Roberto Orellana, a man who allegedly scammed a casino worker out of $350,000, has pleaded not guilty in court. If convicted, the man faces up to 15 years in prison.

The 44-year-old was accused of scamming a cashier at Grand River Casino, a tribal gambling property in Mobridge, South Dakota. According to the allegations, the employee received scam texts on their phone from who appeared to be their boss.

The texts claimed that a firm was conducting an audit of Grand River Casino. According to the scam text, an alleged lawyer needed the money to help the casino avoid additional fines. The text told the employee to transfer the cash into Bitcoin at a machine in Aberdeen. A second text included detailed instructions, telling them to bring the money to the Dakota Sunset gas station in Mitchell.

Once there, the employee handed the money to two men who were waiting for them in the gas station’s parking lot.

The Man Pleaded Not Guilty to the Allegations

While authorities didn’t confirm how the casino realized the scam, the authorities were eventually contacted, prompting an investigation into the matter. After an expert from the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the matter, the department was able to access the gas station surveillance and identify the credit card used by one of the two suspects.

The man who owned the credit card was Orellana from Omaha, Nebraska, the police understood. They also learned that he was the owner of the car that the two suspects used.

According to a report from the Mitchell Daily Republic, Orellana pleaded not guilty to the allegations on Tuesday. The case will likely progress into a trial as the man faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $30,000.

Federal authorities had requested a bond hold on Orellana but Judge Chris Giles denied changing the conditions.

The report didn’t mention anything about the man who was with Orellana when the casino employee brought the money. Authorities are yet to say what has happened to the money.

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The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has agreed to expand its long-term partnership with sports data and tech specialist Genius Sports. Under the extended agreement, the latter party will leverage its unparalleled computer vision technology and AI-powered capabilities to enhance basketball leagues across the globe.

Under the new agreement, Genius Sports will continue to work with the FIBA for another 10 years, with the new term set to expire in 2035.

By supplying the basketball sector with new technology, Genius Sports will transform its entire data and video ecosystem. The sports technology specialist will provide a unified, connected solution to automate and synchronize the collection of live game statistics and video production with advanced player tracking, the announcement says.

To that end, Genius Sports will leverage its optical system that has been trained in the reading and understanding of live game plays. Its capabilities allow it to predict outcomes in real time, providing bettors with important insights.

This will mark the first time FIBA Leagues and National Federations have had access to an AI-powered automated player tracking system. Thanks to this, users will be able to access many cutting-edge coaching tools and analytics, automated officiating and broadcast augmentation tools.

Genius Sports Is Looking Forward to Enhancing Basketball Leagues

The new agreement will also cement Genius Sports as FIBA’s official data & video capture and production partner. The sports data specialist will also serve as the association’s official innovation & technology partner from 2025 onward.

Andreas Zagklis, FIBA’s secretary general, commented on the new deal, praising the almost 20-year partnership between the two bodies. He said that Genius Sports’ automated solution will assist National Federations and Leagues, helping them bolster revenue and reduce costs.

We’re delighted to expand our partnership with Genius Sports to achieve this goal and equip the FIBA Family with first access to this cutting-edge technology in basketball.

Andreas Zagklis, secretary general, FIBA

Mark Locke, Genius Sports’ chief executive officer, was likewise pleased to expand this “landmark partnership” with FIBA. He said that his team is looking forward to transforming international basketball through Genius Sports’ technology.

Powered by our unique AI-driven system, Leagues and National Federations at all levels of basketball will be able to automate data and video collection and utilize the highest quality player and team tracking data.

Mark Locke, CEO, Genius Sports

Genius and FIBA first teamed up in 2004. Since then, the two parties have provided 200 Leagues and National Federations worldwide with both FIBA LiveStats and FIBA Organizer.

A month ago, Genius Sports integrated its new BetVision solution into FanDuel.

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Sports federations and authorities across the globe fear for the integrity of sports amid the growing expansion of betting activities. Besides match-fixing, gambling activities may also impact the lives of professional athletes with threats and hateful messages being posted on social media by angered punters.

Tasked with safeguarding, encouraging and enhancing the integrity of professional tennis worldwide, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), constantly monitors the sport. The regulatory body enforces tough penalties against tennis officials and athletes involved in unlawful activities.

