Monthly Archives: April 2020

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.

GeoComply Receives License in Colorado

GeoComply today announced that it has received its vendor minor license in a special meeting held by the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission. This license will enable sports betting operators in Colorado to utilize GeoComplys award-winning geolocation compliance solution as a critical part of their online sports betting apps and websites.

We are pleased to be approved to service our clients and partners in such a sports-driven market as Colorado, says Lindsay Slader, VP of Regulatory Affairs at GeoComply. The GeoComply team is prepared and ready to support the rollout of online sports betting as quickly as the state is able to launch its live operations.

140 industry leaders join SBC Digital Summit speaker line-up

The SBC Digital Summit is to feature a line-up of 140 big names from the global betting and gaming sector, with speakers including Carsten Koerl (CEO & Founder, Sportradar), Jesper Svensson (CEO, Betsson Group) and Paris Smith (CEO, Pinnacle).

140-industry-leaders-join-sbc-digital-summit-speaker-line-upSet to be the industrys biggest ever online conference, the SBC Digital Summit boasts a comprehensive agenda focused on the challenges and opportunities the industry faces in light of the disruption caused to business and wider society by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It includes expert panels covering sports betting, online casino and slots, opportunities in Latin American, lotteries, payments, developments in the US market, and digital marketing, spread over five days from 27 April to 1 May 2020.

Sky Racing World launches Japan NAR simulcasting

Sky Racing World, the Louisville, Kentucky-based distributor of international horse-racing content and subsidiary of Australian wagering operator Tabcorp, has announced the launch of a new simulcasting product that will make Japan National Association of Racing (NAR) horse racing available to North American audiences. The service will officially launch on Sunday night, April 5th, with races from Tokyo City Keiba, Oi Racecourse.

The Japan National Association of Racing is Sky Racing Worlds exclusive partner in distributing the weekly simulcasts every Sunday through Thursday night. At commencement, racing will be offered from three tracks: Tokyo City Keiba, Funabashi and Kawasaki, with Sunday nights first post at 1:30am ET (i.e. early Monday morning). All tracks and races will be conducted on a dirt surface.

partypoker obtains Italian gaming license

partypoker has obtained a gaming license to operate in the Italian poker market.

Effective April 1, 2020, the license permits partypoker to offer real money online poker games to players in Italy.

The license agreement will see some of partypokers global tournament titles brought to the Italian market from April 1, after an absence of four years.

The full 2020 tournament schedule for Italian players will be availableherein the near future.

First speakers at Betting in face of COVID-19 Europe: Experts in Marketing, Law and Consulting

Betting in face of COVID-19 an online conference dedicated to crisis management of the European betting business during the pandemic, will take place on April 17. Top experts of the industry will share their experience and the most successful cases of fighting crisis on the global market.

Event program is still under development, but first three speakers of Betting in face of COVID-19 Europe are on board.

Brand Architects offers Operator MOT appraisal service

Brand Architects, the London-based strategic marketing and brand consultancy founded by former WMS, bwin.party, Rank and Pinnacle marketer Harry Lang launched the initiative to give operators a Zero BS assessment of their individual sports betting, casino, bingo, poker and esports betting capabilities from a player perspective.

Each MOT Report will cover findings and recommendations to optimise the full user customer journey including (but not limited to) a brand overview, acquisition marketing, ASO, channel marketing, home page, bonus strategy, sign up path, conversion funnel, promotions, customer service, promotions and CRM.

Push Gaming joins forces with GVC

Push Gaming, the slots supplier behind player favouritesJammin JarsandRazor Shark, has put pen to paper on a deal to supply GVC with its full suite of games.

The integration will take place via the suppliers own platform, giving players at brands such as Ladbrokes, Coral and bwin access to a selection of its hit releases.

The remainder of the games in the extensive portfolio will then be made available in the coming months.

Pragmatic Play and Leovegas Announce Highly Awaited Bingo Deal

Pragmatic Play andLeoVegashave announced a ground-breaking deal which sees the award-winning casino launch top bingo games from one of the industrys leading content providers.

Existing players on LeoVegas brands such as LeoVegas UK, Crown Bingo, Pink Casino and Legs Eleven will now have access to one of the most innovative and multi-featured bingo products on the market, offering highly competitive daily jackpots and prizes.

