A recent study funded by GambleAware has shed light on the troubling trend of marginalized and socially excluded communities in the UK using gambling as a means to cope with their difficult circumstances and loneliness. Conducted by The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), the analysis reviewed 138 previous studies to understand the impact of gambling on these vulnerable groups.

The study focused on several groups, including those experiencing or at risk of homelessness, older individuals, people living with disabilities, neurodiversity or mental health challenges, criminalized communities, and migrants in vulnerable situations like asylum seekers. Despite their varied backgrounds, these groups share a common thread: the use of gambling to alleviate stressors caused by social exclusion and discrimination.

Underlying Issues and Coping Mechanisms

The research highlighted that individuals from these marginalized communities often turn to gambling to escape from issues such as loneliness, mental health struggles, stress from migration and assimilation, unemployment, job insecurity, and poverty. Gambling was perceived as a temporary distraction or a potential way to escape financial hardships.

Another significant finding was the disproportionate number of gambling venues located in deprived areas of Great Britain. People from marginalized and isolated communities are more likely to reside in these areas due to socioeconomic disenfranchisement, thus increasing their exposure to gambling opportunities.

Stigma emerged as a crucial factor affecting these communities’ gambling behaviors and their willingness to seek support. Many already face stigma related to drug use, homelessness, or mental health issues, which intersects with the stigma associated with gambling harms. This compounded stigma often prevents individuals from seeking necessary help.

Calls for Accessible and Inclusive Treatment Services

The report calls for gambling treatment services to be more accessible, inclusive, and adaptive to meet the needs of marginalized communities. It also emphasizes the need for further research to understand the specific gambling harms experienced by these groups better and to develop effective support mechanisms.

GambleAware has been proactive in addressing these issues, launching initiatives like the “Improving Outcomes for Women and Minority Communities Affected by Gambling Harm” fund. This £4 million program supports 25 organizations across Great Britain, such as Investing in People and Culture and the Flowhesion Foundation, to help ethnically diverse and vulnerable communities tackle gambling harms.

Natalie, an individual who has experienced gambling harm and homelessness, highlighted the challenges faced by those without stable housing. “To break free from gambling harm, you need to have a safe place to live. If you don’t have shelter, it makes trying to recover so much harder, and it can be difficult to access support without a permanent address. We need improved ease of access for accommodation and support, and to ensure sufficient housing options are available for people experiencing disadvantage from addiction.”

Expert Insights

Dr. Sokratis Dinos from NatCen’s Centre for Gambling Research emphasized the findings’ significance: “The results show how vulnerability to gambling harms for some people in these communities will be driven by compounding inequalities, stigma, exclusion, and discrimination.” He added that the report critically appraises existing evidence on gambling harms among marginalized communities, underlining the urgent need for targeted interventions and further research.

Sources:

New study finds that socially excluded communities use gambling to cope with discrimination, loneliness and other problems, gambleaware.org, July 30, 2024.

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At a recent meeting with Nevada regulators, Konami Group Chairman Higashio Kimihiko expressed confidence that the gaming industry has fully bounced back from the setbacks caused by the pandemic. Appearing before the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB), Kimihiko underscored the industry’s robust recovery and outlined Konami’s role in adapting to post-pandemic challenges.

Konami’s Kimihiko Touts Company’s Strength at Nevada Regulator Hearing

Kimihiko, who has been at the helm of Konami since 2020, addressed the NGCB through an interpreter. He acknowledged the impact of the pandemic but emphasized that the market has regained its strength, reported CDC Gaming. He was last approved for licensing by Nevada regulators in 2013, and this recent appearance was part of a routine licensing process. The NGCB’s recommendation for approval will advance to the Nevada Gaming Commission for final consideration later this month.

In his discussion with NGCB Chairman Kirk Hendrick, Kimihiko supported the state’s efforts to accelerate the introduction of gaming products to the market. Hendrick highlighted the state’s commitment to aiding companies in swiftly delivering new technologies to customers, a sentiment that Kimihiko endorsed.

