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Bendigo council ramps up pokies harm minimisation measures

January 22, 2022 by Admin

Victoria’s Bendigo council has implemented a new policy designed to tackle gambling harm in the community.

The Greater Bendigo City Council’s Reducing Harm from Gambling Policy was passed in December 2021 and encompasses all forms of gambling, with a specific focus on electronic gaming machines (EGM’s), which are the most prevalent cause of gambling-related financial loss and harm in Australia.

The new policy was created in response to the discovery of high levels of gambling harm, identified via the Council’s planning projects.

Mayor Andrea Metcalf stated that the city would do its part in keeping its residents safe, saying,

“The objective of the policy is to ensure the Greater Bendigo community does not experience negative social and economic impacts from gambling. Harm from gambling impacts not only on the individual but also affects other family members, friends, local businesses and communities.”

Huge Losses

An estimate by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation puts the overall amount lost on gambling across the City at around $50 million.

“In 2018 and 2019, $50,671,968 was lost on EGMs in Greater Bendigo at 11 hotels and clubs who jointly operate 661 machines,” Metcalf said.

The City is has laid out numerous changes it plans to implement over the next four years, such as pushing the state government to introduce gambling regulatory reforms. Other proposed measures include $1 maximum bet limits, removing ATM’s and other cash dispensing mechanisms from EGM venues, and reducing the operating hours of EGM operators.

Any form of advertising and promotion of gambling at council-run facilities will be banned, gambling-related research will be granted more support and the city has committed to publishing updated gambling data on its website.

The draft policy faced community consultation in June 2021 to less than favourable reviews. 83 out of 95 of the respondents were opposed to the policy. Some respondents pointed out that sporting and other community-based clubs may be negatively impacted due to the loss of funds generated by EGM operators.

Others wondered what effect the policy would have on veterans or stated that not enough consultation had been conducted with local sporting and community-based clubs.

Metcalf countered that the widely negative feedback was due to misconceptions, saying,

“Many submissions were based on the misunderstanding that the council has the power and desire to remove all EGMs across the City, which is not possible nor is it the intent of the policy,” she said.

The draft policy has since been updated by the council after further analysis and the next review of the policy will take place in December 2023.

Study highlights importance of positive messages and betting limits in fight against gambling harm

January 19, 2022 by Admin

Australia’s largest regional university, CQUniversity, has published the results of a study that measured the efficacy of positive messages in moderating the behaviour of online gamblers.

Bankrolled by Gambling Research Australia (GRA), the study’s hypothesis revolves around the premise that online gambling presents a higher risk of gambling harm to players when compared to traditional gambling.

The study exposed over 2000 regular sports and race punters to randomised messages for five weeks. The researchers collected data on how much the players wagered, the amount of time they spent betting, and what level of gambling harm they experienced.

The participants reported that the positive messages on how to control their gambling spending were mostly useful and easy to absorb. Research Leader Professor Mathew Rockloff explained that the participants spent less time and money on gambling during the five weeks.

The study employed 27 messages created by the research team who consulted focus groups that comprised researchers, gambling-treatment providers, and regulators.

Missing Prompts

A separate study funded by the GRA discovered that consumers are not always directed to use the betting limit option. From over 3000 regular race and sports punters, only 41% said that they had put a betting limit in place with over half of those surveyed sharing that they were “unlikely” to set one.

This study ran for four weeks and featured a series of tailored messages regarding bet limits that were shown to over 1,200 regular players. Upon its conclusion, the study revealed that 32% of participants had set at least one type of limit.

These findings are likely to raise some concerns as Australian operators are obliged by law to inform consumers of the availability of deposit limits for their online gambling, and to provide constant reminders to players about creating or reviewing them.

SkyCity introduces its own vaccine mandate for its Adelaide venues

January 15, 2022 by Admin

SkyCity Entertainment has announced that it will require proof of COVID-19 vaccinations for entry to any of its venues in Adelaide, with effect from Thursday 10 February.

This measure applies to all employees and patrons aged 18 and older who intend to enter gaming venues and anyone over the age of 16 at non-gaming venues. All will be required to show proof of full vaccination or a medical exemption to gain entry.

This covers venues within the casino and hotel Eos by SkyCity, as well as bars and restaurants like Sol, iTL, Madame Hanoi and Sean’s Kitchen, to name a few.

David Christian, the COO at SkyCity shared that this move is part of the company’s intention to ensure that it employs the most stringent levels of protection against COVID-19 and to secure the health and safety of its staff and customers.

