambling activities varies between 18 and 21. Unlike the United States, where the legal age for gambling and consuming alcohol is 21 in a majority of states, many countries on the Old Continent permit such activities after 18.

The Flemish Expertise Center for alcohol, illegal drugs, psychoactive medication, gambling and gaming, VAD, released a new memorandum this week, asking for changes to the existing legislation in Belgium, effectively restricting young adults under the age of 21 from gambling. The organization flagged concerns about the impact of gambling on young adults, encouraging lawmakers to increase the minimum age required for such activities.

Belgium’s existing gambling laws prohibit individuals under the age of 21 from playing at retail slots or visiting brick-and-mortar casinos. Similarly, anyone under the age of 21 is not allowed to engage in online gambling.

While those restrictions sound good enough, there are gambling activities that young adults who are 18 or older can access. For example, anyone above the age of 18 can participate in lotteries, bingo, as well as some online games of chance.

Effective Measures to Protect Young Adults

According to VAD’s memorandum, the prevention of harm related to alcohol and gambling can be achieved through several measures. It said that the most “cost-effective” measures include the implementation of an advertising ban, increases in prices as well as limiting availability.

Besides increasing the minimum gambling age to 21, the organization supported the raising of the minimum age for alcohol to 18. The proposed changes that seek prevention “through cost-effective measures in legislation,” are in line with VAD’s 2021 10-point plan on effective gambling regulation.

As an example of why there is a need to increase the gambling age in Belgium, the organization pointed to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Citing data, VAD revealed that some 43,122 new players registered for the first time with a gambling operator at that time. A majority or 58% of the players were under the age of 30, the organization confirmed. Citing research, VAD explained that exposure to gambling activities at a young age increases the chance of gambling addictions.

Besides gambling and alcohol, VAD’s memorandum outlines a total of nine priorities that seek to implement effective policies for gaming, illegal drugs and psychoactive medication. The memorandum highlighted the increasing risks of all such activities, urging not only for prevention and early intervention but also assistance and harm reduction.

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Lithuania’s parliament (Seimas) has received a new proposal that, if passed, would raise the minimum age limit for gambling to 21. As reported by SBC News, this proposal is part of the Seimas’ 2024 agenda and will be on voted by ministers later this year.

The new measure applies to both retail and digital gambling. In addition to discussing this measure, Lithuanian lawmakers will also discuss the implementation of new restrictions and ID requirements. Under the newly proposed rules, Lithuanian players under 21 will be unable to enter gambling venues, wager money and participate in online gambling.

The raise of the age limit for gambling was proposed by Jurgita Sejonienė, a member of Lithuania’s Homeland Union Party. According to Sejonienė, the age limit in question should be raised in line with Lithuania’s ongoing gambling reforms that have seen the introduction of stricter gambling laws.

The measure was fast-tracked to a vote and received unanimous initial approval. The Seimas will decide whether to proceed with these changes by July 2024.

Lithuania Aims to Introduce a Stricter Regulatory Framework

Currently, Lithuania allows players over 18 to gamble, although people under 21 are prohibited from entering and playing at casinos. Since the new measure will also ban under-21s from playing online, only those above the age of 21 will be able to participate in real-money games.

There is a notable exception, which is the country’s national lottery. As previously, the legal age limit for participating in the lottery would remain 18+. However, Lithuania recently introduced stricter ID check requirements for lottery retailers that require them to verify that consumers are over the legal age before they are allowed to participate.

In the meantime, Lithuania recently adopted increased gambling licensing fees, which was considered a significant development in the country’s regulations. Effective as of July 27, 2023, the resolution reflected the country’s desire to introduce a stricter regulatory framework.

Speaking of regulation, a few months ago, TopSport violated the country’s self-exclusion rules by allowing an excluded individual to play. As a result, the operator was required to pay a fine of $27,000.

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The 2019-founded Austrian Players’ Aid Association, also known as the Spielerhilfe Association, has recently slammed Austrian Lotteries for allegedly allowing underaged players to buy instant win products.

No Age Controls in Place 

According to the association aimed at advocating for better player protection in the country while offering media education and advice, 55% of all children who were used in their testing purchases had no problem buying the respective products, in spite of being aged between 12 and 14. 

The Spielerhilfe, therefore, slammed Austrian Lotteries for failing to perform the necessary age verification procedures during the purchases. 

Starting July 10, 2023, Austrian Lotteries has imposed an age limit of 18, abolishing the previous age limit of 16 for purchasing lottery tickets and other products. 

In the past years, the legal age of gambling has represented a controversial topic in many parts of the world. In March 2022, some of Michigan’s casino properties decided to lower their gambling age to 18 from 21. 

Spielerhilfe Carried 175 Test Purchases in Three Federal States 

Austrian Lotteries, which features Allwyn-owned Casinos Austria as the major shareholder, has allegedly sold the instant win products to minors in the federal states of Salzburg, Upper Austria, and Lower Austria where Spielerhilfe carried 175 test purchases throughout the current year. 

The children part of the testing were sent to buy scratch cards and other lottery products sold by Austrian Lotteries’ retail outlets. The action was used as a means of verifying their compliance with the regulations in the industry.

