In the context of the growing pressure to implement safer gambling standards in Australia, the country’s federal government has embraced the task of enforcing a series of fresh regulations that would increase the protection of players. 

The new regulations are impacting several areas of sportsbook operations, including retail betting and payments.

Cashless Retail Betting 

Given the Victoria Gambling and Casino Control Commission’s (VGCCC) latest report related to the rise in the number of gambling incidents involving minors, they decided to take immediate action by asking Tabcorp, which is Victoria’s exclusive betting license holder, to introduce cashless retail betting on 70% of all of its terminals. 

This way, Tabcorp’s staff would be the first to prevent potential underage betting scenarios. 

Approximately 1,800 electronic betting terminals belonging to Tabcorp are expected to become cashless effective later on in the month. 

In order to use them, visitors would need to obtain a voucher from the betting venue’s counter. This way, customers who appear to be younger than 25 would need to first go through an ID verification procedure.

Last December, Liquor & Gaming New South Wales announced it would expand its cashless gambling trial amid increased interest shown by clubs and other venues. 

RWA Deems Underage Gambling as “Absolutely Unacceptable” 

SBC News and Payment Expert discussed the matter with Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA), the trade body that represents a number of high-profile holders of Australian licenses with names like bet365, Sportsbet, Pointsbet, Betfair, Unibet, and Entain on the list.

While Tabcorp is not a representative of RWA, the association has highlighted the critical importance of accurately meeting all standards regarding responsible gambling across the industry as a whole. 

Plus, Tabcorp shares responsibility concerning the implementation and enactment of safer gambling standards throughout Australia. 

RWA’s chief executive officer, Kai Cantwell, called it “absolutely unacceptable” for any underage Australian to be able to gamble, further mentioning the way online betting suppliers perform age and identity verifications on all customers prior to allowing them to make any transaction. 

Cantwell called the procedure “an important mechanism to mitigate money laundering and terrorism financing risks.”

The CEO added that RWA encourages “sensible regulatory measures” that can carry other forms of gambling up to the current standard that online betting providers are now operating on. 

At the moment, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s cabinet is busy implementing no less than 31 recommendations made by a parliamentary inquiry into gambling.
 

Last December, the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee issued a request to the state of Victoria, asking for TV gambling ads to be restricted as part of a more complex report on gambling and liquor regulations in the state.

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In California, Tribal operators hold exclusive rights over different gaming activities. In order for the state to legalize sports betting, the Tribes need to be consulted and any proposal needs to be greenlighted by them as well.

Back in October, Kasey Thompson and Reeve Collins introduced a proposal that sought to open the largest sports betting market in the United States, the one in California. Introduced on October 27, 2023, the Sports Wagering Regulation and Tribal Gaming Protection Act’s main purpose is “to regulate online and in-person sports wagering in California,” while at the same time, generating funding for Tribal communities and governmental services.

A few weeks after the Sports Wagering Regulation and Tribal Gaming Protection Act was proposed, it is now facing formal opposition from the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA). On Thursday this week, the Association revealed that 52 of its members voted against two sports betting proposals that were recently filed with the California Sectary of State’s office.

CNIGA explained that the voting comes after a meeting between its Executive Committee and supporters of the proposals. Known as the association of tribal groups in California, CNIGA was founded back in 1988. It currently represents the Tribal sector on industry matters and advocates for gaming rights on Indian lands.

“Today the 52 members of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association voted to oppose two sports wagering initiatives that were recently filed with the California Secretary of State’s office. The vote follows a meeting between the initiative proponents and the CNIGA Executive Committee,“

reads a statement released by CNIGA

The Association’s Opposition Is Irrevocable

James Siva, CNIGA’s chairman, criticized the two sports wagering proposals saying: “The entire effort surrounding these initiatives was handled abhorrently by the initiative sponsors.” He revealed that it was difficult for the Association’s members not to be offended when hearing how the supporters of the initiatives discussed their proposals.

“This is another example of outside influences trying to divide and conquer Indian tribes. We will not let history repeat itself.“

James Siva chairman of CNIGA

Siva highlighted that the Tribes in California have been involved in the gaming sector for more than 40 years. According to him, their involvement isn’t by coincidence or mistake but rather highlights the dedication of the Tribes to ensuring the well-being of their communities and members. “Tribal Leaders are the experts, and we will decide what is best for our people,” he added.

“Our opposition could not be more clear and is irrevocable,“

added Siva

CNIGA’s chairman urged the supporters of the proposals to drop the initiatives, reminding them of their promise to do so if they face opposition from the tribes. Finally, Siva reiterated that the Tribes officially oppose the sports wagering initiatives.

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The Kentucky Sports Wagering Advisory Council has published a Wagering Catalog outlining all the sports upon which wagers may be conducted. The publication follows a meeting of the council and comes ahead of the launch of sports betting in the state.

