GAMBLING ISSUES

By Teresa Tunstall

The world of problem gambling is a complex one..However nowadays more is being done to help those that have issues when it comes to gambling and betting habits. In fact much more help is available from both self-exclusion through to reducing the stakes on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals. This is because they were considered to be the ‘crack cocaine of betting”; the industry is attempting to leave no stone unturned in its pursuit for a way of making betting and gambling fairer for those that have an addiction.

Now one thing that some members of the betting community are suggesting is that problem gamblers should be refunded their losses-- the suggestion being that if the betting industry didn’t do enough to help them in the first place, then they should suffer more than the people who have a mental health problem in the form of an addiction to something harmful. This was demonstrated in 2017 when 888 organisations were fined a record £7.8 million for failing to stop players who had self-excluded from placing bets. To illustrate this,. one customer was refunded £133,000 during this time!.

In advance of ‘Safer Gambling Week’ which happens soonand aims to raise awareness of the dangers of gambling, recent evidence has revealed the scale of addiction across the UK, which soared during lockdown as people dealt with loneliness, isolation and boredom.

UK gamblers lost an astonishing £14.36 billion last year, compared with £8.36 billion a decade ago, with an estimated 207,000 Scots addicted or at risk of developing an addiction.

A study published by Stirling University earlier this year showed that around one in six regular sports bettors started new gambling activities during lockdown. Of these, 5.4% male sports bettors started playing lotteries and 3.5% began betting on virtual sports and races.

Among female sports bettors, 6.8% started betting on virtual sports and races, 6.5% began playing lotteries, and 3.4% took up online bingo. Online betting on virtual sports or races showed a significant increase during this time.

It’s important to know and understand about marketing texts and emails..Gambling businesses should only send out marketing texts or emails if people have given consent for them to do so. And to stop receiving marketing emails they should click the ‘unsubscribe’ link provided in the email. The industry should then stop sending marketing emails and by contacting the gaming business directly will also result in the discontinuance..

Because of its size USA Problem Gamblers are offered a multitude of support and help in most parts of their country. America has many problem gamblers with such issues, and its size adds to the dilemma. A place of interest in this connection is Nevada with Las Vegas being the Gambling Centre in the world, Were you aware that ‘October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month”?There is a clear relationship between violence and problem gambling especially during that month. For some reason gambling opportunities increase which exacerbate risks for people developing gambling problems and therefore increasing the number of families impacted by violence in the home.

A National Research Council study, found that 25-50% of spouses of compulsive gamblers were abused. In another study, survey of 144 spouses of compulsive gamblers found 50% were physically and verbally abused and 12% had attempted suicide.

The Nevada Council on Problem Gambling, is dedicated to providing its communities with reliable information and resources to help them understand problem gambling. Its vision is to work with all stakeholders to provide sustainable programs & services to reduce the impact of problem gambling in its State. They comment ’Since 1998, the Nevada Council has successfully partnered with the industry through our “When the Fun Stops” program that provides informational brochures and an employee training program to support your responsible gaming effort.’

Another state, Kentucky, divides its classes into three levels starting with, ‘Low Risk gamblers and casual gamblers,’ followed by ‘Problem gamblers playing by habit,’ and finishing with ‘Pathologic gamblers.’ Unique descriptive wording covering all issues of problem gambling in Kentucky. of Americans plus hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians experience gambling related problems, it’s important for everyone to know that help is always available.” They continued that problem gambling is any gambling, betting or wager that causes family financial, legal, emotional or other problems for the individual, their family or others. Gambling problems can be mild or quite severe and can worsen over time.

Wisconsin: Council on problem gambling:“The Wisconsin Counsel on Problem Gambling provides resources, public awareness and education on gambling disorders while maintaining strict neutrality on the issue of legalised gambling”..

After covering UK and USA I’m including the EU European Lotteries who have called for the EU Council to exclude explicit mentions of online gambling and betting services from the Digital Services Act (DSA).“The Court clearly confirmed on several occasions that restrictions in the gambling sector are justified for reasons of public order, public security, public health, as well as for the overriding reasons in the public interest, such as consumer protection, combating fraud, crime or squandering of money. The organisation acknowledged that while restrictions on the freedom of gambling services within EU Member States do exist, national legislation “combats crime and fraud” and protects gamblers in a way “that meets the requirements as set out in the case law of the Court of Justice of the EU.”

The European Commission underlined that the DSA would not contradict the e-Commerce Directive, which does exclude online gambling services from the legislature.

Crown Resorts Hold On To License But Called A “Disgrace”

The report into Crown Resorts behaviour has been made public calling the casino operator “a disgrace” with common practices within the company of “variously illegal, dishonest, unethical and exploitative”.

Ray Finkelstein the royal commissioner charged with compiling the report has come up short of taking the casino license from Crown Resorts in Melbourne, but instead placing a “special manager” in charge of overseeing the business and ensuring Crown return to acceptable standards of operating business.

If in the meantime or following the two year period the “special manager” named as former commissioner with the state’s anti-corruption commission, Stephen O’Bryan, finds that Crown has failed to alter their practices the casino license will be removed.

The report came up short of taking away the license immediately as it was felt that the damage done to the local economy would have been too painful for locals with jobs.

Also Finkelstein said that both Crown group chair Helen Coonan and Crown Melbourne chief Xavier Walsh should resign and both have done so following the publication of the report.

The NSW government also said it would bring in new legislation to increase fines for casino operators breaching the gaming control act from the current A$1 million to A$100 million.

In the report it was quite damning of the way Crown conducted the business by saying, ‘Within a very short time, the commission discovered that for many years Crown Melbourne had engaged in conduct that is, in a word, disgraceful.”

Billionaire James Packer still holds the majority shares within Crown, however currently there has been no response from Mr Packer on the findings and judgement of the inquiry.

MGM Auction Off Picasso’s

MGM Resorts has auctioned off five of its famous Picasso paintings that have sat for years in its Bellagio hotel and casino restaurant named after the legendary painter Picasso.

The auction held by Sotheby’s over the weekend at the Bellagio raised over $100 million, the auction took place just two days prior to the famous painters 140th birthday on the 25th October.

Thou five of the Picasso artists paintings are now sold another twelve will remain and the MGM said that they wanted to make space for more diverse artists including women, people of colour, LGBTQ artists and artists with disabilities.

In a 2019 Public Library of Science study of 18 leading US museums it found that 85% of the artists on display are white and 87% are men.

Of the five paintings sold over the weekend the biggest price came for the Homme et Enfant which went for $24.4 millioN G2E Asia Cancelled Till 2022LossesCovid-19

Reed Exhibitions the organisers of G2E Las Vegas and G2E Asia has announced their Asian focused event has been postponed until next year.

The expo which was due to take place next month in Macau is the biggest such event in Asian for the gambling industry but with COVID-19 still disrupting business and travel in the region Reed has decided to cancel till late August 2022.

Below is the official announcement from Reed:

Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia – the marketplace for the Asian gaming and integrated resort industry – will return to the Venetian Macao, from August 30 – September 1, 2022.

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 disruption and continued travel restrictions across Asia Pacific, G2E Asia has shifted its focus to 2022 to ensure we meet the show’s high expectations, which we share with our valued exhibitors and attendees

Thank you for your continued support of G2E Asia and we look forward to seeing you in 2022.