Ontario’s regulated iGaming market has made significant economic strides, generating more than CAD$2 billion in revenue for the provincial government since its inception two years ago. According to a recent report by Deloitte, in its second year, Ontario’s competitive iGaming market (excluding the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s iGaming offering) has sustained nearly 15,000 full-time equivalent jobs, marking an increase of 2,800 jobs from the first year.

A Recognized Leader in iGaming

“Our made-in-Ontario iGaming sector is being recognized internationally for its success as a leader in this space,” said Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey. “Working together with our partners and industry, we will continue to drive innovation and deliver robust player protections, all while displacing the unregulated market. Our iGaming sector is not only a job creator here in Ontario but it shows the world our ongoing commitment to building a sustainable and responsible iGaming industry.”

Deloitte’s report highlights that the total government revenue generated through the iGaming market reached $1.24 billion in the second year. This revenue includes $790 million supporting provincial government revenue, $75 million bolstering municipal government revenues, and $380 million aiding federal government revenue.

“This report puts Ontario’s iGaming market government revenue contribution at over $2 billion since it launched and with job contribution up by 24% from its first year, the benefits to Ontarians are significant,” said Heidi Reinhart, chair of the iGaming Ontario board.

Economic Contributions and Growth

Ontario’s iGaming market contributed $2.7 billion to Ontario’s GDP in its second year of operation, up from $1.58 billion in the first year. For every dollar spent by iGaming operations, an estimated $1.40 of GDP was supported in the Ontario economy, an increase from $1.14 in the first year.

The iGaming market has already achieved or nearly reached many of Deloitte’s year-five projections in its second year, with government revenue at 94%, direct jobs sustained at 120%, total full-time jobs sustained at 9%, and GDP contributions at 93% of the initial expectations.

“Through the development and growth of Ontario’s regulated iGaming market, we’re helping achieve the government’s goals in terms of job creation, innovation, and development while providing a safer experience for consumers,” added Martha Otton, executive director of iGaming Ontario.

Detailed Economic Impact

The report from Deloitte indicates that Ontario’s regulated iGaming market sustained 14,935 full-time equivalent jobs in its second year, a significant increase from the previous year. The market’s contribution to the GDP amounted to $2.7 billion, with a notable portion of $1.3 billion supporting labor income. This economic activity resulted from both operational activities and capital investments by licensed iGaming operators.

The breakdown of government revenue supported by the iGaming market is substantial: $790 million in provincial government revenue, $75 million in municipal government revenue, and $380 million in federal government revenue. These revenues include various taxes such as the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), property taxes, and corporate and personal income taxes.

Comparing Year 1 and Year 2 Results

The growth from Year 1 to Year 2 of Ontario’s regulated iGaming market is significant. The estimated contribution to Ontario’s GDP grew by 70%, from $1.6 billion to $2.7 billion. The contribution to labor income increased by 45%, rising from $905 million to $1.3 billion. Employment contributions saw a 24% rise, growing from 12,070 full-time equivalent jobs to 14,935. Additionally, the contribution to provincial and municipal government revenue in Ontario increased by 66%, from $525 million to $865 million.

This robust growth illustrates the dynamic impact of Ontario’s regulated iGaming market on the province’s economy. The sector not only creates jobs but also drives significant revenue for the government, supporting a variety of public services and initiatives.

Source:

ONTARIO IGAMING MARKET SUSTAINING 15,000 JOBS IN SECOND YEAR SINCE LAUNCH, gamingintelligence.com, June 20, 2024.

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The Mirage casino in Las Vegas is closing down, and Nevada’s Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) has said it will help employees who will lose their jobs to get new ones or start businesses. The famous casino run by Hard Rock International is to be shut on July 17 for major remodeling that will see it turned into a different brand.

DETR Launches Rapid Response Program for 3,350 Mirage Employees

Aiming to offer maximum assistance to the 3,350 staff that were affected by the shutdown, DETR is rolling out its Rapid Response Program. The initiative seeks to ensure that those who are laid off or have their places of work closed down can easily access different kinds of services and resources during this period of change.

Director of DETR, Christopher Sewell, noted that the department is dedicated to customizing support for Mirage workers and said that the goal is to help the employees as much as possible during these difficult times. DETR is planning on carrying out various workshops, job fairs, and information sessions so that employees can get equipped with the necessary skills for finding new jobs.

The Rapid Response team from DETR will provide a package which includes among other things budget planning help, advice on health cover alternatives, and vocational training courses. The materials shall be offered physically and virtually too in order to cater to the different needs of those affected.

