Author: Olivia Cole

The new gambling regulator in the state of Victoria has announced that Crown Resorts would face a monetary penalty of AU$80 million for facilitating the circumvention of anti-money laundering regulation and China’s currency controls in the period from 2012 to 2016. The disciplinary action of the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) was started after the Royal Commission’s investigation into the Australian gambling giant found that high-roller customers of Crown Resorts were allowed to use China Union Pay (CUP) cards to pay for their gambling. Reportedly, the gambling transactions…

The UK gambling regulatory body has warned that the National Lottery could be halted for the first time in 3 decades due to a legal battle. Unfortunately, such a move would deprive both players and good causes of millions of pounds. As The Telegraph reported, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) noted in a court submission that a legal challenge, which has been started by Camelot after the regulator announced its decision to grant the Czech Republic’s lottery operator Allwyn the fourth operating permit for the National Lottery on February 1st,…

Irish anti-gambling campaigners have called for the implementation of a fair set of rules that would apply to everyone in the sector ahead of passing the lawmakers’ landmark gambling legislation, following some revelations that a number of politicians have attended a recent event organised by some bookmakers. According to reports, several Senators and Government Teachta Dálas (TDs) attended a corporate hospitality event which took place at the Punchestown Racecourse in April. As revealed by the Irish Daily Mail, the Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA) paid for three tables at the event,…

The British gambling operator bet365 has suffered the Danish Gambling Authority’s backlash over a compliance failure linked to 2 of the company’s licensing conditions. The Danish gambling regulatory body – Spillemyndigheden – referred to the British online gambling and sports betting company by the name of Hillside (New Media) Ltd, its business entity, to state that bet365 had done nothing to prevent a young player from making a deposit of DKK190,000 to his account in less than a year. What is more – the operator did not make sure at…

The House of Lords has been handed a new damning report about the detrimental impact so-called loot boxes have on children in the UK. The study was carried out by one of the leading independent gambling harm minimization consultancy firms on a global scale, EPIC Risk Management, with the company claiming that the research demonstrated a clear link between video gaming and underage gambling. The consultancy firm believes this association is represented exactly by special in-game items, such as loot boxes, which is exactly why it has called for the…

For years, gambling companies operating on the black market have been luring UK gamblers by offering them unrestricted gambling services, credit card betting, and even “personal managers” who are supposed to take care of the companies’ patrons but instead encourage them to continue gambling in return for larger bonuses. According to reports, the number of British residents who already access the black market from the UK has more than doubled over the last couple of years, from 220,000 to 460,000. The unregulated online gambling platforms have been criticised for not…

A former relationship manager at the National Australia Bank (NAB) has shared he had no understanding that terminals provided by the bank at the Sydney casino of Star Entertainment were being used for gambling chip purchases in violation of local legislation. As previously reported by Casino Guardian, the Australian gambling giant is currently under the spotlight of a Royal Commission-style probe that is investigating the casino company’s operations following some media report claims that Star Entertainment had allegedly allowed fraud, foreign interference, money laundering and penetration of organised crime at…

Crown’s feature is getting one step closer to private equity ownership as shareholders of the company unanimously gave their approval to an $8.9 billion takeover offer made by Blackstone. The bid, which was estimated to be worth $13.10 per share, was approved at a shareholders’ meeting held on Friday, said people familiar with the case. While the majority of the shareholders agreed on the takeover offer, some 201 shareholders of the gambling juggernaut showed disapproval of the bid. They, however, represent barely 0.08% of Crown’s shareholders. Blackstone’s Takeover Bid Yet…

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has announced the suspension of the operating licence No.002823-R-103864-012 of the bookmaker Goldchip Limited as a result of a review that the watchdog carried out under section 116 of the country’s Gambling Act 2005. The UK gambling regulatory body revealed that it decided to suspend the gambling company’s operating permit following a review triggered by some concerns that Goldchip Limited may have been carrying out some of its services and activities in violation of the Act. The Gambling Commission also said that its review suggested…

The completion of the proposed acquisition of William Hill International is nearing an end. Earlier this week, the shareholders of 888 Holdings gave their approval for the planned sale that is expected to be finalised by the end of next month. On May 16th, Gibraltar-based online gambling business 888 Holdings held its general meeting, at which more than 99% of the company’s shareholders voted in favour of the proposed takeover of William Hill. The latter is currently a UK asset of Caesars Entertainment. Only 0.27% of the shareholder votes, which…