Petersburg is once again placing its bet on a casino referendum, now landing on the legislative floor of the 2024 Virginia General Assembly. This time, the city is armed with influential backers and a revamped Senate Bill 628, seeking to redefine the criteria for the host city.

Senators Aird and Lucas Spearhead Key Changes in Casino Bill

While not explicitly earmarking Petersburg as the fifth casino host city, the bill, championed by newly appointed Sen. Lashrecse Aird, D-Petersburg, and Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee chair Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, proposes significant amendments to the host city requirements, reported The Progress-Index. 

Notably, the population threshold is discarded, and adjustments to tax-exempted real estate and poverty rate criteria are proposed. Additionally, a new stipulation mandates that the host city must have experienced an unemployment rate of at least 13% in 2020.

In 2020, Petersburg’s unemployment rate stood at a staggering 21.1%, aligning seamlessly with the newly introduced criterion. The inclusion of such factors aims to tailor the bill to Petersburg’s unique circumstances and economic needs.

Sen. Lucas, who previously opposed Petersburg’s casino ambitions, has surprisingly thrown her weight behind the latest effort. In an unexpected turn, she acknowledged that her past reservations were influenced, in part, by the approach of Sen. Joe Morrissey, whom Aird defeated in the Democratic primary last June.

Lucas, who chairs the influential Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee, had been a formidable obstacle in the prior two legislative sessions. Her support this time around significantly bolsters the casino’s chances. Lucas represents the district encompassing Rivers Casino in Portsmouth, one of the three operational casinos in the state.

Petersburg’s Casino Bid Gains Momentum After Facing Hurdles

The push for a Petersburg casino has been a recurring theme in recent years. Following Richmond’s rejection in 2021, Petersburg eagerly stepped into the fray but faced consecutive setbacks in the 2022 and 2023 legislative sessions. Morrissey and Del. Kim Taylor, R-Dinwiddie County, championed the cause unsuccessfully.

This year, Taylor has opted to lend her support to Senate Bill 628 rather than introducing a separate House companion. She emphasized the significance of consolidating efforts and conveyed that having a single introductory bill enables energies to be concentrated in one place on one bill. Taylor affirmed her commitment to ensuring that voters in the 82nd District have a voice in the matter.

The legislative journey for Senate Bill 628 mirrors past sessions, with hearings scheduled in the Senate General Laws & Technology Committee, chaired by Aird, and subsequently in Senate Finance & Appropriations, chaired by Lucas.

In a departure from previous proposals, the Aird-Lucas bill omits language favoring Native American tribes in Virginia. Norfolk‘s proposed HeadWaters Casino, supported by the Pamunkey tribe, will no longer receive preferred consideration.

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A coalition of Victorian councils is urging the state government to overhaul a tax minimization scheme for poker machine venues, asserting that the current system allows venues to exaggerate their community benefits. 

The councils are particularly concerned about venues pledging additional payments to communities as part of their bids for more poker machines, arguing that these initiatives do not counterbalance the detrimental effects of gambling harm, reported The Guardian.

Their grievances revolve around a tax break scheme that grants Victorian clubs financial benefits if they allocate 8.33% of gambling revenue to community initiatives. However, investigations reveal that a substantial portion of this money is directed toward the clubs’ own operating costs and upgrades, masquerading as a “community benefit.”

Ranka Rasic, the mayor of Brimbank council, expressed frustration and disappointment, emphasizing the acute gambling harm experienced by her constituents. Rasic insists that the state government needs to confront its dependence on gambling venues for income to resolve the persisting issue.

In October, it was revealed that Australians have set a concerning record, with losses from poker machines reaching AUD 14.5 billion ($9.25 billion) in the last financial year, a significant increase from the previous year. 

Victoria’s Councils Unite for Poker Machine Reform

Last month, all councils in Victoria collectively urged the government to promptly review the scheme to ensure that losses from gambling are genuinely reinvested into the community. In May, councils advocated for redefining “community benefit” to ensure that gambling profits are shared with legitimate philanthropic organizations or charities, rather than being channeled into the clubs’ self-serving upgrades.

The push for reform is spearheaded by a subset of mayors, primarily concerned about the disproportionate harm inflicted by poker machines on socioeconomically disadvantaged communities where losses are significantly higher.

The Greater Dandenong city council, located on Melbourne’s south-eastern fringe, stands out as one of the most culturally diverse and disadvantaged in Australia. With an average loss of $801 per adult to gambling annually, the council is at the forefront of the call for reform. This rate is almost nine times higher than the losses in Boroondara, one of the state’s more privileged areas.

An ongoing parliamentary inquiry has highlighted concerns raised by local governments about applicants failing to deliver on promises to fund community activities.

The councils’ call for reform underscores the need to address the exploitative practices of poker machine-operating clubs, ensuring that tax breaks genuinely benefit the community rather than serving as a cover for self-serving agendas. The state government’s response to these demands remains awaited, with gaming minister Melissa Horne yet to provide comment on the matter.

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Kenya is on the path to significant gambling reforms. Under a new bill, the African country is set to establish a new regulatory body and overhaul its gambling rules.

The measure, dubbed Gambling Control Bill 2023, would replace the Betting, Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) with a new regulator. In addition, the bill is set to introduce regulations on betting, casino gaming and other forms of gambling and legalize prize competitions, public lotteries and media promotions.

Sponsored by National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah, the bill would change Kenyan gambling for good.

The bill is now before the Parliament with its future yet to be decided.

