Data gathered by Safe Betting Sites indicates that the top ten leading online gambling companies have $23.62 billion in brand value. The value is based on the 2020 figures.

According to the data, Wynn Resorts has the highest brand value at $3.81 billion followed by Genting at $3.48 billion. With a brand value of about $2.89 billion, Galaxy Macau is the third-highest ranked online gambling company.

The Venetian Macao lies in the fourth spot at $2.31 billion followed by Marina Bay Sands at $2.22 billion. China-based City of Dreams has a brand value worth $2.04 billion, followed by International Game Technologys $1.91 billion.

Sands China brand value of $1.78 billion places it in the eighth slot followed by bet365 and Scientific Games occupy the ninth and tenth slots with a brand value of $1.59 billion each.

The research report acknowledges that online gambling has been growing recently. According to the report:

The rise in online gambling has been propelled by young people due to factors like lack of payment restrictions and rapidly growing smartphone penetration. Most gambling companies are putting their products on mobile thanks to the potential to spawn a massive real-money gaming industry.

The Safe Betting Sites research also compared the brand value of leading brands in the United States as of 2020 where technology-based companies are dominant.

Online retail giant Amazon has the highest brand value at $220.79 billion followed by Google at $159.72 billion while Apple occupies the third spot at $140.52 billion Microsoft with a brand value worth $117.07 billion is ranked fourth while Facebook is fifth at $79.80 billion.

Supermarket chain Walmart has the sixth-highest brand value at $77.52 billion followed by Verizon at $63.69 billion. AT&T has the eighth-highest brand value at $59.10 billons followed by Walt Disney and The Home Depot at $56.12 billion and $50.51 billion respectively.

In total, the US top brands have a value of 1.02 trillion which is more than forty-three times than leading gambling and betting companies.

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Top ten leading online gambling companies are worth $23.62bn in brand value London Business News - London Loves Business

Tempers flared between Yigo Mayor Rudy Matanane and Vice Speaker Telena Nelson during Wednesday's public hearing on Bill 226-35, whichseeks to plug loopholes in Guam's ban on gambling devices and activities.

Bill 226 would essentially authorize only bingo or lotteries operated by tax-exempt nonprofits. Cockfighting will not be banned in the proposed local law, but federal law has outlawed cockfighting on Guam.

Matanane appeared in his personal capacity and began by saying he did not support the bill.

"I really don't think that gambling is doing enough to hurt our citizens. I really think that we have more important things we should work on as far as the stray dogs and trash here and I keep yelling about that. Let me tell you, in probablytwo years, these dogs are going to be telling us what to do," Matanane said.

He also made note of islandwide illegal trash dumping and noted little is being done about these concerns. Legislative priorities are skewed, he added.

"Gambling might be an issue for some people; the stray dogs are an issue for a lot of people. The trash is an issue for a lot of people," he added later.

Nelson, who authored Bill 226, said stray dogs and trash can be removed from the island, but that won't help individuals and families who are suffering from gambling addiction.

"Things can look pretty on the outside, but if they're suffering inside the home, then there's no point," Nelson said.

Matanane asked if he could respond but Nelson told Sen. Joe San Agustin, overseeing the hearing, that she did not want a response. Sen. Telo Taitague, however, asked Matanane to make his statements.

"I kept my mouth shut when you were putting me down," Matanane said, evidently upset and speaking louder as he and Nelson began talking over each other.

"I'm not putting you down ... I was addressing the issue that you stated it's their choice," Nelson said.

Matanane ultimately apologized but said he believed he is right and people must make their own choices.

"That's all I was saying," he added. Nelson likewise apologized.

Symptom of deeper issues?

Testimony on Bill 226 was largely in opposition. Several who appeared represented the gambling industry.

John Ryan, a game room operator, said many gaming establishment employees, owners and their supporters stood just beyond the hearing room. Faint applause rose on occasionas individuals delivered their testimonies.

