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A new study has found that controversial fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) cost local residents an amount of approximately £210 million on an annual basis by creating an increased demand on various public services. According to the research and analysis carried out by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), the fixed-odds betting machines which offer casino-styled games such as roulette and blackjack cost local taxpayers about £116 million in hospital in-patient visits, and mental health services estimated to approximately £32 million. In addition, the controversial terminals have long been…

The following infographic presents information about the English Premier League (EPL) Shirt Sponsorships and the gambling companies contribution and value over the 2015/2016, 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 seasons. Over the past few years, the EPL has seen an increasing number of gambling companies strike sponsorship agreements with Premier League football clubs, with the betting operators taking over electronics and beer companies on UK football kits. The infographic and the report below are set to provide more details about these sponsorship deals, as well as to cast more light on the most…

The Australian Communications Minister Mitch Fifield has revealed that the Turnbull Government is set to introduce a piece of legislation aimed at banning on foreign lotteries or Keno games. The decision has been made after a campaign against such operators has been unveiled by the One Nation party. The nation-wide ban is to start six months after the bill is passed by the Parliament in order to provide gambling operators with a certain transition period. The statement was made by Senator Fifield after local media reports that the country’s Government…

Today, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) revealed new plans aimed at making online gambling in the UK safer than ever before. The major gambling regulatory body in the UK published its review on online gambling, proposing certain changes in order to make sure that local customers are well-protected. As revealed by the Commission, statistics show that online gambling industry profits increased by 10% reaching £4.7 billion in 2017, while public participation has risen by 3% over a three-year period, from 15.5% in 2014, to 18.3% in 2017. According to the…

The Government of Japan plans to make it obligatory to new casinos to report on customers who exchanged chips and cash estimated to at least ¥1 million. The new requirement is set to be rolled out as part of the anti-money laundering measures unveiled by the Japanese authorities. According to Government sources, the Japanese officials are seeking to put an end to the wide-spread concerns that casino gambling may be used for the purpose of money laundering and financing of terrorist organisations, amid plans to include such facilities in so-called…

The Chairman of the North Yorkshire County Council, Councillor Jim Clark, who heads the Council’s health committee, has alleged National Health Services (NHS) bosses of operating a postcode lottery. Mr. Clark revealed that they had decided to build a mental health hospital in a neighbouring district after scraping plans of building such a hospital in another location. Reportedly, Mr. Clark revealed that Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust was set to start the construction of a 72-bed hospital in York, but it had already had plans for a new…

Manchester United star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic could get in trouble with the Football Association (FA). The former Paris Saint-Germain star, who first signed as a free agent for Manchester United in 2016 and then signed another one-year contract with the Premier League club in 2017, could face investigation and disciplinary action from the FA over betting firm links. Reportedly, the FA could investigate the involvement of Ibrahimovic with the Malta-based operator Bethard Group. Earlier in March, the online gambling group which at present times targets the Nordic betting markets, released…

Over 50 new outlets have been opened on a monthly basis over the past three years by the Irish National Lottery’s private operators. The massive surge of such outlets, however, has raised some concerns related to possible increase of problem gambling as well. Since the consortium which operates the National Lottery was granted with the operating license in November 2014, the number of retailers that are licensed to sell National Lottery tickets and scratch cards has experienced a strong increase, with their numbers rising from 3,700 to 5,790. Now, Toronto-based…

Today, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) published its advice to support the Government with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) review of controversial fixed-odds betting machines (FOBTs) and social responsibility measures. The gambling regulatory authority has issued its formal advice aiming to put a cap on the gambling-related harm that customers, and especially more vulnerable ones, could face. The Government is expected to soon unveil its decision on the possible reduction of the maximum stakes allowed at FOBTs. The official advice paper issued by the major gambling…

The manager of the England national football team, Gareth Southgate, insisted that he would not allow gambling among players get out of control at the World Cup. According to him, England’s footballers will not put their chances of success during the World Cup in danger by letting their gambling habits affect their performance as such a thing happened at previous tournaments. The statement of the current manager of the English national football squad came after some shocking revelations about the huge amount of gambling addictions that has spread among players…