“As one of Adelaide’s largest single-site entertainment venues and as a significant employer, we need to take measures to help keep everyone safe,” he said.

“While we have existing robust health and safety measures in place to limit the risk of exposure to COVID-19, public health information and research confirms that COVID-19 vaccines provide the best protection for our employees and customers. SkyCity has been significantly impacted by the outbreak, and we have been encouraging our people to get vaccinated at the earliest opportunity.

“We would like to thank our highly valued employees and customers for their understanding,” he concluded.

Customers will need to show their COVID-19 digital certificate via their smart device or with photo identification accompanied by a printed certificate. Any customers with official medical exemptions will similarly need tooffer appropriate proof.

Pokies losses and profits pile up in NSW

January 12, 2022 by Admin

Bad news for players is good news for clubs and hotels in New South Wales as they recorded massive profits from the over $630 million lost on pokie in November 2021.

The majority of this revenue was generated by Sydney’s west and southwestern suburbs as players from Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield, Cumberland and Blacktown local government racked up the largest losses.

According to data from the NSW Liquor and Gaming, gaming machine profits for November 2021 came in at $631,224,889 with venues in Canterbury-Bankstown pulling in a total net profit of over $56 million while Fairfield recorded over $52 million. Cumberland also fared very well, reporting a $35 million net profit with Blacktown and Sydney following with amounts of $28 million and $27 million, respectively.

NSW Pokies Enquiry Looms

The New South Wales Crime Commission has announced that it is gearing up to hold an inquiry into allegations of poker machine money laundering.

NSW Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello has been met with support in his long-running efforts to establish this inquiry and Commissioner Michael Barnes advised that the commission would be investigating to what extent crime syndicates are involved.

“We know pubs and clubs deliver valuable community services and are assured ClubsNSW, the peak body for the industry, is committed to stamping out illegality. However, we expect the expert investigators, data analysts, lawyers and intelligence officers working on this project to uncover activities not previously known to operators or regulators that will assist to ensure pubs and clubs stay profitable while the community is protected,” Dominello said.

Covert Findings

The New South Wales government conducted a recent secret audit of two pokies venues and discovered multiple suspicious transactions. The investigation that followed the audit examined individual gaming machine transactions of five licensed venues that sought to identify suspicious activity. In preparation for the inquiry, the Commission has called for submissions relating to money laundering in licensed venues in NSW, targeting members of the public, subject experts, and existing or past employees of gambling venues. Submissions will be accepted until January 28.

If necessary, the NSW Crime Commission intends to employ the full extent of its powers, including compulsory hearings and phone tapping, to discover the truth behind the allegations.

Commissioner Michael Barnes, in an uncharacteristic move for his secretive agency, has reached out to the public, saying,

“As part of the inquiry, the commission is calling for submissions regarding the nature and extent of money laundering through licensed venues in NSW.

“Members of the public, academics with an interest in the area, current or past employees of pubs or clubs are invited to make submissions which can be kept confidential if desired.”

Get 2022 going with Microgaming’s New Year release Roster

January 8, 2022 by Admin

Microgaming’s January release roster is here, and as always the major provider is bringing you an exciting range of themes and features to get you on your winning way in 2022.

Gameburger Studios’ Fishin’ Pots of Gold releases on 25 January and features the grinning Leprechaun, Lucky Lad Flynn. Land the fisherman wild to collect all the fish prizes and jackpots in view and you could claim the top fixed jackpot worth 5 000x your bet. Free spins get underway when you land three or more scatters on the reels which will expand to 5×5 in size. Fisherman wilds boost the multiplier value of fish symbols while this feature is active and the accumulation trail rewards you with up to 20 extra free spins.

Win in style in the new instalment of Agent Jane Blonde’s adventures. Agent Jane Blonde Max Volume by Stormcraft Studios arrives on 18 January and features the alluring spy in another high-stakes caper. The pokie offers a multiplier trail with a maximum value of 100x and fixed jackpots as well as a bonus game with three free spins options with varying levels of volatility.

Steal from the rich and give to yourself in the new crime caper pokie from Just For The Win, The Bandit and the Baron on 5 January. Walk into a Wild West saloon and make a grab for the various treasures on the reels like banknotes and piles of gold. The expanding wilds can appear on any reel and landing 2 scatters will set off a respin, giving you the chance to trigger the Bandit Bonus feature where you start with 3 respins and chosen symbols can reset this count to 3. While this feature is running, the upgrade symbol applies up to a 10x multiplier to all visible cash symbols and the key symbol releases locked positions, giving you even more winning chances.

