LeoVegas, the international operator of online casinos and sports betting websites, has been ordered by the United Kingdom Advertising Standards Authority to withdraw one of its radio advertisements for BetUK, an online sports betting brand.

The Advertising Standards Authority ruled that the respective advert was “irresponsible” and that it could appeal to children. The advert aired in September 2023 and it featured Adebayo Akinfenwa, a retired football player, who spoke about his role as a brand ambassador for BetUK.

However, in the advert in question Akinfenwa encouraged players to gamble responsibly and also made them aware of the various safer gambling tools available on BetUK, including deposit limits, the possibility of setting time-outs and scheduling reality checks.

The Advertising Standards Authority received just one complaint regarding the advertisement’s possible appeal to children. The respective complaint underlined that the presence of a former football player in the advert could present a strong appeal to children and that would put the advert in breach of the BCAP Code.

LeoVegas Rejects Complaint

The online casino and sports betting operator responded to the complaint by saying that it doesn’t believe the advert appeals to children. LeoVegas and BetUK underlined that Adebayo Akinfenwa is now aged 41 and has retired from football for some time, so it is quite unlikely that he is popular with today’s children.

Moreover, LeoVegas and BetUK pointed out that Akinfenwa was not a huge football star back in the day, he spent most of his career in the lower leagues of English football and not in the Premier League. That makes any potential for appeal to children even lower.

Adebayo Akinfenwa does have a clothing range which made him known outside of the world of football but BetUK underlined that it does not include any products for children, so there shouldn’t be any problem there either.

When looking at the social media accounts associated with Akinfenwa, BetUK pointed out that just 8 percent of his total followers on Instagram were under the age of 18, while on Snapchat the percentage went up to 18 percent.

The sports betting operator also underlined that the advert did not feature any content that would normally be associated with children or a childish tone. Moreover, it was played during a radio show that is targeting an adult audience. Radiocentre, the commercial body for United Kingdom radio stations, decided to support BetUK in this case.

Despite the response, the Advertising Standards Authority decided to uphold the complaint because it was found in breach of the BCAP Code, which states that adverts for gambling products must not be likely to be of strong appeal to children or young persons.

Source: “LeoVegas ordered to withdraw “irresponsible” BetUK radio advert“. iGaming Business. March 13, 2024.

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The approval, listed in URA data released at the end of the December 2023 quarter, allows Marina Bay Sands (MBS) to proceed with its expansion project, which significantly bolsters guest capacity, expanding the venue’s impressive hotel and retail space. The project is situated alongside MBS’s existing three towers and should help attract new customers, significantly bolstering revenues.

The Operator Met All Regulatory Requirements

The approved project encompasses the construction of a hotel with 587 rooms, covering 153,100 square meters of hotel space and an additional 12,185 square meters allocated for retail space. The new tower will occupy an empty plot adjacent to MBS’s existing three towers. MBS has not provided a firm timeline, but the project’s scale means its completion will likely extend beyond 2024.

Securing official government approval marks a crucial milestone in the integrated resort operator’s expansion plans. MBS parent firm Las Vegas Sands (LVS) president and COO Patrick Dumont noted that the company maintained close collaboration with the Singapore government, ensuring that the fourth tower project would meet all regulatory requirements.

There’s a lot of moving parts here, a lot of things we have to satisfy. We want to make sure that everyone is comfortable with it and that we get all the proper approvals.

Patrick Dumont,  Las Vegas Sands president and COO

While MBS’ initial 2019 plans envisioned a fourth hotel tower with roughly 1,000 new rooms, recent upgrades to the property’s existing hotel spaces have focused on introducing new suite products. The revamp of Towers 1 and 2 increased the number of suites from 137 to 422, giving the company more flexibility with the design of Tower 4.

Tower 4 Will Elevate the Guest Experience to New Heights

Las Vegas Sands is targeting an annualized EBITDA of over $3 billion for MBS once the construction of the fourth tower is completed. Following the release of financial results for Q4 and FY23, which showed MBS recording annual EBITDA of $1.86 billion, with a record $544 million in the December quarter, LVS chairman and CEO Robert Goldstein expressed confidence in continued profit growth.

