Online Casino and Pokie Gambling News

Blackstone Group overcomes adversity to secure Crown Resorts purchase approval

April 1, 2022 by Admin

Blackstone Group has navigated past the last regulatory block in its way of proceeding with its acquisition bid for beleaguered Australian casino operator, Crown Resorts.

This was confirmed via a filing with the Australian Securities Exchange, where Blackstone was handed written confirmation from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB), confirming that the government was not opposed to the proposed buyout.

The FIRB operates as a non-statutory entity that advises the Australian treasurer and government regarding the country’s foreign investment policy.

This recent approval meets a key requirement of the scheme implementation deed previously publicised by the two parties. Crown has also advised that a scheme meeting with its shareholders will be held shortly.

Further Hurdles

Even with this approval in hand, various other conditions must still be satisfied for the acquisition to proceed. Crown’s shareholders must accept the offer and endorsements from gaming regulatory authorities and the courts must also be secured. Blackstone recently agreed to a $8.9bn takeover amount after sending various proposals to Crown.

Aside from the price, the offer came bundled with a series of conditions including, but not limited to, completion of expanded further due diligence, the establishment of a binding implementation agreement, and approval from casino regulators in Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia.

Crown recently re-stated its undisputed recommendation to shareholders to vote in favour of the deal, a sentiment previously shared by the company’s chair, Ziggy Switkowski who said,

“The Crown directors unanimously recommend that Crown shareholders vote in favour of the scheme, in the absence of a superior proposal and subject to the independent expert continuing to conclude that the scheme is in the best interests of Crown shareholders.”

A Murky Past

The Perth casino royal commission created to examine the affairs of the casino operator recently concluded that Crown Resorts is unfit to retain its gaming licence in Western Australia, instructing the company to undergo a two-year remediation exercise, supervised by an independent monitor.

The near 1000-page report detailed a series of concerning findings, including that Crown had failed to minimise gambling-related harm, allowed junkets with criminal associations to operate at its casino, and had not been transparent in its dealings with the state regulator.

Star Entertainment’s CEO falls on his sword

March 30, 2022 by Admin

Australian casino operator, Star Entertainment Group announced recently that its CEO, Matt Bekier had handed in his resignation as an investigation into alleged transgressions of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism laws at its properties gains momentum.

The public investigation has harmed the company’s fortunes, with its shares down a further 1.9% from an initial tumble of over 12% in 2022 alone.

An official statement revealed that Bekier had spoken to the board, saying that as the company’s managing director and CEO, he is ultimately “accountable for the effectiveness and adequacy of the company’s processes, policies, people and culture.” He added that hi taking responsibility was the correct thing to do.

Bekier’s immediate resignation came in the wake of testimony from the public hearings arranged by the official inquest that is particularly focused on the Star Sydney hotel and casino.

Dissecting the Truth

The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) initiated its probe in June 2021 after hearing that the casino was ignoring customer due diligence and breaking several laws.

The local media caught wind of a confidential review that condemned Star for failing to address fraud and money laundering at its two resorts.

Analysts from financial services firm, Jeffries, addressed the issue in a note, stating,

“If Crown Resorts is a guide, we have a long way to go which could involve further management/board change and the now, very real possibility of Star losing its licence to operate, which could conceivably dash plans for an additional 1,000 Electronic Gaming Machines in Sydney,”

The recently concluded inquiry into rival casino operator, Crown Resorts found the company unfit to hold a gambling licence in Western Australia but allowed the operator to retain its existing license.

Bekier, who previously served as the CFO of Star, has agreed to work alongside the board to ensure a smooth handing over of his executive responsibilities. The company advised that his precise departure date has not yet been decided.

Crown Resorts loses WA casino chances but retains licence

March 25, 2022 by Admin

Crown Resorts has been deemed unfit to operate a casino in Western Australia and has been given two years to get its affairs in order under the watchful eye of an independent monitor.

This finding and recommendation can be found in the final report recently issued by the royal commission appointed to investigate allegations of wrongdoing at the Perth casino.

Former Supreme Court justices, Neville Owen and Lindy Jenkins, and former WA auditor-general Colin Murphy are the three commissioners who were tasked with conducting the inquest who found that Crown Resorts and its subsidiaries enabled money laundering activities at the casino.