On Thursday, the ITIA confirmed it imposed a sanction against one tennis umpire from Slovenia. ITIA’s sanction is against Marko Ducman, a Slovenian international-level tennis official. According to the Agency, the umpire admitted to breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) related to gambling.

A statement released by the ITIA confirms that Ducman admitted to a total of four TACP breaches. The violations relate to wagering on tennis matches. Moreover, the Slovenian bronze badge official admitted to manipulating data from matches they officiated and engaged in wagering.

Throughout his career, Ducman officiated at WTA, ATP and ITF tournaments. Due to the aforementioned breaches, he was banned from the sport for 10 years and six months. Ducman was provisionally suspended on September 8, 2023. The ITIA explained that his time under provisional suspension will be credited against the period of the ban. This otherwise means that the umpire’s suspension from the sport will end on March 7, 2034.

The Slovenian Umpire Received a Fine in Addition to the Ban

Besides the 10-year suspension, the ITIA fined Ducman $75,000 with $56,250 suspended. According to the watchdog, the Slovenian tennis official agreed to cooperate fully with its investigation and “accepted an agreed sanction,” effectively waiving his right to a hearing before an independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer.

Similar to other bans imposed by the ITIA, the umpire won’t be allowed to officiate at any tennis event sanctioned by the governing bodies of tennis. Additionally, the suspension effectively prohibits him from attending such events as well.

The latest sanction comes after back in September, ITIA provisionally suspended French player Maxence Broville. At the time of the announcement, the Agency confirmed the player failed to comply with one of its demands. Moreover, the ITIA did not rule out the possibility of Broville breaching the TACP rules.

Earlier in the year, ITIA banned for life the French tennis professional player, Alexis Musialek, due to breaches related to match-fixing. Upon announcing the sanction, the watchdog said that it uncovered a total of 39 breaches of the TACP rules.

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Leading betting operator Betfred has announced an extension of its partnership with the Super League, the top-flight rugby league in Europe and the United Kingdom. As a result, the gambling company will continue to serve as a sponsor for another three years.

The operator first joined forces with the league in 2017. Eventually, the two parties expanded the deal to also cover men’s and women’s wheelchair rugby, the English national team and the Challenge Cup.

The current deal extension will see Betfred increase its sponsorship by 25% and include a unique new full-size pitch covering for the Wheelchair Rugby League. The pitch will be used for the first time during the upcoming Wheelchair Super League Grand Final in Manchester and then at the World Cup final between England and France in Leeds next month.

In the meantime, Betfred and the Rugby Football League will continue to promote safer gambling across the world of rugby. The renewal of the partnership between Betfred and the Super League also takes into account the principles of the recently proposed Sports Sponsorship Code.

This Is One of Betfred’s Most Significant Partnerships

Rhodri Jones, the managing director of RL Commercial commented on the partnership, praising its significance to the rugby sector. Jones noted that Betfred has much in common with the league, which is why this partnership has been so successful.

The MD also thanked Betfred for its support during the pandemic and the operator’s increased support of the sector. Thanks to the operator’s unwavering backing, the league has now re-emerged stronger than ever.

Jones concluded:

This deal is surely unique in including a bespoke pitch-covering which provides such exciting opportunities for Wheelchair Rugby League to continue its growth since last year’s World Cup triumph. It is another tangible example of Betfred’s support of all levels of Rugby League.

Rhodri Jones, MD, RL Commercial

Betfred’s chairman, Fred Done, said that his company’s partnership with the Rugby League is one of its most successful ones.

The sport has been working tirelessly to become one of the most inclusive in the world and it is important that this includes the Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair versions of the game, so I am delighted to be able to provide the new pitch covering for Wheelchair Rugby League to help with this.

Fred Done, founder & chair, Betfred

Done concluded that he is looking forward to continuing his work with the league.

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Tabcorp, an Australian gambling giant, has unveiled an extension to its digital content agreement with the Flutter-owned gambling company Sportsbet. Under the agreement, Sportsbet will be allowed to broadcast Sky Racing 1 and Sky Racing 2 live on its betting application and official website. Sky will serve as the exclusive provider of the deal.

