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A helpline that has been specially designed for problem gamblers in Ireland and funded by the gambling industry has been lacking staff for almost a month. GambleAware was also promoted by local bookmakers as part of their responsible gambling policies. The service is currently one of the largest and most prominent services for players who are dealing with problem gambling behaviour. The failure of the gambling addicts helpline has raised concerns that the local Government is not making enough progress in establishing an independent regulator. The Times reported that it…

After the Government of New South Wales (NSW) rolled out stricter regulation of advertising incentives to push local customers to gamble, betting service providers, publishers, as well as third-party affiliates, are to face heftier monetary fines. The new penalties are to amount to up to AU$55,000. The new legislation on the matter which has already come into effect is set to see gambling operators and their affiliates, as well as publishers of gambling advertisements, face monetary penalties, while directors of gambling operators can potentially be brought to jail for violation…

A new study has revealed that more than 400,000 British teenagers have been addicted to casino-style gambling through the video games they play. According to results of the investigation, the children aged 13 to 18, have been able to gamble their winnings generated from online video games for cash on various games of chance. Currently, under-aged individuals in the UK are not allowed to gamble. However, some gambling options are actually been available thanks to so-called virtual in-game items called “skins”, or some character costumes or weapons that can be…

Today, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) published a report into the enforcement action which was taken against local gambling operators over the past year. The Enforcement report of the major UK gambling regulatory body emphasised on the lessons it wants to teach to gambling companies, following investigations of alleged breaches of the country’s gambling legislation. Apart from carrying out an investigation on the matter the Commission also provided some guidance to local gambling operators related to anti-money laundering, customer protection and interaction, unfair terms and practices, gambling marketing and advertising,…

The Australian Senate has revealed its decision to support a campaign that will end up in a vote on a controversial issue related to loot boxes and in-game items. The vote on the matter, which should be placed as a matter of investigation by a committee enquiry today, seeks to decide on whether loot boxes in video games could be considered a form of gambling, and whether they are appropriate for children and younger audiences. Senator Jordon Steele-John revealed in a press release that he had long been calling for…

The Responsible Gambling Advisory Board (RGAB) have shared their concerns that local children who watch Match of the Day could be targeted by gambling adverts, as they are exposed to such commercials over most of the programme. The advisers of the UK Government warned that country’s responsible authorities are involved in something which the Board called an “uncontrolled social experiment” to children at a time when more minors get exposed to gambling and such behaviour could end up having a long-term negative effect on them. According to the Responsible Gambling…

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) which serves as the major gambling regulatory body in the country has revealed its further commitment to making sure that children and young people are well protected from possible gambling-related harm. Previously, the UK gambling regulator asked its expert advisers for advice on the widely-discussed theme of children, young people and gambling. The Gambling Commission took into account the existing work and the advice provided by the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board (RGSB) in order to become more focused on forging the right protections to reduce…

An Australian club and the gambling regulator reached a settlement in a court appeal, to which a local problem gambler was not called to give evidence, despite the fact that she had lost more than AU$220,000 there. The gambling regulatory body has further revealed that it was required to take the club’s settlement offer into consideration due to model litigant rules. Today, Gordon Ramsay, the Gambling Minister of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and David Snowden, the chief executive officer of ACT Gambling and Racing Commission appeared before budget estimates,…

Today, the Australian market research company Roy Morgan released the results of a new research, according to which 49.1% of adult Australian citizens gambled in an average three-month period within the twelve months which ended in March 2018. The figure represented a decline from the result reported a year ago, when more than half (50.6%) of the Australians over 18 years of age gambling at the time. According to the local research firm, the result also represented a gradually decreasing trend in the gambling industry across all categories. The trend…

Yesterday, UK Chancellor Philip Hammond confirmed that the long-expected crackdown on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) would be rolled out in two years. After the information about the two-year delay emerged, Mr. Hammond faced strong criticism and was called “morally reprehensible”. After several months of consideration, in May 2018, the UK Government revealed that the maximum stake of controversial machines would be reduced from £100 to £2. Last week information emerged that UK FOBT crackdown could be delayed until April 2020. Now, the delay has been officially announced, with anti-gambling campaigners…