NGCB member George Assad praised Kimihiko’s impressive background, noting his progression within Konami from an engineering MBA graduate to his current leadership position.

NGCB Approves Caesars Entertainment’s CIO Rajendran Anbalagan

During the same meeting, the NGCB also reviewed and recommended the approval of Rajendran Anbalagan as the chief information and product transformation officer for Caesars Entertainment. Anbalagan, who took on this role 11 months ago, has a background in digital and technology roles, including a stint at Panera Bread as senior vice president.

Despite his limited experience in the gaming industry, Anbalagan described himself as a “computer geek” who is eager to tackle the challenges of his new position. He addressed the cybersecurity incident that Caesars experienced last fall, assuring the NGCB that the company has been proactive in strengthening its defenses. Anbalagan detailed how Caesars has increased collaboration with cybersecurity partners and hired a new chief information security officer to enhance their protective measures.

Hendrick echoed the importance of cybersecurity, noting that the NGCB itself faced a cyberattack in January. He emphasized the government’s commitment to safeguarding its systems and praised Anbalagan for his efforts to protect customer and employee information.

Anbalagan also touched on his role in product transformation, emphasizing the need for a seamless guest experience through advanced technology. Board member Brittnie Watkins commended his hands-on approach and looked forward to the innovations he would bring to the industry.

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Casino gambling, wagering on sports and iGaming activities are prohibited in China. The country has tough laws when it comes to gambling, but an exception is applied to Macau, a popular tourist destination and a special administrative region (SAR) of China.

Although the city offers casino gambling, the crackdown against the activity extended from China with a request for Macau to implement foreigner-only gambling halls. This came in an effort to track their activities and determine what part of the operators’ revenue comes from foreign tourists.

Details regarding the new requirement first emerged a couple of years ago toward the end of 2022. Despite the requirement, separating foreign casino visitors was significantly unpopular and the gambling operators quickly identified this trend along with the need for an effective way to track the activities of foreign visitors.

Bill Hornbuckle, MGM Resorts’ CEO and president, participated in the J.P. Morgan Gaming, Lodging, Restaurant and Leisure Management Access Forum, as announced by IAG. During the event on Friday, the executive spoke about the ineffectiveness of the foreigner-only gambling zones, uncovering details regarding an innovative solution the company used to tackle the issue.

Hornbuckle said that with the implementation of the new requirements for foreigner-only visitors, operators faced a challenge as they had to establish private rooms for gamblers from different jurisdictions. This otherwise separated the visitors and turned out to be a significantly unpopular method.

The Chip in Chip Technology Brings Benefits

Addressing the need to track the gambling activities of foreign gamblers in Macau, MGM Resorts implemented a new “chip in chip” program. The company’s CEO and president spoke about the benefits of this technology, outlining that it allows the venue to track every chip and at the same time reduce gaming errors. According to Hornbuckle, the technology also played an important role in the back-end operations, including financing and accounting.

“We put in a ‘chip in chip’ program several years ago where basically every chip is tracked, and the benefit at the time was no errors to the game, you knew exactly where to put your labor, there were a bunch of back-end benefits as well in terms of accounting and financing, and it was meaningful.“

Bill Hornbuckle, CEO and president at MGM Resorts

Calling the technology a huge advantage, the executive said that tracking the activities of foreign players is easy. At the same time, Hornbuckle said that customers from different jurisdictions are not separated from each other, which contributes to the customer experience. Finally, MGM Resorts’ boss said that the gambling regulator in Macau approves the technology considering its effectiveness.

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Aristocrat’s chief executive officer, Trevor Croker, has addressed the company’s recent performance, expressing optimism in its ability to digitalize its traditional casino games.

In his address during the annual general meeting, Croker commented on Aristocrat’s FY results, praising the company’s growth. He pointed out that FY23 saw the company deliver revenue of $6.3 billion and an EBITDA margin of 33.4%.

