In a stunning occurrence at the Kangwon Land Casino in Gangwon Province, South Korea, a Chinese national in his 50s was arrested for arson after reportedly setting fire to his hotel room following substantial gambling losses. The event took place early on the morning of July 4 when, as authorities suspect, the man lit the fire out of rage.

Arsonist’s Blaze Engulfs Gangwon Land Hotel Room

The fire started around 2:30 am on the 14th floor of Gangwon Land Hotel, reported The Korea Herald. Law enforcement officials from Jeongseon Police Station have said that the man admitted during questioning he bought gasoline from a nearby gas station and then used it and a lighter together to burn down his room after losing what the police described as an enormous sum at the casino. 

Surveillance footage from security cameras installed throughout the hotel helped identify the suspect who had been hiding in a guest house near the gambling facility for several hours following his alleged act.

Emergency responders arrived quickly enough so that within ten minutes sprinklers inside each affected area extinguished all flames completely. However, six guests staying one floor above suffered smoke inhalation and were treated with oxygen but did not require hospitalization.

There was significant damage done by this destructive event estimated at about KRW3 million ($2,173) because most of the interior of the room was burnt black due to the intense heat generated by such a large-scale fire. The incident also led to a sleepless night for many hotel guests, who were evacuated during the emergency response.

Arson at Kangwon Land Spurs Debate on Casino Safety and Regulation

Kangwon Land is notable for being South Korea’s only casino where locals are allowed to gamble alongside foreigners. Only a few establishments authorized by the government can engage in gambling because of strict regulations in the country. 

Authorities are still looking into the matter as more information is being gathered about the suspect’s actions leading up to and during the fire. The man continues to be held in custody on charges related to South Korea’s rigid fire prevention statutes.

This incident has sparked conversations regarding safety precautions taken at gambling establishments and mental health effects caused by financial failures resulting from bets made at such facilities.

The police often find themselves dealing with crimes like these because people who commit them typically have big debts that they need to repay. The South Korean authorities are likely to review current protocols to prevent similar occurrences in the future. As the investigation unfolds, further details are expected to shed light on the motivations and circumstances that led to this destructive act.

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Treasure Island Resort & Casino is recognized as a premium gaming and entertainment destination in Minnesota. The casino offers a wide range of gambling options, including video poker devices, a poker room, bingo, as well as table games and a whopping 1,800 slot machines.

Treasure Island Resort & Casino is located at 5734 Sturgeon Lake Rd in Welch, some 40 minutes away from the Twin Cities. In a recent jackpot streak, five visitors of the casino won big jackpots and will now have extra cash to spend during the summer months. The lucky visitors collected jackpots between $21,886 and $119,831.

The casino disclosed details regarding the jackpot wins last week. The biggest jackpot from the recent streak, a mouth-watering $119,831, was won by a visitor who played Aristocrat Gaming’s Dragon Link slot game. After a $25 bet, the lucky visitor secured the staggering jackpot.

Within the recent jackpot streak, the second-largest jackpot was secured by a gambler who enjoyed the Boost Gold slot game. The lucky winner was able to hit a $91,724 jackpot from the popular game.

A Five-Figure Jackpot with a Bet Less than $1

Another hefty prize at Treasure Island Resort & Casino was won by a player who enjoyed video poker. While playing Island Poker, the lucky visitor scored a royal flush, resulting in a $40,000 jackpot.

Enjoying the popular slot game Dollar Storm Mega Grand Link, another visitor tapped into a hefty payday. The Treasure Island Resort & Casino player was able to hit a $33,045 jackpot from the game.

Last but not least, another lucky gambler scored a jackpot while enjoying some of the venue’s most popular slot games. The guest was playing Light & Wonder’s Jewel of the Dragon slot and secured a hefty payout on a tiny wager. After a $0.60 bet, the incredibly lucky gambler secured the mind-blowing $21,886 jackpot from the popular slot game.

Elsewhere, in Las Vegas, a lucky visitor of The Venetian Resort, placed a $5 side wager and won a hefty jackpot playing Pai Gow. The lucky man from Canada received five aces, allowing him to secure a mouth-watering $219,578 jackpot.

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The Netherlands’ regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has issued an updated Responsible Gaming Policy Rule, setting a new deposit limit of €300 for players aged 18-24 and €700 for players over 24.

Announcing the revised rules on June 3, KSA highlighted the new deposit limits as a significant advancement in fostering a safer gambling environment for young people.

Immediate Implementation and Future Changes

The Responsible Gaming Policy Rule was published in the Netherlands’ Official Gazette and took immediate effect. However, KSA noted that specific policies, including the deposit limits, will be implemented starting October 1. This delay allows for necessary IT adjustments and gives operators time to recruit new employees to manage the changes.

