First, the time. Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, marks the one-year anniversary of legalized sports betting in the Sunflower State.

“Now, for us as a full resort destination, we get a whole new group of folks coming in to watch games, and it’s allowed us to introduce them to what we have here at the Kansas Star,” Doug Lang, the property’s vice president and general manager told the local NBC affiliate.

In the 12 months since the first sports bets were placed, the Kansas City Lottery reports about $6 million in revenue, which brings us to the second measure of sports betting — impact.

Show Me the Money

To be specific, the tax dollars generated by the first fiscal year of sports betting in Kansas came to $5.8 million, according to figures released by the Kansas Lottery.

Fiscal year totals for Kansas sports betting came to $1.67 billion in handle between July 2022 and June 2023. Kansas sportsbooks generated $149.1 million in revenue.

Analysts say summer months are typically slower with fewer sports betting options, but add that the beginning of football season generally creates dollars and excitement.

The amount of taxes paid under Kansas tax gambling laws depends on annual income and tax brackets. On big wins, the Kansas Lottery withholds a flat rate of 5% to cover state tax.

Sports Wagering Influence

As previously mentioned, the third measure of the impact of legal sports betting is the influence. Specifically, the influence on neighboring states, which Casino.org has covered extensively.

Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri are separate incorporated cities that, together, make up the Kansas City Metropolitan area.

While the Missouri State House has passed legislation in the past two years bills to legalize sports betting, the bills have stalled in the Senate.

Now, some lawmakers and sports organizations are pushing for a 2024 ballot initiative placing the matter before voters if the legislature fails to act this session.

Missouri is also bordered by other states that have acted to legalize sports wagering, including Kentucky, where sportsbooks open at the end of September, as reported by Casino.org.

The ripple effect is even more noticeable when looking at the interactive sports betting map maintained by the American Gaming Association.

The post Kansas Marks One Year of Legal Sports Betting appeared first on Casino.org.

A Circuit Court judge ruled in favor of the city’s petition to hold another casino referendum on November 7. The judge’s ruling is in response to a local nonprofit group’s motion to stop the referendum. As Casino.org reported earlier this month, Richmond Lodge No.1 of the Good Lions, Inc., argued the new casino would damage the nonprofit’s income. The group hosts charitable gambling twice a week.

The judge essentially ruled the government action isn’t fairly traceable to the alleged harm.

State Sen. Chap Peterson (D-Richmond) represented Good Lions in court and called the judge’s decision “unfortunate.”

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney issued a statement saying the casino would “change the economic trajectory of the Southside for years to come.”

So now, the decision for a new casino is once again in the hands of voters. A ballot initiative was narrowly defeated in 2021. Since then, city leaders have been pushing for a new ballot initiative.

What’s at Stake

If voters approve the referendum in November, Churchill Downs Inc., in partnership with Urban One has agreed with the city of Richmond to build a $562 million entertainment and gaming venue.

The venue would create thousands of jobs, according to officials from Churchill and Urban One. And, as reported by Casino.org, city officials believe the project would generate some $30 million in annual tax revenue.

Richmond is the last of five economically challenged Virginia cities to vote on a casino referendum. The Virginia General Assembly allowed Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Richmond to have one commercial casino per locality if voters approved.

The location of the new complex, if approved, would be adjacent to a Phillip Morris manufacturing campus along I-95.

How We Got Here

In June, all but one member of the Richmond City Council agreed to add the casino to the ballot. But this time around, the partnership was updated.

The original proposal in 2021 was a joint venture between Urban One and Peninsula Pacific Entertainment. Churchill Downs, as reported by Casino.org, acquired PPE last year.

The 2021 referendum failed by a 51-49% margin.

The post Richmond Casino Project to Remain on November Ballot appeared first on Casino.org.

Commercial and tribal operators reported $176.1 million combined gross revenue, according to the MGCB. That tops June’s total of $169.3 million, overcoming a month that can typically show a summer slump.

Meanwhile, Michigan’s sports betting receipts for July came to $22.5 million compared to $18.3 million in June.

The MGCB also breaks down July numbers in combined adjusted gross receipts (AGR) for internet gaming and sports betting, which comes in at $154.6 million. IGaming contributed $138.2 million of that total, with sports betting at $16.4 million.

The AGR numbers released by the MGCB show an 18% bump in online gaming and a 16.8% increase in mobile sports betting compared to July 2022.

Michigan Sports Betting Competition

Total sports betting in Michigan, including online and in-person betting, came in at $208.8 million. There’s been no summer slump for Michigan sports betting apps either, as 96% of bets were placed online. Great Lakes State sports betting apps accepted $200.8 million.

BetMGM was Michigan’s third most popular sports betting app in July, with $32.9 million in handle.

The state collected a total of $1.5 million in sports betting taxes in July.

Land-Based Gaming Increased Too

The MGCB released a separate report for physical casinos earlier this month. Detroit’s casinos reported a monthly revenue of $107.2 million, with most of that attributed to table games and slots at $106.7 million. Retail sports betting added an additional $477,543 to the total.

Among the three Detroit casinos, MGM Grand Detroit topped the group with 47%, followed by MotorCity Casino at 29% and Hollywood Casino at Greektown at 24%.

In its August 15 meeting, the MGCB unanimously approved the three authorized Detroit casinos a one-year license renewal.

“Renewing a casino license reflects an ongoing commitment to operate a reputable and responsible establishment,” MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams said. “It signifies a dedication to maintaining high standards of quality, security, and fair play within the industry. The renewal of these licenses is validation of the casinos’ commitment to operating as responsible and valued corporate citizens within Michigan that contribute positively to the state’s gambling industry while ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all patrons.”

Licensees are taxed at an 18% rate.

The post Michigan iGaming and Sports Betting Surges this Summer appeared first on Casino.org.

“BetMGM is a proven brand in the sports betting and iGaming space, and we look forward to welcoming international players into our platforms designed specifically for them,” said MGM Resorts CEO and President Bill Hornbuckle. “Today’s announcement represents a key step forward in our international growth strategy, which has been advancing rapidly since our acquisition of LeoVegas.”

MGM Resorts, a land-based gaming giant, acquired the Swedish gaming company LeoVegas and its technology and platform last year for $604 million.

The new UK offering includes new product features, according to Hornbuckle, including frequent and large-scale jackpots, loyalty rewards, exclusive sports promotions, and slots. The product is currently available for desktop and mobile web, with mobile apps planned for mid-September.

Partnerships and Geography

BetMGM and its new UK foray features its partnership with LeoVegas, which is currently growing and employs more than 1,000 people in Europe. It offers online casino, live casino, and sports betting via 10 brands in nine jurisdictions.

As reported by Casino.org, there’s been talk of a BetMGM takeover of Entain, particularly after reporting positive Q2 earnings and results for the first half of the year.

Projections from the company are also positive for the back half of 2023.

As for the UK launch, the company says the new sports and casino experience leverages the BetMGM brand and best-in-class traditional entertainment from the MGM Resorts Las Vegas category to deliver an engaging and secure online experience.

Attraction to the UK Market

The United Kingdom online gambling market was valued at $7.8 billion US in 2022.

We’ve had great success in the US and Canada with our BetMGM brand, and we’re confident we can duplicate that success in other markets, starting with the UK,” said Gary Fritz, president of MGM Resorts International Interactive. “The UK is a mature online gaming market and we believe the BetMGM brand will provide distinct relevance to both sports bettors and iGaming consumers,” concluded Fritz.

Projections of the UK online gambling market growth remain strong, with an $11 billion value by 2028. That’s a projected compound annual growth rate of 5.4% between 2023-2028.

The post BetMGM Now Live in the UK appeared first on Casino.org.

Casinos posted more than $82.8 million in taxable revenue for the month, which is an improvement over the May downturn. May, by the way, posted the lowest total for the year at just over $80 million, down from April’s $86.4 million. June’s $82.8 million is also up from $81.5 million in the same month last year.

