Casino News Archives - Page 11 of 16

Australian watchdog empowered to combat illegal online gambling

November 25, 2019 by Admin

The powers of the communications watchdog for Australia are reportedly getting a serious upgrade that will allow it to battle the scourge of unscrupulous online gambling websites, via the use of local banning orders.
In a Monday story from The Guardian newspaper that referred to an earlier report from the Australian Associated Press news service, Australians regularly spend close to $280 million every year with foreign online gambling operators but often have trouble when attempting to recoup winnings and deposits.

Powerful proposals

The newspaper detailed how the improved powers due to be given to the Australian Communications and Media Authority would satisfy only one of three legislative recommendations that emerged following a 2015 nationwide review into interactive gambling. This evaluation was allegedly led by the former Premier of New South Wales, Barry O’Farrell, and contained 19 specific proposals on how the nation could more effectively combat predatory online gaming operators.

Permit prohibition

The Guardian reported that the Australian Communications and Media Authority will soon have the ability to conduct investigations into suspicious offshore online casino and sports betting sites and order local Internet service providers to block access if appropriate enforcement actions are not possible.

A welcome endowment

Nerida O’Loughlin, Chair for the Australian Communications and Media Authority, reportedly advised the news service that the improved powers are a vital tool in the quest to dismantle the presence of illicit online gambling as there is now ‘little to no recourse for consumers engaging with these unscrupulous operators’.
Apparently, some 65 illegal iGaming operators have ceased offering their services to gamblers in Australia since O’Loughlin’s organization began implementing a range of new enforcement rules in 2017.

A worthwhile fight

Paul Fletcher, Australia’s Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, revealed that offshore online gambling operations account for approximately $69 million in lost tax revenues annually and players often falling victim to fraud with these sites as opposed to legal online casinos, typically containing ‘very few if any, harm-minimization controls.’

ACT Gambling Survey results revealed

November 20, 2019 by Admin

New data relating to the gambling habits of the Australian capital state has been made public. The report was compiled by the Centre for Gambling Research and funded by The ACT Gambling and Racing Commission.

The survey took six weeks to complete and involved 10,000 adult residents of the ACT. Respondents were quizzed on their gambling habits while data on expenditure and possible harm was also collected.

CGR improved on the previous 2009 and 2014 surveys by making three major changes. Firstly, there was more emphasis on mobile phone numbers as opposed to landlines. Secondly, interviews were conducted in multiple languages and finally, the sample size was increased to 10 000.

Survey objectives

The stated major objectives of the survey were:

Establish the pervasiveness of problem gambling.
Use previous surveys to determine trends over time.
Discover the specific health and well-being needs of gamblers and non-gamblers alike.
Analyze the socioeconomic implications of gambling.
Explore the nuances of gambling harm.
Investigate the level of gambling harm throughout the ACT.

Participation in Gambling

60% of respondents admitted to participating in some form of gambling in the calendar year.
44% percent purchased a lottery ticket in the last year.
Just over 20% purchased a scratch ticket.
20% had interacted with an electronic gaming machine in the last year.
14% had wagered specifically on greyhound or horse racing.
10% had placed sports bets over the last year.
Australian males aged 18 to 44 were identified as the most likely to participate in gambling activities ranging from EGMs to table games.
64% of male respondents had participated in gambling. Female gamblers were not far behind with 56% engaged in gambling.
Residents between the ages of 45 to 59 were, overall, most susceptible to participating in gambling activities.
Interestingly, respondents who had never attended college were 39% more likely to gamble than those who had.
Native Australians were shown to be much more likely to take part in gambling than non-natives.

Rates of recurrence

33% of those who gambled in the last year did so less than 11 times.
27% gambled 12 or more times in the last year.
Men showed a higher prevalence of frequent gambling than women. Males under 30 were shown to be more regular gamblers.
The ACT’s most popular forms of gambling (in descending order of popularity) include lottery, horse/greyhound racing, sports betting, EGMs, scratch tickets and real money pokies.

