Silence of Suicide CEO Calls for Introduction of Public Health Alerts to Prevent Gambling Harm

Silence of Suicide CEO Calls for Introduction of Public Health Alerts to Prevent Gambling Harm

Yvette Greenway-Mansfield, co-founder and chief executive officer of the charity Silence of Suicide (SOS), has called for UK regulators to begin treating gambling in a way similar to tobacco and make it mandatory for gambling companies to display public health warnings when it comes to betting. This is tied to the recently launched #TIO (Think it over) campaign, which urges the government to introduce additional reforms to gambling law, as the organisation does not consider the prevention and treatment measures outlined in the Gambling White Paper to be sufficient. In…

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Lord Foster of Bath Warns Proposed Changes to UK Data Protection Legislation Could Harm Gamblers

Lord Foster of Bath Warns Proposed Changes to UK Data Protection Legislation Could Harm Gamblers

In an opinion piece published on the news website PoliticsHome, Lord Foster of Bath warned how a new Data Protection and Digital Information (DPDI) Bill could result in companies, particularly those belonging to the gambling industry, being given the freedom to take advantage of customers’ data. According to Lord Foster, data abuse is an already existing issue, as gambling companies are allegedly utilising client information to target bettors and convince them to spend more money on gambling. He specifically cited the practice of determining whether self-excluded individuals could be enticed…

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UKGC and DCMS Commission Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for the Gambling Act Review

UKGC and DCMS Commission Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for the Gambling Act Review

The UK’s gambling regulator, as well as the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), have commissioned the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) institute to assess the effectiveness of the UK Government’s Gambling Act Review. According to NatCen’s announcement, the institute will perform a Monitoring and Evaluation plan of the Gambling Act Review, and it will put a focus on problem gambling and the review’s success in introducing changes that succeed in the prevention of gambling harm. Specific assessments will be made regarding whether the review has successfully struck…

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Geelong Man Raises Awareness on the Risks Associated with Online Sports Betting

Geelong Man Raises Awareness on the Risks Associated with Online Sports Betting

Mark Stockwell, an individual whose gambling addiction led to him stealing from his employer and eventually landing a jail sentence, spoke with ABC News about the harms of online betting. Given his firsthand experience with gambling addiction, Stockwell is now aiming to raise awareness regarding the issue in the hopes that others, young people especially, will not follow in his footsteps. Stockwell described how wagering on horse racing and AFL games turned into a daily habit thanks to how easy it was for him to place bets on his phone,…

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Bet365 Faces Investigation by AUSTRAC Over Potential Non-Compliance with AML/CTF Regulations

Bet365 Faces Investigation by AUSTRAC Over Potential Non-Compliance with AML/CTF Regulations

The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) announced on March 7th that its probe into bet365’s compliance with Australia’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (AML/CTF Act) is now underway. AML/CTF regulations concern the issue of criminals using companies for the purposes of concealing money obtained through illegitimate means or for financing terrorist organisations. Sportsbooks and gambling companies, in general, are particularly susceptible to this form of exploitation, and combating the problem involves the utilisation of Know Your Customer (KYS) systems. They serve to carefully audit client activity…

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West Midlands Problem Gambling Rate Stands at 3.9%, GambleAware Research Data Says

West Midlands Problem Gambling Rate Stands at 3.9%, GambleAware Research Data Says

According to research data gathered by the independent charity GambleAware, the problem gambling rate in the West Midlands stands at 3.9%, with 168,000 individuals in total being affected. The locations that are most severely impacted include Coventry (5.1%), Birmingham (4.5%), and Sandwell (4%), and the overall data shows that adults residing in the West Midlands are 25% more likely to fall victim to problem gambling in comparison to the average for Great Britain. Stigma is seen as one of the core factors preventing those struggling from seeking help, with a…

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Foxtel Faces Potential Probe Over Alleged Breaches of Gambling Ad Laws

Foxtel Faces Potential Probe Over Alleged Breaches of Gambling Ad Laws

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is considering launching an investigation into Foxtel concerning gambling advertisements displayed during the airing of an Australia vs New Zealand test cricket match last week. The complaint accusing Foxtel of the alleged violations was filed by ABC News, and the ads involve Parimatch and 1xBat. The latter is a “surrogate” brand created for the purpose of promoting the sportsbook 1xBet. As reported by ABC News, both sportsbooks operate online and lack licensing in Australia and New Zealand. Their promotion can thus be considered…

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Concerns Raised Regarding AI’s Potential to Worsen Gambling Harm

Concerns Raised Regarding AI’s Potential to Worsen Gambling Harm

Danny Cheetham, an ex-problem gambler who is currently in the process of securing a Master’s Degree in Artificial Intelligence, spoke with the BBC’s Nicola K Smith on his concerns regarding AI’s role in the gambling industry. As revealed by Mr Cheetham, his struggles with gambling began when he was only 18, and remote betting served to further worsen the issue due to “the ease of access and the solitary nature” of remote sportsbooks. He now believes artificial intelligence could also become something that could prove to “deepen addiction” for individuals…

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On-Site Sportsbooks Banned From 2024 Powercor Stawell Gift Race

On-Site Sportsbooks Banned From 2024 Powercor Stawell Gift Race

This year’s Powercor Stawell Gift carnival will not give spectators the opportunity to place bets despite the event’s traditional ties to sports betting. The Stawell Gift has been an annual racing event since 1878, and, as specified by Stawell Gift Event Management Limited (SGEM) on Thursday, the 2024 carnival is set to be held from March 30th to April 1st. According to SGEM Chair Murray Emerson, a notable number of the individuals who will be participating in the racing event are under-19s, including the defending champions who will be competing…

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Channel Islands Lottery Launches Gambling Participation Survey

Channel Islands Lottery Launches Gambling Participation Survey

The government of Guernsey has announced the launch of a Channel Islands Lottery (CI Lottery) survey, which seeks to shed light on residents’ feelings regarding the lottery and their participation in it, and it will also cover other forms of gambling. Island Global Research is the entity conducting the survey. According to Senior Lottery Officer for Guernsey Jon Taylor, the survey will provide the CI Lottery with information that will assist in the future development of lottery games when it comes to player safety. Mr Taylor also said that the…

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