The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) has announced the recipients of its Fall 2023 Agility Grants. As a result, a total of $176,000 will be distributed among five non-profit organizations that deal with problem gambling.

Under the NCPG Agility Grants program, the council will provide over a million dollars to problem gambling charities between 2022 and 2024, helping them prevent gambling harm in the country.

According to the announcement, the recipients include the Alabama Council on Compulsive Gambling Prevention (ACCG), the Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado, the AdCare Educational Institute of Maine, The LCADA Way and the Maryland Council on Problem Gambling. For reference, the first two parties will develop prevention innovation programs, while the remaining three will work on prevention amplification programs.

Two Organization Will Develop Prevention Innovation Initiatives

ACCG’s program “It’s More Than Just a Game” seeks to leverage education to teach middle school students in Alabama about the dangers of gambling. The program will see the students presented with a series of gambling and video gaming scenarios that will test their knowledge. The correct answers will be discussed with the whole class. Students will also be provided with educational pamphlets on the matter.

The Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado, meanwhile, is working with the Denver Justice High School and the Denver Art Society to deliver the so-called Stacked Deck problem gambling prevention curriculum to high schoolers. This project will leverage art-based activities to teach students about responsible gambling.

Three Parties Will Work on Prevention Amplification Programs

AdCare Educational Institute of Maine, on the other hand, will join forces with The New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center to develop a graphic novel about youth gambling prevention. The novel, which will be distributed across New England and available in three languages, is a part of the Youth Gambling Prevention Graphic Medicine project.

Additionally, the LCADA Way will launch the Lorain County Problem Gambling Prevention Initiative in hopes of raising awareness about the risks of gambling harm and teaching the players to make responsible decisions. Campaign material creation will be led by teenagers in hopes of appealing to younger demographics.

Finally, the Maryland Council on Problem Gambling will launch Culturally Infused Problem Gambling Prevention for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumers. This brand new program will see the council use the Agility Grant funding to design “culturally specific prevention public awareness materials” that appeal to people with hearing impairments.

About the Agility Grants

The Agility Grants are backed by the NFL through the NFL Foundation, in line with the league’s commitment to promote responsible gambling.

FanDuel, one of the biggest gambling operators in the country, is also a sponsor of the program.

Keith Whyte, executive director at the NCPG, commented on the matter, highlighting his team’s desire to “foster dynamic and responsive problem gambling prevention programs” across the country.  

Each recipient receiving support this round displayed exemplary commitment to cultural competence, tailoring their approaches with sensitivity to the diverse needs of the populations they serve.

Keith Whyte, executive director, NCPG

The grants have an emphasis on prevention innovation, collaboration, amplification and community impact and represent the council’s desire to make a change. They are awarded through funding rounds two times a year.

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In an unexpected twist, two bitter poker rivals set aside their differences to expose a social engineering scam that exploited their mutual dislike. Benjamin “Blank Check Ben” Lee and “Wes Side” Wesley Fei found themselves embroiled in a complex web of deception. Their journey from rivals to allies in uncovering this elaborate scheme serves as a cautionary tale on the dangers of online fraud.

The Attacker Employed Clever Tactics

The story began on 4 September when a WordPress website titled “Uncovering Wesley” emerged. It claimed to be authored by someone who had fallen victim to a $250,000 cryptocurrency scam involving Wesley Fei in 2022. The blog also alleged that Wesley had sent individuals to burglarize the accuser’s home.

Benjamin Lee, an outspoken rival of Wesley, then received a message from the accuser via Instagram. The victim intended to expose Wesley’s alleged wrongdoings but claimed he first needed financial support as he had supposedly lost his entire life’s savings. Initially, Lee trusted his instincts and declined to get involved.

Lee’s Resistance Gradually Eroded as He Sent More Funds

A few months later, the accuser approached Lee again, revealing that Wesley had offered him $35,000 to unveil Lee as the “instigator of a character assassination campaign.” Concerned about the potential damage to his reputation, Lee decided to wire the other person $2,500, believing he was also an innocent victim.

The situation only escalated from there. The alleged victim presented himself as Russell Thamer, a London-based financial recruiter, and demanded more money. He offered evidence of Wesley’s involvement in immigration fraud for $100,000. Despite initial hesitation, Lee relented. However, Thamer pressed on, claiming he was facing threats, possibly from associates of Wesley.

He manipulated me with a victim story that exploited my sympathy and strong hatred for injustice. He also took advantage of my personal dislike for Wesley.

Benjamin “Blank Check Ben” Lee

Fearing for his safety, Lee hired a security firm and transferred an additional $28,000 in cryptocurrency to Thamer. However, the poker pro had grown suspicious, deciding to share his experiences with Ryan Feldman, co-owner of Hustler Casino Live. As Lee and Wesley compared notes, the two players discovered they had been manipulated against each other and that the supposed evidence did not exist.