Counting the cost

Overall gambling expenditure has declined since the 2014 survey.
Casino Canberra, conversely, showed a 47% increase in expenditure since the previous survey.
The average loss per ACT resident over the last year came to $699.
Male gamblers lost 2.5 times more than females.
Divorced gamblers’ losses totaled 3 times more than that of married individuals. Divorcees were also shown to have lost twice as much online as married respondents.

The growth of Problem Gambling

10% of those surveyed confirmed at least one symptom on the Problem Gambling Severity Index.
In perspective, this represents around 34,000 individuals of the ACT population who can be identified as problem gamblers or at-risk.
Problem gambling was 3 times more prevalent among ACT males than females.
Males under the age of 30 were identified as being much more at-risk than females. A lack of university education also seemed to correlate to a higher incidence of problem gambling.
The gambling activities most linked to addiction were casino table games, sports betting, informal games, and EGMs.

Online Gambling

9% of those surveyed reported gambling online in the last 12 months, this translates to around 68,000 players across the ACT population.
Males gambled online at twice the rate of females. Under 45’s were more likely to do so than their older counterparts.
No evidence was discovered to suggest a link between online gambling and an increase in problem gambling.

Finding Help

Only 24% of those who experienced problems with gambling sought help. The most common method is talking to a family member or friend.
In the previous 12 months, only 2% of the possibly afflicted sought any form of help.
10% of respondents who had experienced gambling harm did not know where to seek help. Non-natives and those aged above 60 were the most likely to fall into this category.
When asked where they might seek help, the most common answers from respondents were; the Internet (50%), problem gambling helpline (15%), and friends/family (12%).

Gambling in the public’s eye

Overall, those surveyed seemed to have a negative view of gambling. 64% felt negatively about EGMs, while almost 75% felt that online gambling was more likely than not to be harmful.
The idea of a pre-commitment scheme seemed popular, with 71% being in favour of such a policy with 13% disagreeing with 16% remaining undecided.
Most adults were not aware of the ACT’s a self-exclusion program, with only 33% of those surveyed knowing about it, while just 48% of EGM players were familiar with it.

Overall Conclusions

The survey concludes that members of the ACT have a high involvement in gambling. Males below the age of 45 are most drawn in; becoming problem gamblers at a rate triple that of their female counterparts.
Further to these issues, only 2% of those with a gambling problem seek help.
The Australian Capital Territory’s gambling culture is moving online. The 2014 survey revealed that 8% of survey participants had gambled online. In 2019, this figure had increased to 21%.
EGMs seem to remain the most damaging choice. Almost a third of EGM users were either at-risk or problem gamblers.
While EGMs are a major attraction, 64% of respondents displayed a negative opinion of them. Almost half of those surveyed also agreed that the maximum wager ($10) on these games should be reduced to $6.92.

Australia in Move to Block Illegal Gambling Sites

November 14, 2019 by Admin

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has warned Australian residents to remove all funds they may have currently held in offshore unlicensed gambling websites before access to them is shut off.

Sites that have been highlighted as taking bets from Australian players include Curacao based Emu Casino and FairGo Casino and are among the first such sites to be blocked at ISP level in Australia according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has said that they will request Australian Internet Service Providers to block identified gambling sites targeting Australian players, using powers provided to them by the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

Chairperson of the ACMA, Nerida O’Loughlin, commenting on the move, stated: “In many cases, these sites refuse to pay significant winnings or only a small portion.”

“Customers had also experienced illegal operators continuing to withdraw funds from their bank account without authorization. There is little to no recourse for consumers engaging with these unscrupulous operators. If you have funds deposited with an illegal gambling site, you should withdraw those funds now.”

“Many illegal offshore gambling websites target Australians by using Australian themes and images, such as the Australian flag and native animals.”

The Australian Minister for Federal Communications, Paul Fletcher, estimates that Australian players had access to over 1,000 unlicensed online gambling sites, causing the country to miss out on over $100m of tax revenues.

