Author: Daniel Williams

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) which serves as the major gambling regulatory body in the country has revealed its further commitment to making sure that children and young people are well protected from possible gambling-related harm. Previously, the UK gambling regulator asked its expert advisers for advice on the widely-discussed theme of children, young people and gambling. The Gambling Commission took into account the existing work and the advice provided by the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board (RGSB) in order to become more focused on forging the right protections to reduce…

An Australian club and the gambling regulator reached a settlement in a court appeal, to which a local problem gambler was not called to give evidence, despite the fact that she had lost more than AU$220,000 there. The gambling regulatory body has further revealed that it was required to take the club’s settlement offer into consideration due to model litigant rules. Today, Gordon Ramsay, the Gambling Minister of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and David Snowden, the chief executive officer of ACT Gambling and Racing Commission appeared before budget estimates,…

Today, the Australian market research company Roy Morgan released the results of a new research, according to which 49.1% of adult Australian citizens gambled in an average three-month period within the twelve months which ended in March 2018. The figure represented a decline from the result reported a year ago, when more than half (50.6%) of the Australians over 18 years of age gambling at the time. According to the local research firm, the result also represented a gradually decreasing trend in the gambling industry across all categories. The trend…

Yesterday, UK Chancellor Philip Hammond confirmed that the long-expected crackdown on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) would be rolled out in two years. After the information about the two-year delay emerged, Mr. Hammond faced strong criticism and was called “morally reprehensible”. After several months of consideration, in May 2018, the UK Government revealed that the maximum stake of controversial machines would be reduced from £100 to £2. Last week information emerged that UK FOBT crackdown could be delayed until April 2020. Now, the delay has been officially announced, with anti-gambling campaigners…

Gambling seems to be becoming a more serious issue for students at British universities lately. According to information provided by the UK Gambling Commission, over 100,000 students have debts due to their gambling habits, with one in four of those having debts which exceed £10,000. Tackling gambling addiction and gambling-related harm, however, is not as easy as it may seem. The Internet has made things much easier for gamblers, providing them with literally endless opportunities when it comes to gambling. In addition, online bookmakers have been using targeted adverts in…

Today, the Lower House of the Japanese Parliament passed the Integrated Resorts Implementation Bill aimed at setting up the local casino industry. Now, the proposed measure heads to the upper chamber for consideration and voting, with the local Government hoping to get it passed in the ongoing Diet session. Still, the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic and Komeito parties is considering the possible extension of the current parliamentary session to make sure the bill is finally approved. The ongoing Diet session is set to close on June 20th. Last…

A lot of teenagers and even some adults take video games as a harmless piece of fun and entertainment. For years now, experts have warned about the possible harm that could be inflicted on players lives, but their warnings have not been taken seriously everywhere. Now, this could finally change, and people who play video games could actually be better protected. On June 18th, gaming disorder was finally added to the list of mental health disorders by the World Health Organisation (WHO). At the same time, a new research on…

The Japanese lawmakers have been facing troubles in terms of casino legalization. Last Friday saw an unexpectedly shortened debate on the proposed Integrated Resorts Implementation Bill, complemented by a fierce committee session and even a short fight in Parliament, at a time when the country is on the verge of passing a law that could end up with the establishment of the second largest casino market in the world. In spite of all efforts of opposition parties to stop the progress of the proposed measure, the Integrated Resorts Implementation Bill…

The roll-out of the fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) crackdown is likely to be delayed. The implementation of the new £2 maximum stake on the controversial machines will probably be revealed in April 2020 following a secret agreement reached between the HM Treasury and local bookmakers, The Times reports. Anti-gambling campaigners have expressed their disappointment with the fact that the measure is to be postponed, saying that the delay would provide the industry with the chance to generate a further £4 billion. Last month, the UK Government said that the reduction…

The Auckland District Court decided to send a bankrupt local citizen, who gambled over NZ$20 million at the casino and lost more than NZ$1.5 million, to prison for the next three years. Judge Russell Collins sentenced Li Dong Xie, who works as a builder, to a total of three years and four months’ imprisonment on ten charges under the Insolvency Act 2006. The 50-year-old man, who is also known by the names Lidong Xie, Solomon Xie and Frank Xie, was taken to custody when trying to board a flight to…