They detailed that Crown had not implemented systems to identify suspicious transactions and how junkets with criminal ties had been allowed to freely operate at the property.

Remedial Action

The report also revealed that Crown had failed to employ gambling-related harm minimisation measures and that it had not displayed transparency in its communications when dealing with the state regulator.

Apart from the findings, 59 recommendations were put forward with the revelation that there were “numerous deficiencies” in the WA’s gaming and wagering commission and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries’ oversight of the casino.

Remediation will follow for Crown and its subsidiaries and this process will be managed by an independent monitor over two years.

WA’s racing and gaming minister, Tony Buti, shared that the government is happy with the key recommendations and would amend the state’s casino laws accordingly.

In an interview with reporters, Buti said,

“It is clear that over decades, standards have eroded, integrity has been lost and the transparency of Western Australia’s casino operator has diminished. In many cases, Crown has demonstrated poor corporate citizenship.”

“It is a privilege to hold a gambling licence in Western Australia and the royal commission has shown that Crown has, at times, abused that privilege. Crown needs to do better but the state’s regulator also needs to do better,” he added.

Second Chances

Buti went on to defend the decision to allow Crown to keep its licence, explaining that the government is prioritising the employment of the close to 5000 staff at Crown Perth.

Crown’s CEO, Steve McCann, stated that said the company would cooperate with the state government to put the recommendations into practice and added that the company has already embarked on a profound transformation process.

“This includes investment in people, systems, processes, culture and a sharp focus on responsible gaming and the prevention of financial crime. Crown remains committed to continuous improvement across all facets of the business and is prioritising the delivery of safe and responsible gaming across all of our resorts, including Crown Perth,” he said in a statement.

Australian Capital Territory initiates pokies buy-back scheme

March 23, 2022 by Admin

Venues and clubs within the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) are to be offered a $15 000 government incentive for every poker machine authorisation that they are willing to surrender. The government has invested $1.74 million into this voluntary initiative that seeks to reduce the number of pokies in the territory by 116.

Once a venue has surrendered the authorisation certificates for all its pokies, it will be categorised as “pokie-free” and the incentive paid will be increased to $20,000 per surrendered authorisation.

Providing the fund is not exhausted before them, payments will be available until December 31, 2022.

Attorney general Shane Rattenbury commented,

“Community clubs should be a safe place for families and vulnerable people to meet and connect, but the exposure and access to electronic gaming machines can cause harm in our community. More than 15,000 Canberrans have experienced harm from their own gambling and 43,000 Canberrans have had a family member with gambling issues”

“Our community clubs play an important role in the social life of many Canberrans, so we want to continue supporting our clubs while reducing the harm from pokies, and I believe these surrender incentive payments can assist to achieve that,” he added.

This initiative was launched as a result of the tenth Parliamentary and Governing Agreement that prescribes the reduction of the number of gaming machine authorisations in the ACT to 3500 by 2025.

NSW community pokie grants in the balance

A recent investigation determined that close to 75% of the NSW government’s gambling revenue grant program has been funnelled into coalition electorates.

The study detailed that a large amount of revenue has been derived from Sydney’s southwest communities where pokies are abundant and $75 million of the $103.4 million program was channelled into Liberal and National electorates in NSW between 2013 and 2021.

Among the projects to receive funding were a $236,523 scenic garden pathway in the Southern Highlands, $142,675 for the replacement of an equestrian arena for a pony club in Terrigal, and an artist in residence sustainability project close to Nowra for $131,000.

A tenth of gambling profit grants was directed to clubs with pokies across NSW, of which over $1 million was allocated for “kitchen expansions, refurbishments and upgrades” and a “container kitchen/food truck” under the banner of “emergency relief”.

It was shown that over half a dozen electorates with high pokie numbers had inversely low socio-economic indicators. Areas like Bankstown, Cabramatta, Lakemba, Campbelltown, Prospect and Auburn were awarded little to no funds and these areas are also consequently mostly held by ALP politicians.

Out of the top 10 clubs in NSW for net profit per poker machine, nine are situated in these vulnerable areas.

Fair Go Casino invites you to its 5th birthday bash

March 18, 2022 by Admin

Fair Go Casino turns five this March and it is cementing its reputation as one of Australia’s best online casinos with a birthday celebration filled with gifts for you.

