On Thursday, June 27, the Michigan Legislature finalized an agreement on the state’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget, earmarking $1.9 million to support the addition of 14 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff positions at the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB). These new positions are crucial for expanding the MGCB’s regulatory capacity, particularly in internet gaming and sports betting, among the fastest-growing gaming markets in the U.S. This move aims to enhance protections against illegal activities and ensure a fair gaming environment.

Expansion of Regulatory Capacity

The additional funding will enable the MGCB to bolster its regulatory operations significantly. With the influx of 14 new FTE positions, the agency can better manage the increasing demands of the growing gaming market in Michigan. The Wolverine State has seen rapid growth in both sports betting and internet gaming, necessitating a more robust regulatory framework to maintain integrity and prevent illegal wagering.

In addition to the staffing boost, the MGCB will allocate another $3 million from its FY2025 budget to continue its “Don’t Regret the Bet” responsible gaming campaign. Launched on March 1, 2023, this campaign provides valuable tips and information to help Michigan citizens gamble responsibly and avoid the pitfalls of problem gambling.

Support for Compulsive Gambling Prevention

A significant portion of the new budget focuses on responsible gaming initiatives. The Compulsive Gambling Prevention Fund will see a $3 million increase, doubling its previous allocation. These funds will enhance the 24/7 Gambling Disorder Helpline operated by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services. Additionally, the funding will support gambling research, educational programs for youth, and existing treatment options for those struggling with gambling addiction.

MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams expressed his gratitude, stating, “The MGCB’s increased contribution, from $3 million to $6 million, to the Compulsive Gambling Prevention Fund demonstrates our proactive approach towards responsible gaming. Together, we are safeguarding the industry’s integrity while prioritizing the well-being of Michigan citizens.”

The bipartisan budget agreement now awaits Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s signature before becoming law. Once signed, the funding allocations will take effect on October 1, marking the beginning of the state’s FY2025 budget year.

Ongoing Regulatory Actions

As Michigan navigates its dynamic gaming industry, the MGCB continues to take decisive actions against illegal operators. In May, the MGCB issued a cease and desist order to Bovada, an offshore sportsbook, demanding it stop accepting customers from Michigan. The Costa Rica-based sportsbook was given 14 days to comply or face legal action for violating several state gaming laws. Bovada has since exited Colorado and is banned in New York and Maryland.

The MGCB also oversees the state’s daily fantasy sports market, which has seen regulatory changes. Late last year, the board banned pick’em style DFS contests due to their resemblance to player prop bets, demonstrating the MGCB’s commitment to maintaining a fair and regulated gaming environment.

Source: 

Michigan Gaming Control Board to increase regulatory capacity with additional staff, contribute $6M to Compulsive Gambling Prevention Fund, michigan.gov, June 27, 2024.

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Ontario has 53 licensed gaming platform operators, each vying for a share of the lucrative CA$2.4 billion (US$1.7 billion) market, as reported by iGaming Ontario’s revenue figures for this fiscal year.

In a recent analysis, EKG predicted that a fully regulated Canadian market, excluding gray market participants, could reach a value of $9.2 billion, with icasino expected to dominate. Consequently, operators in this market are under constant pressure to innovate and enhance their offerings.

PowerPlay.com, one of these licensed operators, has recently unveiled its new Canadian website, designed to elevate the gaming experience for its users. The revamped site boasts hundreds of new casino games and innovative features like player props and the same game parlays in its sportsbook. The aim was to create a more intuitive layout and user-friendly interface, facilitating easier navigation and bet placement for players.

Enhanced Sports Betting Features

“The Same Game Parlay promises to be a hit, allowing players to bet on multiple events within the same game to compound their odds for a potential big payoff,” stated Bill O’Brien, sportsbook manager for PowerPlay. “These parlays can include popular player props, such as who will score or how many shots a player will get, beyond just betting on the game result. This is the next level of sports betting.”

Expanded Casino Game Offerings

On the casino front, PowerPlay has introduced a variety of new table games, slots, and live dealer casino games. According to PowerPlay CEO Dean Serrao, their global teams have worked tirelessly to ensure the best possible site experience for players. “The fact that players can now seamlessly access the platform across multiple localized markets will further enhance that experience,” Serrao added. Canada has been a core market for PowerPlay since its inception in 2018.

Global Reach and Localized Experience

PowerPlay’s commitment to enhancing the player experience is evident in their efforts to provide a seamless and engaging platform. The new website’s intuitive design and user-friendly features are aimed at making it easier for players to navigate and place bets. This commitment to quality and innovation is what sets PowerPlay apart in the competitive Canadian gaming market.

With the launch of its new website, PowerPlay.com is poised to offer Canadian players an improved and more enjoyable gaming experience. PowerPlay aims to remain a leading player in the regulated Canadian gaming market by continually evolving and improving its products and services.

Source: “PowerPlay launches new icasino, sports betting website in Ontario”, CDC Gaming Reports, June 17, 2024.

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Mohegan Gaming is strengthening its payment capacity with PayNearMe which has now partnered up with the company’s online gaming arm, Mohegan Digital, to offer better iGaming payment solutions for the company’s operations in Pennsylvania. This partnership comes a week after Mohegan Digital introduced its online casino in the market, featuring 500 games, among which are jackpots, slots, and live dealer tables.

Mohegan Gaming Bolsters Payment Capabilities

Mohegan Digital is going to benefit from PayNearMe’s MoneyLine solution which will enable Mohegan Digital and the operator’s customers to use a variety of payment options for deposits and withdrawals, including Guaranteed ACH, Cash at Retail, PayPal and Venmo, among some of the most trusted payment options.

Mohegan Digital president Rich Roberts has welcomed this opportunity to see his company gear up for expanding in the Keystone State by teaming up with one of the most prominent payment providers that will facilitate the experience for consumers in the market, making it easy for them to deposit and cash out instantly.

