In a move to address the escalating property tax concerns of older constituents, Utah Representative Kera Birkeland is championing a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize the state’s first-ever lottery. 

Rep. Birkeland’s Lottery Proposal Could Boost Utah’s Finances by $200M

Rep. Birkeland contends that legalizing the lottery could inject up to $200 million into Utah’s coffers, money currently flowing across state lines as residents travel to neighboring states like Idaho, Wyoming, and Arizona to purchase lottery tickets. The proposal aims to redirect these funds to alleviate the financial strain on seniors facing rising property taxes, reported KSL.

The lawmaker’s initiative sparks a broader conversation about the intersection of gambling practices, fiscal policies, and the unique challenges posed by Utah’s comprehensive ban on all forms of gambling. Utah and Hawaii are the only states where any game of chance is strictly prohibited.

Birkeland argues that the prohibition on gambling has deprived the state of a significant revenue stream. She emphasizes the real-world impact on seniors, sharing stories of constituents forced to sell their homes due to soaring property tax bills.

While the full details of the bill are yet to be unveiled, Birkeland is considering including a stipulation that mandates tax revenue from lottery sales be dedicated to offsetting the tax burden on older adults with fixed incomes. 

The proposal faces a significant hurdle, as a constitutional amendment requires the support of two-thirds of lawmakers in both chambers and approval by a majority of voters in the upcoming general election.

Gov. Cox Challenges Lotteries, Deems Them Harmful

Gov. Spencer Cox, despite not possessing the authority to veto constitutional amendments, conveyed his opposition in a recent news conference, asserting that he believes lotteries and gambling, in general, function as taxes on individuals who struggle with mathematics, causing more harm than good.

Despite the challenges and opposition, Birkeland is determined to push the bill forward, emphasizing the need to address the primary concern of her constituents regarding property taxes. 

Birkeland recognizes the challenging nature of the endeavor but maintains her determination, asserting that she has introduced several bills attempting to limit property taxes and decrease government spending, yet none of them has gained traction.

The proposal reignites the ongoing debate on gambling laws in Utah, with past endeavors facing significant resistance. Birkeland’s initiative signals a potential shift in the state’s stance on gambling, setting the stage for a contentious legislative session.

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Flutter Entertainment announced that its Alpha Hub startup partnership program is looking for fresh companies that are able to create innovative safer gambling solutions. The program’s goal is to shape a better future for gaming and society as a whole, in line with the Positive Impact Plan.

Flutter’s Positive Impact Plan utilizes the company’s global presence to achieve important sustainability goals. As a company committed to having a positive impact, Flutter helps communities “Do More.” By the end of 2030, the operator hopes to have improved the lives of no less than 10 million people through sport, play and its colleagues’ skills.

In addition, Flutter seeks to help its customers “Play Well” and is working hard to promote its Play Well safer gambling tools to its players. The company hopes that at least 50% of its players will use these tools by 2026 and 75% by 2030.

Flutter’s Positive Impact Plan is reflected in its Flutter Tech4Good Award and the Flutter & RGC: Play Well Challenge initiatives that are focused on responsible gambling and community support.

The Flutter Tech4Good Award initiative seeks to leverage technology to solve pressing social issues and appeals to startups at any stage from around the world to join the initiative. Flutter wants to collaborate with startups that are meeting the needs of disadvantaged groups and have a clear plan to measure the impact of their solution.

Flutter & RGC: Play Well Challenge is a collaborative effort with the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) that seeks to solve real-world problems for the industry in partnership with promising startup companies. The challenge is seeking entrepreneurs and startups that want to create a better customer experience for everyone.

Flutter Desires to Make a Change

Conor Lynch, CIO at Flutter, commented on the Flutter Tech4Good Award and Play Well Challenge initiatives, saying that they align with the company’s ambitious targets. He added that the company plans to provide full support to promising startups that can make a change.

As part of this, we want to utilize our global scale and in-house talent to support the innovative startups that are developing technology that enhances consumer protection and drives positive change in the communities in which we operate.

Conor Lynch, CIO, Flutter

Meanwhile, Shelley White, chief executive officer of the Responsible Gambling Council, said that her team is proud to join Flutter for the Play Well program and work to minimize the negative impact of gambling-related harm.

The Flutter & RGC Play Well Challenge has the ability to drive real change in Responsible Gambling, globally, and ultimately create a safer gambling experience for millions of people.

Shelley White, CEO, RGC

Startup companies can find more information on how to apply on Flutter’s official website.

