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The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), the organization that rates the content of video games and assigns labels, will include a new notice, warning users about loot boxes. The new rating is introduced with the specific purpose of notifying parents of the randomized nature of in-game purchases before buying or downloading a game. The ESRB has announced in a blog post on Monday that it would be adding the new description In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items) to its labels. With this move, the US-based ratings board aims at helping users…

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has maintained its decision to stick to stricter measures in terms of the use of credit cards for all gambling transaction. The watchdog sticks to its 2020 regulatory agenda, with the ban on credit card use for gambling transactions taking effect on April 14th, as originally announced. Back in January 2020, the UKGC highlighted the fact that a so-called blanket ban on the use of credit cards for gambling was essential as it provided what the watchdog called a “further layer of protection”. The measure…

Australians are known as the biggest gamblers, losing around $24 billion a year on poker machines – more than any other country in the world. Still, the majority of people are now overwhelmingly in favour of the complete industry shutdown driven by the COVID-19 crisis. Since March 22, communities across the country have saved $800 million by not playing pokies – or an average of $38 million a day. Although it is still unclear when the ban on non-essential services and businesses would be lifted, gambling losses are expected to…

The chairman of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has called for local gambling companies to unveil stricter measures to protect the 160,000 Scottish residents who are considered at risk of becoming hooked on gambling during the coronavirus lockdown. Bill Moyes, chairman of the British gambling watchdog, has unveiled the stricter measures taken by the gambling sector in the UK to protect customers through a lengthy campaign associated with tough enforcement activity. As he explained, the major concern for the local gambling industry, which has been estimated at £14.4 billion, is…

According to media reports, British punters have fallen victim to a scam related to a match-fixing scheme in which they gambled on friendly football matches between Ukrainian teams that the country’s football association claims never took place. Rumour has it that British and global bookmakers offered and settled bets on the games, which were supposedly part of a four-team tournament in the last week of March 2020. These gambling companies received various match details, including results of the matches, from the official data supplier of the English Premier League (EPL)…

According to figures provided by a database that tracks the consumption patterns of Australian residents, a concerning increase in online gambling combined with a rise in alcohol sales has been registered during the social distancing, mostly due to the fact that the isolation makes people more stressed than usual. The data, compiled by AlphaBeta, an analytics consultancy company, and Illion, a credit firm, has fuelled concerns that the economic and social climate in the country due to the coronavirus pandemic could unleash a massive wave of addictive behaviours and gambling-related…

One of the National Health Service (NHS) clinics has warned that British gamblers could face difficulties during the coronavirus crisis as self-isolation could push them to even more serious gambling addiction and debt. The Leeds-based clinic has revealed that it expects an increase in problem gambling rates during the Covid-19 pandemic because of the massive lockdown and social isolation that has provided people with more time to spend, combined with job and financial uncertainty. The NHS clinic in Leeds has shared fears that British gamblers would turn to online gambling…

Yesterday afternoon, the UK gambling standards association The Senet Group confirmed that its responsibilities are set to be transferred to the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) as of April 8th, 2020. The assets and responsibilities of The Senet Group would be handed over to the new standards body of the gambling industry a part of the commitment of the BGC to ensure safer gambling in the UK. The Senet Group was formed in September 2014 thanks to the collaboration between four leading high-street gambling operators who were willing to see…

British parents may face shocking bills while their children are off school, as they could rack up massive costs by making in-game purchases and gaming online. Experts have projected that arguments between parents and children in the UK regarding online gaming and screen time would escalate quickly with local schools remaining closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Concerns regarding the increasing interest of underage individuals in computer, console and video games have been unveiled by some British charities. According to a recent report unveiled by Ofcom’s adults’ media, almost 50%…

The Responsible Affiliates in Gambling (RAiG) has welcomed the proposals that have recently been made by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) in terms of the affiliate advertising restrictions. The standards body, which has recently been established, has reiterated its support for the collaborative measures that were published by the key regulator of the British gambling sector. As Casino Guardian has recently reported, the UKGC revealed a series of new measures and directives in collaboration with work-groups of industry officials, with the measures being coordinated by the Betting and Gaming Council…