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UK Gambling Firms Accused of Exaggerating Scale of Black Market Betting
UK Gambling firms have been accused of concocting a “dodgy dossier” to exaggerate the scale of black market betting, in an attempt to influence an upcoming government review expected to result in tougher regulation.
Gambling industry figures recently seized on a report claiming that 200,000 people in the UK spend £1.4bn on black market sites every year, warning that tougher regulation could drive more people into the arms of “unscrupulous” operators.
But in a letter to a cross-party group of MPs examining gambling-related harm, the Gambling Commission’s chief executive, Neil McArthur, delivered a withering assessment of the report.
The boss of the gambling regulator said the report, written by consultancy PwC, was “not consistent with the intelligence picture” and did not distinguish between real consumers using black market sites and bots or other automated systems.
He said the report should be treated cautiously, adding that it lacked any evidence to show an increase in illicit betting.
“We know that licensed operators and their trade bodies are concerned about the impact of the illegal market, but our own evidence suggests that the impact may be being exaggerated,” he said.
McArthur said black market concerns should be kept in proportion “despite … reports from consultants paid for by the industry, and should not distract from the need to continue to drive up standards and make gambling safer in the regulated market.”
Such direct criticism from the regulator will be a blow for the industry lobby group, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), which has repeatedly referred to the report to back its arguments against stricter regulations.
The government is considering a range of measures that could involve limiting stakes on online virtual slot machines, or forcing web-based casinos to carry out thorough affordability checks if customers deposit a certain amount per month.
McArthur dismissed BGC’s suggestion that such measures could fuel a surge in black market operations.
“In any event, we are not convinced by the argument that suggests that raising standards in the licensed market will prompt consumers to gamble with illegal operators,” he said.
The Labour MP Carolyn Harris, who chairs the MPs’ group that receive the letter, said: “The online gambling industry talks up the threat of the black market in an attempt to resist regulation and protect its profits, but trying to hijack the debate by manufacturing dodgy dossiers of information to further their own ends is an incredibly transparent tactic and will not be any kind of excuse to hold down standards.”
The BGC and several of the UK’s major betting companies, which commissioned the report, refused a request to provide a copy.
But the Guardian has since obtained both a draft version, dated April 2019, and a final version, dated July 2019.
The two appear identical except that the final version removed a reference to the three firms that commissioned it, Ladbrokes owner GVC, William Hill and The Stars Group, which owned SkyBet and has since merged with Paddy Power owner Flutter.
Matt Zarb-Cousin, a former adviser to Jeremy Corbyn who runs the campaign group Clean Up Gambling, said: “The gambling industry has been quoting from this report as it attempts to drive a race to the bottom in regulation. Having finally seen the contents, it’s clear why it was reluctant to make this report available for public scrutiny.”
A BGC spokesperson said countries with tougher regulation than the UK had bigger black market problems.
“We have repeatedly called on the government to use the online harms bill to crack down on access to these sites, and we would support financial service providers being obliged to block black market transactions,” he said.
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The NSW Government has made appointments to the board of the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA), including a deputy chairperson and two new members.
Associate Professor Amelia Thorpe and Nicholas Nichles have been appointed following a rigorous public expression of interest selection process. Additionally, existing member Chris Honey has been appointed deputy chairperson.
ILGA is a statutory decision-maker responsible for a range of liquor, registered club and gaming machine regulatory functions including determining licensing and disciplinary matters.
The appointments follow the end of the term of appointment for outgoing deputy chairperson Sarah Dinning, and also fill vacancies that existed on the board.
Mr Honey, who was appointed a member of ILGA earlier in 2024, has been named deputy chairperson until the end of his current appointment term (11 February 2027).
Mr Honey has extensive experience in the advisory and restructuring field, including working extensively in highly regulated sectors.
Associate Professor Thorpe and Mr Nichles have both been appointed for four years commencing 6 November 2024.
Associate Prof Thorpe is with the Faculty of Law & Justice at the University of New South Wales and an Acting Commissioner of the NSW Land and Environment Court.
Mr Nichles was previously a Consul General and Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner for Australian Government agency Austrade, based in the US.
The new appointments bring the ILGA board membership to seven. The new appointments will join chairperson Caroline Lamb, new deputy chairperson Mr Honey and current members Cathie Armour, Jeffrey Loy APM and Dr Suzanne Craig.
