In February last year, the female-focused online gaming platform, Betty, launched its services for customers in Ontario, Canada’s largest province. The launch came after the operator secured a license from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), the gambling regulator in the province. Throughout last year, Betty raised a total of $7 million.

Now, after a new pre-series A funding led by CEAS Investments, the new female-focused online casino confirmed it raised $5 million. As noted, the achievement comes ahead of Betty’s Series A round. Globally recognizable companies, including Powerhouse Capital, HappyHour and Courtside Ventures participated in the latest funding round.

According to Betty, the new cash injection will seek to improve its live operations and propel customer engagement. Moreover, the company said that the capital will help upgrade its platform from the current version, Midnight 1, to Midnight 2, promising exceptional experiences.

“Betty, the female-focused online casino, announced today that it has raised $5 million in pre-Series A funding led by CEAS Investments as the company approaches its upcoming Series A round,“

reads a statement released by HappyHour

As a female-focused online casino, Betty remains dedicated to engaging with female audiences, delivering unrivaled experiences and unique entertainment. Additionally, the platform dedicates resources to community-based play, gamification and transparency. Standing out from the competition, Betty retains female players at a rate that is three times higher when compared to its competitors.

The Online Casino Benefits from Best Practices in the iGaming Sector

Robin Reed, HappyHour’s Managing Partner, highlighted Betty’s efforts to engage with and retain female players while ensuring exceptional experiences via its quality platform. Finally, he said: “It’s a privilege to support their growth, both in terms of capital and product expertise, and we look forward to continuing on this exciting path together.”

“Betty has a clear vision and plan to differentiate themselves in the market by prioritizing female online slot players and by building an in-house platform.“

Robin Reed, managing partner at HappyHour

Salim Mitha, Powerhouse Capital’s managing partner and former EVP for Playtika, added that Betty currently leverages some of the best practices for the online gambling sector. According to him, the company’s success is evident thanks to those practices. Finally, Mitha said Betty leverages this extensive knowledge and strategies, allowing it to benefit from increased revenue and customer engagement.

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Lucky Eagle Casino found itself embroiled in a fatal shooting incident over the weekend, leading to the temporary closure of the establishment following a harrowing encounter between law enforcement and a murder suspect. This development perpetuates November’s unfortunate trend, as armed violence inside US casinos is becoming a regular occurrence. 

Witness Testimony Revealed Additional Details

The victim, identified as 33-year-old Darren Evans of Yelm by Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock, was fatally shot by a Chehalis tribal police officer at Washington State’s Lucky Eagle Casino. Evans was the subject of a warrant for two counts of first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm in Pierce County. The charges stemmed from a September 2022 incident in Graham, where Evans was wanted for murder.

On Sunday, Chehalis Tribal police and Thurston County Sheriff’s Office personnel received information suggesting Evans was inside the Lucky Eagle Casino. Upon attempting to make contact with Evans, an officer fired shots, resulting in fatal injuries to Evans. Eyewitness Dee Thomas, speaking for KOMO, described Evans running towards the casino exit before the officer discharged his firearm.

I think he tried to get to the front door exit, and then all of a sudden, I see the officer shot him right in the middle of the floor. I didn’t see a direct threat from the man.

Dee Thomas

Authorities have not disclosed the specific circumstances that prompted the officer to fire, nor have they clarified whether Evans was armed or posed a threat to the officer before the shooting. Efforts to save Evans following the shooting were unsuccessful, according to reports from the sheriff’s office. 

Casino Shootings Are Becoming Concerningly Common

Lucky Eagle Casino, operated by the Chehalis Tribe and located near Rochester, about 25 miles southwest of Olympia, announced its temporary closure in response to the tragic event. An establishment representative confirmed it would remain closed until further notice, expressing sorrow over the incident and the necessity of the closure during the ongoing investigation.

This newest shooting represents a concerning trend of armed violence at high-profile gambling venues. November saw a triple homicide near a casino in Robinsonville, MS, and similar reports of homicides related to the gambling industry have become increasingly frequent. While the courts often issue swift judgments regarding such cases, preventative measures remain lacking.

You think you’re going to a public place that’s a safe place, that’s secure, and anything could happen.

Dee Thomas

The rising frequency of such incidents should prompt casino operators to invest more in security, safeguarding consumers and reducing the chances of similar tragedies. Lucky Eagle Casino demonstrates how an unfortunate incident can substantially impact a venue’s bottom line and damage its reputation, justifying some extra expenses.

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According to The Gambling Atlas report based on data that was compiled in 2021, around one-third of German adults engage in a form of gambling. 

While the report presented by Germany’s federal drugs commissioner, Burkhard Blienert, at the start of the week marked a decrease compared to the 55% figure that was determined 14 years earlier, in 2007, it also revealed a series of disturbing data. 

7.7% of German Adults Deal with Gambling Addiction Problems

According to the report that was published jointly by the Institute for Interdisciplinary Addiction and Drug Research in Hamburg, the German Centre for Addiction Issues based in Hamm, and the Gambling Research Department part of the University of Bremen, 7.7% of Germans over the age of 18 experience social, financial, or health distresses tied to their gambling addiction. 

