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The coronavirus pandemic has had a pronounced negative effect on the retail betting industry in the United Kingdom, causing a shift toward the online segment. The London-based bookmaker William Hill is one of the companies that have suffered a severe blow revenue-wise since the pandemic started. The company reported its annual revenue from the retail sector has plummeted by 51%, dropping to £1.1 billion. The operator suffered over £29 million in adjusted losses from its retail arm alone. The company currently operates more than 1,400 retail bookmaking shops in the…

A study carried out by the researchers from the George Institute in Australia shows that many Aussies tend to underestimate the harm that can be caused by games like bingo, scratch cards or lotteries. Most Australians consider activities like buying lottery tickets, scratchies or visiting a bingo hall as normal forms of fun. What they fail to grasp, however, is that such gambling products can often lead to very serious issues, especially among vulnerable individuals. Aussies Fail to Recognise the Harm of Popular Forms of Betting The study was conducted…

A minister from the Conservative Party, who once backed the idea to allow fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) at amusement arcades and motorway service stations is to lead an important review of gambling legislation in the UK, The Guardian revealed. Reportedly, some proponents of gambling reforms have expressed their concern after the information that the minister for media and data John Whittingdale is being put on charge of the long-awaited gambling laws’ review by Nigel Huddleston, the sports minister, almost three months after the official beginning of the review. Campaigners have…

A recent announcement that non-essential retail operators in the UK, including high-street betting shops, will be able to apply for direct financial help of up to £6,000 each has been welcomed by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC). The trade body that represents the local gambling sector has also once again urged the UK Government to extend the business rates relief for one more year. The announcement of the grant scheme, along with some additional information, has been revealed ahead of the annual budget speech of chancellor Rishi Sunak that…

According to recent reports, losses on poker machines in the state of Victoria have not only reached but also surpassed pre-pandemic levels after the coronavirus restrictions were lifted in the state. Reportedly, local gamblers have spent a total of AU$239 million in January 2021. As revealed by one of the leading gambling experts in the state, money laundering could be at least partly responsible for the increased losses of Victorian gamblers after the lockdown measures were eased. Reportedly, local gamblers spent AU$15 million more than the money lost in January…

Lawrence Shankland, a striker of Dundee United FC, has shared that more needs to be done in order for young football players to get familiar with the possible harm related to gambling. Speaking to the founder of Gamtalk UK, a company engaged with gambling prevention, the Scotland football player explained that he saw his ex-co-players spend their wages on betting. Shankland said that, in his opinion, football authorities need to make sure they warn young footballers against the potential harms that could be inflicted on their lives as a result…

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has pledged to do whatever it takes to keep up the momentum in the efforts to raise standards in the UK regulated gambling and betting sector. The promise has been made by the industry’s trade body after the latest survey held by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) showed a decline in the problem gambling rates in the country from 0.6% in 2019 to 0.3% in 2020. The Betting and Gaming Council believes that although the regulatory body said the decline was not statistically significant,…

UK casinos and high-street betting shops received good news, as the Government finally have given them an opening date. The country’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued a detailed plan for the upcoming relaxation of the lockdown measures, saying that betting shops and other non-essential retail outlets would be allowed to reopen on April 12nd. Casino venues across the UK would be able to resume operation on May 17th. As revealed by Mr Johnson, the Government’s plan includes four stages and businesses should make efforts to get the best from the…

The National Party in New South Wales (NSW) has unanimously opposed the proposed introduction of prepaid gambling cards in a move that could set up the potential for a major raft within the Coalition government in the state. Earlier in February, John Barilaro, deputy premier and leader of the NSW National Party, shared he was against the proposal that would see the introduction of discussed prepaid gambling cards introduced for so-called poker machines offered by local clubs and pubs. According to analysts, the recently-announced report of Commissioner Patricia Bergin into…

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has unveiled a new awareness campaign that will seek to raise awareness regarding gambling blocking tools. The country’s gambling regulatory body shared it is still committed to enhancing its efforts to keep local customers well protected against gambling-related harm, now with a new consumer guidance campaign. The campaign is aimed at the general public, the watchdog revealed, as it seeks to raise the public’s awareness for services that allow British residents to fully ban themselves from gambling websites. In the “Money and Rights” guidance campaign,…