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The gambling regulator in the Netherlands, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), published today an interim report on its actions tackling illegal games of chance in the country the first half of 2023.

Forcing Discontinuation of Illegal Offers

The KSA informed the public that during the first six months of the year, various violations were identified, successful interventions to reduce illegal gambling offers were carried out, sanctions were imposed and new methods of investigation were introduced.

Following its initial intervention, the regulator implemented periodic-based penalty payments to three providers of illegal games of chance as they did not stop the violation. The method proved to be among the fastest and most effective weapons in the KSA’s armory as it almost immediately resulted in illegal gambling providers discontinuing their offers.

To prevent the expansion of illegal gambling player networks, the KSA started an investigation at the end of 2022, probing the eight most visited websites that advertise gambling products and services whether they advertise unlicensed online casinos and/or offer advice on how to circumvent Cruks, the national self-exclusion register.

The ongoing investigation found so far that four of the eight websites being looked into violated the Betting and Gaming Act: KSA will undertake various enforcement actions against these websites, including making them inaccessible from the Netherlands, to force them to comply with the law.

The gambling authority also conducted 32 investigations into illegal offers advertised on social media and reported to Meta those occasions where violations had been found. Following the KSA’s reports to Meta, the pages violating the Netherlands law were immediately closed.

Expanding Investigation Capabilities into Cryptocurrencies

The increasing use by illegal providers of cryptocurrency as a payment method online forced the KSA to look into this area and forced the regulator to expand the tools at its disposal. The KSA used Bitcoins on six occasions during the first six months of 2023 to determine possible violations and then forced violators to discontinue their offer in the country.

As tackling illegal land-based gambling is also part of the KSA’s remit, the authority provided support to municipal and police teams on 42 occasions in the period. Besides offering support during raids and municipal actions, the KSA is authorized to seize slot machines and other gambling equipment that is not allowed to operate in the country.

As part of an integrated approach to subversion, the KSA is in constant talks with Regional Information and Expertise Centers, contributing to their work on a regular basis.

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Cal Chrustie and Peter German have asked for a comprehensive investigation into the ongoing problem represented by illicit funds and suspicious casino transactions in Ontario in the past few years. 

Suspicious Transaction Amounts Went Up by $1M a Day

Between 2019 and 2022, Ontario’s casinos recorded a massive rise in the size of flagged transactions, marking a rise of more than one million per day.

In 2019, the figure had reached CAD$334 million ($248 million), according to data from records obtained via a freedom of information request. By 2022, the same figure recorded an increase of $38 million.

During the same year, state regulators introduced a new set of regulations requiring casino operators to keep detailed logs of players wagering over $3,000 in a single transaction. They were also prompted to ask for the source of the respective funds and keep a close eye on any signs of money laundering. 

According to former Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer Cal Chrustie, in many of these instances where large sums of money are involved, their source is “illicit”. 

The investigator who specialized in complex money laundering and transnational crime cases further explained that while the numbers were “significant”, additional research of the transactions was necessary to issue a clear conclusion.

Chrustie also spoke about the potential money laundering activities that should be regarded as much more than regular financial crime since the illicit gains could fuel criminals like drug traffickers and other agencies that could threaten the security of the country.

The ex-RCMP officer added that relying on police authorities to assess reports of suspicious transactions would not suffice, given their overwhelming number. 

Besides the fraudulent casino funds problem, there is also a high risk of international fraudsters attempting to cheat the legal gambling market in Ontario. However, GeoComply reassured the public that licensed operators in Ontario continue to be the safest to play with, with special emphasis on customers being the highest protected category.

The “Dirty Money” Report on British Columbia’s Casinos

Ex-RCMP deputy commissioner Peter German compiled the “Dirty Money” report on British Columbia casinos. 

The report emphasized a number of recommendations that, when put into practice, were the main reason why the volume of suspicious transactions went down abruptly.

While German explained that it was not possible to draw any clear conclusions relying on Ontario’s raw figures, a lot of insight could be gained by looking at the funds in perspective and understanding the way they were generated. 

German also mentioned the matters of underreporting and overreporting, explaining the need for the regulator to get involved in assessing the quality of these transactions. 

British Columbia regulators introduced a similar set of rules similar to the ones Ontario is now using to considerably reduce the number of suspicious transactions. The measures were implemented after it was revealed the funds were used in a transnational money laundering effort. 

While the regulator had failed to comply with the reporting requirements concerning suspicious cash transactions in the past, the new rules generated excellent results, as presented by B.C. government figures. 