The state’s four casinos offer slot machines and table games, including blackjack. There are also seven racinos in Ohio. Those are the gambling houses at horse racetracks that can only offer slot machines. The racinos brought in $110.3 million, up from $107.7 million.

Taken all together for the first six months of 2023, Ohio’s gambling establishments are ahead year over year. So far, the casinos and racinos reported $1.21 billion in gambling revenue, up from $1.17 billion through June of last year.

Ohio Sportsbook Slump

Ohio sportsbooks recorded their slowest month to date in June. The Ohio Casino Control Commission says the 18 online sportsbooks and the 14 retail venues took in $362.1 million total handle, and $32.6 million in combined revenue. The handle is down nearly 19% from May with revenue down more than 43%.

June slowdowns can be common in states with legalized sports betting, with a slower sports calendar being one possible reason.

Ohio appears comparable to neighboring Pennsylvania, with both states following the top sports betting states of New York, New Jersey, Illinois, and Nevada.

June Slumps, but Momentum May Return

For the first six months of the year, Ohio reported fairly impressive numbers when taken all together. The Buckeye State reached a combined total of $3.82 billion in handle and $539.4 million in revenue.

The state received about $54 million after a 10% tax rate. But starting July 1, as a result of action by the legislature and Governor Mike DeWine (R), the rate will double to 20%. There’s also the return of the NFL not too far on the horizon.

Bet365 takes third place in Ohio, followed by BetMGM, Ceasars Sportsbook, and Barstool Sportsbook.

Fanatics Sportsbook, the newest entrant in Ohio, was the one online operator showing more activity than the month before. It’s gradually ramping up in the state in advance of football season.

The post Ohio Casinos Gain While Sports Betting Misses the Mark appeared first on Casino.org.

Betting options are slated to become more abundant over the course of the year, as the state Gaming Commission issues at least two licenses for downstate casinos. It is widely expected that one will be at Empire City Casino in Yonkers (owned by MGM) and the other at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens (owned by Malaysia-based Genting).

As such, we’re giving them some ideas. That’s while imploring the State Gaming Commission to adopt some of the measures being proposed by Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow that we have reported on here.

The Tier One Companies

DraftKings Sportsbook: Please ease up on the make-your-own parlay rules. Earlier this NBA season, this writer was able to parlay a certain player getting a triple-double with another player getting a double-double. Now, those parlays are no longer allowed. The ready-made, same-game parlays are OK.? But they take the choices out of the hands of the gamblers who do their homework on this stuff.

FanDuel Sportsbook: This piece of advice goes for all nine of the NY books: offer something to existing customers. DK does it better with opt-ins that are available on a daily basis (today’s is a weeklong NBA pick ’em pool). FanDuel’s home page has only one offer — refer a friend, and both of you will get $50 in bonus bets. Memo to FD: everyone who wants to gamble in New York (and in many of your other markets) is already gambling. There is a limited pool of new customers available.

BetMGM: Please put a little public pressure on state legislators to issue the first two downstate casino licenses. This would allow BetMGM to open a sports betting lounge at the old Yonkers Raceway. Under current rules, the commercial casino license must be issued first before construction could begin on a sports betting parlor at Empire City Casino. Getting things done in New York doesn’t have to take forever. And video lottery terminals are no fun.

The Tier 2 Sportsbooks

Caesars Sportsbook: The ready-made parlay options and boosts are more extensive here than the ones at DraftKings and FanDuel. But the rewards options are too few and far between. Also, please hire a site designer who can make the sportsbook site easier to navigate. No scroll bar on the right side of the page? Really? It’s not that difficult.

PointsBet.com: We used to love the “Name a Bet” option because it worked, and we could get action on bets that we couldn’t find elsewhere. But that component has become nonfunctional in terms of getting a “Name a Bet” placed on the betting menu. Our last several attempts have failed. Also, why not make customer service agents available by phone, as they are in New Jersey? One of the books could do this unilaterally instead of waiting for the state to mandate it.

BetRivers.com: These folks seem to have some sharp traders setting their lines. It used to be the wagering lines at BetRivers were out of touch with reality, and thus good for the gambler. Over the past six months, that has changed. That’s good for the book, but not great for the gambler, as we pointed out in this article about Yankees future betting. Keep up the good stuff on social media.

Houston with the catch of the season and it's only February pic.twitter.com/y487Tm4GQx

— BetRivers Sportsbook (@BetRivers) February 26, 2023

The Tier Three Sportsbooks

WynnBet: Open the company wallet, please. Right now the best offer out there at WynnBet is to make a bet for $100 with odds -120 or greater and get a $5 free bet. Perhaps y’all haven’t heard, but $5 does not get you what it once did. Customer loyalty is built off of treating your customers better than the competition does. That is lacking here.

ResortsWorld Bet: We’re big fans of your poker room in Monticello, and its attached sportsbook, which is the place closest to New York City (excluding the Meadowlands) where someone can participate in the communal gambling experience. This company is owned by Genting, which also owns Aqueduct Racetrack and will likely be getting a downstate casino license. Offering a free hoodie in February was cool. Please offer something better in March.

BallyBet: Please offer futures markets. Y’all have been online since July, and we understand the whole Sinclair/ Diamond disaster and how it’s impacting regional sports networks. Still, that dysfunction shouldn’t bleed over into the sports gambling business. If things are that bleak, please try to find a way to sell your New York license to BetFanatics.

The post New York Sportsbook Changes Needed in 2023 – Opinion appeared first on Casino.org.

Goranov allegedly used his position as a high-ranking government official to line his own pockets. The US and the UK assert he accepted millions of dollars in order to facilitate approvals by Bulgaria’s State Gambling Commission.

The updated Magnitsky list includes three other former government officials: former energy minister and former deputy Rumen Ovcharov, Ivan Genov, and Alexander Nikolov. Also joining them is Nikolai Malinov, who is accused of espionage in favor of Russians.

Widespread Corruption at Highest Levels

The US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) defines Goranov as a person “responsible for or complicit in, or has directly or indirectly participated in, corruption, including misappropriation of government assets, expropriation of private assets for personal gain, corruption related to government procurement or the extraction of natural resources, or bribes.” The former minister’s company, Trilema Consulting, is also on the sanctions list.

The US Department of the Treasury is sanctioning corrupt individuals from the elite of the entire political spectrum in Bulgaria,” said the OFAC announcement.

The sanctions against Goranov were made possible following coordination with the UK, which introduced its own sanctions against three of the first names to appear on the Magnitsky list, Delyan Peevski, Ilko Zhelyazkov, and Vasil “The Skull” Bozhkov.

All three have alleged ties to Goranov. In 2021, the US accused them of corruption. But the Bulgarian prosecutor’s office didn’t support the charges.

The trio allegedly abused their power by diverting state funds for their own benefit. They received travel bans and had their assets frozen under the UK’s global anti-corruption sanctions regime.

OFAC also imposed sanctions on four legal entities owned or controlled by Malinov. It also targeted a company Goranov either owned or controlled.

The Magnitsky Act was created in 2012 in response to the death of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky.?His death three years earlier in a Russian prison was reportedly orchestrated by government officials.

The Magnitsky Act sought to punish alleged human rights offenders and those who participated in government corruption.

A Tangled Web

The main clue to Goranov’s corruption, according to media reports, centers on a scandal involving financial improprieties at the country’s largest private lottery. Bozhkov owned the company and reportedly skipped out on BGN600 million (US$328.2 million) in gambling taxes and fees.

The Bulgarian prosecutor’s office did not investigate allegations of racketeering Borisov and Goranov made against Bozhkov.

Bozhkov won a government-led case late last year that sought to force him to pay US$169 million in outstanding taxes for his Eurofootball betting company.

Espionage, Corruption, and More

Malinov made headlines in 2019 when authorities arrested him for alleged espionage in favor of Russia. The case against him is still in progress.

Authorities further assert there was evidence of an attempt to create a pro-Russian party and media channels in Bulgaria to spread propaganda.