Recommended by Hans Stokke, the director of sports betting at the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, the list includes a large number of events although some were still left out.

For example, Kentucky bettors will be able to wager on all of the biggest sports leagues in the USA, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, WNBA and OGA. Wagers on a number of collegiate sports are also allowed.

In addition to that, sports punters will get to place bets on a variety of other events, such as tennis, cornhole, darts, billiards, snooker, chess and cycling. The Olympics are also on the list.

Interestingly, players will be able to wager on motorsports such as NASCAR, NHRA and IndyCar races, among others, but not on international Formula 1 events.

Many Events Made It on the List, Some Did Not

In the meantime, operators will also be allowed to accept wagers on combat sports such as boxing and the UFC. However, slap fighting and other combat sports failed to make it on the list because of their inherent brutality. Stokke in particular was reluctant to approve disciplines that “result in mayhem.”

LIV Golf, the controversial golf tour backed by Saudi Arabia, also made it to the list. However, its addition may be reevaluated if it merges with the PGA Tour.

Fans of video gaming also have a reason to rejoice as Kentucky is set to greenlight betting on eight of the biggest esports titles. These include the Call of Duty League, CS:GO, League of Legends, Dota 2, the NBA 2K League, the Overwatch League, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege and VALORANT.

Unfortunately, fans of pickleball aren’t as lucky as the sport failed to make it to the list. However, Stokke reassured proponents of the discipline that it may get added in the future once his team is “more comfortable with the governing bodies that pickleball is subject to.”

Speaking of which, the list is likely to grow in time as more disciplines and women’s leagues are likely to be added in the future. However, the state plans to only include events that are overseen by a governing body that ensures their integrity.

Kentucky sports betting launches in a week. Starting September 7, retail sportsbooks will be able to accept wagers. A mobile launch will follow on September 28, although players can register in advance.

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Gizmodo, a popular media outlet, reported that blockchain betting site Polymarket had seen at least $220,000 wagered on the outcome of the Titan tragedy before the news of the vessel’s destruction and crew members’ demise was known.

There Is a Time and Place for Everything

The prediction website basically asked whether bettors believed that the Titan submarine and its crew had survived, with the majority of consumers responding in the negative. Polymarket said that it would honor “positive” bets providing that the vessel was physically recovered

Twitter was quick to pick up on the betting market and criticize running what many called a gamble on people’s lives. Gizmodo did reach out to Polymarket which engaged with the publication and simply stated that the betting markets can be of “actual value to those worried for their family members.” Polymarket simply stated:

That is a far more valuable service to them than sensationalist media coverage: with our markets, at least they understand the true probabilities.

Running a death pool is rare though and it mostly doesn’t happen in the world’s biggest markets where operators understand the ethical and moral implications of making such a move. Even those bookmakers that tried to dance around the rules a little, such as Paddy Power’s suggestion in 2009 that President-elect Barack Obama might be assassinated have been forced to deal with, the fallout of creating “death pool” markets.

Do Not Turn Tragedy into “Infotainment”

The tragedy with Titan remains, with the US Coast Guard confirming on Thursday that the vessel had suffered a “catastrophic implosion” shortly after descending, killing all crew members on board. Markets outside of sports have generally been very popular with bookmakers that are not based in a heavily regulated jurisdiction. Presently, there are efforts to legalize politics and entertainment bets in some countries, including the United States, but there is serious opposition for fear of undermining the legitimacy of some contests. When it comes to human tragedy

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As sports betting continues to expand in the United States, more and more states are trying to get the vertical legalized. One such battle is being waged in Vermont where an online sports betting bill moved closer to getting written into law.

House Bill 127, which was recently introduced by Democratic Rep. Matt Birong and nine other House members, seeks to legalize online wagering on sporting events. Under the law amendments outlined in the bill, the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery will serve as the state regulator.

Operators will be able to enter the Green Mountain State through a contract with the Department of Liquor and Lottery. Operators will be taxed 20% of their revenue and will also have to pay an annual fee that will depend on the number of companies that enter the state.

Vermont will allow for a total of six sports betting operators. If six companies join the local market, each of them an annual operating fee of $125,000. If fewer operators opt to enter Vermont, each of them will have to pay a bigger fee.

Following the latest amendments to House Bill 127, the measure was passed by the House with overwhelming approval. The Bill will now be handed to the Senate, which will decide whether to send it to the Vermont Governor to be written into law or not.

The Bill Addresses Problem Gambling

Proponents of gambling have argued that the legislation will benefit Vermont as it will create an alternative to the dangerous black market. Citing geolocation data from GeoComply, they said that thousands of players in Vermont are wagering illegally. As a result, the state is losing millions in taxes, pro-betting lawmakers claimed.

Others, on the other hand, are concerned by the dangers of gambling harm. Currently, Vermont lacks the framework to address the issue if problem gambling becomes the norm. Because of that, some agree that even if House Bill 127 makes the vote, Vermont ought to secure problem gambling resources and education before launching online sports betting.