Gov. Lombardo Applauds DETR’s Initiative

In his response, Gov. Joe Lombardo expressed his appreciation of how DETR has worked together with The Mirage proactively and pointed out their joint efforts in ensuring smooth handover processes for outgoing workers. The department is also connecting them with potential employers while at the same time organizing job fair events within Las Vegas Valley together with other companies.

If qualified union and non-union laborers stay until the scheduled closing date for The Mirage, they will get good separation pay that amounts to about $80 million in total. This is meant to help employees financially as they move on with their careers.

The shutdown of The Mirage means the end of an epoch for the famous Las Vegas Strip landmark. it has been instrumental in making this city become a leading luxurious holiday destination. The Mirage, founded by Steve Wynn in 1989, was the first megaresort on the Las Vegas Strip. Its success prompted the development of other properties. The complex boasts over 3,000 luxurious rooms and suites, a vast casino floor, world-class entertainment, diverse dining options, vibrant nightlife, and a tropical pool complex.

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Currently, Gordon Moody’s gambling addiction treatment center located in Wolverhampton is the sole location for the UK when it comes to treatment only for women. Besides being the only one in the UK, the charity’s unique treatment center is likely the single such location in the whole world, considering that men predominantly join gambling addiction treatment centers.

This creates an uneven ground for the treatment of gambling addiction among women while at the same time, more research on the matter is required. Now, a new report released by The Guardian suggests that while some women may reach out for help and disclose their addiction, they can sometimes receive antidepressants rather than effective treatment, a method that may exacerbate their issue.

Sarah Forshaw, Gordon Moody’s head of service development, who was interviewed by the publication, revealed that it is not uncommon for women to visit the gambling addiction treatment center and confirm that their previous attempts to treat gambling addiction were unsuccessful because they were misunderstood. Moreover, she warned that the addiction of many women may go on untreated. “Gambling addiction is still massively misunderstood and hidden, and women seem to be even more hidden within that,” added Forshaw.

“We’ve had a lot of women pluck up the courage to go to a doctor and talk about addiction and then be prescribed antidepressants, for example. Their addiction is almost swept under the carpet.“

Sarah Forshaw, head of service development at Gordon Moody

Additional Research into Women’s Addiction to Gambling Is Needed

According to Dr Rosalind Baker-Frampton, Gordon Moody’s evaluation and research lead, the development of the program available for women at the gambling treatment center started from zero. She explained that discussions with women who visited the center helped in the shaping of the program. Additionally, Baker-Frampton spoke about the insufficient research into women’s gambling addictions.

She said that while most research focuses on men, the same methodology cannot be applied to women since they have “different life experiences.” What’s concerning according to Baker-Frampton is that women, unlike men, can hide their addiction much longer. “Normally women have been gambling for an average of around seven years before they come to us. Our data shows 66% have children and 87% have some kind of mental health difficulty as well,” explained Baker-Frampton.

So far, the gambling addiction treatment center has collected data from more than 500 women. This data is going to be vital for further research into treatment specialized for women and Gordon Moody is actively seeking opportunities to join forces with researchers and universities that can play a vital role in this process.

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Not everyone has been welcoming of the porposal and the American Gaming Association, a trade group, curtly rebuked the legislation in its current form. A measure such as that would further depress the competitiveness of the regulated gambling market, and give teeth to rogue and black market operators.

Not Part of the Pack

But this prospect does not seem to worry at least one company in the industry’s corner which remains non-chalant at the prospect of losing its keen edge to the black market. For now, though, Underdog Sports is leading a lonely club of operators that are plumping for the GRIT Act as outlined earlier.

The operator echoes the sentiment expressed earlier this year by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), arguing that the measure is a cleverly designed federal law that will help fill the current funding gap in the prevention and treatment of gambling addiction and research.

Underdog spoke exclusively with Sports Handle outlining its support for the GRIT Act and why it believes it is the right thing to do moving forward. In a statement to the publication, Underdog Sports VP of responsible gambling Adam Warrington said:

“There is a need for dedicated federal resources to aid problem gambling prevention, research, and treatment. The GRIT Act would direct existing tax dollars paid by legal operators to be utilized to fill the current funding gap.”

Would this see more operators follow suit? So far the response has been tepid, with responsible gambling campaigners and organizations, such as the aforementioned NCPG, showing a degree of partialness towards the matter.

Operators have mostly mummed the word as if waiting for an official cue. One such has come from AGA, criticizing the GRIT Act and warning about the dangers of passing legislation without a broader collaboration between lawmakers and authorities.

Sorely Needed Action Now

Underdog Sports’ perspective is a refreshing take on the issue, but it’s a lone voice for the time being. For actual industry reading to be made, there will have to be more companies that speak up about where they stand on the matter.