Red Rake Gaming continues its regulated market focus with Belarus

Player-focused casino games developer Red Rake Gaming, based in Spain and Malta, is delighted to announce its newest regulated market, Belarus. Red Rake Gaming made the move due to the demand from its clients and the response of their game content in the region.

True Labs latest titles go live on Bitcasino.io and Sportsbet.io

True Lab will launch its games offerings at Hub88, an integration platform for the Coingaming Group, which operates Bitcasino.io and Sportsbet.io.

The True Labs gaming suite will include the studios latest top-quality slots, Startup Valley and Victoria Wild, as well as the crypto-themed Mining Factory, and a remarkable set of alternative HTML5 games like Magic Dice, Chains Code, Tonys Reel, Pirate Bay, and Robby the Illusionist.

Yobetit enhance games library with Nolimit City integration

Malta based Software Provider and slot machine innovator, Nolimit City, announce a new partnership and go-live deal with the top dog in the market, Yobetit.com.

Yobetit.com is on the rise to disrupt the market and set way for new trends and take a fresh approach towards player experience in a cross media form. Players on Yobetits rapidly growing network will enjoy Sportsbook, Lottery and Casino, now gaining access to Nolimits exciting full portfolio, including hits; Punk Rocker, Barbarian Fury, Tombstone and Dragon Tribe amongst several other player favourites.

BETBY adds huge esports portfolio to offering

Progressive sportsbook supplier BETBY significantly expanded its offering with the addition of more than 1,000 live daily esports events.

As uncertainty grows in the global sports betting community due to the current Coronavirus pandemic, BETBY has swiftly adjusted its content portfolio to include FIFA esports fixtures, CS:GO tournaments, and one of the widest CyberSport packages in the industry.

Among the competitions available is FIFA18 24/7, the first in the BETBY Games collection. Unique to the suppliers offering, the competition will see a number of markets created solely for that title.

Slotegrator Forges a New Partnership With Betsolutions

Game developer Betsolutions brings board games, slots, and their own range of provably fair titles to Slotegrators offering.

Online casino software provider Slotegrator has announced a new partnership with game developer Betsolutions. All of Betsolutionss slots and other casino games will now be available through Slotegrators API protocol.

Digitain boosts gaming catalogue with ReelNRG integration

Leading sportsbook and casino platform provider Digitain has partnered with dynamic slot supplier ReelNRG.

The integration of ReelNRGs UKGC and MGA-licenced portfolio of premium slots, jackpots and promotional tools reinforces Digitains track-record of providing its 70+ operator network with a diverse variety of revenue streams.

The deal will see popular ReelNRG releases including Wild Karaoke, Reel Hunters and Riches of Moscow added to Digitains market-leading casino platform, comprised of an immersive in-house game collection along with over 3,000 titles from leading industry suppliers.

Kalamba Games expands footprint in Asia and emerging markets with QTech Games

Kalamba Games has successfully integrated its Remote Gaming Server (RGS) with QTech Games in a partnership that will greatly enhance the suppliers market presence in Asia and emerging markets.

Kalambas extensive games portfolio is now live on QTechs distribution platform which especially caters for Asian, CIS and Latin American markets.

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Gambling Industry Announcement and Partnership Roundup - April 6, 2020 - CalvinAyre.com

I'VE been married for six months and I'm being forced to face up to the fact there's a real problem in my marriage. My husband has always been very outgoing and generous with presents and things. I did used to wonder where he got his money from, and why sometimes he'd go ages without getting me anything then I'd get a load of things all at once.

Now I've found the reason. It turns out my husband is a compulsive gambler and the only reason I found out was after a large chunk of our savings disappeared. He didn't want to tell me at first but eventually he admitted what he'd done with it.

He said he thought he had kicked the habit when he met me but it's clear he hasn't. I do love him and have forgiven him, but I don't know how I can ever trust him. He has promised it won't happen again, but how can I be sure he means it?

AF

FIONA SAYS: You can't, I'm afraid. Gamblers rarely quit that easily which is why he needs professional help. He has an addiction and, like all addictions, it needs treatment. That also means it takes hard work and effort but there is hope. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been shown to have good results in treating this condition, but he has got to want to be helped.

You have been faced with a terrible shock, and while your immediate response is to want to 'cure' your husband, the consequences of gambling won't be resolved in a day. All the difficulties you're suddenly faced with seem huge, but I'm afraid it may only be the tip of the iceberg.

