Admin, Author at UberPokies.org

ACT government to scrap 363 pokie authorizations by 2024

February 26, 2022 by Admin

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government has intensified its efforts to reach its 2024 target for 3500 pokie authorizations across all of the region’s clubs by seeking targeted policies. This number was agreed upon in line with the Labor-Greens governing and parliamentary agreement, which also addresses crucial matters such as housing and climate.

Looming Deadline

Shane Rattenbury, ACT’s gaming minister, explained that the territory intends to reduce its number of pokies to 3500, down from its current number of 3683.

Rattenbury added that officials have to account for the effect that numerous COVID-19 lockdowns have had on the industry while formulating appropriate policies to reduce the prevalence of problem gambling. The pandemic-precipitated restrictions and subsequent economic downturn have taken their toll on clubs’ revenue, another factor that the government will have to consider when drafting new transition policies. The minister also shared that he is open to any solutions geared at eradicating pokies from targeted territory clubs.

Diversification Funding Destined for Clubs

Rattenbury went on to state that with future funding allocated to the government’s 2019 –initiated Diversification and Sustainability Support Fund, clubs in Canberra would be empowered to explore alternate and more sustainable revenue streams that do not involve gambling. The fund is powered by a monthly $20 contribution for the first 99 poker machine licenses at each club in the area.

There are two available funding tiers that clubs can opt into. There is a $25,000 ‘nonstop’ option and a $250,000 option provided in grants. The second tier is available at least once a year for community clubs, with six clubs having already received almost $1 million in overall second-tier funding.

The funding will be used to install solar energy panels, add air-conditioning, construct childcare centres, and refurbish ageing amenities at the six clubs that were approved for the initiative in July 2021. The clubs in question are the Harmonie German Club, Spanish Australian Club, Canberra Highland, Burns Club, Belconnen Soccer Club, Belconnen Magpies Sports Club, and Gungahlin Lakes Golf and Community Club.

Sustainable Future

The Belconnen Magpies Club in Kippax shut down its gaming site in 2017, following an almost 50-year history in operation. The premises have now been converted into a site capable of hosting a medical centre, with assistance from second-tier funding. Paul Netting, the club’s general manager, said excess money from the grant was put into installing air-conditioning and a lift for wheelchair access at the Ochre Medical Centre in Kippax.

For its part, The Spanish Australian Club intends to use its allocated funds to upgrade its kitchens to be able to cater for future events at the club, potentially increasing revenues and eliminating the need to host pokies.

New ACMA study reveals amplified Australian online gambling activity during COVID

February 24, 2022 by Admin

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has released the latest results of an ongoing study into gambling trends in Australia. The data revealed an increase that the number of Australians engaging with online gambling for the six months through to June 2021.

Crunching Numbers

The study detailed that 11% of Australians claimed to have participated in online gambling at some point over the period, a higher figure than the 8% recorded in 2020.

The ACMA also underlined the notable growth in online sports betting since its 2020 survey. The authority concluded that this was related to the return of sporting events, following the government-mandated lockdowns of the same year.

The report elaborated that online sports and race betting were “marginally more popular” than other forms of online gaming such as poker and table games, neither of which enjoy the same legal status as the former two.

Lotteries retained their top spot as the country’s most prevalent form of online gambling. A significant 21% of adult respondents admitted to playing the lottery over the defined period. The research additionally revealed that a minor segment of the country’s online gamblers uses illegal online wagering services, with one in 20 online gamblers surveyed admitting to using offshore betting platforms.

The report continued to state that 25% of respondents who had participated in online sports gambling over the six months, including wagering on racing, eSports and fantasy sports, had made online in-play bets.

Trend-Tracking

The report states that it “examines the prevalence and nature of online gambling in Australia, and how this has changed in recent years. The research provides a snapshot of online wagering in Australia at this time and how this has changed from pre-COVID years.”