It is not very likely to see individual operators hew too far from the position outlined by AGA, but Underdog Sports is already bucking the trend which will most likely beget a broader debate, and set a healthy precedent.

Some lawmakers have already voiced their concern about the lack of adequate measures to curb problem gambling in the United States, with Congresswoman Andreas Salinas sounding the alarm over the lack of adequate measures.

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Across Europe, the minimum legal age required for gambling activities varies between 18 and 21. Unlike the United States, where the legal age for gambling and consuming alcohol is 21 in a majority of states, many countries on the Old Continent permit such activities after 18.

The Flemish Expertise Center for alcohol, illegal drugs, psychoactive medication, gambling and gaming, VAD, released a new memorandum this week, asking for changes to the existing legislation in Belgium, effectively restricting young adults under the age of 21 from gambling. The organization flagged concerns about the impact of gambling on young adults, encouraging lawmakers to increase the minimum age required for such activities.

Belgium’s existing gambling laws prohibit individuals under the age of 21 from playing at retail slots or visiting brick-and-mortar casinos. Similarly, anyone under the age of 21 is not allowed to engage in online gambling.

While those restrictions sound good enough, there are gambling activities that young adults who are 18 or older can access. For example, anyone above the age of 18 can participate in lotteries, bingo, as well as some online games of chance.

Effective Measures to Protect Young Adults

According to VAD’s memorandum, the prevention of harm related to alcohol and gambling can be achieved through several measures. It said that the most “cost-effective” measures include the implementation of an advertising ban, increases in prices as well as limiting availability.

Besides increasing the minimum gambling age to 21, the organization supported the raising of the minimum age for alcohol to 18. The proposed changes that seek prevention “through cost-effective measures in legislation,” are in line with VAD’s 2021 10-point plan on effective gambling regulation.

As an example of why there is a need to increase the gambling age in Belgium, the organization pointed to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Citing data, VAD revealed that some 43,122 new players registered for the first time with a gambling operator at that time. A majority or 58% of the players were under the age of 30, the organization confirmed. Citing research, VAD explained that exposure to gambling activities at a young age increases the chance of gambling addictions.

Besides gambling and alcohol, VAD’s memorandum outlines a total of nine priorities that seek to implement effective policies for gaming, illegal drugs and psychoactive medication. The memorandum highlighted the increasing risks of all such activities, urging not only for prevention and early intervention but also assistance and harm reduction.

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Gambling is identified as a public health issue in Australia, considering that hundreds of millions of dollars are lost to the activity on a monthly basis. The growing popularity of gambling activities pushed lawmakers to take action and attempt to curb the rate of problem gambling and gambling harm by overhauling the existing regulations.

Now, a new inquiry by the Victorian Labor government urges the Commonwealth Government to implement meaningful changes to protect consumers from excessive gambling and harm.

The new 240-page document describes findings for the prevalence, harm and benefits of gambling and liquor, the regulation of gambling, the prevalence and harm of online gambling as well as reducing gambling harm. Besides detailed findings, the report outlines important recommendations, calling for robust changes to the established regulations with the ultimate goal of protecting the consumers.

Issued by the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee, the new report describes a worrying trend about the impact of sports betting and excessive gambling advertising, calling for changes to prevent and reduce gambling harm. Sarah Connolly MP, the Committee’s chair, wrote about the positive changes in Victoria involving the reduction of harm related to alcohol and gambling products. Yet, she warned that more needs to be done to protect communities across Victoria.

According to Connolly, the government needs to step up and implement further changes that safeguard users from gambling and alcohol-related harm. Overall, the new inquiry issued 61 recommendations that according to the Committee, can bring meaningful changes. “More appropriate regulations and safeguards are needed to protect Victorians, especially our children and young people,” wrote Connolly.

Restricting Primetime Gambling Advertising

The newly released report cited data from the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, which revealed that in 2021, an average of 948 gambling ads were broadcast daily via free-to-air TV. During family viewing hours between 6 PM and 8:30 PM every weeknight, an average of 148 gambling ads were broadcast.

Considering this data, the inquiry recommended stricter rules for primetime gambling advertising. The inquiry proposed the implementation of rules such as the ones that were recently adopted by the South Australian Government.

When it comes to sports betting, the inquiry identified it as the “fastest growing form of gambling in Victoria and the fastest growing form of online gambling in Australia.” Citing data from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office, the inquiry reiterated that more than AU$1.2 billion ($792.7 million) is lost to sports betting annually. Moreover, it warned that some 44% of the adults in Australia admitted to gambling on sports or racing in 2022.

