Category Archives: Gambling

The idea of a municipal penny-per-push tax on video gambling machines is proving infectious, as more Illinois communities rush to stay ahead of pending state legislation aimed at vaccinating the industry against the new trend.

Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates officials this week followed the lead of their neighbor Hanover Park and approved push taxes effective May 2022.

Amid criticism from gambling terminal operators and establishments that house the machines, officials in both Northwest suburbs said their immediate goal is to preserve their right to impose the tax if needed in the future. Their votes came as a bill works its way through the state legislature that could outlaw new push taxes.

"If we don't take any action, we will be forever banned at this point from being able to use this," Schaumburg Mayor Tom Dailly said before his board's 5-0 vote. "Had this not come up at the state level -- the state wanting to ban this -- we would not be having this conversation today."

The state House passed an omnibus gambling bill on June 1 that tentatively set that day as the deadline for any new municipal push taxes in home rule communities. However, the legislation has yet to be taken up by the Senate or signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. That could occur during the imminent veto session.

Schaumburg village staff members last week told the village board's finance and general government committee that the legislation could take effect immediately but not retroactively. Therefore, any push tax approved before the bill becomes law could remain.

Meanwhile, copies of Hanover Park's push tax ordinance, which tentatively begins Jan. 1, have been requested by Elk Grove Village, Carol Stream and Glendale Heights, Village President Rod Craig said.

Unlike Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates, Hanover Park is not taking a hands-off approach to using the tax.

"We're trying to get some more money so we don't have to raise property taxes," Craig said. "We haven't raised them in Hanover Park in five or six years. We're at a point where our streets are atrocious."

During September 2021, Hanover Park took in about $19,592 from 46 machines at eight locations. Schaumburg earned $11,639 from 60 machines at 11 locations and Hoffman Estates took in $46,812 from 147 machines at 25 locations.

Under state law, 5% of gambling machine revenues go to municipalities, 25% goes to the state, and the Video Gaming Terminal Central Communication System, to which all machines in the state connect, collects 1%. The remaining 69% is evenly split between the machine operator and the establishment hosting the machine.

Travis Akin, co-director of the Support Main Street Illinois Coalition, is among the critics of the push tax. He said his organization is working from a calculation that municipalities imposing the tax could see a 250% increase to their revenue. He believes that will be at the expense of the terminal operators and the hospitality businesses that host them.

"I think from our perspective, the businesses being affected by this have gone through the worst year of their lives," Akin said. "There is a willingness on the part of establishment owners to work with municipalities. There's just a fundamental disagreement that this should be the way to do so."

Joliet, Waukegan and Oak Lawn are among the other communities that have adopted push tax measures.

In contrast to Schaumburg's 5-0 approval, the Hoffman Estates village board was divided 4-3 in favor.

Hoffman Estates Trustee Gary Stanton, who voted against the tax, voiced concerns the village could be sued by gambling interests, as has been the case with Waukegan and Oak Lawn.

While village Corporation Counsel Art Janura said Hoffman Estates would not be exposed to paying damages until it begins collecting the tax, Stanton noted the village could still be on the hook for any legal fees incurred in defending itself.

Gambling companies and businesses that host video gambling terminals also are lining up against push taxes.

Rick Heidner, who owns Gold Rush Gaming, the third largest video gambling machine operator in Illinois, said the tax would significantly tear into the industry's 5% profit margin.

"This would definitely be a setback," Heidner said. "A lot of municipalities are just kneejerking and thinking 'extra money, extra money.'"

Jennifer Strang, owner of The Hideout tavern in Schaumburg, said the tax would be as bad for businesses like hers that rely on the machines to attract customers and earn additional revenue.

"There's no reason to add such a harmful tax," she said.

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Why some suburbs are rushing to get a new gambling tax on the books - Daily Herald

The American TV personality Jim Cramer advised crypto investors to beware of the risks related to the digital asset industry. According to him, investments in bitcoin and the altcoins rests on the greater fool theory, where speculation is not absent.

Furthermore, Cramer admitted he is not a crypto hodler because of inflationary reasons, instead, he was simply gambling.