The organisation added that it continues to implement the improved illegal offshore gambling rules that were presented in 2017 under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. These restrictions forbid online gambling services like casinos from being offered or marketed to Australians.

In the years since this change, the ACMA has expedited the blocking of 354 illegal gambling websites and 21 affiliate marketing sites.

Queen’s Wharf Brisbane takes shape

February 19, 2022 by Admin

The designs for The Star Entertainment Group’s new project have been revealed. The $3.6 billion, 71-storey Queen’s Wharf development will feature more than 800 apartments and will tower at over 250 metres.

Destination Brisbane Consortium, which is a joint venture spearheaded by The Star Entertainment Group, Chow Tai Enterprises, and Far East Consortium, awarded the construction of the fifth skyrise in the resort development to leading developer Multiplex in April 2019.

Chris Hinds, the Sales Director of YPM Group, an Australian-based project marketing company, revealed that the apartments would be up for sale in two months.

“We are so excited to announce Queen’s Wharf Tower, the tallest tower in the Queens Wharf Precinct is set to be released in April 2022. Market interest is strong, and we have started connecting with potential buyers who have been registered after missing out on the first time, Queen’s Wharf Residences,” he said.

“Queen’s Wharf Residences is the fastest-selling residential project in Queensland after attracting an unprecedented level of local buyer interest and selling 75 per cent of the 667 apartments within two months,” Hinds concluded.

Exciting Reveals

It has taken seven years for the project to reach this point. The process began when the Echo Entertainment Group (now Star Entertainment) beat Crown Resorts and Greenland Holdings Group to the punch.

The project’s retail component will be headed up by DFS, a luxury brand retailer that intends to construct a three-level Galleria Emporium within Brisbane’s 40,000 square metre shopping precinct.

Once the project is completed, Queensland residents will have access to a new casino, four hotels, and over 50 new bars and eateries, accompanied by more than 2000 residential apartments.

Simon Crooks, Destination Brisbane Consortium’s Project Director, advised that Queen’s Wharf Brisbane will be an impressive addition to the city skyline and that its early 2023 opening is sure to revitalise Brisbane’s CBD.

“With the main integrated resort reaching level 20 in parts, construction has spilled into the public space areas and heritage buildings, many of which will become the locals’ favourite new dining spots. The nine heritage buildings, dated back to the 1800s, are being carefully restored and transformed into new shopping outlets, restaurants and bars as well as spaces for events, entertainment and performance, Crooks commented.

“Further to that, sections of the SkyDeck will be installed mid-year as we start to form Brisbane’s newest and hottest venue in town come 2023,” he added.

Whistle-blowers drag Star’s high-roller practices into the light

February 15, 2022 by Admin

Star Entertainment is facing unwelcomed scrutiny after details emerged of how the company allegedly coached local high rollers to make false claims of living outside of New South Wales, in a scheme that reportedly decreased the amount of gaming tax that its casino had to pay to the state.

Two Star Sydney casino employees have come forward, detailing their direct involvement in the scheme that they say involved the use of doctored documentation to help high-value local punters claim that they live overseas or interstate, despite them being NSW residents.

The players were reportedly advised that if they met the application requirements to be identified as non-NSW players, they would be entered into lucrative rebate programs. These requirements included a current interstate driver’s licence or recent passport visa stamp.

As a result of this, The Star Sydney is alleged to have avoided paying millions of dollars in gaming revenue to the NSW government.

The deal that the operator has with the NSW government allocates The Star Sydney a discounted tax rate of close to 10% on generated revenue from non-local VIP gamblers, who are included in the aforementioned rebate programs. On the other hand, the revenue collected from local players is taxed at nearly double the reduced rate.

More Testimony

Two additional confidential sources, who are not permitted to speak publicly, made the same allegations to the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority and the Bell inquiry.

The Bell inquiry is an inquest in the style of a royal commission that was launched to look into the operations of The Star and is headed up by the prominent barrister, Adam Bell, SC.