In a recent public appearance, US Ambassador to Bulgaria Herro Mustafa said the country remains in the grip of corruption and oligarchs. She added that there has been little progress in combating the ongoing corruption.

The post US Sanctions Ex-Bulgarian Finance Minister For Gambling Favors appeared first on Casino.org.

Only months after 888 Holdings completed its acquisition of William Hill’s non-US assets, it continues to reshape the sportsbook. Starting with a test in Leeds, 888 wants to determine if it can offer a fully digital land-based betting experience.

The eco-friendly, paperless approach to sports betting might catch some bettors by surprise at first. But 888 is confident it’s covered all bases. Should the Leeds pilot goes well, it could introduce the concept across its entire footprint.

Committed to Going Green

Walking into the shop, bettors will find an array of digital solutions. Among the first that will likely stand out are the new real-time research tables. These allow customers to catch up on the latest betting data and news from Racing Post via the platform’s online edition.

The research tables share a space with a real-time dashboard that allows customers to see if they have overstayed their welcome at the sportsbook. This responsible gaming solution goes hand-in-hand with the “Own Your Game” space, where bettors can talk privately to staff about gambling harms.

There are also cameras placed strategically that allow William Hill to gather information on bettors’ targets in the shop. In addition, the company is testing the use of body cams to enhance security.

Being inside the retail shop doesn’t mean bettors can’t use their online accounts to follow the action and place wagers. In the event someone forgot to charge their cell phone before leaving home, the sportsbook has installed charging stations so they can stay connected.

The redesigned sportsbook opened this past Saturday and it apparently went well. William Hill UK retail director Garry Fenton sees a bright future for the concept, and said in a statement that additional launches are now in the works.

Glasgow Transformation Could be Next

The next shop to undergo a transformation will reportedly be a William Hill shop in Glasgow, though there are some potential complications.

The Glasgow World reports the company will give up its Shawbridge Arcade location in favor of a vacant office about a half-mile away. That option, on Riverford Road, isn’t finding support from the local council.

This is possibly putting six jobs in jeopardy, as William Hill might not be able to find an alternative. If it doesn’t, the shop could close permanently.

William Hill continues to work with the council in order to develop another plan. It’s trying to convince the council to change its mind. But there’s no indication it is making progress.

The post William Hill Pilots Eco-Friendly Retail Sports Betting Shop in Leeds appeared first on Casino.org.

The new sportsbook, which will be the largest in Louisiana, replaces a temporary venue rolled out at the casino-hotel last November.

The retail DraftKings Sportsbook will offer a premier sports betting experience across more than 12,000 square feet, including over 3,200 square feet of LED TV screens to enjoy live games; approximately 300 lounge seats including VIP areas for comfortable viewing,” according to a statement issued by DraftKings and Golden Nugget.

The new DraftKings sportsbook at Golden Nugget Lake Charles will also feature five ticket windows, three blackjack tables, and 16 video poker machines. There will also be 30 self-service sports wagering kiosks spread throughout the property.

DraftKings/Golden Nugget Relationship

The partnership between DraftKings and Golden Nugget land-based casinos comes by way of the sportsbook operator acquiring Tilman Fertitta’s Golden Nugget Online Gaming (GNOG) — a transaction that was completed in May.

In addition to the Lake Charles property, Fertitta’s Golden Nugget owns four other brick-and-mortar casinos — one in Atlantic City, NJ, one in Las Vegas, one in Laughlin, Nevada, and another in Biloxi, Miss. The operator is in the process of acquiring a Colorado casino and is building a new gaming venue in Illinois.

There’s some chatter that DraftKings’ acquisition of GNOG could lead to the buyer’s name eventually being applied to Golden Nugget sportsbooks in Las Vegas and Laughlin. That could be potentially paving the way for the company to enter Nevada.

Louisiana Allure

Louisiana is a competitive and deep sports wagering market that rapidly climbed the ranks in terms of handle and revenue following legalization. And that was without the benefit of the 2021 football season.

This year, it’s likely the state will easily trounce still-young sports wagering records, because it will capture all of the 2022 LSU Tigers and New Orleans Saints campaigns. Louisiana further benefits because neighboring Arkansas and Mississippi don’t yet offer mobile wagering, and Texas has no casinos and doesn’t permit sports betting.

“The DraftKings Sportsbook will also offer a full-service restaurant, the DraftKings Sportsbook Bar & Grill, with a variety of dining options during breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including a ‘quick grab’ menu,” according to the statement. “The restaurant will serve popular game day favorites from burgers to wings and a variety of items in between, as well as a wide selection of beer, cocktails, and frozen drinks at its full-service bar.”

The post Golden Nugget Lake Charles Opening New DraftKings Sportsbook appeared first on Casino.org.

The wait is almost over for Tabcorp. Yesterday, the company’s shareholders agreed to allow it to move forward with a plan that will segregate its lottery business from its wagering, media, and gaming services.

Tabcorp didn’t find any resistance during the vote, which New South Wales approved in March. Some 98.78% of the votes supported the demerger in Tabcorp’s General Meeting, while only 0.17% opposed it. The next stop is to receive final approval from NSW’s Supreme Court, which could arrive as early as May 20.

Next Up, a New Tabcorp

Given that everyone has approved the demerger to this point, there’s no reason to expect the Supreme Court to stand in the way. Once it greenlights the scheme, Tabcorp will introduce The Lottery Corporation (TLC) as its new lottery arm. It would then launch the company on the Australian Securities Exchange on May 24.

https://twitter.com/Tabcorp/status/1524570330651848704

The goal of the demerger was to stop financial hemorrhaging at the company, and possibly, sell the wagering and media arm. There was previously a lot of interest in the latter. However, most of that fizzled. Tabcorp felt the offers were too low and wasn’t willing to lower its standards.

TLC is going to include all of the operations, except gaming, once held by gaming operator Tatts before Tabcorp purchased that company. The second business to emerge following the demerger will be New Tabcorp, which will include wagering, gaming, and media services.

There was a chance that not even shareholder approval could move the deal forward. Racing NSW had some issues with the company that threatened to be a permanent roadblock. An 11th-hour deal between Tabcorp and the regulatory body removed that roadblock, according to The Australian Financial Review.

However, Racing NSW’s CEO Peter V’Landys told the media outlet that he and Tabcorp came to an agreement late last week. While he wasn’t willing to supply any details, he stated that the deal “no longer exposes” the entity to potential financial losses.

Tabcorp Says Bienvenue to France

Tabcorp has announced its first big deal subsequent to the vote. TAB bettors will benefit from more stable dividends on French racing. This comes through a new commingling arrangement between Tabcorp and France’s main betting operator, PMU, a French gambling operator specializing in horserace betting.

This new deal allows Australian bettors to combine their bets into a European-hosted pool for the first time. This will result in stable and deeper pools for gallop and harness racing in France.

Currently, Tabcorp’s Sky Channel broadcasts at most two to three French meetings a day. The new deal could allow for additional meetings. PMU’s pool, via the Tabcorp PGI hub, will add TAB win and place bets on French racing.

This new arrangement is a continuation of existing racing deals from Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Africa.

The post Tabcorp Shareholders Overwhelmingly Approve Company Breakup appeared first on Casino.org.

Colombia has repeatedly been at the forefront of gaming expansion in Latin America. However, the illegal gaming market is still healthy in Colombia, and leaders across the country are ready to fight back. Regional leaders recently signed a new pact to reduce or eliminate the illegal gambling segment.

Coljuegos leads the charge to establish “Pacts for Legality” with many Colombian states as possible. The regulator hopes that, through them, it can unify efforts between different public and private entities to raise awareness among citizens about the importance of playing legally and responsibly.

Efforts to Reduce Illegal Activity

César Augusto Valencia, the president of Coljuegos, said that this pact “implies the commitment to join efforts and reduce this illegal activity.”

Although it is difficult to determine exact figures, studies show that illegal gambling is responsible for around 30% of all gambling activity.