“Of course, there are going to be more hidden prizes, special rewards and promos to come. You just need to keep your eyes peeled over the next few weeks. So what are you waiting for? Come join the celebrations at Fair Go Casino,” the casino announced.

Gifts Galore

For five weeks. Fair Go Casino has over $30 000 in cash prizes up for grabs across thrilling raffles and tournaments.

Fair Go has established a generous and reliable reputation over the last 5 years, with regular promotions, rapid transactions, and friendly customer support. The casino is constantly looking to add much value as possible for players and recently introduced Freeroll Tournaments to boost engagement and excitement.

Fair Go is getting the party going with a $5000 Casino Guaranteed Freeroll Tournament where entry is free but you can use $10 add-ons to boost your winning chances.

Weekly Tournaments will happen throughout March with a $25,000 prize pot on the line when you play selected premium pokies including Cash Bandits, 5 Wishes, Hyper Wins, Lucky Catch, and Plentiful Treasure.

Ready to Raffle

Fair Go Casino’s birthday month gets progressively better with its weekly with an enhanced Anniversary version of its Fair Draw Raffle, a player favourite that dishes out generous prizes.

The first week’s prize is $100, the second week could see you win $200, week 3’s award is $500 and for week 4, $1000 is on the table. All it takes to stay in the running for the draw is $500 in deposits each week.

Fair Go Casino attracts thousands of players with a varied and vast selection of pokies and lucrative promotions and tournaments.

Rebecca Ryder, Fair Go Casino’s Manager encouraged players to take part in the celebration, saying,

“If you’re just as excited as us about our five-year Anniversary promos then now’s the time to play. Whether it’s our $5,000 Casino Guarantee Freeroll tournament or our doubled-up Fair Draw raffle, you won’t be short of cash to win. Of course, there are going to be more hidden prizes, special rewards and promos to come. You just need to keep your eyes peeled over the next few weeks. So, what are you waiting for, come join the celebrations at Fair Go Casino.”

Public hearings scheduled for Star Entertainment inquest

March 16, 2022 by Admin

Australia’s gaming regulator for the state of New South Wales recently proclaimed that it would be conducting public hearings to further its investigation into casino operator The Star Entertainment Group Limited.

In an official press release, the New South Wales Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (NSW ILGA) advised that the investigation into the owner of the Star Sydney venue has “so far largely been undertaken in private’ but is to now be moved into the public domain under the leadership of prominent local attorney Adam Bell as ‘witnesses should give evidence publicly.”

Intensified Efforts

The Star Entertainment Group Limited learned in October 2021 that its imminent five-year license review would be broadened to examine allegations that it may have been involved in money laundering activities. This intensified inspection began eight months after Crown Resorts Limited was barred from adding casino gambling to its new Crown Sydney facility due to a slew of proven transgressions.

Adam Bell, prominent equity, commercial and administrative law specialist, assumed control of The Star Entertainment Group Limited investigation following his stint as a senior counsel for the Crown Resorts license suitability enquiry.

Philip Crawford, the Chairman at the NSW ILGA announced in the press release that Bell has been tasked with investigating ‘a number of topics’ and will have all of ‘the powers, authorities, protections and immunities of a Royal Commission’.

Crawford added that this examination seeks to uncover if the Star Entertainment Group Limited has sufficient ‘anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing systems’ and whether it methodically scrutinizes and manages its relationships ‘with close associates, junket partners and high-rollers.’

“Bell’s review will consider how effectively The Star Sydney is complying with its statutory obligations and whether it remains suitable to hold a casino licence. This includes examining to what extent the casino is free from the infiltration of criminal interests such as money laundering and how well it is administering its obligations to minimise gaming harms,” he added.

Moving Forward

Crawford wrapped up his statement by advising that Bell can be expected to publish his findings by June 2021 and that the upcoming public hearings would be held virtually via video live streams.

“We have every confidence that the review will thoroughly investigate The Star Sydney’s current operations and compliance with its statutory obligations and make appropriate recommendations for remedial action if necessary,” he concluded.

Have a magnificent March with Microgaming’s new iGaming line-up

March 12, 2022 by Admin

You can always rely on Microgaming and its monthly content release announcement to create excitement and anticipation. This month is no exception with the iGaming powerhouse announcing a slew of titles from its stable of independent studios and content partners.

