Research commissioned by GambleAware and conducted by YouGov has been published, with the goal of establishing adeeper understanding of womenand gambling experiences.

The study found that more than one-third (35 percent) of female gamblers, experiencing high rates of harm and having an 8 + PGSI score, are from a BAME background, compared to 12 percentof the overall female population.

tThis same pattern is also observed among male gamblers, with 29 percent of men with an 8 + PGSI score coming from a BAME background, compared to 12 percentof men overall.

Stigma was cited as an overwhelming reason not to access treatment services, with researchers reporting that this rationale had been cited by a higher proportion of women than men.

Two in five (39 percent) female problem gamblers said feeling ashamed or not wanting people to find out about their gambling was a main obstacle, compared to just over one in five (22 percent) male problem gamblers, among those who didnt want medication, advice or encouragement to help them cut their gambling.

However, it is especially important for female problem gamblers to realise that counselling and care will be confidential, with one in five (20 percent) believing this would be a key motivating factor.

GamCare CEO Anna Hemmings explained: This report has highlighted not only the challenges that need to be overcome, but also the opportunities available to service providers to help increase take-up of treatment and support to help reduce and prevent gambling harms among women.

Across our treatment network, in line with the National Gambling Treatment Service, we are working with women to better understand the barriers they may face when it comes to seeking advice or help for their gambling, or experience as an affected other, so that we can continue to ensure they have access the services they need, regardless of their gender or background.

In addition, it was also found that eight percent of women fall into the category of affected others, those who experience harm as a result of gambling by someone else, and that 16 percent of them came from a BAME background

Researchers have found that women are more negatively affected by a close family members gambling than men, with 35 percentof all females affected, compared to only 9 percentof males, being negatively affected by a spouses or partners gambling.

It was found, however, that men were more likely to be affected by a friends or flatmates gambling than women, with 33 percentciting this, compared to just 9 percentof women. Among those affected by a parents gambling, 88 percent of women said this had a moderate or severe negative impact, compared to 75 percent of men.

GambleAware CEO Marc Etches said on the findings: This research indicates that women, particularly in the capacity as an affected other, experience gambling harms in different ways to men and this report is an important first step in understanding those differences.

This research was commissioned to help treatment providers, such as those operating via the National Gambling Treatment Service, address any barriers people may face when it comes to accessing help and support for their gambling and it is essential that services are flexible and meet the needs of individuals.

Excerpt from:

Stigma Cited As Primary Obstacle In Women Gamblers Seeking Recovery Facilities - Inkedin

Albertas more than $1.4 billion in gambling profits should be used to give the provinces poor a monthly payment, similar to welfare, says a national think tank.

Think tank Cardus, in a report released Wednesday, said the lowest-income households in Alberta pay the provincial government an estimated 7% of their annual incomes through gambling triple the proportionthat the wealthiest Albertans pay.

Those at the margins of society are paying disproportionately into the coffers, the report concludes.

The report, called Royally Flushed, outlined ways to turn Alberta Gaming and Lottery Corporation (AGLC) revenue toward reducing poverty instead of mixing it in with the provinces general tax revenue.

It recommends creating a gaming equality benefit, which would re-direct AGLCs $1.4 billion annual contribution away from general government revenues toward low-income families through monthly support payments similar to the provinces social assistance system.

It also says AGLC profits be used to incentivize savings one of the best ways to ensure families dont turn to usurious payday loans. This can boost the savings accounts of low-income families, following a model similar to government top-ups of RESPs contributions or through prize-linked savings accounts.

I hope Albertas government takes this research seriously and seizes the opportunity to turn bad habits into good, says Johanna Wolfert, a Cardus researcher and report co-author.

The report also found:

Alberta made a mistake in 2019 when it started shovelling AGLCs casino, lottery, and slot machine proceeds into general government revenues, says Brian Dijkema, Cardus Vice-President of External Affairs and co-author ofRoyally Flushed.

That simply solidified the status of Albertas gambling system as a regressive form of taxation, disproportionately taking money from those who can least afford it.

Royally Flushed: How gambling can work for, not against, Albertais available online.

Cardus is a non-partisan, faith-based think tank and registered charity dedicated to promoting a flourishing society through independent research, robust public dialogue, and thought-provoking commentary.

Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard

dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com

Twitter.com/nobby7694

See original here:

Alberta's gambling profit should be used to create new welfare payment, says think tank - Western Standard

WHEELING Gaming executive Ted Arneault has joined a start-up companys efforts aimed at bringing gambling and additional revenue to West Virginias bars and restaurants.

Officials with PropMe has announced they and Arneault have finalized a partnership that brings him on as a partner to provide advisory services for PropMes licensing and financing efforts.

PropMe has plans to bring gambling in the form of wagering to bars and restaurants in the state. Their games wouldnt be limited to just sports wagering, but would involve pick em type contests and questions.

PropMe is presently seeking a license to operate in West Virginia, and its partnership with Arneault should provide both needed clout and capital, according to David Ealy, creator and co-founder of PropMeLLC. The current coronavirus pandemic caused delays in the companys licensing pursuits, he said.

Really, we are recovering from COVID-19, Ealy said. What it did was give us the opportunity to meet with Ted Arneault. He was interested for a number of reasons, and the break actually gave us a chance to introduce ourselves and meet with him.

We came to an agreement to bring him on board for cash and equity play in PropMe, so he will be on our team.

Ealy said Arneaults role will be to raise significant cash needed by PropMe.

The not-so-subtle implication is Ted raised $450 million for his bid for Mountaineer (Racetrack and Gaming Resort in Hancock County), he said. It gives us immediate access to Teds investment banking network.

Those people who are considering working with us to get licensing can be rest assured that we will have access to capital. We will be able to expand and grow.

Arneault also has a wealth of experience in the gambling industry, according to Ealy.

Ted has navigated these waters for over 25 years. His official title is going to be adviser he is going to be on the advisory board. His primary responsibility will be helping us with the financing and plugging us in to his investment banking network. His second role will be strategic stuff on the board. It will be a great fit for him, based on his experience.

The down time resulting from the coronavirus pandemic also forced PropMe to refocus its business plan, Ealy said.

Instead of working with more than 1,200 individual bars and restaurants in the state, it has struck a relationship with the West Virginia Amusement & Limited Video Lottery Association a trade group of which many of the businesses are a member.

Were just like any other vendor. We just want a license, Ealy said. Were changing our focus from signing up restaurants to working with the LVL association and allying ourselves with them, rather than going to them individually.

Our initial (plan) to work with the bars and restaurants was so we could get users and share revenue with them. That is still in play. Were just going to reframe that.

Financial agreements with the bars and restaurants will be framed through the LVL association, he explained.

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Former Mountaineer executive Ted Arneault joins start-up gambling firm - The Daily Times

In the fast moving world of gambling, sometimes you might miss news that could be important to you. To make sure youre all caught up on gaming industry news, be it online or brick and mortar, were rounding up the some of the announcements and partnerships from the last week that you might have missed.

Dont miss out on all of the latest announcements. Our Press Release section is updated constantly.

ThunderSpin and BetConstruct strike 25+ game content agreement

ThunderSpin, continues to expand its global reach following an agreement which will see the integration of its portfolio comprising more than 25 high-quality, critically acclaimed and innovative games to BetConstructs aggregation platform.

Joining forces with such a well-respected industry leader continues the ThunderSpin strategy of expanding the number of its content partnerships in order to enter more international markets and build what is a rapidly growing community of players based throughout the world.

ThunderSpin has adopted a segmented content development programme with the portfolio catering for a broad cross section of tastes and game complexities covering both plot and mechanics. Popular hits includeBook of Treasures,Kingdom of Glory,Vikings: Frozen Godsas well as arange of mobile first games.

Playson extends Italian reach withSignorBet

Casino software supplier Playson has announced a deal to deliver Italian operator SignorBet with its popular slot games.