MBS likewise hopes the planned expansion will bolster the resort’s popularity, attracting more guests. The company highlighted that the new tower will contain a “rooftop attraction” featuring a sky pool and signature restaurant, MICE facilities comprising meeting rooms, function rooms, and exhibition halls, along with a state-of-the-art live entertainment area seating a minimum of 15,000 people.

LVS sees substantial potential for profit growth in the coming years, leveraging the iconic status of Marina Bay Sands and ongoing upgrade works. The resort has become a mainstay of Singapore’s tourism sector and should continue enjoying significant success, revitalized by the addition of the upcoming tower and its industry-leading amenities.

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Mohegan’s South Korean venture, the Mohegan INSPIRE Entertainment Resort, has been given a prestigious five-star hotel rating. The rating follows a comprehensive assessment of the property by the Korea Tourism Association’s Korean Hotel Rating System.

The five-star rating reflects the excellence of the hotel and its facilities and attests to Mohegan’s commitment to best-in-class hospitality experiences.

The hotel is built on the beautiful Yeongjong Island in Incheon and is designed to mirror its surroundings’ beauty. The complex boasts three distinctively themed towers, namely the Forest Tower, Sun Tower and Ocean Tower. The resort has some 1,275 rooms, ranging from deluxe accommodations to extravagant villa suites. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of guest lounges, spa services, a fitness center and an indoor pool.

In addition to allowing its customers to truly relax, Mohegan Inspire also offers a variety of restaurants and bars, such as Minagi, Hong Pan, Brasserie 1783, Garden Farm Café, Chef’s Kitchen, Aurora Bar and Horizon Lounge, as well as the first Eurasian Michael Jordan Steak House and MJ23 Sports Bar & Grill.

Mohegan Wants to Provide Guests with Unparalleled Experiences

Ray Pineault, Mohegan’s chief executive officer, commented on the five-star rating, calling it a testament to his team’s “relentless pursuit of excellence.”

This milestone reflects our team’s dedication to upholding the highest standards in the industry, and it reinforces our position as a leader in global entertainment and hospitality.

Ray Pineault, CEO, Mohegan

Mohegan INSPIRE’s president, Chen Si, also commented on the matter, saying that he is delighted that the property’s hotel facility has achieved this prestigious rating. He thanked his team for making this possible and working hard across all areas, including facility, hospitality and operations management.

What incredible momentum going into this first quarter celebrating the casino’s grand opening – that’s how Mohegan continually sets the standard for integrated resorts that create unforgettable experiences.

Chen Si, president, Mohegan INSPIRE

Mohegan INSPIRE is set to launch its comprehensive Phase 1A facilities by the middle of the year. The INSPIRE Mall will open in early 2024, providing visitors with a dynamic cultural hub. In the spring, INSPIRE is also set to introduce an outdoor experiential space.

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The Hellenic Gaming Commission, which is the independent administrative authority responsible for granting online gaming licenses and suitability licenses to operators in Greece, has given the green light to industry-leading live casino content provider Stakelogic Live.

The in-demand supplier of premium live content has announced it is getting ready for the official launch in the country. The license allows Stakelogic Live to introduce its top content to Greek players via any licensed online casino.

In August, the company inked a content agreement with Starcasino, strengthening its foothold in Belgium. 

One month earlier, in July, the company announced it would extend its presence in Romania by integrating its content with Princess Casino. 

In May, Stakelogic’s games became available to players in the country via MaxBet.ro, a well-known local operator with a deep reach with local players. 

The New License, a “Huge Step Forward for Stakelogic”

As described by the company’s chief executive officer, Stephan van den Oetelaar, the fact that Stakelogic Live managed to secure the license from the Hellenic Commission represents “a huge step forward” for them.

The CEO also commented on their ongoing activity in Greece in the past two years which has allowed them to successfully introduce their products to players in the market.

Now, the same players will have a chance to enjoy the studio’s live casino streams broadcast from top-tier studios located in the Netherlands and Malta, where Stakelogic has already scooped up a license from the Malta Gaming Authority. 

What Greek Players Can Expect

Besides iconic game shows including Super Stake Roulette 5000x, Speed Baccarat, and Super Stake Blackjack and standard live games like Auto Roulette, American Blackjack, and European Roulette, Greek players will also enjoy the brand-new Super Wheel bonus feature. 

The latter is a money-wheel bonus which has already turned into a “core feature on Stakelogic Slots.”