The post NSW Govt Appoints New Board Members to ILGA appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
TaDa Gaming is offering a super VIP experience in Coin Infinity Surge Reel. Players can enjoy special symbols, random bonuses, multiplying multipliers, and a unique bonus game comprising Lock & Respin coins and a magical Locked Suitcase in this five reels, four rows, with fifth bonus Surge Reel, 40 paylines slot.
In the main game, three Surge Reel symbols of Wild, Collect and Win can randomly appear above each reel and impact the symbols below. Wilds transform the symbols on the reel below to maximise the win potential; Wins award the wins on each symbol regardless of position across the grid; and Collect symbols add together the points on each symbol.
Additionally, each symbol on the main reels can have a random win number from 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 3x, 5x, 10x, 20x, 30x, 40x, 50x to a hefty 100x applied with any spin in this high volatility game and deliver wins independently. Adding further to the excitement, the symbols can trigger simultaneously, creating a surge of movement and wins sequentially across the whole grid both vertically and horizontally.
Three or more Scatters on the Bonus Surge Reel will trigger three + Free Spins and the Lock and Respin Bonus game. Five Scatters will give five Free Spins and could place the Locked Suitcase symbol on one reel.
The Surge Reel goes into overdrive with the special symbols which can move symbols, multiply multipliers and even collect the multipliers from eight surrounding positions and add them together. However, as in all the best games, the Locked Suitcase and the Gold Key are the stars.
The Locked Suitcase can only appear once but the other symbols can appear multiple times. When the Gold Key lands, if the Locked Suitcase is located at the bottom of one reel, the lock number will decrease by one each time. And with enough appearances by the Key, the Suitcase will burst open for the mega wins to explode across the screen, providing a thrilling finale to the round.
Sean Liu, Director of Product Management at TaDa Gaming, said: “As the first trademarked Surge Reel release, the feature rich Coin Infinity Surge Reel is built on a solid maths model and driven by spectacular graphics and animations. The pre-release levels of engagement and retention created by the immersive theme and infinite way to win have been impressive, exceeding every metric for rounds played and repeat visits.”
The post TaDa Gaming Reaches New Heights in Engaging Play with Coin Infinity Surge Reel appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
As SiGMA Europe celebrates its 10th anniversary, Amusnet is set to participate in the premier event from November 11-14th in Malta. Renowned for its cutting-edge gaming solutions, Amusnet is eager to connect with industry leaders and contribute to defining the future of gaming in this vibrant forum. The expo will also feature the esteemed SiGMA Europe Awards 2024, honouring excellence in both the B2B and B2C sectors. This year, Amusnet has received dual nominations for Best Slot Game Provider (B2B) and Best Performing Slot Game (B2C).
“We believe the 10th anniversary of SiGMA Europe will be a truly remarkable event that will gather visionary leaders within the industry, and we are eager to contribute to the occasion. The double nomination this year highlights our commitment to excellence and dedication to delivering outstanding gaming experiences both to partners and players. We are honored that in the category of Best Performing Slot Game, our celebrity game, Stoichkov #8, has been recognized. This one-of-a-kind slot has consistently demonstrated strong market performance, ranking among the top products in our portfolio across markets such as Spain, Bulgaria, Italy, and Argentina (BA City). Join us to discover our latest developments and engage with high-quality networking,” said Irina Rusimova, CCO at Amusnet.
At the event, visitors can also learn more about the company’s Type S premium slot cabinet series, which features a range of the company’s award-winning games, including popular titles like Fruits & Gold, 20 Golden Coins, Cocktail Rush, the newest titles like Stoichkov #8 and Extra Crown Classic and many more.
Amusnet’s participation at SiGMA Europe in Malta will also include the attendance of a well-known Bulgarian streamer, further strengthening the company’s partnerships within the streaming community and enhancing the overall entertainment experience.
Europe 2024 is a landmark event celebrating a decade of success in the gaming industry. This year, the expo will host an impressive lineup of 27,000 delegates, including 6500 operators, 1000+ exhibitors and 550 speakers. Networking opportunities abound, and the event will feature five sports side events, two official parties and two awards ceremonies.
The post Amusnet to Participate at SiGMA Europe 2024 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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