Starting October 1, operators must conduct financial checks on young players (ages 18-24) depositing €300 or more to ensure they can afford to gamble that amount. For those over 24, this threshold is set at €700. If a player cannot afford the deposit, the operator must block any further deposits for that month.

Operators can only deviate from the €300 limit in exceptional circumstances, such as for professional poker players needing to deposit larger amounts for tournaments.

Stricter Real-Time Monitoring

The revised Responsible Gaming Policy Rule also mandates stricter “real-time” monitoring of player behavior. Both land-based and online operators must intervene within an hour of detecting potentially harmful gambling behavior, such as excessive participation. This 24-hour monitoring aims to prevent gambling-related harm by addressing signs like:

• Gambling for extended hours at night
• Continuous betting
• Repeated depositing

The KSA defines gambling for over six hours a day as a potential sign of gambling harm.

“With this policy rule, the Gaming Authority aims to further flesh out the laws and regulations that apply to the recruitment and advertising activities of license holders and to the addiction prevention policy and its implementation by license holders, where applicable,” states the publication in the Official Gazette.

Rationale for Rule Amendments

In September 2023, KSA conducted a study on how ten operators managed their duty of care. The study involved collecting data on player monitoring, player behavior, and addiction prevention policies. The regulator found that operators did not consistently intervene with at-risk players in a timely manner.

The study’s findings, along with recent changes to gambling advertising rules and a role model ban, prompted KSA to draft amendments to its Responsible Gambling Policy Rule. The draft underwent a consultation process, receiving 33 responses from operators, trade bodies, and addiction experts. Most feedback focused on addiction prevention.

Netherlands’ Ongoing Regulatory Efforts

The amendments to the Responsible Gaming Policy are part of the Netherlands’ broader efforts to tighten gambling regulations. In May, a coalition agreement proposed raising the gambling tax from 30.5% to 37.8%. In April, the Dutch House of Representatives voted to ban both online gambling advertising and “high risk” online gambling, including slots.

Additionally, research by the Keurmerk Responsible Affiliates (KVA) revealed that illegal operators in the Netherlands accepted bets from minors. Peter-Paul de Goeij, director of the Netherlands Online Gambling Association, anticipated a “rigorous” response from KSA following these findings.

KSA has also imposed several fines on unlicensed operators offering their services in the Netherlands. Notably, Sarah Eternal was fined €280,000 per week for operating without a license, and Casbit received a warning for a similar offense.

Source: “NL regulator sets €300 deposit limit for players aged 18-24”. iGaming Business. June 3, 2024

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The Star Sydney’s parent company and one of the largest entertainment and gaming groups in Australia, Star Entertainment Group, was involved in a scandal related to alleged breaches of regulations related to anti-money laundering and other issues. As the second inquiry into The Star Sydney loomed, allegations of records falsification emerged earlier this week.

The allegations came after Liquor & Gaming NSW uncovered discrepancies between actual data from The Star Sydney and recorded and submitted gaming interactions by the venue. The probe uncovered that while the casino posted reports about its gambling interactions, CCTV and observations did not match with the reported actions to protect the consumers from excessive gambling.

Nicholas Weeks, the person appointed to the role of manager at The Star Sydney to help guide the venue to compliance, revealed that the Liquor & Gaming NSW inspectors compared recorded player protection data to actual CCTV footage and in-person observations, finding a mismatch between the information. As a result, the casino was accused of “falsification of records,” which occurred not only often but involved a large portion of the employees.

The latest hearing uncovered another major concern regarding The Star Sydney’s “ticket in, cash out”(TICO) machines. An issue with a software update on some of the machines cost the casino AU$3.2 million ($2.1 million) and according to a newly released report, people involved in the activity were reported to the police by the casino for fraud.

More than 40 people exploited the faulty TICO machines at the casino before the error was finally fixed nearly two weeks later. As announced by the Sydney Morning Herald, people who participated in the illicit activity are now facing legal repercussions as they were reported for fraud to the police by The Star Sydney.

The fraudulent activity wasn’t elaborate at all and was in fact caused by a glitch in the TICO machines’ software. Whenever a person placed two tickets into such a machine, they would receive the payout of the two tickets, but one of them would be returned to the customer. Subsequent attempts to redeem the returned ticket were successful and many people started doing so. To make matters worse, the ticket could’ve been redeemed multiple times, which is why the gambling operator lost millions after only 13 days.

The latest report told the story of a woman with the initials T.L.L., who was a recovering gambling addict. After hearing about the TICO glitch at The Star Sydney, she started to withdraw money using the same method. Overall, T.L.L. withdrew AU$57,265 ($36,900) and from that total, she spent everything but AU$5,000 ($3,200).

