Author: Daniel Williams

A new gambling-related bill was rolled out in Japan. Yesterday, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, its coalition partner Komeito and the nominal opposition party Nippon Ishin no Kai submitted a piece of legislation to the Lower House, with the measure being especially focused on dealing with problem gambling. The new bill comes as an attempt of Japan’s major political parties to address the increasing public fears that the opening of the country’s casino gambling market will result in a sharp increase in the number of people suffering from gambling addiction.…

Today, the UK Government published its final decision on the review of controversial fixed-odds betting machines (FOBTs) and social responsibility measures. As part of the review, the Government announced its resolution to cut the maximum stake allowed on the local gaming machines from £100 to £2 only. A few months ago, the Government released a consultation on gaming machines and social responsibility measures which took place from October 31st, 2017 to January 23rd, 2018. The main objective of the FOBTs review was to make sure that the right balance is…

The Japanese Government has made a decision to allow poker in local casinos under the new Integrated Resorts Bill which is set to allow the establishment of casino venues as part of larger entertainment resorts in the country. The local Government had originally planned to lift the gambling ban only to allow games of chance, such as blackjack or roulette, in order to keep fairness in the Japanese gambling market. However, it finally agreed that casino dealers at the poker tables would be able to keep the integrity and fairness…

The state of Victoria is set to impose an 8% point-of-consumption tax on online gambling operators – a rate that is considerably smaller than the one introduced or considered in other states across the country. The treasurer of Victoria, Tim Pallas, officially announced that the new tax on remote gambling companies would be rolled out in January and is expected to bring an amount of AU$30 million on an annual basis. Some of the opponents of the new point-of-consumption tax have expressed their fears that the rate imposed in Victoria…

Earlier this week, the Parliament of Malta has greenlighted the third and final reading of the new Gaming Act, which is aimed at making the jurisdictional profile of the country more attractive as far as gambling regulatory functions are concerned. The implementation of the new Gaming Act will enhance the supervisory role of the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), especially when it comes to compliance and enforcement functions under which regulatory objectives are achieved. In addition, the piece of legislation will ensure that all gambling operations on the territory of the…

The calls for stronger regulation of the Irish gambling industry have been heard by the Dáil, which could consider further measures to proceed with. For some time now, the gambling sector has been the centrepiece of some fierce debates calling for tighter regulatory control on these operations. Earlier, the local Republican Party – Fianna Fáil – has proposed a piece of legislation aimed at providing better protection for more vulnerable individuals and ensuring that gambling operations are offered in a fair and transparent environment. As Casino Guardian has previously reported,…

The two vandals who smashed up some fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) and television screens in a Ladbrokes betting shop in Cheltenham were released yesterday, with the judge imposing 18-month community orders for both of them. The 27-year-old Aaron Cawley and the 31-year-old John Dymock both confessed that they took part in the criminal act on December 10th 2016. The two defendants destroyed a few TV and FOBTs screens, with the act being caught on a closed-circuit television (CCTV). Under the judge’s ruling, Aaron Cawley would have to complete 250 hours…

Aaron Cawley, an infamous football hooligan, yesterday admitted that it was him who shattered some television and fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) screens at a Cheltenham-located Ladbrokes retail betting shop on December 10th, 2016. The smashed-up screens’ worth was estimated to £20,000. As explained by Prosecutor Charley Pattison to Gloucester crown court’s Judge Ian Lawrie QC, the gambling operator was not able to use its Cheltenham betting shop for gambling for three days apart from the costs of the damage. According to the prosecution, the Ladbrokes’ total losses were boosted to…

A new independent Irish gambling regulator could force gambling operators to close gambling addicts’ accounts, or otherwise, impose significant fines on them under plans of the Government to tackle gambling-related harm. According to local media reports, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Charles Flanagan, is expected to present the proposal to Cabinet later today, as part of a new crackdown sought to be imposed on gambling companies. The new restraints to be imposed on operators also include some new limits to be set on gambling advertising on TV and on…

The strategic consulting and customised research firm MECN published its 2018 Spring Edition of its Online Gambling Quarterly report, revealing some of the most important trends, as well as financial, marketing, product and lottery analyses of the iGaming market of the first quarter of 2018. The firm issued an extensive report about the current and future online gambling industry climate, as well as the company and product trends on the international iGaming market. Business Climate in the Online Gambling Industry The firm put the online gambling industry climate as a…