The gambling regulator in Michigan, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB), strengthened its efforts toward safer gambling by introducing a new problem gambling helpline. The Board confirmed the launch of 1-800-GAMBLER, a new gambling helpline that is operated by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). As a result, Michigan joins a growing network of states where 1-800-GAMBLER, the National Problem Gambling Helpline, is available.

Residents from Michigan who are suffering from problem gambling, at-risk gambling, as well as their families, can call the gambling helpline and receive information, support or resources. Such callers can be referred to local treatment or professional support, an effort that reaffirms MGCB’s dedication to a safer gambling environment.

Besides a call, residents can also chat with an expert online via 1800gamblerchat.org or send a text at 800GAM. The new 1-800-GAMBLER helpline will replace the current Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline available at 1-800-270-7117. Still, the aforementioned number will continue to operate as before. Callers of 1-800-GAMBLER can reach vetted and trained experts 24/7, 365 days a year and receive information, support and guidance.

According to a statement released by the gambling regulator, operators in Michigan will be required to display the new 1-800-GAMBLER number within their responsible gaming messages. The online gambling operators are given a deadline of August 8, 2024, to update their campaigns and include the new problem gambling helpline.

Estimates of the NCPG reveal that approximately 2 million adults across the country are suffering from problem gambling. Additionally, between 4 and 6 million others may be impacted by problem gambling, including at-risk or compulsive gambling. The Council estimated that the social cost of problem gambling is an estimated $7 billion annually.

NCPG Applauds the Adoption of the Gambling Helpline

Keith Whyte, NCPG’s executive director, spoke about the importance of the helpline for problem gambling. He explained that the line helps people across the country receive relevant information and gain access to support. “We applaud MGCB for taking proactive efforts to address the needs of those affected by problem gambling and for recognizing the significance of promoting 1-800-GAMBLER in Michigan,” said Whyte in conclusion.

“By adopting 1-800-GAMBLER as the statewide problem gambling helpline, the MGCB reinforces its commitment to ensuring a safe and secure gaming environment for players across the state by ensuring that resources for treatment and recovery can be accessed quickly and easily.“

Henry Williams, executive director of the MGCB

Henry Williams, MGCB’s executive director, also highlighted the efficiency of the problem gambling helpline that connects people affected by gambling to trained experts who provide confidential support, resources and assistance. Finally, he said that implementation of the 1-800-GAMBLER helpline in Michigan reaffirms the gambling regulator’s dedication toward a safer gambling sector.

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The Swedish state-owned gambling operator, Svenska Spel, announced Wednesday the possibility to close two of its land-based venues. The potential closure is related to Casino Cosmopol in Gothenburg and Malmö.

Previously, Svenska Spel implemented an action plan that sought to revitalize Casino Cosmopol. This plan included a significant restructuring of the organization, along with a reduction of the number of employees, a restaurant with a simplified concept, as well as reducing the working hours and days.

Despite the operator’s efforts, the share of online gambling continues to grow, resulting in further negative development for Casino Cosmopol. As a result, Svenska Spel confirmed it intends to close the two venues while seeking to “limit losses.”

Still, the operator explained that the closure of Casino Cosmopol in Gothenburg and Malmö is subject to negotiations with the union. Provided that Svenska Spel discontinues its operations in Gothenburg, some 120 employees would be affected. On the other hand, shutting the doors of Casino Cosmopol in Malmö may impact 80 more workers. In case the aforementioned casinos close their doors, the operator would be left with Casino Cosmopol in Stockholm, its largest venue and the last remaining brick-and-mortar casino in Sweden.

According to Svenska Spel, its intention to close two casinos comes amid a decreasing share of the land-based sector within the gaming vertical in the country. The state-owned operator explained that a major shift toward the online gambling sector was observed in 2019 with the reregulation of the industry. Then, it said, the pandemic further impacted its land-based operations considering the closure of Casino Cosmopol.

The Difficult Decision Affects Many of the Operator’s Employees

Patrik Hofbauer, Svenska Spel’s president and CEO, spoke about the ongoing trend that sees more people shifting toward the online gambling sector. He added that for a decade, online casinos grew exponentially. “Despite significant measures, we see challenges to reach profitability for Casino Cosmopol,” said Hofbauer. Finally, he explained that due to the increasing losses, a difficult decision was taken.

