Author: Daniel Williams

The Irish Government continues to move forward with the completion of the long-awaited gambling reform with the establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) – an independent body to monitor and regulate the local gambling sector – currently underway. Of course, the watchdog that was established in accordance with the country’s new Gambling Regulatory Act would need someone to control the regulatory body operation, so the GRA has started accepting leadership applications. The window for all candidates to lead the Regulatory Authority is now open but applicants should be aware…

Residents of Victoria have spent a record amount of money on local poker machines since the Government lifted the restrictions associated with the coronavirus pandemic. According to a recent report, Victorians lost AU$251 million in December 2021, which constituted the highest monthly loss in the state since the beginning of the records. As mentioned above, the newly-registered monthly losses on so-called pokies surpassed the previous record of AU$250 million set in December 2008, as one of the consequences of the first wave of stimulus payments given by the Australian Federal…

This week, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has turned to the country’s internet service providers (ISPs), asking them to block more digital gambling platforms of offshore companies that operate illegally in Australia. This time, the regulatory body has requested the suspension of 12 unlawful offshore gambling websites, including Arlekin Casino, Lucky Star, Thebes Casino, 7 Reels, Winward Casino, Johnie Kash Kings, 21 Dukes, Zeturf, Horus Casino, Slot Vibe, Zebet, Tangiers Casino. According to the results of an investigation that the ACMA undertook, the aforementioned websites were found to…

A clinic for gambling addiction treatment is set to soon start operation in Stoke-on-Trent. The announcement has been made at a time when the National Health Service (NHS) is facing record demand from people who are categorised as problem gamblers. The new clinic, called the West Midlands Gambling Harm Clinic, is to be situated in Cobridge. It will open in May 2022 as one of the two entirely new facilities operated by the NHS across the country, boosting the overall number of clinics specialising in gambling addiction treatment in the…

The Local Government Association (LGA) and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) have urged the Government to impose stricter regulation on the country’s gambling industry amid rising gambling-related harm concerns. The two organisations hope that such steps will be taken into consideration by the Government as part of its review of the 2005 Gambling Act. The aforementioned concerns originate from recent research that found that almost a quarter (21%) of retail gambling outlets in the UK are situated in financially disadvantaged areas, exposing the individuals living there at…

According to a new survey of football fans and club members, more than one-third of the supporters of the Australian Football League (AFL) are worried about the rapid increase in gambling advertising when they attend football matches and when football matches are broadcast live on TV. The research was conducted in late 2021 by a grassroots group that supports the AFL and its clubs, called the AFL Fans Association (AFLFA). It found that the fans’ enjoyment of the game was affected by two main issues – gambling advertising and rule…

Rival lottery companies are preparing for a legal challenge in case, as expected, the current holder of the UK’s National Lottery operating licence – Camelot – is once again awarded the contract to run one of the oldest gambling services in the country for a fourth term. According to them, such a decision would discriminate against new participants that could potentially enter the sector. Industry insiders have noted that no matter which company receives the permit to operate the National Lottery, the decision would be challenged in court, as this…

The latest research from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has found that more than one in 10 Australians has participated in online gambling activities at some point in the previous 6 months. The figure represents 11% of Australian citizens who took part in the research and is an increase from the 8% who reported to have taken part in online gambling activities in 2020. The “Online gambling in Australia” snapshot was held in June last year as part of the “Communications and media in Australia” series. The survey…

A bill seeking to bring reforms to gambling in Northern Ireland by replacing the existing legislation was officially introduced in the Assembly in September 2021. The proposed bill is to replace the original gambling legislation from 1985 and earlier this week was presented to the Committee for Communities for review as part of the so-called “consideration stage”. After a number of amendments were added, the bill is to further advance to the next stage, while Northern Ireland is getting closer to finally making the much-awaited changes to its gambling industry.…