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Finland might be on the way to introducing a licensing model for online gaming. The country, which is the only EU member to still maintain a monopoly over iGaming, just broke ground by introducing a legislative plan to transition to a licensing system.

Finland’s online gaming monopoly, Veikkaus, commented on the matter, expressing its support for the move. According to CEO Velipekka Nummikoski, the company believes that regulation can benefit the whole Finish gaming market.

Nummikoski praised the Ministry of the Interior for what he called the most significant reforms in Finnish gaming yet. He hailed the government’s clear plan of action and said that he hopes that it would be able to channel players toward the legal market.

Under the new legislative plan, Finland will abolish Veikkaus’ exclusivity when it comes to online gambling. Still, the company will retain its monopoly over retail slots and the lottery.

Despite its apparent support of the measure, Veikkaus warned that the transition to a licensing model will likely lead to redundancies, forcing the company to restructure its business, close properties and lay off workers. According to the company’s estimates, as many as 240 employees may lose their jobs.

A New Age for Finnish iGaming

If Finland introduces a regulated gambling model, Veikkaus will split into two companies within the same group. One of the newly-formed entities will be Veikkaus’ arm which will retain its monopoly over retail slot machines and the lottery, while the other joins the competitive online market.

The Finnish government’s plans to introduce a licensing model come amid strong support for the introduction of regulated gambling. However, the transition process is set to take a few years at the very least. Under the current plans, the Ministry of the Interior will take two years to draft a legislative proposal for regulated iGaming.

The proposal will cover important matters, such as what games should be legalized, what the licensing and tax fees for online operators should be and how Finland would protect consumers from harm.

Finland’s decision to explore the possibility of introducing licensed online gaming marks a historic turning point for the country and will align it with other EU member states that use similar models.

The move was praised by the European Betting and Gaming Association, which highlighted that a licensing model will bring many benefits to Finland, including improved channelization rates and better player protections.

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Amid the growth and expansion of legal sports wagering across the United States, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced its intentions to support changes to betting legislation, seeking to ensure the integrity of its competitions. Besides strengthening integrity, the proposals seek to raise awareness of problem gambling and protect student-athletes from coercion or harassment.

The NCAA acknowledged that there are currently 38 states that have implemented laws that legalize sports wagering. However, it said, that while some states offer complex rules for protecting of the athletes, others do not. This is why the Association surveyed student-athletes, seeking to improve the regulations and develop a model that it would propose to different states. The changes seek to protect the student-athletes, game officials, coaches, as well as other sports personnel, shielding them from betting-related harassment, problem gambling or malpractices related to integrity.

Ultimately, the NCAA said that it plans to collaborate with lawmakers to implement the changes across different states. It supports “mandatory reporting hotlines for gambling authorities to report such behavior to law enforcement,” as well as an increase of penalties for bettors that engage in harassment of student-athletes. Additionally, the Association proposes mandatory education for gambling operators that would enable them to identify harassment.

Further changes that would be proposed include ramped-up efforts against underage sports wagering. Additionally, the NCAA’s proposal calls for the inclusion of details about the harassment hotline and information on problem gambling within any sports betting advertisements. Last but not least, it said that revenue generated from betting should be dedicated to the education of students from higher-risk populations.

Changes to Protect and Educate Student-Athletes

Morgyn Wynne, the vice chair of the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, revealed that currently, the well-being and health of student-athletes is of utmost importance. She added: “With the legalization of sports betting, it is imperative that we take a proactive approach to protecting student-athletes from the potential of negative engagement with bettors.” Finally, Wynne supported legislative changes that seek to prioritize the protection of student-athletes and safeguard them from harmful activities.

“The NCAA is making changes to help student-athletes make smart choices when it comes to sports betting, but given the explosive growth of this new industry, we are eager to partner with lawmakers, regulators and industry leaders to protect student-athletes from harassment and threats.“

Charlie Baker, president of the NCAA

Charlie Baker, NCAA’s president, revealed that the Association is collaborating with student-athletes to ensure they make smart choices when it comes to wagering. Still, he added that the NCAA is motivated to collaborate with regulators and lawmakers to ensure the protection of student-athletes. Baker spoke about the betting legislation in different states, saying that some offer protection but others need to do more.

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Self-exclusion from gambling is one way for people affected by problem gambling or at-risk gambling to limit their access to such activities. While self-exclusion options can help people who are struggling with gambling, bank gambling payment blocks can also have a positive impact on that process. This is because such payment blocks can reduce the possibility for people affected by at-risk or problem gambling to deposit funds with gambling operators.

