It has come to light that a significant number of Swedish influencers on the video platform Twitch have been endorsing unlicensed online casinos, sparking concerns about the promotion of illegal gambling activities.

Following a thorough investigation conducted by Kulturnyheterna, the investigative arm of Sveriges Television AB (SVT), it was uncovered that eight out of ten prominent Swedish influencers on Twitch have been actively promoting unlicensed casinos to their vast audiences.

Over a period of six weeks, Kulturnyheterna meticulously reviewed the broadcasts of these influencers, revealing how they have been disseminating advertisements for unlicensed online casinos through extended live streams, urging hundreds of thousands of followers to engage in gambling activities.

The investigation further highlighted that these influencers collectively reach an audience of approximately half a million subscribers, predominantly comprising young males born in the 1990s and 2000s.

During their live streams, 60% of these influencers employed direct marketing tactics, including sharing links to unlicensed casinos in their profiles and broadcasts, as well as enticing followers with bonus incentives to create casino accounts.

According to Kulturnyheterna’s report, these influencers were observed actively encouraging their viewers to gamble, participating in gambling activities alongside their audience, and even involving viewers in decisions regarding wagers, thereby intensifying engagement in gambling-related content.

Swedish Gambling Regulator Takes Aim at Twitch

Twitch, owned by Amazon, has faced scrutiny over its role in facilitating these advertising infringements. Despite implementing community guidelines in 2022 to prohibit the promotion of gambling content, Twitch has seemingly struggled to curb such activities effectively.

Kulturnyheterna has submitted its findings on these advertising violations to Spelinspektionen, Sweden’s gambling regulator, emphasizing Twitch’s status as the primary platform for promoting unlicensed casinos.

Spelinspektionen, armed with enhanced enforcement powers granted by amendments to the Gambling Act of 2018, has recently taken decisive action against illegal online gambling operators. Last week, Spelinspektionen announced the prohibition of a network of skin online gambling websites, which were primarily promoted on platforms like Twitch and YouTube.

While Spelinspektionen has yet to comment on Kulturnyheterna’s investigation, it has reiterated that advertising unlicensed gambling is illegal under Swedish law. Violators risk facing severe repercussions, including business bans and potential police intervention.

Similar action was also taken in Norway. Norway’s Gambling Authority declared a zero-tolerance stance towards social media platforms promoting online gambling content, enforcing a blackout on gambling advertising except for state-owned monopolies. The actions by the authority included warnings issued to Schpell.com and other entities.

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A fire at an illegal Mexican casino in Tijuana has led to the deaths of people. According to witnesses, the fire was caused by a hit-and-run attack that saw people on a motorcycle toss a Molotov cocktail at the property. The culprits promptly disappeared from the scene.

In the meantime, the fire spread quickly, engulfing the property. Located at the intersection of Pacífico Avenue and Granizo Street in Tijuana’s tourist area, the illegal casino was quickly surrounded by firefighters who got the situation under control.

Unfortunately, the fire claimed two victims. Their remains are yet to be identified by experts. Another person was badly hurt and rushed to a hospital.

The incident occurred in the afternoon on November 22.

The Police Don’t Have Any Leads

Unfortunately, the police have no clue as to who the perpetrator might be. The only information authorities currently have are the accounts of the people on a motorcycle who have allegedly tossed the firebomb.

The Baja California’s prosecution is currently investigating the matter, although it has been unable to find additional information as of the time of this writing. Authorities are also uncertain whether the attack was aimed at a person at the property or the property itself.

As a border city, Tijuana has long been haunted by organized crime, prompting suggestions that the fire might be related to gang violence. If so, this wouldn’t be the first time rival cartels have engaged in violent activities against one another.

Sadly, Tijuana’s location has helped it cultivate an unhealthy amount of organized crime. The city is known for the regular movements of cartels and criminal activities, which include illegal gambling and human trafficking, to name a few.

Unfortunately, the fire at the Tijuana casino is not the only casino arson in the country. In September, Mexican authorities arrested the head of a cartel believed to be behind the devastating fire at Casino Royale in Monterrey.

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On November 15, a fierce fire erupted under the historic Atlantic City Boardwalk, threatening the entrance to the Resorts Casino Hotel. Despite the dramatic scene, no injuries were reported, and Resorts Casino Hotel successfully continued its operations, utilizing alternative entrances.