As announced, the deal has been extended for 10 years, securing Sportsbet’s access to the Sky Racing service for a decade. The terms of the deal are more or less the same. The arrangement is expected to generate between AUD 30 million and 40 million by the end of FY 2024.

The deal comes after, in May, Tabcorp considered a bid for rights for the Melbourne Cup Carnival, one of the biggest racing events in Australia. The move caused some of Tabcorp’s competitors to drop out of the bidding.

One of the Most Significant Deals for Tabcorp

Addressing the current deal, Tabcorp’s managing director and chief executive officer, Adam Rytenskild, said that Sky is “the home of racing.” As such, the broadcaster attracts more bettors than any other channel in Australia and is a “major driver of racing wagering.”

According to Rytenskild, the extension of the deal cements Sky as a leading racing network.

With more than 150,000 races broadcast live around the world every year and the best team in Racing, the extension of this agreement recognizes Sky as one of the best and most valuable racing networks in the world.

Adam Rytenskild, CEO & MD, Tabcorp

The CEO added that the deal is also good news for racing clubs whose meetings will be followed by more people than ever before. He concluded that the agreement will extend one of Tabcrop’s most significant digital revenue streams for another 10 years.

Rytenskild concluded that his company continues to build momentum toward TAB25. The company’s robust pipeline will transform the racing sector with a new app, products and faster market speeds than ever before, the CEO added.

In other news, Sportsbet continues to double down on its marketing efforts in Australia ahead of a looming ban on sports betting ads. The company has invested millions in sports betting advertisements in H1 2023 alone.

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German gamblers take great pride in their local gaming establishments much like some online gamblers have a favorite “home” website, but much more so. The operators and local officials do too, and they aren’t shy about showing that devotion and affection for the venues. More than brand loyalty, the connection is personal.

The spa town of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler is no exception to that rule as can be seen when looking at the recent opening of Spielbank Bad Neuenahr in a new location after a major disaster took the beloved local and regional gambling hall away.

The Night the House Edge was Not Enough

200 people died in Germany and Belgium 2 years ago in a historic flood. Damage to the local casino was so severe, and the insurance coverage to re-open in the same location would only provide about half of what it had for the prior calamity, so officials decided to never rebuild the 7-decades-old casino in the same location.

As described by Weather.com, the water came overnight on July 14-15, 2021. It funneled through sometimes narrow and steep sections, taking with it homes, bridges and roads and leaving behind a mud-covered path of destruction. Some 3,000 of 4,200 buildings along the River Ahr were damaged.

The casino was situated directly on the river Arh.

Instead, they chose to convert a nearby historic train station with neo-gothic architecture into a new casino.

After a soft opening a little over three weeks ago that allowed dealers and new staff to become accustomed to their new digs, Spielbank Bad Neuenahr held an official grand opening for the small but competent gambling spot on July 20, 2023.

During the official opening ceremonies, Michael Seegert, Managing Partner of Spielbank Bad Neuenahr GmbH & Co. KG welcomed local dignitaries and officials to the new location.

In his welcome message, Seegert said: “It’s been a little more than two years since, like countless others in the Ahr Valley, suddenly nothing was the same for us overnight. Our administration building was completely destroyed and flooded and demolished shortly afterwards with all our historical files and documents from 73 years of company history.

“Our gaming facilities and the entire building services on the ground floor of the Kurhaus were smashed and the surroundings of the casino were devastated. The only pleasing aspect was that we did not have to mourn any victims due to the early closure of the casino. But the damage to property was immense and even the maximum compensation from the insurance company was not sufficient to compensate for all the damages. The question arose, so what should we do?”

Management looked at about a dozen nearby locations, and although they didn’t find one with everything they wanted or needed, the team settled for a well-situated location with less space – which meant the number of games would have to be reduced, but all other qualities could be maintained and the historic casino could continue to offer the same level of top-tier service to local gamblers and others nearby who were die-hard fans.

Familiar Location for Most Customers

The train and bus station was already a well-known hub for travelers to the area with 5-star hotels, so footfall was expected to remain strong. This proved to be true as customer traffic from all around began right away during the soft opening and never really waned.