“PayNearMe’s MoneyLine platform allows us to stay competitive while saving our product team the significant time and cost that would have been required to integrate multiple payment types and channels,” Roberts said, speaking of the partnership.

Mohegan Digital will similarly also gain important insight into its payment systems thanks to PayNearMe, which will feature an insights dashboard that will help with analyzing customer behavior, but also improve player protection and enhance the company’s fraud and risk prevention safeguards.

Building a More Robust Offer for the Casino and

As to PayNearMe, the company’s VP and general manager of iGaming and sports betting Leighton Webb has welcomed the opportunity to work with Mohegan Digital and enhance the operator’s offering in the highly-competitive Pennsylvanian iGaming market.

“Our commitment is to help operators get to market quickly with the payment types and optimization tools they need to deliver a great player experience. We look forward to supporting Mohegan Digital’s growth as they expand their online gaming presence,” Webb said.

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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has unveiled plans for a pilot scheme aimed at implementing enhanced financial risk checks. This move comes amidst mounting pressure for tighter regulations within the gambling industry.

UKGC’s Tim Miller Unveils Measures to Enhance Financial Risk Checks

UKGC’s executive director of research and policy, Tim Miller, outlined the steps being taken in response to feedback gathered from consultations regarding financial risk checks. These checks, as proposed by the government’s Gambling White Paper, aim to identify and intervene in cases where customers may be financially vulnerable due to their gambling habits.

The pilot scheme comprises two tiers of checks. The first tier focuses on identifying vulnerabilities such as bankruptcy orders or unpaid debts, utilizing publicly available data. Notably, feedback from the consultation has led to adjustments, ensuring that these checks will not delve into customers’ personal details like postcode or job title. Initially, these checks will be implemented at a higher threshold before transitioning to a lower threshold later in the year to streamline the process for consumers.

The second tier involves enhanced financial risk assessments triggered by significant losses, requiring more comprehensive scrutiny of a customer’s financial situation. 

Miller emphasized the UKGC’s commitment to making these checks as seamless as possible for the majority of customers.

UKGC’s Pilot Program Paves the Way for Safer Gambling Practices

The pilot, scheduled to last between four to six months, will serve as a testing ground for data-sharing mechanisms involving credit reference agencies and gambling operators. During this period, operators will not be mandated to act on the data received but must continue to uphold existing consumer safety measures.

Miller highlighted the importance of data collected during the pilot phase, which will inform the final thresholds and definitions for implementing these checks effectively. The UKGC intends to lay out detailed guidelines within its forthcoming response document.

In response to these developments, a spokesperson for the Betting and Gaming Council emphasized the need for swift yet unobtrusive interventions for those displaying signs of financial vulnerability. They stressed the importance of ensuring that responsible gamblers are not unduly affected and that any new measures do not inadvertently drive individuals towards unregulated gambling platforms.

Moreover, the government is expected to announce new regulations soon, including a maximum stake limit for online slots, aimed at curbing excessive gambling among young adults.

The UKGC’s pilot scheme marks a significant step forward in addressing concerns surrounding gambling-related harm, balancing consumer protection with the freedom to gamble responsibly.

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Following a series of distribution deals inked in Q2 2023, Swintt has announced an exciting partnership with Kindred Group, a renowned player in the online gaming sphere. This new alliance will see Swintt’s games making their way onto Kindred Group’s platforms licensed by Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), Sweden’s gambling regulator Spelinspektionen, the Netherlands Gambling Authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), and, soon, the UK Gambling Commission. 

Swintt’s Strategic Move to Bolster Its Presence in Regulated iGaming Markets

The primary objective behind this move is to strengthen Swintt’s presence in vital regulated iGaming markets. The shared values and ideologies between Swintt and Kindred Group also make this partnership a perfect match. However, the real excitement lies in the enriched gaming experience that awaits players on Kindred Group platforms, thanks to Swintt’s impressive portfolio of titles.

Players can now delve into a world of captivating themes and innovative bonus features offered by SwinttGames. Notable titles in this collection include “The Crown,” “Aloha Spirit XtraLockTM,” “Candy Gold,” and the recently launched sensation, “Electric Elements.”

For fans of classic slots that evoke the charm of traditional land-based casino games, SwinttPremium offers a diverse selection. This category boasts popular “Book” slots like “Master of Books Unlimited” and “Seven Books Unlimited.” Moreover, Dutch players can now enjoy their favorite land-based slot titles online, including the newly-released “Duolito Gardens.”

Swintt’s CEO Enthusiastic About Partnership’s Potential for European Brand Exposure

David Mann, CEO at Swintt, expressed his excitement about this collaboration, stating: “By making SwinttGames and SwinttPremium releases available to such a wide cross-section of customers, we’ll be able to further raise the profile of our brand across Europe while helping Kindred Group on its ongoing mission to deliver a safe and enjoyable online experience to all casino players.”

Gareth Jennings, head of RNG Casino at Kindred Group, expressed his agreement by stating that Kindred Group believed it had partnered with a company that delivered on both fronts. He also mentioned his anticipation of incorporating Swintt’s innovative range of titles into Kindred’s brands in Malta, Sweden, the UK, and the Netherlands.

Another recent partnership saw Swintt collaborate with ZEAL Network, a leading online provider of state-licensed lottery products in Germany, to expand its game offerings in the country. ZEAL Network integrated Swintt’s complete portfolio of slots, including the popular SwinttPremium games, to enhance its offerings and strengthen Swintt’s presence in the regulated German market.

In June, Swintt further expanded its reach in Malta and Germany with a partnership with NetBet, while in May the company also expanded its presence on the Lithuanian market with a deal with 7Bet.

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