Resorts Casino Hotel President Thanks Firefighters for Swift Action

The fire, which ignited around 4 p.m., forced the temporary closure of two adjacent restaurants, with hopes of reopening later in the day, according to Fire Chief Scott Evans and Resorts President Mark Giannantonio. Black smoke billowed into the sky, accompanied by vivid orange flames beneath the Resorts Casino Hotel sign, creating a spectacle that drew onlookers, reported the Associated Press.

Aris Matos and his wife Michelle, diners from Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania, witnessed the unfolding drama from inside the casino. Matos recounted the unfolding situation, explaining that they had continued dining, and he observed the smoke intensifying. He mentioned seeing a restaurant worker rushing outside with a fire extinguisher in an attempt to suppress the flames. However, the worker returned to the restaurant, instructing everyone to evacuate due to the flames being too substantial.

Despite the severity of the two-alarm fire, involving 30 firefighters, it was brought under control within about 40 minutes. Fire Chief Evans deemed it a very serious situation, acknowledging the challenges faced by the firefighting team. 

Resorts Casino Hotel president Giannantonio expressed gratitude for the swift response of the fire department, preventing further damage to the iconic casino.

Atlantic City Casino Fire Sparks Ongoing Probe into Unknown Cause

The fire damaged the casino’s facade, including a melted canopy, with remnants dripping down near where firefighters cut away a section of the Boardwalk to access and extinguish the blaze. The cause of the fire remains undetermined, with investigations exploring possibilities such as electrical malfunctions or accidental ignition by individuals seeking shelter beneath the Boardwalk, a not-uncommon occurrence in Atlantic City.

While the cause of the fire remains a mystery, the city’s fire department confirmed that the casino floor remained open, assuring the public that business operations were uninterrupted. The incident prompted brief evacuations of nearby businesses, but no injuries were reported. Investigations into the origins of the blaze are ongoing.

In other news, New Jersey online casinos, including Resorts Casino Hotel, are seeking a ten-year license extension, but current legislation only permits a two-year extension. Despite concerns among license holders about the short duration and the challenges it poses in a competitive market, an Assembly committee voted for the two-year extension, emphasizing the need for vigilance in the industry. 

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An ad on YouTube promoting a bookmaker with the participation of former Black Caps star, Brendon McCullum, is under fire via a newly submitted formal complaint in New Zealand. McCullum who was formerly a part of the famous New Zealand national cricket team, and a current member of the English cricket team, was appointed as a brand ambassador for the popular sports betting affiliate, 22Bet, a few months ago. He was is the star of a new ad that depicted him in a sports car, promoting mobile betting via 22Bet.

Now, the NZ Herald revealed that the Problem Gambling Foundation in New Zealand filed a formal complaint with the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) over the online gambling ad featuring McCullum.

While there are ongoing changes within the gambling sector, currently, New Zealand doesn’t offer legal online gambling. The only exemption of those rules relates to the New Zealand Lotteries Commission and TAB, the New Zealand Racing Board. This, in other words, means that companies offering their online gambling services in the country are doing so illegally.

Gamblers are not subject to prosecution if they use the services of such companies. However, it is forbidden for gambling operators to target New Zealand audiences with advertisements or to use the services of marketing or advertising agencies in the country.

The Ads Aggressively Marketed Gambling on YouTube

The new complaint filed with DIA claimed that “Brendon McCullum is the brand ambassador for 22Bet, which legitimizes and endorses the platform for Kiwi audiences.” Additionally, the formal complaint said that the gambling company 22Bet was “aggressively marketed” over YouTube.

The complaint filed with DIA also noted: “In the past week or so, I’ve noticed some aggressive advertisements on YouTube from 22Bet, which is a Cyprus-based betting operator. Most times I go to watch a video, an ad from 22Bet is played, saying that they are “legal bookers” and incentivizing joining their platform with either a NZ$250 or NZ$750 sign-up bonus.”

Keeping in mind that 22Bet isn’t based in New Zealand, the DIA said that it is limited when it comes to enforcing gambling regulations against overseas gambling platforms. “Currently, the prohibition does not apply to gambling conducted overseas and it is not illegal for a person in New Zealand to gamble with an overseas gambling provider over the internet,” it said. Finally, the DIA noted that it is looking into what can be done on the topic and it didn’t rule out contacting the betting company with a request to change misleading marketing, if any.

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