CNBCs Jim Cramer shared yet another controversial stance on cryptocurrencies and the people who operate with them. He believes the industry is associated with the greater fool theory. At its core, this concept refers to the idea that one can make money by purchasing an asset and later selling it as there is always someone to buy it at a higher price.

Cramer vowed to keep his crypto holdings as he thinks there are millions of greater fools out there. Following the Chinese crackdown on digital asset trading and mining this summer, he sold almost all his Bitcoin stash, leaving him exposure mainly to Ethereum.

However, the American said he is not a keen proponent of the second-largest cryptocurrency either and even admitted he will sell his positions when the price of the asset increases. Keeping in mind that Ethereum hit an ATH today, it seems like Cramer believes its USD value could continue its rally in the future:

I dont have any particular attachment to Ethereum and eventually Ill ring the register on the rest of my position when I think its done going higher.

Cramer put his name next to those who see the asset class as a hedge against inflation. Still, he said his reason to enter the crypto market is not related to it as he was instead gambling:

I didnt buy bitcoin or Ethereum as inflation insurance. In all honesty, I was gambling. I was simply gambling on crowd psychology, though, and I have no idea whatsoever why these things went up.

Towards the end of September, the Evergrande debt crisis in China caused severe disruption in financial fields, including the digital asset sector where the prices of the leading cryptocurrencies plunged hard.

Shortly after that event, Cramer advised individuals sitting on unrealized gains from their investments to take something off the table as the Evergrande saga will keep harming the crypto markets in the months to follow.

Taking a closer look at what happened in October, though, it seems like all the stubborn hodlers who did not listen to his guidance have made the right decision.

The first-ever SEC-approved futures-backed Bitcoin ETF in the USA, among many other factors, drove BTCs price to a new all-time high of nearly $67,000, while ETH reached its peak today at $4,400.

PrimeXBT Special Offer: Use this link to register & enter POTATO50 code to get 50% free bonus on any deposit up to 1 BTC.

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I Was Gambling, Says Jim Cramer on His Ethereum and Bitcoin Buys - CryptoPotato

If youre a fan of gambling and like to watch movies about it, you may get a little bit frustrated with how theyre typically portrayed on film. They tend to be unrealistic and clearly target an audience that has never played a gambling game before. If you want to watch some realistic poker hands and bluffs in movies, keep reading this list to see some of our favorite picksfrom Maverick to Rounders and more!

First of all, you should consider watching each episode of the original Maverick TV show with James Garner before watching almost any other film for fantastic gambling scenes.

The final poker scene from the filmMaverickis incredibly lame, but the beginning is fantastic. Roy Huggins and William Goldman are certainly a dynamic duo when it comes to gambling screenplays.

Gibsons character Bret sits down at a table to play poker and tells his competitors that he will intentionally lose for around 30 minutes or so before taking all their winnings in the end. While he loses, he has his competitors convinced that hes a harmless weakling by demonstrating just how inexperienced he is with a handgun. By the end, he turns the tables by showing them that hes not someone to mess around with when it comes to a gunfight.

The end is nonsensical. If you know the other player is cheating, then you probably shouldnt try to use mind games to pull out a Royal Flush. You should simply fold and wait for the next hand. That being said, if it does work, then you might just be the next real-life Bret Maverick.

Philip Baker Hall and Philip Seymour Hoffman have always been two of director Paul Andersons leading men from the start, and they dont let viewers down in their debut performance together.

You will never see an all-star cast like this one again, with John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Samuel L. Jackson all featuring prominently in the film as well. Sadly, Philip Seymour Hoffman has since passed away.

Hoffman is actually featured in the movie the least among the main cast, but in characteristic style, he manages to steal every scene that he is featured in. He was the funniest cast member in the cast ofBoogie Nights, and he hardly had any significant lines in his role. Hoffman was undoubtedly an icon, and he is sorely missed by film buffs.

The craps scene between the Philips duo is definitely one of the best gambling scenes in movie history. The grating young guy with the mullet goes up against the veteran gambler, whose dapper three-piece is impeccable, showing that hes someone who knows how to maintain his poker face. Only this time, the young man is so obnoxious that the pro ends up breaking character and makes a bold $2,000 bet in order to show the younger guy exactly whos in charge.