Fletcher commenting about the action to be taken by the ACMA, said: “Too often these offshore operators are defrauding Australians and their websites typically provide very few if any, harm minimization controls. Consumers have no recourse to retrieve their money.”

Fletcher also confirmed that the ACMA also had other powers at its disposal, such as issuing formal warnings and civil penalty notices, although he did admit that these were difficult to enforce against overseas operators.

Playtech and GVC change the game with innovative new Studio

November 9, 2019 by Admin

Gambling technology company Playtech announced a new partnership with Isle of Man gambling operator GVC Holdings and revealed plans to launch a dedicated Live Casino studio.

The project, named the Elevation Live Casino space, will be introduced via a staggered launch over the next two months. A major marketing campaign has been planned to ensure the Studio gains its due attention,

Elevation’s l initial offering includes five blackjack tables and a roulette wheel studio. Players can expect more versions of popular table games to be added in the near future.

Playtech have promised a “true visual spectacle” and an enhanced player experience by with a massive video wall displaying immersive visuals. The Elevation Live Casino studio plans to provide casino gaming content exclusively across GVC’s many gambling brands.

The Live Casino space launch is merely a component in Playtech and GVC’s long-term agreement which they signed this past February. The agreement will see Playtech supply technology and content across GVC’s gaming and sports betting brands.

By June of this year, the deal had already borne fruit with the provider’s online casino content launching across GVC’s businesses, including, but not limited to; bwin, partypoker, PartyCasino, and Sportingbet.

A unique casino experience

Playtech COO Shimon Akad commented on the upcoming launch of the Elevation studio, expressing delight at the extension of their long-standing partnership with the company that is “behind some of the most iconic brands in online gambling.”

Mr. Akad also noted Playtech’s significant investment in Live Casino technology and facilities, “so, in a year when we’ve done more than ever to enhance our product, it seems only fitting to be working with an industry leader to deliver an even more-innovative live experience.”

Over the past year, Playtech has launched several new games in an effort t to bolster its Live Casino content portfolio and has expanded its Live Casino presence in a number of new markets. In the third quarter of 2019, the company has already launched its first dedicated roulette table for the Spanish market as well as releasing a number of new games and variants. The new releases include Quantum Roulette, American Roulette, All Bets Blackjack, the revamped Hi-Lo Club, and Heads Up Hold’em.

GVC COO Shay Segev weighed in on the new offering, saying that “significant investment has gone into delivering this first stage of Elevation studio” Segev expressed satisfaction with the results as online gamblers are drawn to “more immersive, entertainment-driven” Live Casino experiences.

The Live Casino segment has revealed itself as one of the major growth areas in online gambling.

Survey shines light on downturn in New South Wales gambling rates

November 5, 2019 by Admin

The New South Wales government has revealed survey results that indicate that the proportion of regular gamblers has dropped by around twelve percent since 2011.

European Gaming Media and Events sent out a press release, detailing that only 53% of the 10,000 people surveyed had gambled over the previous twelve months to the end of January, this is in striking contrast to seven years earlier when the ratio stood at 65%.

Lotto on top

The New South Wales Gambling Survey was requested by the Responsible Gambling Fund and in its findings; lotteries remain the most popular form of gambling with approximately 37% of respondents admitting to purchasing lotto tickets in the last 12 months. Further to these findings, the investigation showed that 16% of those surveyed make use of real money gaming machines with both scratch-cards and race wagering at 13% and 9% of participants preferring Keno.

Sportsbetting uptick:

Despite the overall decline, sports betting was found to be the fastest-growing type of gambling. About 6% of respondents reported having recently placed a sports bet. The overall rate within the wider population of those who had developed a gambling problem was negligibly higher by 0.2% to end at around 1%.