The partnership sees a selection of Playsons titles directly integrated with the online casino, includingRome: Caesars Glory,Solar Temple, andSolar Queenas well as the providers Funky Fruits series and its Timeless Fruit Slots portfolio.

The agreement also covers the implementation of Playsons full suite of engagement tools, which will allow the operator to sharpen its player retention rates. The integration-free features, including bonus spins and regular tournaments with daily prize drops, will be available across all of the developers games.

Booongo extends Mexican market reach with Big Bola partnership

Games provider Booongo has signed a new agreement to provide its vast array of video slots to established Mexican operator, Big Bola.

More than 40 popular Booongo slots will soon be available to the developers latest operator partner, along with its latest hitreleases, includingDragon Pearls, Great PandaandMoon Sisters.

Accompanying Booongos fully mobile and tablet adaptive suite of games, Big Bola will also have access to the companys wide range of popular promotional tools, such as in-game Tournaments and exciting Jackpots which are proven to enhance player retention.

BETBY inks Advabet deal for sportsbook and esports solutions

Sports betting supplier BETBY has taken its sportsbook and Betby.Games esports offering live with igaming solutions provider Advabet.

Advabet offers both white label and turnkey online casino solutions, which will now be bolstered by BETBYs sportsbook offering which covers over 50,000 sporting events monthly across more than 80 sports around the globe.

The suppliers new esports offering, Betby.Games, will also be available through the Advabet solution. The growing product range includes FIFA, NBA 2K and Rocket League competitions, with more events, including tennis and combat sports, to be added shortly.

Pragmatic Plays live casino portfolio available with Reactive Games

Pragmatic Play, a leading content provider to the gaming industry, has seen its Live Casino product added to the portfolio of software solutions supplier, Reactive Games.

Pragmatic Plays Live Casino offering has continued to grow at a rapid-fire pace since its launch in early 2019. The impressive portfolio includes casino staples such as Baccarat, Roulette and Blackjack, along with innovative takes on the classics. With Speed variants of the games and localised Roulette tables, players all over the world can now receive the casino experience online, in a live-host environment.

Triple Cherry partners with We Are Casino

The Valencian studio Triple Cherry and the We Are Casino platform have just signed a commercial alliance. So, in a few weeks we will be able to see and play Triple Cherry games in all the casinos that the WAC platform represents.

This new relationship will bring benefits to both companies. On the one hand, Triple Cherry will have the opportunity to expand into new markets. And on the other hand, WAC will have a new reliable provider as well as twelve new slots with completely different backgrounds thanks to Triple Cherrys team of programmers who are committed to offering an unbeatable synergy between programming and graphic design.

MGA Licenses SoftGamings

SoftGamings is proud to announce its latest milestone that comes in the form of the B2B Critical Supply License from the esteemed Malta Gaming Authority. This B2B service license will help SoftGamings to expand the reach of its casino and sports betting solutions further across the Malta Gaming Authority jurisdiction.

Cellxpert expands its iGaming business with onboarding Ellmount Gaming LTD

Ellmount Gaming LTD, leading gaming and mobile entertainment provider in Sweden, chose Cellxperts platform to track, manage and optimize their affiliate program for their 2 global brands; CasinoRoom.com and HighRoller.com

Cellxpert offers advanced affiliate tracking software. Our solution was designed to help our customers drive growth and optimize their business performance.

Developed by a team of veterans, our SaaS solution includes, everything from detailed reporting, to compliance tools to mitigate risk and a frictionless integration and migration process.

Kalamba Games continues expansion through new deal with SoftGamings

Kalamba Games has signed a new deal with SoftGamings to supply its casino content, further underlining the suppliers commitment to global growth.

Kalambas substantial games portfolio will be made available on SoftGamings platform, giving access to hit titles such asMiami Bonus Wheel,Blazing Bull, Sky Huntersand the newly-releasedGriffins Quest.

Playson lands content deal with BOSS. Gaming Solutions

Casino software supplier Playson has extended the reach of its popular games after securing a content distribution agreement with BOSS. Gaming Solutions.

The independent provider of online and land-based solutions is set to enhance its casino offering by integrating Playsons portfolio of slots onto its iGaming platform.

Online casinos powered by BOSS. Gaming Solutions platform will soon have access to entertaining releases such asSolar Temple, Solar QueenandPearl Beauty: Hold and Win, along with Playsons Funky Fruits series and the Timeless Fruit Slots portfolio.

The platform provider will also have the opportunity to utilise a wide range of engagement tools developed by Playson that are proven to enhance player retention, including seamless play, free spins, jackpots and regular tournaments with daily price drops.

Gamevy commits to YG Masters and ground-breaking GATI technology

Innovative games supplier Gamevy has joined Yggdrasils rapidly expanding YG Masters programme with access to the ground-breaking GATI technology, designed to allow swift scalability and growth.

The YG Masters programme enables the worlds most innovative independent studios and game developers to design, develop and distribute best performing content using Yggdrasils proven technology and global network.

As a YG Masters partner, Gamevy will access Yggdrasils GATI technology, a standardised, language agnostic solution which allows developers to swiftly and safely create content, with easy distribution across the suppliers entire distribution network.

YG Masters partners can also collaborate and cross-sell titles to any YG Franchisee, leading to new global revenue streams.

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Gambling Industry Announcement and Partnership Roundup - July 16, 2020 - CalvinAyre.com

Police in Northern Thailand announced the arrest of 2 men from Singapore and 2 Thai for allegedly running a gambling website in Chiang Mai province. Immigration Police on Wednesday announced the arrest of the Singaporeans at a house in Chiang Mais Saraphee district.Immigration Police received a tip-off from local villagers of an illegal online gambling operation. They requested a search warrant from Chiang Mai provincial court to investigate the house.

Upon serving the warrant Police found the four suspects using laptop computers to run an online gambling website.

They also used several mobile phones to contact customers. The 4 suspects were arrested and police seized all the computers and mobile phones as evidence into their investigation.

Police said the suspects had revealed that the gambling website was financed by a Malaysian businessman. The Malaysian allegedly hired famous Thai pretties to host live sessions online. Above all to attract customers into gamblers to the gambling website.

Police are investigating the website to track the owner as well as the money trail for clues of money laundering.

The Royal Thai Police have also been on a crack down on gambling, on site and online.

Police said that last year, it has shut down more than 750 online gambling sites, and illegal transactions made at 670 million U.S. dollars.

Gambling operation in Thailand is regulated by the Gambling Act of B.E.2478, which prohibits all Thai citizens from playing any casino or betting games, betting on animal fights, dice games, slot machines, roulette, and other card games.

Despite strict anti-gambling law, illegal gambling is widespread in Thailand. Pasuk Phongpaichit who wrote the book Utsahakam Kan Phanan (The Gambling Industry) says. He estimates 70% of Thai people are regular gamblers.

All over the country gambling can be found. In major cities casinos exist in the basement of buildings and rented upscale apartments. In villages casinos are often at peoples homes. Some are just a mat spread out to play dice or Card games. Furthermore sports betting with bookies, or numbers draws with non official sources are also common.

A Centre for Gambling Studies (CGS) survey has found that more than 700,000 people who gambled this year were first-time punters, with the youngest being only seven years old.

CGS director Nualnoi Trirat said the centre has been studying the gambling habits of Thais across the country since 2017.

According to Ms Nualnoi, the study found that as of this month, 30.42 million Thais, equivalent to 57% of the countrys population, engaged in some sort of gambling. This was an increase of 1.4 million gamblers since the the study began in 2017.

Our study found that more than 700,000 people who gambled this year were first-time gamblers and the youngest of them was only seven years old, she said.