Why havent many people seen or even heard of this movie? Its certainly a mystery, but its still one of the most entertaining movies for gambling lovers.

Its honestly just one well-set-up joke, but in terms of simple comedic value, Wilfred Brambell starring as Paul McCartneys clean grandfather is just plain funny. The well-respected man is actually an insane, creepy pleasure-seeker who pilfers Ringos invitation to a swanky gambling hall and is somehow able to win at baccarat despite not having any money or any real clue as to how to actually play the game.

This grandpa has a taste for bosomy blondes, but then again, who doesnt?

Alec Baldwin and Shawn Hatosy starred as father and son in a movie that is still considered by many critics to be one of the best that the Farrelly brothers have ever written,Outside Providence. The Hollywood stars are back in action here with a dark film about a big-time loser and the story of how Las Vegas went from gangster to corporate.

In The Cooler, Hatosy stars as William H. Macys idiotic son. In the famous gambling scene, after Hatosys character attempts to use his dice palming skills to scam, Alec Baldwins character catches onto the ploy and punches Hatosys supposedly pregnant wife, revealing that she was not expecting to begin with. Its a rough watch but an excellent example of why cheaters never prosper in the Wild West world of gambling.

This film is fantastic, but every part of it is a tad far-fetched. Matt Damon has a stunning girlfriend and amazing in-laws to be, but he also has a significant gambling problem. However, the movie makes it pretty clear that hes pretty tame when compared to his best friend in the gambling world, played by Edward Norton. Though his character has the same amount of cash at the end of the movie as he had when it started, he does make his way to Vegas to earn back the money he owes to the Russian mob.

The final competition against Teddy KGB is hyper-realistic heads-up poker gameplay.

Its true, John Malkovichs Russian accent is terrible, but its actually so terrible that its good! Feel free to poke fun at Kevin Costner as Robin Hood as much as you like, but Teddy KGB sounds precisely the way he is supposed to

Hopefully, you found one of these top five gambling scenes in film entertaining. They offer a much more realistic look at what gambling is actually likeeven if some of the setups are a bit absurd. The gameplay still rings true, and the movies are definitely fun and entertaining to watch. If theres one takeaway from this list, its that John Malkovichs Russian accent alone is worth the watch!

Are you new to gambling and looking to learn more about how to play poker? Check out this easy-to-follow tutorial to help you get started learning more about this popular game of strategy.

Problem solver. Incurable bacon specialist. Falls down a lot. Coffee maven. Communicator.

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5 of the Most Iconic Gambling Scenes - SwordsToday.ie

Changes are coming to the online gambling industry in Sweden. The government has announced that the current online gambling restrictions set in the country will come to an end on November 14. Such restrictions include a cap on monthly deposits of SEK5000 ($600).

Details of the Announcement

While the government is allowing the set measure to end, officials want Spelinspektionen to review the regulations and propose new options to help provide more player protection. The regulator must complete this action so any new changes can be made.

According to a news source, minister of social insurance, Ardalan Shekarabi, commented that the gaming market turnover has increased. Online gambling has most likely benefited from changing patterns of consumption since the reregulation.

Shekarabi stated further that there is a risk that a change in behavior has occurred due to the increase in gambling activity. Such a development should be investigated to see if any new measures need to be enacted to help players in any way possible.

A report must be provided by the regulator with an evaluation of the temporary measures by mid-March 2022. The regulator then has until October 2023 to complete the remainder of the report.

Trade Association Happy with the Cap Lift

Operators as well as other groups are happy to see the restrictions lifted in Sweden, especially the deposit cap. The acting secretary-general of the trade association Branschfreningen fr Onlinespel, Ann-Sofie Olsson, expressed concern regarding the inconsistency that operators had to deal with regarding the restrictions.

However, the group welcomed the decision to lift the restrictions. The association does feel that regulators need to put long-term and consistent regulations in place. This will allow operators to offer services in a consistent manner and continue to provide quality gaming options for players.

The trade association wants to be a part of the process and have a dialogue regarding how the temporary measures are evaluated. The BOS feels that they can provide knowledge, facts, and cooperate with the regulators so that the association can be a part of the gambling market being successful as well as sustainable.