The bill itself outlines a number of safer gambling regulations, such as the creation of a Responsible Gaming Special Fund, which will be used by the Department of Health to address and treat gambling harm.

Vermont is not the only state fighting for the legalization of sports betting. Currently, Texas lawmakers continue to debate the legalization of wagering on sports. A few days ago, HB 1027 passed the House vote in Oklahoma and is now headed to the Senate. Elsewhere, a North Carolina bill proposes the expansion of the state’s betting industry.

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Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA), the independent peak body for Australian-licensed wagering service providers, has announced a major new appointment. The organization said that it will welcome the experienced Kai Cantwell as its new chief executive officer.

Cantwell will join the company on April 17, 2023, bringing a wealth of experience to the team. Cantwell has distinguished himself as a skillful leader in service delivery and policy development in both the public and private sectors. He has led large and diverse teams through major transformations without losing the public’s trust.

In addition to his experience in senior leadership roles, Cantwell is familiar with Australian law and regulations. He has previously served the cloud tech specialist Oracle in the capacity of its senior public sector adviser.

His earlier experience, moreover, includes more than ten years in the federal government. This included a tenure as the NSW/ACT State Manager in the Commonwealth Department of Social Services.

Cantwell has additional experience in social policy and service delivery, having served as the chief of staff of federal ministers. He was also instrumental in the coordination, development and implementation of the National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Gambling.

Cantwell joins RWA as Australia continues to scrutinize and debate the future of gambling regulation and sustainability.

Cantwell Is Looking Forward to Leading RWA

Nick Minchin AO, chair of Responsible Wagering Australia, welcomed Cantwell on board, praising the new appointee’s leadership excellence. Minchin said that the new CEO has all the skills required to lead the body, which is why he is trusted by the organization’s members.

His deep understanding of social policy, sports, wagering and Government position him perfectly to lead RWA and its members as we continue to promote socially responsible wagering and advocate for the highest standards in the sector.

Nick Minchin, chair, RWA

Cantwell also shared his sentiments on joining RWA, saying that he is honored to be able to join its team. He said that he is looking forward to leading the company and driving further understanding of problem gambling.

I am honored to have the opportunity to work with RWA members, sporting and racing bodies, and governments of all levels to ensure we continue to get the balance right between protections, regulation and freedoms.

Kai Cantwell, to-be-CEO, RWA

RWA is one of the main promoters of responsible gambling and increased industry standards in Australia. Its members support 32,000 jobs across the country, paying almost AUD 2 billion in annual taxes and contributing as much as AUD 6 billion to the local economy.

In other news, the Northern Territory Racing Commission recently criticized BetStop, a new self-exclusion scheme in Australia, for its questionable efficiency.

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Germany’s new gambling regulator, the Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder or GGL, issued a new report Thursday, explaining that licensed sports betting operators had a market share of more than 95% in 2022. This left a niche for black market operators of less than 5%, judging by analysis based on tax data released by the GGL.

Besides the overwhelming share of the licensed market, the watchdog reaffirmed its commitment to continue the fight against illegal gambling. According to Benjamin Schwanke, a Board member of the GGL, a primary focus for the regulator is the protection of customers and continuing the fight against illegal operators. Additionally, he said that the regulator could not “find any crowding out of legal offers by illegal offers.”

“According to our market analysis, the channeling rate is well over 95 percent, which means that apart from less than five percent, the betting stakes are placed with the permitted sports betting providers according to the tax data of the Federal Ministry of Finance.“

Ronald Benter, CEO of the GGL

The announcement by the gambling watchdog comes after a report released recently by the DSWV, a German sports betting association, claimed that the strict regulations have resulted in a decrease in the legal sports betting market in the country last year. The GGL explained that the DSWV backed its statement by claiming that there was “an increase in the illegal sports betting market.” However, the regulator said that its data disagrees with the claims made by the sports betting association.

“Analysis of the tax data for 2022 shows that well over 95% of sports betting sales come from permitted providers,“

reads a statement released by the GGL

The Watchdog Remains Vigilant

The regulator acknowledged that a 5% dip in the sports betting market was observed in 2022 when compared to 2021. This was, according to the Authority, an impact of the pandemic and the postponement of the European championship from 2020 to 2021. Still, the GGL said that the market position of 2022 matched the levels recorded pre-pandemic in 2019.

Details regarding the analysis of the legal sports betting market in 2022 come after the GGL issued its first fine for a gambling ad regulations breach. Earlier this week, the regulator confirmed it has implemented a five-figure fine against one operator who wasn’t named.

At the time of the announcement, the GGL said that it uncovered a licensed operator that advertised its services via a website offering illegal gambling services. As a result, the GGL issued a fine but did not confirm what was the exact amount and rather said only that it was a five-digit penalty.

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