The TICO machine error happened last summer. Once the casino realized there was an issue, it reported the customers’ activities to the police. As a result, T.L.L. and many others were arrested and charged with fraud.

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Individuals grappling with problem gambling face more than just the challenges of their addiction. They confront a system rife with bias, making it significantly harder for them to access necessary treatment compared to those struggling with other dependencies.

Individuals with Gambling Disorder Navigate Inequities in Health Coverage

At the 16th Annual Michigan Problem Gambling Symposium, held recently, University of Oklahoma Law Professor Stacey A. Tovino shed light on the institutional biases encountered by those with a gambling problem. Tovino highlighted how individuals with gambling disorder are often disadvantaged when seeking healthcare through both public health programs and private insurance plans, reported Play Michigan.

According to Tovino, individuals grappling with gambling disorder are often subjected to disparities in health insurance coverage and policies. These disparities manifest in various forms, including limited coverage, lower spending caps, and stricter requirements for outpatient visits and therapy sessions. Remarkably, these obstacles are not typically encountered by individuals seeking treatment for physical ailments.

Tovino emphasized the disparity in coverage between mental health conditions and gambling disorder, noting that insurance companies frequently provide fewer benefits for the latter. She explained that individuals with gambling disorder may receive significantly fewer covered inpatient days or outpatient visits compared to those with physical health conditions requiring similar therapy.

Medical Insurance Companies Fail to Address Gambling Addiction

Moreover, despite efforts to enhance mental health coverage over the years, including through legislation like the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 and subsequent amendments, problem gambling remains inadequately addressed. Despite being classified as an impulse control disorder, akin to other recognized dependencies, insurance companies often exclude coverage for gambling addiction.

The expansion of online gambling further exacerbates the issue, with insurance policies increasingly failing to provide coverage for gambling disorder, specifically targeting online gambling addiction.

In Michigan, where the benchmark health plan lacks explicit provisions for gambling disorder treatment, individuals struggling with problem gambling find themselves particularly disadvantaged. Unlike alcohol or substance addiction, gambling disorder is not universally recognized as a disability, further complicating efforts to secure coverage and support.

Amidst these challenges, Michigan offers various resources for individuals and families affected by problem gambling, including helplines, self-exclusion programs, and support groups like Gamblers Anonymous and Game-Anon.

Last year the Michigan Gaming Control Board(MGCB) announced that it anticipates receiving approximately $51 million in funding for Fiscal Year 2024. This budget allocation is meant to support the MGCB in its efforts to combat illegal gambling, monitor the market, and promote responsible gambling initiatives, including the “Don’t Regret the Bet” campaign.

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Lucky gamblers at several casinos in Las Vegas secured a number of jackpots over the last week. The announcement follows the Super Bowl LVIII weekend that attracted fans from across the nation who wanted to see the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. In light of the big game, Sin City posted record-breaking betting results.

Focusing on jackpots, one lucky visitor at Wildfire, the premium gaming and entertainment venue in Las Vegas, will never forget their most recent visit. On Tuesday, the casino confirmed that one of its lucky visitors was able to hit a five-figure jackpot after wagering less than $2. Wildfire confirmed via its social media profile on X, formerly Twitter, that the lucky winner hit a $10,265.58 jackpot while playing Dancing Drums Prosperity. What’s exciting is that the jackpot was hit with a tiny $1.88 bet.

A Winning Jackpot Streak at Boulder Station

Before that, several visitors secured hefty jackpots when visiting Boulder Station, the luxury casino located minutes off the Las Vegas Strip. The winning streak started with two lucky visitors who hit the jackpot while playing Aristocrat Gaming’s Dragon Link. One of the visitors, identified as Christina S. hit a jackpot on Sunday, while the other lucky gambler, named Chandler, secured a jackpot from Dragon Link on Monday. While Boulder Station released pictures of the two lucky winners, it didn’t confirm the amount of the jackpot they won.

Again, on Monday, the premium casino location confirmed that another five-figure jackpot was won. One fortunate visitor playing Fu Dai Lian Boost hit a jackpot after a $44 bet. As a result, the lucky Boulder Station casino visitor took home the hefty jackpot prize of $11,874.

Separately, another jackpot dropped at Boulder Station recently. A person who placed a $25.00 bet on poker hit a sweet $8,534 jackpot, the premium Las Vegas casino revealed.

Elsewhere, in Maryland, a $5 million lottery jackpot winner confirmed he plans to keep his current job. The lucky lottery player won the grand prize after purchasing tickets for Maryland Lottery’s 50 Years! instant ticket lottery game.

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The court’s decision stems from a change in Dutch gambling laws in October 2021, legalizing online gambling, which has prompted individuals who lost substantial amounts of money before this date to pursue legal action, claiming their losses were unlawful. Unibet has expressed its intention to object to the ruling, opening the case for reexamination at a later date.