A bird’s eye view:

The press release advised that the survey is designed to offer the New South Wales government a holistic perspective of the state of gambling, changes in gambling behaviours and the prevalence of problem gambling’ with region-specific information

Vulnerable youth

The survey revealed grim realities regarding the effect of gambling on the state’s youth, with 15% of those aged between 18 and 24 likely to find themselves in gambling-related trouble. This is significantly higher than the overall rate of 7.2%.

According to the press release, an amount in excess of $24 million is being set aside this year to bankroll ‘responsible gambling programs and initiatives’ that are designed to ‘prevent and minimize gambling harm.’

The release further stated,

“The New South Wales government is committed to preventing and minimizing gambling harm. The information gathered from this survey will inform prevention, education and treatment initiatives as well as policy development and regulatory efforts.”

Crown Casino’s woes pile up

October 25, 2019 by Admin

Melbourne’s Crown Casino’s year has been a challenging one and it’s about to get worse.

A series of events have led to numerous revelations about the shady activates happening at this iconic gambling destination.

Barangaroo Casino Tower

July brought the first wave of adversity to the casino’s doorstep when city officials in Sydney started raising objections about the $2.2 billion development in the suburb of Barangaroo.

Construction had already been in progress for 14 months with the completion date set for 2021. The Crown Sydney Tower was meant to be a 71-story structure, boasting both a casino and luxury apartments.

Then Crow’s plans for the venue raised the ire of the mayor and city council members. Their requests to reduce parking and add more apartments sparked a series of debates and public posturing.

Crown cast in a criminal light

Within a few weeks, numerous media outlets had gained access to leaked emails from Crown Resorts. The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, and 60 Minutes were among the media outlets releasing a series of damaging reports.

The reports laid bare Crown’s links with Chinese criminals, communist officials, and sex traffickers. A former Border Force head also claims to have been pressured by politicians who wanted a streamlined entry for Chinese high rollers coming to Australia.

Crown resorts refuted the allegations, but the casino was unable to contain the fallout as numerous politicians called for a thorough investigation.

Deals on ice

Melco’s planned purchase of a 20% stake in Crown in June, for $1.76 billion was of particular interest to Aussie officials, mainly because Melco is run by CEO Lawrence Ho.

Lawrence Ho is the son of billionaire and gambling legend Stanley Ho. His father is alleged to be involved in all manner of illegal activities and Australian officials have fought to keep his influence from entering their country.

Regulators from New South Wales launched an investigation, resulting in Melco suspending the proposed purchase for 60 days.

A whistleblower emerges

A chauffeur who works for Crown Casino recently emerged to add to the casino’s growing despair. He revealed to officials that employees were expected to follow “Crown law,” a set of rules that appeared to displace traditional Aussie law.

Employees were regularly asked to procure drugs and prostitutes for foreign high rollers. He further claimed that usual customs checks did not seem to apply to these individuals.

“Crown is a law unto itself. The laws that the rest of us have to follow mean nothing to Crown.” The driver testified.

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie and Victorian state MP Fiona Patten have motivated for a full inquiry into Crown’s activities. Other whistleblowers are likely to step forward as Crown feels the pressure.

A looming employee strike

As if their existing set of challenges wasn’t enough Crown Casino’s employees are poised to go on strike. United Voice, the worker’s union, is preparing a ballot that may allow for strikes as soon as November 1st. This would be the first-ever strike by Crown employees in 16 years.

Employees are demanding better pay and job security. They have also stipulated a new three-year agreement that includes a 5% wage increase for each year. Crown has tabled an offer of 2.5%, leaving negotiations in limbo.

An additional demand is the reduction of the time it takes to move from a casual to a permanent role. Currently, the process takes 24 months and 70% of the casino’s staff is made up of casual employees, according to a union report.

South Australia Mulls Gambling Reforms

October 15, 2019 by Admin

The South Australian State Parliament will be considering a proposed package of gambling reforms this week. The proposals, if approved, would have widespread effects on the state’s punters. The reforms remain a contentious issue, with vocal opponents vowing to halt them in their tracks.