“We came to the only possible decision with the shareholders after difficult discussions that the future of the casino with these latent risks cannot lie in the Kurhaus,” Seegert added. “So, with a heavy heart, we gave up the traditional location and started looking for alternatives in Bad Neuenahr, in Ahrweiler, and in the surrounding area.”

“Since there were only very limited as-built plans from the construction period, we experienced many surprises during the renovation work, and the installation of an air conditioning system, in particular, was a huge challenge that caused us many a sleepless night,” added Seegert. “That’s why we are particularly happy and proud to have a new casino in Bad Neuenahr just two years after the destruction.”

The new location holds about 75 slot machines, two blackjack tables, and two roulettes wheels. The prior location held 16,000 square feet of casino floor featuring 150 slots with 8 table games, and two restaurants.

“All in all, I am very pleased that with the reopening of the casino, we can contribute another piece of the mosaic on the arduous path of reconstruction in Bad Neuenahr and the return to the old attractiveness of the city and the region,” Seegert added.

Seegert praised each and every participant in the arduous venture of finding and preparing a new home for the venue, commending the ‘highest level of commitment and a lot of heart and soul,” shown by employees, project managers, architects, and engineers, city administrators and others.,

Source: Spielbank Bad Neuenahr holds official grand opening, G3 Newswire, July 25, 2023

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Yariv Lavi took to his social media to make the big announcement. The “highly experienced International Business Development executive” who specializes in finding, assessing, and implementing strategic deals has shared that he would be “leaving #888 this week” at the end of what he described as an incredible journey. 

Lavi, “Appreciative for the Opportunity” to Be Part of the 888 Team 

Speaking about his rich experience with the company, Lavi praised his collaboration with his “talented” managers and colleagues from whom he had a lot to learn while expressing his pride regarding the results they achieved together over the years. 

Among other responsibilities that he has as part of the group, the Tel Aviv University graduate was responsible for leading 888’s first acceleration program and creating fresh alliances and strategic partnerships aimed at helping the company penetrate regulated markets. 

During the same announcement, Lavi expressed his gratitude for being given the opportunity to collaborate with some of the most reputable gaming operators worldwide while also working together with “amazing partners across the industry.”

He also took the opportunity to thank everyone who has made his time at 888 “so special” and wish them good luck in the future while looking forward to seeing what the future has in store for his own career path.

From November 2009 onward, Lavi has been in charge of corporate development, product business development, commercial leadership, initiating and leading re-negotiation rounds for high-profile product agreements, including a deal with an important games platform that generated a year-on-year saving of 25% and up to $1.5 million per annum, and business development. 

Some of his most noteworthy achievements count helping 888 acquire William Hill’s non-US assets last July or supporting the group with its growth plans in international markets.

Before joining 888, Lavi was BVR Systems’ marketing director, Israel Aerospace Industries’ sales director, and Spacecom’s marketing manager.

888 Team Bidding Farewell to Lavi

888’s chief executive officer, Bjorn Krantz, recalled their first content deal they inked over a decade ago deal on New Year’s Eve, calling it “a true pleasure to have been connected all this time” while wishing Lavi the very best in his upcoming next adventure. 

888 Holdings’ chief product officer, Roee Peled, also wished Lavi good luck while speaking about the “big impact” that he made on their gaming products and saying it has been “great” working with him for so long. 

Dror Altman is another important 888 Holding figure who has been part of the group for over 12 years as director of economic analysis and performance, and director of commercial and financial planning and analysis, among others. Altman also replied to Lavi’s announcement, saying it has been “a pleasure” working with him over the past years “pushing 888 with many business opportunities and deals.”

Former 888 Holdings CEO Itai Pazner also wished Lavi “lots of luck” in his new path while describing him as a genuine asset to 888 and praising his negotiator skills that landed the group “some of the best gaming/betting provider deals in the industry”. 

Towards the end of March, 888 announced a media partnership agreement with Wavemaker for UK brands. 
For the time being, the UK Gambling Commission has put 888 Holdings’ operating license under review as a result of alleged bribery accusations under investigation.

