News

In a report, published today, the Culture, Media and Sport Committee calls for stricter measures aimed at reducing the volume of betting adverts seen during sports events. The Government has two months to respond to the recommendations of the report, which besides advertising, focuses on further improvements to the Gambling White Paper. According to MPs, the Premier League, along with other sports governing entities, should minimise the ads seen in stadiums to protect vulnerable groups, especially children. The report highlights that the industry has changed and evolved dramatically following the…

A long list of gambling industry participants have requested or secured meetings with Australia’s communications minister, Michelle Rowland. Gaming and betting operators, associations, and broadcasters have queued up to address a proposed nationwide ban on gambling ads. According to the recommendations of a parliament inquiry, introduced six months ago, ads for online gambling should be completely banned in Australia within three years. The late Peta Murphy, Labor MP at the time, said the phased ban on gambling ads would “give major sports and broadcasters time to find alternative advertisers and…

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has prompted healthcare professionals to stay alert when prescribing Aripiprazole (sold under the brand name Abilify®, among others). This comes as a result of an increase in the number of Yellow Card reports, associated with the medication received in 2023. Aripiprazole is an antipsychotic drug prescribed for the treatment of certain health conditions including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It works by balancing the levels of dopamine and serotonin in a patient’s brain to regulate their mood and behaviour. The medication’s side effects,…

Tabcorp, Australia’s largest gambling company, has secured a 20-year extension of its exclusive Victorian license for providing retail wagering services in pubs and clubs across the state. The renewed agreement with the government will take effect as of August 2024 with an upfront fee of $600 million, in addition to fixed annual payments of $30 million from 2025 to 2043. The total payments equate to $1.1 billion, but as they were not linked to inflation, their total value stood at approximately $864 million. Following the news that the gambling giant…

On December 14th, the House of Commons Committee on Standards issued a report regarding MP Scott Benton’s alleged breach of the House’s rules. In the report, the Committee deemed it appropriate for Mr Benton to be suspended from his position as MP of Blackpool South for 35 days. As reported by Casino Guardian earlier this year, investigative journalists working for The Times provided evidence of Mr Benton expressing willingness to lobby on behalf of a fictitious gambling company in exchange for money. Mr Benton was chair of the All-Party Parliamentary…

Crown Resorts has fully integrated an innovative carded play system into the electronic gaming machines of its Melbourne-based casino. This technology makes it compulsory for players to set up limits that will assist them in gambling responsibly. Crown Melbourne is the first gambling business to implement this specific type of responsible gambling technology when it comes to electronic gaming machines. The aim of the carded play measures is to prevent gambling harm, and they are set to be introduced to all electronic gaming machines across the state of Victoria. As…

December 12th saw an announcement by the Cheltenham Jockey Club that Virgin Bet will be the key sponsor of this year’s Cheltenham: the December Gold Cup. The event, which is named the Virgin Bet December Gold Cup, will take place on December 16th, and Virgin Bet will sponsor The Christmas Meeting and the final race. Ric Leask, Virgin Bet’s Marketing Director, said that Virgin Bet’s support of “one of the most prestigious events in the racing calendar” is the best way to demonstrate the sportsbook’s passionate commitment to ensuring an…

Last week, the Winchester Crown Court ruled that Thomas Meggison, a veteran who used to serve in the British Army in Iraq, has three months to pay over £145,500 for defrauding the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Army Cadet Force. As reported by the Hampshire Chronicle, nearly £110,000 of the money will be given as compensation to the cadet force. Earlier this year, the former military Major from Harestock, Winchester, was found guilty of stealing over £102,500 from the cadet force in order to pay off his gambling debts, and…

The UK Government’s Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) has published data that provides insight into problem gambling and its treatment. According to the findings, gambling harm is a significant issue in the UK, with almost 1.6 million adults standing to benefit from support that aims to treat problem gambling. The estimates were made by researchers at the University of Sheffield and the University of Glasgow, and the results’ focus lies primarily on individuals suffering from problem gambling. The team utilised information from the Health Survey for England, which…

GambleAware has published a report that focuses on how members of minority groups are affected by gambling and problem gambling, in particular. With the support of the University of Manchester, the study was conducted by Ipsos UK and ClearView Research. According to the findings, there is a definitive link between the discrimination faced by minority groups and gambling harm. One of the first issues the report examined was the connection between racism, discrimination and financial difficulties, with 57% of participants who belong to a minority group pointing to their financial…