The inquiry made the recent announcement that it would be conducting public hearings into The Star, following reports of unacceptable governance and practices that may involve money laundering, associations with organised crime, and wide-ranging fraud and interference from foreign entities at its Australian casinos.

A particular tale related by the sources told of a high roller who was coaxed into changing their residential status. This individual was apparently a “whale” gambler who had the Australian Taxation Office after him over unpaid taxes owed the federal government that reportedly runs into tens of millions of dollars.

One of the staff members involved in encouraging gamblers to alter their addresses advised that selected employees could gain a larger bonus by being a part of the scheme. The Bell inquiry will attempt to uncover precisely who at The Star was aware of this practice and to what extent anyone was involved when the public hearings begin in March 2022.

Playing Defence

The Star responded to a list of detailed questions regarding the supposed scheme with a brief statement that read,

“The Star runs a rebate program where the eligibility of domestic and international players is determined by criteria known to the regulator.”

The Bell inquiry is also likely to tackle accusations that the casino operator gave Chinese high rollers free reign to use special debit and credit cards from their country to withdraw hundreds of millions of dollars from The Star’s hotel properties, a practice that deceptively framed gambling activity as hotel expenses.

If these claims are verified by anti-money laundering agency, Austrac, The Star may be in trouble for violating anti-money laundering legislation.

Crown Resorts’ Melbourne casino was previously found to have committed similar transgressions involving Chinese credit cards, a revelation that nearly cost the operator its casino licence.

The Star’s troubles began to compound in October 2021, when proof that, between 2014 and 2021, the company had established relationships with high-roller gamblers who have alleged associations with criminal organisations emerged.

Evidence of these practices came from numerous casino and law enforcement sources who had intimate knowledge of the company’s actions.

Microgaming’s February roster is pokie perfection

February 11, 2022 by Admin

A range of realms awaits you this month as Microgaming, its content providers, and exclusive studios deliver a plethora of pokies that will transport you to a spectrum of experiences, from high-seas adventure to intense table gaming.

The ocean promises riches on 15 February in Adventures of Captain Blackjack by Just For The Win. This sea-bound treasure hunt includes stacked wilds, cash prizes, and free spins. Wrest the maximum prize of 5000x your stake from the jaws of defeat with the Kraken Wheel bonus which is triggered by randomly-appearing Kraken Coins. Receive extra free spins and up to 3x multipliers during the Skull Cave free spins feature to take home the prize booty.

The dinosaurs are loose again in Stormcraft Studios’ Jurassic Park: Gold on 22 February. Collected tokens activate bonus features like free spins and the gameplay-enhancing Link&Win feature. Collect symbols across the game’s 40 paylines to activate feature chases, multipliers and jackpots, or launch the feature selection where you can choose from four free spins options. The WildStorm makes up to five reels fully wild on a single spin, giving you massive winning potential.

Head into the wild with SpinPlay Games on 8 February and its 1024 ways to win pokie, Wolf Call. This title includes the Power Range feature that causes 2x wild multipliers to appear on the three middle reels during the base game, boosting this figure up to 5x while free spins are active. Gather wild symbols in the Diamond Meter to trigger the Diamond Jackpot feature that has you reveal matching icons for lucrative fixed prizes.

Gameburger Studios puts the power in your hands on 9 February in its new pokie Hyper Strike HyperSpins. This dazzling experience blends iconic mechanics for thrilling gameplay and elevated winning opportunities on 9 February. The game features action-infused free spins with multipliers and the popular HyperSpins innovation that lets you respin reels, giving you the chance to claim Hyper Strike scatter wins worth up to 2,000x your stake or to trigger up to 30, 3x multiplier-enriched free spins.

Explore the riches of the ancients in Northern Lights Gaming’s Aztec Falls on 24 February. Get rewarded by the Cash Fall feature and free spins with sticky wilds. The Coin Drop bonus feature activates randomly, revealing a range of additional features, like the Jackpot bonus and multipliers.