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The gaming industry has cause to celebrate a true pioneer and ambassador of gaming this month with the 100th birthday of Len Ainsworth – the Australian innovator whose games not everyone loved but who left his mark indelibly on the industry so many of the precious years of life he devoted to it

To say he has been a somewhat controversial figure would be putting it mildly – to say he is loved and honored by all for his work would be a half-truth at best. However, he has always been his own man, and in the rugged country of Australia, that alone is enough to gain him respect. The fact that he stuck to it, through thick and thin should earn him respect anywhere.

A Century in the Making

Born on July 11th, 1923, Leonard Hastings Ainsworth is simply an icon as is his legacy in gaming – even from a purely mechanical, maths, and entertainment standpoint but there is always so much more to the picture of a survivor and a winner.

Some have even called him the devil incarnate – what he is, even today, is most certainly an enigma – hard to sort, difficult to understand completely in retrospect, and always a bit of a mysterious figure for such a well-known name. In fact, the enigma begins in his first year of life as Wikipedia lists his year of birth as “1922 or 1923” – since he is celebrating his 100th birthday this week, we’ll go with the latter.

He established himself in his first major company in 1933, Ainsworth Consolidated Industries of Australia building on his father’s work and created one of his most well-known brands in 1953 with Aristocrat Leisure. His family still maintains significant control of Ainsworth. The company’s journey to online gaming was not smooth and lucrative from the beginning but eventually, the company inked a deal with the former NYX (now part of the rebranded Scientific Games known as Light & Wonder) to distribute its legendary titles in 2013.

In the interim, he created Ainsworth Game Technology which enjoys sales in over 50 countries while other related titles are available in more than 200 jurisdictions. Some countries, such as Australia, have multiple gaming jurisdictions making it difficult to line up some of the numbers for a more precise recounting.

A recent posting on the company’s website announced his imminent centenary, the marvel said he wanted to express his gratitude for the support he has received and the successes he’s had thanks to family, friends, and many colleagues.

“I feel privileged to have reached this milestone and to have seen how the gaming industry has evolved and flourished over the years. I have been fortunate in establishing a worldwide reputation for quality equipment that continues to lead the field and that pleases me to no end. I have worked with many great people along the way, without them none of it would be possible.” said Mr Ainsworth.

Mr. Ainsworth’s foundation gives back to the Australian communities that supported him in his endeavors as well. The Ainsworth Foundation supports Australians in every community with education, healthcare, medical research, and other important causes. “Personally, I’m most proud that my good fortune enables me to support so many worthwhile causes,” he said.

Perhaps more important to an outside observer would be the legacy he has created in empowering individuals to reach their full potential by fostering an environment of innovation and creativity that has become a culture in its own right within and beyond the company.

One of those who is a beneficiary of his mentoring and tutelage is the current Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology, Danny Gladstone, who said: “I started my career in the gaming industry 50 years ago working for Len. It was a privilege to then have the opportunity to work with him again 16 years ago at Ainsworth and build on his legacy. He is a true icon globally and our industry would not be what it is without him. I wish him all the very best on his 100th birthday.”

Another Side of the COin

However, most people don’t live to be 100 and become profoundly wealthy without leaving a wake in the still waters of life. Australian pokie opponents have blamed him directly for gambling harm that has come to some citizens. With those rifts and age, many centenarians can also become a bit salty, as may be the case with Ainsworth.

The Weekend Australian Magazine visited him at home on Sydney’s Hunters Hill a few weeks ago and he reportedly didn’t mince any words when a reporter asked him to share what he thought about people who say his “actions” throughout his career may have been “evil”. Ainsworth replied:“It is offensive to me. feel that the people who criticize me are mainly people who are narrow-minded bigoted bastards, that’s what it comes down to. They need to get on with their own lives and not interfere with others.”

When asked if he was, indeed, the devil incarnate the quick-witted 99-year-old replied: “If they want to paint me that way, I don’t mind. Besides which, they can all get stuffed.”

Source: Celebrating Len Ainsworth on his 100th Birthday, Ainsworth, 6-7-2023

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The government of Australia looks poised to ban all gambling advertising across all forms of media if it follows a scathing report compiled from a parliamentary inquiry into the subject.

