The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) has formally submitted its statement to the Ministry of Finance regarding the memorandum titled “A new ban on gambling on credit,” which proposes a ban on the use of credit cards for gambling. BOS has firmly rejected this proposal, citing significant negative consequences for channelization.

Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General of BOS, explained the association’s stance [pdf], emphasizing that such a ban would likely push consumers towards unlicensed and illegal gambling platforms, which currently constitute almost half of the Swedish online casino market. Hoffstedt stated, “In the name of consumer protection, Sweden should not add new restrictions on consumers that still place their bets on the legal gambling market.”

Alternative Proposal Suggested by BOS

If the government decides to proceed with the ban, BOS proposes an alternative approach: instead of placing the obligation on gambling operators, the responsibility should be on credit card issuers. Under this model, the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Finansinspektionen) would supervise credit card issuers to ensure they do not process payments for gambling companies, including those operating illegally or without a license.

BOS argues that this approach would more effectively prevent the use of credit cards for gambling while avoiding further burdens on licensed operators. Hoffstedt pointed out that licensed gambling operators are already heavily restricted and additional limitations could drive more consumers towards the unlicensed market, undermining consumer protection goals.

BOS’s Rationale for Rejection

BOS has consistently supported measures to prevent gambling on credit. However, the association draws a line at banning credit cards, which are a common and regulated form of payment. “At least one credit check is conducted before issuing a credit card,” Hoffstedt noted, “and in most cases, credit is repaid monthly, accruing no interest.”

The association also highlighted that credit card usage for gambling is on the decline, with many consumers shifting to other payment methods like Swish. Those who do use credit cards for gambling are typically older with more organized finances, and the prevalence of problem gambling among them is relatively low.

The biggest challenge, according to BOS, is the prevalence of unlicensed gambling, a view shared by Finance Market Minister Niklas Wykman. Hoffstedt stressed that restrictive measures against licensed operators, such as the proposed credit card ban, combined with inadequate countermeasures against unlicensed operators, have led to a significant outflow from the legal gambling market. “This must end,” he said, emphasizing that enhancing the attractiveness of the licensed market is crucial for effective regulation.

Concerns Over Government’s Approach

BOS expressed concern over the government’s tendency to exempt state-owned or controlled gambling operators from new restrictions, creating an uneven playing field. The association fears that this might undermine competitive neutrality and consumer confidence.

In conclusion, Hoffstedt reiterated BOS’s position that the proposal to ban credit cards for gambling should be rejected. He emphasized that effective regulation should include measures to counteract unlicensed gambling while supporting the legal market.

“Sweden’s largest online casino operator is likely unlicensed,” Hoffstedt noted, underscoring the need for balanced regulation. BOS believes that imposing the ban on credit card issuers rather than gambling operators is a more effective and fair approach to achieving the intended consumer protection goals.

Source: Press release: BOS rejects the proposal A new ban on gambling on credit. BOS. May 23, 2024.

The post Swedish BOS Opposes New Credit Card Ban Proposal for Gambling appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Additional fees that are often used to inflate the price of hotel and resort accommodation are also referred to as junk fees. Every year, millions of Americans planning their vacation are unpleasantly surprised by such fees, some of which are not disclosed until the very last moment, leaving them without any options but to comply and pay extra.

In Las Vegas, junk fees are also popular as resort fees and can significantly increase the final costs for reservations, creating an unpleasant experience for visitors. But thanks to President Joe Biden, junk fees may soon be eliminated.

Recently, the US president visited Sin City as a part of a campaign and voiced his discontent with junk fees on social media. Using X, the popular platform that was previously called Twitter, President Biden wrote: “We’ve made progress, but there is much more work to do to lower costs for American families.” Moreover, he added: “That’s why I’m taking action to bring down the price of insulin, prescription drugs, and energy and eliminating hidden junk fees companies use to rip you off.”

President Biden did not go into detail about the essence of the aforementioned junk fees. However, in a separate post on Monday, he criticized companies for using junk fees to take extra money from the pockets of hard-working citizens. President Biden is yet to confirm how the hidden junk fees would be eliminated.

“When companies sneak hidden junk fees into families’ bills, it can take hundreds of dollars a month out of their pockets and make it harder to make ends meet. That might not matter to the wealthy, but it’s real money to hardworking families—and it’s just plain wrong,“

wrote President Joe Biden on X

The Fight Against Junk Fees Continues

This is not the first time President Biden aimed at eliminating junk fees. Back in September, he once again raised concerns about the deceptive prices that are inflated for consumers with the help of additional, hidden fees. At the time, President Biden vowed that his administration “is working to crack down on those junk fees so you know what you are paying for upfront.”

