North Carolina succeeded in getting legal sports betting approved but failed to legalize casino gaming in 2023. While proponents of casino resorts plan to continue pushing for legalization of the vertical, opponents of such a measure are anxious that the game might be rigged.

For reference, North Carolina recently vowed to provide several counties, including Anson, Nash and Rockingham, with funding for major infrastructural improvements. The move caused some to think that the measure might be a preparation for the launch of casino gaming in the Tar Heel State.

For reference, Anson is set to be provided with $6 million for wastewater projects. Nash, on the other hand, will receive some $17 million for similar reasons. The biggest winner of all is Rockingham, which will be provided with a whopping $54.5 million for infrastructural upgrades. The money is part of the $2 billion North Carolina will allocate to infrastructure projects across the state.

The Government Has Been Planning This Investment for Years

According to uneasy opponents of the expansion of gambling, the infrastructural improvements in question are a setup for the launch of Las Vegas-style resorts as they will facilitate the construction of such venues.

Opponents of the launch of casino gaming were quick to point out that last year’s legislation sought approval for casino resorts in these exact counties. The legislation was the brainchild of Sen. Phil Berger and was supported by The Cordish Companies, a major casino and hospitality company. Berger’s promise to reintroduce the measure in 2024 is another factor that caused concern among anti-gambling activists.

For reference, the majority of voters in North Carolina oppose further expansion of the state’s gambling industry. At the same time, Berger believes casino resorts are not just about gaming but about nurturing the economic growth of rural areas as a whole.

In any case, the government was quick to point out that there is no correlation between the proposed improvements and some local leaders’ support for casino resorts. According to the authorities, the infrastructural investments are something they have been planning for years.

Anson County Manager Leonard Sossamon, however, did confirm that the infrastructure improvements would benefit a potential casino resort – a project that would be impossible at the moment.

In other news, NC recently approved the second batch of sports betting rules.

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James Browne, the Irish minister tasked with revamping the industry, says gambling harm must be addressed. In an interview with The Irish Sun, Browne slammed the scaremongering accusations that the new rules will land people in jail over betting tweets.

Thanks to his experience as a barrister Browne was tasked to regulate Ireland’s gambling industry by Tanaiste Micheal Martin himself. Many of Ireland’s gambling laws are almost a century old, sparking the need for urgent changes. However, Browne’s proposals have aggravated operators, sparking claims that the new regulations would devastate the horse racing industry.

In his interview with the Irish news outlet, Brown defended his vision for Ireland’s gambling sector, emphasizing the dangers of gambling harm. He said that he has personally known gambling addicts and believes that the Irish society doesn’t take the matter as seriously as it should. He reminded the public that the issue is very serious and that everyone is at risk.

Browne pointed out that, unlike other types of addiction, gambling addiction can be invisible to a person’s loved ones, which makes it very dangerous. He reiterated the importance of protecting local consumers in light of a recent study that showed there are approximately 130,000 problem players in the country.

Because of that, Browne and the Irish regulator seek to introduce new fines and possible jail sentences for operators and executives that violate Ireland’s safer gambling rules. In addition, the new regulations would ban betting ads from airing before 9 pm and will prohibit enticing offers such as free bets.

However, these measures do not sit well with the industry.

Browne Slammed the Scaremongering That Is Going on

In his interview with The Irish Sun, Browne said that the new measures are impeded by “extreme intensive lobbying.” Racing TV and At The Races, on the other hand, recently expressed their concerns, saying that the advertising ban may force them to exit the Irish market.

Racing TV, for example, said that the ban may cost it EUR 2 million. Browne, however, said that the broadcaster is yet to provide any evidence of that. He added:

Even if you accept the €2m — which is questionable — that’s a tiny fraction of a contract worth hundreds of millions of euros and a contract that was entered into in the face of Government policy.

James Browne

Browne added that the new policy will not change what types of betting are permitted or what events customers can wager on. As a result, broadcasting should not be as impacted as Racing TV claims, he concluded.

Browne also slammed recent claims that people could be jailed for social media posts about bets. He called this “scaremongering” and confirmed that people will not face charges for retweeting odds.

Finally, the Minister refuted the claims that the new public health measures would devastate the racing sector, saying that horse racing companies will likely just revert to sponsors that are not gambling companies.

Despite that, Browne conceded that the legislation would still need certain tweaks before it is ready to be signed into law. Browne confirmed that his team is working on amendments that address a problematic measure that would have introduced betting limits of EUR 10 for games with fixed odds, effectively hurting the poker sector.