The provider, who is well-known in a number of critical European markets, has used the voice of its CEO to express their excitement about Greek players being able to finally enjoy their ”premium, industry-leading live casino content”.

In September, Stakelogic Live confirmed the launch of an innovative live casino Bonus Tool that would enable operators to more easily manage their promotions and reward systems while boosting fan engagement.
The news came in the context of the increasing demand for better player engagement tools that can maintain players’ engagement via customized offers, and it followed the promotion of Dejan Loncar to the position of head of live casino.

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The project, which is due to open on November 20, 2023, and received a formal go-ahead from the Nevada Gaming Commission earlier this week, will be one of the biggest developments in the Silver State and bolster the local job market as well as create more opportunities for holidaymakers to enjoy gambling and relaxation.

Hiring Going according to Plan at Durango Casino & Resort

The resort is said to be planning to employ 1,450 people and have an additional 400-500 tenant partners, putting the total new jobs number at 2,000, an important economic boon to the local economy. There have so far been 25,000 job applications sent to the Durango Casino & Resort.

The hiring process has so far been going well enough, as the property has already hired 55% of its needed workforce. A “tremendous number of people” will also be hired over the next four to six weeks, estimates Durango general manager David Horn.

The resort will also come with 28 suites and 209 hotel rooms. As to the gaming space, there will be 83,000 square feet of gaming floor, along with 63 table games, a high-limit gaming salon, and 2,300 slot machines.

The Durango will focus mostly on catering to local residents and visitors, but international visitors could also be on the menu. There is no clear strategy as of right now, other than the Durango will try to stand out to all tourists interested in visiting the Silver State.

The Nevada Gaming Commission hailed the fact that Durango has received 25,000 job applications and was now sifting through them to ensure that all candidates get a fair chance. This comes at a time when Red Rock Resort & Station Casinos and the Culinary Union have been at each other’s throats over a fight to unionize at the property.

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GambleAware, a charity in the UK dedicated to research, prevention and treatment services for people impacted by gambling harm and problem gambling, released its newest report, revealing data regarding the donations it received for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2023-24. Judging by the report, released Wednesday, the charity received a total of £430,813 ($556,800) in donations for the period between April 1 and June 30, 2023.

A breakdown of that figure showed that GambleAware received £317,099 ($410,000) in Research, Education and Treatment (RET) contributions from licensed gambling operators. On the other hand, non-RET donations for the period received by the charity were £113,714 ($146,900). Those contributions included funds from dormant gambling accounts and unclaimed winnings, explains GambleAware.

The charity’s latest report reveals that the average donation for Q1 of the fiscal year 2023-24 was £2,757 ($3,570). A Comparison of that number year-over-year shows a decrease of 9% when it comes to RET contributions. Additionally, GambleAware noted that the largest gambling operators in the country haven’t made donations for the first quarter of 2023/24 but explained that this is in line with the operators’ policies to pay RET contributions near the end of the fiscal year after they undergo an assessment of their gross gaming yield (GGY).

The report outlining the donations for Q1 comes after recently, the charity confirmed it added new members to its Lived Experience Council. Previously, GambleAware confirmed that the Council would consist of a total of 12 members and earlier this month, it added three new members who have experienced gambling harm firsthand.

Statutory Levy May Replace Voluntary Donations Scheme

Currently, the established regulatory framework in the UK requires operators that profit from gambling activities to make voluntary RET donations. The UK charity encourages operators to donate a minimum of 0.1% from their GGY on a yearly basis, while operators that make less than £250,000 ($323,000) are asked to donate a minimum of £250 ($323).

In that line of thought, the four biggest gambling operators in the UK showed support to contribute with a higher percentage of their GGY, donating not 0.1% but 1% on GGY by 2024. To ensure that the voluntary donations are transparent, GambleAware releases quarterly reports about such contributions.

The recently released Gambling White Paper in the UK unveiled plans for a statutory levy on the gambling industry, a change that may replace the current voluntary donations scheme. Ultimately, the new statutory levy seeks to boost RET donations, which in turn is expected to benefit the research, treatment and prevention of gambling harm. The proposal was praised by GambleAware, as well as NHS England. In its recent report, the charity said that it is looking forward to the swift implementation of the proposed statutory levy outlined within the Gambling White Paper.

