L’Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), a gambling regulator from France, works hard to prevent illegal gambling in the country. The regulator recently warned all players about the fraud that is occurring in the industry: various illegal gambling operators use the brands of popular licensed operators to advertise their services on social media platforms, especially Facebook.

Risks for players

That way, even those looking to gamble legally can be tricked into placing illegal bets. Now, the regulator has joined forces with Meta to monitor and resolve the issue.

So far, ANJ has found about 400 illegal websites, which resulted in 137 user accounts on Facebook being blocked. The main operators that were used for illegal operations were Barrière and JOA groups. The profiles of these operators have been created and their brand image was used to attract potential customers to the illegal website. They also created mobile apps that players were led to from Facebook images.

Online casinos aren’t legalized in France. However, some operators are allowed to offer online sports betting and horse racing betting services to French players. Also, land-based casinos that have appropriate licenses are also legal.

According to ANJ, players are at huge risk due to betting on illegal sites. They risk not being paid when they win, as well as various payment frauds and the risk of stealing personal data.

The regulator commented: “If in doubt about the legality of the gambling site on which you are about to bet, consult the list of sites approved by the ANJ. You can also consult the blacklist of sites that have been administratively blocked by the ANJ. We invite anyone who notices the presence of fake advertisements to report them.”

Worth of illegal betting market

In December 2023, ANJ said that the illegal betting market in France was worth up to €1.50 billion (£1.28bn/$1.62bn), which is more than 10% higher than the wagered amount in the country on a yearly basis.

According to research conducted by ANJ, 510 illegal websites are active. About 60% of all traffic comes from 21 of them.

PwC published a study with concerning data: the gross gaming revenue illegal casinos earned is somewhere between €748m and €1.5bn, which is between 5% and 10% of total gambling in France. The record was set in 2022 when it was €12.9 billion.

Source:

“French regulator issues warning over illegal online casinos on Facebook”, igamingbusiness.com, January 31, 2023.

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As the race for New York City casino permits intensifies, potential operators find themselves facing a high-stakes gamble not only for the coveted licenses but also in terms of financial risk. A recent report from financial analysts at S&P Global Ratings suggests that successful bidders may find themselves shouldering substantial debt burdens.

Major Players Vie for Lucrative Downstate Casino Licenses in the Battle for the Big Apple

The New York state government is set to award three downstate casino licenses, opening the doors to what is considered one of the last untapped gaming frontiers in the United States. The competition is fierce, with major players like MGM Resorts International, Las Vegas Sands, and Wynn Resorts vying for the lucrative opportunity.

S&P Global Ratings, in a comprehensive new report, outlined the potential financial implications for the winning operators. The proposed projects range from $2 billion for expansions or redevelopments of existing properties to over $5 billion for entirely new developments. The report indicates that the impact of the associated leverage could materialize within the next 12-18 months.

One of the key concerns raised by the analysts is the strain on corporate credit metrics as companies seek to secure a foothold in the highly competitive New York market. MGM Resorts International‘s Empire City Casino in Yonkers and Resorts World New York in Queens are rumored to be strong contenders, although nothing is confirmed at this stage.

Rumors Swirl, Anticipating Record-Breaking $1 Billion License Fees

New York is not holding back in capitalizing on its sought-after status, with recent rumors suggesting that winning bidders could be slapped with licensing fees as high as $1 billion each. This figure far exceeds the initially anticipated cost of $500 million per permit. When factoring in construction costs, operators like Las Vegas Sands and Hard Rock International may be looking at a staggering total investment of up to $6 billion and $8 billion, respectively.

Despite the potential financial challenges, experts believe that New York could offer a short-term pain, long-term gain scenario for victorious operators. The prospect of dominating the New York market is seen as a strategic move that could pay off handsomely in the long run. However, the timeline for these developments is extended, with S&P suggesting that licenses may not be awarded before the second half of 2024. Significant capital spending is not expected until 2025, given the complexities of building in New York and the ambitious scale of the proposed projects.