Ryan said Bill 226 would have a detrimental impact on businesses, workers, families, the government and individuals.

Jason Cunliffe, who owns Lucky Land Gameroom with his family and father, attorney Randy Cunliffe, opposed Bill 226, offering a similar argument about the potential loss of hundreds of jobs during a pandemic as a result of the measure.

According to theNorth American Foundation for Gambling Addiction Help, about 2.6% of the U.S. population, or nearly 10 million, people have an addiction problem because of gambling.

"If we're gonna say that we're going to outlaw gambling, do we really just believe that all those gamblers are just going to go away and all those addiction problems are just going to be swept under the rug? ... I think we'd be naive if that were the case," Jason Cunliffe said.

"Addiction is a mental health issue and its something we need to address. ...There are issues in the community that need to be addressed. I think were addressing symptoms of the problem and not the real problem," he added.

Jesse Mendiola voiced support for the legislation, saying "nobody knows addiction" like him.

"These game rooms, yes, they generate a lot of funds, but they are a breeding ground, like mosquitoes, for drug and criminal activity," Mendiola said.

Gambling creates and enables addicts, with loved ones ending up as collateral damage, he added.

"Yeah, game rooms provide revenue for Guam, but it also steals a lot of souls," he said.

See original here:

Mixed views offered on proposal to expand gambling ban - The Guam Daily Post

Vice Speaker Telena Nelson's Bill 226 which seeks to plug loopholes in Guam's ban on gambling devices and activities will be heard this afternoon.

The Legislature's Committee on General Government Operations, Appropriations and Housing will hold the public hearing at 2 p.m. today in the Guam Congress Building in Hagta.

On July 13, the Department of Revenue and Taxation confirmed it will no longer grant licenses for the operation of electronic gaming machines following Superior Court of Guam Judge Arthur Barcinas' decision that the rules authorizing gambling devices on Guam are invalid.

After the Rev and Tax announcement, some game rooms have reopened following the relaxed pandemic rules.

Certain gambling room operators have contended horse racing machines are not covered by the ban.

Nelson's bill would include the horse racing machines in the gambling ban.

The legislation would also ban carnival games that involve betting money such as the color game, Beto Beto, blackjack and others.

Bingo or lottery operations by tax-exempt nonprofit organizations would still be allowed.

The legislation would forbid the importation of slot machines, video poker machines, video horse or greyhound machines, pachinko, and other similar machines or devices which afford the opportunity of winnings, payouts, or malfunction refunds, the bill states.

Written testimonies may also be submitted to the Office of Sen. Joe S. San Agustin before the hearing via email at senatorjoessanagustin@gmail.com.

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Expanded gambling ban legislation to be heard today - The Guam Daily Post

Austrias Financial Police continues the fight against illegal gambling activities. A recent report by the Financial Police outlined that illegal gambling is concentrated around large cities. The report also outlined that so far this year, there have been 660 illegal gambling machines confiscated.

Illegal gambling is concentrated in large cities in Austria, says a recent statement by the Financial Police. In an announcement today, the Financial Police in Austria disclosed details on its progress against illegal gambling in the country. According to the statement, there have been some 660 gaming machines confiscated by the Financial Police since the start of this year. On the other hand, there were 278 checks for suspected illegal gambling activities.

Gernot Blmel, finance minister of Austria commented on the subject by congratulating the Finance Police for their success. He outlined that as a result of the preventive actions by the Finance Police, the outstanding illegal gambling activity is not active across the country but rather it is rather concentrated in certain urban areas. Blmel further added that the fight against illegal gambling in the country will continue. The finance minister stressed that the illegal gambling market must be met with strength in order to decrease the number of people which are negatively affected.

According to the report, a spike of illegal gambling activity was observed in the third largest city and capital of the state of Upper Austria Linz. Since the beginning of the year, in the Linz area alone there have been 123 confiscated illegal gambling devices.