Spielerhilfe’s chairman and spokesperson, Christoph Holubar, commented that Austrian Lotteries “apparently has big problems controlling its sales partners”. He added that the protection of minors was yet to be guaranteed, since in over 50% of all purchases initiated by children, they were given the green light to buy the products. 

Holubar also mentioned the example of the Salzburg branch of Austrian Lotteries whose retail outlets served clients over the age of 16, in spite of the existence of the 2019 Salzburg Youth Act which banned individuals under the age of 18 from taking part in games of chance. 

The chairman commented that the lotteries’ actions ignored the federal state’s “legal situation.” He further explained that the company “apparently risked that its contractual partners would continually violate applicable laws” while committing administrative offenses.

So far, Spielerhilfe has referred 34 violations of responsible gaming regulations to the authorities in Salzburg.

At the start of September, Premier Lotteries Ireland was fined $160,000 for breaching its licensing conditions regarding self-exclusion. At the time, Carol Boate, the chief of the Irish lottery regulator that imposed the fine, also emphasized the need for robust measures that would eradicate underage gambling and lower the risk of problem gambling.

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Loot boxes are a part of many popular modern video games. The feature offers an activity that is similar to a game of chance where players can open, unlock or break a loot box and receive a random prize. Australia is the latest country to implement changes related to loot boxes as a part of important regulations that are set to come into effect next September.

Michelle Rowland, Australia’s Minister for Communications, revealed that the Albanese government remains committed to reducing gambling harm and this includes restricting access to games with gambling-like elements by children. She confirmed that a proposal calling for a mandatory minimum classification for gambling-like content as a part of video games was recently greenlighted.

As a part of the changes, which are going to come into effect as of September 2024, games that contain simulated gambling, including social casino games, would receive an R18+ restricted classification. This classification means that users under the age of 18 would not be able to legally access such content. Moreover, the R18+ classification means that such products are not suitable for children.

In addition, the changes will implement an M-mature advisory classification for games that have payable features such as loot boxes and other in-game purchases. While the measure is advisory and not restrictive, it means that legal guardians and parents would be able to know that such products are associated with risks they need to consider before letting their children play. While the change will come into effect next September, it would not apply retrospectively.

Changes Seek to Protect Children from Gambling Harm and Addiction

According to Rowland, the changes to video game classification come after a three-week public consultation that was completed earlier this year. In May 2020, the Neville Stevens Review recommended such classification to the former government in Australia. Now, Rowland said, the Albanese government is taking appropriate action, following the recommendation in an effort to protect children from harms related to gambling-like content.

“We know there is a growing community concern about children being exposed to gambling-like features in games.“

Michelle Rowland, Minister for Communications in Australia

The Minister for Communications acknowledged that video games expose children to features similar to gambling, which raises concerns about harm and addiction. A link between games with gambling-like features and problem gambling and other forms of harm was found in research by the Australian Institute of Family Studies. According to Rowland, the changes seek to help Australians make informed decisions about the content that is suitable for their children.

Australia isn’t the only country to impose regulations for loot boxes. This summer, the government in the UK urged the gaming sector to implement strict guidelines in order to protect the players. Overall, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport published and developed 11 different principles related to loot boxes.

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The global gaming company powering operators within the lottery, betting and online gambling sector, International Game Technology (IGT), confirmed earlier this week that it will showcase its latest games, services, systems and cabinets at the upcoming 2023 Australasian Gaming Expo (AGE). As one of the most-anticipated events for the gambling industry in the region, the AGE is planned to take place between August 15 and August 17, 2023, in Sydney, Australia. The thrilling event will provide engagement opportunities for suppliers, providers as well as operators. Visitors and participants at AGE will be able to see new products and services, participate in seminars and tap into unique networking opportunities.

At stand 590, IGT will demonstrate its highly popular PeakDual27 and PeakCurve49 cabinets. The cabinets deliver features from the company’s popular Crystal cabinet series but enhance further the experience for the users with optimized screens. Additionally, the Peak cabinets offer an ergonomic and dynamic player panel with dual bash buttons, as well as curved dual-screen gameplay transitions.

Besides the Peak cabinets, IGT will present its revolutionary features, including Cash Ching, as well as Portal Link & Portal Loot. The global gaming company will showcase its award-winning global solution, Prosperity Link to the Australian market. Visitors to the upcoming event will also be able to receive more information regarding IGT’s Boost It Up feature.

Besides the aforementioned solutions, the IGT Systems team will demonstrate the company’s digital wallet solutions. Last but not least, IGT vowed to also present its IGT ADVANTAGE CLUB system that provides efficiencies for gambling operators, complementing cashless gaming.

Recently, IGT posted strong Q2 2023 results, outlining $1.06 billion in total revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2023. When compared to the same period last year, the Q2 results marked a growth of 3%.

The Company Is Excited to Showcase Its Products

Dallas Orchard, IGT’s chief operating officer, gaming APAC, explained that the upcoming expo provides a unique chance for the company to showcase its “localized solutions that are designed to deliver peak player entertainment and help grow customer revenues in the ANZ market.” He spoke about the ongoing commitment of the company to deliver games that stand out with a localized approach and help operators in different regions continue to grow.