The Proposals

The following proposals have been presented to the state for consideration:

Pokies would be able to accept banknotes instead of coins.
Rather than reducing the number of poker machines in the state, a maximum limit would be put in place.
Restrictions would be lifted, allowing access to gaming machines on Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Clubs would have fewer restrictions when performing certain functions including, club mergers and the transfer of gambling machines (such as video poker) between locations.
Venues would be able to indefinitely ban “problem gamblers”. Banned players would face having their winnings seized and donated to the Gamblers Rehabilitation Fund which would also absorb any unclaimed winnings.

Proponents and opponents

The reforms have found their biggest supporter in Attorney-General Vickie Chapman.

Chapman believes that the proposals will greatly assist in curtailing problem gambling in the state. “Through these changes, we’re looking to maintain support for our vibrant hospitality sector while ensuring there’s help available to those who are at risk,” said Chapman.

Chapman pointed out that allowing banknote-accepting machines would align South Australia with similar policies, adopted by other Aussie states as well as New Zealand.

Lawmakers have added their support, favouring the prospect of a reduction in the bureaucracy that clubs have to deal with. Paving an easier way for club mergers would also eventually reduce their total number.

It remains to be seen whether the proposals will survive the wrath of their fiercest detractors. Tim Costello of the Alliance for Gambling Reform called the banknote proposal “appalling.”

He drew comparisons between American gun laws and Aussie gambling laws. “It’s why going from coin-operated to cash is really like going from the ball-and-musket rifle in America – the Second Amendment right to carry a gun – to the semiautomatic and claiming the same right to carry a gun. That technology change makes no sense for liberty in America; here what South Australia is doing is just going backwards.”

Best MLC Frank Pangallo is standing in defiance, alongside Costello. In his opinion, the banknote reform is nothing less than “thoughtless, callous and heartless.”

Pangallo fears that the measure would “absolutely accelerate problem gambling.”

Another SA Best MLC Connie Bonaros has also joined the ranks of those opposed, pointing out that the coin-only policy has been the “single most effective harm minimization measure” currently in place. She accused members of the government of turning a deaf ear to gambling advocates and experts.

More than meets the eye?

Several journalists have speculated that ulterior motives may be at play. The working theory is that some parties may stand to gain from the reforms.

Records from the SA Electoral Commission clearly show that the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) has made a number of political donations. 2019 has seen the group donate more than $6,000 to the Labor Party and over $42,000 to the Liberal Party.

The AHA has lauded the proposals, eagerly pointing out the benefits to hotels, clubs, and legal casinos. The political donations have, however, left a cloud of suspicion hanging over the organization, as increased profits in the industry would offer a direct and immediate financial benefit to them.

New Pokie Releases from Microgaming

October 5, 2019 by Admin

Microgaming pokie fans will be thrilled with these new releases:

Banana Odyssey

Banana Odyssey is a space-themed game, set on the Banana planet. This exclusive title was created by Slingshot Studios who are also responsible for Zombie Hoard and Cash of Kingdoms.

In the game, two astro-chimps are on a space quest the Banana Planet’s legendary riches. This high energy, five-by-three reel, 10-payline online slot features free spins, expanding wilds and respins. This spacey slot takes players on an epic stellar journey for riches.

Buck and Chip are the astro-chimps piloting the craft in the game. When the wild symbol lands on one of the three middle reels and expands to fill the entire reel, it triggers the cosmic respin feature. When this feature is activated, the expanded wild remains locked in place as the remaining reels respin. Additional wilds present an opportunity to trigger even further respins, significantly increasing the potential for rewards.

Landing three scatter symbols on reels two, three and four triggers 10 free spins, with the potential for locked expanding wilds which astronomically boost win potential.

Aurora Wilds

Aurora Wilds, is the debut game from Neon Valley Studios, an independent exclusively developing for Microgaming.

