Company Reports

Paul Fletcher, Federal Minister for Social Services in Australia, officially revealed that the Government is imposing stricter measures on the gambling sector as part of its efforts to tackle problem gambling. Under the expanded crackdown on the sector, operators will now have only 14 days instead of 3 months on their disposal to verify their users’ identities. Minister Fletcher explained that there are currently more than 240,000 people who are considered at risk of getting hooked on gambling or who are already suffering from significant harm due to compulsive online…

Gambling operators are making plans to set up a special trading body which would act as a lobby group at a time when UK lawmakers are considering prospects of stricter regulation of the local gambling sector. For some time, there have been rumours of a possible merger between Remote Gambling Association and the Association of British Bookmakers following harsh criticism at the time when the crackdown over controversial fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) has been considered. Now, an industry source close to the matter confirmed the step, saying that the issues…

Gambling applications available for smartphones are even more dangerous than controversial fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) when it comes to effect on people suffering from addiction, a new study revealed. The report of the 12-week study, which was published in European Addiction Research, an academic journal, claims that by using smartphone gambling apps players could lose money more easily. It says that the fact that users normally check their phones on a regular basis throughout the day, they get more predisposed to placing bets more often, even after they have suffered…

The independent charity organisation GambleAware which is aimed at dealing with gambling-related harm in the UK has rolled out its “Bet Regret” campaign which has been specially designed to raise impulsive gambling awareness and encourage the industry work harder to reduce possible negative effects from gambling. “Bet Regret” is believed to be the largest national safer gambling campaign. It has been unveiled as one of the many commitments of the UK Government set to make sure that the sector is socially responsible and communities and consumers are properly protected. The…

James Packer’s casino behemoth Crown Resorts has faced a decline in Chinese high roller’s spending, at a time when the Chinese economy marks its slowest growth in about thirty years. As revealed by the casino operator’s Executive Chairman John Alexander, the challenging economic conditions in China and stricter regulation on conspicuous consumption there have led to a decline in the so-called VIP gamblers at the Melbourne and Perth casino venues of the gambling giant. Mr Alexander explained that these economic effects make Chinese people feel poorer than they had been…

A card dealer and two high roller players, who faced allegations of swindling The Star casino in New South Wales to fraudulently obtain AU$3 million by using hand signals in what was considered one of the biggest gambling suits in Australia in the last few years, were freed from criminal charges. Now, the ruling of the NSW District Court is being appealed by prosecutors who seek a retrial, after judge Peter Whitford decided that the three men were not guilty and found that the Crown did not succeed to identify…

According to media reports, bet365, which is currently one of the leading gambling operators in the UK, has granted extra cash to players who racked up massive losses to encourage them to continue gambling. An undercover investigation of The Daily Mail showed that players who generate large losses with the gambling brand are rewarded with weekly cash returns amounting to up to 10% of their losses to make sure they keep on gambling. According to campaigners, the scheme is designed in a way that allows the gambling operator to exploit…

Woolworths, the Australian supermarket and grocery store chain, is once again in the centre of investigations over allegations that its pubs’ staff members have illegally offered free drinks to poker machine players to make them stay and play longer. For the time being, the offering of free or discounted alcohol in order to induce gambling is a criminal offence. According to the claims of a whistleblower, pubs’ staff were instructed not only to offer the enticements to players but were also taught how to cover up the practice. The New…

British gambling giant Paddy Power Betfair has been hit by a massive tax bill worth £49 million (€55 million) in Greece and Germany. The gambling operator confirmed that the demands for the cash payments have originated from legacy tax assessment in the two European counties. It also shared plans to mount a legal challenge against the authorities which imposed the bills relating to Germany-based Betfair Exchange and the company’s paddypower.com online business in Greece. The group wrote in a statement that it strongly opposes the basis of the two assessments…

Victoria state authorities are being encouraged to consider making massive changes in the local betting industry by giving permission to more companies to start operating retail betting shops. The British bookmaker Paddy Power Betfair that currently owns the local betting operator Sportsbet, claims that the stiff rivalry in the quite popular online betting sector has provided customers with a large choice of services, and guarantees not only regular upgrades of the offering but also better wagering experience for punters. According to the Sportsbet brand, the same benefits could logically be…