Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has opted not to veto the proposed amendments to the Gambling Law, which include a ban on gambling advertisements in the media.

President Radev had previously indicated that he was considering the changes to the Gambling Law and was awaiting input from his advisors before making a final decision.

Despite objections from media outlets, gambling operators, sports clubs, and other businesses between the readings, the prohibition on gambling advertisements in the media was approved by a significant majority of deputies during the final session of the 49th National Assembly. Some stakeholders argued that public discussion should precede the adoption of such a significant measure.

The initiative for these amendments came from GERB and DPS and was introduced unexpectedly during the final days of the 49th National Assembly by Yordan Tsonev (DPS) and Temenuzka Petkova (GERB). The bill rapidly moved through the legislative process, passing its first reading in the budget committee and subsequently receiving approval in the plenary session. An extraordinary meeting of the Committee on Budget and Finance was convened to expedite the voting on the amendments before deputies began their pre-election recess.

Controversial Ban on Gambling Ads

The new amendments, which include a total ban on gambling advertisements in the media, have sparked controversy. Various stakeholders have expressed their concerns and objections. Media outlets, gambling operators, sports clubs, and other businesses affected by the law have argued against the ban, suggesting that a public discussion should precede such a significant legislative change. However, despite these objections, the amendments were passed with a substantial majority.

President Radev’s decision not to veto the amendments has finalized the legislative process, bringing about significant changes to the Gambling Law in Bulgaria The new prohibition on gambling advertisements in the media marks a substantial shift in the regulatory landscape for gambling in the country. Despite the objections and calls for public debate, the amendments have been approved and will soon come into effect.

Source: “Bulgarian President Approves Gambling Law Amendments”. European Gaming. May 17, 2024.

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The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has taken action against more unlicensed gambling websites in the country. The watchdog’s latest ban wave saw it block another dozen websites.

According to the authority, the sites in question included Playzilla, Wazamba, Zet Casino, Slots Palace, Nomini, Casinia, SG Casino, Fez Bet, Buran Casino, Spin Better, Golden Bet and Clash.gg. The ACMA explained that had violated Australia’s Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

For reference, website blocking is one of several enforcement options available to the ACMA and is designed to protect Australian consumers from exposure to illegal gambling services. Unlicensed sites undermine the integrity of the legal market and expose their customers to financial risks and gambling harm.

The ACMA is allowed to block websites that provide prohibited interactive gambling services (such as online casino games) to Australian players, provide an unlicensed regulated interactive gambling service or publish ads for such services.

The Watchdog Continues to Shield Australian Consumers from Illegal Content

The ACMA has been working hard to protect the Australian market from unlicensed competition ever since November 2019 when it issued its first blocking request. Since then, the Australian watchdog has issued blocking requests against a whopping 926 illegal gambling and affiliate websites.

In addition, ACMA’s actions have convinced more than 220 illegal operators to willingly pull out of the Australian gambling market.

The ACMA reminded consumers to be vigilant and make sure that they don’t engage in illegitimate gambling activities. The regulator warned that offshore operators rarely offer sufficient levels of consumer protections, exposing customers to higher risks of gambling harm.

In addition, Australian authorities cannot intervene if an unlicensed operator decides to not pay out winnings or if something else goes wrong. The ACMA urged Australian players to familiarize themselves with its register to make sure that they are familiar with the legal gambling operators in the country.

In other news, the ACMA recently slammed the gambling giants Entain, bet365 and Sportsbet over violations of its in-play betting rules. For reference, Australia prohibits in-play betting on sports matches, save for a few limited exceptions.

However, the ACMA decided not to impose sanctions on the three operators as it acknowledged their quick reaction.

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The recent F1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023 saw the Las Vegas government introduce a variety of tourist and citizen-unfriendly measures. While some were only temporary solutions to protect the racers, some seem to be here to stay.

In November, local lawmakers introduced a measure that would ban pedestrians from stopping on the Vegas Strip’s multiple pedestrian bridges. While no one believed the measure would pass, the Clark County Commission voted in favor of the restriction.