Read the original post:

Police in Northern Thailand Take Down Foreign Gambling Website - Chiang Rai Times

Each week,CasinoBeatsbreaks down the numbers behind some of the industrys most interesting stories. In our latest edition we take a look at casino closures in both Australia and the UK, reopenings in Atlantic City and Kindreds revenue expectations.

100

After being given the green-light to reopen by GovernorPhil Murphy, Atlantic City casinos have subsequently began welcoming patrons back through their doors in recent days.

Permitted to resume operations from July 2, after more than 100 days of closure, the familiar sights and sounds returned, albeit with a series of heightened initiatives designed to ensure the safety of all involved.

Lauded asa critical moment for our industry by theCasino Association of New Jersey, not all properties have returned, however, withBorgata Hotel Casino & Spadeciding to remain closed given the impact the executive order will have on the experience they are accustomed to providing.

28

Researchers have compiled a blueprint for change that contains five key recommendations, after a new report found that an estimated 28 million personal current accounts in the UK do not have the option to block gambling expenditure.

GambleAwarehas published the findings of the new research, undertaken by researchers at theUniversity of Bristols Personal Finance Research Centreto review the availability, uptake, and effectiveness of bank card gambling blockers.

Recommendations pinpointed include a call on theFinancial Conduct Authorityto recommend that gambling blocks are standard on debit and credit cards, as well as a recommendation that there is a cross-sector consumer awareness campaign that places bank card blockers alongside other forms of self-exclusion and player controls.

It also says that firms and regulators need to work with experts by experience so they can design products, services and interventions for people who are negatively affected by gambling.

4

Casinos are standing by to aid the UKs economic recovery, but must be allowed to resume the action again by the close of July maintains theBetting and Gaming Council.

Continuing to mount pressure on the government to reopen casinos this month, venues were dealt a blow after being told they would not be permitted to return to action when other parts of the hospitality, leisure and entertainment industry could do so on July 4.

Having been closed since March 23 as part of the national effort to contain the spread of COVID-19, a number of measures have since been implemented including perspex screens, hand sanitisers, sophisticated track and tracing systems and strict social distancing rules.

The latest plea comes asChancellor Rishi Sunakannounces that businesses in the hospitality and tourism sector are to benefit from a cut in VAT from 20 per cent to 5 per cent until January 12.

23

Australias largest casino, theCrown Melbourne, will not be reopening afterVictoria Premier Daniel Andrewsconfirmed that the city of Melbourne was re-entering stage three lockdown for another six weeks.

The renewed lockdown will see residents barred from leaving their homes for any purpose other than work, food, exercise, or medical care. Furthermore, restaurants and cafes must return to takeaway and delivery services only with all other entertainment venues forced to shutdown operations.

In an announcement made on its official website, the property said: In line with the Victorian Governments reintroduction of stage three restrictions, Crown Resorts wishes to advise all our guests that Crown Melbourne will be temporarily closed from July 9 until further notice due to COVID-19.

The closure of Crown Melbourne is to protect the health and safety of Crown patrons, employees and the broader community.

Crown Melbourne had been closed since March 23 but reopened its in-person dining on June 1 as part of its phased reopening.

235

Kindred Groupis anticipating a 3.89 per cent increase in gross revenue for the second quarter of the year despite a plethora of cancelled and postponed sporting events having a continued significant impact across the industry.

Publishing a trading update for the period, ahead of its interim Q2 report on July 24, the gambling operator estimates that revenue for the period will be approximately 235m, up from 2019s 226.2m.

Underlying EBITDA for the quarter is predicted to reach a bracket of 48m-53m (2019: 30.5m), driven by cost reduction actions undertaken in connection with marketing, content and other direct costs.

In spite of the protected short-term profitability, as sports resume the group is expecting the marketing cost model of the business to normalise.

See the article here:

UK closures, Atlantic City and gambling blockers: The week in numbers - Casino Beats

More than 8,000 people have signed up to break their problems with gambling, according to a release from the government agency overseeing the innovative scheme.

Since it launched onJanuary 1,the "Self-denied persons register" has received8,233 applications from people wanting to break the gambling habit. The voluntary scheme blocks access to gaming halls and casinos both in the real world and online, helping people with compulsive or addictive behavior to avoid repeating earlier mistakes.

In June alone, the register received more than 1,100 applications.

Participants can register quickly and easily online at the official state portal with their name and personal identity code for a minimum of 12 months, as shown in the video above.

Similar schemes have been running in neighboring Estonia and Lithuania for two years, and around 13,000 people have signed up in each country.

Photo: Publicity image

Voluntary gambling register

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8000 sign up to try to kick gambling habit - Eng.Lsm.lv

I am a full-time student and Im 50 years old. I graduate in December 2020 and maintain a 4.0 GPA so I work hard to achieve academic success. Due to achieving such academic prowess, I was limited to work hours throughout the 2019 year and my combined income was $13,000.

I separated from my wife, Sharon, four years ago. She inherited a pension worth $172,000 as a result of an untimely death of her ex-husband. Sharon lives in Oklahoma and I live in Arkansas. Sharon had a gambling issue and exhausted all of this income throughout the 2019 tax season.

I never saw any of that money other than a birthday cake, a gift, and a night at the casino that she gave to me as part of my birthday present. It was brought to my attention in November that her money was gone. I was not happy, but it is her money and she has to live with it.

Related: Im astounded that I have NOT received my payment: When will I receive my stimulus check?

To help her, I filed a joint tax return.

Although we are separated, we are good friends and I try to look out for her in any way that I can. We filed in February and, shortly thereafter, the pandemic hit. Her pension worth $171,000, other income totaling $21,000, her gambling winnings of $29,000, and my annual salary of $13,000 put us over the threshold for receiving any CARES Act assistance.

In helping Sharon out, I ended up getting screwed. Is there any form of grievance I can file for to obtain the $1,200 I believe I am owed? If so, how can I? Also, will we miss out on the second stimulus, if there should be one?

I am out of work as of April and, due to the economic crisis countrywide, jobs are sparse, to say the least. I hope to obtain work at the University this fall in the work/study program, but that will not be until August, if we are allowed on campus.

It is proposed at this time that school will resume normal operations this fall, but we all know how suddenly this could change. To top it all off, my income will be even less than $13,000 this year and Sharons will be less than $20,000.

Mr. Nice Guy

Dear Mr. Nice,

Sometimes, I come across a needle on vinyl moment in letters when the music suddenly stops and theres an almighty screech of the steel against the record. Its usually a moment thats crucial to the problem and the solution, one that is directly related to the financial problem and the emotional issue that will hopefully help ensure that you do not make the same mistake again. Sometimes, it seems like we are dealing with a completely separate situation, but then we find out that subsequent challenges are actually the same needle on vinyl moment happening again and again, and again.

Did your wife appreciate it? She likely did and made you feel like a nice guy, and that is gratifying, for a time. Plus, it's true! You are a nice guy. But is the nice thing also the most honorable one?

Here was that moment: To help her, I filed a joint tax return. Your estranged wife has a gambling problem and you swooped in and helped her out. Did your wife appreciate it? She likely did and made you feel like a nice guy, and that is gratifying, for a time. Plus, it's true! You are a nice guy. But is the nice thing also the most honorable one? Appreciation is like cotton candy. It tastes sweet, but it quickly disappears and leaves an odd, sticky taste in your mouth that we cant quite identify. Thats when you realize that appreciation like that fairground sugar-on-a-stick is both ephemeral and cheap.

You didnt get screwed. Thats a fundamental error in your thinking and your interpretation of the CARES Act. You punkd yourself, my friend. It was your decision to file jointly and, therefore, its your responsibility. You didnt get screwed by the CARES Act either. The stimulus check is effectively a tax credit on your 2020 income-tax return, so you should be made whole in 2021. True, you wont receive your check(s) this year, but you should not lose out on your stimulus entirely. If file your 2020 tax returns as a single filer next year, you are likely to receive the tax credit(s) at that time.