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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), the gambling regulator in the country, is tasked with monitoring the compliance of gambling licensees. The work of the commission includes not only monitoring but the implementation of penalties whenever breaches to the established regulations are observed. In addition to fines, the UKGC has the power to suspend or revoke licenses for serious offenses.

Now, the gambling watchdog unveiled details regarding a monetary sanction imposed against the gambling operator Star Racing Limited trading as Star Sports. On Thursday, the Commission revealed it uncovered breaches by the company relating to anti-money laundering (AML), as well as social responsibility. According to the Gambling Commission, the breaches occurred between March 2020 and May 2021.

Describing the breaches, the gambling regulator said that it found that Star Sports breached Paragraphs 2 and 3 of license condition (LC) 12.1.1 which are related to AML and the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing. Additionally, the gambling watchdog said that the operator breached License Condition 12.1.2 which requires foreign jurisdiction-based operators to comply with the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017.

Last but not least, the UKGC said that Star Sports failed to comply with Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Social Responsibility code provision (SRCP) 3.4.1. The aforementioned paragraphs require gambling operators to interact with their customers to help prevent gambling harm or associated risks.

Due to the described breaches, the Commission said it imposed a monetary penalty of £594,000 ($776,400) against Star Sports. The company also received a warning and saw the addition of an extra condition to its license. The additional conditions to its license will demand the operator to “conduct risk-based due diligence on the third parties it transacts with,” explains the UKGC.

The Gambling Regulator Continues to Monitor the Market

The latest fine and warning come after the UKGC recently imposed a hefty fine against Videoslots. In mid-June, the regulator announced it uncovered breaches related to AML and responsible gambling practices. As a result, the licensee was hit with a substantial £2 million ($2.53 million) financial penalty.

Before that, in May, the Commission unveiled details regarding an investigation into PPB Counterparty Services Limited, trading as Paddy Power and Betfair. That probe uncovered deficiencies related to marketing, which resulted in a £490,000 ($606,300) fine against PPB Counterparty Services Limited.

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Sports data and technology company Sportradar announced today it has been selected as the winner of the bidding process for the exclusive global audio and video (AV) and betting data rights of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL).

Enhance Accessibility and Engagement

The announcement that CONMEBOL has granted exclusive AV and betting data rights to Sportradar puts an end to a highly competitive selection process. The Nasdaq-listed data technology company is expected to enhance the accessibility and engagement of South American football for global audiences.

Carsten Koerl, global chief executive officer of Sportradar, commented on the development, delighted to see Sportradar as the winner of the competitive process and receive the rights to “support the most historic club tournaments in South America.”

“Sportradar has more than 20 years’ experience building innovative products from data, and as the market leader, we are best positioned with the technological expertise and industry relationships to help CONMEBOL expand its reach,” Koerl said.

South American football has one of the most passionate fan bases in the world, and we look forward to working closely with the federation to support their engagement.

Carsten Koerl, global CEO, Sportradar

The exclusive rights agreement commences with the current season and covers the rights for the next four seasons for the regional club tournaments governed by CONMEBOL, including CONMEBOL Libertadores, CONMEBOL Sudamericana and CONMEBOL Recopa, and represents the first time the governing body grants domestic AV betting rights for the club competitions.

Getting ‘Closer to the True Fans’

Highlighting Sportradar as “one of the best companies in terms of technological innovation and transparency in global sports betting,” CONMEBOL secretary general José Astigarraga was delighted at the opportunity “to strengthen the relationship” with the sports data provider.

We are sure that the prestigious CONMEBOL club tournaments, with more than 60 years of history, will be a great showcase to be able to get closer to the true fans of South American football.

José Astigarraga, secretary general, CONMEBOL

As the governing body of ten national football associations in South America, CONMEBOL attracts millions of football fans and viewers globally and its competitions experienced growth in viewership over the past few years due to the expanding base of CONMEBOL international fans.

CONMEBOL granted Sportradar the rights due to the company’s commitment to product innovation and superior development in advanced technologies, such as computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as its key position as a supplier of integrity services.

Sportradar and CONMEBOL have been partners since 2019 as the data company has been providing compliance, risk and governance services to the South American football organization such as eligibility checks on the body’s and its associated members’ senior appointments via its Intelligence & Investigations unit.