Over 30 recommendations are presented in the report, and several of them are focused on advertising and other ways to protect vulnerable persons. A committee on social policy and legal affairs in the House of Representatives took an in-depth look at problem gambling in the country, specifically among online gambling participants. One thing that makes the harsh assessment of the situation even more eye-opening is that the Australian government does not even allow for online casinos and licensed gambling is restricted mostly to sports and race betting.

Australians lose more per capita to online gambling than punters in any other country – while the government took in AU$1.60bn in taxes in 2022. Online gambling participation surged during the pandemic and continues above pre-pandemic levels.

Phazed-in Blanket Ban on All Forms of Gambling Advertisements

Among the proposals in the inquiry are an outright ban on all gambling advertisements in the country including those delivered over social media or other online portals directed at Australian players as well as all traditional media including newspapers, television, billboards, or any other message delivery system. Small local radio stations would be exempt until 2025 and dedicated racing channels would remain exempt.

The ban would be implemented in four steps over the next three years.

Recommendation 26
5.148
The Committee recommends the Australian Government, with the cooperation of the states and territories, implement a comprehensive ban on all forms of advertising for online gambling, to be introduced in four phases, over three years, commencing immediately.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese indicated that the government will take all of the recommendations under advisement.

Albanese said on ABC Gold Coast radio: “We need to deal with online issues, we need to deal with social media issues, we need to deal with it comprehensively across the board.”

Committee Chair, Peta Murphy, said in the summary, “Australians outspend the citizens of every other country on online gambling. This is wreaking havoc in our communities. Saturation advertising ensures our future losses. Only online wagering service providers (WSPs), major sporting organisations and media gain from the status quo. This inquiry heard evidence from gamblers who lost and were encouraged by WSPs to gamble more; and from those who won and were prevented from gambling further. Any business model which encourages harm deserves to be closely scrutinised.”

The title of the inquiry was changed about a month after it was adopted by the committee in late 2022 and an invitation to comment was changed to include “people with lived experience of gambling harm to participate,” which indicates the direction it had been headed from nearly the beginning. One month later the written comment period ended.

The final working title is: “You win some, you lose more” and the introduction to the inquiry report is titled as follows: “Inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm”.

The report can be read in its entirety or downloaded in separate segments here.

Membership of the Committee was comprised of the following:

Committee Chair and Members

Chair
Ms Peta Murphy MP
Australian Labor Party, Dunkley VIC

Deputy Chair
Mr Pat Conaghan MP
The Nationals, Cowper NSW

Member
Ms Kate Chaney MP
Independent, Curtin WA

Member
Ms Mary Doyle MP
Australian Labor Party, Aston VIC

Member
Mr Sam Lim MP
Australian Labor Party, Tangney WA

Member
Ms Louise Miller-Frost MP
Australian Labor Party, Boothby SA

Member
Hon Shayne Neumann MP
Australian Labor Party, Blair QLD

Member
Ms Jenny Ware MP
Liberal Party of Australia, Hughes NSW

Member
Mr Keith Wolahan MP
Liberal Party of Australia, Menzies VIC

The inquiry allowed “both sides” of the issues to be presented and gave opposing views provided by researchers, consumer advocates, and stakeholders, including those in social gambling realms which some parts of the inquiry defined as “targeting children”.

While some researchers have indicated that any causality between social gaming and real money problem gambling or between advertising and gambling harm is “tenuous at best”, some strong arguments were presented on the “prohibition” side of the equation with scholarly research to back them up as well.

In trying to determine whether or not to make changes to the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, the MPs came up with a list of possible changes needed to social gaming, loot boxes, and “skin gambling” that may look like better casino training for children by exposing them to responsible gambling measures as employed in various jurisdictions for real money gambling. These include the following:

• Display the odds for winning each prize
• Provide loot box contents at a fixed and reasonable price so players do not need to chase desired items
• Fix odds of loot boxes so that different odds cannot be offered to different players based on their playing or spending patterns
• Fix sets of prizes
• List prizes and prices in real money terms
• Include an age verification system
• Allow players to track expenditure
• Allow players to self-exclude from games

Pushback on Total Gambling Ad Ban

Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA) represents the country’s largest real-money gambling operators, In a statement, the trade organization called on the government to take a more balanced approach than an outright ban. The ban recommendation did not include evidentiary reasoning according to the group’s CEO, Kai Cantwell who stated in an industry response:
“RWA members, along with broadcasters and major sporting codes have publicly acknowledged that there is a growing desire in the community to see less gambling advertising..