“We invite customers in our AGE booth to meet IGT’s local studio teams and engage with game concepts, experience game design ethos and explore what our studios have in store for future game development.“

Dallas Orchard, chief operating officer, gaming APAC at IGT

Speaking about the AGE, Orchard said that IGT will be excited to showcase its latest additions. He outlined that the upcoming event will serve as the launch of the company’s Peak cabinets, which have already seen significant success in other markets such as North America. Finally, Orchard said that the company is looking forward to presenting its innovative features and solutions and invited customers to meet IGT at its AGE booth.

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In a groundbreaking move aimed at protecting minors from the influence of sports betting, Massachusetts regulators voted on June 29 to require sportsbooks operating within the state to incorporate age warnings on their logos displayed inside sports venues. 

New Regulation in Massachusetts Requires 21+ Warning on Sportsbook Logos in Arenas

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) approved the policy change in a close vote of 3-2, after several months of extensive deliberations and public feedback. Under the new regulation, sportsbook operators will be given a 90-day grace period to comply with the requirement once it is officially published.

The mandate primarily targets standalone logos for sportsbooks in sports arenas, where minors are more likely to come across such branding. Popular venues like Boston’s Fenway Park will now be required to prominently display the age restriction warning to all spectators.

Sportsbook advertisements in Massachusetts already carry a disclaimer stipulating that individuals must be at least 21 years old to participate in sports betting. The newly passed change extends this requirement to standalone logos displayed at sports arenas. To comply with the new rule, sportsbook operators can simply add a clear “21+” label to their logos.

However, the mandate comes with certain limitations. It applies solely to fixed signage within sports arenas and does not encompass logos featured on apparel, letterhead, or business cards. Additionally, it does not extend to other public displays of a sportsbook’s logo, making the focus strictly on sports venue advertisements.

Massachusetts Sportsbook Logo Rule Puts Fanatics in a Bind

Among the companies significantly affected by this rule change is Fanatics, a well-known brand that utilizes the same logo for both its sportsbook and apparel business. To conform to the regulation, Fanatics will either need to design a separate logo exclusively for its sportsbook or add a “21+” disclaimer to all instances of its logo within stadiums if it chooses to maintain a unified brand image across all its products.

The commission’s decision to implement this new requirement garnered support from Commissioners Eileen O’Brien, Nakisha Skinner, and Jordan Maynard. However, Chair Cathy Judd-Stein and Commissioner Bradford R. Hill opposed the move. Judd-Stein expressed concerns about the potential effectiveness of the rule in deterring young people from engaging in sports betting and emphasized that Massachusetts is diverging from the approaches adopted by other states.

Nevertheless, the majority prevailed, with the commission emphasizing its commitment to protecting vulnerable age groups from exposure to gambling-related marketing in the sports arena. The move is expected to set a precedent for other states to follow suit in prioritizing the safeguarding of minors amidst the growing popularity of sports betting across the country.

The MGC keep striving to make gambling safer in the state with various initiatives. In April, it announced plans to involve sportsbooks in providing data to support research on gambling addiction and responsible gambling, while in March it introduced a voluntary self-exclusion program.

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Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson has spent most of his life at the green felt, championing the game from the early days when it was stigmatized by malcontents to its glory days when poker suddenly became a legitimate way of earning a living.

Dead at the age of 89, Brunson has lived a long and full life worth remembering. In a statement, Brunson’s family said:

He was a beloved Christian man, husband, father, and grandfather. We’ll have more to say over the coming days as we honor his legacy. Please keep Doyle and our family in your prayers. May he rest in peace.

Brunson is one of the few players to have won multiple World Series of Poker tournaments. In fact, he has won 10 such events, second only to Phil Hellmuth who has 16 titles under his belt and he is definitely intent on winning more. The poker community has been quick to pick up the news and respond with an outpouring of regret, sorrow, and hopefulness that Brunson was in a better place now.

A Man Like Brunson Will Never Be Around in Poker Again

Daniel Negreanu, another heavyweight poker player, said that there would never be another Brunson. Scotty Nguyen said that he couldn’t believe that he would not see Brunson again. “You will always be held high in our hearts, the man, the myth, the legend & THE GODFATHER of poker,” Nguyen outpoured.

Brunson was not meant to be a poker player as well. Much like the Gordon Ramsey of his time, he used to be a star athlete who ended up with a bad knee injury and had to retire from making it into the NBA. But just like Ramsey poured his love for soccer into cooking, so did Brunson discover his love for poker which lived on from the mid-20^th century to his taking his dying breath.

Brunson won his first WSOP bracelet decades ago, and his last – in 2005. Over his life, though, Brunson didn’t only play in Las Vegas. Not at all, he was a true globe-trotting poker aficionado. He visited far-flung countries and played all across Europe, including the United Kingdom, Spain, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Malta, and beyond. He travelled to South Africa and China and where he went, he brought with him his immense love of the game.

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