Related:I told my family I boycott Chick-fil-A over its support of anti-LGBTQ causes now they like it on Facebook and go there for lunch

Now to the ethics and etiquette part of your question. This is the trickier part. Sharon made the mistake. You took the fall. A problem shared is a problem halved, right? If only lifes conundrums, mathematics and the governments economic stimulus payments worked like that. When the solution addresses the symptoms rather than the cause, a problem shared is often a problem doubled, tripled and quadrupled. It will keep happening again, my friend, until your wife deals with the source of her gambling addiction, assuming another addiction does not pop up replace this one.

It will keep happening again, my friend, until your wife deals with the source of her gambling addiction, assuming another addiction does not pop up replace this one.

How many times have any of us thrown our hands up and cried to the Heavens, I was just trying to do the right thing! Thats not enough. We must also ask ourselves: Why did I do it? No one wins. Your wife doesnt win: You enabled her to gamble another day. You dont win: You could have received $1,200 at a time when you clearly needed it to pay your bills. So why did you help her out? Why did you protect her? Perhaps you can tell this story, engender sympathy from friends and family who can shake their heads and say, Once again, she done him wrong.

Its important to help people. Thats what we do. But there is a line that you can draw with your wife in future, and there is another better way you can help her, by stepping back and telling her that she needs to stand on her own two feet, and face her problems head-on. You didnt cause her gambling problem, you are not responsible for it and you cant cure it. Thats not your job. There is a valuable lesson for you here, my friend, and its worth a hell of a lot more than $1,200.

You can email The Moneyist with any financial and ethical questions related to coronavirus at qfottrell@marketwatch.com

Want to read more?Follow Quentin Fottrell on Twitterand read more of his columns here

Would you like to sign up to an email alert when a new Moneyist column has been published? If so, click on this link.

Hello there, MarketWatchers. Check out the Moneyist private Facebook FB, +0.27% group where we look for answers to lifes thorniest money issues. Readers write in to me with all sorts of dilemmas. Post your questions, tell me what you want to know more about, or weigh in on the latest Moneyist columns.

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I filed a joint tax return with my estranged wife because she is a gambler and her finances are a mess. But I got NO stimulus check what can I do? -...

Albertas more than $1.4 billion in gambling profits should be used to give the provinces poor a monthly payment, similar to welfare, says a national think tank.

Think tank Cardus, in a report released Wednesday, said the lowest-income households in Alberta pay the provincial government an estimated 7% of their annual incomes through gambling triple the proportionthat the wealthiest Albertans pay.

Those at the margins of society are paying disproportionately into the coffers, the report concludes.

The report, called Royally Flushed, outlined ways to turn Alberta Gaming and Lottery Corporation (AGLC) revenue toward reducing poverty instead of mixing it in with the provinces general tax revenue.

It recommends creating a gaming equality benefit, which would re-direct AGLCs $1.4 billion annual contribution away from general government revenues toward low-income families through monthly support payments similar to the provinces social assistance system.

It also says AGLC profits be used to incentivize savings one of the best ways to ensure families dont turn to usurious payday loans. This can boost the savings accounts of low-income families, following a model similar to government top-ups of RESPs contributions or through prize-linked savings accounts.

I hope Albertas government takes this research seriously and seizes the opportunity to turn bad habits into good, says Johanna Wolfert, a Cardus researcher and report co-author.

The report also found:

Alberta made a mistake in 2019 when it started shovelling AGLCs casino, lottery, and slot machine proceeds into general government revenues, says Brian Dijkema, Cardus Vice-President of External Affairs and co-author ofRoyally Flushed.

That simply solidified the status of Albertas gambling system as a regressive form of taxation, disproportionately taking money from those who can least afford it.

Royally Flushed: How gambling can work for, not against, Albertais available online.

Cardus is a non-partisan, faith-based think tank and registered charity dedicated to promoting a flourishing society through independent research, robust public dialogue, and thought-provoking commentary.

Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard

dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com

Twitter.com/nobby7694

Read the original post:

Alberta gambling profit should be used to create new welfare payment, says think tank - Western Standard

The first thing most sports fans are doing now when they wake up in the morning, after pouring the much-needed cup of coffee, is tuning in to sports news to see whats going on with the NBA, NHL and the rest of the gang. Between now and September, all the major leagues in the U.S. are expected to get underway, either finishing out their seasons or, as in the case of the NFL, get things going. Things are changing on a daily basis and there is still no guarantee that the coronavirus wont force schedules to change, but, fortunately, there are plenty of other sports to keep fans occupied. This past weekend, Bodog saw a lot of action, and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 251 ticket proved to be especially hot.

Sharing the spotlight in main event round were Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in a Featherweight bout. Volkanovski improved to 22-1 after winning by decision after the two went at it for all five rounds. In the Bantamweight fight on the ticket, Petr Yan scored a victory through a TKO when the referee had to step in and call off the match after a little more than three minutes into Round 5.

The response to UFC 251 was enough to keep soccer from controlling the Bodog boards. Between MLS, the Premier League, La Liga in Spain and Serie A in Italy, they usually make up the majority of wagers; however, this past weekend, soccer accounted for 31.59%. MLS was the overall winner, with 9.86% of the action. NFL 2020 Sims ranked up there once again, as well, taking 8.94% of the wagers. In golf, the Workday Charity Open, which saw Collin Morikawa take his second PGA Tour title, captured 7.96% of the bets.

As far as which individual events ran the show, the UFC fight between Usman and Masvidal captured 29.15% of the action. Usman had been the -240 favorite to win, and he didnt disappoint. 16.16% of the wagers on Bodog went to the Workday competition, followed by 12.15% for the Volkanovski/Holloway fight. Volkanovski had been favored to win at -213 and, out of the top ten sports events, six went to UFC/MMA matches. Out of those, only the womens Strawweight bout between Jessica Andrade (20-8-0) and Rose Namajunas (10-4-0) saw the underdog score a victory when Andrade was awarded the match Namajunas had been favored at -240 and Andrade was given pre-match odds of +190.

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UFC/MMA gambling takes the lead in sports gambling on Bodog - CalvinAyre.com

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Gambling - Global Market Trajectory & Analytics" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Global Gambling Market to Reach US$647.9 Billion by the Year 2027

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Gambling estimated at US$443.2 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$647.9 Billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 5.6% over the analysis period 2020-2027.

Lottery, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 9.9% CAGR to reach US$209.9 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After an early analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Casino segment is readjusted to a revised 2% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 56.1% share of the global Gambling market.

The U.S. Accounts for Over 26.8% of Global Market Size in 2020, While China is Forecast to Grow at a 12.8% CAGR for the Period of 2020-2027

The Gambling market in the U.S. is estimated at US$119 Billion in the year 2020. The country currently accounts for a 26.84% share in the global market. China, the world second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$158.8 Billion in the year 2027 trailing a CAGR of 10.7% through 2027. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 2.4% and 5.1% respectively over the 2020-2027 period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 3.6% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$158.8 Billion by the year 2027.

Betting Segment Corners a 19.4% Share in 2020

In the global Betting segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 7.7% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$64.8 Billion in the year 2020 will reach a projected size of US$108.6 Billion by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$94.2 Billion by the year 2027, while Latin America will expand at a 9.7% CAGR through the analysis period.

The publisher brings years of research experience to this 7th edition of the report. The 280-page report presents concise insights into how the pandemic has impacted production and the buy side for 2020 and 2021. A short-term phased recovery by key geography is also addressed.

Competitors identified in this market include, among others

Total Companies Profiled: 46

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/94i6ul

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Gambling - World Market to Reach $647.9 Billion by 2027 - ResearchAndMarkets.com - Business Wire

Online gambling operator LeoVegas isnt happy with Sweden and the countrys recent mandate on the reduction of deposit limits for customers. Even gambling regulator Spelinspektionen had anticipated there would be issues with the new rules, which set a weekly deposit limit of $537, and LeoVegas wants answers now. The company sees different operators interpreting the new guidelines in different ways, and is demanding that the gambling regulator clear up the confusion to put everyone on the same page.