In the recent checks for illegal gambling activity, the Financial Police found and confiscated some 38 gambling devices within the state of Upper Austria. In that line of thoughts, since the beginning of the year, in Vienna alone, the Financial Police has issued more than 13 million in fines.

A peculiar case was outlined in the report where 20 illegal gambling machines were confiscated since May from one and the same restaurant. On the other hand, the Finance Police found and confiscated a total of 2 illegal gambling machines from areas which are less populated such as Styria, Vorarlberg and Burgenland.

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Illegal Gambling on the Rise in Austria - GamblingNews.com

The Supreme Court in Oklahoma ruled in favor of the tribal gaming compacts in the state. This effectively confirmed that the tribal compacts were renewed back on January 1, 2020. Following the courts ruling, Governor Stitt shared his disappointment.

A dispute over gaming compacts in Oklahoma ongoing since last year is coming to an end. Yesterday, July 28, US District Court Judge Timothy DeGiusti ruled in favor of the gaming compacts, supporting Oklahomas gaming tribes that those compacts were automatically renewed in January 2020 for a period of 15 years. This may be the final chapter of the dispute which was raised by Governor Kevin Stitt.

It all began last year, when Governor Stitt wanted to negotiate new gaming fees for the tribes gaming compacts. Basically, the Governor wanted to raise more revenue from taxes on gambling in the state. This however caught the attention of the tribes who disagreed. The tribes in Oklahoma earn approximately $4.5 billion a year. Of that total, under the current compact, they pay exclusive fees of 4% to 10% to the state.

According to the tribes in Oklahoma, unless a new agreement was reached, the compact would automatically renew. The tribes in the state were referring to Part 15 B of the compact, where it is stated that: the Compact shall automatically renew for successive additional fifteen-year terms.

After that, Governor Stitt did not agree on the auto-renewal of the compacts, which resulted in Choctaw, Chickasaw and Cherokee nations to file a lawsuit in federal court. Following the recent ruling in favor of the tribes, Judge DeGiusti wrote in a statement: The Court is not persuaded by this argument and rejects the States narrow view of governmental action, which is inconsistent with a common understanding of that term. He added: The Court finds that these technical definitions are not required by the Compacts and their use would be inconsistent with federal contract principles. Although the ruling is final, both sides involved will have until August 7 to raise any other concerns they might be having.

Following the announcement of the courts ruling, Governor Stitt expressed his disappointment with the decision. In a statement, he said: It confirms my fears, and the fears of many fellow Oklahomans, that the State entered into a poorly negotiated deal and now we must bear the cost of this mistake. He further added: The federal court determined that the 2004 Gaming Compact auto renewed for 15 years because of an action taken by an agencys unelected board to reissue licenses for gaming at horse racing tracks.

With that in mind, the Supreme Court in Oklahoma also ruled that the two compacts signed by Governor Stitt are invalid. The compacts, signed with the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and Comanche Nation were aiming at allowing sports betting. However, sports betting in the state hasnt received the green light from the Oklahomas legislature.

In contrast, the decision of the court was met kindly by the tribal nations. In a statement, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. expressed his excitement about the ruling. Hoskin noted that the Cherokee Nation is pleased with the ruling. He pointed out that the Supreme Court had only affirmed what the tribal nations have known since the beginning the fact that the gaming compact with the state of Oklahoma was renewed on January 1, 2020 for 15 years.

Hoskin continued by outlining that the tribal gaming in the state will continue to contribute towards education, health care, communities and infrastructure. In conclusion, Hoskin said that the compact remains the same which means that the tribal gaming can continue to work towards: a relationship built on respect with Gov. Stitt in the future.

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Oklahomas Gaming Tribes Won Dispute over Compacts in Federal Court - GamblingNews.com

2020 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational Tournament Preview

Its been a fast and frenetic return for golf since the restrictions were lifted, and were about to go up another gear as we enter the business end of the campaign.

Were about to go into major season, with the PGA Championship next week and the U.S. Open and The Masters to come in the next few months, and theres also the climax of the FedExCup to consider.