It can take time for a person with a gambling problem to face all their debts and losses, and to be open about them with those - like you - who need to know. Give yourself time to deal with issues; encourage him to open up about where his money has come from obviously, your savings, but you need to know if it's gone further than this. For example, serious problem gamblers have been known to steal from employers to fund their habit.

I don't know how old your husband is, or for how long he has been gambling. For most people, it's a slow loss of control and a change of focus from real life issues to the gambling ignoring other responsibilities and the people they are affecting.

Your husband may realise he is causing problems for you, but even so, the 'need' to gamble is an urge he's been unable to resist. I suspect he has had a number of wins in the past - hence all the presents - but he then entered a losing streak. Once that happened and he began to lose excessively, he probably reached a point when he had invested so much money, he was desperate to win it back.

The problem is that people never win back what they've lost, and he may not have accepted that yet, even if he has promised to quit. If you can get him to give up hoping for a big win then he'll begin to get back control over his gambling and of his life.

Please encourage him to contact GamCare (gamcare.org.uk) who can really help him - and you through this. The organisation offers support, face-to-face counselling and information for problem gamblers, their friends and their families.

Even if you can't get him to do this, do contact them yourself as you'll find them very supportive of the situation you find yourself in. I would also strongly suggest you limit the risks you face by ensuring you have separate bank accounts, or at least by needing joint signatures on any savings accounts.

MY BOYFRIEND GETS SUCH BAD ROAD RAGE

MY boyfriend is a gentle guy until he's behind the wheel of his car. He then becomes really aggressive and screams at every other road user. I've even known him chase after someone who's upset him so he can give them a piece of his mind.

One day he's going to get himself really hurt by taking on someone who is not going to be so easily intimidated. He says that if people are not told that they are driving badly they'll go on being dangerous. Is he right and should I accept this?

BT

FIONA SAYS: I don't suppose it has occurred to him that chasing another driver, simply to respond to a slight of some kind, is every bit as stupid and dangerous as the behaviour he is criticising? Driving today is stressful and sometimes it helps to let off a bit if steam, but your boyfriend is coming dangerously close to losing control and that's just unacceptable.

If someone has genuinely been driving dangerously, it would be better (and safer) if he were to notify the police rather than race around the streets.

Right now, under the social distancing rules, he won't be able to drive around as much anyway, so it might be an idea to try and get him to learn some relaxation techniques. There are lots of useful resources online. They'll help him cope now but will also help him stay a bit calmer behind the wheel in the future.

HE PROPOSED THEN CHANGED HIS MIND

THREE months ago, I met a man who was, I thought, going to be the love of my life. We made love for the first time a few weeks ago, when admittedly we were a bit drunk after a party.

It was wonderful and afterwards he asked me to marry him. Two days later though, he told me he'd made a mistake and didn't want to see me anymore.

Since then I have been in a complete daze. How can someone offer marriage then just dump you? Do you think I could persuade him to come back?

CN

FIONA SAYS: I know these are difficult times and perhaps he's not thinking clearly but do you really want a relationship with someone who is capable of treating you like this?

Three months just isn't long enough to get to know someone, let alone commit to marriage, and I suspect he has realised this.

I know it hurts, but while we're all on lock down, I suggest you wait and see how things between you are looking when things are back to normal. Under normal circumstances, I'd be suggesting you should try and move on, but times are not normal and it could be that he's frightened and worried about the future.

When everything feels a bit more settled, if you still want to of course, I suggest you contact him again and see if he'd like to meet up. If at that point you can rekindle your relationship, then all well and good but be cautious because, if you've a future together, he needs a good explanation for treating you this way.

I DON'T LIKE MY DAUGHTER'S BOYFRIEND

I DO not trust my daughter's new boyfriend. He says he loves her and wants to be with her but every chance he gets, he goes off to see his ex-wife and children. This doesn't strike me as the behaviour of someone who is committed to my daughter.

She hasn't said anything to me but she must be worried.

Do you think I should say something to him? I wish she were with someone else.

TF

FIONA SAYS: Would you really trust a man who could abandon his ex-wife and children without a backward glance? Surely it's better to be in a relationship with someone who accepts his responsibilities, who is prepared to continue being a father and friend.