The Scammer Is Still at Large

Thamer had attempted similar tactics on Wesley, who fortunately did not fall victim to the scam. In response to his role in the deception, Lee publicly apologized to Wesley. The two players’ shared ordeal brought them closer, and they have since put aside their differences and forged a budding friendship as viewers eagerly await their return on Hustler Casino Live.

I have already twice apologized to Wesley for my part in all this. His reputation has suffered for no reason other than that I was gullible enough to be manipulated by a fraudster.

Benjamin “Blank Check Ben” Lee

According to Lee’s latest tweets, Thamer continued to blackmail him, threatening to increase incriminating information. This ongoing story presents a stark reminder of the dangers of online fraud and social engineering, proving that nobody is safe from manipulation. However, the events also demonstrate the importance of vigilance and collaboration in uncovering and combating such fraudulent schemes.

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The global gaming brand FBM revealed its plans to celebrate fall 2023 with two exciting promotions. As announced by the company, its Filipino audiences will be able to enjoy the Scratch n’ Boom and Octoberific Prize Fest promotions.

The former promotion will continue to provide the company’s players with more chances to win prizes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. In addition to that, audiences can also play for one of the exclusive extra prizes, which include monetary rewards, smartphones, iPads and brand-new motorcycles.

The promotion is part of the Octoberific Prize Fest promotion, allowing consumers to win while playing on an FBM machine with the Green meter during Champion’s Hour from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Once players activate the Green meter, they will be presented with a scratch card. If players match 3 same logos, they can claim a prize.

The distribution will last until the scratch cards last. Players can turn to site staff or FBM representatives if they have any questions.

Filipino fans who wish to participate in the Scratch n’ Boom promotion should go to one of the following venues:

• Bulacan
• Caloocan City
• Laguna
• Manila
• Marikina City
• Paranaque City
• Pasay City
• Pasig City
• Quezon City
• Rizal

About Octoberific Prize Fest

In the meantime, players can also enjoy the Octoberific Prize Fest promo. The promotion provides FBM players with a shot at a Suzuki Skydrive Sport Motorcycle. One lucky champion at each participating bingo hall venue will grab such a vehicle.

As announced by FBM, the promotion seeks to provide fans with all the treats with none of the tricks.

To participate in the Octoberific Prize Fest promotion, fans should visit one of the following bingo sites:

• Batangas
• Bulacan
• Caloocan
• Cavite
• Laguna
• Luzon
• Manila
• Mindanao
• NCR
• Nueva Ecija
• Pampanga
• Paranaque
• Quezon City
• Rizal
• Visayas

More information about the two promotions is available on FBM’s official website.

In other news, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) continues its significant transformation as it plans to shift its focus entirely to regulatory functions by 2025. The process will be lengthy and difficult but is expected to ultimately benefit the local market, eliminating unnecessary conflicts of interest.

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The provider of innovative games for the iGaming industry, Wazdan, celebrated the start of the fall with the launch of its Mystery Fall promotion. The engaging network promotion marks the first out of three such activations the company planned throughout the rest of the year. The Mystery Fall network promotion launches on Friday, September 15, 2023, and it is scheduled to run through October 15, 2023.

Players familiar with Wazdan’s portfolio of games would find the promotion quite appealing, considering that it will be featured throughout its entire portfolio. As a result, players can benefit from the thrilling activation while enjoying popular hits like Mighty Wild: Panther, Fortune Reels, Burning Sun, Magic Spins and 9 Coins: Grand Platinum Edition, among other hit games from Wazdan.

The recently launched activation, along with the upcoming network promotions will be available to all partners of the company. Accessing the promotions is free of charge and is expected to elevate the excitement and thrill for online players. To ensure a seamless process, Wazdan confirmed that its partners will be able to benefit from a dedicated account manager and will deliver the necessary ready-to-use marketing materials and graphics.

Andrzej Hyla, Wazdan’s chief commercial officer, was excited about the new promotions. He revealed that the company wanted to celebrate its successful year by delivering thrilling network promotions. Finally, Hyla said: “Kicking off with the Mystery Fall drop, we will be helping operators maximize growth and boost engagement with an impressive €2,500,000 prize pool to keep players enticed.”

“Heading into the final quarter of the year, we wanted to ensure a successful year for all our partners and what better way to do this than through our esteemed network promotions.“

Andrzej Hyla, chief commercial officer at Wazdan

As noted by Wazdan’s chief commercial officer, the total prize pool of the exciting promotions is a staggering €2.5 million ($2.67 million). This prize pool is entirely sponsored by Wazdan while the promotions utilize the company’s Mystery Drop promotional tool which was recently recognized with a prestigious award for the gambling sector.

After the Mystery Fall promotion, players can expect the launch of two more activations with HalloWIN Drop being the first one. After that, coinciding with the holiday season, Wazdan is expected to launch its Xmas Drop network promotion. Ultimately, the network promotions are expected to provide exciting and unique experiences for online players while at the same time, boosting the engagement and retention of the company’s partners.

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