This week, we have the first of the WGC events since golfs return, and the St Jude Invitational is highly anticipated this year given the quality of players on show and the narratives that will inform the action.

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Jon Rahm will be looking to cement his status as the number one player in the world he opened up with a round of 62 here 12 months ago, while others like Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay will be hoping to hit form heading into this juicy part of the season.

Lets face it some courses on the PGA TOUR are wholly unforgettable.

But others, like TPC Southwind, have the ability to test out every aspect of the best players in the world theyll need classy ball striking, efficient rescue play around the greens and a sure putting hand to thrive.

We hope that the weather doesnt soften the greens too much and ruin the complexity of the assignment, because TPC Southwind is a fun test that challenges the approach play and chipping of the best in the business thanks to the rapid, smaller-than-average Bermuda greens.

Some of the hole feature quite pronounced doglegs too, so accurate driving is key, but there is some fun to be had on a couple of drivable Par 4s too and a Sawgrass-style island green Par 3.

With Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson on the winners roll of honor at TPC Southwind, you might think this is a standard bomb-and-gouge style contest, but with wet, tangly rough just whacking the ball aimlessly off the peg isnt going to cut the mustard sorry, Bryson.

This is a golf course that suits Jon Rahms game just fine, but even so were going to take a chance that Justin Thomas can outlast the Spaniard this week.

Top of the FedExCup standings, theres no shortage of motivation for JT right now and you can tell hes hungry to add win number 13 to his collection as soon as possible he lost out in a play-off at the Workday Charity Open you may recall.

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Adverse conditions wont affect Thomas, who is an outstanding scrambler, and indeed there is a certain familiarity to this part of the world for a young man who was raised in Kentucky and who was schooled in Alabama.

There are some high-quality campaigners in the field this week, but none are striking the ball quite as well as Xander Schauffele right now.

Remember how tough the conditions were at Muirfield Village for the Memorial Tournament? X-man ranked second for Strokes Gained Off-the-Tee there and first for Greens in Regulation, which really was an outstanding effort.

Hes one of the few players on Tour without any weaknesses in his game, and already at a young age Xander is developing the profile of a prolific winner who can claim multiple majors. WGCs arent too bad on the resum either.

The fact that theres no cut this week could play into the hands of Jordan Spieth, who will feel some off the pressure lifted for that fact and who can relax back in familiar territory back down south.

No cut events are interesting for Spieth because we know he can connect birdies and shoot super-low numbers, so even with a bad round in the mix he can still get up the leaderboard.

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Even as his game bounces between finding some form and otherwise, Spieth has continued to be a excellent grinder and chipper, and if his famous putting stroke can find some confidence he can do really well this week.

In form heading into the event, TPC Southwind could not suit Mackenzie Hughes any better.

The Canadian has banked some big checks in the past couple of weeks, with T3 at the Travelers Championship backed by T6 in the Memorial.

What do those events have in common? Theres some tight sightlines off the tee and the smaller-than-average greens run at a fair pace, and that lets Hughes enviable short game shine.

These are not good times for Dustin Johnson, who returns to a course he loves but in a state of some disrepair.

He was way out of the mix at the Memorial, missing the cut by a country mile, and in withdrawing from the 3M Open it was perhaps proof positive that, for now at least, DJ is playing all the wrong tunes.

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Your sportsbook will offer different match-up options, but the one we really like is Matt Fitzpatrick, who will be available at a meaty odds-against price in this h2h.

The Brit boasts an elite-level chipping game and hes in decent form too with two good outings Muirfield Village. Fitzpatrick was T4 here last year as well.

Its an easy play this and feels like kicking a man when hes down, but Brooks Koepkas formline of MC-62-MC since the restart tells its own story.

Hes leaking shots on the green left, right and center, and while it would be typically Brooks to come out and win this week, were happy to put our money where our mouth is and say that he wont.