While I understand you have your daughter's interests at heart, I would strongly advise caution. She has chosen to be in a relationship with someone who has a past that involves a previous marriage and children. Those things are never going to go away, and for her it may not be a problem - or if it is, if she loves him, she will know it's something she's going to have to learn to cope with.

If you ask this man to give up his children for your daughter, you may find he does exactly the opposite! Let your daughter know you love her and care for her, and I'm sure she'll let you know if she needs help.

If you have a problem you need help with, email Fiona by writing to help@askfiona.net for advice. All letters are treated in complete confidence and, to protect this privacy, Fiona is unable to pass on your messages to other readers. Fiona regrets that she cannot enter into personal correspondence.

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Ask Fiona: Can I trust my husband with his gambling problem? - The Irish News

The lessons they glean will last a lifetimeso long as they hurt

Apr 4th 2020

THE BEAUTY of poker, writes David Sklansky in the introduction to The Theory of Poker, perhaps the best book written about the best card game invented, is that on the surface it is a game of utter simplicity, yet beneath the surface it is profound, rich and full of subtlety. Cooped-up children can learn the rules in just a few open handsthat is, rounds played with all cards visible and all moves explained. The lessons they glean will last a lifetime.

To sceptics, poker conjures up images of casinos, late nights and smoky back roomsall places inappropriate for kids. That outmoded caricature need not trouble people playing in quarantined homes, at reasonable hours and without cigars. And, yes, poker is a form of gambling, but it is primarily a game of skill and nerve.

Luck plays a larger role than in purely skill-driven games such as chess, but that is what makes poker so appealing for put-upon parents: you will be a better player than your children, but they will still win often enough to keep them interested. As Mr Sklansky puts it, The 500th best player could easily win a [poker] tournament. By contrast, the 500th best golfer is not going to win a golf tournament.

There are enough variations for children to pick personal favourites; in other words, like literature and music, it offers them a chance for self-expression within a shared passion. Just as a parent thrills to see their offspring reading, even if what the child chooses to read is not what the adult would, a poker-enthusiast parent will happily play Five-card Draw with his child, even if he prefers Texas Hold Em.

The goal is always straightforward: amass a better five-card hand than your opponents. But the paths to success are many and divergent. Sometimes it involves bluffing, a practice that, initially, children embrace with lunatic enthusiasm. A parent may feel guilty about taking all his childs chips the fourth time the kid goes all-in with nothing higher than a nine. Persist: eventually, they will learn that they cannot always lie their way to victory, and that sometimes the wiser action is to withdraw from the fight. They will also learn the corollary of that lesson: sometimes bluffing works.

Soon they will figure out how to read their opponentsobserving that cockiness can be a cover for weakness, and reticence a ploy to tempt others into overconfidence. They will see that a lost hand is not a lost game, and a lost game today does not augur the same tomorrow. In poker, as in life, the race is not always to the swift, and chance and bad beats (losing a winnable hand) happeneth to one and all.

But the only way they will learn any of these lessons is if they hurt. After a few practice rounds with matchsticks or toothpicks, the stakes must be actual moneyand adults must keep it when they win. This may be difficult: children come into the world lovable but broke, and no parent wants to further impoverish their own. On the other hand, children are also expensive. Consider any victory a partial repayment for their upbringing.

This article appeared in the Books and arts section of the print edition under the headline "Gambling with the future"

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The joys of teaching poker to your kids - The Economist

The British are dying in care homes across the country without saying goodbye to their families. The government said goodbye to goodbyes on 13 March when it ordered care home providers to stop all visits to residents from friends and family.

Helen Wildbore, whose charity, The Relatives & Residents Association, represents the families of elderly people, talks of their acute distress as children and partners disappear from their lives. Some with dementia will only eat and wash when a husband, wife or child is with them. And now theyve gone.

Few outsiders care about the care services. Residential and nursing homes, and the army of harassed women who go from door to door looking after 350,000 people, are as neglected as the prisons, another Cinderella service that could be ravaged by the virus. Britain is a gambling nation. It gambled that it could neglect social care, just as it gambled that it could manage with fewer doctors and hospital beds than most of the developed world, gambled that it could postpone a lockdown and the mass production of testing kits and protective gear and gambled it could get away with putting an after-dinner funster from the comedy corner of the Telegraphs comment pages in Downing Street.

