Author: Daniel Williams

Poker machine losses rose to a high in the state of Tasmania in 2022/2023, with anti-gambling campaigners claiming that is the perfect time for the state to introduce some new measures aimed at reducing the harms associated with problem gambling and gambling-related harm. According to some recent data prepared by Monash University’s Gambling and Social Determinants Unit for the Alliance for Gambling Reform (AGR), the residents of Tasmania lost a total of AU$189.6 million on pokies over the 2022/2023 financial year. The figure represents a 10.5% growth in comparison to…

Irish politicians have been approached by gambling industry lobbyists multiple times so far in 2023 over the country’s long-awaited gambling legislation overhaul that is expected to pass through all stages of the Parliament (the Oireachtas) in the next few months. According to some experts who analysed the Lobbying Register, there were over 60 entries of lobbying associated with the country’s Gambling Regulation Bill so far this year. Data have shown that approximately 50% of this overall outreach has involved direct lobbying of the Irish minister of state, James Browne, who…

Damion Flower, jailed drug kingpin and racing tycoon, has made a daring move that could push the highest court in the country to reduce his almost three-decade prison sentence for importing drugs worth AU$70 million into Australia. As reported by the Daily Telegraph, the legal representatives of Mr Flower have approached the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal with a notice of intention to appeal his 28-year imprisonment sentence that was imposed on the former racing tycoon in 2022, following his guilty plea to smuggling 228 kilograms of cocaine into the…

New guidance has noted that Brits who visit their doctors should be asked about their gambling habits in the same way they face questions about alcohol consumption and smoking. The National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE) explained that people who visit the doctor’s office for their anxiety, depression, or thoughts of self-harm in relation to addiction may be at risk of facing gambling-related harm. NICE further noted that health experts should discuss the implementation of some tools or blocking software to help limit their patients’ online gambling habits. The chief…

In an important move to strengthen the country’s digital gambling sector anti-money laundering (AML) regulation, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) has restricted online sportsbook operators from accepting wagers from unverified users. The move has been unveiled as part of the latest effort of the regulatory body to consolidate the country’s safeguards against money laundering. Under the new rules, betting operators that hold an operating licence in Australia will now have to require all online customers to verify themselves before they are allowed to place bets. Non-complying consumers…

A new study cited by the Christian Institute found that local media during the English Premier League’s (EPL) opening weekend were flooded by gambling-related adverts. Research commissioned by 5 News found that British viewers of the Premier League were literally bombarded with thousands of gambling messages across TV and radio sports news, selected match coverage, and social media channels between August 11th and 14th, 2023. As a result, the Christian Institute scolded the gambling review of the UK Government for its failure to tackle much-expanded gambling advertising. Experts from the…

An investigation by Guardian Australia has revealed that more and more young people in the country come of age with anxiety and depression, alongside relationship breakdowns and debt due to getting hooked on gambling while being adolescent. According to data provided by Gambling Help Online, there was a 16% growth in the number of young people at the age of 24 and under who got in contact with the help service over the 2022/2023 financial year. The same research also found that young people between 15 and 24 years of…

Aussie-facing online sportsbook Betr is to award a record $40 million in payouts after pro-rugby team Penrith Panthers pulled off a 26-24 win against the Brisbane Broncos last Sunday to earn their third successive premiership title in the National Rugby League. The News Corp-backed sportsbook launched a promotional offer last fall in September, providing newly registered customers with the opportunity to place wagers on the outcomes of five events. These included the 2023 NRL and AFL grand finals, the Melbourne Cup, the FIFA World Cup, and NBA games. The sportsbook…

After multiple delays, the UK Government finally released its much-awaited White Paper on Gambling several months ago. Unfortunately, local officials reported that both the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and the paper mistakenly presented crucial data figures regarding the country’s gambling addiction rates. The “problem gambling” rate is one of the long-running indicators used to measure how effective the responsible gambling initiatives of local gambling operators are. It calculates where a certain market stands in regard to the gambling addiction penetration of consumers who are considered at risk of developing gambling…

The state of New South Wales has shared some concerns regarding the volume of gambling advertising. Despite that, local authorities refused to side with an inquiry’s call for a full ban on gambling adverts within a three-year period, prompting fears that federal Labour may use state lawmakers’ resistance not to suspend the practice but to rather opt for some new limits. Several consultations with state and territory ministers, who are currently engaged in the regulation of the local gambling sector, regarding the proposed advertising ban were carried out on September…