Legal Gaming is Big Business in Colombia

Nationwide in Colombia, the gambling industry has 382 authorized localized gaming operators (casinos and bingos), 3,032 gambling establishments, 93,321 electronic slot machines, and 17 authorized online gaming operators. The sector also includes innovative games at the national level, such as Baloto, Super Astro and online games. There are territorial games of chance, including regional lotteries and other options.

In Quindío alone, there are currently 34 authorized localized gaming operators with 2,265 electronic slot machines. That equates to about 2.4% of the total number of machines in the country.

That means significant revenue for the state. On average, it collects around US$2.2 million a year from the activity. However, if illegal gambling controls 30% of the market, Quindío, and other states, are missing out on substantial funds.

In the first two months of this year, Quindío removed 872 illegal gambling machines. Crunching the numbers on what the devices recorded, the state lost around US$2.8 million in direct revenue and another US$1 million in sales tax revenue.

The post Colombia Increases Efforts to Combat Significant Presence of Illegal Gambling appeared first on Casino.org.

Smarkets is one of the few betting platforms to be heavily into politics wagering. However, it knows how to capture the essence of what the average person thinks.

Among the top options for lines right now is Johnson’s ability to retain his place at the top of the British government. Smarkets bettors increasingly feel his days are numbered.

Irreconcilable Differences

A recent booze bash at Johnson’s home during the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t sit well with the general public. Smarkets’ head of political markets, Matthew Shaddick, indicated then that Johnson was losing favor, with his odds of sticking around beyond this year at 58%.

Also gone are director of communication Jack Doyle, chief of staff Dan Rosenfield, and principal private secretary Martin Reynolds.

This has all led to an increase in the odds of Johnson facing a vote of no-confidence this month. Smarkets puts the odds at 43%. Additionally, the odds of Johnson leaving his position this year have gone from 59% to 67% in less than 24 hours.

Familiar Names Remain As Potential Replacements

Chancellor Rishi Sunak was the likely candidate to follow Johnson in Smarkets’ analysis last month. He only led by a small margin but has since gained ground. Now, the odds of him succeeding Johnson are at 36%, a 4% increase over yesterday’s figures.

Following Sunak is Foreign Secretary Lizz Truss. These two have been the favorites for a while, although Sunak, the former chief secretary to the Treasury, has a commanding advantage. Truss is only listed at 13% odds.

Shaddock highlighted the fact that Tugendhat, although a distant third against Sunak, should be watched. SBC News quoted him as saying, “Tom Tugendhat’s admission that he would likely run in a leadership race has seen him leapfrog better-known candidates into third place in the Next Tory Leader betting.”

The post Johnson’s Odds of Retaining Position in the UK Government Longer appeared first on Casino.org.

Thomas Wheatcroft, 40, Charlie Shaw, 33, Michael Sadgove-Tarrant, 37, and Paul Hubbold, 59, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud at Kingston Crown Court this week.

The court heard the scam involved the gang covering ￡20 and ￡50 notes in plastic before entering them into self-service kiosks to register bets. Then they used a plastic cord attached to the banknote to yank it out of the machine.

Disguise and Confuse

The fraud was repeated 168 times at Ladbrokes and Coral outlets across England between June 2020 and July this year, according to prosecutors. Each member of the gang wore the same outfit when perpetrating the scam to disguise themselves from security cameras and confuse authorities, the court heard.

When police raided one gang member’s home, they found bags of clothing that included 20 identical baseball caps.

Numerous outlets notified authorities when they noticed takings were down, and the gang was identified from security surveillance footage.

The total hit to Ladbrokes and Coral is ￡663,556 (US $885,349) so far, police said.

“The substantial sums of money stolen by the group is a significant loss to the businesses these men had targeted,” said Scotland Yard’s Detective Constable Kevin Parley.

We worked closely with security officials from both firms to carry out a joint investigation, which included gathering evidence to bring forward a robust case against the four men,” Parley added.?

Police said Wheatcroft and Shaw were the group’s ringleaders. They were sentenced to four years and three months and two years in prison, respectively. Sadgove-Tarrant was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years, while Hubbold received nine months, suspended for 18 months.

The Man Who Wrote the Book

In March this year, the man who wrote the book on scamming bookmakers, literally, was sentenced to 21 weeks in prison for following his own advice.

Jason Haddigan, author of How and?Why I Conned the Bookies, was described in court as a “notorious conman.”

Haddigan pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud and two counts of fraud by false representation at Swansea Crown Court.

According to prosecutors, his modus operandi was to “befriend and confuse” staff in betting shops before using sleight of hand techniques to produce winning betting slips after a race had run.

“He would then deliberately scribble and forge betting slips and use his knowledge of the working procedures and equipment they use to con the cashier with a sleight of hand technique to switch the original slip for a forged one,” prosecutors said.

The post Ladbrokes Coral Bilked Out of ￡600K by UK Gang Using Laminated Banknotes appeared first on Casino.org.

Ninety percent of betting outlets demanded proof of age when visited by teenagers asking to place a bet, according to tests conducted by age verification analyst Serve Legal.

The legal age to drink and gamble in the UK is 18. But staff in betting shops are routinely told to check anyone who appears to be under 21.

Call It Progress

While campaigners will want to know why ten percent of betting shops still allowed underaged customers to place a bet unchallenged, the numbers represent a marked improvement in bookmakers’ age-verification checks over previous years.

In 2017, The Times reported 65 out of 108 shops run by some of the largest gambling chains had allowed secret shoppers who were under 18 to use fixed-odds betting terminals.

The situation was even direr in 2009 when spot checks conducted by the UK Gambling Commission found that 98 of 100 outlets visited allowed a 17-year-old to place a bet. The commission called the findings “disturbing” and summoned senior executives from the nation’s biggest gambling companies to explain themselves.

“By any measure, age verification standards have improved since they were first introduced, and once again, betting shops are leading the retail sector in terms of compliance,” said Michael Dugher, chief executive of British standards body the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), in a statement.

Underage Gambling Rates Rising

A 2019 study identified gambling among children in the UK as a “growing problem,” finding that two-fifths of 11- to 16-year-olds had gambled in the previous year.

The study by the University of Bristol found that just over 50 percent of all 17-year-olds residents in the UK regularly engaged in some form of gambling activity.

Slot machines were the most popular, followed by playing cards for money with friends and buying lottery scratch-offs.

The UK government is currently undertaking a review of the country’s gambling laws, which is expected to result in tighter controls on the industry. One measure anticipated is a ban on gambling advertising in sports, which critics say normalizes betting for young people.

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According to the study, areas categorized by researchers as economically disadvantaged were home to just ten percent of all food stores in the country. But these areas hosted 34 percent of amusement arcades, 30 percent of bingo venues, and 29 percent of adult gaming centers.

Meanwhile, more affluent areas had a much more even spread of services, such as libraries and supermarkets, researchers said.

“The research highlights the clear mismatch between the amenities available in ‘left behind’ areas, compared with those that are more affluent,” Jamie Evans, senior research associate at the University of Bristol, said. “While the gambling industry may offer some much-needed employment in these areas, it usually takes much more than it gives, leaving a legacy of greater hardship and increased social problems.”

More Betting Shops in Poor Locations

While the number of bookmakers’ shops in the whole country has actually declined over the past few years, researchers note there are still more bookies than stores owned by the country’s big eight supermarket chains.

According to the study, 21 percent of betting shops are located in the poorest 10 percent of the country, with just 2 percent in the most affluent areas.

The betting industry has previously denied targeting poorer areas. A 2014 independent study commissioned by the industry found that new betting shops were opening primarily in towns with low and average deprivation scores, but not in the poorest areas.

In a statement Monday, a spokesman for the Betting and Gaming Council emphasized the industry’s economic contributions.

“BGC members support 119,000 jobs, generate ￡4.5 billion ($6.1 billion) in tax to pay for vital public services, and contribute ￡7.7 billion ($10.5 billion) to the economy in gross value added. Betting shops alone employ around 46,000 people across the country, pay ￡1 billion ($1.4 billion) in tax to the Treasury, as well as ￡60 million ($82 million) in business rates for local councils, while casinos employ 11,000 staff and pay ￡500 million ($685 million) a year in tax.”