Millions gather at their windows to applaud the frontline staff fighting the virus. The organisers say they are clapping healthcare workers, emergency services, armed services, delivery drivers, shop workers, teachers and so on, through to vets. Nowhere are home and residential care staff mentioned.

So what, some might say. Banning visits is a necessary measure to contain the danger. It might be if the rest of the care system were not a lethal trap. Stories of the army finding the dead abandoned in their beds that make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end have come out of Spanish old peoples homes. Were not there, but no one should be surprised if the system buckled. It could barely cope before.

Compare it with the NHS and you see why social care is an unexploded bomb. We need care workers but we have treated them with contempt. There is no job security for large numbers of workers on zero-hours contracts. Staff turnover is rapid, vacancy rates are high and average hourly pay rates are below those of supermarket workers. Weve dumped the elderly on a workforce, which has an alarming proportion of staff with no relevant social care qualification. The point has arguably been reached, the Centre for Health and the Public Interest thinktank concluded, where it is no longer a feasible ambition for a care worker to acquire skills and pursue a stable career. Indeed not. The pay differential between care workers with less than one years experience and those with more than 20 is 15p an hour.

When cowed workers meet a global crisis, the result is dire. Care workers are cannon fodder. Despite government promises, they are telling their union, Unison, that they have not received the kit they need to safeguard elderly clients in the highest of high-risk groups, and indeed themselves and their families. Workers on zero-hours contracts who dont turn up dont get paid. Unisons Gavin Edwards tells me that the pressure on staff cannot be imagined by people with secure employment in the NHS and other workplaces governed by proper procedures and union agreements. Union members tell of pushy employers who dont give a damn about the dangers. Managers were suggesting we take our children in if we cant find childcare, said one.

When cowed workers meet a global crisis, the result is predictably dire. Care workers are cannon fodder

Meanwhile, their employers are demonstrating that we do not have a national care service to match the NHS. They are refusing to take patients who might have the virus. You see their point. It is impossible to maintain social distancing with confused older people. But this refusal illustrates a wider danger. There are 5,500 small companies running homes or providing domestic care workers to councils. Ministers cannot compel them to make best use of their beds or concentrate staff where they are most needed. If Britain had set out to design a care system less able to cope with a national emergency, it couldnt have done a worse job.

Here we come to the final gamble. The chaotic state of social care for the elderly exists in a Britain dominated by older people. Its almost a cliche for journalists and academics to say that, as life expectancy has risen, western countries have become gerontocracies. The voting power of the old dominates politics. It delivered Donald Trump, Brexit and Tory governments. When the Conservatives were acting with the utmost cruelty towards benefit claimants of working age, they didnt dare touch pensioners benefits. They increased them, as they knew that age is now a stronger determinant of how voters vote than class. The 2017 general election reminded politicians they could never go against grey power. Theresa May refused to commit to the triple lock on pensions and said that pensioners who could afford it must pay for social care, just as graduates who can afford it must pay for a university education. The uproar forced May into an abject retreat and nearly lost her the election.

The gamble that older voters have taken is that they may not need social care and so shouldnt be asked to pay extra. Or that if they hold out, Britain will fund it out of general taxation on the young and middle aged, who have already been loaded with vast debts that are growing every day that this crisis continues.

The result is a care system that isnt a system and could be a virus super-spreader. As with so many other gambles Britain has taken, it looks as if the casino is ready to rake in the chips.

Nick Cohen is an Observer columnist

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Why are we gambling with the lives of elderly people and their carers? - The Guardian

The state of Illinois launched sports betting on March 9, after a sports betting bill was signed into law last June. There was plenty of controversy surrounding the law at the time, and it took the state an extremely long time to give out sports betting licenses.

The sports betting industry is currently shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, but gambling controversy remains. This time the issue at stake is the amount of video gambling machines in certain suburbs and the city of Chicagos reluctance to allow them.

Rolling Meadows is a suburb of Chicago, and video gambling has been a controversial topic of late. Video gambling machines were deemed to be illegal until 2018 when a new law was passed that allowed businesses to offer video gambling.

Alderman Kevin OBrien is now proposing that the city of Rolling Meadows limit the number of gambling machines that are present, and also restrict where these gambling machines can be offered.

There are currently 10 businesses in Rolling Meadows that have video gambling machines, and two other locations have applied for a license to get them. Alderman OBrien believes that there are too many locations with gambling machines now, and he is hoping to get a law passed that will put a limit on the number.