“However, blanket bans, even in a phased roll-out, are short-sighted, ineffective and are not the answer.”

Cantwell continued, “We know that strict changes – like blanket bans and banning inducements, such as bonus bets – often prove ineffective in addressing problem gambling, with Australians instead turning to illegal offshore markets as they seek out these options.”

Would Federalized Regulation Open the Door for Online Casinos?

In Australia, gambling is regulated and licensed at the state level, not federally. Under the current law and system, although online casinos would be completely legal today if licensed in a state or territory, none have taken it upon themselves to do so. However, no federal law exists to discourage residents from gambling offshore – they are free to do so if they choose to.

It’s unclear if the committee’s recommendation to change the regulation and licensing to the federal level would encourage stronger advocacy for the licensing and regulation of online casinos or further complicate it for prospective operators as all of the opponents of online casino gambling would remain in play with a slightly different power dynamic, and any advocates would face the same opposition as they do at the state level along with a unified voice if the national mood of politicians were to be against it.

A Single Federal Online Gambling Harm Ombudsman?

The inquiry suggests that a single minister should handle gambling harm mitigation at the federal level. It also suggests that there should be new taxes levied on existing operators to fund gambling harm specifically, a public education campaign on gambling harm reduction, and a harsher crackdown on unlicensed offshore operators. A ban on deposit incentives or inducements such as bonuses would come into effect if all recommendations were put in place.

Source: Australia mulls gambling ad ban after report, iGaming Business, June 28, 2023

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Bostelaar’s departure marks the end of an era, as he leaves behind a legacy of transformative leadership and strategic vision. He was instrumental in the operator’s rise to prominence in the Dutch market, helping it climb above the competition. While Walia has big shoes to fill, the new CEO’s substantial experience and history of success means the company should be in safe hands.

Bostelaar Was Instrumental to the Company’s Success

In a surprising announcement, Melvin Bostelaar tendered his resignation as the CEO of BetCity, leaving many in the industry speculating about the potential impact on the company’s future. Bostelaar’s tenure saw the operator achieve stellar growth in the Netherlands, elevating it among the region’s market leaders. 

The former CEO also guided the company through its transformative acquisition by Entain, preserving its positive work culture and unique approach. Bostelaar thanked the BetCity team for their contributions, wishing them enduring success. He also used the opportunity to welcome Vic Walia as the company’s new CEO, lauding his successor’s experience and industry knowledge.

“I extend my deepest gratitude to my business partners at BetCity, who allowed me to establish and nurture a culture that will endure. Our journey together has been remarkable…”

Melvin Bostelaar

Bostelaar stated he would use the extra time to prioritize his health and family after a risky surgery allowed him to reflect on his priorities. He received heartfelt goodbyes from his colleagues, including Entain CEO Jette Nygaard-Andersen, who thanked him for his significant contributions to the company. 

The New CEO Has the Skills to Usher Further Growth

Entain global managing director Vic Walia will have the difficult task of preserving Bostelaar’s legacy and enduring momentum. The new CEO possesses all the necessary skills to excel at his new position, sporting over twenty years of leadership experience. His close ties to BetCity’s parent company also open the way for further collaboration, giving the Dutch operator access to Entain’s vast wealth of knowledge and resources.

BetCity remains among the top players in the Netherlands, skyrocketing in popularity after a wildly successful marketing campaign in 2021. BetCity’s solid foundation and talented team should be able to mitigate any potential disruption caused by the leadership transition, reaching a mutual understanding with their new CEO. 

While Bostelaar’s resignation as CEO signifies the end of an era for the company, his leadership and strategic vision have set it up in the perfect position to pursue further growth. BetCity should easily navigate this transition period, maintaining its focus on innovation, customer satisfaction, and operational excellence. The new CEO should preserve its unique culture while contributing fresh ideas and steady leadership.

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