Crackdown Coming

The UK government is currently undertaking a review of the country’s gambling laws and is expected to tighten regulatory controls on the betting industry.

In 2018, lawmakers slashed the maximum stakes permitted on fixed-odds betting terminals from ￡100 ($137) to ￡2 ($2.74) amid claims the machines were contributing to social ills. Critics said betting operators were opening more shops in certain areas to increase the quota of machines permitted. The reduction in stakes has since resulted in shop closures.

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Jason Haddigan was described by prosecutors as a “notorious conman” who has been banned from every retail betting outlet in the UK. Not surprising, when you consider his literary output.

Haddigan pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud and two counts of fraud by false representation at Swansea Crown Court earlier this month. This was in relation to the theft of more than ￡3,000 from bookmakers in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, both counties in Wales.

The Ol’ Switcheroo

According to prosecutors, Haddigan’s modus operandi was to “befriend and confuse” staff at the bookmaking outlets before employing sleight of hand to produce a winning betting slip.

His technique was to befriend cashiers in betting shops, gaining their trust,” explained PC Jade Probert.

“He would then deliberately scribble and forge betting slips and use his knowledge of the working procedures and equipment they use to con the cashier with a sleight of hand technique to switch the original slip for a forged one,” Probert said.

At a betting shop at Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, on May 27, 2019, Haddigan placed a bet on a greyhound race for later that day and spent the afternoon in the shop chatting to the cashier, gaining her trust.

After the race, he pretended he couldn’t remember which dog he had bet on. The cashier gave him back the original betting slip, which he surreptitiously amended with the winning dog’s number, giving himself a “win” of ￡1,600 ($2,202).

‘Complex Individual’

The next day, in Narbeth, Pembrokeshire, Haddigan placed a bet on a horse as close to the start of the race as possible. Minutes later, he asked for his betting slip back, claiming he had forgotten to add the number of the horse. In fact, he already knew the result of the race and simply filled in the winner. This netted a further ￡1,700 ($2340).

The court heard Haddigan was identified from security footage by the Association of British Bookmakers, to whom he is “well-known.”

Haddigan’s lawyer Ashanti-Jade Walton described her client as a “complex individual” who struggled with anxiety, depression, paranoia, and gambling addiction. His mother has agreed to repay the money he stole from the Welsh bookies, Walton added.

Haddigan was part of a gang that bilked cash from at least 30 bookmaking shops across the UK in 2013 and 2014, for which he served 14 months in prison.

His book is available for sale from Amazon “starting at ￡150 (US$206).”

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Atlanta-based InComm is a fintech company with expansive reach in the gift card business. With more than 1,000 retail partners and over 500,000 distribution points, the company manages north of 850 million cards per year.

With the new partnership, DraftKings will expand its presence through retails chains, such as convenience stores, pharmacies, and general merchandise partners, according to a statement from InComm.

DraftKings’ daily fantasy sports (DFS) platform is available in all but seven states. One of the seven holdouts is Louisiana, but following the recent approval of the DFS tax policy, the activity will be permitted in the Pelican State.

Gift Cards Equal Big Business

While time is running out on the holiday shopping season, DraftKings’ foray into the gift card space could prove well-timed, because sales of those items typically spike at this time of year. In any given year, nearly 75 percent of shoppers buy at least one gift card in the fourth quarter and a majority purchase at least two.

The initial rollout of DraftKings cards will happen in convenience stores such as 7-Eleven, Speedway, Dollar General, and Sheetz. The aforementioned press statement didn’t say what other retailers could be added to that roster in the future.

Recipients of the cards can fund DraftKings accounts and use the credits on real money offerings, including sports wagering and online casinos in states where those activities are permitted.

Not Yet on E-Cards

For now, DraftKings gift cards must be purchased at land-based retailers. It is unknown when or if the company will market e-cards, the faster growing of the two segments.

Sales of gift cards at brick-and-mortar are rising at a six percent clip per year. But that’s dwarfed by the rapid acceleration in the online market. In the third quarter, retailers sold 114 percent more digital cards than in the year-earlier period, while revenue generated increased 65 percent, according to Rise.ai Inc.

Those figures don’t include ubiquitous Amazon or multi-retailer gift cards, confirming the digital space is potentially lucrative territory for DraftKings offerings in future holiday shopping seasons.

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Currently, some 1,250 betting shops in England and a further 366 in Wales are shuttered. All of Scotland’s remain open – for now.

Like most of Europe, Britain is facing a resurgent second wave of the virus. England is currently practicing a system of local lockdowns, with the most severe restrictions imposed on high-alert “Tier 3” regions, largely in the north of England.

Wales has opted for a two-and-a-half week “circuit breaker” national lockdown.

‘Not About the Science’

All betting outlets are closed within Tier 3 areas. This was largely under the orders of local officials, despite their closure not being official central government recommendations. It’s a move that has angered the industry, particularly because other non-essential retail is permitted to remain open — even gyms, in some cases.

“Betting shops reopened safely back in June under non-essential retail. Gyms were not,” tweeted Michael Dugher, chief executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, referring to the UK’s emergence from lockdown after the first wave.

“I also know that Public Health England were concerned about reopening gyms compared with casinos. Let’s not anyone — Mayors or Govt — pretend that Tier 3 closures are remotely about the science,” he added.

“Our regional approach is designed to reduce transmission whilst minimizing the wider impact on the economy,” a government spokesperson said. “The closure of betting shops in some areas has been jointly agreed with local leaders, as we know the virus thrives in enclosed spaces where people can remain for a sustained period.”

The UK’s “High Street” betting shops are traditionally small, unassuming, single-lot spaces that generally don’t have multiple entry points, making ventilation and the creation of one-way systems for customers challenging. They are also places where customers like to spend time researching bets or watching live sports.

More Betting Shops to Close

Last week, William Hill said that around 140 of its 1,414 shops were closed. That figure is now higher, as more regions have been declared Tier 3. The company said it expected to lose around ￡2 million per 100 closed outlets.

Research published Thursday by Imperial College London and Ipsos MORI suggested the rate of infections was doubling every nine days in the UK, based on data collected from 85,000 volunteers between October 16-25.

As of Friday, the country was recording a seven-day average of 22,678 new cases per day.

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Ginsburg, affectionately referred to by admirers and fans as “RBG,” died Friday of complications stemming from metastatic pancreatic cancer. She was 87 and the fourth-oldest serving member of the high court in US history. Nominated by President Bill Clinton in 1993, Ginsburg was viewed as a trailblazer in the women’s rights movement.

She was the second woman to serve as a SCOTUS justice, following Sandra Day O’Connor, who was nominated by President Ronald Reagan. For several years following O’Connor’s 2006 retirement and until President Barack Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor in 2009, Ginsburg was the only woman on the bench of the nation’s highest court.

Those historical anecdotes are being reflected in prediction markets. For example, PredictIt.org is offering a contract on “The next individual nominated by President Trump to the United States Supreme Court before he leaves office shall be a woman.”

Trade in that issue was essentially non-existent prior to Ginsburg’s death. But activity subsequently vaulted, meaning traders would pay 88 cents, up 11 cents to bet on Trump’s nominee to replace Ginsburg being a woman. A wager against that or on Trump nominating a man goes for just 14 cents as of midday Saturday.

Betting on Barrett

Barrett, 48, was widely viewed as Trump’s next nominee should the need arise. Following the contentious 2018 appointment of Brett Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh, she was Trump’s second SCOTUS appointment after Neil Gorsuch.

Betting and prediction markets are indicating momentum for Barrett, with PredictIt pricing a contract on her being Trump’s nominee at 56 cents, nearly double the next-closest offering. As the chart below indicates, Amul Thapar, judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, is the only man among the top five markets on PredictIt.