Net profit before amortization stood at $1.3 billion, representing a profit improvement of 21%. The iGaming segment skyrocketed, reporting revenue and profit growth of 22% and 23% respectively. International Class III products, on the other hand, posted revenue growth of a whopping 87%, underpinned by strong performance in EMEA and Asia.

The company’s NA presence increased, placing Aristocrat’s growth well ahead of that of its competitors.

We once again generated robust operating cash flow, which was applied to fund our growth initiatives, including capital investments in our installed base in North America and the strategic acquisition of Roxor Gaming.

Trevor Croker, CEO & MD, Aristocrat

The Roxor acquisition closed in January 2023, allowing Aristocrat to grow its European iGaming footprint. Following that, Aristocrat also moved in to acquire NeoGames in a deal that it is yet to complete.

The Largest Growth Opportunity Lies in the RMG Sector

As for the future, Croker is optimistic about Aristocrat’s business in North America. The company recently forayed into Quebec’s VLT market. The company is also set to launch VLTs in Georgia in 2024.                                               

The company also plans to continue its investments in D&D as it seeks to differentiate itself from its rivals. Croker cited the recent launch of NFL-themed electronic gaming machines as a perfect example of this.

However, the largest growth opportunity lies in the RMG sector, Croker believes. He said that the performance of its first releases quickly proved that Aristocrat’s land-based casino games would resonate online.

We will take our successful gaming portfolio online through a multi-year roll out plan, ensuring a steady stream of new game launches, both in North America and in Europe, where our acquisition of Roxor has established a foothold from which we can further expand penetration of our leading content.

Trevor Croker, CEO & MD, Aristocrat

In the meantime, Aristocrat reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability and ESG, saying that they are a fundamental expression of the company’s values. Croker added that his team is genuinely concerned about the dangers of excessive gambling and will continue to involve itself in responsible gaming initiatives.

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The US Department of the Treasury has published its 2024 National Money Laundering Risk Assessment. The report highlighted, among other things the online gaming and sports betting sector’s vulnerability to money laundering.

According to the Treasury, the anonymity provided by the online gambling sector provides some unique money laundering risks. While US casinos have a number of AML laws to follow, as per the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), not all operators are aware of their obligations, the department pointed out.

Considering the volume of betting, the fast growth of the online gambling market and the disparities between separate jurisdictions, enforcing the requirements is a challenging task, the US Treasury noted. As a result, the US online betting market is exposed to “significant and increasing money laundering risks.”

While the legal betting sector is very vulnerable to money laundering, illegal gambling operators represent additional dangers. Cryptocurrency-based casinos, for example, are no ubiquitous and add more nuance to the saturation.

The US Department of the Treasury noted that some fraudsters would deposit criminally acquired money into online sports betting accounts and then withdraw them to disguise them as winnings.

The Treasury has already recorded a number of such cases, including a recent fraud that saw a Georgia man launder a whopping $1 million through a betting account. The money had, in reality, come from faith-based charities and individual donors. The money, initially intended for religious purposes, was appropriated for personal gain.

The Department Wants to Raise Awareness of AML Risks

The Treasury’s report hopes that it would be able to raise awareness of the issue and educate organizations about the vulnerabilities of the US business sector. To that end, the department also emphasized other risk-heavy sectors, such as dealings with Russia and North Korea. The former is increasingly keen on acquiring US-origin military products, while the latter has been leveraging hackers to undermine and exploit the American digital economy.

Brian E. Nelson, the department’s under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, concluded that the Treasury remains committed to protecting the US economy from fraud.

Treasury, through our National Risk Assessments, is at the cutting edge of analyzing the global risk environment to protect the US and international financial systems from abuse by illicit actors.

Brian E. Nelson, under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, US Department of the Treasury

Nelson urged businesses within the public and private sectors to familiarize themselves with the Treasury’s full report and stay tuned for the forthcoming National Strategy for Combating Terrorist and Other Illicit Finance.

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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, making a strong comeback after a month-long battle with pneumonia, spoke exclusively to CBS News Texas at the Capitol on December 1, emphasizing the lack of support among GOP senators for the introduction of casinos in Texas.

