Author: David Randall

In January, North Carolina announced the commencement of online sports betting, set to begin at noon EST, with plans for retail betting to open subsequently. This development followed Governor Roy Cooper’s signing of House Bill 347 in June 2023, which not only legalized betting but also outlined specific implementation guidelines, including the publication of regulations before January 8, 2024, and the acceptance of wagers by operators before June 14, 2024. These milestones were achieved ahead of schedule last month, positioning operators to start accepting bets well before the June deadline. Additionally, a January 26 deadline was set for operators to…

In a significant corporate development, NeoGames will forgo its conference call on 2023 results as it anticipates the closure of its sale to Aristocrat Leisure, a transaction valued at $1.20 billion set for completion by the end of Q2 2024. This move came after Aristocrat Leisure’s acquisition agreement in May, signaling a strategic consolidation in the gaming industry. Tsachi Maimon, President of NeoGames, emphasized the synergistic potential between the two companies, describing them as a “really strong match” whose business offerings are mutually enhancing. This sentiment was echoed by the company’s shareholders who, in July, overwhelmingly supported the acquisition. Moti…

The recent communication, dated March 8, confirms that the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has sanctioned Intralot’s choice of FanDuel as a new subcontractor for the sports wagering platform. This decision comes in light of Intralot’s challenges in delivering a competitive offering through GambetDC, which reported a $4 million loss in 2021. In a letter, OLG Executive Director Frank Suarez highlighted the collaborative decision between OLG and Intralot to transition to FanDuel’s leading platform, anticipating a significant improvement in the DMV area’s competitive sports wagering landscape. Suarez emphasized, “OLG and Intralot have evaluated the current platform and believe that…

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…