Searching for Value

Overseas gamblers and Americans trading on PredictIt looking for value in SCOTUS bets may be forced to confine their lists to Lagoa and Thapar.

Lagoa, currently a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, checks some crucial electoral boxes. Not only is she a woman, she’s Cuban-American and hails from Florida, a state pivotal to Trump’s reelection hopes. Reports surfaced Saturday that Lagoa, though it’s not yet reflected on PredictIt, is gaining momentum for the nomination where it matters most, in the White House.

Regarding Thapar, the pick could be safe, because unlike Trump’s first two SCOTUS nominees, the judge isn’t white and he’s from Kentucky, the home state of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

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Over the past several months, Paddy Power has compiled what it finds to be funny tweets and social media reactions regarding fans’ disappointment with their FA Cup team’s weekly performance. The comments are produced in videos titled “Fan Denial.”

In the bookmaker’s most recent compilation, however, Paddy Power says one tweet was included that shouldn’t have been. The comment used the homophobic slur “rent boys,” which is malicious language for a male prostitute.

“Every Monday throughout the football season, we post Fan Denial. The series focuses on a specific game each week and aims to shine a light on the ridiculous ways some online fans react to defeat. These reactions range from the sublime to the ridiculous,” Paddy Power said in response.

We are conscious that nothing inappropriate is included. This week, however, we messed up,” the statement continued. “We allowed one tweet to be included that should have been removed. Paddy Power does not condone the use of such derogatory and offensive terms, and as soon as this comment was brought to our attention, we deleted the video.”

Arsenal won the FA Cup Final on August 1 in a 2-1 victory over Chelsea.

Chelsea Pride, the fan group for the LGBT+ community of the football club, said Paddy Power’s inclusion of the tweet “perpetuates the idea that this kind of ‘banter’ is acceptable in football.”

History Repeats

Though Paddy Power has been a bit less controversial in recent years, the sportsbook has a long track record of dancing the line with potentially offensive marketing and betting lines.

“Dear England, sorry for the last two years of pain, suffering, and humiliation. Another 798 and we’ll be even,” read a newspaper ad from the bookmaker.

Paddy said the spot was in jest — referencing England’s recent poor play against Ireland — and Ireland’s alleged 800 years of suppression under British rule.

The Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI) said six formal complaints were filed against the marketing. The complaints found it racist, offensive, anti-English in sentiment, stirring up anti-English feelings, and was both highly insensitive and bigoted towards English people.

Offense Hits America

Paddy Power’s most offensive moment — certainly in the eyes of US residents — came in November 2008, after Barack Obama was elected president. In response, Paddy offered odds on whether he would be assassinated in his first term.

The bookmaker offered 12/1 odds that Obama would not complete his first term, for whatever reason.

Eight years later, Paddy Power published an ad reading, “Orange is the New Black?” with odds of Donald Trump succeeding Obama at 3/1.

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William Hill execs say business has been solid since the sports betting behemoth began reopening its High Street shops. However, 119 locations that were initially temporarily closed by the coronavirus will remain permanently shut.

We anticipate that longer term retail footfall will not return to pre-COVID levels and 119 shops will remain closed,” a company statement explained. Team members at the discontinued locations will be offered employment at other William Hill shops.

Retail net revenue in the first six months of 2020 fell 49 percent year-over-year, as shops were closed on government orders for roughly half of the period. William Hill’s brick-and-mortar properties reported net revenue of ￡146.9 million ($193.2 million), down from $515 million in the same six months in 2019.

Group Turns Profit

In its financial release, William Hill said it would return more than $32 million to the UK government. The money was received as part of a stimulus package tailored to pay furloughed workers.

William Hill says it ultimately didn’t need the money, as the collective group — which includes its UK operations and sports betting in the US — reported a $185.5 million profit from January through June 2020.

“Our digital businesses have delivered good performances with new product launches online and accelerated product development in the US,” the financial presentation explained. While retail net revenue dropped almost 50 percent, the increase in online and US business resulted in an overall net revenue slide of only 32 percent.

William Hill is Caesars Entertainment’s sports betting partner. The company’s merger with Eldorado Resorts means the US sportsbook will have access to numerous new sports betting states.

“We have solidified our position as the biggest sportsbook in the US,” the company declared. “We expect to be live in up to 14 states by the end of the year, of which the majority will have an online presence.”

High Street Blues

UK betting shops are no longer as attractive to operators as they once were due to regulatory changes regarding fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs). The devices are similar to slot machines. But last year, the maximum bet on the terminals was slashed from ￡100 to just ￡2 ($131.53 to $2.63 USD).

The change resulted in numerous UK bookmakers closing shops.

Investors celebrated the William Hill developments, its shares on the London Stock Exchange climbing nine percent on Wednesday, and another 2.6 percent on Thursday.

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The resumption of retail betting is part of a wider emergence from lockdown for the country and its economy, as all non-essential stores were permitted to open Monday, providing social distancing measures were in place.

Happily, for bookmakers — and gamblers — betting outlets are back in action just three days before the English Premier League (EPL) is scheduled to restart, while the famous Royal Ascot horse racing festival begins Tuesday and runs all week.

All sporting events taking place anywhere in the UK will be played or run behind closed doors for the foreseeable future.

Under normal circumstances Royal Ascot generates revenues of ￡150 million ($188 million) for the betting industry, while the EPL is the most bet-upon sports league in the world.

The racing industry will also benefit from the resumption of bet-to-view media rights, for which the average betting shop pays around ￡30,000 ($38,000) per year.

Sneeze Screens and Hand Sanitizer

The wholesale cancellation of sports worldwide hit the industry hard. In March big hitters like William Hill warned investors to expect the damage to profits to be in the low nine figures.

On Monday, William Hill UK Operations Director Steven White told Casino.org his company had seen an “encouraging” first day’s trading at the 734 outlets that opened today.

While Hill has chosen to reopen its 1,538 properties in phases, rival Ladbrokes Coral’s 2,445 outlets were all back in business Monday — more than was initially expected, according to The Racing Post.

“We are seeing plenty of our regular customers returning, and they are playing their part too, showing patience queuing for the counter to put their bets on, adhering to the social distancing measures and, when necessary, queueing outside the shop,” Simon Clare, PR director for Ladbrokes Coral, told Racing TV.

Rest of UK Must Wait

Meanwhile, bettors in rest of the UK — Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland — will have to wait a little longer, as authorities there are adopting a more cautious approach. There may be a similar easing of restrictions on non-essential businesses in Scotland and Wales toward the end of this month.

But while many non-essential stores have already reopened in Northern Ireland, betting outlets are on a list of businesses that must remain closed in the province.

On Monday, the NI Turf Guardians’ Association, which represents the interests of bookmakers in Northern Ireland, demanded “urgent confirmation” from the province’s executive in Stormont about when outlets can reopen.

As of last week, betting shops are also open and trading in the Republic of Ireland, which is not part of the UK.

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From Friday night, all pubs, restaurants, nightclubs, theaters, cinemas, gyms and leisure centers ceased to trade, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s strategy to slow the spread of the COVID-19 intensified.

It’s the first time that Britain’s retail bookies have shut down since the country legalized off-course betting in 1960.

Pubs, considered social and cultural institutions, have never been forced to shutter, even during the world wars — although certain restrictions were imposed on their opening hours to improve wartime productivity.

Profit Warnings Issued

Johnson said at Friday’s daily Downing Street press conference that the aim of the new measures was to reduce unnecessary social gatherings by 75 percent to prevent the National Health Service (NHS) from becoming completely overwhelmed.

As of Saturday, there were 5,018 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the UK and 233 deaths.

“The speed of our eventual recovery depends entirely on our collective ability to get on top of the virus now, and that means we have to take the next steps on scientific advice,” said Johnson.

Several of the UK’s biggest betting companies issued profit warnings earlier this week, advising shareholders to expect nine-figure sums to be wiped off earnings because of the widespread cancellation of elite sporting events.

But these figures did not include the widespread closure of UK retail betting outlets, which suggests that just days ago the betting industry did not expect this to happen, although it’s a scenario that had been considered.

