Connect with us

Compliance Updates

Euroconsumers calls Nintendo to solve its “Joy-Con Drift” probl

Published

on

Reading Time: 3 minutes

 

The new version of the Nintendo “Switch” console, the Switch OLED, expected on October 8th 2021, shows an unsolved technical problem with its controllers – an issue commonly called “Joy-Con Drift” –  that prevents players from playing the game properly. Nintendo is quite aware of this flaw. Yet it still plans to roll out the new Switch with the old problem. Euroconsumers calls Nintendo to account.

“Joy-Con Drift”

The flaw in the controllers manifests itself after a couple of months, falsely reading input from the controller stick, as if the user has their thumb pressed down on the controller, causing the game character to move without the player even touching the device. This prevents the player from playing the game as intended. This issue is not new: it was already denounced extensively by users of the current Nintendo Switch, IFixit and multiple consumer organisations.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Nintendo’s inaction

This flaw has previously been raised with Nintendo. Firstly in January 2020, Test Achats/Test Aankoop, Euroconsumers’ Belgian national organization, sent a letter of formal notice to Nintendo Europe GmbH calling on the company to repair all the defective products free of charge and to publicly communicate about the defect.

In January 2021, BEUC, the European umbrella group for 46 independent consumer organisations, launched an external alert to the CPC network about a widespread infringement with Union dimension of EU consumer law, related to the premature obsolescence of the Nintendo Switch.

On top of this EU action, two class actions have been launched in the US, and a Canadian firm has filed an application to begin a class action.

Nevertheless, Nintendo has taken no actions to remedy the flaw or alert consumers. It even issues a new Switch OLED with the exact same Joy-Con design, with the exact same inescapable defect. Meanwhile Nintendo keeps on putting a great deal of emphasis on the quality and versatility of the Joy-Con in its advertisements t.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

This early obsolescence is not only unfair and harmful to consumers, but also affects the environment, creating a pile of unnecessary and extremely polluting electronic waste.

Euroconsumers’ call on Nintendo

In a letter Euroconsumers has confronted Nintendo with the above,  asking them to:

  1. Adequately inform consumers of the existence of the “Joy-Con Drift” and its impact on the expected lifespan of the Nintendo controllers on the packaging of the product.

  2. Fully respect provisions on the legal product guarantee, without imposing any burden of proof on consumers or charging them with any costs to repair or replace their Switch controllers.

  3. Provide clear contact details at Nintendo for consumers to report and resolve Joy-Con problems, and for Euroconsumers and its national organisations to address problems to that regard.

  4. Resolve the technical “Joy-Con Drift” flaw and ensure a more sustainable version of the controllers. Euroconsumers, and its national organizations stand ready to deploy decades of technical and testing experience to support finding solutions.

Euroconsumers is available and willing to launch a dialogue with Nintendo in order to establish the best way to satisfy the above requests.

“Nintendo has a duty to its customers to provide functioning devices,” said Marco Scialdone, Head of Litigation and Academic Outreach at Euroconsumers. “To knowingly continue selling these game consoles when they are defective is a breach of EU consumer law. We expect Nintendo to do the right thing and work with us to find a solution for consumers.”

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

“While on one hand Nintendo pretends to commit to the green transition and serve consumers, its continued distribution of faulty electronic devices shows it’s true lack of genuine commitment,” said Els Bruggeman, Head of Policy and Enforcement at Euroconsumers. “Early obsolescence results in more electronic waste, which is particularly difficult to dispose of. This shows a regrettable lack of respect for both the environment and  consumers.”

Powered by WPeMatico

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Compliance Updates

PGCB to Hold Public Hearing on License Renewal of Live! Casino Pittsburgh

Published

on

pgcb-to-hold-public-hearing-on-license-renewal-of-live!-casino-pittsburgh

 

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (Board) will hold a hearing on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 to receive public comment on the renewal of the Category 4 Slot Machine Operator License for Stadium Casino Westmoreland RE LLC, operator of Live! Casino Pittsburgh in Westmoreland County.

The hearing will begin at 10:30 am and be held at the Township of Hempfield Municipal Building, 1132 Woodward Drive, Greensburg, PA 15601.

Citizens, public officials, and community groups can choose to speak or submit written testimony. The hearing is open to the public.

Individuals who wish to provide in-person or written testimony should visit the Board’s website, gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov, and choose the special link in the Regular Board Meetings and Special Meetings section on the homepage for more information and registration. Persons wishing to provide comment will need to register ahead of time. The deadline for registration to speak or submit written testimony is noon on Monday, June 9.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

A listing of all government officials, community groups, and individuals who have registered to speak at this hearing will be posted on the Board’s website beginning the week prior to the hearing and updated daily.