Elsewhere on a similar matter, three lawsuits filed against casino and resort operators in Atlantic City were consolidated into one. The lawsuits alleged that six casinos in Atlantic City engaged in anticompetitive actions, inflating the hotel room rates in the city.

The post President Joe Biden Visits Las Vegas, Opposes Hidden Junk Fees appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek officially declared her position on the hot topic of gambling expansion, explicitly stating that her office would not support any form of gambling expansion in the state.

A Topic of Great Interest

Gov. Kotek sent a letter to all nine recognized Indigenous tribes and the Oregon Lottery Thursday to address gaming, the “topic of great interest to tribes, legislators, and communities” and explain her general position or policy on gaming and whether her office would support any form of gambling expansion.

The formal reason for the letter was the continuous push of the Coquille Tribe to build its second casino in Medford, setting a breakaway from past governors’ policies of one tribal gaming facility per tribe on reservation land.

“There is also the Coquille’s Tribe application to the Department of Interior and Bureau of Indian Affairs to have land in Medford taken into trust for the purpose of gaming (Class II),” Kotek wrote in the letter that was also addressed to the US Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, and Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, Bryan Newland.

Statewide Negative Impact

A new casino in Medford will impact negatively all of Oregon’s tribes which are highly dependent on casino gaming revenue to fund public services for tribal citizens such as housing, education, healthcare, social services, and others. There will be a negative impact on tribes in Northern California, too.

“This proposal would not only lead to the expansion of gaming in the area but would create many more concerns about the expansion of gaming statewide,” she continued before siding with former Gov. John Kitzhaber and former Gov. Kate Brown who both sent letters to the BIA “in opposition to this gaming proposal.”

According to the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, building a casino in Medford which is just 70 miles away from the tribe’s Seven Feathers Casino Resort will result in a 25% reduction in Cow Creek tribal government services.

The final say on whether to approve placing land for the Coquille tribe’s casino project will rest on the US Department of the Interior and Bureau of Indian Affairs and Secretary Haaland was in Bend last month to meet with Oregon’s tribal leaders.

I wanted to provide this clarification of my Tribal gaming policy so that Tribes, the federal government and local entities know where I stand.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek

Kotek explicitly stated she favors “one gaming facility per tribe on reservation land.”

In January, there were reports that state legislators would take a closer look at gambling expansion in 2023 but any legislative initiative would be dead in the water without having Gov. Kotek on board.

The post Oregon Gov. Kotek Opposes Tribal Casino Expansion appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Hofstra University wrote an open letter concerning the proposed construction of a Las Vegas Sands casino resort at the Nassau Coliseum site in New York. The university highlighted the educational significance of the area and said that it opposes the project because of its proximity to numerous learning institutions.

Hofstra Highlighted Its Activity in the Area

“We, Trustees of Hofstra University, oppose Las Vegas Sands Corporation’s proposal to build a casino in the area surrounding the Nassau Coliseum on Hempstead Turnpike in Nassau County, Long Island,” the letter begins.

Hofstra noted that it has occupied its current site for almost nine decades and has grown from a liberal arts college to a big university with thousands of students. It employs around 2,500 people and is a major economic driver for the town, country and state, the letter says.

Hofstra added that it is а nationally recognized arboretum and the only university to have hosted three US presidential debates in a row. The university also spoke about its community-oriented programs and activities in detail.

Hofstra students compromise around a quarter of the 40,000 students in the proximity of the Nassau Hub.

The University Opposes the Casino

According to Hofstra, the Nassau Hub is not an appropriate location for a casino because of its proximity to various schools and universities. It added that there are local communities that should not be exposed to the increased risks that gambling may attract.

The Nassau Hub is an entirely inappropriate location for a casino. It is surrounded by educational institutions from preschool through graduate school, and a diversity of suburban communities that should not be exposed to the increased traffic congestion, crime, economic harm to local businesses, and other negative impacts that a casino development would likely bring.

Hofstra open letter excerpt

The Hofstra trustees believe that there are many locations in and around New York City that are not so close to learning institutions and would be better sites for a future casino.

The university is not the first entity to oppose the casino as locals remain divided on the topic. Garden City leaders, for example, took a formal stance against the construction of a casino at the Nassau Coliseum site.

New York’s Governor, David Paterson, on the other hand, believes that people’s concerns are overblown. According to him, few account for the fact that the proposed property would be a casino and hospitality venue that will not be entirely focused on gambling.

The post Hofstra Opposes Nassau Coliseum Site Casino Project appeared first on Keno Wizard.