LeoVegas has penned an open letter to Spelinspektionen, asserting, Only a few days after the Minister of Healths temporary restrictions came into force, it is clear that the gaming companies have interpreted the new regulation in very different ways. The chaos that the gaming industry warned about has now occurred, as a result of a hasty and weakly substantiated proposal. We now appeal to the Gaming Inspectorate to clarify to the industry what applies regarding the deposit restrictions.

The company added that the rules, which just took effect on July 2, had already faced strong resistance from the countrys gaming community both private and state-run operators and that everyone had warned that the new limits would not be implemented as easily and flawlessly as government officials had expected. The only thing the new limits have done is to force gamblers to go back to finding offshore sites, resulting in less protection and less revenue for the state.

LeoVegas continued, Spelinspektionen, which is set to ensure that the regulation is followed, also had several objections. Among other things, against the extremely short time given to the gaming companies to implement the extensive changes and the risk of reduced channeling.

The chaos that the gaming industry, like other experts, warned of has now occurred. It is technically difficult to distinguish the products on a platform that intends to meet the requirements for both a good gaming experience and a high level of consumer protection. For fear of more millions in fines, most companies have been forced to deal with the new restrictions by putting a limit on all products, even though sports and horses are not covered by the regulation.

Spelinspektionen had voiced its concerns over the new rules, as well, but, ultimately, the regulator is responsible for enforcing them. As a result, it must face the frustrations voiced by gaming operators and react accordingly. LeoVegas is demanding that the entity clarify the new rules and ensure that all operators are adhering to the guidelines as the government had intended.

The companys letter concludes, Our message has always been clear; restrictions and measures must be based on well-substantiated facts and thorough impact assessments, otherwise the clock risks turning back to what it looked like before reregulation.

We are now in a situation where neither the private nor the state-controlled companies know how to act and it is obvious that different actors interpret the new regulation in different ways. The question is, who really benefits from this apart from the companies that are outside the licensing system?

In light of the above, the gaming industry is looking forward to the Swedish Gaming Inspectorates clarification regarding the interpretation of the new deposit limit.

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LeoVegas thinks Sweden's new gambling rules leave a lot to be desired - CalvinAyre.com

Tuesday, July 14, 2020 9:07 a.m. EDT by Thomson Reuters

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's parliament passed a bill on Tuesday ending a decade-long ban on gambling in a move aimed at boosting budget revenues by almost $150 million a year.

Ukraine's economy has been gutted by a six-year-long military conflict with Russia-backed separatists in the east and is under additional pressure from the coronavirus pandemic.

The government expects casinos, bookmakers and slot machine operators to contribute at least four billion hryvnias (about $148 million) to the state budget annually through taxes and licence fees.

Lawmaker Oleh Marusyak, a member of the president's Servant of the People party and author of the bill, said the legislation would help Ukraine supplement state revenues after a decade of the industry operating underground.

The government said the money would be invested in health, education and sport projects.

Under the new law, which still needs to be signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a specially created state regulator will issue licences to companies offering gambling services.

The companies have to be registered in Ukraine but founders of the companies can be foreigners, with the exception of Russians.

Casinos, slot machines and bookmakers will be authorised to operate in hotels with ratings ranging from three to five stars.

The law also sets the minimum gambling age at 21.

(Reporting by Natalia Zinets; Editing by Gabrielle Ttrault-Farber and Nick Macfie)

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Ukraine moves to end ban on gambling to boost revenues - WHTC News

In the fast moving world of gambling, sometimes you might miss news that could be important to you. To make sure youre all caught up on gaming industry news, be it online or brick and mortar, were rounding up the some of the announcements and partnerships from the last week that you might have missed.

Dont miss out on all of the latest announcements. Our Press Release section is updated constantly.

IMG ARENA signs long-term deal withWorld Table Tennis (WTT)

IMG ARENA,a leading sports betting service and content hub, has secured a long-term, worldwide live betting streaming and data rights partnership withWorld Table Tennis (WTT).

The deal allows sports betting operators access to content across all events organised by the WTT, includingthe prestigious World Table Tennis Championships.

In January 2021, WTT will launch its new WTT Series, a totally revamped competition, designed toradically change the sport and grow fan engagement. The new partnership with IMG ARENA covers all tiers of the revamped WTT event structure: Grand Smashes, WTT Cup Finals, WTT Champions Series and WTT Contenders Series.

GrooveGaming recognised as one of the 10 Best Technology Solution Providers of 2020

AggregatorGrooveGaming has been recognised as one of the 10 Best Innovative Technology Solution Providers of 2020 by IndustryEra Review, firmly demonstrating that the aggregatorstechnology development is being acknowledged not only in the iGaming industry, but also from outside it.

IndustryEra Review is a leading global source for the latest transformative tech news, inspiration, and motivation for the worlds most pre-eminent organizations, steadfast leaders, solution providers, and budding entrepreneurs. In the last couple of years, the magazine has culminated into a paradigmatic, global brand, which has been encouraging and developing excellence through their talented editorial team, reaching more than 45,000 tech industry leaders, CIOs, CTOs, and senior IT leaders each month either physically or through the online subscription.

Footstock partners with HooYu to help more customers hit the back of the net after passing KYC

Leading KYC and customer onboarding specialist, HooYu, has announced a partnership with leading fantasy football gaming operator, Footstock.

As Covid-19 has hit sportsbook operators hard, Footstock has enjoyed a period of rapid expansion, growing eight-fold in the last three months. HooYu is now integrated into the Footstock customer sign-up process providing UI and UX tools alongside a range of KYC technology to provide Footstock customers with a smooth and easy digital journey.

Prior to using HooYu, Footstock were manually performing KYC, receiving ID documents from customers, and taking up to a day to approve customer registrations. Footstock now use HooYu to deploy identity database checks, ID document validation, proof of address matching and PEPs and Sanctions checks to verify customer age and identity. As a result, the customer sign-up journey can be completed in a few minutes instead of up to a day.

ThunderSpin announces content agreement with BetConstruct

ThunderSpin continues to expand its list of content partnerships, and we are delighted to welcome our new partner BetConstruct.

ThunderSpin integrates its portfolio of 25+ high-quality and innovative games to BetConstructs aggregation platform. We hope that joining forces with our valued industry colleagues will enable ThunderSpin to expand its presence in global markets and present our games to more players.

ThunderSpin portfolio includes games with varying complexity of plots and mechanics, created with the highest quality requirements for various categories of players. Our hits include Book of Treasures, Kingdom of Glory, Vikings: Frozen Gods and more mobile first games.

MGA Licenses SoftGamings

SoftGamings is proud to announce its latest milestone that comes in the form of the B2B Critical Supply License from the esteemed Malta Gaming Authority. This B2B service license will help SoftGamings to expand the reach of its casino and sports betting solutions further across the Malta Gaming Authority jurisdiction.

Relax Gaming teams up with Max Entertainment

Relax Gaming,iGaming aggregator and supplier of unique content, is to launch its extensive portfolio across Max Entertainments fast-growing online casino brands after signing a new content distribution deal.

Relaxs proprietary slot portfolio, including player favouritesMoney Train and Snake Arena, as well as its vast library of high-quality aggregated content, is shortly expected to launch across all the operators online casino brands as part of the agreement.

Greentube expands in the U.K. with STS partnershipGreentube, the NOVOMATIC Interactive division, has teamed up with sportsbook and casino operator STS to launch a collection of its premium slot portfolio in the U.K., further extending its reach in the market.