Get to 21 the smart way on 21 February in Perfect Strategy Blackjack by Switch Studios. It’s all about you in this innovative and slickly-presented title where an active strategy guide helps you choose the best course.

Explore the land of a Nordic regent and claim your rewards in Viking Queen by GONG Gaming Technologies on 7 February. This 5-reel, 25 payline pokie features a free spins mode triggered by warrior shield scatters where you rise up the multiplier trail for enhancements worth up to 10x.

Switch Studios is dropping dual titles this February. The studio’s newest addition to its Roulette offering, French Roulette arrives on 7 February and boasts a new game engine. You can spin your way to wins on 28 February I the developer’s Wheel of Winners pokie that adopts a schmaltzy, TV gameshow theme with spinning wheels that dish out impressive prizes.

Go cash crazy with Pulse8 Studios on 17 February in Bust the Mansion. This title features a rousing soundtrack and the Link&Win feature accompanied by free spins with Wild Money Vault symbols that appear exclusively on the third reel.

This wouldn’t be a Microgaming monthly announcement without the iGaming giant’s content partners also strutting their stuff. Hacksaw Gaming explores New York’s early gang scene in The Bowery Boys on 23 February and Booming Games put a fire in your belly on 10 February in its new pokie, Flaming Chillies.

The Star whips out its chequebook for $13 million in underpaid wages

February 9, 2022 by Admin

The Star, an Australian casino operator recently completed an internal wage review that revealed that it had underpaid close to 2200 employees over six years at its flagship The Star Sydney casino resort.

Inconvenient Truths

As a result of its internal findings, The Star Entertainment Group is now obliged to pay $13m to its affected workers. While this is not good news for the company which is enduring reduced revenues due to the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has at least salvaged its reputation by making this discovery internally as opposed to it being exposed by an outside entity.

The Star explained in a recent statement that it had advised the Fair Work Ombudsman and the United Workers Union of the error and its plan to correct it. Ahead of the release of its half-year report on February 17, The Star has revealed that it expects a statutory net loss of close to $75m.

Open Cards

The Star’s Marketing Director Matt Bekier made a sincere apology to affected workers and said that the operator is “committed to doing the right thing by acting transparently.”

“Our priority is to address this issue and to ensure that it doesn’t happen again,” he said.

The Star added that it has “improved its processes, systems, and training and has a plan in place to ensure salaried team members’ pay is correct moving forward. “The company further elaborated that the $13m amount comprises back pay, interest, and pension contributions.

This move, while ethical, comes at an inopportune time for the company which is facing a future rife with even more pandemic-related economic issues.

When it Rains, it Pours

Aside from this most recent issue, The Star has been battling challenges on several fronts. In May 2021, the operator’s bid for casino giant Crown Resorts was a non-starter as it was driven off by the high stakes that rival bidders had brought to the table.

The Star also currently finds itself under investigation by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (AUSTRAC). The inquiry relates to alleged breaches of anti-money laundering and counterterrorism regulations. AUSTRAC’s investigation will reportedly “include multiple entities under the company.”

Tasmanian casino operator endures costly cyberattacks

February 5, 2022 by Admin

Federal Group, an Australian casino operator, has been the recent target of cyberattacks. One such event caused the shutdown of gaming machines, resulting in millions of dollars of revenue being lost with additional amounts being spent on recovery costs. The company would not bow to ransom demands to cease the attack, which ended up prolonging the situation and adding to the operator’s existing woes.

Heavy Toll

Federal Group is the owner of Tasmania’s WrestPoint casino in Hobart and Country Club Tasmania casino in Launceston. The operator embarked on the “encryption of many systems” as well as a partial shutdown of its gaming machines and hotel booking system following an attack.

The company’s refusal to respond to the hackers’ransom demands are documented in its 2020/21 financial statement, where Executive General Manager, Daniel Hanna advised that the company had yet to fully quantify the true cost of the cyberattacks, but estimated it to be at least a few million dollars.