The temporary restrictions began in June 2020 and included the cap on deposits along with a SEK100 limit on bonuses. When the restrictions were first put in place, they were to continue through the end of 2020.

An extension was put in place back in May and it was set for November 14. Unless any changes happen last minute, the regulations will end on this date.

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Sweden to remove online gambling restrictions by November 14 - World Casino Directory

Safer Gambling Week starts on Monday. You might not have felt the need to highlight that date in your calendar, but for all of us who ever place a bet it is an opportunity to reflect on our relationship with gambling andfor some punters it might just be the turning point of their lives.

You may be a member of that rare breed who faithfully records every bet and never exceeds the amount you have set aside for your hobby, or you may have a more carefree attitude to your punting and have no regard for the tools that are now offered by every reputable bookmaking firm to help you track your turnover, profit and loss and control your expenditure and time spent.

Either way, you are unlikely to be betting for a living but it may well have become a way of life, a regular intake of pure escapism that brings mainly pleasure and only the mildest pain when your selections lose, the same sort of weariness we feel when the teams we support fail to meet our expectations.

But we have to recognise that for some the pain is acute, part of the illness of addiction and, while betting is generally a solitary experience, we should do everything we can to help our fellow punters.

During Safer Gambling Weekthe Racing Post willpublish articles with those at the forefront of ensuring the vulnerable are identified and assisted as soon as possible and there will be advice from our own racing and sports pundits on the strategies they have used to ensure they have not slipped off the straight and narrow or, if they have, how they climbed back up again.

We will also hear from two famous footballing names how their lives have been blighted while they were playing and well into their retirement by gambling addiction that has cost them so much, personally as well as in eye-watering sums of cash.

You might feel less sympathy for those who have been on football's top-flight salaries than for others who are so desperate that they turn to betting to try to pay their everyday bills. However, at the end of the day, any one of us who has ever bet more than we can afford to lose is in the same boat.

For that reason, we should all see Safer Gambling Week as a chance to reassess and to make sure we stay on the right side of the line.

Read more:

Breaking the invisible barrier: the stigma of talking about problem gambling

Women and gambling are the right actions in place to tackle a growing problem?

Safeguarding gambling industry staff is overdue and needs to become a priority

Racing Post takes seriously its commitment to Safer Gambling and encourages people to stay within their limits and stay in control. If you would like to know more visit our dedicated Safer Gambling page here

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Why all punters should be paying attention to Safer Gambling Week - Racing Post

Photo pixabay.com

The coronavirus crisis remains a real threat for people around the globe, and has derailed and decimated many industries, or else forced them to evolve.

Of course, every problem also presents opportunities to those in the right position, and one of the beneficiaries of quarantines, lockdowns and other pandemic-related restrictions has been the online gambling market.

So just how much growth has this industry enjoyed, why is it thriving, and will this continue in the long term or drop off after the peril of COVID-19 recedes?

2020 saw the global online gambling market grow to a value of almost $67 billion, with analysts projecting that 2021 will see this trend continue. The fact that customer spending increased at a double-digit rate is a direct reflection of the fact that more people were drawn to casino sites at a time when many other forms of entertainment were taken off the table by the pandemic.

Indeed, the trajectory of revenue generation by online casinos is anticipated to be bullish for some time to come, and by 2028 it could easily hit $158 billion.

It is no surprise that casino operators are feeling generous, offering sign-up bonuses as well as lines of credit to customers. So how do casino credit lines work for players? Simply by incentivizing to keep playing thanks to cash that is fronted by the operator itself.

In short, not only did the pandemic result in a significant uptick in online gambling, but this industry is tipped to flourish even as the world gets back to normal.

There is no doubting that a flood of new players came to discover online gambling as a result of the side-effects of the pandemic. However, this is just one of the elements which came together to catalyze growth so significantly in 2020 and beyond.

Arguably more important was the increased accessibility of casino services, made possible thanks to a combination of widespread smartphone ownership and the fast network connectivity required to fuel such online solutions.

Whether on the move or at home, even those with a lower end device can experience all that top internet gambling brands have to offer.

Further to this, the timing of the pandemic coincided with the movement to legalize online gambling across the US gathering pace.

