Author: David Randall

In February, Alabama lawmakers made significant strides in reshaping the state’s gambling landscape with the passage of bills HB151 and HB152. Originally, HB151 aimed to introduce a comprehensive gambling overhaul, including legalizing retail and online sports betting, establishing a state lottery, and authorizing casinos in select areas already hosting bingo-type games. Its counterpart, HB152, was designed to set up a state lottery and gaming commission to oversee gambling activities within Alabama. However, HB151 encountered obstacles in the Senate, leading to the exclusion of sports betting and casino provisions from the bill. Despite these modifications, HB151 successfully passed with a 22…

The Great Britain Gambling Commission and Sweden’s Spelinspektionen have reaffirmed their commitment to collaborative regulatory efforts by extending their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on sharing information. Initially established in November 2019, this extended MoU underscores the continued partnership between the two bodies, emphasizing best practices in gambling regulation. Both organizations are dedicated to fostering a mutual understanding of regulatory interests, engaging in policy discussions, and providing operational support to one another. Camilla Rosenberg, the director-general of Spelinspektionen, highlighted the global nature of the gambling market and the importance of international cooperation. She stated, “The gambling market is global and it…

The New York lottery stands as North America’s most lucrative, channeling $3.7 billion toward state education during the 2022-23 financial year. Mega Millions, Powerball, and NY LOTTO are witnessing a surge in popularity, jointly funneling $55 million to public schools in the state. Mega Millions led the pack with $23.8 million, while Powerball and NY Lotto followed suit with $17.8 million and $13.4 million, respectively. An amount of $8.9 million has been amassed to support commissions for lottery retailers, many of which are small businesses. Mega Millions maintained its lead, contributing $4.1 million, followed by Powerball with $3 million and…

David Rebuck, the longest-serving director in the history of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), bids farewell after leading the regulatory body for an impressive 13 years, marking a remarkable chapter in the Garden State’s history spanning over 36 years of service. Effective from March 1, Deputy Director Mary Jo Flaherty steps into the role of interim director. Rebuck’s journey with the DGE commenced in January 1988 as its deputy attorney general, offering legal counsel and shaping legislation. His trajectory took a pivotal turn in early 2010 when he assumed the role of senior policy advisor in the…

In the first half of the fiscal year, Star experienced a 14.6% decline in revenue to AU$865.7m (£445.4m/€520.7m/US$564.3m). Despite this, the company managed to achieve a modest net profit of $9.1m, a notable improvement from the $1.26bn loss recorded in the preceding year. The substantial loss in the first half of 2023 stemmed from the devaluation of casinos in Sydney, Gold Coast, and Brisbane. This followed a series of lapses in anti-money laundering protocols and social responsibility measures at these establishments. Although there appeared to be some signs of recovery for Star in the first half of 2024, recent developments…

Announced yesterday (19th February), the inquiry will run for 15 weeks, with a final report due by 31st May. Adam Bell SC, who conducted the initial Bell report, will head the inquiry, examining how Star has implemented recommendations from the first investigation. Following the announcement, Star requested a trading halt on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). The operator has also confirmed it will postpone reporting its results for the first half of its 2024 financial year. Star was scheduled to report the results on 21st February, but this has now been delayed. The operator states it will announce a new…

Sturgis, a professor at the London School of Economics, hailed the study as “exemplary in all respects”. Nevertheless, he voiced concerns about the General Commission’s (GC) historical track record of generating unreliable statistics, particularly questioning the accuracy of the GSGB, scheduled for release this summer. Sturgis cautioned, “Until there is a better understanding of the errors affecting the new survey’s estimates of the prevalence of gambling and gambling harm, policymakers must treat them with due caution, being mindful of the fact there is a non-negligible risk that they substantially overstate the true level of gambling and gambling harm in the…

The jurisdictions were confirmed as being removed from the grey list following the FATF Plenary, which took place from 21-24 February. Gibraltar was named alongside Uganda, Barbados and the United Arab Emirates. The Plenary noted that all four jurisdictions had made “significant progress” in addressing anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) issues that had been identified during previous evaluations. All four had also previously agreed to an Action Plan, wherein certain issues had to be resolved within a stipulated timeframe. “These countries will no longer be subject to the FATF’s increased monitoring process,” the FATF noted. “This comes after…

3 Oaks Gaming, a well-established distributor of iGaming content, has proudly announced the acquisition of its remote operating licence from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). This esteemed accomplishment stands as a significant milestone for the company, enabling it to distribute its games to licensed operators across the United Kingdom. This achievement not only extends the company’s reach but also cements its status as a preferred provider within the industry. Operators can expect a diverse array of the supplier’s top-performing games, including 3 Hot Chillies, Coin Volcano, and Sun of Egypt 3, which are presently undergoing certification to ensure compliance and…

The provider concluded its transformation programme in August 2023, resulting in some staff redundancies. Scout stated this move would enable it to streamline its operations and enhance efficiency in serving B2B partners. Initiated in March 2022 under former CEO Andreas Ternström, the programme began showing positive outcomes by Q3, with a decrease in net loss attributed to cost reductions. With the programme now finalized, Jönsson expressed optimism about Scout’s long-term profitability. “We are on track to become a profitable company and deliver value to our shareholders,” Jönsson affirmed. “While we have achieved significant milestones, we are committed to further enhancing…