Casino Controversy Amplifies as Mavericks’ Stake Sale Fuels Gambling Speculations

Patrick stated that he felt fine and mentioned that it would take him some time to regain 100% energy. He indicated that he was a long way from where he had been, addressing the progress of his health recovery.

While Patrick’s return to the Senate spotlighted the issue of casino gambling, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban‘s recent move to sell a majority stake to Miriam Adelson has intensified the debate. Adelson, the widow of casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson, shares Cuban’s vision of a new arena in downtown Dallas as part of a casino resort. However, any such venture in Texas necessitates a constitutional amendment.

In the interview, Patrick revealed that, based on his experience and knowledge, they were not even close to having 15 votes or 16 votes for casinos. He cited the lack of public outcry after rejected bills supporting casinos during the recent legislative session as evidence of the Senate’s stance.

The majority stake sale of the Dallas Mavericks to the Adelson family, known for their involvement in the casino industry, has sparked speculation about the potential expansion of gambling in Texas. 

Mark Cuban’s vision for resort casinos in the state, coupled with the Adelson family’s political influence and financial resources, could serve as a catalyst for advocating legislative changes. 

Patrick Points Fingers as Casino Debate and Legislative Delays Unfold

Patrick, however, emphasized the necessity for casino operators to independently garner support among House and Senate members. He dismissed the notion that Gov. Abbott, Speaker Dade Phelan, or he himself held the key to such decisions. He stated that significant changes do not occur overnight and stressed the importance of getting in the trenches and grinding it out.

In a surprising turn, Patrick blamed Speaker Phelan for the delay in addressing a constitutional challenge that threatens property tax cuts and increased funds for retired teachers. The Senate proposed and passed a bill, SB 6, aimed at expediting the court challenge, though a similar bill was not filed in the House, leading Patrick to accuse Phelan of negligence.

The ongoing clash between Patrick and Phelan escalated as the former accused the House of dysfunction. Amidst these disagreements, speculations about a potential fifth special session have arisen. When asked about it, Patrick cautiously suggested waiting until February 5, 30 days before the Texas primary election, for the most productive time to reconvene.

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A recent ABC News article delved into the story of an anonymous gambling addiction victim who shared his experiences, revealing the lack of player protection mechanisms in many Australian jurisdictions. His recovery story can be a valuable lesson for Australian authorities as they rally to bring order to the country’s gambling sector and introduce measures to curb rapidly rising gambling addiction rates.

Australia Remains Wracked with Problem Gambling

Michael, a 45-year-old Queensland resident, shared his unfortunate experiences after he placed his first bet on a horse race at age 17. The following decades of addiction saw him suffer from bankruptcy and heartbreak as his life hit rock bottom. Michael managed to recover and remains an active member of Gamblers Anonymous, but highlighted several concerning industry trends.

Michael voiced concerns about the accessibility of gambling to young people, especially with rampant advertising. He noted that the introduction of online wagering had made it easier than ever to get hooked, advocating for limited or complete gambling advertising bans and emphasizing the importance of support systems like Gamblers Anonymous. His opinions align with many industry experts who believe it is time for urgent change.

There are five times as many gambling ads on TV for sports or race betting than there are alcohol ads.

Alex Russell, CQUniversity Gambling Research Laboratory academic 

The federal government conducted an inquiry in late June, revealing Australians as the world’s highest per capita spenders on gambling, losing $25 billion annually. The study recommended a phased ban on all gambling advertising across states and territories within three years, citing concerns about grooming children into gamblers.

The Government Has Been Slow to Respond

Despite evidence of rising gambling harm, the Australian federal government has not enacted any advertising recommendations and is still deliberating its response. The Alliance for Gambling Reform, through chief advocate Tim Costello, urges swift action, accusing the delay of signaling a cozy relationship between the government and the betting industry.

