Author: Daniel Williams

According to correspondence seen by the Sunday Independent, Irish gambling regulators are worried that a possible increase brought to the maximum wager permitted on electronic betting machines could lead to increased money laundering. TDs have heard that the considered addition of bigger gambling machine stakes to the new Gaming and lotteries Bill would pave the way for people to place larger bets and make should they look to conceal money which they have generated through criminal activity. The concern has been raised after some representatives of the public have met…

Former striker of Liverpool FC Daniel Sturridge has received a two-week ban from football and is to pay £75,000 after being found guilty of violating the Football Association’s betting rules. The 29-year-old football player was given a six-week suspension from playing, but four weeks of the ban were suspended, so the forward would be free to play again on July 31st. The Football Association, however, has not been satisfied with the penalty suffered by Sturridge and shared that it intends to appeal against the dismissal by an independent regulatory commission…

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) once again confirmed its continued commitment to tackling increasing gambling harm at a time when analysts of existing market data have warned that there is a link between problem gambling and suicide. The reports regarding problem gambling in the country have been unveiled as part of the research programme of the UKGC’s National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms. They were commission by the largest charity organisation which helps gambling addicts in the country, GambleAware. According to the published findings, there is a connection between gambling…

Northern Ireland’s gambling rules could be adjusted to stricter regulatory standards which have been unveiled across of the UK after the Church of England interfered. The Bishop of St Albans, Dr Alan Smith, addressed the House of Lords by tabling an amendment which is to make way for possible unification between mainland Britain and Northern Ireland, which has been in the Government’s plans for years. Under the proposed amendment, gambling legislation is to be added to several areas on which the UK Government would have to issue a report by…

The UK Government has revealed that it could raise the age limit for playing the National Lottery from 16 to 18. When announcing a consultation on the age limits for the games offered by the National Lottery, the Minister for Sport and Civil Society Mims Davies explained that such games were some of the instances which allow persons under 18 years of age to gamble. The consultation that was unveiled by the Culture Minister will look at the possible increase of the age limit for online games and instant-win scratch…

More residents of the Southland region in New Zealand are seeking help for their gambling addiction. According to records, a total of 91 residents of the Southland region sought help for their problem gambling for the first time in the 2017-18 fiscal year, which brought the overall number of gambling addicts looking for professional help in that period rise to 159. However, the local authorities have explained, that the actual number of Southlanders struggling with problem gambling could be much higher as many people feel ashamed by the social consequences…

Reportedly, many gambling businesses have closed their operations across the West Midlands within a year only, because of players’ increasing interest in online gambling. Records have shown that a total of 30 gambling companies stopped operating in the Black County in 2017. Despite the fact that casinos and amusement arcades are also part of the gambling industry, the major regulatory body of the gambling sector has estimated that approximately three-quarters of local businesses are betting outlets. According to the register of businesses held by the Office for National Statistics, there…

A doctor’s surgery manager has faced a jail sentence for more than three years after misappropriating an amount of almost £700,000 of the National Health Service (NHS) to fuel her gambling addiction. The 44-year-old problem gambler Karen Evans falsified patient records to steal cash which was intended for staff wages, medication and medical supplies and redirect the money to her two bank accounts for a period of 15 months. Then, she spent some of the money to pay her hills, going on holiday, and beauty and hair treatments, but most…

Irish TDs have been negotiating a proposal to ban local bookmakers from allowing players to place bets on so-called “lottery-type games”. According to claims, such games could drain about €110 million every year from the Good Causes funded by the National Lottery. Reportedly, the number of people, who prefer playing these “lottery experience” type games in retail bookmakers’ shops and online, has been on the rise over the last few years. This has been the reason why some Oireachtas Justice Committee TDs, where the new gambling legislation has been for…

Marion Fellows, a Wishaw Member of Parliament, who was one of the supporters of the reduced £2 maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs), has claimed that the UK Government must counterbalance the job losses at a local bookmaker. Despite that Ms Fellows still backs the gambling limit cap which was imposed on the controversial machines, she said she was disappointed with the fact that William Hill has revealed plans to close up to 700 shops around the country. For the time being, the company has six betting shops in…