“This is an emotionally tough step to take as it affects many of our employees. We have taken a number of measures in an effort to increase revenue and reduce costs.“

Ola Enquist, CEO at Casino Cosmopol

Ola Enquist, Casino Cosmopol’s CEO, also highlighted the efforts of the operator to reduce costs and at the same time increase revenue. Yet, with the effect of the measures deemed insufficient, she said that Svenska Spel had to take the tough decision that affects a number of its employees. “Therefore, we now intend to wind down two of our casinos,” said Enquist in conclusion.

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Oddschecker Global Media, the leading sports betting publishing group backed by Bruin Capital, announced its rebranding to FairPlay Sports Media (FPSM). Confirmed today, the rebranding comes amid ambitious plans for the company’s expansion across the United States and follows the recent acquisition of SuperScommesse, an Italian sporting network.

In a statement, FPSM revealed that the rebranding seeks to “level the playing field for all sports bettors across pricing, payouts, bonusing, intelligence, and more.” This strategic process is expected to raise the lifetime value for media and distribution partners, as well as operators.

FPSM confirmed its intention to continue delivering tools and technology via its established brands such as SuperScommesse, Whoscored.com and oddschecker. At the same time, the company acknowledged the potential and value it can deliver to the end users and its partners via further expansion of its network across the globe.

“Oddschecker Global Media has today rebranded to FairPlay Sports Media (FPSM), to best deliver its aim to become the world’s most significant sports media network, powered by sports fans, bettors and its market-leading BetTech platform,“

reads a statement released by FairPlay Sports Media

Rebranding Announced during a Busy Period for the Company

Stuart Simms, FPSM’s group CEO, spoke about the rebranding, explaining that it represents more than just a change in the company’s name. “The launch of FairPlay Sports Media allows us to empower our customers to better compete in sports betting, while delivering significant efficiencies and added value to our partners through the use of our game-changing betting technology,” he added.

Additionally, Simms explained that recently, the company completed a number of acquisitions, strengthening its footprint in the global sports vertical. Finally, he predicted that the recent rebranding along with BetTech’s efforts will result in benefits for FPSM’s partners.

“We’ve made various strategic acquisitions – with more in the pipeline – to best place ourselves to create more engagement with sports bettors and the data they need, the independent content they demand, and we’re excited to showcase how this realignment and BetTech focus will benefit everyone in the FairPlay Sports Media Network, particularly in the US market.“

Stuart Simms, group CEO of FairPlay Sports Media

Undoubtedly, Simms is the perfect fit for the group CEO role with FPSM. He has more than 10 years of experience with leading sports and commerce companies, including XLMedia, Rakuten and Microsoft, among others.

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The leading provider of technology, powering lotteries across the globe, International Game Technology (IGT), announced an important partnership extension. On Wednesday, the company confirmed it agreed to extend its contract for the provision of its lottery system for the UK National Lottery.

The announcement comes ahead of the switch of the Lottery license from Camelot to Allwyn, scheduled for the start of next month. As a result, IGT will continue to power the National Lottery with its leading technology and solutions, paving the way for the successful transformation under the management of Allwyn.

Camelot was the operator of the Lottery for the last three decades since its first draw in 1994. However, ahead of the expiry of Camelot’s license, the UK gambling regulator, the Gambling Commission, selected Allwyn as a holder of the fourth Lottery license. This prompted IGT to launch a lawsuit against the regulator, pursuing damages. In an unexpected turn of events, last week, IGT discontinued its National Lottery-related appeal, effectively abandoning the damages it previously pursued from the regulator.

The extended collaboration with the Lottery isn’t a surprise, considering that IGT has a growing portfolio of lottery partners across the globe. In fact, the company currently serves as the main provider of technology for 25 lotteries across the United States and eight out of the top 10 largest lotteries around the world.

The Partnership Extension Brings Excitement for IGT

Jay Gendron, IGT’s COO of global lottery, revealed that the company is excited to extend its support for the National Lottery in the UK. Moreover, he spoke about the importance of collaborating with Allwyn, as well as other suppliers in the sector.

“We are pleased to continue to support the operation of The National Lottery, working alongside a range of other suppliers and Allwyn.“

Jay Gendron, COO of global lottery at IGT

This week, John Tanner, the executive director for the 4th National Lottery Competition, predicted that the transfer of the Lottery license is expected to boost the funding toward Good Causes. For more than three decades, the Lottery has been actively raising money for Good Causes with the sum now surpassing £47 billion ($59.4 billion).

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Premier online betting operator in the UK by number of customers that provides pre-match and in-play odds in a variety of markets, Sky Betting & Gaming (Sky Bet), has made a donation of over £250,000 ($313,500) to the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF), one of Yorkshire’s top charities.