In other words, there are currently around 1.3 million adults suffering from a gambling disorder.

Commissioner Blienert argued that gambling “rarely makes participants happy” while also mentioning that an additional 3.3 million German adults are currently showing the first signs that would indicate they are likely to suffer from gambling addiction in the future. 

Using the voice of Christina Rummel, the German Center for Addiction Issues also expressed its opinion on gambling, calling it “a disease.”

Who Is More Prone to Deal with Gambling Problems 

The same report offered a comprehensive overview of the way young adults and men aged between 21 and 35 are more susceptible to dealing with gambling problems. 

The same risk was identified in the case of individuals suffering from psychological disorders as well as people who consume large amounts of alcohol.

Another category at risk of tackling problem gambling issues is represented by migrants who, as explained by gambling expert Tobias Hayer via Germany’s Catholic News Agency, use gambling as self-medication to handle trauma, financial struggles, or the feeling of being marginalized by other members of society.

Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the rise in the number of gambling addicts. The report explained this through the vulnerable categories of individuals who were suddenly forced to isolate themselves and deal with financial problems. 

Besides the classic slot machines located in gaming arcades and halls, the same report mentioned the rise in live sports wagering as an important element that leads to gambling addictions.

Betting on soccer is one particularly problematic issue, especially in the context of popular betting company BWIN inking a large number of partnerships with the German Football Association and important soccer clubs in the country, including Borussia Dortmund and Dynamo Dresden.

Former goalkeeper, captain, and CEO for Bayern Munich, Oliver Kahn, was also appointed as the public face of Ticipco, another popular sports betting company in Germany, for eight years in a row starting in 2012.

Commissioner Blienert issued a warning regarding the perils of trivializing gambling by connecting it with live sports while also asking for more restrictions. For the time being, it is almost impossible to watch live soccer in the country without being subject to adverts tied to betting.

The Commissioner asked for a TV ban on gambling advertising prior to 11 pm, in spite of the industry reaching massive gross revenue figures of €13.4 billion ($14.3 billion) in 2022 and €5.2 billion reaching the state’s treasury in the form of taxes in 2021.

At the end of September, Germany’s gambling regulator presented information regarding the measures that are meant to keep online players protected from gambling addiction and harm. 

During the same time, regulations in relation to loot boxes in video games reached the national parliament. Members of the parliament from different parties expressed support for more restrictive regulations that should be imposed on the mechanics to cut the risk of gambling addiction.

The previous month, the association of sports betting providers in the country criticized the misinterpretation of data in regard to problem gambling as represented by a 2021 Gambling Survey. 

The Deutsche Sportwettenverband commented on the way the number of people identified as problem gamblers was presented in the media. 

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In a significant move last week, the Washington State Gambling Commission voted 3-2 to increase the maximum bet size in cardrooms from $300 to $400. This marks the first increase in betting limits in more than a decade, allowing players to wager larger amounts while playing card games in these establishments.

Back in 1997, Washington made the decision to legalize house-banked cardrooms, creating social environments where players could enjoy card games while also indulging in food and drinks. Over time, the wagering limits in these cardrooms have undergone several adjustments, with the most recent increase raising the limit to $400.

The decision to raise the betting limits was not without controversy. Commissioners Julia Patterson, Bud Sizemore, and Alicia Levy supported the increase, citing the original intent of the Legislature to allow these neighborhood casinos to thrive. Bud Sizemore, a Washington Gambling Regulator Commissioner, expressed confidence in the rationale and legislative authority behind the decision.

On the other hand, Commissioners Sarah Lawson and Anders Ibsen opposed the proposal, arguing that the increase did not align with the primary purpose of cardrooms, which was to primarily focus on selling food and drink while offering social card games as a means to boost sales.

The tribal operators were among the strongest opponents of the increase. They pointed to a provision in the cardroom regulations that emphasized the importance of social card games serving as a “commercial stimulant” to increase food and beverage sales. The federally recognized tribes, whose casinos currently have wager limits of $500 and higher, argued that the new regulation violated this provision.

Maverick Gaming, an operator of gaming facilities and owner of 23 out of the 38 house-banked cardrooms licensed in Washington, had initially petitioned for a higher increase to $500. They sought the hike to cope with rising operating costs and to level the playing field with tribal casinos, which had higher betting limits. Despite their request being reduced to $400, Maverick Gaming welcomed the decision, seeing it as a victory for their efforts to engage with regulators.

The higher betting limits are expected to provide a major boost to cardroom operators, including Maverick Gaming and others. These establishments are likely to benefit from increased revenues as players now have the opportunity to place larger bets while enjoying card games in a social environment.

The new rule will take effect 31 days after being filed with the code reviser. As cardroom operators gear up for the changes, it remains to be seen how this increase in betting limits will impact the dynamics of the gambling landscape in Washington State.

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