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth and Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland issued a joint statement, expressing the government’s intent to consider the report’s recommendations and collaborate with stakeholders for a response. However, the gambling industry remains reluctant to reduce advertising without regulation, citing fears of losing out to competitors.

We need a more coordinated approach to reducing gambling advertising that’s fair for everyone.

Alex Russell, CQUniversity Gambling Research Laboratory academic

Michael’s story emphasizes the urgent need for regulatory action, not just for those currently afflicted by gambling addiction but also to safeguard the future generation. While Australia has achieved some progress, problem gambling remains a rising concern. Decisive action and new, effective regulations remain the only feasible option to combat this pervasive issue.

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888, the company that acquired William Hill earlier this year, provided insights into its efforts to promote responsible gambling across its retail business during the ongoing Safer Gambling Week. According to the company, the initiative is a great opportunity to reflect on its progress.

Mark McCaffrey, the company’s head of compliance policy, retail & sportsbook, highlighted the efforts of the company’s shop employees who have a great relationship with their customers. According to McCaffrey, 888’s genuine care for the customers provides it with a significant advantage when it comes to safer gambling.

McCaffrey also noted that 888 has introduced a number of new tools and changes that help them shield consumers from harm. This includes the introduction of exception reporting that helps 888 employees identify at-risk players based on changes in their behavior.

In addition, 888 introduced a new affordability approach to prompt conversation at key points in the customer journey. Furthermore, the company made improvements to the system its workers use to record customer interactions and decisions, providing a more holistic view of their time with the company.

McCaffrey praised the progress but said that there is still more to do.

The Company Implemented Many New Solutions

According to 888’s head of compliance policy, retail & sportsbook, the company will continue to improve into 2024. As a result, it will make further investments and is currently exploring options to change its customer management system.

McCaffrey added that the company is also planning to include better support for colleagues to identify customers through the implementation of a data-driven markers of harm model. The gambling giant also plans to introduce bespoke shop-level prompts based on each shop’s risk profile.

In addition to innovating through the use of cutting-edge technology, 888 also recently teamed up with BetKnowMore to offer a training program for its cluster operations managers and shop teams. The training will enhance the managers’ and team’s skills even further, McCaffrey said.

888’s head of compliance policy, retail & sportsbook also promised that there is a lot more the company has in store. He noted that as retail shops celebrate Safer Gambling Week, customers can expect to see a number of webinars, top tips, best practices and quizzes.

Player safety is important to us every day of every week in every shop. Safer Gambling Week provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the great things we do, share the exciting plans we have and provide opportunity for everyone to learn a little more about this important subject.
Mark McCaffrey, head of compliance policy, retail & sportsbook, 888

In other news, a recent report said that DraftKings may be eyeing a takeover of 888.

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Tim Miller, executive director of the United Kingdom’s Gambling Commission (UKGC) addressed the current state of the industry from the perspective of the British regulator. During yesterday’s Global Gaming Expo (G2E), Miller commented on some of the latest developments in global gaming.

Miller started his speech with a brief discussion of the British market, noting that it continues to exhibit the characteristics of a matured licensed market. He noted that the market closed the fiscal year with a gross gambling yield of £14.1 billion, making it one of the largest in the world.

A survey from the end of March, meanwhile, showed that 44% of adults had taken part in gambling at least once in the previous 4 weeks.

Miller admitted that the pandemic presented unique challenges to the industry but believes that the British industry has managed to emerge stronger than ever. At the same time, the UKGC remains bullish on cracking down on any business practices that endanger customers, further highlighting the market’s maturity.

He noted that the year saw the UKGC conclude the largest enforcement cases in its history, breaking its record two times. FY 2022/23 notably saw the commission conclude 24 enforcement cases with operators who had to pay £60+ million because of their failings.

Miller Says Collaboration Between Regulators Is Crucial

Speaking about certain global trends, Miller noted that British and European operators have been becoming more and more interested in exploring opportunities in North American jurisdictions. The globalization of the industry has prompted the need for discussion between gambling regulators who, according to Miller, have been increasingly focused on regulating the same companies.