Snowborn Games introduces its new Masters of Valhalla slot on 24 March with high volatility gameplay that has the deities Thor, Odin, Hel and Freya lend you their mighty powers. Encounter expanding reels, multipliers, and symbol collection alongside the Wild God Respins feature that adds up to 19 wilds to the reel.

The cartoonish and intense 15 Tridents by PearFiction arrives on 8 March. Play on double reel sets with 1024 ways to win and fluorescent character symbols. Gather special tridents with the SwiftHits collection mechanic and win up to 10 000x your stake or land at least 3 Kraken-eye scatters for up to 25 free spins with sticky tridents.

SpinPlay Games explores lesser-known Greek mythology on 22 March in Amazing Link Fates. The sisters of fate spin the thread of humanity’s destiny and the tale of your fortune with past, present, and future free spins. Gather gleaming portals to rigger the Amazing Link feature with re-setting respins and special symbols that deliver you spectacular jackpot prizes.

Kings of Crystals by All41 Studios made its debut on 1 March and has been entertaining players with its high volatility gameplay and vividly detailed theme. Red, green, and blue crystal scatter symbols trigger 3 different free spins options. Combine multipliers, jackpots, and nudging wilds as you simultaneously trigger bonus rounds for a maximum win potential of 10 000x your bet.

Join Crazy Tooth Studios on its maiden voyage to the Emerald Isle in 777 Rainbow Respins on 10 March. Grab a free respin with every winning spin thanks to the RESPIN INSANITY feature and watch your bankroll grow with 2x and 5x multiplier symbols.

Continue your Irish exploration on 14 March with Gameburger Studios’ 9 Pots of Gold HyperSpins. Lucky Lad Flynn the leprechaun is back, bringing with him an improved HyperSpins mechanic and in-play bet adjustments for even more immersive interactivity.

Think of a combination of disco and casino and you’ll have some idea of what playing Triple Edge Studios’ new Cash ‘N Riches Megaways title. Set to release on 29 March release, this Megaways mechanic-enhanced pokie boasts a free spins feature with unlimited multipliers, Rolling Reels, and a pick-me jackpot game with rewards worth up to 5000x your bet.

Magic is at your fingertips on 3 March with the release of Foxium’s The Great Albini 2. The game’s magician protagonist is back in his second appearance to conjure up some brilliant wins with collectable Money Gems, and a free spins bonus round boosted by Albini Multipliers and Lily Extra Spins.

Join a Spanish conquistador as he braves the South American jungle on the hunt for riches in 1524 Golden Quest by Neko Games on 17 March. This video bingo experience plays out across 4 tickets and features jackpot prizes worth up to 5000x your bet.

Microgaming’s classic Lucky Leprechaun slot title is back with some lucrative enhancements. Lucky Leprechaun Clusters goes live on 15 March and integrates exciting new modifiers and the original Trail o’ Fortune bonus feature, a path laid with bet multipliers.

Turbo Auto Roulette is Real Dealer Studios’ modern take on a casino classic. The neon-tinged table game simulation launches on 21 March and features gameplay that moves at breakneck speed thanks to streamlined game rounds with autoplay and racetrack bets.

Unearth ancient Egypt’s treasures in Book of Raider by GONG Gaming Technologies on 28 March. Go Adventuring amongst the pyramids and dunes with free spins, expanding symbols, and the Royal League jackpot.

Microgaming’s partner network also joins in with a promising selection of premium iGaming titles.

Legend of Perseus by Gamevy has you face down mythical beasts on 03 March and keep your sword handy for Warrior Ways by Hacksaw Gaming on 29 March. Iron Dog Studio’s charmingly Irish Super Rainbow Megaways launches on 09 Marc while Big Time Gaming makes it a double with Diamond Fruits on 03 March and Apollo Pays on 16 March.

Playtech heads level disinformation accusations at Aristocrat over bid outcome

March 10, 2022 by Admin

Both the sitting and former CEOs at Playtech have alleged that Australian gambling firm Aristocrat Leisure and its advisory team ran a misinformation campaign to shield its offer for the UK-based gaming group. The executives have accused Aristocrat of sowing suspicions regarding an Asian faction of investors.