As a result, people who stop on one of the Vegas Strip’s pedestrian bridges for any reason, risk misdemeanor charges, a $1,000 fine and up to six months in prison. This doesn’t only apply to the bridges themselves but to the vicinity of the stairways, escalators and elevators as well.

The original measure applied to all people standing still but thankfully, an amendment fixed the rule so that people waiting for the elevators and escalators do not risk charges.

The argument in favor of the measure is that big events often cause congestion of people that can expose people to the dangers of terrorism and prevent authorities and emergency personnel from accessing and crossing the bridges easily.

The police, for example, have trouble crossing the pedestrian bridges to maintain order during such events, which is why proponents of the measure believe that it is necessary.

However, during most of the year, the measure will prevent water sellers and artists from doing business on the bridges. It would also prevent people from taking photos of the Strip.

Once a reality, the restriction will be communicated to pedestrians via signs at the affected sites.  

The Measure Will Result in Litigation, Opponents Believe

As one can imagine, a lot of people are unhappy with the measure, which they believe is unconstitutional. According to Athar Haseebullah, the executive director of the ACLU of Nevada, no one who supports the First Amendment should support this measure.

Haseebullah added that if the measure passes, it will surely result in litigation. He slammed the “buzzwords” which seek to make the measure appeal less restrictive than it actually is. Despite that, the Clark County Commission was far more inclined to accept the narrative that this measure would protect the safety of pedestrians.

However, the commission has no start date for the new regulation as of yet.

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A lot is changing when it comes to Australian gambling law, and new legislation has just been passed. The use of credit cards as a payment method for placing online bets will be prohibited from now on, as the Australian Federal Parliament decided.

Important measure

Kai Cantwell, the CEO of Responsible Wagering Australia, supports this decision. He thinks that the country needs this decision since the residents will be allowed to gamble only with the money they actually have on their cards.

Cantwell commented: “This is an important measure to protect customers and their loved ones, making it easier for people to stay in control of their own gambling behavior. It will complement the existing offering of safer gambling account management tools by RWA members to customers to help them stay in control of their betting.”

Lotteries and keno issue

He added that it was disappointing that some kinds of games, for example, lotteries and keno, were excluded from this ban since the lotteries are the most popular type of gambling in the country, especially in people from lower socioeconomic groups.

Only in 2020 and 2021 did citizens lose more than $3.2 billion playing these two types of games, according to the Australian Gambling Statistics. When online keno was legalized in Victoria, these numbers increased even further, and in 2022 and 2023, the losses increased by more than 400%.

There are other parts of the gambling law that lotteries are excluded from. There is also a National Self Exclusion Register, Betstop, so the Australians who already have excluded themselves from other forms of online gambling still have the opportunity to gamble up to $10.000 online by playing lotteries.

Cantwell added: “To effectively reduce gambling harm, consumer protection measures must exist across all forms of gambling. Otherwise, those at risk of harm will just move from one form of gambling to another less regulated type.”

Strict regulations

The industry is talking about the potential credit card ban from 2021. The RWA members collaborate with the federal government and financial institutions to deliver the best possible solutions when it comes to credit card bans and online gambling regulations. The institutions will continue to work hard on this, and the ban is supposed to be implemented in all online casinos in Australia within six months.

This is the newest regulation in the Australian market, but not the only one. Other prohibitions include banning external signage, reducing the cash-input limit, reducing the cap on machine entitlements, and others.

Source: Narayan, Niji, “Australian Parliament Passes Legislation Banning Online Credit Card Betting”. European Gaming. December 7. 2023.

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The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), the gambling regulator in the state, is currently tasked with monitoring the gambling sector and enforcing the established rules. Overseeing the operations of Pennsylvania’s online casino games, the regulator is also in charge of monitoring sports wagering, video gaming terminals and retail casino gambling.

On Wednesday this week, the PGCB announced it imposed bans against four adults after petitions filed by the Board’s Office of Enforcement Counsel. The bans come after the four adults were allegedly found to have left a total of six minors unattended in order to participate in gambling activities. Currently, it is prohibited for adults to leave minors unattended at hotels, parking lots or other areas adjacent to casinos in Pennsylvania.