Cover Image via Instagram

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GOLFICITY BETS: The 2020 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational Gambling Guide - Golficity

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Customer experience marketing agency A Game Above has teamed up with the player protection company Beanstalk and launch Yield Sec, a new solution to help combat illegal gambling.

A GAME ABOVE and Beanstalk have stated that they have developed the first tool helping governments and regulators, monitor and remove black market threats, obstructing the progress of regulated marketplaces for licensed incumbents.

Yield Sec will support regulatory authorities with a real-time solution and database actively monitoring the activities of illegal black market websites targeting individual marketplaces and vulnerable customer segments.

The operation of a sustainable marketplace, with cared-for customers and practically excluded minors and at-risk audiences, whilst raising valuable taxation revenues for society, predictably, is the perfect way to support our shared mission across A GAME ABOVE and Beanstalk: the customer experience, Steen Madsen, CEO of A GAME ABOVE, said.

Player protection and the operation of a sustainable, responsible industry, onshore and subject to regulation, are, in our view, simply facets of the customer experience, overall, Steen Madsen added.

The product will allow governments and regulators to establish a regulatory ring-fence for all licensed and soon-to-be licensed markets, which A GAME ABOVE and Beanstalk hope will prevent the failure to fund good causes and the outright theft of legitimate tax yield by illicit black market operators.

After an intensive period of research and development, were pleased to be announcing the launch of Yield Sec. Across most markets today, those at risk of gambling-related harm do not know where to effectively turn when facing a problem, Jack Symons, Co-Founder and Director of Beanstalk, said.

Escaping a spiral of continued, compulsive play is almost impossible when no gambling cessation helpline or tool has historically worked to effectively exclude the black market. Yield Sec will achieve this and provide for meaningful player protection. Caring for the vulnerable is ineffective if we only place conditions upon licensed operators but then leave the unregulated black market openly available, Jack Symons added.

Yield Sec developers stated that an effective black-market monitoring solution is needed during a time of disruption across multiple markets, in which government and regulators aim to harmonise regulatory measures balancing player protection and taxation yield measures.

Bill Pascrell, III, President, North America for A GAME ABOVE, said: For governments and regulators, Yield Sec is a tool for our time and the sustainable future of regulated online betting and gaming.

Despite the loss of nearly all professional sport over the COVID-19 crisis, it is clear that black-market betting and gaming sites and apps benefited enormously at no other point in history have we seen the broad presence and availability of so many unlicensed, unregulated offerings, none of which pay any tax, protect any players or provide for those at risk.

In targeting regulated territories, these black market operators are effectively stealing taxpayers money and avoiding the contributions that licensed, responsible operators make to good causes and the prevention of gambling-related harm.

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Greece Online Gambling Revenue Down 40% in First Five Months of 2020 - European Gaming Industry News

Overview Of Online Gambling Industry 2020-2025:

This has brought along several changes in This report also covers the impact of COVID-19 on the global market.

The Online Gambling Market analysis summary by Reports Insights is a thorough study of the current trends leading to this vertical trend in various regions. Research summarizes important details related to market share, market size, applications, statistics and sales. In addition, this study emphasizes thorough competition analysis on market prospects, especially growth strategies that market experts claim.

Online Gambling Market competition by top manufacturers as follow: , Bet365, William Hill, Unibet, 888, Expekt, LSbet, Betsson, Bwin, Royal Vegas

Get a Sample PDF copy of the report @ https://reportsinsights.com/sample/14794

The global Online Gambling market has been segmented on the basis of technology, product type, application, distribution channel, end-user, and industry vertical, along with the geography, delivering valuable insights.

The Type Coverage in the Market are: PokerCasino

Market Segment by Applications, covers:DesktopsMobiles

Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversNorth AmericaEuropeChinaRest of Asia PacificCentral & South AmericaMiddle East & Africa

Major factors covered in the report:

To get this report at a profitable rate.: https://reportsinsights.com/discount/14794

The analysis objectives of the report are:

Access full Report Description, TOC, Table of Figure, Chart, [emailprotected] https://reportsinsights.com/industry-forecast/Online-Gambling-Market-14794

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Global Impact of Covid-19 on Online Gambling Market to Record Significant Revenue Growth During the Forecast Period 20202025 | Bet365, William Hill,...