His proposal would also limit strip malls to have just one business that has video gambling machines.

Video gambling was officially legalized in 2009, but many cities or towns chose to opt out at that time. Over the last few years, more cities have allowed video gambling machines as a way to raise revenue for certain projects.

In 2019, there were over 32,000 gambling terminals located throughout the state, and those machines brought in over $478 million in tax revenue. That money was split between state and local governments.

That number is expected to be even larger in 2020, but the coronavirus pandemic is keeping businesses from being open, which means that the machines are currently not in use.

The city of Chicago has a ban on video gambling terminals, and that is another point of contention between residents and lawmakers. Sweepstakes machines are legal in Chicago, and many businesses choose to offer them.

Sweepstakes machines offer coupons to patrons that win the games, and these coupons can be redeemed for cash or other prizes.

The 2019 expanded gambling laws in Illinois allowed for a large number of new gambling machines to be put in businesses in the state. Chicago has kept their ban, but they are now facing extreme pressure to change this law to help the financial situation in the Windy City.

One of the major reasons that Chicago is holding out is that they are planning to open up a huge casino in the city, and they dont want any competition from these gambling machines.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is in favor of a large casino coming to the city, and she predicts that the tax revenue would be over $1 billion each year. This casino could offer sports betting under the new laws in Illinois, but the problem is that Illinois also charges large fees to operate a casino or sportsbook in the state.

Chicago has yet to find any company willing to pay the operating costs or the taxes that would be imposed.

The entire casino industry in Illinois has been suffering over the past decade. Total revenue from the 10 casinos located in Illinois has declined for seven straight years, and video gambling machines play a role in that. If Chicago is unable to get a new casino built, then they will likely turn to offering video gambling machines.

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More Gambling Controversy in Illinois - USGamblingSites.com

The Wire Act still looms large over online gambling in the US.

The 1961 federal statute is the reason there arent yet any legal betting exchanges or other interstate options for punters. Its also the key reason US online gambling operators spend millions of dollars establishing new technology stacks in every available state.

Whether the Act applies to all forms of gambling (or only sports betting) is currently the subject of a court in the First Circuit. But even ignoring the potential broader ramifications, the antiquated law has already proven itself detrimental to the sectors growth.

So what are the chances of getting rid of the Wire Acts constraints entirely?

Florida State University sports law professor Ryan Rodenberg says Congress will more than likely take a look at the Wire Act in the next four years, via a draft bill or perhaps even a hearing.

As evidenced by the federal sports betting bill that was introduced in December 2018, there is some legislative interest in addressing potential Wire Act shortcomings, said Rodenberg. (You can read about that bill here.)

From the scope of the Wire Acts safe harbor to tech-specific issues such as routing of sports bets across states lines, there are certain aspects of the 1961 law that Congress could revise or repeal entirely.

There are, however, some who believe Congress has bigger fish to fry. The fight to be rid of Wire Act constraints might instead be fought with the Department of Justice and its appetite for enforcement.

James Trusty, an attorney with Ifrah Law, thinks Attorney General William Barr may be open to negotiations. Remember, last years attempt to expand the scope of the Wire Act was rushed through by Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker while Barr was undergoing confirmation.

Barr is much more of a federalist and a believer in letting states be the primary decision maker on things like this, said Trusty. He served as the chief of the DOJ Organized Crime and Gang Section back in 2011 when the DOJ published its previous Wire Act guidance.

Trusty says an elegant solution for the DOJ would be to avoid litigation against lotteries and instead clarify that the Wire Act should only apply when addressing organized crime, rather than state-regulated activities like legal sports betting or online poker.

Theres too much uncertainty about Barrs stance to consider that a sure bet, though.

In the meantime, state lotteries and their supporters are confident that the Wire Acts scope will remain limited to sports betting by trial if necessary. Ifrah Law represents the iDevelopment & Economic Association (iDEA) as amicus curiae in the New Hampshire Lottery case.

Whether the industry can get the Wire Act rolled back even further and truly take the shackles off the US sports betting industry remains a somewhat murkier proposition.