The announcement was made during SBG’s Annual Charity Gala held in Leeds earlier in the week when hundreds of staff members and guests reunited for a fund-raiser hosted by ITV Racing’s Oli Bell and Ed Chamberlin.

Flutter UK & Ireland Donated £120,000

While the silent auction, sponsorship packages, Mascot Race, and raffle prizes all contributed to raising an important amount throughout the night, Sky Bet’s parent company Flutter UK & Ireland (Flutter UKI) decided to add a further £120,000 to the list of donations. 

This way, the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit will afford to buy a new, top-tier echo software package that would allow them to use advanced software for highly detailed heart analysis.

At the head of the year, the staff at Sky Bet voted to support the CHSF. Ever since they have been involved in a series of fund-raising challenges and activities with the goal of raising money for the charity that does not receive any funds from the government.

In the past eight years since it has been running its charity event, Sky Bet has managed to raise approximately £800,000 ($872,000) that reached local and nationwide charities. The list includes Macmillan Cancer, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Support Dogs, and Teenage Cancer.

The company’s chief commercial officer, Steve Birch, called the Charity Gala one of their “proudest moments” while praising the work done by the staff to raise money for the cause that he called exceptional.

The Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) is a not-for-profit organization that provides lifesaving and life-changing support for children with congenital heart disease across Yorkshire.

Sky Bet’s “Life-Changing” Contribution, Praised by CHSF

CHSF’s head of marketing, Andy McNally, spoke about the “life-changing contribution from Sky Betting & Gaming and Flutter UKI” that is expected to make a huge difference in terms of treatment for patients suffering from congenital heart diseases. 

He added that the fresh donations will support both patients and their families and provide them with the “best possible experience” at the Congenital Heart Unit as well as other 19 cardiac clinics in the area. 

McNally thanked the Sky Bet staff and everyone who helped organize the event. Each year, the CHSF takes in more than 17,000 patients of all ages. 

In August, Sky Betting and Gaming announced it would continue to promote safer gambling practices together with the English Football League.

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The global digital sports platform, Fanatics Holdings, announced that its subsidiary, Fanatics Betting and Gaming, rolled out its sportsbook for the regulated gambling market in West Virginia. Announced Thursday, the launch promises the most rewarding online sportsbook in the state, offering supreme entertainment and experiences. Thanks to the launch, Fanatics Sportsbook is now available for visitors and residents in West Virginia with Android and iOS devices.

The launch of the new sportsbook comes after earlier this year, Fanatics Betting and Gaming confirmed the acquisition of the US assets of PointsBet. Announced back in August, the acquisition helped strengthen the operator’s footprint in the country. At the time, Fanatics confirmed its plans to migrate PointsBet’s customers to its new Fanatics Sportsbook mobile app.

As a result of the new launch, West Virginia customers who previously had an account with PointsBet can now use the same credentials to access the Fanatics Sportsbook. Such customers can use their username, password and account balance, as well as settings related to responsible gambling and rewards points when accessing Fanatics’ betting app.

The launch of Fanatics Sportsbook comes after recently, the company inked a partnership with Paysafe, the leading payments specialist. Announced earlier this week, the collaboration saw Fanatics tap into the company’s traditional card payments and alternative payment methods.

The New Sportsbook Offers a Plethora of Features

As the newest sportsbook in West Virginia, Fanatics’ mobile betting app offers exciting new features. Sports fans and bettors alike can benefit from the sportsbook’s technology that was built natively on Android and iOS, ensuring supreme experiences thanks to quality services, high speed and intuitive design.

Fanatics Sportsbook also claims it is the most rewarding mobile app in the state with its FanCash – The Currency of Sport, an engaging loyalty program that allows dollar-for-dollar conversions as well as access to sports merchandise. Additionally, the mobile app grants customers a chance to earn 5% FanCash on same game parlay bets, 3% on parlay bets, as well as 1% on straight bets and odds boosts.

Sports bettors that use Fanatics Sportsbook can also access an industry-leading search that offers search history, searching via alias/synonyms for events, markets and leagues. Powered by Genius Sports Limited, the sportsbook is one of the first that offers live streaming with BetVision. Thanks to the live streaming functionality, the sportsbook enables customers to access live streaming and place wagers via the same app.

Another feature that underlines the quality of Fanatics’ sports betting app is its personalization. The sportsbook features trending bets, special promotions and rewards that fit the profile of each individual bettor.

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GambleAware expressed reassurance following an independent study examining the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) scale. While the method has some limitations, it remains a valuable tool for estimating the potential risk of problem gambling among large groups. GambleAware retains its crucial role in the UK gambling industry as the country finalizes consultations on its White Paper.

