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The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) announced the introduction of an online service which allows individuals to send confidential reports regarding gambling-related criminal or suspicious activity. The Commission outlined what type of issues can warrant reporting in both the announcement and the “Tell us something in confidence” web page itself. The said problems are covered within the UK’s Gambling Act 2005. The first issues outlined in the UKGC’s announcement have to do with match-fixing and the integrity of sports betting. According to the regulator’s website, these terms have to do…

Two masked men robbed a Betfred-owned betting shop in Swindon, Wiltshire, on December 2nd. As reported by the Swindon Advertiser, the perpetrators used a knife to threaten a member of staff and escaped after placing approximately £1,000 in a green carrier bag. A single cashier was on duty during the incident, and two customers were also present at the scene. As neither of the robbers has been caught and the raid is under investigation, the area is subject to increased supervision by local authorities. The Betfred employee who was working…

During a London Assembly meeting on November 29th, experts and politicians urged Sadiq Khan to ban harmful gambling-related ads on London’s transport network. Khan’s 2021 election pledge was cited during the meeting, as the prohibition of “harmful gambling advertisements” was among the included promises. The meeting also saw calls for the mayor to implement even stricter measures. As reported by the Financial Times, Harj Gahley, adviser/consultant at the Red Card Gambling Support Project, stated that the prohibition should affect all ads that are tied to gambling in contrast to Khan’s…

The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) is calling for consumers, licensed gambling operators, and members of the public to share their views on the second set of White Paper proposals. If implemented, the proposed changes will affect the commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) and Remote Gambling and Software Technical Standards (RTS). Those who wish to respond have 12 weeks to express their opinions and make suggestions. Gambling Commission Executive Director Tim Miller stated that the White Paper is a prime concern of the government and the UKGC,…

Participants in the 2023-24 Paddy Power-sponsored PDC World Darts Championship will compete on brand new dartboards. As revealed by the gambling company, Welsh manufacturer, and official equipment provider for the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), Winmau is behind the boards’ production, and the matchboards will feature a green treble 20 bed in contrast to the usual red. The Irish bookmaker announced in July that the gambling company would be the sponsor of this year’s PDC darts tournament, and it will be held at London’s Alexandra Palace and begin on December 15th,…

The Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) released a gambling report in which the committee made a range of recommendations that, if accepted and implemented by Victoria’s government, would lead to stricter regulation of gambling within the state. In one of its key proposals, PAEC urged state officials to follow in the footsteps of South Australia and prohibit gambling advertisements on television during prime time, i.e. from 4pm to 7:30pm. A suggestion to ban ads in “areas that come under state jurisdiction” like public spaces was made as well. According…

Wayne Meredith of Northwich, Cheshire, has been charged with two counts of burglary other than a dwelling with intent to steal, with both instances of crime involving local pubs and fruit machines located within each establishment’s premises. Cheshire authorities apprehended Meredith on September 29th, and on November 24th, he appeared in Chester Crown Court and received a sentence of 28 months in prison. Matt Uren, Police Constable of the Northwich Proactive Policing Unit, issued a statement following the hearing, referring to Meredith as a “prolific offender” and claiming that he…

The HM Treasury’s Autumn Statement revealed on November 22nd that the gross gaming yield bands surrounding casino establishments will be subject to a freeze that will last from April 1st, 2024, to March 31st, 2025. In a statement issued November 23rd, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) referred to this measure as a “stealth tax” and asked the government to reconsider its implementation. According to the BGC, the freeze will serve as an annual tax of £5 million, which will further burden the already struggling land-based casino industry. Plans to…

November 22nd saw Gambling Minister Stuart Andrew delivering a speech at the Annual Convention of the British Amusement Catering Trade Association (Bacta), confirming that the government intends to move forward with the publication of its gambling white paper by 2024. The proposals outlined in the white paper aim to introduce a number of changes to gambling-related legislation, which will modernise land-based gambling should they be implemented as planned by summer 2024. Mr Andrew began by acknowledging the arcade and amusement sector’s significance for the UK economy, and he reaffirmed the…

The Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA) organisation announced on Tuesday that six RWA members have committed over AU$3 million towards the establishment of a not-for-profit body that will have the role of funding financial counselling services in Australia. The initiative is backed by prominent RWA members like Bet365, Betfair, Entain, PointsBet, Sportsbet, and Unibet, and the money will be distributed over the course of three years, starting in early 2024. RWA’s scheme has been established in partnership with the Federal Government, along with industry bodies that have to do with banking,…