The operators customers will soon be able to play Greentubes top performing games locally, including famous titles from its classics series such as Book of Ra deluxe, Lucky Ladys Charm deluxe and Sizzling Hot deluxe. Recent smash hit releases including Diamond Link: Mighty Elephant are also set to go live, equipping the operator with a diverse range of quality slots which are already popular with UK players.

EvoplayEntertainmentsigns Slotegrator deal

Innovative game development studioEvoplayEntertainmenthas continued to expand its geographical footprint after striking a deal to supply its content to online aggregator, Slotegrator.

Under the agreement, the studios groundbreaking content is set to launch with Slotegrators partnership network, covering a global range of regulated jurisdictions across major European markets and the CIS territories.

The dynamic platform provider will gain access to Evoplay Entertainments pioneering catalogue of over 90 slots, table and instant games, including the industrys firstRPG-based slot,Dungeon: Immortal Evil,launched to great acclaim at ICE London earlier this year.

BetGames.TVboosts LatAm reach with Jazz Gaming Solutions

BetGames.TV, the leading live dealerbettinggamessupplier, has continued to expand its LatAm presence in a deal with Jazz Gaming Solutions (JazzGS).

Under the agreement, JazzGS players across LatAm territories, including Argentina,Mexico and Peru, will be able to enjoy BetGames.TVs highly engaging catalogue via a direct integration with the award-winning supplier.

Popular games such asWheel of Fortune, and its innovative twist on Texas Holdem poker,6+ Pokerare already live via the operators leading juegueygane.com site, with the rollout of BetGames.TVs catalogue with JazzGSs 70+ brands expected across the coming months.

ORYX Gaming receives ISO/IEC 27001 certification

ORYX Gaming, a Bragg Gaming Group company (TSXV: BRAG, OTC:BRGGF),has been awarded with the leading international ISO/IEC 27001 certification, underlining the suppliers commitment to information security.

ISO/IEC 27001 is an information security standard published by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

The certification will enable ORYX Gaming to continue its global expansion into regulated markets and to provide its extensive content portfolio to even more operator partners.

Bang Bang Games selects Yggdrasils YG Masters Programme Powered by GATI

The emerging games studio Bang Bang Games is the latest partner to join Yggdrasils YG Masters programme, selecting the GATI technology as a key enabler for its global market and business strategy.

Yggdrasils rapidly growing YG Masters programme enables best in class independent studios to design, develop and distribute content usingYggdrasils proven technology and global distribution network.

Bang Bang will have access to GATI, Yggdrasils preconfigured, regulation-ready development toolkit, which enables studios and game developers to use a standardised technology solution to design and distribute games anywhere in the world.This means YG Masters partners can crucially accelerate global reach and find new ways to increase revenues, all using one standardised interface.

Bang Bang was founded earlier this year by a team with a wealth of experience behind them. The studio aims to produce games with mechanics that are easy to understand but hard to put down. By joining the YG Masters programme, Bang Bang will be able to focus on delivering premium games, while Yggdrasil provides support around compliance, distribution, and commercialisation.

ThunderSpin and BetConstruct strike 25+ game content agreement

ThunderSpin, continues to expand its global reach following an agreement which will see the integration of its portfolio comprising more than 25 high-quality, critically acclaimed and innovative games to BetConstructs aggregation platform.

Joining forces with such a well-respected industry leader continues the ThunderSpin strategy of expanding the number of its content partnerships in order to enter more international markets and build what is a rapidly growing community of players based throughout the world.

ThunderSpin has adopted a segmented content development programme with the portfolio catering for a broad cross section of tastes and game complexities covering both plot and mechanics. Popular hits include Book of Treasures, Kingdom of Glory, Vikings: Frozen Gods as well as a range of mobile first games.

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Gambling Industry Announcement and Partnership Roundup - July 14, 2020 - CalvinAyre.com

The recent report on Global Online Gambling Market: Industry Analysis & Outlook (2017-2021) offered by Researchmoz.us, comprises of a comprehensive investigation into the geographical landscape, industry size along with the revenue estimation of the business. Additionally, the report also highlights the challenges impeding market growth and expansion strategies employed by leading companies in the Online Gambling market.

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To summarize, the global Online Gambling market report studies the contemporary market to forecast the growth prospects, challenges, opportunities, risks, threats, and the trends observed in the market that can either propel or curtail the growth rate of the industry. The market factors impacting the global sector also include provincial trade policies, international trade disputes, entry barriers, and other regulatory restrictions.

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Regional Outlook: Global Online Gambling Industry Will Be Fiercely Competitive in 2020 - 3rd Watch News

They owned 20 houses, 128 flats and 25 acres of land in Dhaka and nearby areas.

Besides, they have 91 accounts in different banks where around Tk 2.8 crore were deposited so far and the current balance of these accounts is around Tk 19 crore.

Following several month-long investigation, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has found details of property and cash transaction details of "casino brothers" -- Enamul Haque Enu and Rupon Bhuiyan.

CID officials said that family members of Enamul and Rupon are involved with gambling. But, they get involved in casino business with help of gold trader Joy Gopal Sarker, general secretary of Motijheel Wanderers Club.

Identifying Joy Gopal as one of the "casino masters" ("guru"), Imtiaz Ahmed, Deputy Inspector General of CID, said that they have managed to arrest Joy Gopal recently, who went into hiding after law enforcers started a drive against casino businesses last year.

While talking with reporters at CID office, DIG Imtiaz said that they have got property details while investigating the money laundering cases filed against the "casino brothers". The siblings have bought these properties through the illegal business, he said.

"We have almost completed the investigation of four money laundering cases out of five and we are hopeful to submit the charge sheet of these four cases next week," he said.

In reply to a query, DIG Imtiaz said that they are bringing charges against 51 people in these four money laundering cases, including Enamul, Rupon and family members.

"We would press charges against 16 people in the money laundering case filed with Genderia Police Station, 24 people in two cases filed with Sutrapur Police Station and 11 people in a case filed with Wari Police Station," he said.

He, however, refused to disclose details on the accused until the charge sheets were placed in court.

Asked about sending money abroad, Imtiaz said that they did not get any such information that the casino brothers sent money out of the country. "It seems that they have bought properties in the country with illegal money," he said.

CASINO STARTED AT WANDERERS CLUB IN 2014

The CID official says the casino brothers entered the realm of gambling, holding the hand of his father. In 2007, they set up a gambling board at Motijheel. At one point they joined the Wanderers Club that year and started gambling there.

In 2014, when Joy Gopal got close to them, the two brothers started a casino business in that club and earned massive wealth, said DIG Imtiaz Ahmed.

He, however, failed to give any idea how much money they earned from these casinos every day.

Imtiaz said that the casino board came to the country through ships. "We are now looking for others involved with gambling and we would file a case against them soon," he said.

WHO IS JOY GOPAL?

DIG Imtiaz Ahmed said the name Joy Gopal came to the fore during the interrogation of casino brothers and arrest of several people in the casino case.

"So far, we came to know he is a gold trader by profession. But he was one of the masterminds in the casino business in Motijheel," he said, adding they have started an investigation about his activities.

On September 16 last year, Rapid Action Battalion raided the casinos of various clubs including Wanderers. Later, on September 24, Rab raided the casino brothers' house in Gendaria and recovered Tk 5 crore, 7.5 kg of gold and firearms from their vault.

CID arrested the casino brothers from Keraniganj on January 13.

On February 26, Rab found another house in Old Dhaka and recovered Tk 26 crore. Among the cases filed in those incidents, CID is investigating five cases under the Money Laundering Act.

BAIL OF ENAMUL, RUPON AND JOY GOPAL REJECTED

Meanwhile, a Dhaka court today rejected bail petitions of Enamul, Rupon and sent them to jail in a money laundering case.

Metropolitan Magistrate Debbrata Biswas passed the order after CID Inspector Mehedi Maksud, also the investigation officer of the case, produced them before the court on expiry of a one-day remand.