Namely, in 2015, B.C. casinos reported $153 million in suspicious transactions. The figure continued to drop on a yearly basis, reaching $3 million in 2022. In the meanwhile, Ontario’s online gambling industry announced excellent growth during its first year of existence.

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In an effort to tackle the problem of gambling addiction, New Jersey’s Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) director David Rebuck have announced several new measures, including the establishment of a new position to deal with responsible gaming, new advertising standards for operators and easier self-exclusion access for players.

New Jersey Attorney General Appoints Responsible Gaming Coordinator to Assist At-Risk Patrons

Speaking at the East Coast Gaming Congress held at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, Attorney General Platkin said that the new position of responsible gaming coordinator would be filled by an experienced attorney and would report directly to the DGE director. 

As New Jersey’s gaming and sports wagering industries continue to grow, Platkin said the obligations to assist patrons who are at risk for problem gambling are also becoming wider. 

He further added that the other initiatives will help protect consumers and make it easier for individuals to access the help they need when their gaming behavior becomes problematic. 

DGE’s March 2023 gaming revenue results showed that for that month, online gaming revenue reported by casinos and their partners was $165.7 million, a rise of 17.8% compared to $140.7 million for March 2022. Sports wagering gross revenue reported by casinos, racetracks, and their partners was $93 million for March 2023, a 40.1% increase compared to last March.

New Jersey Launches Initiatives to Make Responsible Gambling a Priority

The initiatives announced by the Attorney General include new online and sports gambling advertising standards, making it clear that operators must make responsible gaming a priority. These initiatives require operators to display the gambler hotline prominently in their ads. They also require them to end dubious promises of guaranteed wins or risk-free bets. 

Additionally, operators must make wagering requirements clear in their terms and conditions. Advertising in locations where it could entice those under 21 years of age to play must be limited. Finally, the public must have the ability to swiftly opt out of direct advertising.

DGE will also make it easier for players with problem gaming behaviors to exclude themselves from gaming by creating a video-conference option, and by establishing a 24/7 hotline dedicated to assisting people with questions about the self-exclusion program and the process for signing up.

According to Felicia Grondin, executive director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, the increase in online gambling opportunities, access, and the amount of advertising has put many more people in New Jersey at risk for problem gambling. 

Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling, also commented that the initiatives announced on April 20 will further bolster responsible gambling protections and reduce barriers for people seeking help.

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The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) announced today that it has reached an agreement with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to combat together unsolicited calls and texts, as well as phone scams.

Tackle Unsolicited Communication

The strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two government agencies in London this week will see them work together by sharing intelligence, assisting each other in respective investigations and coordinating their enforcement actions against entities operating out of third countries.

Commenting on the MoU, ACMA Chair, Nerida O’Loughlin, outlined the magnitude of the international problem created by “unwanted calls, texts and scams” and the need for cross-border intergovernmental collaboration as “an important part of the solution” if any sustainable results are to be achieved.

“This agreement will see us working with our UK counterparts to crack down on unlawful calls and messages, particularly when cross-border issues are involved,” O’Loughlin said.

The newly-reached accord between the ACMA and ICO will further strengthen their already strong working relationship and support both agencies’ continued efforts in regulating all types of unsolicited communications thousands of people in both countries receive on a daily basis.

UK Information Commissioner John Edwards also commented on the agreement, pleased to see the MoU reaffirm the “collaborative efforts to protect people against the misuse of their personal data for unlawful electronic marketing practices.”

“The ICO and the ACMA face common challenges in stopping companies from plaguing people’s lives with unlawful calls and text messages, and this MoU will help us remain effective in our mission,” Edwards added.

Gambling Operators at the Crosshairs

In recent enforcement action, the ACMA fined BetDeluxe with an AU$50,000 ($33,750) for failures to comply with the spam rules. The breaches were detected between December 2021 and February 2022 – a period in which BetDeluxe had sent more than 104,000 SMS promotional materials with no integrated option for the receiver to unsubscribe.

Recent research conducted by the Australian communications watchdog found that 98% of Australians had received some form of unsolicited communication in 2021, and around 80% of them had experienced negative effects from that communication.

The MoU signed with the ICO is the second ACMA memorandum announced within the space of two days that would directly affect the gambling industry after the advertising regulator signed a MoU with the Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (DITT).

Aimed at establishing greater cooperation in gambling regulation in Australia, the MoU will facilitate the collaboration between the ACMA and DITT in matters of compliance monitoring, enforcement and education for online gambling.

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