Such actions are subject to criminal prosecution in the state. Moreover, whenever an adult is found to leave a minor unattended, they are added to an Involuntary Exclusion List. In other words, such adults are banned from casino gambling across the state.

The Gambling Watchdog Describes the Incidents

One female visitor of Live! Casino Philadelphia was banned after she left two minors, ages 10 and 13, in a car located at the parking lot of the venue. The children were left alone for 24 minutes while the woman gambled on slots at the casino.

On the other hand, another female patron was banned for leaving a 13-year-old unattended for 10 minutes in the Sky Bridge hallway at Mohegan Pennsylvania Casino. The visitor who gambled on slot machines was subsequently banned.

A male patron was banned from the state’s casinos after leaving two minors, aged 6 and 8 alone for 13 minutes. The children were left unattended in a car at the parking lot of Live! Casino Pittsburgh while the man gambled at slot machines.

Last but not least, another male patron was placed on the state’s Involuntary Exclusion List after he left a 1-year-old child unattended in a locked car at the parking lot of Valley Forge Casino Resort. The infant was left for 9 minutes inside the locked vehicle when the outside temperature was 84 degrees while the male patron gambled at a table game and a sportsbook.

Law enforcement arrived on the scene and broke the car’s window to extract the infant. According to the PGCB’s statement, the male later tried to flee the scene with his car where police uncovered illegal drugs. Besides his ban from casinos, he was also detained.

In addition to the four bans, the PGCB announced it approved a $40,000 fine against Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association, the operator of Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course. The fine comes after individuals under the age of 21 were allegedly able to access the gaming floor and gamble on three occasions.

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Star Entertainment Group’s recent bans on poker players don’t sit well with many professionals. The Australian Poker Schedule, a website that allows enthusiasts to keep track of upcoming events, has launched a petition against Star’s allegedly “unjustified” measures.

Craig Abernethy, founder of the Australian Poker Schedule, addresses the issue in the petition, saying that in around 12 months, the casino company has banned more than half a dozen of Australia’s best poker players.

Some of the recipients of allegedly unjustified bans include Alex Lynskey, Jarred Graham, Hun Wei Lee, Najeem Ajez, Rehman Kassam and Chris Zenonos. These players, among others, are currently unable to enter Star’s properties, lest they risk intervention from the police.

Not only have these players practiced and honed their poker skills, built their careers around poker and performed at the highest level of competition for more than a decade, but they have exemplary and long-standing reputations and are highly respected among the poker community including some internationally recognized.

Craig Abernethy, founder, Australian Poker Schedule

The worst part, Abernethy says, is that Star Entertainment never provided any details on the reasoning behind the bans. When contacted, the company reminded the disgruntled players that “it is not required to provide reasons” for its decisions.

Abernethy Asks Fans to Stand Up

The biggest problem stemming from the bans is that the banned players are now essentially excluded from the World Poker Tour Australia because of the World Poker Tour’s exclusive partnership with Star Entertainment Group.

As a result, the aforementioned players will lose the opportunity to play at the prestigious event without even knowing why they have been banned. According to Abernethy, the “scariest thing” is that this can happen to any poker player at any time.

Australian Poker Schedule’s founder emphasized that Star’s actions are worrying and that players should be wary of the company. He asked the poker community and their friends to stand up against Star Entertainment, which he accused of being “cruel, arrogant and bullish.”

The petition has 527 signatures as of the time of this writing.

Casino.org later spoke with Abernethy on the matter. Abernethy told the news outlet that Star Entertainment likely flags the activity of poker players who transfer large sums of money as suspicious, believing it to be related to money laundering.

Considering Star’s recent regulatory trouble, it is possible that the company wants to be extra safe when implementing its remediation measures.

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The globally-recognized tennis integrity body, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), confirmed Thursday it imposed a tough sanction against a player that was found to have breached the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP). Judging by a statement released by the Agency, Alexis Musialek, a French professional tennis player, was banned from the sport for life after breaches related to match-fixing.