The Data Highlights PGSI’s Most Effective Uses

The PGSI is a set of nine questions designed to assess gambling behavior and estimate the extent of gambling problems. While this method can effectively determine the scale of gambling issues, it was not originally developed as a clinical tool, causing ongoing debates regarding its effectiveness. To address this concern, GambleAware commissioned Ipsos UK to conduct an independent study.

The recently announced results, based on a dataset of over 21,000 people from the 2020 and 2021 Annual GB Treatment and Support Survey, revealed that the PGSI scale remains an effective tool for estimating the potential risk of gambling harm. Key findings include a strong and consistent connection between higher PGSI scores and increased rates of psychological distress. 

The scale can also be a valuable tool for integrating mental health interventions when treating individuals with high PGSI scores. According to the report, the standard nine-question test version should be used whenever possible, as it provides the most accurate results and can lead to effective and timely treatment.

Organizations Can Leverage This Information to Improve Their Services

GambleAware director of evidence and insights Haroon Chowdry was relieved that the PGSI scale proved its effectiveness in identifying different levels of harm. He noted that implementing improved use cases for the method could help evaluate problem gambling at the individual and population levels. Chowdry noted that collaboration remained paramount for effective treatment and urged other interested parties to use these recent findings.

We hope treatment services, clinicians, and policymakers will… make the best use of this scale to help those experiencing gambling harms.

Haroon Chowdry, GambleAware director of evidence and insights

According to Ipsos UK Research Director Steven Ginnis, the PGSI worked best along with other tools and methods to form a comprehensive diagnostic for individuals. He noted that not all people within the PGSI classification faced the same potential risks and urged organizations and charities to rely on it primarily for evaluating large groups.

These recent findings highlight GambleAware’s ongoing efforts to protect the UK populace from the dangers of gambling harm. The charity has achieved significant success in the past few years, collaborating with the government to mitigate the industry’s negative impact. Its dedication and valuable feedback will remain instrumental in shaping the UK gambling landscape.

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The leading business-to-business (B2B) technology and content provider for the iGaming industry, Relax Gaming, announced that its famous Dream Drop jackpot series made another lucky gambler a millionaire. Since the launch of Dream Drop just over a year ago, ten lucky gamblers secured life-changing awards. Now, this positive trend continues with Relax Gaming announcing the eleventh Dream Drop jackpot millionaire.

The company confirmed Monday that the lucky winner, becoming the eleventh millionaire, secured nearly €3 million ($3.2 million) while playing on Jackpothunter.com. Triggering the Dream Drop Mega Jackpot while playing Volatile Vikings Dream Drop, the lucky winner collected the staggering €2,976,908 ($3,152,066) after placing a wager that was only €2 ($2,12).

The recently secured Dream Drop win comes just four hours after a Major jackpot was won. The win represents an important milestone for Relax Gaming as the list of Dream Drop millionaires continues to grow.

A representative of Jackpothunter Casino explained that it is exciting to see one of its players become the new Dream Drop millionaire. “Everyone at Jackpothunter is excited to see such an impressive win happen on our platform, it validates where our brand is heading as we make winning jackpots easier,” added the representative. Finally, they spoke about the positive impact of the addition of Relax Gaming’s titles and the thrilling experiences they deliver for the operator’s growing customer base.

“It is truly a delight to be the casino that has played host to the eleventh Dream Drop Mega Jackpot winner,“

explains a statement released by Jackpothunter Casino

Dream Drop Helps Revolutionize the Gambling Vertical

Simon Hammon, Relax Gaming’s CEO, was similarly thrilled regarding the multi-million-dollar win. He outlined that Dream Drop helped revolutionize the gaming sector, granting a chance for more gamblers to secure life-changing awards. “We knew the Dream Drop Jackpot would perform well with players and operators alike, and to see this become a reality is a constant source of pride,” added Hammon. Finally, he congratulated the winner on behalf of Relax Gaming and said that the company is looking forward to seeing the twelfth millionaire.

“We would like to send our congratulations to the lucky winner, and we eagerly anticipate the twelfth millionaire.“

Simon Hammon, CEO at Relax Gaming

Last week, Relax Gaming announced the launch of Snake’s Gold Dream Drop, its latest title featuring the famous Dream Drop feature. The new Aztec-themed high-volatility slot offers an RTP of 94% and features 10 paylines.

Last summer, Relax Gaming released Volatile Vikings Dream Drop. The game brought the player-favorite Dream Drop feature along with exciting bonuses such as Free Spins and Multiplier Reveal.

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