The more gambling regulators know of each others rules, standards and markets, the more we are sharing information and best practice, the more we support each other then the more effective we will be.

Tim Miller, executive director, UKGC

According to Miller, it is important to hold operators up to standards and “pose difficult questions” to them if they “act poorly in other markets.”

Miller added that the UKGC is currently establishing strong ties with US regulators and is preparing to sign a number of MOUs with some of them. He is happy that the North American Gaming Regulators Association (NAGRA) and the Gambling Regulators European Forum (GREF) are forming a robust relationship that will benefit the international gaming industry in the long term.

Together, the Industry Can Create a Safe Market

Miller also commented on the importance of cracking down on unlicensed websites. He explained that his team has been using a mix of measures to prevent unlicensed companies from targeting British consumers. The joint work with payment providers, product and games developers and internet search providers, has helped the operator deliver “some dramatic results” and has proven that collaboration is vital.

Only through working together can we ensure we all have safe, fair and crime-free gambling. If as regulators we are able to speak, more often, with one voice then it will enhance our ability to influence those outside the industry – who need to play a more positive and direct role in tackling issues like illegal gambling.

Tim Miller, executive director, UKGC

Miller added that the UK is now consulting white paper proposals that would change the face of the industry in Britain. The consultations saw Britain discuss matters such as age verification, remote games design, direct marketing and cross-selling and affordability checks for online gaming.

Miller also commented on the GamProtect project that would deliver what is known as single customer view. The project will eventually be expanded to cover many operators and consumers.

In the meantime, the UKGC remains bullish on continuing to explore the effect of the industry on public health through regular surveys. The regulator will be busy in the next few years as the local industry continues to evolve.

At the conclusion of his speech, Miller said that gambling is a global industry, which is why operators should work together to truly make a change.

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Germany’s authority responsible for licensing and supervision of online gambling, Gluecksspiel (GGL), highlighted the extensive measures for player protection available in the country under the State Treaty on Gambling (GlüNeuRStv 2021). The regulator reminded the effective measures for player protection and the announcement came ahead of the annual nationwide day of action against gambling addiction, September 27, 2023.

As a part of the GGL’s campaign, it released detailed information regarding the efforts of licensed gambling operators in the country. Additionally, it vowed to conduct more such events and campaigns that seek to raise awareness of the potentially addictive nature of gambling.

The regulator pointed to some of the most important measures for player protection that licensed gambling operators in Germany are required to comply with. Such include a prohibition of parallel play, as well as a cross-provider deposit limit that is usually capped at €1,000 ($1,058) monthly. Those limits, GGL explained, can be personalized, allowing online gamblers to set much lower sums for daily, weekly or monthly loss or deposit limits.

Additional player protection measures under the GlüNeuRStv 2021 include restrictions for different types of gambling. For example, spins for online slots must go on for at least 5 seconds before a new spin can occur. For every hour of play, a mandatory break of 5 minutes is applied, while wagers per spin are capped at €1 ($1.06) maximum.

Prevention of Gambling Addiction Is Important

In addition to player protection, Germany’s gambling regulator is committed to preventing gambling addiction. The country’s gambling watchdog regularly communicates with different organizations such as addiction associations, and strives to improve the regulations in an effort to protect more consumers.

Benjamin Schwanke, GGL’s board member, praised the associations’ efforts toward preventing gambling harm. “We therefore welcome the annual day of action against gambling addiction, because education and prevention measures are the basis for effectively combating or avoiding gambling addiction,” he explained.

“It is important to us that the general public is informed about the legal regulations and that players can better assess which offers are illegal and which are legal, ie that they adhere to the strict rules for player protection.“

Ronald Benter, board member at the GGL

Ronald Benter, a board member with the GGL, praised the importance of informing the public about the legal measures for player protection that gambling operators in the country need to comply with. He explained that the player protection tools available for German customers can help them differentiate the legal offering from the illegal market.

The latest initiative marks the 13th annual nationwide day of action against gambling addiction organized in the country.

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