The professional tennis player who had the highest ATP singles ranking of 255 in 2015 initially denied all charges against him. However, an investigation led by Raj Parker, an independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer (AHO), uncovered that Musialek was involved in match-fixing of nine matches between 2016 and 2018. Additionally, it was determined that the French player failed to cooperate with ITIA’s probe and withheld evidence.

Overall, according to ITIA, Musialek was involved in a total of 39 breaches of the TACP rules. According to the Agency: “The 35-year-old was found to have – among other offenses – contrived the outcome of multiple matches, received money, benefit or consideration for contriving the outcome of these matches.” The integrity watchdog also said that Musialek engaged with other players, encouraging them “not to use their best efforts.”

In light of the uncovered breaches, the French tennis player received a lifetime ban from the sport. Additionally, a hefty $50,000 fine was imposed against him. Although it was announced this week, the sanction was in effect as of August 5, 2023, the ITIA confirmed.

The lifetime ban means that Musialek won’t be permitted to play or coach at any event sanctioned or authorized by the governing bodies of tennis permanently. He is also prohibited from attending such events as well.

The Tennis Integrity Watchdog Remains Vigilant

As the independent body, safeguarding the integrity of tennis, ITIA has the authority to implement sanctions which may include fines, temporary or even permanent bans. Earlier this month, the Agency confirmed it imposed provisional suspensions against three players over TACP breaches. At the time, the ITIA alleged that Timur Khabibulin, Sanjar Fayziev and Igor Smilansky were involved in multiple breaches related to match-fixing.

Before that, back in July, the Agency hit the Bolivian tennis umpire, Percy Flores, with a temporary ban from the sport for a duration of 12 years. The tough sanction came after the regulatory watchdog uncovered a whopping 31 breaches of the TACP rules between November 2021 and October 2022.

Again, in July, the ITIA confirmed the launch of a new mandatory integrity education for junior players in collaboration with the International Tennis Federation (ITF). Ultimately, that training seeks to educate and raise awareness about the importance of the sport’s integrity.

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The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has confirmed the provisional suspensions of three professional athletes. According to the announcement, Timur Khabibulin, Sanjar Fayziev and Igor Smilansky breached the codes of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) by trying to manipulate the outcomes of games.

The players in question will remain provisionally suspended until their official sanctions have been considered. The decision was made by Janie Soublière, an anti-corruption hearing officer.

The ITIA justified its provisional suspension with the following rule outlined in the TACP:

In the event that the Covered Person is found liable of one or more of the charges against them and sanction is not determined at the same time as the decision on liability, the AHO, either of the AHO’s own volition or on an application by the ITIA, must impose a Provisional Suspension pending the final decision on sanction.

TACP excerpt

As of July 25, the trio can no longer compete or attend any sanctioned sports event organized or recognized by the tennis governing bodies.

The Players Violated the TACP on Multiple Occasions

The ITIA reported that the Khabibulin, Fayziev and Smilansky have career peaks of 753, 253 and 451, respectively.

According to Soublière, the Kazakhstan-born Khabibulin violated the TACP 18 times between 2014 and 2018. The Uzbekistani athlete Fayziev and the Israeli athlete Smilansky, on the other hand, committed 5 and 3 breaches of the TACP, respectively, in collaboration with Khabibulin.

The three players conspired together to contrive aspects of matches for wagering gain. They also failed to report corrupt approaches. In addition, Khabibulin offered money to other players to influence their performance.

ITIA Continues to Crack Down on Fraud

The ITIA is an independent body founded by the International Governing Bodies of Tennis that seeks to identify and protect the sport from fraud and manipulation.

The body recently banned the Bolivian umpire Percy Flores over similar violations of the TACP. The umpire will be excluded from the sport for 12 whole years.

Prior to that, the ITIA teamed up with the ITF to launch mandatory integrity education for players with an active Juniors International Player Identification Number. The program seeks to teach players about the nature of fraud, its nature and its consequences.

In July, the body also sanctioned Mark Philippoussis over violations of the sponsorship rules in professional tennis. The Australian coach had participated in a voiceover where he promoted a gambling operator’s products.

