A new petition in the UK seeks to oppose the government’s planned implementation of financial checks. The controversial measure, outlined in the white paper, would see the government conduct affordability assessments on people who lose certain sums of money to gambling.

The proposed measure would force operators to conduct checks on anyone who loses more than £125 in a month or £500 in a year. This measure does not sit well with many British citizens who believe that the checks would intrude on their privacy, disrupting their hobby.

A petition that was just launched on petitions.parliament.uk seeks to stop this measure. Created by Nevin Truesdale, the petition seeks to show the government that people are not happy with its plans.

We want the Government to abandon the planned implementation of affordability checks for some people who want to place a bet.

Petition description

As calculated by the petition creator, the measure means that bettors will have to prove they can afford their hobby if they sustain losses as low as £1.37 per day. While the petition acknowledged the need to combat problem gambling, it describes the current form of the planned checks as “inappropriate and discriminatory.”

The petition also warned that the checks might have a devastating effect on British horseracing’s finances caused by a reduction in turnover.

The Government Claims the Checks Will Be “Frictionless”

At 10,000 signatures, the government will respond to the petition. At 100,000 signatures, the petition will be considered for debate in Parliament. For reference, the petition has 41,330 signatures as of the time of this writing.

The petition is set to run for six months, with a deadline of May 1.

In the meantime, the government continues its efforts to convince bettors that the affordability checks envisioned in the measure would be frictionless and will not cause trouble for the majority of British gamblers. Andrew Rhodes from the UKGC has been increasingly vocal in his disgruntlement toward the “deliberate efforts” to misinform the populace.

However, gambling harm experts believe that the checks may channel many more players toward the unregulated market and end up having an adverse effect.

Amid this controversy, The British Horseracing Authority, Racing TV, At The Races and the Racing Post had conducted a public survey on the measures, collecting responses from bettors.

The post Petition Wants the UK to Abandon Its Affordability Checks Plans appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Despite legalizing and launching sports betting for a brief period, the activity remains on hold in Florida, at least for the moment. A prime reason for that is the ongoing legal battle by the state’s casinos with a contract inked by Gov. Ron DeSantis with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Casinos alleged that the gambling compact was in violation of federal law.

Now, the latest part of the ongoing legal saga involves a petition filed by West Flagler Associates in the Florida Supreme Court. The petition, filed Monday, alleges that the gambling compact requires changes to the state’s constitution. This is because currently, tribal operators cannot offer gaming services outside of tribal lands.

Moreover, the petition explained that the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act is applicable for gaming activities offered exclusively “on Indian lands.” The legal document also claimed that the gambling compact signed in 2021 granted the Tribe a “monopoly to conduct off-reservation sports betting throughout the state of Florida without voter approval as required.”

Additionally, the petition reiterates West Flagler’s position that the Governor exceeded his authority when signing the gambling compact with the Seminole Tribe that ultimately granted it exclusive rights for in-person and online sports betting throughout the entire state.

“The 2021 Compact and Implementing Law are a clear expansion of casino gambling in Florida without a voter-approved constitutional amendment by citizens’ initiative, as required by Article X, Section 30. In so doing, the Respondents have exceeded their authority in direct violation of the Florida Constitution,“

reads the recently filed petition with the Florida Supreme Court

Legal Hurdle Continues

The ongoing legal battle continues to impact sports betting in the state which is currently on hold. Earlier this year, in June, the casinos in the state lost their federal case before a three-judge panel. Then, in August, West Flagler hinted at plans for an en banc hearing of its case. This process is different than a standard hearing or rehearing as it is before a majority of active service judges rather than the standard three-judge panel.

In 2021, Florida legalized sports betting. Thanks to the gambling compact that is currently involved in the legal hurdle, the state launched legal sports betting on November 1, 2021. Residents of Florida did not have a chance to enjoy sports betting for long as on December 4, 2021, a court ruled that the gambling compact was in violation of federal law. As a result, legal sports betting was put on hold while the legal battle continues.

The post Petition Challenges Sports Betting Compact in Florida appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Star Entertainment Group’s recent bans on poker players don’t sit well with many professionals. The Australian Poker Schedule, a website that allows enthusiasts to keep track of upcoming events, has launched a petition against Star’s allegedly “unjustified” measures.

Craig Abernethy, founder of the Australian Poker Schedule, addresses the issue in the petition, saying that in around 12 months, the casino company has banned more than half a dozen of Australia’s best poker players.

Some of the recipients of allegedly unjustified bans include Alex Lynskey, Jarred Graham, Hun Wei Lee, Najeem Ajez, Rehman Kassam and Chris Zenonos. These players, among others, are currently unable to enter Star’s properties, lest they risk intervention from the police.

Not only have these players practiced and honed their poker skills, built their careers around poker and performed at the highest level of competition for more than a decade, but they have exemplary and long-standing reputations and are highly respected among the poker community including some internationally recognized.

Craig Abernethy, founder, Australian Poker Schedule

The worst part, Abernethy says, is that Star Entertainment never provided any details on the reasoning behind the bans. When contacted, the company reminded the disgruntled players that “it is not required to provide reasons” for its decisions.

Abernethy Asks Fans to Stand Up

The biggest problem stemming from the bans is that the banned players are now essentially excluded from the World Poker Tour Australia because of the World Poker Tour’s exclusive partnership with Star Entertainment Group.

As a result, the aforementioned players will lose the opportunity to play at the prestigious event without even knowing why they have been banned. According to Abernethy, the “scariest thing” is that this can happen to any poker player at any time.

Australian Poker Schedule’s founder emphasized that Star’s actions are worrying and that players should be wary of the company. He asked the poker community and their friends to stand up against Star Entertainment, which he accused of being “cruel, arrogant and bullish.”

The petition has 527 signatures as of the time of this writing.

Casino.org later spoke with Abernethy on the matter. Abernethy told the news outlet that Star Entertainment likely flags the activity of poker players who transfer large sums of money as suspicious, believing it to be related to money laundering.

Considering Star’s recent regulatory trouble, it is possible that the company wants to be extra safe when implementing its remediation measures.

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