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Social responsibility failures and AML violations motivated the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) to issue Videoslots a substantial £2 million ($2.53 million) fine. The penalty reflects Videoslots’ repeated misconduct and the AML’s commitment to enforcing stringent regulations and upholding responsible gambling practices. The operator acknowledged its shortcomings, vowing to implement urgent updates and bring its player protection mechanisms to the industry standard.

The Operator Ignored Repeated Warnings

According to the UKGC’s investigation, Videoslots failed in several vital areas. Between November 2021 and January 2022, a customer lost nearly half of his deposited £112,225. Signs like long gambling streaks continuing into the early hours and losses exceeding safe thresholds should have triggered several fail safes, but the operator let such behavior continue for months.

The problem case also revealed significant AML deficiencies. The operator’s systems and controls to detect and prevent money laundering activities were inadequate, as Videoslots had insufficient analysts to manage the substantial volume of data. The UKGC noted that the issues were also present with other customers, indicating an endemic problem.

AML analysts failed to properly implement all actions required by the licensee’s AML policies and procedures.

UKGC report

In 2019 Videoslots received a £1 million fine for KYC violations. According to the regulator, the company’s most recent failings directly followed multiple warnings about insufficient due diligence and AML safeguards, thus exposing customers to potential gambling harm. The £2 million penalty reflects the severity of these breaches and should provide sufficient incentive for change.

Regulator Vigilance Remains Paramount for a Safe Market

Videoslots’ UK failings mark the company’s second clash with regulators in recent months. March saw the company enter a dispute with the Dutch regulator for allegedly allowing unauthorized access to its services. The operator hotly contested the mammoth €9.9 million ($10.5 million) fine, denying all allegations.

Despite its objections in the Netherlands, Videoslots has acknowledged its UK shortcomings and committed to implementing remedial measures to rectify the identified issues. The operator recognized the importance of stricter adherence to licensing obligations, improving customer due diligence processes, and bolstering player protection mechanisms. Videoslots’ future actions will be crucial in rebuilding trust and demonstrating a genuine commitment to responsible gambling practices.

The £2 million penalty sends a clear message to operators that non-compliance will not be tolerated. The UKGC’s efficiency in pursuing regulatory breaches is commendable, as it fosters a safer gambling environment that puts player well-being at the forefront. It highlights the need for the industry as a whole to prioritize responsible gambling, robust player protections, and effective AML measures.

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A Finnish influencer and content creator has been slapped with a suspended jail sentence for promoting illegal gambling in the country. The online celebrity will also be forced to forfeit tens of thousands of dollars in assets because of his violation.

The influencer in question is none other than Lauri Kangas, better known by his alias Lateksituppi. He boasts a large following on the Amazon-owned streaming site Twitch where he streams gambling content.

However, local authorities found out that Lateksituppi promoted games not offered by the Finnish gambling monopoly, Veikkaus Oy. In addition, he promoted illegal products, such as instant casino games, across his social media accounts.

Since this is a violation of the rules outlined in Finland’s Lotteries Act, Lateksituppi was taken to court.

The Streamer Received a Suspended Sentence

The court concluded that Lateksituppi’s content specifically targeted Finnish players since his streams were in Finnish and designed to appeal to local audiences. This also applies to his social media channels, which promoted illegal gambling content to Finns.

For reference, the celebrity has a following of over 61,000 people on Instagram

Because of the overwhelming evidence of his violations, Lateksituppi was handed a 50-day suspended prison sentence. While he will be spared jail for now, further violations might cause him to serve the sentence.

In addition to the threat of having to go to jail, Lateksituppi will also be forced to forfeit thousands of dollars in assets. At first, the prosecution wanted him to pay EUR 69,313 (around $74,729). However, the court eventually settled for an asset forfeiture of EUR 51,300 (around $55,308).

Lateksituppi Is Likely Unimpressed

It is uncertain whether this sentence will impress or upset Lateksituppi, who was described as arrogant by local news outlets. Not only did the streamer arrive at the district court in a golden SUV but he also parked it in spaces reserved for the police.

In addition, reports claim that he was rude and that he mocked the people who sued him on his social media channel. The gambling celebrity allegedly slammed his court adversaries by saying that they will never be as rich as he has gotten by promoting unlicensed gambling in Finland. Lateksituppi bragged about making the same money some people make in years by simply lying around and playing games that are illegal in the country.

In other news, Finland recently fined BML Group, which breached its advertising rules.

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