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Crown Resorts urged the community to exercise caution regarding counterfeit social media accounts and advertisements falsely using Crown’s identity. The operator was adamant that online gambling in Australia was strictly prohibited, reaffirming it did not offer any form of iGaming. Such developments further threaten Crown’s public image as the company struggles with reforms.

The Operator Urged People to Report Any Offending Websites

Crown’s official warning highlighted the rising prevalence of fraudulent social media accounts, advertisements, or apps that utilize Crown’s name, logo, images, and other identifying information. The operator was adamant it did not operate an online casino or provide any form of online gambling, as its activities are only limited to its physical venues.

Crown Resorts advised the public to refrain from engaging with such suspicious accounts, avoid disclosing personal information or credit card details, and promptly report fraudulent content or suspicious activity. Despite the Australian government’s efforts to curb illegal online operators, the country struggles to enforce its regulations, leaving many people vulnerable to gambling harm.

Crown continuously works with social media and technology companies to seek removal of fraudulent content as a priority.

Crown Resorts official statement

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has been the country’s leading authority in identifying and dealing with illegal online operators. It regularly requests internet service providers to block offending websites and has been steadily intensifying its efforts. However, such measures usually have limited success as offending operators can change their IP address and circumvent restrictions.

Crown Still Struggles to Regain Compliance

The cautionary message comes amid Crown Resorts’ comprehensive reform initiatives across its Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth integrated resorts. The company is actively working to regain its casino licenses following inquiries in these three states, which delivered unfavorable assessments. Regulators have generally observed steady progress, raising hopes for the beleaguered operator.

Notably, Crown Melbourne recently implemented mandatory time and loss limits for all patrons using electronic gaming machines in compliance with recommendations from the Finkelstein Royal Commission. The company’s rigorous reform agenda is paying off in other jurisdictions, thanks to company-wide safer gambling initiatives and a determination to return to suitability.

Despite Crown’s progress, some recent developments have raised new integrity concerns. The company’s CEO is under investigation over allegations that he allowed removed patrons back into the company’s properties. If confirmed, these suspicions could substantially hinder Crown’s progress toward compliance, and seeing the company’s logo on illegal websites does little to improve its image.

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The Liquor & Gaming New South Wales (L&GNSW), which is responsible for managing the “regulatory framework for the liquor, gaming, wagering, casino, and registered clubs sectors in NSW,” has initiated the third and last stage of the compliance program aimed at the forbidden display of gaming signage in the state. 

Two New Venue Operators Issued Statutory Directions

The body that undertakes compliance and enforcement activities and offers policy advice to the government has recently undertaken a series of enforcement measures on two venues, the Royal Hotel at Granville and Stardust Hotel at Cabramatta, concerning the illegal display of gambling-related signage. 

L&GNSW inspectors discovered that the Royal Hotel at Granville made use of cartoon imagery advertising the hotel’s restaurant, Mr Choy’s Wok, which was similar to the one used in the electronic gaming machine called Choy’s Kingdom. 

Accordingly, they were issued a statutory direction according to section 75 of the Liquor Act, which asks for all signage and material using the imagery to be removed or changed. 

While the licensee complied with this direction, they also decided to apply for a review from the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority.

The same inspectors also came across a digital archway around the external entrance of the gaming room belonging to Stardust Hotel at Cabramatta.

The respective archway features animations showing a panda holding and chewing on a plant that resembled those found in the Panda Magic electronic gaming machine. 

Stardust Hotel was issued a statutory direction asking it to stop using the digital archway, with successful results.

Escalated Enforcement Action Starting December 1

As part of the newly instilled “zero-tolerance approach” and ban on these forms of advertising that went into effect in September, L&GNSW inspectors have already attended more than 1,200 venues spread across 53 local government areas in NSW. 