With places like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia all jumping on the bandwagon in recent years, it became clear that without such regulation and licensing, the market would not have been able to boom to the same extent.

Speaking of the legalization of online gambling in the US specifically, but also more generally in other parts of the world, it is worth touching upon the advantages of the boost in revenues that the pandemic provided.

Perhaps most obviously, authorities were able to collect taxes based on the money made by licensed online gambling services. This is noteworthy because in places where casino sites are not officially endorsed, players would be forced to use overseas sites and thus result in tax revenues being lost altogether.

In addition, online casinos in the US must be operated by companies with a land-based casino presence in most cases. This was crucial to the survival of many of the best-known bricks and mortar casino brands during the height of the pandemic since they could continue to serve customers digitally even if their physical premises were inaccessible.

At this point it should be apparent that online gambling is a growth industry, not just because it managed to turn the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic to its advantage, but also because it taps into the wants and needs of people everywhere and has done so for millennia.

The expectation of sustained year-on-year growth for at least the next half-decade or more is eye-catching, and should come to fruition. However, there is the potential for a tapering off to occur, and this is very much in the hands of regulators.

In places where online gambling is legalized and regulated, it has thrived. In those where it remains either openly outlawed, or mired in a lack of specific legislation, it is effectively stuck in limbo.

The US will no doubt be one of the main propagators of online gambling going forward, and legalization is good news for consumers just as much as it is a positive from the perspective of the people responsible for increasing tax revenues.

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How Much Has Online Gambling Increased During the Covid-19 Pandemic? - River Journal Staff

Legislation to facilitate the establishment of a gambling regulator has been published by the Government.

It seeks to replace an "outdated, fragmented" legal framework that currently underpins the sector, Minister of State at the Department of Justice, James Browne explained.

The gambling sector has seen significant growth over the past 10 years, facilitated by online gambling and technological developments. The industry is worth an estimated 6-10 billion.

The legislation would ban credit card betting, free bets and services such as VIP or preferential treatment.

It would also end the practice of offering credit facilities to players and will prohibit children from engaging in any form of gambling.

A social impact fund would be established to fund education and research as well as treatment services for problem gamblers.

Gamblers may also place themselves on a self-exclusion register to prevent them from placing bets.

All of this will be overseen by the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland.

However, the authority cannot be established until the legislation underpinning it has been passed by the Oireachtas.

A CEO designate of the authority will be appointed early next year, to help establish it so that it is ready to operate once legislation is passed.

Professor Colin O'Gara, Head of Addiction Services at St John of God Hospital in Dublin, welcomed the legislation.

However, he said that he was worried about the amount of time it might take for the legislation to be passed and ultimately for the regulator to begin its work.

In the interim, Prof O'Gara believes the Government should legislate in specific areas such as mandatory deposit limits and the banning of gambling advertising.

He believes that gambling addiction should be treated as a public health crisis which he warned is currently affecting people and families in "a very detrimental way".

Prof O'Gara believes the social impact fund could be established before the overall legislation is passed.

"It's imperative that treatment for patients and families via the industry come as quickly as possible. A pertinent question would be - is it possible for Government to legislate in advance of the regulator for the establishment of a social fund to facilitate treatments?" he said.

Once established, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland will have the power to withdraw licences and close down businesses.

It can also impose fines of up to 20 million or 10% of a gambling provider's turnover, whichever is greater.

The growth in the gambling sector has been accompanied by a significant rise in problem gambling.

It's believed that there are approximately 55,000 problem gamblers and while the majority are men "more and more" women are affected, Minister Browne explained.

He said that it is often an addiction that is hard for friends and family to identify.

"Very often the first [time] family or friends know about a gambling addiction is when a sheriff calls to the door or when the garda call to the door or even worse", Mr Browne said.

He pointed out that there had once been considerable concern over the proposed development of a casino in Co Tipperary a number of years ago.

The "Tipperary Venue" was set to be a Las Vegas style casino, with a replica of the White House to be included in the development.

However, today "every 10 or 12-year-old is going around with a casino on their phones in their back pockets", Mr Browne said.

Extern Problem Gambling welcomed the legislation but said there were a number of other measures that the Government could explore.