Meanwhile, Joy Gopal Sarkar, general secretary of Wanderer's Club in Motijheel, was shown arrested today in another money laundering case filed with Gendaria Police Station on September 25, last year.

The same court also rejected his bail petition and sent him to Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj after he was produced before the court.

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Whole family of casino brothers Enamul, Rupon involved in gambling - The Daily Star

A FORMER Bradford (Park Avenue) player has revealed his own past gambling addiction as he tackles a charity trek to help others.

Ben McKenna, who had two spells with Avenue, will walk 80km, including all of the Yorkshire Three Peaks and then back to his home in Burnley all on this Saturday, in aid of the Gambling With Lives charity, which aims to raise awareness of the dangerous effects of gambling on mental health and high suicide risk.

The left-winger, 27, says gambling gripped his life for four years from 21 until he had a 'lightbulb moment' and placed his final bet almost two years ago.

He estimates he lost between 15,000 and 20,000 through online betting alone on roulette, football matches and horse racing in addition to losing money in bookies.

Ben McKenna says he is a happier man after ditching his betting past

McKenna, who made 41 appearances for Avenue, scoring eight goals in 2016 and then in the 2018-19 season, said: "It's a long way, I'm going to give it a go. I will be doing it on my own.

"I'll pace myself when I do it. I wanted to set myself something that's a bit of challenge. I want to push myself.

"Between 21 and 25, the betting was becoming a problem. They call gambling a hidden addiction. The signs are not visible like they are with drinking or drugs.

"I had about 10 online betting accounts at one point.

"I don't know what I spent at the bookies over the years. I was taking out loans, pawning jewellery.

I thought I was betting to win money, but it gave me a buzz. It was a rush.

"I thought if I wasn't prepared to help myself no-one else would help me.

"My biggest lessons was taking responsibility and accountability for my actions. Life has just got better now. I'm human, we all make mistakes.

"I had a bit of a lightbulb moment with the gambling on July 22, 2018.

"I remember driving to work one morning, parking up my car and thinking 'I'm better than that, I'm not having it'.

Ben McKenna's 'lightbulb moment' tattoo he had after placing his last bet in 2018

"The last time I placed a bet was on September 5, 2018. I would say I have overcome my gambling.

"Having my problems with gambling was the best thing that could have happened to me as I would not be the man I am today without that bad experience.

I am not ashamed of anything, I am proud of who I am now.

"People message me all of the time about their gambling and I go above and beyond to help people out. I want to try to turn my negative into a positive."

McKenna, who now plays for National League North side Spennymoor Town, says he looks back fondly at his time at the Horsfall Stadium and remains in touch with Avenue's current manager, Mark Bower.

He added: "It just stopped when I joined Avenue for the second time. That was coming towards the end of it.

I loved it at Avenue. I will always have a soft spot for Bradford. I still speak to the manager.

"I feel like I have created a new life for myself. I love walking now, it clears my head."

Go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bmckenna to make a donation or for more information.

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Ben McKenna opens up on extent of his past gambling addiction - Bradford Telegraph and Argus

For those who missed it, please check out The Memorial Preview and Betting Strategies column for the types of golfers you should look to target for your bets.

With that in mind, heres who I like this week at Muirfield Village (with odds courtesy ofMyBookie.ag).

RELATEDThe Memorial Invitational Fantasy Golf Picks, DraftKings Targets

Rory McIlroy 14/1 (+160): Hes been pretty flat since the PGA Tour restart, especially for his standards. While he hasnt missed a cut he hasnt been very sharp with his irons as hes lost 0.06 strokes with them in his last three tournaments. Thats almost 0.7 strokes per round worse than his average since the beginning of the year. Hes being overshadowed this week by guys like Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Cantlay and Justin Thomas, and like the aforementioned Justin Thomas last week it feels like a get right week for Rory.

Jon Rahm 22/1 (+225):Has Jon Rahm broken out of his ball-striking slump? Last week at the Workday was his best performance with his irons since the return of the PGA Tour, where gained just over a shot per round with them on the field. His putting, which had carried him early in the year to good finishes, continues to cost him. Should that return and he can maintain the momentum tee-to-green that he found last week, he should be right in the mix for a win. Hes long overdue for a win on the PGA Tour, and the pieces might be starting to come together for him.

Xander Schauffele 28/1 (+275):Im putting money on Xander with a smidge of hesitation. While he had a fantastic week with his irons at the Workday, he gained a vast majority of his strokes on the field with his putting. Hes been putting out of his mind since the PGA Tour returned to action, far outpacing his performances from early in the year. Theres some concern that might regress, but if it doesnt and hes a little better off the tee he could be in for a long overdue win.

Webb Simpson 28/1 (+275):Webb doesnt have a great history at Memorial, but he hasnt played this golf course since 2017. Hes a much improved and refined player tee-to-green since that time, and his game right now is a great fit for Muirfield Village. Hes even improved off the tee, gaining some length on his drives while still maintaining the accuracy that hes known for. Webbs definitely in line for his second win in three starts.

Others to Consider (with Top 20 Prop Odds)

Abraham Ancer 50/1 (+220):Ancer took a few weeks off but his ball striking is red hot, especially with his irons. Ancer is a fairly accurate driver off the tee and despite his short stature hes longer than you would think. Hes a nice sleeper to win the tournament for his first PGA Tour win.

Joaquin Niemann 70/1 (+225):Niemann sometimes is a forgotten man among all the young talent on the PGA Tour, but at his best hes just as good of a ball striker as the likes of Collin Morikawa or Viktor Hovland. Niemann had a great week tee-to-green last week at the Workday, only for his putter to cost him. A regression to the mean in that category should put him in the mix like he was at the RBC Heritage.

Lucas Glover 125/1 (+500):With such a strong field, its unlikely well get a super deep longshot winning this week. But if theres a guy who can pull the upset its Lucas Glover, whos ball striking has been on point since the PGA Tour returned. Glover has sniffed around the Top 20 in all four tournaments hes played since returning to action, only for his putting to cost him. With ball striking at such a premium this week, any sort of magic he can find on the greens would mean big things for his prospects.

Patrick Cantlay Top 10 (+160): While the results indicate a Top 10 for Patrick Cantlay last week, he was relatively anonymous most of the weekend at the Workday. Only a final round 65 was the reason why he vaulted up the leaderboard for a Top 10 finish. Everything seems to be in order for Cantlay to defend his title, but hes such a trendy pick this week and I cant help but wonder why he doesnt win more? For a player as consistent as him, he should be winning tournaments at a higher clip. In any event, while I dont like the 16/1 odds he has to win the tournament, I do feel hes a safe bet for another Top 10 finish.

Justin Rose Top 20 (+225):This is put up or shut up week for Justin Rose, and I think were about to find out what his trajectory the rest of this season is. Has his club change back to TaylorMade really helped? Or is he truly in a funk or possibly on the downside of his career. Im about done putting a futures bet on him to win, but I dont think hes as bad as what he showed last week. Justin Rose gets a stay of execution with my wallet, and I have a hunch he rebounds for a Top 20 finish at one of his strongest golf courses.

Other Top 20 Props to Consider: Tiger Woods (+120), Marc Leishman (+275), Paul Casey (+300), Harris English (+400), Doc Redman (+400), Corey Conners (+500), Harold Varner III (+600), Max Homa (+700), Nick Taylor (+800)

Patrick Reed Missed Cut +250: Patrick Reed seems like a trendy pick at 50/1 to win this tournament, but I have a nagging feeling hell fall short of expectations. Hes really struggling with both his ball striking and putting at the moment, and his T39 finish last week was all thanks to his scrambling as he gained over 4 shots on the field. Thats not a recipe for sustained success, and I think he misses the weekend.

