News

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), which is currently the authority that regulates the local gambling industry, published an open letter to the Editor of The Sunday Times after the latter revealed some findings about the risks of children being targeted by online gambling operators. The UK gambling regulatory body has emphasized on its commitment to using its powers, knowledge and expertise in order to create a safer environment in terms of online gambling. As Casino Guardian has reported yesterday, The Sunday Times has released new data after an investigation, showing…

The Federal Government of Australia, and more specifically the federal Treasurer Scott Morrison, seems to be entering a fierce war with the country’s states over the plan of the Government to take part of their online gambling tax. The state treasurers have shared their concerns that the Mr. Morrison announced plans to take part of the 15% point-of-sale consumption tax that has been introduced by every state, with such a portion being estimated to online gambling revenue estimated to hundreds of millions of dollars. The issue is expected to become…

New data released after an investigation by The Sunday Times showed that some of the largest gambling operators in the UK use popular cartoon and storybook characters in their online gambling offerings in order to target and attract children. Reportedly, British gambling operators are taking advantage of a loophole in the current gambling legislation that provides them with the opportunity to promote children-appealing games without practically breaching the rules implemented by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). To date, betting stakes vary from £0.01 to £600. Even more disturbing is the…

A 50-year-old Post Office employee embezzled approximately £50,000 from her employers in order to fund her gambling addiction. At first, Sara Cautley-West had the intention to only borrow the money from the McColl convenience store in North Hull, but eventually fell to an addiction which also cost her sister her job. As revealed by the Hull Crown Court’s prosecutor Stephen Welch, the Post Office worker was addicted to online fruit machines and bingo and used to bet on a daily basis, gambling from £50 to £100 at a time. The…

The Coatbridge-based recovering problem gambler Martin Paterson joined a campaign that calls the Government to initiate further changes in the UK Gambling industry. The 58-year-old former compulsive gambler confessed he became addicted to fixed-odds betting terminal (FOBTs) more than a decade ago, in 2005. He revealed that he used to spend the amount of £100 on a daily basis to fuel his addiction for years. Mr. Paterson shared his hopes that the UK Government report that is expected to be published until the end of October is to bring certain…

According to a recent report commissioned by the Industry Group for Responsible Gambling (IGRG) cited by The Guardian, the staff working at local betting shops are not properly trained to recognise gambling addicts. Even worse, betting shops staff often encourage customers to bet more eagerly or use gaming strategies that simply do not work. The rising concerns of the industry about the gambling operators that try to deal with problem gambling came at a moment when the UK Government has had its hands full with the gambling industry report that…

Yesterday, the Industry Group for Responsible Gambling (IGRG) announced some enhancements that have been implemented to the Industry Code for Socially Responsible Advertising. The improvements are intended to form part of the Code’s third edition that is scheduled to be put into action by the end of the year. The Industry Code for Socially Responsible Advertising was initially made a decade ago. Its second edition was officially introduced in 2016, with a number of extra measures presented as well as further commitment to the review process at the time. As…

More than 600,000 signatures have been gathered to back a proposed constitutional amendment that is aimed at put limits to the gambling market’s expansion in the state of Florida, according to amendment’s supporters. The amendment has been proposed by the political committee Voters in Charge. According to the Committee, the proposed changes are currently over halfway towards the 1.1 million signatures goal set, in order to reach the necessary number of 766,200 valid petitions to see the proposed amendment appear on the 2018 General Election ballot. Voters in Charge Committee’s…

Council leaders from the Local Government Association (LGA) have called for greater restrictions to be imposed on gambling advertising in order for better protection for young people to be ensured. Considering the increasing popularity of gambling advertising as well as the fact that young children often watch sports events, the Local Government Association has been focused on taking measures that would prevent young people from being affected by possible gambling addictions. According to an industry research, almost one in ten children between the age of 11 and 15 are followers…

It seems that not all hope is lost for Pennsylvania’s gambling expansion. Reportedly, the budget negotiations in the state could finally lead to a deal that would see a revenue package that includes a small gambling expansion, while tax increases that were initially part of the original Senate’s plan would probably be dropped. According to media reports, ten new “mini casinos” could be created under a possible budget deal primarily in rural areas of the state of Pennsylvania. What is more, the gambling market of the state could see online…