There are plenty of resort casinos all around the world, but there are definitely few which stand out in terms of amenities, size, customer service, and options for games. If you decide to spend a vacation and enjoy gambling during your holiday, the following list will give you an insight into some great choices. It will make planning the vacation easier, as the list highlights all that these top resort casinos have to offer. So, in case youre feeling lucky and want to spend your money winning at the tables, you can put one or more of these gambling locations as your next destination.

The Venetian Macao: Macau, ChinaThe Venetian Macao is an architectural masterpiece, and it is sure to offer you a great view no matter which deluxe room you decide to book. It is a marvel to look at especially at night. It has approximately 550,000 square feet of gambling and gaming space, making it the largest in the world. There are 3000 gaming machines, and a total of 870 card tables, and a whopping 24 bars. The 3000 room luxury hotel makes the casino gorgeous on both the inside and the outside.

MGM Grand: Las Vegas, USA Located in one of the top destinations for gambling, the MGM Grand in Las Vegas boasts 170,000 square feet of gambling space. It offers 2,300 gaming machines, and 178 card game tables, including poker tables. Apart from this wide variety of gaming options there is a grand total of 20 bars around the hotels. The guests can pick from one of over five thousand hotel rooms. It is considered to be the eighth largest casino around the globe.

Wynn: Macau, ChinaModeled after the one in Las Vegas, Wynn in Macau is more than just a gambling destination. It also has many designer stores, restaurants, a spa, and even a lake. You can enjoy the full experience of being on holiday here, including trying your luck on the gaming floor which spans 250,000 square feet. It has 375 slot machines, and a total of 212 gaming tables, allowing for endless options for its guests. There are 600 rooms and suites available for those who wish to stay.

Foxwoods Resort Casino: Connecticut, USAThe Foxwoods Resort Casino, situated in the Mashantucket Reservation in Connecticut, guarantees a good time with over 340,000 square feet of gaming area. There are over 380 gaming tables, which include all the favorites, such as blackjack, poker, roulette, and craps. For those who dont want to play at the tables, there are 6,300 slot machines available. It is also family-friendly, as there is a two-story arcade that kids and teens can spend their time in.

WinStar World Casino and Resort: Oklahoma, USALocated near the OklahomaTexas state line, WinStar World Casino and Resort is an American tribal gambling destination that is frequently ranked as one of the best casinos in the world by the likes of GamblingNews.com, TripAdvisor.com, Casino.org and more. Until 2013, it functioned as just a casino with 370,000 square feet of gaming space. That year, it expanded to a 1000 room hotel as well. Out of the 100 total table games, 55 of them are poker tables. The poker tables have their own 19,000 square feet room. The table games include keno, off-track betting, and bingo as well. Whats more, there are over 8,500 slot machine games available to play.

Tusk Rio Casino Resort: Klerksdorp, South AfricaWhile many think of the go-to gambling destination usually as Las Vegas and Macao, the Tusk Rio Casino resort in South Africa offers just as much as the ones located in these popular places. It actually ranks as the fifth-largest casino in the world. With around 266,330 square feet of gaming floor, Tusk Rio offers 257 gaming machines. This is a better place to visit if youre less interested in table games, as there are 12 tables including poker, but compared to the other big casinos, this is a small number. However, there is plenty to choose from among the gaming machines. The hotel also has two bars offering a wide range of refreshments to guests.

Bellagio: Las Vegas, USAThe Bellagio has been a popular spot not only for tourists, but it has been featured, especially for its fountain, in many films, including Oceans 11 and The Hangover. The popular spot for gamblers is the room which is termed as The Office. It is a hit with professional players because high stakes are allowed in there. Bets range from $4000 to $8000, and pots often exceed over $1 million. The attractions include several restaurants, the fountains, the botanical gardens, and its 8-acre lake. There is also a Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, which features prominent art collections.