Other Missed Cuts to Consider Ian Poulter (+200), Billy Horschel (+220), Kevin Kisner (+170), Jason Day (+160), Danny Willett (+140), Matt Wallace (+120)

Adam Hadwin over Ian Poulter (-110): Both tend to make their hay on the PGA Tour with their putting, but Hadwins ball striking has been a little bit better than Poulters over the last few weeks. In addition, Poulter gained just under nine shots on the field putting at the Workday, a clip that is begging to regress. Hadwin should beat Poulter head to head.

Joaquin Niemann +1.5 Strokes over Matthew Fitzpatrick (-130): I dont understand this line at all. Both finished T31 last week, but did it in completely different fashions. As mentioned above, Niemanns putting cost him a good ball striking week, while Fitzpatrick lost strokes off the tee and with his irons but was bailed out by his scrambling and putting. Niemann is primed for the positive regression, while Fitzpatrick is primed for negative regression. Niemann should be able to cover the 1.5 strokes.

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The Memorial Odds, Picks, Winners and Prop Bets - The Sports Gambling Podcast

In a bid to begin reducing the numbers of problem gamblers in Bavaria, the state is launching a new help line app, PlayChange, to tackle the issue.

The Bavarian State Office for Gambling Addiction will launch a new platform dedicated to reducing gambling harm in the state. PlayChange will offer support to individuals who may be at-risk or already experience gambling addiction and are coping with gambling-related harm.

The platform has been set up with the Ministry of Health and Social Care with the help of the State Office for Gambling Addiction (LSG), and the solution is scheduled to go live on July 15. According to Health Minister Melanie Huml, PlayChange will allow people who are affected by gambling addiction to seek counseling services and help without fear of reprimand or stigma. Here is Ms. Humls statement cited by iGaming Business:

Those affected can get help quickly, easily, and above all, anonymously on PlayChange. This is an excellent addition to our existing counselling services and a big step forward in addiction counselling, which we offer to citizens in the Free State of Bavaria.

The service will have a non-invasive registration process, allowing citizens to register and set up a counselor visit anonymously via email. Vulnerable and addicted players will be able to have telephone appointments and generally have an easier time finding help to battle with an issue that Ms Huml and the Ministry of Health find serious. All services will be offered remotely.

Ms. Huml cited the novel coronavirus pandemic and argued that the remote mode of operating the help line was a good way to begin offering vulnerable people and addicts a way out of their issue without breaking social distancing rules or endangering the health of either party.

PlayChange will run under the control of LSG and will operate a budget estimated at $40,000 annually. PlayChange is a standalone app that can be downloaded for a mobile or desktop device, making access to the solution easier.

The introduction of PlayChange is an attempt to stem the tide of the growing number of gambling addicts in the State of Bavaria. Estimated 70,000 people have shown signs of problematic gambling behavior according to various surveys conducted between 2011 and 2017.

Some 33,000 of the people observed are qualified as problematic in the surveys, as they already show signs of gambling addiction. While the LSG has been around since 2008, this is one of the most significant moves to scale up the coverage and help reach out to problem gamblers who may be too embarrassed to attend in person.

Already, the institution provides treatment at 70 points across the state and in 22 specialist centers. The Ministry of Health has also been pleased with LSGs work, vowing 8.7 million for the period between 2020 and 2023.

Meanwhile, Germany continues to report an increase in the overall gambling revenue, with the amount total expected to reach 3.3 billion by the end of 2024, as previously reported.

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PlayChange Arrives in Bavaria to Tackle Gambling Addiction - GamblingNews.com

Memorial Tournament Tournament Preview

If the conclusion of the Workday Charity Open at Muirfield Village was a mere aperitif for what is to come at this weeks Memorial Tournament, we should be in for a mouth-watering event indeed!

Collin Morikawa served up another glimpse at his outrageous talent, and when he learns how to putt properly he will find himself among the sports elite.

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Mind you, there were some outrageous putts landed towards the business end of the Workday, and none more so on the first play-off hole against Thomas the latter drained a 50-footer to put the pressure on Morikawa, who responded with a 24-footer of his own.

In the end, it was Morikawa who held his nerve to clinch a second of what is likely to be many PGA Tour titles to come.

We got a good look at Muirfield Village last week, and all of the rumors suggest that event organizers want to beef up the challenge somewhat this time around.

So were anticipating some changes, such as thicker, tangly rough that will not be trampled down of course, and then were expecting quicker greens and run-off areas shaved to within an inch of their lives.

Of course, the weather may play havoc with that ideal. There is some rain and thunderstorms in the forecast, and so if the rain falls in any great quantity then that will slow the surfaces we could be looking at another iron-and-putt contest if that is the case.

Anyone that saw Jack Nicklaus play this incredible sport knows he was a ball-striking machine, and that skillset has been introduced into his own golf course design too. Hitting the ball in a straight line is key at Muirfield Village!

But again, to confirm, it is the weather that could have a huge bearing on how this track plays this week. Are we looking at a razor-sharp test of all-round golf, or will this be a soft test in which hitting your approaches close to the pin is key?

On Sunday, Patrick Cantlay showed why he is a former champion at Muirfield Village.

He delivered a sublime 65 only Jon Rahm bettered that on the day, and once again showed the sort of suitability for the test that saw him lift this trophy 12 months ago.

Embed from Getty ImagesCantlays top-10 in the Workday was a really nice sighter for the challenge ahead, and continues his fine form that has yielded two top-10s and a pair of T11s within his last five starts.

He has all-round ability with no weaknesses in any department, and that will probably be the order of the day this week over a player who is strong in one area but lacking in others.

A man reborn after changing his driver, Gary Woodland found a bit of something last week.

His top-five at Muirfield was franked by a huge improvement off the tee, with the US Open gaining +0.85 strokes gained in this department with the Wilson driver that took him to that major title.

Woodlands putting stroke looked really smooth too, and all told he looks ready to contend for silverware again.

He got a good look at the layout last week, and hell be looking to improve on that T5 this time around.

With form as our guide, Abraham Ancer is playing the golf of his life right now and is looking good in all areas of his game.

There are doubts about his mettle in contention particularly when he will have some heavyweights chasing him down in this field, and so a top-10 wager is possibly the smart move as far as the Mexican is concerned right now.

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Ancer has been recording some outstanding tee-to-green stats of late, and he is a solid putter on any given day so thats a winning combination that could fly at Muirfield.

Having finished no lower than T14 in his last three starts, Ancer will be looking to really cash in this week.

In the top-20 market we can pin our hopes on tee-to-green specialists who can, very occasionally, get hot with the putter.

Of late, Lucas Glover is a player that has been trending in that direction, and he actually putted well on the Bentgrass/Poa of TPC River Highlands a few weeks ago a rarity indeed!

Glovers game is based on precision off the tee and on approach, and improvements in those areas have led to four consecutive top-25 finishes since the seasons restart bizarrely, hes only banked one wager in the top-20 market, however.

If the rain comes and slows the greens, you would expect Glover to go along very nicely.

Heres a very interesting matchup indeed Bryson DeChambeau taking on Justin Thomas.

Will Bryson throw the kitchen sink off the tee? Remember, he has won at Muirfield before, but back in 2018 he was playing VERY different golf to what he is displaying at the moment.

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We dont expect Justin Thomas to suffer a hangover following his play-off loss last week, and hes experienced enough now to take the knock and learn from it.

Based on course fit with regards to Bryson 2.0 were inclined to suggest JT is the play here.

Unsurprisingly, Tiger Woods is a serial winner at Muirfield Village.

But its been three months since he hit a competitive ball in anger, and while he looked in reasonable touch in The Match against Phil Mickelson, thats a world away from 72 holes against the best players in the world.

Sorry Big Cat; not this week. But well be keeping a close eye on you nonetheless.

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GOLFICITY BETS: The 2020 Memorial Tournament Gambling Guide - Golficity