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The ongoing reshuffling in Spanish politics may be good news for the gambling industry as the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Alberto Garzón, has stepped down. However, the industry shouldn’t get excited yet as his successor’s stance on gambling is still vague.

Garzón is a vocal anti-gambling activist who has been an active promoter of regulations that limit the industry’s reach. He is also the name behind the crackdown on gambling ads which implemented a number of measures to restrict gambling advertisements. This included the imposing of limits on when gambling companies can advertise, as well as a prohibition of gambling logos on professional athletes’ jerseys.

The controversial policies are currently being reviewed by the Supreme Court as some questioned their constitutionality.

In addition, Garzón promoted restrictions on online gambling deposits and loot boxes in video games. While he couldn’t pass either of these measures, they are not completely off the table either.

Garzón exited politics on Friday. In his final speech, he praised the Ministry of Consumer Affairs’ efforts in promoting safer and healthier online gambling.

Garzón Will Be Succeeded by Pablo Bustinduy

In the meantime, Pablo Bustinduy will step in as the new Minister of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030, a new position set to replace the Minister of Consumer Affairs. Bustinduy’s stance on gambling is not yet clear.

In a recent statement, Bustinduy promised to expand social rights and defend a sustainable democracy. However, Bustinduy has also previously made favorable comments on the Cuban dictator Fidel Castro and is considered a communist by some Spanish journalists.

His alleged anti-capitalist sentiments may mean more trouble for gambling companies, although there is no clear indication of that as of yet.

The appointee boasts a degree in Political Sciences and Administration, a master’s degree in History and Political Thought and a doctorate in Philosophy. Bustinduy’s mother, Ángeles Amador Millán, previously served as the Minister of Health and Consumer Affairs.

After a period outside the political sector, the newly-appointed Minister of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030 returned to politics as a member of Sumar, a left-wing to far-left electoral platform.

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After the long-awaited Gambling Act white paper finally saw the light of day, many doctors, campaigners, and politicians quickly shared their disappointment in the proposed measures, calling for additional restrictions. Although the government has given itself a one-year grace period to iron out the final details, significant changes are unlikely.

The Paper Does a Lot of Things Right

After years of delays, the United Kingdom’s Gambling Act white paper is finally out. The document is a definite improvement over the current regulations, offering substantial improvements in troubled areas. Such changes could not come too soon, as rising problem gambling rates magnify the country’s cost of living crisis, threatening its most vulnerable groups.

Overall, all of the White Paper’s proposed updates seem sound. Operators will have to set aside a portion of their profits to fund gambling harm treatment and prevention, additional resources for the Gambling Commission, and introducing a gambling ombudsman seem like fair ideas. Online gambling, in particular, has received significant attention as iGaming operators face significantly improved player protection guidelines.

Critics Urge for Harsher Measures and Faster Progress

Despite the positive changes, many feel the document does not do enough. One of the primary criticisms of anti-gambling advocates is the lack of substantial advertising reforms. While the government denied any proven connection between advertising and gambling addiction, many charities and organizations do not share the same sentiment.

Association of Directors of Public Health VP Greg Fell warned that constantly exposing children to harmful gambling products could have severe long-term consequences. Charity Gambling with Lives shared his viewpoint, stating that a total ban on gambling advertising was the only meaningful way to reduce gambling-related deaths.

“We now need to push… for an end to all gambling advertising… and… do more to make the most dangerous products safer, further reducing stake sizes and play speeds.”

Charles Ritchie, Gambling with Lives co-founder

Aside from gaming advertisements, the UK government’s generous one-year timeline was another substantial point of contention. Many campaigners, public health specialists, and MPs see it as another delay for an already long overdue reform. Consultant psychologist Dr. Matt Gaskell, head of NHS Northern Gambling Service, warned that people would continue suffering without swift and immediate action.

While the white paper proved popular in Parliament, some MPs have urged the government to act with haste and push up the implementation date. The current timeline should allow the Gambling Commission and the DCMS to review the measures and refine any rough edges. However, shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell noted that given enough political will, the legislation could become law much sooner.

“There’s no reason we can’t get all this done by the Summer recess.”

 Lucy Powell, UK shadow culture secretary

Despite criticisms, the government is unlikely to introduce any significant changes. The white paper is the product of years of work and is long overdue. With rising political pressure to hasten its adoption, risking delays for a potential rework is not really an option. Although the document could have done more, it still marks a substantial improvement over current regulations. As to its effectiveness, only time will tell if the critics had a point.

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