Originally posted here:

Will US Online Gambling Ever Be Free From The Wire Act? - OnlinePokerReport.com

While coronavirus is changing our world in so many ways, if we are able to continue fundraising, we must remain conscious of regulatory frameworks and be sure to comply with any changes that can affect our programmes now and into the future.The Gambling Commissions upcoming ban on the use of credit cards for all forms of remote gambling, and for non-remote betting, has raised a number of queries from the not-for-profit sector as to how it will affect society lotteries.

The ban comes into effect on 14 April and aims to help prevent individuals from racking up debts on their credit cards, particularly when gambling online.

When the ban takes effect, lottery operators with remote society lottery licences, remote ancillary lottery licences, and remote ELM licences will no longer be able to accept payments by credit card by remote methods, which, under the Gambling Commissions definition of remote, includes those made online (such as by a website or app), over the telephone, by email, text message, and fax.

Face-to-face lottery payments by credit card on premises, or door-to-door, will still be allowed (albeit only when F2F fundraising can resume after coronavirus social distancing restrictions are relaxed). So too, sending card details by post is allowed, as this is also classed as a non-remote method of payment by the Gambling Commission.

It means charities will still be able to accept credit card payments for their lotteries, provided they are taken in these ways.

The proviso is that precautions are put in place to help protect people from harm.

The Gambling Commissions existing licence conditions and codes of practice already include a specific requirement on lotteries to set an upper limit on the value of lottery tickets which may be sold to an individual, whether during a single transaction or over a period of time and irrespective of payment method, without interaction with the individual. So, lotteries will need to set a threshold of ticket sales and ensure they interact with customers before selling them a quantity of tickets over that.

According to the Gambling Commission, this interaction requires the lottery operator to identify whether the purchasing individual may be at risk of, or experiencing, gambling-related harm. The operator also needs to keep a record of these interactions available for inspection, and the Commission can monitor the performance of lotteries through routine compliance assessments, or in response to specific complaints.

But is this enough? Or is there more that could be done to safeguard good cause lottery players?

One question raised is whether it is in fact ethical for not-for-profit organisations to continue using credit cards for lotteries, even with protections in place.

We put this to Ian MacQuillin, director of fundraising think tank Rogare. He believes that there is no ethical reason why they should not continue to use credit cards for cases where credit cards are legally allowed, but that good causes may wish to look at whether it is possible to set the bar higher than legally required:

If it is considered acceptable for offline commercial lotteries to be paid for on credit cards then it has to be acceptable for charity lotteries to be paid for in the same way. But even if law and regulation do provide clear guidance, it is also a question for professional ethics whether to go beyond the law, which sets a lower benchmark and doesnt stop you setting the bar higher.

For anyone wanting more guidance on ethical decision-making, he points people to Rogares framework on this topic.

To better protect players and help mitigate the risk of debt, an alternative is to move away from using credit card payments altogether. Debit card payments for single lottery plays and Direct Debits for regular play payments are both familiar and easy payment mechanisms for the playing supporter, as well as being a lot safer when it comes to protecting against debt and fraud.

While of course its possible to go overdrawn and incur charges with a current account, its not possible to run up the high levels of debt seen with credit cards. Money is withdrawn directly from the players bank account, so if there are insufficient funds in their account, the payment for the lottery play is simply not taken. And if your charity currently operates a lottery where a lump sum is taken from credit cards for a series of lottery plays, you can do the same from debit cards.

Additionally, Direct Debit is the safest payment method for making recurring payments thanks to the Direct Debit Guarantee, Charities are protected by the efficiency and security of the scheme, while for the player, the Guarantee protects the account owner from payments that may be made in error or indeed fraudulently against their account.

As with any activity, risks must always be assessed. Given their low frequency format and the typical prize thresholds, charity lotteries are less likely to attract addictive gambling behaviour. But it is wise to proactively carrying out a risk assessment to help both identify any potential problem areas and find solutions.

Whether charities should be accepting credit card payments for lotteries is an interesting area of debate, and as with all ethical issues, there is no simple right or wrong answer. While the law must of course be followed in regard to credit card payments, its up to each charity to determine which and how many payment methods it will accept instead. Making Debit card and Direct Debit payments your methods of choice goes a long way to ensuring that all possible steps are taken to safeguard the wellbeing of everyone involved.

Jackie Lawrence, Head of Marketing, Rapidata (an Access Company)

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Charity lotteries: navigating the Gambling Commissions credit card ban - UK Fundraising