New Regulations Would Be Introduced

Under the proposed laws, gambling would expand but so would regulation. The bill envisions creating a regulator that has the powers necessary to deal with unruly gambling companies. To prevent regulatory breaches, the measure will introduce fines for violations of the country’s gambling law, preventing operators from simply ignoring the rules.

To make sure that operators do not violate the regulations, the bill would require them to post a bank guarantee or insurance security bond that would cover potential violations. Promoting an unlicensed lottery, for example, would carry a KES 1 million fine (approximately $6,500) or a year in prison.

The new bill will also prohibit bets under KES 20. Firms that violate this rule risk a fine of KES 50 million ($328,000).

In addition, the new regulator would be responsible for ensuring that minors do not engage in gambling. To that end, the measure would ban companies from advertising their products between 6 am and 10 pm.

Under the Gambling Control Bill, a 15% tax on gross revenue would be introduced, as well as a monthly levy. Lotteries, on the other hand, would be required to donate 30% of their proceeds to charity organizations.

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The Blackstone Group, the globally recognized US private equity giant, acquired Crown Resorts, the leading Australian casino operator, last summer. At the time of the announcement, the price tag of the deal was a staggering AU$8.9 billion ($6.5 billion). However, despite the initial investment to acquire Crown Resorts, The Blackstone Group revealed that it has already spent hundreds of millions of dollars more to help revitalize and overhaul Crown Resorts in the upcoming years.

In a recent interview for The Australian, Blackstone’s global co-head of real estate, Kathleen McCarthy, spoke about the company’s intentions to invest further in Crown Resorts’ Melbourne property. She explained that Blackstone has already invested “hundreds of millions of dollars” in the property as it prepares to completely transform the customer experience.

According to McCarthy, the company is delighted about this investment and the exciting journey that lies ahead. She spoke about Crown’s Melbourne property, explaining that it represents an excellent location. However, McCarthy added that Crown Resorts Melbourne “needs capital investment to make it an exciting and fresh place for folks to come.”

“We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars (behind the scenes), now we get to the really exciting part, which is transforming the customer experience and what they are seeing. We remain very excited, and we are just really beginning the journey here.“

Kathleen McCarthy, global co-head of real estate at The Blackstone Group

Transforming the Experience to Attract More Visitors

When asked about other possible investments, McCarthy said that Blackstone explores additional opportunities. Still, she added that an ongoing focus for the company is the transformation of Crown. According to McCarthy, Blackstone anticipates attracting a wide range of guests at the Melbourne property, including Australians and visitors overseas. She outlined that this can be achieved through investment in new and engaging experiences, such as shopping or food outlets, that can make the property even better.

“We’re really focused on the work ahead of us at Crown and the opportunity to transform the business,“

added McCarthy

Focusing on the bigger picture, McCarthy said that Blackstone prioritizes the transformation of quality real estate. Such initiatives can help bring operational assets, boost cash flow and at the same time, elevate the experiences for the visitors, she said. Finally, McCarthy outlined that the company continues to explore different investment opportunities.

The gambling sector in Australia has seen quite a lot of turbulence lately. With local governments scrutinizing operators and ongoing changes to the established regulations, fears about overspending and gambling harm continue to rise. Yet, the changes to the gambling sector are on a government level, reaffirming the commitment of lawmakers to curb problem gambling and reduce gambling harm.

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Spearheading the drive towards comprehensive gaming reforms, the panel tackled pressing issues, including the imminent cashless gaming trial and the roadmap for the industry’s transformation.

Panel’s Commitment to Cashless Gaming Framework Lauded by Minister

Minister for gaming and racing, David Harris, expressed his satisfaction with the Independent Panel’s commitment to meticulously craft the framework for the upcoming cashless gaming trial. The trial, which has garnered significant attention, aims to revolutionize the gaming landscape by introducing cashless transactions while ensuring robust data security and privacy safeguards.

Harris stated: “The Panel’s first priority is to confirm the design and regulatory settings for the expanded cashless gaming trial, to ensure it can start as soon as possible.” 

The ambitious endeavor involves selecting the ideal mix of venues encompassing hotels and clubs across both urban and rural domains.

The panel, led by former NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing Commissioner Michael Foggo, will also furnish the NSW Government with a comprehensive gaming reform implementation roadmap by November 2024. This roadmap encompasses various facets, including recommendations on the utilization of a $100 million harm minimization fund, the expansion of self-exclusion records, the facilitation of third-party exclusions, and the integration of facial recognition technology to support enhanced exclusion systems.

Independent Panel’s Scope Expands to ClubGRANTS and Regulatory Revamp

The reform agenda does not encompass only that. The Independent Panel’s purview extends to reviewing the ClubGRANTS Scheme, conducted in coordination with Liquor & Gaming NSW, The Cabinet Office, and NSW Treasury. Although undertaken separately, this evaluation aligns with the panel’s ongoing efforts to reshape the gaming landscape. Chairman Michael Foggo affirmed:

“The panel is set up so that a range key stakeholders and experts are represented including industry, gambling harm minimization experts, academic experts, law enforcement and cyber security. It also has the ability to seek input from other external experts in the field and government bodies such as the NSW Crime Commission, the NSW Information and Privacy Commission and AUSTRAC.” 

This transformative journey follows a series of pivotal reforms already set in motion by the NSW Government. Measures like the prohibition of external signage in gaming rooms, reductions in poker machine entitlement caps, and stringent cash input limits have aimed to curtail gambling harm and combat illicit activities.

Furthermore, the reforms will also include a national gambling regulator and a ban on all forms of gambling advertising, with an emphasis on strengthening consumer protection and reducing harm. The move towards stricter regulations is fueled by a desire to better safeguard consumers and curb the negative impacts of gambling.

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