The list included 19 regional areas representative of more than 55% of the state’s venues entitled to have gaming machines.

The inspectors discovered a 99% compliance rate for the venues’ external signage tied to gaming. As explained by the minister for gaming and racing, David Harris, by now, all operators “should have a full understanding of the requirements, and all illegal signage should be removed.”

He further explained that the removal of the banned signage is only one of the critical steps toward fulfilling their commitment to the important gambling reform aimed at lowering gambling harm and tackling money laundering. 

Harris reiterated that operators who breach the Gaming Machines Act and fail to remove these signs will face a maximum penalty of $11,000 per offense. 

At the same time, venues that do not comply with any statutory direction issued under the Liquor Act will also face an offense with an established maximum penalty of $11,000. 

Even more, both of these offenses can be used as grounds for disciplinary action.

Minister Harris said L&GNSW “will no longer accept any reason for a delay in the removal of prohibited signage” or the setup of new signage trying to highlight the existence of electronic gaming machines.

Moreover, he warned that all of these attempts to use symbols, animations, or characters popularly connected to gambling franchises, poker machines, or gambling circumventing the ban “will be met with an escalated enforcement response.” 

The prohibition refers to both external and internal signage that can be easily noticed while standing outside a venue.

In June, the regulator reiterated the ban on credit card ATMs at brick-and-mortar gambling venues in an effort to restrict problem or at-risk gambling.

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The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has released an explicit public statement to warn people against a growing number of illicit online gaming websites which operate without licensing and oversight.

These websites are displaying the PAGCOR logo but they only do that to feign authenticity; the government regulator insists that they have never been approved or licensed by the authorities.

The respective PAGCOR logo has been found on multiple online casinos that upon verification have been confirmed to be lacking a valid license from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

The National Police in the Philippines is currently investigating this matter, with support from the Department of Information and Communication Technology and the National Bureau of Investigation.

Alejandro Tengco, the Chairman and CEO of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, reassured the public that the authorities have so far been able to shut down most of the illicit online gambling websites. However, he warned that some of these entities that are operating illegally can create new online gaming websites “almost immediately.” Tengco has asked the public to cooperate and be vigilant to “help us weed out these scammers.”

Further Steps Considered

Moreover, Alejandro Tengco added that PAGCOR is working “in coordination with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)” to monitor illegal online casinos that have not yet been blocked or taken down.

“Another option is to create a landing site to redirect bettors to a website that will warn them about illegal sites that they are accessing,” the PAGCOR Chairman explained. The government-owned corporation also announced that it has begun working on contacting payment providers and asking them to stop allowing payments toward these illegal online gambling websites.

Such fake online casinos can be a part of financial scams or might even be stealing personal information from unsuspecting users, so consumers must be careful and double check the authenticity of such outlets.

In fact, PAGCOR urged the public to go through the official list of licensed operators on the official government website and see whether a certain operator is on the approved list or not. The presence of the PAGCOR logo on a website is not enough to demonstrate that an online casino is legit.

Source: “PAGCOR warns vs fake online gaming sites“. PAGCOR. September 12, 2023.

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The Kansspelautoriteit, the Netherlands’ gambling regulator, has once again warned incompliant operators. This time the violators are the National Postcode Lottery (Nationale Postcode Loterij) and the Friends Lottery (Vriendenloterij), which were found guilty of offering games they didn’t have licenses for.

As announced by the KSA, both parties offered products that are not permitted under their existing licenses. As a result, the regulator asked the companies to take down the problematic offerings, warning the operators that they risk penalties if they fail to comply.

According to the KSA, the penalty the companies might receive is $268,000 per week, up to a maximum of $1,073,175.

The Companies Offered Online Gambling

The Kansspelautoriteit noted that the National Postcode Lottery’s website offers a selection of games that could be considered to constitute online gambling. This includes a variety of titles such as Deal or No Deal, Suitcase Hunt, ONE against 50 and Move That Truck.