He added that the 2020-21 financial year was the Federal Group’s “worst in nearly 20 years” with government-enforced closures and the COVID-19 epidemic affecting revenue.

End of an Era

In addition to its casino interests, Federal Group also has several hotels and hospitality venues within its portfolio. The company additionally holds all of Tasmania’s gaming machine licenses, a monopoly that will soon run its course.

The introduction of a new bill means that from 2023, venue operators will be able to purchase or lease machines from their chosen sources, where they were previously limited to only Federal Group. As a concession, the Tasmanian government has agreed to reduce the Federal Group’s gaming revenue tax at Wrest Point or Country Club Tasmania.

Aristocrat’s offer gains support from Playtech shareholders

February 2, 2022 by Admin

Australian gaming manufacturer Aristocrat Leisure’s $2.8 billion takeover offer for Playtech appears to be gathering steam with some shareholders publicly supporting the deal.

Wes McCoy, the investment director at Abrdn PLC, which owns a 2.4% stake in Playtech, described Aristocrat’s bid as “a fair assessment of value and certainty of cash.”

TIG Advisors LLC, an event-driven fund manager with a 1.4% stake in Playtech has also reportedly voiced its support for the takeover. This fresh wave of shareholder support comes as Playtech’s shares felt the pressure of speculation that the deal might not go through.

The company recently pointed out that several investors, some of whom had taken material positions in the firm since Aristocrat’s approach, have not “engaged meaningfully” regarding their standpoints on the deal.

Backup Plans

Reports indicate that Playtech is in the process of creating a contingency plan to disassemble and sell-off its operations, should Aristocrat’s takeover bid be blocked by its Asian shareholders. These discussions are being conducted by the company’s directors and its investment banking advisers.

Chairman Brian Mattingley and other directors are purportedly alarmed by the prospect of a group of Asian investors who hold approximately 25% of Playtech’s stock combining their voting power to scupper the Aristocrat deal.

With the upcoming vote on this matter set to take place soon and requiring a 75% majority, the board and its advisers at Wells Fargo, Jefferies and Goodbody are preparing for the worst and setting up to auction off the company’s operations if the deal fails.

A Playtech spokesperson elaborated, saying,

“The board reiterates its recommendation that shareholders vote in favour of the offer from Aristocrat. Whilst Playtech has made significant strategic and operational progress and is in a strong position for the future, Aristocrat’s proposal provides an attractive opportunity for shareholders to accelerate the delivery of Playtech’s longer-term value.”

Also-rans

While Aristocrat’s offer is currently the only one on the table, the JKO Play consortium was also a contender, but recently withdrew its bid to acquire Playtech. Aristocrat took this as an opportunity to restate its takeover bid.

The operator released a statement in the wake of JKO’s departure, reminding Playtech’s shareholders that as the only bidder, its offer provides “full and fair value”, with “attractive cash certainty”.

“The Playtech board recommended acquisition remains the only firm offer available to Playtech shareholders, despite the substantial amount of time provided to potential bidders to make alternative proposals,” the statement continued.

Victoria’s proposed pre-commitment limits on Crown pokies stopped in their tracks

January 29, 2022 by Admin

A proposal by Victoria’s government to compel players at Crown Melbourne to adhere to maximum loss and time limits before they begin gambling has all but been abandoned.

These suggested measures originated from the Victorian royal commission into Crown, which was run by Ray Finkelstein, QC who recommended stringent new rules to tackle problem gambling. These included the aforementioned mandatory pre-commitment limits on how much and how long players intended to spend on the casino’s over 2500 pokies.

At the time of the commission’s findings, the Victorian government had committed to supporting Finkelstein’s 33 recommendations “in principle”.

Heavy Resistance

It appears, however, that the pre-commitment recommendation was doomed to failure as it met significant opposition from the Department of Justice and Community Safety. The department has pointed out that a similar mandatory system implemented in 2012 in a Canadian province was abandoned after only two years.