SpinPlay games brings a world of riches to your screen on 11 January with its new pokie, Bank Vault. Immerse yourself in opulent finery as ruby rings, fancy watches, and wads of cash appear as symbols on the reels. Land diamond symbols to claim scatter prizes of up to 2500x your stake from a single spin in the base game, with the possibility to quadruple this prize. When you trigger the cash wheel bonus you could ein cash prizes, free spins, and multipliers up to 4x.

5 Star Knockout by Northern Lights Gaming gets you back to basics on 27 January. Get the retro feel of a classic online slot alongside thrilling special features. Fill up the Award Boards with special star symbols and you will launch free spins where symbols are removed from the reels as you collect stars and you gain even more free spins. The Win Spins feature also offers some brilliant winning chances, where each win generates another respin.

Have a beastly good time with Gong Gaming Technologies on 6 January. The studio’s new pokie, Buffalo Ways, features majestic North American wildlife in a classic reel format. You could win up to 100 free spins when you land 3 or more scatters on the reels where you can win big with added multipliers worth up to 5x.

Push the boundaries of science in Dr Wildshock: Mad Loot Lab by Gold Coin Studios on 13 January. Watch your winning combos disappear and create a chain of wins with the Rolling Reels mechanic and watch your bankroll climb as the multiplier trail gives you an increasing winning potential. The game also integrates exploding wilds and charged free spins, as well as the Shock Meter feature where collected wild symbols bring you free spins and multipliers.

Baccarat and football may seem worlds apart, but Switch Studios has brought them together for its 20 January release, Match day. Navigate this fascinating fusion to claim prizes worth up to 6250x your stake.

Not to be outdone, Microgaming’s content partners have two exciting titles ready for you to get your hands on this month. 6 January will see the arrival of King Carrot by Hacksaw Gaming, while Book of Poseidon by Booming Games releases on 20 January.

Crown’s rule-breaking ways result in a $1m fine

January 5, 2022 by Admin

Crown Resorts finds itself in more hot water as it was recently hit with a $1 million penalty by the Victorian gambling regulator for transgression of its rules and the operator’s failure to comply with junket tour partners vetting regulations.

A report from the Australian Financial Review revealed that the $1 million fine imposed by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) was the highest possible penalty and that the commission had issued the fine due to Crown’s refusal to “cease a relationship” with an “individual junket operator and his associates”. The commission added that Crown had also not complied with the relevant internal control statement concerning junket operations.

Ross Kennedy, the commission’s chairman advised that the $1 million fine was decided on as “it reflects the serious nature of Crown’s direct disobedience”.

“The amount of this fine reflects the seriousness of this matter, particularly Crown’s conduct in failing to immediately implement the requirements of the commission’s direction to cease a relationship with an unsuitable junket operator,” Kennedy stated.

This is the second time that Crown faces a seven-figure penalty from the regulator, and with maximum penalty increases being implemented, it should hope that this is its last.

Increased Severity

The fine levied again Crown in April 2021 was due to the company failing to vet its high-roller junket tour partners for criminal links and other matters of rectitude.

Crown’s eight-year relationship with crime-linked junket operators was criticised by the Victorian regulator at the time with the commission finding that the company had failed to correctly vet its partners.

Organisations who flaunt the commission’s rules will be facing stiffer penalties this year as amendments to Victorian legislation that increase the maximum potential fine from $1 million to $100 million went into effect from 1 January 2022.

An Uncertain Future

While Crown has weathered the findings of the Bergin inquiry in New South Wales, where the operator was deemed was unfit to open its new Sydney casino and the Victorian Finkelstein royal commission, which came within a hair’s breadth of outright cancelling Crown’s Melbourne licence, it still faces further challenges. The West Australian royal commission into Crown’s Perth Casino licence is expected to report its findings report in March.

The company is additionally currently the subject of an enforcement investigation by financial crimes watchdog AUSTRAC regarding money laundering laws activities. Analysts have estimated that this could cost the company up to $100 million in fines.

Crown Sydney announces subdued launch

December 17, 2021 by Admin

The new Crown Resorts Sydney casino’s launch may be more muted than the venue initially planned, but this is understandable, considering the current global situation.

The property will launch with around 160 table games, as per statements made by Don Carducci, a JP Morgan Australia analyst. This matches revelations made by Crown Resorts’ executives during an investor call, where it was communicated that Crown Sydney’s gaming space has been permitted to expand up to 20,000 square metres. An additional comment was made that the current floor space utilisation is “materially less than 50 per cent of what we’re capable of,” referring to an empty floor that has been prepared for gaming.