On RT's Drivetime, CEO Barry Grant said introducing a function to limit the length of time that a person can spend gambling online is an additional measure that could be considered.

"In Germany where they recently legalised online gambling, they have a function there for limiting the amount of time that a person would spend gambling online.

"It's a big issue and it's usually a strong indicator that somebody has a problem especially if they're gambling through the night or late at night.

"There's also other measures that could be taken such as slowing down, online casino games, things like slot machines, online roulette, things like that but I suppose there's a lot of broad brushstroke stuff in here.

"We will be making a submission with more details around that type of thing but generally speaking, there's a lot of very progressive measures here."

He said that the original 2013 bill had "been gathering dust for quite a long time" and while it was "quite progressive and had a lot of forward thinking measures in it" a lot of things have happened in the world of technology and gambling since then.

Mr Grant said the proposal for an "opt-in" service for gambling ads in video sharing platforms like YouTube is a "big issue".

"We know that a lot of children are being exposed to gambling ads on those types of platforms at the moment."

Link:

Legislation to establish gambling regulator published - RTE.ie

Online gambling has grown and evolved a lot since it started in the 90s. Over the last few years, this sector of the gambling industry has seen a lot of growth. Last year, the online casino segment is worth roughly 64.13 billion US dollars and itis expectedto grow up to 72.02 billion USD by the end of this year with a CAGR of 12.3 percent.

Itsnot hard to understand why online gambling is booming. It simply made a leisurely activity easier to access. Anyone can easily download abetting app from 10CRICor any other betting companyto have access to casino games and betting odds anytime and anywhere.

When it comes to online gambling, many experts are predicting that people will eventually prefer going mobile. Nowadays, people heavily rely on their smartphones and thisisntfar from happening.There are already reports that prove how the mobile gambling market is stronger than ever. New Jersey, where many forms of gamblingarelegal, has reported that around 80 to 90 percent of the states monthly sports betting handle is from the mobile sector.Thisjust proves thatpeople would rather use their mobile devices to gamble.

Why Play Real Money Games on Mobile?

Accessibility is one of the main reasons why people are turning to gambleonline with their mobile devices. Anyone can quickly log in to a casino site any timetheywant. There is no need to travel to be able to play a few rounds on the table. It only takes a few minutes to sign up on a casino site and doing so can give you access to a plethora ofgaming options.

When online casino gamingwas just starting, gamblersdidntimmediatelyshifttoit. It took a whilebeforepeople started to get into online activities especially if it concerns their money.It was only in recent years that people started to get used to online transactions and this was just a great thing for the online casino sector.

Today,itsgenerally safe to make transactions online and this is specifically the case for online casinos. The licensed and reputable online casino sites out there take security seriously and these sites use data encryption. This means that the transactions you make on these sites are end-to-end. No one else should be able to see any of your personal and banking information.

Itsperfectly understandable if there are still people who are iffy about using their bank details on casino sites. Thankfully, operators now allow the use ofmultiple online payment solutions. Most of the biggest casino sites now offer other payment methods too like digitalor mobilewallets (PayPal,Skrill,Neteller), prepaid debit cards, and even cryptocurrencies.Itsso quick and easy to deposit an amount to your gaming account with just a few clicks and taps.

Aside from convenient payment solutions, many gambling sitesare also knownto be generous when it comes to giving out bonuses. Some would even reward their mobile customers a little extra. There are operators that would reward their customers who would download the app and any bonus could never hurt.

Mobile gambling apps are becoming more common and there is definitely tough competition out there. Companies are constantly developing featuresthatmobile users can enjoy. There are betting apps thatnot only allow you to place bets and play games. Some have the latest news on casino gaming and sports.There are also some thatallow you to stream sports matches live.

Conclusion

These are just a few reasons why people are getting into online and mobile real money gaming. With the industry still set to continue to grow in the coming years, we can only expect that the services are going to get better. For avid casino players, more games are surely coming your way.

Overall, what makes mobile casino gaming a hit isaconvenience. With more places starting to regulate gambling activities,itsnot far-fetched that platforms like Google Play Store and the Apple App Store will eventually allow gambling apps.

