Merkur Accused of Not Taking Sufficient Action to Address Client’s Problem Gambling Behaviour

Merkur Accused of Not Taking Sufficient Action to Address Client’s Problem Gambling Behaviour

Wendy Hughes and her daughter, Jackie Olden, spoke with the Guardian on Hughes’s struggles with gambling addiction and how the issue was exacerbated by the actions of staff working at a Stockport adult gaming centre operated by Merkur. Hughes began gambling in 2008 as part of her duties as a member of staff at a Coral-branded bookmaker. Reportedly, management urged staff to play digital roulette machines to “generate interest.” Hughes had never gambled before and was known to be exceptionally careful with money. Yet, the exposure to the fixed odds…

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London Assembly Health Committee Urges Mayor Sadiq Khan to Ban Gambling Ads on TfL Network

London Assembly Health Committee Urges Mayor Sadiq Khan to Ban Gambling Ads on TfL Network

On March 15th, the London Assembly Health Committee published its “Gambling Related Harms in London” report, which is centred on how Londoners are affected by gambling harm and how advertising, in particular, impacts those struggling with gambling. Based on the investigation’s results, the Committee has called for Sadiq Khan, who currently serves as the Mayor of London, to submit a proposal to the Transport for London (TfL) authority for the blanket prohibition of the display of gambling ads in London’s transport network. Moreover, the Mayor has previously pledged to ban…

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Silence of Suicide CEO Calls for Introduction of Public Health Alerts to Prevent Gambling Harm

Silence of Suicide CEO Calls for Introduction of Public Health Alerts to Prevent Gambling Harm

Yvette Greenway-Mansfield, co-founder and chief executive officer of the charity Silence of Suicide (SOS), has called for UK regulators to begin treating gambling in a way similar to tobacco and make it mandatory for gambling companies to display public health warnings when it comes to betting. This is tied to the recently launched #TIO (Think it over) campaign, which urges the government to introduce additional reforms to gambling law, as the organisation does not consider the prevention and treatment measures outlined in the Gambling White Paper to be sufficient. In…

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Lord Foster of Bath Warns Proposed Changes to UK Data Protection Legislation Could Harm Gamblers

Lord Foster of Bath Warns Proposed Changes to UK Data Protection Legislation Could Harm Gamblers

In an opinion piece published on the news website PoliticsHome, Lord Foster of Bath warned how a new Data Protection and Digital Information (DPDI) Bill could result in companies, particularly those belonging to the gambling industry, being given the freedom to take advantage of customers’ data. According to Lord Foster, data abuse is an already existing issue, as gambling companies are allegedly utilising client information to target bettors and convince them to spend more money on gambling. He specifically cited the practice of determining whether self-excluded individuals could be enticed…

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UKGC and DCMS Commission Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for the Gambling Act Review

UKGC and DCMS Commission Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for the Gambling Act Review

The UK’s gambling regulator, as well as the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), have commissioned the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) institute to assess the effectiveness of the UK Government’s Gambling Act Review. According to NatCen’s announcement, the institute will perform a Monitoring and Evaluation plan of the Gambling Act Review, and it will put a focus on problem gambling and the review’s success in introducing changes that succeed in the prevention of gambling harm. Specific assessments will be made regarding whether the review has successfully struck…

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Geelong Man Raises Awareness on the Risks Associated with Online Sports Betting

Geelong Man Raises Awareness on the Risks Associated with Online Sports Betting

Mark Stockwell, an individual whose gambling addiction led to him stealing from his employer and eventually landing a jail sentence, spoke with ABC News about the harms of online betting. Given his firsthand experience with gambling addiction, Stockwell is now aiming to raise awareness regarding the issue in the hopes that others, young people especially, will not follow in his footsteps. Stockwell described how wagering on horse racing and AFL games turned into a daily habit thanks to how easy it was for him to place bets on his phone,…

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Bet365 Faces Investigation by AUSTRAC Over Potential Non-Compliance with AML/CTF Regulations

Bet365 Faces Investigation by AUSTRAC Over Potential Non-Compliance with AML/CTF Regulations

The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) announced on March 7th that its probe into bet365’s compliance with Australia’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (AML/CTF Act) is now underway. AML/CTF regulations concern the issue of criminals using companies for the purposes of concealing money obtained through illegitimate means or for financing terrorist organisations. Sportsbooks and gambling companies, in general, are particularly susceptible to this form of exploitation, and combating the problem involves the utilisation of Know Your Customer (KYS) systems. They serve to carefully audit client activity…

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West Midlands Problem Gambling Rate Stands at 3.9%, GambleAware Research Data Says

West Midlands Problem Gambling Rate Stands at 3.9%, GambleAware Research Data Says

According to research data gathered by the independent charity GambleAware, the problem gambling rate in the West Midlands stands at 3.9%, with 168,000 individuals in total being affected. The locations that are most severely impacted include Coventry (5.1%), Birmingham (4.5%), and Sandwell (4%), and the overall data shows that adults residing in the West Midlands are 25% more likely to fall victim to problem gambling in comparison to the average for Great Britain. Stigma is seen as one of the core factors preventing those struggling from seeking help, with a…

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Foxtel Faces Potential Probe Over Alleged Breaches of Gambling Ad Laws

Foxtel Faces Potential Probe Over Alleged Breaches of Gambling Ad Laws

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is considering launching an investigation into Foxtel concerning gambling advertisements displayed during the airing of an Australia vs New Zealand test cricket match last week. The complaint accusing Foxtel of the alleged violations was filed by ABC News, and the ads involve Parimatch and 1xBat. The latter is a “surrogate” brand created for the purpose of promoting the sportsbook 1xBet. As reported by ABC News, both sportsbooks operate online and lack licensing in Australia and New Zealand. Their promotion can thus be considered…

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Concerns Raised Regarding AI’s Potential to Worsen Gambling Harm

Concerns Raised Regarding AI’s Potential to Worsen Gambling Harm

Danny Cheetham, an ex-problem gambler who is currently in the process of securing a Master’s Degree in Artificial Intelligence, spoke with the BBC’s Nicola K Smith on his concerns regarding AI’s role in the gambling industry. As revealed by Mr Cheetham, his struggles with gambling began when he was only 18, and remote betting served to further worsen the issue due to “the ease of access and the solitary nature” of remote sportsbooks. He now believes artificial intelligence could also become something that could prove to “deepen addiction” for individuals…

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