The slot is a five-reel, ten-payline online slot set in the magical Pacific Northwest. Features include expanding wilds, respins, bi-directional paylines, and the Jackpot Wheel, Stunning visuals of the Northern Lights feature in the backdrop.

Totem animals prance along the reels as wild symbols appear on reels two, three and four. When the wild symbol lands, it expands to fill the entire reel, locking into place and awarding a free respin. A total of three successive respins can be triggered as additional wilds land during the feature.

The game’s ambiance is completed by ethereal music that perfectly matches the visual theme players will note a change in the music when three scatter symbols land to trigger the Jackpot Wheel, which guarantees one of four jackpot prizes, awarding up to 2,000x the player’s bet.

If you enjoy games with expanding wilds, like the Ariana pokie, you should definitely give Aurora Wilds a try!

Tweet Hearts

Tweet hearts features nesting love birds against the backdrop of a leafy paradise. This five-reel, 17-payline slot features lush jungle visuals with brightly coloured parrots to delight the senses. Brand new features can be found nesting in this title, including the Double Lucky Line, Random Wilds, free spins and three different types of wild symbols.

The Double Lucky Line, perches on the middle row across all five reels. When double symbols land on the Double Lucky Line, they are counted as two symbols for any winning combinations or free spin symbols.

The Random Wild feature is sure to ruffle feathers in a good way. When this feature is active, two to six symbol positions turn into wild symbols before the spin stops. Free spins are triggered when five or more free spin symbols land, immediately awarding 10 free spins. For each additional free spin symbol, an extra spin is awarded, up to a maximum of 25 spins in total.

During the free spins round, Lucky Wilds unlock extra double positions throughout the reels and award additional free spins. These transform into a double position for the duration of the free spins feature, increasing the potential for incredible rewards.

Book of Oz: Lock ‘N Spin

Triple Edge Studios has unlocked a brand-new chapter of its Book of Oz series with a five-reel, ten-payline, and high-volatility online slot. All the magic and compelling playability of the original game, feature in this title, released in December last year. The new title boasts thrilling new features including the Hyperspins™ Lock ‘N Spin and 2nd Chance.

The Hyperspins™ Lock ‘N Spin feature within the base game allows players to lock up to four reels and then re-spin for a chance at a bounty of winning. An additional Free Spins feature may also be triggered. Locking reels is a vital strategy for players to achieve near wins or activate the five Book scatter symbols, which have their own set of lucrative rewards to offer.

Book symbols serve as a wild and scatter, either helping players to conjure a winning combination, or triggering free spin rounds. Finding three, four or five Book symbols launches the Free Spins feature, rewarding 10, 12 or 25 free spins respectively. The Book of Oz’s true treasure is the wizard symbol, a real-cash bonus that pays out 5000x your line bet, if you land five of a kind.

A magical new 2nd Chance feature enhances the already spectacular free spins by allowing players to lock the original symbol in place or to take a chance with a reshuffle for a special expanding symbol upgrade. The special symbol boosts the players luck across the reels, enhancing the potential to win by up to 5000x the initial bet. If three or more Book symbols are obtained within the free spins feature, further free spins are gifted to the lucky player.

Boom Pirates

The stunningly rendered and animated crew of a pirate ship, helmed by Captain Mary, make for a compelling pokie packed with a bounty of treasures, including the all-new Wonderways™ and Foxify™ features.

Raid the treasures of the oceans with the Boom Pirates feature powered by Wonderways, during which cannon fire transforms the five-by-four reel grid into astonishing nine-by-six reels, offering over 10 million ways to win.

The Foxify feature boosts players’ chances of triggering three swashbuckling features; raising the initial wager by 50%.

Captain Mary randomly makes an appearance in the game to turn non-winning spins into a five-of-a-kind winning combinations.

When the captain gets her pirate crew fired up, YO-HO-HO scatter symbols land on reels one, three and five. Finding all three symbols will activate free spins, launching an intriguing treasure hunt. When the Boom Pirates cannon is fired, activated Wonderways remain open for the duration of the free spins. This combined with the fact that any three scatters landing offer an additional five free spins, provides the potential for huge rewards.