The Canadian initiative was roundly criticised for having little to no impact on problem gambling and was rife with loopholes such as the pre-commitment cards that could be used by different players and situations where players obtained numerous cards.

On the Warpath

Commissioner Finkelstein’s scathing report tore into Crown’s management of problem gambling, describing his findings as “perhaps the most damning discovery by the commission”.

“Crown Melbourne had for years held itself out as having a world’s best approach to problem gambling,” the report continued.

The commission’s evaluation of YourPlay, a government-managed voluntary pre-commitment system, was that it had “not been successful”, as it had achieved a minimal uptake rate and there were no mechanisms to stop individuals from playing once they had reached their limits.

Finkelstein recommended that YourPlay should be scrapped in favour of a “full, mandatory, binding, pre-commitment system for Australian residents gambling on electronic gaming machines at the Melbourne casino”.

He advised that players should have the ability to implement weekly or monthly limits on their losses and playing time. Gamblers would additionally be barred from playing pokies for over 12 hours over any 24 hours.

2021 saw the government including nine of Commissioner Finkelstein’s recommendations in approved legislation. These included appointing the former public sector corruption watchdog, Stephen O’Bryan, as a special manager charged with monitoring Crown for two years, after which he will determine whether the venue’s licence should be revoked.

The government has committed to a second set of legislation to be introduced in 2022 to integrate the outstanding 24 recommendations, which would include a large-scale initiative to curb problem gambling at the casino. Further details regarding the implementation of the new system are not available at this time.

Contentious Past

The spokesperson for the Gaming Minister, Melissa Horne, advised that the government acknowledges the “breadth and complexity” of the recommendations that have yet to be implemented. Horne explained that the second allotment of legislation would cover the last of the recommendations.

“We support these recommendations in principle, and further detailed analysis and consultation will be undertaken,” she added.

Aristocrat’s offer stands alone as JKO withdraws from Playtech bidding war

January 26, 2022 by Admin

Aristocrat has revealed that its regulatory approvals process is making headway with the Australian gaming manufacturer’s offer remaining as the only one on the table for the acquisition of Playtech, following the withdrawal of rival bidder, JKO Play.

With the JKO Play consortium backing away from negotiations, Aristocrat is taking the opportunity to revise its current offer to its previous, lower bid.

In an official release, the operator restated its recommended cash acquisition offer to Playtech’s shareholders, stating that JKO’s withdrawal leaves it as the last remaining bidder and that its offer affords “full and fair value” with “attractive cash certainty”.

“Aristocrat further confirms that the regulatory approvals process remains well on track, and it is committed to completing the acquisition as quickly as possible. Aristocrat reiterates that the terms of the recommended acquisition provide full and fair value for Playtech shareholders, with attractive cash certainty.” The company continued.

A Long Road

The respective boards of Playtech and Aristocrat jointly announced a recommended cash acquisition of the former in October 2021, at $9.22 per share. JKO Play threw its hat in the ring in November of the same year, leading to speculation of a standoff between the two contenders. At the time, Aristocrat made a firm statement of its intent, saying,

“Our long term engagement with regulators across key gaming jurisdictions together with strong financial fundamentals, deep customer relationships and established presence in global gaming markets positions us to complete the transaction as planned in the second quarter of the calendar year 2022.”

As it turned out, a bidding war never emerged with JKO’s somewhat baffling decision to concede, as the company’s CEO had reportedly already sourced adequate funding for his offer from PartyGaming director and co-founder, Vikrant Bhargava.

Aristocrat closed off by appealing to the shareholders who are still cagey regarding their positions on the proposed acquisition, advising them to vote in favour of its offer.

“Aristocrat also notes comments in Playtech’s announcement regarding a number of material investors who have not to date engaged meaningfully about their views on the recommended acquisition. Aristocrat urges all Playtech shareholders to vote in favour of the recommended acquisition at the relevant shareholder meetings to be convened on February 2,” the statement concluded.