GVC said that earnings would be reduced by a further ￡45 million ($52.2 million) to ￡50 million ($58 million) per month should its retail outlets be forced to close, while William Hill had the figure at an extra ￡25 million ($29 million) to ￡30 million ($34.8 million) per month.

Two-Month Shutdown?

According to The Racing Post, privately the betting industry expects their outlets to be shut for at least two months. It’s unclear what this prediction is based on.

Flutter confirmed late Friday that it would comply with the government’s request, although in reality it had little choice.

“There is nothing more important than the safety and well-being of our colleagues and the public during this pandemic,” the company added in an official statement.

The government has pledged a ￡330 billion ($385 billion) emergency budget package to help UK business through these difficult times.

This includes an easing of business rates and paying 80 percent of the salaries of employees who might otherwise have been laid off by companies because of the coronavirus shutdown.

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According to the release, Scientific Games has managed Ohio’s instant games for the last four years. The new contract will add game development, portfolio management, and logistics administration.

We are proud to continue working with the Ohio Lottery to manage its portfolio of instant games from start to finish through the Scientific Games Enhanced Partnership. Led by business analytics, this new partnership will help grow profits for the state’s public education system, which is the real beneficiary of this new contract,” said John Schulz, Scientific Games senior vice president for lottery instant products.

During fiscal year 2018, the Ohio Lottery ranked 11th nationally in instant game sales. According to Scientific Games, the state lottery ranks among the Top 20 in sales worldwide.

Latest Ohio Contract for Scientific Games

The instant games management contract is the latest deal Scientific Games has received from the lottery. It also has contracts to provide licensed services and manage second-chance games on mobile platforms.

Another part of the recently announced contract includes installing more of the company’s SCiQ inventory management systems. This time, 300 retailers.

The Ohio Lottery currently markets 65 instant-win games in the state, with ticket prices ranging between $1 and $30. The top scratch-off prize available is $10 million, paid out in 25 annual installments of $400,000.

About the Ohio Lottery

The lottery sells tickets in nearly 10,000 retail stores statewide. That includes a mix of independently owned small businesses and large chains.

In the 2019 fiscal year, the lottery transferred more than $1.15 billion to the state’s Lottery Profits Education Fund, which directs the money for primary, secondary, vocational, and special education in the state. In 2018, the lottery awarded more than $2.15 billion in prizes.

Since the lottery began 45 years ago, the state has received about $26 billion in profits.

Besides the instant-win scratch-offs and traditional lottery games, such as daily drawings and lotto jackpot games, the lottery also receives proceeds from the slot machines at the state’s seven racinos.

Scientific Games also operates a lottery ticket warehouse in Solon, Ohio, a Cleveland suburb.

Besides Scientific Games, the Ohio Lottery also contracts services to European company Intralot. The company operates data processing centers in the state and builds self-serve vending machines for use at retail locations.

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The Anonymous Player Awareness System (APAS) will analyse player behavior on the machines, which are found in retail betting outlets across the country and offer digital versions of games like roulette, blackjack, and slots.

The algorithm is designed to spot problematic behavioral patterns, such as chasing losses, playing erratically, speeding up betting while losing, or simply spending too much time on the machine.

When one of these patterns is detected, the machine will shut down, locking the player out for a “cooling off” period of at least 30 seconds, while “safer gambling” warnings are displayed on the screen. The machine will also alert the betting shop manager, who can choose to intervene.

Let’s All Cool Off

This is an initiative from the newly formed Betting and Gaming Council, an industry body that is hoping the UK government cools off. It wants to preempt further regulatory crackdowns through industry self-regulation.

The sector is currently suffering from an image problem and is facing a backlash from the public after almost 15 years of liberalized gaming laws that some felt went too far.

Fears of a “gambling epidemic” are amplified by the press on an almost daily basis.

But the government agreed the machines were a “social scourge,” and slashed the maximum odds to ￡2.

Amid a decline in retail betting, FOBTs had been propping up the sector — accounting for more than half of all bookies’ land-based gross gaming revenue — and the reforms have resulted in shop closures and job losses.

Online Slots Reforms Proposed

But the government may not be done just yet. A recent cross-party group charged with studying the impact of “gambling harm” recommended the ￡2 stakes cap should also be applied to online slots.

Kenny Alexander, head of online and retail gaming giant GVC, recently slammed the comparison between FOBTs and online casinos as “false” because there is no black market in FOBTs — therefore, reducing the maximum stakes at online casinos would, he claimed, simply drive gamblers to unscrupulous, untaxed, offshore operators.

The BGC represents 90 per cent of the UK-based betting and gaming market. Its interim chief executive, Wes Himes, said in an official statement that the AI initiative was “an opportunity to champion the highest standards and share best practice on safe betting and gaming, and we hope these measures are a sign of intent.”

“I’m convinced that this approach can help restore public trust, and I look forward to working on further betting and gaming initiatives across the industry,” he added.

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A recent proposal by the Montana Lottery and Sports Wagering Commission indicates that as many as 1,400 locations across the Big Sky State could be eligible to accept sports bets. The commission released proposed rules changes in late September and is holding a public forum for citizens to comment on the matter on Monday, Oct. 28 in the state capital of Helena. The official comment period runs through Nov. 4.

Previously, Montana lawmakers sought to restrict sports betting to official gaming venues. House Bill (H 725), the sports wagering legislation signed earlier his year by Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat, permits the lottery to offer online betting and wagering at land-based kiosks.

The state lottery further amplified that rule by seeking to tie sports betting licenses to liquor permits.

The lottery has taken this approach because by limiting eligibility to locations that possess the appropriate alcoholic beverage license for certain gambling activities, the lottery will ensure a sufficient number of locations to offer sports wagering and help limit any adverse impacts of an overabundance of population,” according to the rule change proposal.

At the time the state signed off on sports betting, Montana was the ninth state to do so and the first in 2019.

Lots Of Locations

Montana is home to a handful of traditional land-based casinos. But the bulk of the state’s gaming, including live card games and video gambling machines, occurs in bars and taverns. State law mandates that those venues must have liquor licenses before they’re allowed to offer gambling on premises.

The estimate of 1,400 sports betting locations is derived from state data indicating there are approximately that many liquor permit holders that could be eligible to offer customers to sports betting.

By comparison, Nevada has over 100 sportsbooks and, as just one example, William Hill has nearly 70 kiosks throughout the Silver State. But those numbers are still dwarfed by what could be seen in Montana.

Facts And Figures

Montana will allow betting on both amateur and professional sports, bucking a recent trend of some states seeking bans on wagers on college games.

In its first year, sports betting is expected to generate $65 million in revenue and $3.7 million in taxes for Montana, with those numbers forecast to grow to $87 million and $5.4 million, respectively, by 2023.

Montana shares borders with four states and is the only one of that group that permits sports wagering.

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In late July, the UK Gambling Commission hit GVC with a ￡5.9 million ($7.1 million) fine for what the regulator deemed “systematic failure” by Ladbrokes Coral in implementing proper social responsibility policies and anti-money laundering protocols.

GVC can readily absorb this financial loss, the fine nevertheless reflects the risks of failing to properly manage the social considerations that apply to our evaluation of companies in this sector, a credit negative,” said Moody’s Investors Service in a recent note.

Moody’s has a Ba2 rating on GVC corporate debt with a “stable” outlook. Bonds with one of the three Ba ratings issued by the research firm are “judged to have speculative elements and are subject to substantial credit risk.”

The issues that drew the ire of the UK Gambling Commission occurred between November 2014 and October 2017, prior to GVC acquiring Ladbrokes Coral. As Casino.org reported last week, one customer was permitted to lose ￡1.5 million ($1.8 million) over that three-year span while another lost ￡98,000 ($119,000) in less than three years. Signs were there that those patrons could be problem gamblers. The customer who lost $1.8 million accessed his Ladbrokes account up to 10 times a day.