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The gambling regulator in Victoria, Australia, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC), announced it implemented a major change affecting betting on sports with the participation of minors. On Thursday, the gambling watchdog unveiled that it will prohibit the offering of betting on all under 19 sports competitions. Additionally, the VGCCC said that it will impose a ban on bets involving the performance of athletes who are under the age of 18, regardless if they participate in open events along with seniors.

The new regulations are set to come into effect in 60 days. Licensed operators in Victoria, as well as bodies controlling major sports, will be able to use this period to change their policies and implement the new restrictions. According to the VGCCC, after the period, it will be considered an offense if an operator offers betting on events involving minors.

But what does the ban exactly encompass? Judging by details released by the gambling watchdog, the betting ban applies to all sporting events for under 19s, as well as sporting events where all participants are minors.

Effectively, the change will restrict betting companies from offering wagers such as “first player to take a wicket,” “most disposals,” or “first goal of the game,” for events with players that are minors. An exception to the general ban would be for open events where those under 18 may be playing along with seniors. In such cases, betting on minors will still be prohibited but wagers would be allowed for the team outcome.

The Gambling Watchdog Will Monitor the Betting Sector

VGCCC’s chair, Fran Thorn, commented on the ban saying that it is not acceptable for wagers to be placed on sports with minors. She acknowledged the need to protect minors, explaining that gambling “raises integrity issues, with the prospect of people attempting to influence how minors might behave playing sport.”

“The VGCCC is of the view that betting on contingencies in sporting events relating to the performance of an individual minor in that sporting event is contrary to the public interest,“

explains the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission

Thorn said that the operator will remain vigilant and in the event of non-compliance, it will take definitive actions. Such can include prosecution of the betting providers and even license revocation, warned the regulator’s chair. She reiterated the set of rules that prohibit wagers on individual actions for minor athletes, explaining that bets would be allowed on the open team performance.

Last month, lawmakers in Victoria confirmed plans for the implementation of restrictions for electronic gaming machines (EGMs). The latest changes focus on restrictions such as mandatory pre-commitment limits, carded play and a significant decrease in load-up limits.

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The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced the suspension of Percy Flores, a tennis white badge umpire from Bolivia. Flores will be excluded from the sport for 12 years over violations of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).

The tennis authority learned that Flores had breached the TACP a whopping 31 times between November 2021 and October 2022. During ITF World Tennis Tour events, the umpire manipulated outcomes for betting purposes by purposely entering the wrong score into the umpire’s handheld device. In addition, he solicited another tennis official to engage in corrupt conduct, the ITIA remarked.

As a result, the umpire got handed a 12-year suspension and a fine of $15,000. Flores’ breaches, anti-corruption hearing officer professor Richard McLaren said, warranted a suspension of 15 years. However, various mitigating factors, such as Flores’ good conduct and admission resulted in the suspension getting reduced.

The suspension was backdated to the start of the umpire’s provisional suspension on December 8, last year. The penalty is thus set to expire on December 7, 2034. During that time, Flores will be prohibited from officiating at or attending any event that is authorized or sanctioned by the official tennis governing bodies.

Flores’ penalty follows the sanctioning of Mark Philippoussis who breached the rules on betting sponsorships in Tennis. Earlier, the organization issued lifetime bans to Nastja Kolar and Alexandra Riley who breached the TACP on multiple occasions.

A Breakdown of Flores’ Violations

As mentioned, Flores committed a total of 31 breaches. Notably, as a covered person, he committed 10 counts of directly or indirectly facilitating or encouraging tennis betting.

In addition, the ITIA reported that Flores committed 8 counts of purposefully delaying or manipulating scoring data for profit.

The umpire also committed 10 counts of being requested to influence or attempt to influence an event. Furthermore, Flores was found guilty of one count of not reporting suspicious activity by a covered person.

Finally, the umpire, as a covered person, was found guilty of incentivizing another person to commit, attempt or conspire to commit an offense.

To protect tennis from fraud, the ITIA just teamed up with the International Tennis Federation to launch mandatory integrity education for players with an active Juniors International Player Identification Number.

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