GambleAware chief executive Zoë Osmond has robustly defended the charity’s work following a recent complaint from the Good Law Project. This complaint, filed in March, questions how effectively GambleAware disseminates information and accuses its trustees of failing to provide adequate gambling harm education.

The Good Law Project argues that GambleAware’s underperformance stems from its industry ties and its “reliance on industry funding.” In response, Osmond reaffirmed the charity’s independent stance, stating to iGB that GambleAware operates independently from the gambling industry.

Osmond has once again reiterated GambleAware’s independence and expressed confidence that the complaint will not be upheld. The Charity Commission is still assessing whether it needs to take action regarding the complaint.

“Our robust governance and commissioning practices ensure that the industry has no influence over our operations. GambleAware’s independence has been widely recognised by a range of stakeholders including the government, as evidenced in the gambling white paper,” Osmond stated.

She further criticized the Good Law Project’s complaint, labeling it as based on “misleading and outdated information.” While confident that the complaint will be dismissed, Osmond voiced concerns over the potential negative impact of such claims on GambleAware’s services and their beneficiaries.

Concerns Over Impact on Vulnerable Players

GambleAware is not just dismissing the complaint as baseless but also highlighting its potential adverse effects on at-risk gamblers who rely on the charity’s support services. The charity fears that such claims may discourage individuals from seeking help.

Osmond elaborated, “The deeply stigmatized nature of gambling harms often makes it difficult for individuals to reach out for help. Maintaining the credibility and reputation of essential support services is crucial to reaching people before their gambling issues become catastrophic.”

She emphasized that undermining these services risks harming not just those directly seeking help but also the families and friends affected by their loved ones’ gambling problems.

Defending Treatment Effectiveness

To bolster its defense, GambleAware pointed to statistics from the National Gambling Support Network. These statistics reveal that nine out of ten vulnerable players who complete their treatment see an improvement in their condition. For those whose conditions did not improve, 69% did not complete their treatment.

GambleAware also highlighted the significant reach of its resources, including its website, which attracts 6.5 million visits annually. Furthermore, the charity’s national stigma public health campaign has reached over 95% of the population, showcasing its extensive efforts to address gambling harms.

GambleAware remains steadfast in its commitment to providing independent and effective support to those affected by gambling harms. The charity continues to defend its practices and reputation against the allegations made by the Good Law Project, underscoring its vital role in the fight against gambling-related issues.

Source: “GambleAware defends its position after ‘misleading and outdated claims’”. iGamingBusiness. May 20, 2024.

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Nuvei reported that its total volume increased to $42.4 billion, or a 45% gain for the period ended March 31, 2023. The company saw revenue increase by 20% to $256.5 million, which was mostly based on eCommerce.

Nuvei Marks Big Regional Gains, Improved Financial Outlook

The results also saw big regional gains, with the North American market growing by 55% and the Latin American market adding another 68% in regional gains there. Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, however, saw a decrease in overall revenue by 4% to $119.8 million.

Nuvei has utilized the power of payments to offer better results for its partners in iGaming and gaming, assisting brands convert and onboard their customers – something that is often achieved through a smoother registration and payment process.

At the beginning of the year, Nuvei also agreed to acquire Paya Holdings for $1.30 billion, which is a company focusing on integrating payment and commerce solutions for North American merchants. The acquisition was hailed at the time by Nuvei CEO Philip Fayer who said that the move was a step in the evolution of the company and the creation of a preeminent payment technology provider.

Paya is also going to help the company achieve between $50 million and $100 million in new revenue synergy opportunities by 2027. Nuvei has also been spending heavily on technological investment, with the company’s investment in the segment going up by 40%.

In light of these results, Nuvei has also provided its financial outlook for the next quarter which will be ending up on June 30, 2023, and the fiscal year which will end on December 31, 2023. Mostly, the company expects stronger organic revenue growth.

Strong Growth and Good Baseline for Future Success

Fayer felt confident about his company’s present results, and he hailed the first quarter as a good start to 2023. He commended the gains in market share, innovation, and geographic reach and said that all of this was a precursor of even stronger quarters to come.

“I am confident that Nuvei’s growing leadership position within the payment ecosystem and global platform advantages will allow us to continue to deliver sustainable and durable growth,” Fayer noted.

The company has been rapidly building its gaming footprint in the United States with license approvals in both Maryland and Kansas.

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Gambling “whale” Lester Hui is defending himself against a claim of almost £600,000 by an exclusive Mayfair casino in London. Hui maintains that Aspinall’s Clubs Ltd helped him get “blackout drunk” in order to help him lose more than half a million Pounds playing double chance baccarat at Aspinall’s casino at Curzon Street.

Hui claims the casino kept bringing him drinks of Moutai, a particular style of baijiu, a distilled Chinese liquor that is crafted in the town of Maotai in China’s Guizhou province and often referred to as “firewater”.

Claims Failure of Club’s Social Responsibility

Under Gambling Commission rules, Hui maintains that the casino failed to fulfill its social responsibility to him when staff failed to intervene in his self-destructive behavior by continuing to serve him the potent liquor so that he would be likely to lose large sums of money to the house edge and Aspinall’s financial benefit at his expense.

Aspinall’s is having none of it if they can help it and are demanding he pays up the money it says he owes through the gambling contract. The casino contends he remained sober enough to make clear game decisions and drove himself home when he was done gambling.

Aspinall’s is a members-only club that has entertained celebrities and various royalty over the years since opening in the 1960s. The purported gambling debt dates back to early 2016. Hui has reportedly been a member since 1996.

As is usually the case with a game like baccarat, his winnings reportedly fluctuated throughout his gambling session but he ended up in the hole after spending £600,000 in pursuit of wins. When he was done playing he wrote a check for £589,724, representing his spend minus a smaller amount the club owed him from earlier.

However, the check didn’t clear the bank.

Attempted to Settle Out of Court

According to a report in the Mirror, the club has tried on several occasions to help Hui settle the debt out of court but has been involved in the court process since late 2019.

According to Hui, he planned to get drunk and informed staff while also asking them to limit his losses to £30,000 and then got too drunk to know what he was doing while the club allowed him to lose five times his self-imposed limit he claims he asked the club to help him enforce. Being in a state of “blackout” drunkenness, Hui claims he was not legally capable of entering a gambling contract to lose money.

Club barrister, Alexander Robson doubts Hui’s claim of asking for limits and forcefully defends against the main notions put forward by the gambler.

“If Mr. Hui had made any such formal request to limit his gaming to a particular amount, the request would have been recorded and requested.

“Further, if Mr. Hui had said he was going to get drunk, he would not have been permitted to play at all,” said the barrister.

Providing complimentary drinks, enforcing insufficient breaks from the tables, and continuing to serve drinks after he began gambling are claimed as a breach of Aspinall’s social responsibility to its customer.

Source: High roller claims top Mayfair casino plied him with ‘firewater’ as he gambled away £600k, The Mirror, March 13, 2023

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