Google has already started to make a move towards this when it started to allow gambling companies to be part of the platform in certain countries.The operators will have to apply for this and make sure that they are following the regulations set in the countries where they aim to offer their services.Still, in the meantime, downloading apps on gambling sites are easy and quick.

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Play Online Casino Games From Everywhere: The Rise of Mobile Gambling - Santa Clarita Valley Signal

TheAustralian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)is not slowing down in restricting access to offshore gambling in the country, an industry that has been thriving for years beforeACMAdecided to take action a few years back. ACMA has requested from internet service providers (ISPs) to suspend access to five new offshore websites, including Fight Club, Kim Vegas, Queenspins, Yoju Casino, and Spin Bit.

The aforementioned brands have violated the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, which prohibits supplying iGaming services to Australian nationals on the territory of the country without receiving a license prior to that. There are no online casinos in Australia that may operate legally presently.

ACMA decided to act after receiving a number of complaints about those websites and information that they had been targeting customers. As a result, the watchdog has ordered ISPs to restrict access to the said websites and services. In an official statement, the regulator detailed:

We are reminding people that even if a gambling service looks legitimate, it is unlikely to have important customer protections; this means Australians who use illegal gambling sites risk losing their money.

ACMA has been ramping up its efforts to eliminate access to offshore gambling websites. Since this began in November 2019, the watchdog has blacklisted some 324 websites and taken action to restrict access to them.

The tough stance has yielded better results, with reportedly some 147 unlicensed services quitting the Australian market voluntarily, probably anticipating a suspension of service sooner or later. ACMA first began looking into illegal offshore gambling in 2017, but it wasnt until a few years after that the watchdog announced that it would suspend websites and seek international assistance.

Some brands have been threatened with ACMA lodging a formal complaint with their overseas licensing authorities, for example. The present ban comes after ACMA blockedseveral other operators last month, name Grand Rush, Koala Royal, National Casino, Jackpot Jill, and Juicy Stakes.

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ACMA Blocks Five More Offshore Gambling Sites in Australia - GamblingNews.com

DraftKings and Entain have agreed to extend negotiations over the U.S. sports betting powerhouse's $22.4 billion offer to buy the British gambling company.

Under U.K. regulations, DraftKings had until today to formalize its offer for Entain or walk away from a deal, starting the clock on a six-month period in which it would be barred from making another attempt.

Instead, Entain and DraftKings convinced the U.K. Takeover Panel, which governs public company M&A deals, to extend the deadline until Nov. 16.

Entain said in a statement that it "has carefully considered" DraftKings offerwhich represented a 46.2% premium over Entains share price before the acquisition talks became publicand that it was still in discussions with the company about the exact terms of the buyout proposal. The company listed a number of issues that remain outstanding, including the exact management and board composition following the merger and an assessment of whether the deal would pass muster with antitrust authorities in the U.S. and the U.K.

The negotiations appear to be especially complicated because they involve a third party: MGM Resorts International, the U.S. casino operator that is Entain's joint venture partner in online gambling brand BetMGM, and which is a major rival of DraftKings. MGM has said its partnership with Entain stipulates that the British company cannot operate with any other entity in the U.S. without its consent, effectively giving MGM a veto over a deal.

Bill Hornbuckle, MGM's CEO, has said that he would like to gain more control over BetMGM in return for allowing Entain to tie up with DraftKings and that BetMGM would also need to retain access to Entain's technology, which is known to be among the best in the industry and has made the company a highly coveted prize for U.S.-based gambling companies.

Entain said that the terms under which it might supply technology to BetMGM and MGM, as well as "governance rights and value protection" for Entain's stake in BetMGM, remain unresolved. In other words, Entain and MGM have not yet agreed a price by which it would let MGM gain more than 50% of BetMGM it already holds and under which MGM would allow its competitor DraftKings to get ahold of Entain's tech know-how in the U.S.

Some investors seem to be betting on the fact that Entain and DraftKings agreed to keep talking bodes well for a deal eventually getting done. Entain's stock, which has been drifting lower over the past month as the days dragged on without any further news on the deal's status, jumped 4.6% in late-day trading in London.

Story continues

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

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With the clock ticking, gambling sites DraftKings and Entain extend the deadline on their $22.4 billion merger deal - Yahoo Finance