Carducci added that considering the current table per square metres ratio, utilising the remaining available space will add around $100 million to annual table revenue, assuming that demand remains consistent.

Entertainment Expanse

Crown Resorts Sydney is the first six-star luxury hotel in the area, boasting 349 hotel rooms and 76 luxury residences with 13 restaurants and bars.

The upcoming casino spaces will include VIP areas with 160 table games and close to 70 electronic table games. Due to Star Entertainment’s monopoly on pokies in NSW, Crown Sydney will only be able to include them as part of its offering from 2041.

The property’s casino floor will differ from its Melbourne and Perth counterparts in that, instead of being a wide-open space, players will be able to access three intimate high-roller gaming spaces, namely, the Crystal Room, Mahogany Room, and Sky Gaming.

Redemption

The operator has stated that it intends to launch gaming operations at its Sydney casino in early 2022, following a revamp of its corporate governance. The recent NSW enquiry resulted in only six Crown Resorts executives that served prior to the inquest remaining in their positions and the company has added 11 new senior management and executive team members. The most notable of the new appointments is CEO Steve McCann who recently ended a 12-year stint as the Group CEO & Managing Director of Lendlease.

The company stated that the changes are the precursor to a “comprehensive culture transformation with new purpose and values.”

Fair Go Casino VIPs sweetens its VIP experience with ear-candy

December 15, 2021 by Admin

Some of Fair Go Casino’s players have received an unexpected early Christmas present, much to their combined delight.

The casino has a reputation for dishing out annual Christmas rewards to its most loyal and high-value players, asking them what gift they would most like to receive ahead of time. With most surveyed in 2021 agreeing that a brand new iPhone 13 Pro, would be the ideal gift, you can be sure that Fair Go has put a lot of smiles on a lot of faces.

This particular model of iPhone is in high demand with eager buyers going to extreme lengths to track an available handset down. Luckily for the elite group of Fair Go players, the casino is on top of its gifting game and even delivered the surprises in festive wrapping.

The VIPs at the receiving end of this generosity were thrilled to get their gifts. One of the lucky recipients was Samantha Parcley from New South Wales who joined the casino in 2018, securing her VIP status shortly thereafter. This status has given her access to numerous benefits like exclusive bonuses and a dedicated account manager.

Parcley was thrilled to receive her present, saying,

“What a wonderful gift from the team at Fair Go Casino. I had no idea what to expect when the package arrived at my house but was beyond excited to open it and find an iPhone 13 Pro inside. I have been playing at Fair Go Casino for several years now and it really is the best online casino in Australia. It has a huge range of pokies, generous bonuses and brilliant customer support.”

“If you haven’t already joined Fair Go Casino, I highly recommend you do. This gift has really made my Christmas and I look forward to enjoying a few spins on my favourite pokies over the festive period,” she concluded.

Rebecca Ryder, the manager at Fair Go Casino said,

“Here at Fair Go Casino we know how to look after our VIP players and this year that has seen us gift a number of iPhone 13 Pros. of course, we go to great lengths to look after all of our players so even if you are not a VIP there are still plenty of bonuses, promotions, prizes and rewards up for grabs. “This is certainly the case over the Christmas period, where we are running a number of special festive promotions and tournaments.”

Problem Gambling takes a back seat in Western Australia, as gambling revenues soar

December 11, 2021 by Admin

Seemingly in defiance of social distancing restrictions and intermittent shut-downs of land-based gambling in Australia, the Racing and Wagering authority in Western Australia (RWWA) has reported a record $2.4 billion in revenue. The state-run entity has boosted its promotional activities and marketing budget by 22%, over the past year. This coincided with an overall 15% drop in problem-gambling support funding, much to the displeasure of some officials.

All this is occurring against the backdrop of a year when the average Australian punter’s average weekly spend climbed by 332% as compared to pre-COVID-19 levels. Lotterywest achieved $1 billion in sales for the first time ever and mobile gambling engagement levels have also increased significantly.

The RWWA’s decision to increase its promotional funding over the pandemic has drawn the ire of at least one MP and Melanie Every, the head of the Financial Counselors’ Association of Western Australia who criticized the decision to not increase support funding as well.

Every added that players with now-elevated weekly wagering spending would find it difficult to return to their pre-pandemic behaviour. She explained that while the number of punters has begun to decrease, active gamblers who choose to bet every week are at their highest level in history. Every dubbed this the “new normal” and emphasised that support services funding for problem-gamblers has been left by the wayside.