The Storm after the Calm

Up until now, Playtech’s former CEO, Tom Hall, had held his tongue, sharing none of his thoughts around the pitched acquisition bidding battle that raged in October 2021.

Media reports began popping up in early 2022, surmising that a group of Asia-based investors had been influenced by Hall to collectively block Aristocrat’s bid for Playtech.

These allegations emerged from a report by a private investigations company and caught the attention of the UK’s Takeover Panel which launched an inquiry into the process.

Hall, who was Playtech’s chief executive from 2003 to 2005, refuted the allegations, calling them “rubbish”. He shared that, in his communications with the Takeover Panel, several falsehoods regarding important details in the report had come to light.

“As I explained to the Takeover Panel, I said I had never heard of, spoken to these people or their advisers,” Hall explained in an interview with the Financial Times. He added that other information provided to the panel, including that regarding the timing of his purchase of Playtech stock, was also erroneous.

Mor Weizer who is the current CEO at Playtech confirmed that the failure of Aristocrat’s bid could have been caused by “other UK-based tier-one institutions, certain former employees of the company including certain people that are still involved with the company” who shared the belief that Aristocrat’s offer was inadequate.

Competitive Times

Playtech, a back-end software provider to some of the biggest gambling companies across the globe, has been relatively inert in the recent industry-wide race to consolidate as operators sought to overcome a wave of tightening regulations in key global markets and to exploit the opening up of the US and Latin American markets for legalised wagering.

Aristocrat received initial interest from TTB Partners, an affiliate of Playtech’s second-largest shareholder and Eddie Jordan, the former F1 boss.

Once the company’s board approved the 680p per share offer, Aristocrat noted that numerous investors began buying Playtech stock at over 700p per share, causing the slot machine manufacturer to suspect that a conspiracy had been formed against its bid.

Among those who acquired or increased their stakes are Paul Suen, a Chinese businessman known to have funded Birmingham City Football Club and the previous owner of Wigan Athletic, Stanley Choi. The regulatory filings also revealed purchases made by Dublin and Isle of Man-based investors.

The aforementioned report mentioned casts suspicion on some Hong Kong-based investors, alleging that they may have links to organised crime. Aristocrat has declined to offer any official response on the matter.

Hall, who is currently occupied with orchestrating a management buyout of Playtech, shared records of his transactions in Playtech shares for the past 3 years as well as any contact he had made with Playtech shareholders with the Takeover Panel. He further revealed that he owns 1.34% of the company.

According to reports from an individual close to the investigation, the panel was unable to identify any evidence that any Hong Kong-based investors addressed were working in collusion.

Adaptation

Hall stated that he had been opposed to Aristocrat and JKO Play’s plans to break up Playtech if they acquired the company and that after the bidding process had collapsed, he began discussions with previous bidder, TTB.

He stated that he had approached Weizer earlier in 2022 to help ease Playtech’s introduction to the newly burgeoning US market. Weizer holds personal licenses across several US states that aided Playtech’s latest launches in Michigan and New Jersey.

The current CEO admitted that the failure of the bid could end in his resignation after 17 years with the firm.

“I understand the consequences and I understand they are also quite dire if it doesn’t happen but at least I tried to do what is best for everyone involved,” he said.

The two industry heavyweights, with support from TTB and a couple of major UK and US financial institutions, have pledged that they will soon be tabling an offer to Playtech’s board that surpasses Aristocrat’s.

Pokie spend in Victoria reaches record levels

March 5, 2022 by Admin

Recent reports have revealed that Victorians spent more than ever on pokies in December 2021. The state’s poker machines took in $251 million, the highest monthly loss in Victoria’s history.

This figure surpassed the long-held previous record of $250 million from December 2008. At the time, the upsurge was largely attributed to the government’s distribution of stimulus payments in response to the global financial crisis.

The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission revealed that the state’s players lost $224 million in January 2022, seemingly in defiance of the impact of a record number of COVID-19 infections that month. Areas classified by the Australian Bureau of Statistics index of relative socio-economic disadvantage as ‘disadvantaged’, contributed most to the losses.

Brimbank Bleeds

Brimbank, Melbourne’s second-most disadvantaged local government area (LGA) and the third-most disadvantaged in the state had the highest losses, with over $42 million recorded from November 2021 to January 2022. Close to $15 million of this was lost in December alone.