The post PGCB to Hold Public Hearing on License Renewal of Live! Casino Pittsburgh appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

Continue Reading

Australia

ACMA Imposes $1 Million Fine on Unibet

Published

on

acma-imposes-$1-million-fine-on-unibet
Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has imposed a fine of $1,014,120 on Betchoice Corporation Pty Ltd, trading as Unibet, for failing to close the accounts of 954 of its customers who had registered with BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register (NSER).

An ACMA investigation found more than 100,000 contraventions by Unibet of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA rules) for not closing the accounts of 954 customers as soon as practicable after they had registered on the NSER.

The investigation found that 45 of these customer accounts remained open for 190 days or more, including many who had registered to self-exclude from online and telephone betting on the first day of the NSER. While none of these self-excluded customers were able to place bets during their self-exclusion period, the accounts should have been closed.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

The company also provided wagering services to 45 customers after they ceased to be registered with the NSER, using old accounts that should have been closed. The ACMA found evidence that these customers were able to place thousands of bets through these accounts after their NSER registration ended, including one customer who placed more than 1200 bets on their old account.

Under the IGA rules, once an individual registers with the NSER, wagering service providers must close that person’s account as soon as practicable, with additional contraventions for each day the account remains open. If the person’s self-exclusion ends and they choose to place bets again, they must be required to open a new account rather than being allowed to log into their old account.

ACMA member and gambling lead Carolyn Lidgerwood said this was a significant lapse in Unibet’s NSER compliance processes.

“Our investigation found very serious breaches by Unibet over a sustained period of time,” Ms Lidgerwood said.

“Taking in some cases 190 days to close accounts is clearly unacceptable and does not reflect the decisions made by Unibet customers to seek support to help them not gamble.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

“The NSER rules are also there to ensure that people are making a clear and deliberate choice to recommence gambling. That is not the case if they can simply access old accounts.

“We recognise that no bets were made from these Unibet accounts or marketing sent while customers were self-excluded. However, this outcome puts the industry on notice that they must comply with the rules or face potential financial penalties and other actions available to the ACMA under the IGA,” she said.

In addition to the first financial penalty imposed by the ACMA for breaches of NSER rules, the ACMA has accepted a 2-year court-enforceable undertaking from Unibet. The undertaking commits Unibet to a comprehensive independent review of its compliance systems and processes and the implementation of recommended improvements.

Unibet has also voluntarily undertaken to issue refunds to affected customers who were able to access accounts that should have been closed. The ACMA considers these important commitments from Unibet, directed at ensuring future compliance.

The post ACMA Imposes $1 Million Fine on Unibet appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)
Continue Reading

Compliance Updates

Danish Gambling Authority Publishes Guidance on Prevention and Combat of Match-fixing

Published

on

danish-gambling-authority-publishes-guidance-on-prevention-and-combat-of-match-fixing
Reading Time: < 1 minute

 

The Danish Gambling Authority has published a guidance on preventing and combating match-fixing. The guidance is aimed at licence holders and other relevant stakeholders and addresses the obligations imposed on licence holders by the Executive Order on the prevention and combating of match-fixing, which enters into force on 1 July 2025.

The guidance has been sent for consultation with licence holders and the Spillebranchen (Danish Online Gambling Association).

The Executive Order on prevention and combating match-fixing is part of the implementation of the political agreement “Agreement on a new framework for the gambling market #2: Charity lotteries and strengthened control”.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

The guidance is available in Danish and English.

At the same time, the Danish Gambling Authority publishes a guidance on the duty of notification in the Executive Order on preventing and combating match-fixing. In addition to providing guidance on the notification obligation, the guidance also instructs the licence holder on how to notify and what documentation must be attached. The guidance will soon be available in English.

The post Danish Gambling Authority Publishes Guidance on Prevention and Combat of Match-fixing appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Trending

Get it on Google Play

Fresh slot games releases by the top brands of the industry. We provide you with the latest news straight from the entertainment industries.

The platform also hosts industry-relevant webinars, and provides detailed reports, making it a one-stop resource for anyone seeking information about operators, suppliers, regulators, and professional services in the European gaming market. The portal's primary goal is to keep its extensive reader base updated on the latest happenings, trends, and developments within the gaming and gambling sector, with an emphasis on the European market while also covering pertinent global news. It's an indispensable resource for gaming professionals, operators, and enthusiasts alike.

Contact us: [email protected]

Editorial / PR Submissions: [email protected]

Copyright © 2015 - 2024 - Recent Slot Releases is part of HIPTHER Agency. Registered in Romania under Proshirt SRL, Company number: 2134306, EU VAT ID: RO21343605. Office address: Blvd. 1 Decembrie 1918 nr.5, Targu Mures, Romania