The Company Allegedly Operated without Permission

According to the court, Unibet must repay €93,000 ($99,902) to one gambler, while another company, whose identity remains undisclosed, was ordered to refund an amount of €124,000 ($133,203). These rulings were classified as default judgments, indicating that the defendants failed to respond. However, a Unibet representative noted that the company’s lack of response was due to human error and it would seek its legal rights.

Lawyer Benzi Loonstein, representing several former gamblers, including the two in these cases, noted that his clients were happy with the court’s ruling despite expecting a continued legal battle. The judges in both cases agreed with his arguments, indicating that Unibet may face a significant challenge in contesting this decision.

Simply put, if a company acts contrary to the law, it is not entitled to the money earned.

Lawyer Benzi Loonstein

The Netherlands is not alone in addressing claims regarding similar losses. Similar lawsuits, with a success rate of nearly 100%, have been conducted in Germany and Austria in recent years. Tens of millions of euros have already been recovered from gambling companies in almost 7,000 cases, with the argument being that companies acting against the law are not entitled to profits from such activities.

Unibet Faces Rising Pressures

An unsuccessful appeal by Unibet could cause significant long-term problems for the operator as more clients attempt to seek compensation in court. Given the successful track record of other such attempts in high-profile European jurisdictions, Unibet’s legal team will be hard-pressed to ensure success. This development closely follows the company’s ongoing issues in other European markets amidst increasing regulatory pressures.

September saw Kindred, the company behind Unibet, withdraw from Norway after a costly and protracted legal battle. The court claimed the operator had been operating illegally amidst the country’s intensifying efforts to regulate its gambling market. This development dealt a significant blow to Kindred’s European ambitions, and the new setbacks in the Netherlands have undermined its foothold in another high-profile jurisdiction.

The recent rise in refund claims has raised significant concerns in Malta, which is home to many casinos, including Unibet. The region revised its gambling law in June with Bill 55, which allows gambling companies to disregard foreign judgments when gamblers seek refunds, safeguarding against such demands. The European Commission is investigating this change in law, which goes against EU regulations.

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Australia’s new ID laws will require bettors to present their ID cards before being able to play online. The new measure replaces the previous system where bettors had a 72-hour window to prove their identity.

Unlike before, gamblers will now be unable to place any bets or make deposits before showing their identity card. 

According to Responsible Wagering Australia, an independent peak body for Australian-licensed wagering service providers, this new measure would mitigate certain problems such as underage gambling or gambling harm.

By asking for ID before allowing consumers to play, companies will effectively prevent efforts to circumvent their social responsibility protocols. As a result, operators will be able to identify underage individuals or self-excluded players, stopping them from placing bets.

According to Kai Cantwell, Responsible Wagering Australia’s chief executive officer, over 90% of his organization’s members already verify customers’ identities. The change, he said, would bring the remaining companies up to standard.

The Measure Would Prevent Fraud

Cantwell also noted that the verification process will help companies advertise their safer gambling tools by prompting them to set a deposit limit when they register. Raising awareness of the player protection tools available to consumers has been considered an important step to achieving a safer gambling market where betting is enjoyed responsibly.

Cantwell added that the new ID verification system will prevent fraud:

This measure is also an important mechanism to mitigate money laundering and terrorism financing risks.

Kai Cantwell, CEO, Responsible Wagering Australia

Cantwell argued that the ID verification regulation should be applied to all gambling services, not just the online ones.

Australia’s Gambling Laws Evolve

Australia’s gambling regulations continue to evolve as the country seeks to reduce problem gambling rates and protect its citizens from harm. Recently, Australia also pushed for age classification for games offering simulated gambling, such as loot boxes. As a result, such games will be forced to block minors from accessing such content starting September 2024. 

In New South Wales, gambling companies are preparing to trial cashless gaming, which, many believe, would help the state reduce problem gambling and gambling fraud rates. It is now up to Liquor & Gaming NSW and its partners to prove that the measure works to skeptics.

The NSW government also recently allocated AUD 100 million to combat gambling harm in the state.

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Casino jackpots always bring excitement, although they are quite hard to hit. The pure thought of securing a big win makes gamblers bet even more but only a lucky few get to take home a hefty jackpot payout.

One visitor of the Flamingo Las Vegas was incredibly lucky, which granted him a seven-digit prize. The player, who wasn’t identified, was playing Pai Gow poker. Little did they know that this game would be life-changing.

On Tuesday this week, the lucky player hit a $1,333,121 jackpot while playing Pai Gow poker, the Flamingo Las Vegas confirmed. The premium casino and entertainment destination congratulated the winner for the big prize and acknowledged that it helped make another person a millionaire.