Brimbank also has the unfortunate distinction of being the area worst affected by Omicron infections, with the highest rate and number of COVID-19 deaths in the state since December.

Five of Victoria’s 79 local government areas with poker machines contributed 25.81% to the state’s pokies losses over the past three months. These include Brimbank, Hume, Greater Dandenong, Whittlesea and Casey.

According to gambling reform advocates, around 40% of losses from electronic gaming machines are generated by high-risk gamblers. This suggests that reported gambling losses translate to a rough indicator of levels of gambling harm.

Changes on the Horizon

The Victoria government had previously announced that it would be re-forming its regulatory body, the Victorian Commission for Liquor and Gaming Regulation. This revelation came in August 2021, when the royal commission was in full swing. The government stated that the new body would receive broader oversight powers to enable it to better monitor and evaluate gambling harm minimisation measures.

The Chief Advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform, Tim Costello said,

“Yes, people are waking up to the harm being done by this predatory industry. Yes, the Victorian government has committed to first steps in holding Crown accountable. But what about the hundreds of millions lost every month in pubs and clubs? What action is being taken to address this crisis?”

Costello suggested measures like pre-commitment systems that force players to proactively place limits on their gambling spending, reduced opening hours for pokies venues, and banning losses disguised as wins.

Samantha Ratnam, the leader of the Victorian Greens, spoke grimly about the record losses, calling them “unfortunately really shocking but also not surprising”.

“The longer we wait to protect people from the predatory pokies industry, the more families are likely to be preyed upon and the more it’s going to cost Victorians,” she added.

The Greens have long stood in support of gambling harm minimisation measures, such as $1 bet limits, $20 pre-loading maximums and $500 jackpot limits.

NSW pub issued a $107,000 fine for gambling inducements

March 2, 2022 by Admin

A local pub in New South Wales (NSW) has been penalised by the state’s Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority. The venue is now liable for a $107 358.00 fine AS it was discovered that customers had been offered inducements to gamble.

It was uncovered that from 2017 to 2018, personnel at the Rose and Crown in Parramatta permitted at least $145,000 in credit and debit card withdrawals from the electric funds transfer machine at the bar. They are also said to have loaned patrons money from the establishment’s safe and handed out free alcohol and cigarettes to incentivise pokie players to stay longer.

Samantha Glynn, the pub’s general manager was discovered to have manipulated the poker machines’ payout systems by adjusting the values on leftover credit tickets and generating fake tickets. She is alleged to have made off with up to $400,000.

Glynn was suspended in the wake of the revelations and subsequently reported the venue to Liquor & Gaming NSW. The ensuing investigation uncovered several transgressions at the establishment and the matter was ultimately referred to the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority and NSW Police.

Criminal Culture

More of the pub’s seemingly complete disregard for authority came to light when the Rose and Crown was exposed for being in breach of the licence for positioning an ATM in the gaming room, as well as failing to make contact cards available to players, and displaying gambling-related signage and gaming machines within view of the outside of the hotel.

The venue was additionally found to have served alcohol and operated gaming machines outside of permitted trading hours on Good Friday.

The Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority’s $107,358 penalty was issued against the pub’s license while the manager, Paul Camkin, was slapped with a $10 000 fine and served with a 12-month suspension from being a licensee or an approved manager of a hotel.

Two of Camkin’s associates, Jason Marlow and Damien Kelly were issued reprimands and instructed to join their cohort in compensating the Authority for its investigation costs.

Glynn’s transgressions attracted more severe intervention. The general manager was charged with theft of $15,000 by the NSW Police and she received a sentence of an 18-month intensive correction order.

The Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority chair, Phil Crawford, weighed in on the unpleasant discoveries, stating,

“Staff used phantom transactions to mask cash withdrawals for gambling, but even more incredibly, they gave out loans from the safe. At one point a manager loaned a total of $8,000 from the pub’s safe to a patron who wanted to keep playing the pokies. A security guard also used the safe to loan $800 to another gambler.”

“The hotel was essentially facilitating cash advances for gambling via a system of fake transactions, and this is an obvious risk for problem gambling. Thanks to the tipoff from the general manager, we were able to step in and investigate the hotel, ultimately holding the licensee and its close associates to account,” he concluded.