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Irish bookmakers have urged local authorities to establish an independent regulatory body in order to make a more thorough investigation of problem gambling and its extent. As reported by The Times, The Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA) which represents the majority of betting shops across the country, is set to have a meeting with members of the Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann this Thursday. The meeting with local Parliament’s members comes as part of their efforts to ensure full regulation of the Irish gambling sector. The junior justice minister David Stanton…

The gaming regulators in Australia are considering the future of bets placed online by using cryptocurrencies, which could result in further regulation. New gambling laws could be added in order to control cryptocurrencies and the way they are used in the Australian online gambling market, which on the other hand, could bring massive changes in the sector. According to media reports, a nation-wide warning has been sent by the Australian Government to existing gambling operators asking them to avoid making plans to roll out legal iGaming services featuring any cryptocurrencies.…

Scottish players lost an amount of over £1 billion on highly-controversial fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) in a period of less than ten years. The data emerged in the light of the British Prime Minister Teresa May’s promise to make sure the maximum stake currently allowed at the machines is reduced. PM May has not revealed to what amount the maximum stake of the machines would be cut, but the country’s gambling regulatory body and some experts warn that the amount could be slashed to £2. Currently, players are able to…

The governing body of horse racing in Ireland – Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) – announced some statistics revealing that the decline registered in on-course betting in the country continued in 2017. According to the regulator, the redevelopment of Curragh also had negative impact on overall attendance figures in 2017. According to Brian Kavanagh, the Chief Executive Officer of HRI, the decline came to represent the long-term challenged which has been faced by local on-course operators. The report rolled out by the Irish horse racing governing body further revealed an increase…

The Executive Director of the Australian charity Lifeline Central West Alex Ferguson called for a closer look to be paid on online gambling operations in case that problem gambling in the country is to be addressed. Mr. Ferguson shared his concern with the attempt made by The Australian Greens in the state of New South Wales (NSW) to bring some changes in the regulation of poker machines, describing their policy as an attack to the most easily achievable goal. Lifeline’s Executive Director further warned that measures that are supposed to…

The Republican-majority Florida Legislature is making another attempt to pass a comprehensive gambling bill after previous deals have fallen apart in the light of some hidden conflicts among the local gambling interests. Reportedly, a new effort for passing a gambling bill in 2018 emerged due to the fact that constitutional change especially focused on casinos is to be on the November ballot. In addition, a number of questions related to the 2016 agreement between Florida Governor Rick Scott and the local Seminole Tribe and the money inflow expected to be…

The Wales’ Chief Medical Officer Dr. Frank Atherton has described gambling as a public health problem which is quickly becoming more and more widespread. Today, Dr. Atherton is expected to officially roll out his second annual report, calling for the Government to pay more attention to emerging issues associated with gambling addictions. The Chief Medical Officer for Wales is to launch his report which is to call for the local authorities to support local players who suffer from problem gambling behaviour and gambling-related harm, respectively. Dr. Atherton is to also…

The state of Florida would not be forced to pay the expected expenses of $450,000 to the lawyers of nine cardroom operators in a legal battle over the so-called “designated player” games. The Sunshine State was backed by the Administrative Law Judge E. Gary Early, who ruled against the cardroom operators and their claims. Under the judge’s ruling, the gambling operators’ legal representatives would have to split only $50,000 in fees. Judge Early explained that Florida gambling law does not feature a definitive determination on whether multiple awards against an…

The number of gambling ads which reach children has increased immensely in a period of a little more than a decade. Since the gambling advertising legislation was relaxed by the Government of the then-Prime Minister Tony Blair, the number of gambling adverts seen by young individuals has increased almost three times, reaching over 1.4 billion on an annual basis. The legislation which was introduced by the Labour Government, lifted some limitations on gaming adverts aired on TV. At the time when the 2005 Gambling Act was presented, children from 4…

According to figures revealed by the State Government of Australia, Townsville players have bet almost AU$1.5 million on pokies in 2017. The total amount of AU$1,423,568 which local players spent on poker machines last year marked an increase in comparison to the amount spent a year earlier, with the residents of the coastal city losing approximately AU$100 million on the machines. As revealed by the country’s State Government, in 2017 Townsville gamblers lost an overall of AU$97,195,541. In comparison, back in 2016 they lost an amount of AU$95,771,972. The findings…