GVC bought Ladbrokes Coral last year for ￡3.2 billion ($3.8 billion).

Taking Steps To Fix The Problem

GVC has made some efforts to enhance its protections of bettors who may be wagering too much or over-playing.

The company “has since revised its procedures and management of player protection,” said Moody’s. ”GVC believes it now has a robust and industry-leading approach to player protection in place, and has said that it will continue to work with other gambling companies to improve player safety.”

Moody’s believes gaming companies should be diligent in taking steps to avoid such financial punishments because social elements are prominent factors in evaluating debt ratings in the industry.

“Social considerations are a relevant rating factor for gambling companies, and are likely to remain an issue facing the sector along with taxation increases,” said the ratings agency.

Government Involvement

Governments across Europe, including in Germany, Italy, and the UK, are making moves to beef up anti-money laundering policies and improve policies related to at-risk gamblers. In the UK, the maximum wager on fixed-odds betting terminals was recently lowered to ￡2 ($2.43) from ￡100 ($121.58).

GVC and William Hill could close 900 and 700 of their betting shops as a result of that new policy, according to Moody’s. The companies own 5,800 stores in the UK combined.

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The news comes almost seven months after new rules came into effect slashing the maximum stakes on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs), which politicians have called a “blight on society.”

FOBTs are a type of touch-screen video gambling machine that offer various games, such as slots, simulated horse and greyhound racing, blackjack, and bingo. But the most commonly played game, by far, is roulette.

Previously, customers were able to bet up to $100 per spin — that’s every 20 seconds — ?but the UK government unleashed a regulatory wrecking ball on the industry when it opted to drastically reduce maximum stakes to ￡2 per spin, despite warnings of shop closures and job losses.

Death on the High Street

Following the decline in the popularity of horse racing and the rise in online betting, land-based bookmakers had come to rely on the machines for up to 50 percent of their revenues.

With William Hill’s main competitors in “the high street” — a metonym in the UK for the brick-and-mortar retail sector — expected to follow suit, it’s estimated that a quarter of Britain’s 9,000 bookmaking shops could close.

Ladbrokes — which overtook William Hill as the biggest high-street bookmaker when it merged with Coral in 2015 — could shutter 1,000 outlets over the next two years, according to an internal memo leaked to The Guardian, which would jeopardize around 5,000 jobs — although it is yet to make an official announcement.

‘Really Disrespectful’

William Hill said in a statement that it would begin the closures before the end of the year and that staff had been informed.

“The group will look to apply voluntary redundancy and redeployment measures extensively and will be providing support to all colleagues throughout the process,” it added.

But the BBC was contacted by one employee who had been informed on Thursday that his outlet would close via a prerecorded conference call, a move he described as “really disrespectful.”

The scale of the closures has come as a massive shock to lots of staff members who had been being assured for months that they would not lose their jobs,” said the worker, who asked to remain anonymous.

“The upshot is that thousands of people will be left unemployed as a result of this and lives have already begun to be turned upside down.”

The British Are Coming

But the US represents endless silver linings for William Hill. Less than a month after the UK government announced its FOBT reforms in April last year, the US Supreme Court rejected PASPA, the federal law that prohibited state-sanctioned sports betting, opening up the US markets.

William Hill was already the market leader in Nevada, where it has several hundred retail betting outlets — not just sports books in casinos, but also wagering kiosks at bars, 7-Elevens, and truck stops throughout the state.

Soon, it could explode.

In September last year, it struck a deal with Eldorado Resorts that will see it operate sports betting at all Eldorado casinos for the next 25 years.

Now, Eldorado stands on the brink of a merger with Caesars Entertainment that will create a $17.6 billion regional casino powerhouse, with 70 properties across 16 US states.

With things so miserable at home, William Hill wants a piece of that.

The post William Hill to Close 700 UK Betting Outlets as FOBT Reforms Start to Hurt appeared first on Casino.org.

State Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks County) says that while the games are likely already illegal under current law, new legislation could clarify that position, putting an end to any ambiguity that might exist.

Legislation Seeks to Remove Legal Ambiguity

Tomlinson argues that the machines are illegal under recent updates to the state’s gaming laws. But that hasn’t stopped them from proliferating at convenience stores and other venues.

“Lawyers are lawyers, and the court system is the court system,” Tomlinson told KYW Newsradio. “So I think it’s important that we try to take this approach.”

According to Major Scott T. Miller, who directs the state polices’ Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, said that these “games of skill” are present in every county throughout Pennsylvania.

“We continue to see an increase of suspected illegal gambling devices within licensed liquor establishments, but perhaps even more concerning is the illegal gambling happening in convenience stores, strip malls, and shopping centers,” Miller said in a press release. “This bill provides clear guidelines to aid in voluntary compliance by business owners, club officers, and vending distributors, as well as enhanced penalties for those who violate the law.”

The bill would enforce strict penalties that start with fines of at least $5,000 on a first conviction. By the time a violator was charged for a third offense, the crime would increase to a third-degree felony with a fine of at least $15,000.

Tomlinson: Even Games of Skill Can Be Gambling

Operators and vendors have pointed out that these machines have been deemed legal based on a 2014 court case in Beaver County. They also point to the fact that there is at least some element of skill in how they are played. While they look similar to slot machines, users must manipulate symbols in order to win prizes. Typically, finding the correct plays is a simple task, but it isn’t entirely automatic.

But Tomlinson disputes this characterization, noting that just because a task involves strategy or skill, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t also gambling.

“It’s pretty common sense to know what gambling is,” Tomlinson told WJAC. “They hang their hat on ‘it takes skill to win.’ It takes skill to win at poker and it takes skill to win at blackjack.”

“These machines have the potential to cost the Lottery hundreds of millions of dollars in future harm,” Pennsylvania Lottery executive director Drew Svitko said in a press release. “It’s imperative that we take action now to protect the funding that supports the programs that older Pennsylvanians rely upon each year.”

The post Pennsylvania Legislators Propose Bill to Outlaw ‘Games of Skill,’ Owners Say They’re Not Gambling appeared first on Casino.org.

But Morgan Stanley noted this week that GVC has a “better growth profile” than its competitors, and its Q1 results would appear to bear that out.

The UK government has since made good on its threat. The reforms — which cut maximum stakes on the machines from ￡100 ($130) to ￡2 ($2.60) — came into effect on this week, on April 1, as the betting industry warned of shop closures and layoffs.

GVC’s ￡4 billion ($5.21 billion) Ladbrokes buyout made it one of the biggest betting companies in the world, propelling it onto the FTSE 100, the index of companies with the largest market capitalization in the UK.

But as the biggest land-based betting company, and therefore the one with the most FOBTs, Ladbrokes has highest exposure to the economic fallout from the reforms.

Shock Absorber

Following a trading update on Friday, GVC CEO Kenny Alexander said it was too early to tell how badly the company would be affected, adding that it would need “several weeks” to assess the impact.

The company’s powerful online presence — which includes major brands like bwin, partypoker, Sportingbet and FoxyBingo — went from strength to strength during the quarter, a factor that will help the company absorb the shock of the regulatory clampdown.

MGM Joint Venture Will Make Small Loss

Like all the big players in the UK gambling industry, GVC hopes it can offset headwinds at home by striking gold in the newly liberalized US sports betting landscape. The company has entered into a joint venture with MGM Resorts in a bid to corner the market — or markets, since regulation is occurring on an intrastate basis.

Each company invested $100 million into the venture, which promises to “a world-class sports betting and online gaming platform” with “meaningful early mover advantages.” GVC said it expected to lose ￡4 million ($5.2 million) to ￡5 million ($6.5 million) this year on the startup.

“We continue to see good volume growth across all major online brands and territories, and we remain very confident of achieving our target of double-digit online NGR growth,” Alexander said. “At this early stage of the year, the board is confident of delivering EBITDA and operating profit in line with expectations.”

The post GVC Digital Operations Up 18 Percent in Q1, Too Early to Tell on FOBTs, Says CEO appeared first on Casino.org.