Every identified the low number of specialized counsellors in Western Australia and poor scheduling on the government’s behalf as possible reasons for the imbalance in the allocation of funds.

The Year That Was

Over the course of 2021, approximately 50% of the revenue reported by TAB in WA was generated by just over 300 retail outlets and turnover from mobile wagering increased by 40% despite a much lower 12% increase in mobile phone users over the period. The entity recorded a $264 million margin from wagering in 2020-21, breaking all previous records.

From the data, it appears that COVID inspired an increase in gambling activity at a national level and that of the money not being spent on travel and other services, a significant portion is being funnelled into wagering.

Presents aplenty with Microgaming’s festive slot releases

December 8, 2021 by Admin

December is the month of celebration and giving and Microgaming is in a festive mood. Celebrate the Christmas season with a premium selection of slot titles from top-ranking studios that offer thrilling features, immersive themes, and lucrative winning chances.

The claws are out on 9 December as Snowborn Games introduces Cat Clans, a slot that tells the tale of four warring feline tribes. Join the ranks of Clan Mac Cattus to share in the spoils of victory by deploying multiplier wilds and the Cat-A-Pult free spins bonus round that features sticky wilds. Go to war with the Clan Battle Bonus feature, where collecting enough golden paws assures victory for one clan, and the slot’s top prize of 20 000x your bet for you.

Amazing link Riches by SpinPlay Games launches on 7 December, featuring free spins, a pick-me game, instant cash wins, and the Amazing Link mechanic. Trigger Amazing Link by landing six or more four-leaf clover bonus symbols and fill all 15 reel positions to claim prizes valued at over 5 000x your bet.

Bundle up on 14 December because Neon Valley Studios’ magical Arctic Enchantress slot is blowing into town. Steel your nerves for icy 243 ways-to-win slot action, enhanced by the Link&Win mechanic. The game’s features include free spins, portrait wilds and nudging wilds, as well as the Column Boost feature that rewards you with increased winning potential for a column full of Link&Win Symbols. The Win Booster feature allows you to place precious orbs into the Empress’ tiara and boost your chances of activating Link&Win.

Just For The Win has gifts to give on 1 December as it releases its Plenty of Presents slot title. The slot’s features include free spins and multiplier wilds with a top potential of 25 000x your bet. Look out for Santa as he appears as the scatter symbol, dishing out up to 30 initial free spins.

Ancient Egypt shines in vividly woven visuals on 15 December with the release of Slingshot Studios’ Links of Ra. The ancient gods, Ra, Anubis, Sekhment, Sobek and Khnum appear as the game’s symbols, handing out high-value wins as the Link&Win mechanic gives you the chance to claim cash prizes and fixed jackpots. Take your winning chances to divine heights with free spins and super-stacked symbols.

Gong Gaming Technologies is geared up for war on 6 December as it introduces Empire Shields. Charge up the shield-shaped reel toppers to trigger double reels, expanding wilds, extra wilds and multipliers. Watch the feature shields shift with every spin, offering new ways to win as they move.

Enjoy a warm Christmas welcome from Aurum Signature Studios with the release of its Book of Mrs Claus pokie on 1 December. Santa’s main squeeze stars in this title that offers up expanding symbols that are active during free spins and individual reel respins where you can go from a losing spin to a huge win.

Call on the mystical luck of a Chinese dragon on 2 December as you go for the top prize of 1880x your stake in Fortune Rush by Pulse 8 Studios. The Rush Symbol feature selects a high-paying symbol, imbuing it with special powers for 20 spins and allowing it to trigger respins when 3 or more of it land on the reels on the same spin.

No need to shift your busy schedule around, you can take that fishing trip you’ve been planning with Crazy Tooth Studios’ Golden Hook pokie on 8 December. The game’s bonus features include the WiNCREASE mechanic, multipliers and the Golden Hook bonus that has you catch prize-filled golden fish when it is randomly activated.

There are even more gifts under the tree for you with a bevvy of thrill-filled pokies from Microgaming’s aggregation partners. Travel back to the golden age of gaming with the release of the retro Space Invaders by Inspired on 9 December. MGA introduces a motorcycling master with Fonsi Nieto on 6 December and seabound skulduggery is afoot on 13 December in Pirate Pays Megaways by Big Time Gaming. Unwrap a duo of festive iGaming experiences as Hacksaw Gaming releases Christmas in Papertown on 14 December and Snow Scratcher on 1 December.