Players with an extreme hunger for gold can purchase free spins for the pirates’ price of 100x the initial bet. The buy-in feature lets scurvy seafarers pillage free spins at any time they choose during the game.

Tabcorp scores new multi-year agreement with NFL; named Official Wagering Partner in Australia

September 29, 2019 by Admin

Australia’s leading diversified gambling entertainment group, Tabcorp Holdings Limited (ASX: TAH), has entered into a new wagering partnership with the National Football League (NFL).

The Melbourne-headquartered gambling company announced the multi-year agreement that will see it become the NFL’s Official Wagering Partner in what is the largest country in Oceania.

“Our goal is to support the growing appetite for the NFL in Australia.“

According to the company’s official news release…

…the ground-breaking partnership will enable Tabcorp (TAB) to “create unique NFL content and experiences for Australian fans across its digital platforms and venues” and combines its status as the country’s biggest multi-channel wagering brand with the professional American football league’s position as the “premier global sporting brand.”

Partnership details:

TAB and the NFL will additionally meld to promote the league’s official Pick’em free-to-play football game, via the Nflpickem.com.au domain, which will give fans in Australia the opportunity to win weekly prizes.

A grand prize trip to the Pro Bowl, which for the fourth consecutive year will see the AFC battle the NFC at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida on Jan. 26, 2020, will also be up for grabs.

Additional terms of the partnership deal include Tabcorp and satellite television channel, Sky Channel, streaming NFL Network and (six hours) NFL RedZone programming along with one NFL game per week to its commercial network of over 4,400 clubs, pubs and TAB agencies.

Support NFL popularity:

Commenting on the recent tie-up, Managing Director Wagering & Media for Tabcorp, Adam Rytenskild, said…

“We are proud to bring Australians NFL action to enhance our existing sports offering to customers and venues and complement Sky’s unrivalled coverage of Australian and international racing. Our goal is to support the growing appetite for the NFL in Australia. This gives fans more value in line with our strategy of using our assets to create unique experiences for customers.”

For its part, NFL Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy & Growth Officer, Christopher Halpin, said that they [NFL] look forward to working with Australia’s leading operator.

“We are excited about our growing popularity in Australia and this partnership will help further serve our fans there,” said Halpin.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed in the Wednesday news release.

AGA sports betting survey:

According to a new survey recently released by the American Gaming Association(AGA), 38,000,000 American adults, 15% of the adult population in the U.S., plan to wager on NFL games this season. And that American sports bettors have legally wagered more than $10 billion since last year’s invalidation of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which had largely limited sports wagering to land-based casinos in Nevada.

Legal sports betting has grown exponentially since PASPA and after decades of the NFL’s longstanding antiquated public stance on sports betting and that legalization would compromise the integrity of the game, the league has embraced gambling.

Marketing spend:

Just days before the NFL concluded its 99th season, American sponsorship consulting and valuation firm, IEG, announced that marketing spend on last season’s edition of the NFL increased by some 5.1 percent year-on-year to reach $1.39 billion thanks in part to an increase in the value of deals the sport inked with firms involved in real money casinos and sportsbetting.

NFL sponsorship deals:

In January, the NFL inked a historic agreement with Caesars Entertainment, naming it its first ‘official casino sponsor.’ The gaming and hospitality corporation founded in 1937 has relationships with seven NFL Clubs, including the Oakland Raiders (soon to be the Las Vegas Raiders), Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears and the Baltimore Ravens. How’s that for embracing?

Meanwhile, last month, Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Ltd. announced a new multi-year sponsorship agreement making it the Official Casino Partner of the NFL in Canada. The Burnaby-headquartered gaming and entertainment company operates 27 gaming properties in British Columbia, Ontario, and Edmonton, Alberta.