According to the regulator, such games are not covered by the lottery license that the National Postcode Lottery holds, meaning that its offerings breach local regulations.

The Friends Lottery, on the other hand, offered several titles, such as Club-man and Bingo crush games, that are also considered online games of chance. Like the National Postcode Lottery, the Friends Lottery lacks the appropriate license to legally offer such titles.

The Kansspelautoriteit warned the operators that it will not hesitate to impose the aforementioned fine, should they fail to remove the illegal offerings from their websites.

The Netherlands Wants to Separate Lotteries from Gambling

The Dutch regulator noted that it is very important to have a clear distinction between low-risk lottery titles and high-risk games of chance, such as online gambling. Because of that, the country has different licenses for the two verticals, as well as certain rules that are designed to reinforce the difference between lottery and online gaming.

For example, online lotteries are strictly forbidden in the Netherlands- instead, gambling companies can only sell participation tickets online.

However, the games that the National Postcode Lottery and the Friends Lottery offered are clear examples of online gaming that is unlawfully linked to lottery companies. The Kansspelautoriteit once again noted that this is prohibited and concluded that it will make sure that the distinction between the two verticals remains clear in order to protect customers from harm.

The Lottery Companies’ Response

The National Postcode Lottery and the Friends Lottery commented on the warning, announcing their decision to appeal the Kansspelautoriteit’s ruling. They claimed that the games they offer are safe and designed to help raise funds for good causes, just as per their licenses.

The two companies also noted that the extra games they offer do not offer instant rewards to the players. Instead, like in a traditional lottery, a draw takes place and players can only receive prizes after that. Because of this, the National Postcode Lottery and the Friends Lottery believe their products are completely legal.

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The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), has reported that Kayo, a sports streaming service, has breached its rules on gambling advertising. The service reportedly broadcast gambling advertisements during the May 2022 Fremantle V Collingwood AFL match, violating local laws.

Under Australian law, services cannot stream gambling ads during live sporting events between 5 am and 3:30 pm. In addition, ads should not be broadcast five minutes before and after the event.

However, Kayo actually did promote gambling products five minutes before the aforementioned game and during scheduled breaks, thus breaching the rules. As a result, the regulator issued a formal warning, noting that Kayo’s actions violated the gambling advertising standards.

Kayo Will Strive to Do Better

ACMA’s chairwoman, Nerida O’Loughlin, commented on the matter, saying that Australians expect streaming platforms to broadcast live sports without breaching the rules. She noted that the same rules that apply to traditional TV broadcasters apply to streaming services as well.

O’Loughlin added that gambling ads during sporting events are something that concerns many locals. Many believe that exposure to such content may cause children to relate sports to gambling.

Gambling advertising during live sport is a major concern for Australians. Families want to watch live sport without needing to worry that children may come to think of gambling as a part of the game.

Nerida O’Loughlin, chair, ACMA

The ACMA reported that during the investigation, Kayo implemented live production testing and technical enhancements to its protocols and advertising software.

Furthermore, the streaming service will have senior management review and will sign off future system changes that may cause it to make further violations.

The ACMA Continues to Protect the Australian Market

The ACMA remains committed to protecting the integrity of the Australian gambling market. To that end, the regulator is always making sure that the licensed companies are diligently following the rules.

In addition, the ACMA continues its war on illegal gambling and is actively seeking, identifying and issuing blocking orders against offshore companies. A month ago, for example, the authority asked local Internet service providers to block eight more unlicensed companies, namely Casino Jax, Mirax Casino, Wild Fortune Casino, Kosmonaut Casino, Slotozen, Rolling Slots, N1 Bet Casino and No Deposit Kings.

At that time, the regulator had issued blocking orders against a total of 709 offshore operators and affiliates. The full list of blocked operators can be seen on its official website.

This followed an earlier ban wave that saw the ACMA issue the blocking of several other sites.

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