Author: Daniel Williams

A heated legislative session took place in the culture, media, and sports committee after a recent UK Government decision to reverse a proposed gambling advertising ban has fallen under intense scrutiny. Stuart Andrew, the UK minister for sport, gambling, and civil society, backed the Government’s decision, saying there was little evidence to suggest that gambling advertising directly resulted in increased gambling-related harm among Brits. He further noted that local lawmakers had been heavily reliant on the available evidence and further shared that only limited proof suggested that exposure to advertising…

For years, the UK online gambling landscape has been an epitome of diversification and dynamism. The great range of online gambling services represents a major part of the diversification of the country’s gambling industry. Another important dimension of this diversity that is particularly intriguing is the variation in customer demographics and age. According to the latest reports, the age groups that engage with online gambling platforms available in the UK very much vary in terms of gambling habits, interests, and participation in different types of services. Understanding these specific nuances…

Australian gambling operators seem reluctant to open betting markets on the upcoming Indigenous Voice referendum scheduled to take place on October 14 of this year. Licensed sportsbooks servicing the local market rarely shy away from taking wagers on political events, including state and federal elections. Some like Sportsbet have even briefly quoted odds on the outcome of the same-sex marriage national survey conducted in late 2017. However, no major sportsbook has so far ventured to open bets on the upcoming referendum that could introduce an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and…

A recent study conducted in Australia revealed that skill-based gambling machines put people at a higher risk of suffering greater losses in the long run due to the “illusion of control” they create. The study in question was intended to assist regulators in determining how they should approach these machines if they are introduced on the local market. Gambling Research Australia provided funding for the study, which was titled “Skill-Based Gambling in Australia” and was carried out by Central Queensland University. Following the study, the researchers insisted that the introduction…

New Zealand’s National Party has released some details in regard to an ambitious plan that is aimed at imposing a tax on offshore online gambling services and implementing taxes for foreign buyers of houses, along with other regulatory changes. Some industry experts have shared expectations for intense competition in New Zealand’s market ahead of the country’s general elections that are set to take place in October 2023. Considering some concerns regarding higher taxes, increasing inflation, and high-interest rates, a massive clash between the National Party and the Labour Party is…

Recently, three researchers have provided more insight into the concerning relationship between problem gambling, veterans, and the potential for self-harm in Australia. Researchers Olivia Metcalf, Sean Cowlishaw, and Nicole Sadler have focused on the point of contact and interaction of the challenges associated with post-military life and more liberal gambling regulations that have set up some troubling case scenarios for veterans, featuring increased rates of suicide risk. The study aimed to examine the association between problem gambling and suicide among military veterans in the country and found that veterans who…

The gambling regulatory body of the state of Victoria criticised the inducements offered by online betting operators to members of local sporting clubs as part of their sponsorship agreements. Currently, competent authorities recognise problem gambling as a serious public health issue. On one hand, poker machines are available on every corner across the state of Victoria, while on the other hand, local residents can easily access a variety of online gambling options. As a result, Victorians lose hundreds of millions of dollars on gambling every month, with this trend leading…

A recent analysis of the spending patterns of British loan customers suggests that financial institutions across the UK may be lending over £174 million on a monthly basis to individuals who are spending a great deal of their income on gambling. The credit technology firm Abound gathered and took into consideration the open banking data of British residents who applied for its loans and used artificial intelligence (AI) to evaluate the customers’ financial transactions over a half-year period. According to reports from the leading debt charity StepChange, the results suggested…

Police have raided an alleged high-end illegal casino, which was operating out of a factory based in Truganina, Melbourne. A total of 21 people have been arrested and the police have seized gaming equipment, cash, and drugs. On Friday, Victoria Police’s division targeting organised crime, Viper Taskforce, was involved in the raid of an industrial area at Truganina, which led to exposing an alleged illegal high-end casino along with an unlicensed bar. According to the police, the illegal casino facility required a minimum buy-in of $800 and was operating on…

Paul Kehoe, a long-serving Government Teachta Dála, has shared that the impending Gambling Regulation Bill of Ireland so far fails to recognise the importance of broadcasters to the local racing sector. He further explained that he had been literally bombarded by calls from concerned stakeholders within the sector regarding the proposed legislation. Mr Kehoe has been a Fine Gael Teachta Dála since 2002 and even served as minister of state for the departments of the Taoiseach and Defence. He even served as government chief whip in the period from 2011…