Now, the UK charity that helps people affected by problem gambling, GamCare, reiterated the importance of improving bank gambling blocks and the benefits such options bring to consumers. On Monday, the charity revealed that a key part of the process is to help raise awareness of bank gambling blocks and provide support for people that needed it.

The announcement comes after earlier this year, GamCare organized its second workshop on bank gambling blocks. The workshop sought to uncover new ways to raise awareness of bank gambling blocks and other gambling management tools. During the event, GamCare heard different ideas and opinions from experts.

A key part in the process of improving bank gambling blocks is raising awareness, the workshop found. An idea was formed that banks need to be proactive and notify their customers about tools that can limit gambling activities such as blocks.

Still, that wouldn’t be a general requirement but rather affects consumers that have “vulnerability markers on their account.” Additional proactive efforts by the banks would be to refer such customers to organizations that provide gambling support such as TalkBanStop.

Inconsistency in Naming Bank Gambling Blocks

Deelan Maru, one of the members of GamCare’s Behavioral Insights Team, explained that one challenge bank gambling payment blocks face is the inconsistency such activities are referred to by different banks. As an example, he pointed out that some banks refer to gambling payment blocks as “card freeze,” while others present the block as “restriction” or “merchant control.”

“Our analysis of bank gambling tools shows that gambling blocks have inconsistent naming conventions across different banking apps. For example, one bank may call it ‘card freeze’, whilst another would place it under ‘merchant control’ or ‘restriction’ settings – ultimately causing ambiguity and confusion for the consumer.“

Deelan Maru, Behavioral Insights Team member at GamCare

Maru explained that the inconsistent naming of the bank gambling blocks creates confusion for the customers. According to him, consistent naming of the solution across bank institutions and a proactive approach can raise awareness of those tools and ultimately help more people.

GamCare also pointed out that while self-exclusion options are popular, some people learn about bank gambling blocks only when they encounter gambling harm first. The charity revealed that there are people, affected by problem gambling that reach out for support and discover the option for bank gambling blocks.

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Naskila Entertainment is a small, slots-only casino in Polk County, Texas with an outsized impact on the local economy. In fact, it’s really an electronic bingo facility but visitors get the feeling they are playing slots and most people would never know the difference – much like playing at a video lottery terminal (VLT) in a huge New York City casino.

The casino is operated by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas on its Reservation near Livingston, about 75 miles north of Houston, a city of over two million people.

According to a report that was commissioned by the Texas Forest Country Partnership, the facility, directly and indirectly, pumped some $212 million into the county economy in 2022.

Casino Generates 800+ Permanent Jobs

TXP Inc. of Austin, the economic analysis firm that conducted the study reports that the operation is responsible for more than 800 permanent jobs, half of them at the casino, and a total payroll of $22.5 million a year collectively.

“This economic impact and these jobs would simply not exist without Naskila. Because 95 percent of Naskila’s customers come from outside of Polk County, and more than 80 percent come from outside the region, Naskila is an economic engine that benefits every stakeholder in the region,” the study stated.

According to a report in Blue Bonnet News, the Winter 2023 TXP study was the third one the Texas Forest Country Partnership had commissioned on the casino’s economic impact. The venue opened as a 15,000 sq ft slot parlor in 2016 and has had to fight until fairly recently to defend its operation as legal under the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Last summer the United States Supreme Court finally put overzealous Texas prosecutors to rest over the issue when the Court confirmed the gaming center’s standing.

Steady Increase in Economic Value

The first study, done in 2018 showed an economic impact of $140 million increasing to $170m in 2020 and continuing to grow to the current $212m arrived at in the current report found here, courtesy of the Liberty County news outlet. Overall direct and indirect jobs have grown from 550 to 700 and finally to 825 found today with nearly half of them part of the casino operation itself.

Chairman of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas Tribal Council, Ricky Sylestine commented on the study and its findings: “We are grateful that our guests, our employees, and our neighbors in Deep East Texas have allowed the impact of Naskila Casino to continue to grow,” he said. “This facility helps sustain our Tribe and our region.”

The average salary and benefits for a Naskila employee are $50,000 according to the report. The impact includes a variety of quality-of-life improvements for those who are employed directly or not in the area with funding for scholarships and additional housing on the Reservation as well as a retail center, health care clinic, and a daycare center.

“The growth of Naskila’s success is very good for Polk County,” said Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy. “Naskila draws visitors into our region and provides stable income and benefits for its employees. We know that Naskila will continue to play an important role in our county’s future.”

Source: Study finds Naskila Casino injects $212 million into local economy, Bluebonnet News, March 13, 2023

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