Crown Casino under Investigation by New South Wales Regulator

September 25, 2019 by Admin

Crown Casino Limited faces an unsure future after the launch of an inquiry by the Eastern New South Wales gaming regulatory agencies. The inquiry will seek to determine whether the local casino operator has acted in contravention of its license conditions. Crown Casino has sold approximately 20 percent of its stake to its Asian partner, Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited.

The New South Wales Liquor and Gaming Authority announced that the investigation would determine whether the deal breaches the license terms of Crown Casino. Former judge, Patricia Bergin is serving as the investigation head and will determine if Crown Casino or its subsidiary are still entitled to their Barangaroo license.

The Barangaroo casino, which is still under construction near the Sydney Harbour Bridge, is an important project for Crown as its intention was to attract international casino buffs to Australia. There is now a chance that this venue may never open its door to the public.

Star, Crown casino’s main competitor, will be keeping a close watch on this inquiry as Patricia Bergin will also be examining the suitability of the licensing laws of New South Wales in a changing environment.

James Packer is likely also holding his breath as he has already sold approximately half of his stake to Melco and has to wait for the inquiry to conclude before he can transfer the remaining stake.

A thorough investigation

Patricia Bergin will be using the accusations leveled against Crown, published in the media, to inform her opinion on the matter. According to 60 Minutes, a current affairs TV program, the affiliates, agents and subsidiaries of Crown Casino are in contravention of the terms of the gaming license and are in alliance with operators who are associated with money launderers, organized crime groups as well as drug and human traffickers.

Bergin is also obliged to investigate whether Hong Kong Casino Magnate, Lawrence Ho or other key partners who will become partners of the Crown Resort as a result of the deal, are of good repute or whether they are at all linked to any other individuals, agencies or authorities who have a negative reputation in respect to integrity, honesty, and character. Whether they have objectionable or unacceptable monetary sources will also be scrutinised.

The Barangaroo license contains a provision which has banned the father of Lawrence Ho and a few other members of the Ho family from having any involvement with Barangaroo. Lawrence Ho’s father, Stanley, is suspected of having close relationships with organized crime, an accusation he has consistently denied.

A list of banned individuals and operators was declassified on 8 August, in the NSW parliament after independent upper house MP Justin Field demanded it be made public. Lawrence Ho’s name is mentioned, bringing to light the fact that he purchased 20 percent of the stake from James Packer while being restricted from conducting business in Barangaroo.

Melco’s association with this project is also concerning because of its association with Great Respect, a barred agency. The exposure of this document is ultimately what triggered the NSW Government to launch the investigation.

Crown Resort has committed to offering its full cooperation with the investigation. This is not the first time that the share transaction has faced opposition. James Packer and Lawrence Ho have previously had to wait for three states in Australia to sanction the deal.

The share deal, which constitutes a $1.75 billion payment for a 20 percent stake of Crown, was a two-part arrangement. The initial transaction happened June and the second part was due to be concluded by the end of September. Lawrence Ho, at the time, erroneously stated that it would not need any approval from regulatory bodies to be completed.

The agreement has now been amended to include a requirement of approval from the concerned agencies in New South Wales.

Australia is a prime destination for gambling enthusiasts from around the world and the country wishes to ensure that they maintain a reputation for having a fair and crime-free gambling industry.

Suspended animation for Crown Sydney

Crown Sydney was due to open its doors in 2021. The company’s hope was to establish a successful sister site to t the Crown Perth facility, which is situated in Western Australia and Crown Melbourne in Victoria.

Crown Sydney will be the second legal casino in the stat, joining ‘The Star in an effort to attract customers from the region. In contrast to The Star, Crown Sydney’s focus will be squarely on attracting VIP’s and high rollers. The massive 75 floor, 350 room casino is designed to attract affluence.

Gamblers may never get to sample the exclusive delights of this new venue, depending on the outcome of the inquiry. All Crown’s stakeholders can do at the moment, is hope for the best.