Casino Lisboa: Lisbon, PortugalThe Casino Lisboa in Lisbon ranks as the ninth-largest casino in the world. The gaming floor covers 165,000 square feet is a popular place to visit for anyone looking to vacation in Europe and also try their hand at gambling. There are over 1000 gaming machines on the casino floor. Poker tables are included in the 26 card tables available for playing. Apart from its 1000 hotel rooms, there are also 7 bars.

Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa: Atlantic City, USAAtlantic City is known for its tourists that are looking to get lucky with their money. Borgata offers everything that a guest is looking for in a casino resort. In its 161,000 square feet of gaming floor, there are over 4,000 gaming machines. There are also a wide variety of games to choose from its 285 card tables. Along with around 2000 hotel rooms, the Borgata also has 17 bars.

Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino: Las Vegas, USAAlso known as The Rio, this incredible casino resort in Las Vegas is named after the city in Brazil, and it also integrates several aspects of Brazilian culture. The luxury rooms have floor to ceiling windows, offering a great view to all its guests. All of its 2,522 rooms are suites, and they range between 600 to 13,000 square feet. For those who frequent The Rio and are VIP gamblers, there are separate private rooms.

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The best gambling resort casinos ranked #1 across the world - Travel Daily News International

The Austrian Financial Police have shut down a number of illegal gambling operations in the state of Upper Austria, following a series of raids that saw 38 gaming machines and two poker tables confiscated.

The Financial Police, which operate under the Ministry of Finance and deal with tax and social security fraud, illegal gambling, as well as labour rights and employment regulation violations, targeted six locations in the cities of Linz and Wels.

We have ramped up efforts in response to the perpetrators obvious audacity and greed, Austrian finance minister Gernot Blmel said. It should not be forgotten that not only are taxes being evaded, but [the operators] are also playing with the lives of gambling addicts.

One of the locations raided, a restaurant, was targeted for the seventh time in seven weeks, with the Financial Police finding unlicensed gaming machines at the venue each time.

Since the end of May, a total of 20 devices have been confiscated from this restaurant alone. On this occasion, the owners had fixed the machines to the floor in an attempt to prevent their being confiscated.

A second location attempted to prevent the police from entering, forcing the authorities to bring in a locksmith, while an employee was reported to the administrative criminal authority for failing to cooperate with the police.

At a third location, in Wels, police discovered an illegal poker tournament, at a restaurant with around 30 people playing on four slots and two poker tables. This saw two individuals, both illegally in the country, arrested, with investigations against all venues raided ongoing.

I congratulate our colleagues from the Financial Police for this successful large-scale operation, Austrian finance minister Blmel said. This also confirms the recent trend that gambling is now mainly concentrated in metropolitan areas such as Vienna and Linz.

Earlier this year Blmel spoke out in favour of establishing an independent gambling regulatorfor Austria, to take responsibility for overseeing the market from the Ministry of Finance. This, he said, would "untangle" multiple functions currently held within the Treasury.

Link:

Austrian authorities raid illegal gambling operations - iGaming Business

The pandemic is driving new addictions.

Alcohol sales are up more than 60 percent. Opiod overdoses have skyrocketed. And since the casino doors opened after quarantine, a record number of gamblers are rolling the dice on their future. And many are now picking up the phone to say, I need help.

As people belly up to craps tables and throw their cards on the table, no matter what financial windfall a day may bring, in the long run, experts say the cost is great.

Anita Pindiur is the executive director of Way Back Inn.

Anybody can get caught up in this and you dont know when it will go from just fun to a disorder, she said. But gambling or any other form of that entertainment should never be seen as a financial future.

It something Luke knows all too well. He estimates hes lost tens of thousands of dollars.

I found myself spending more and more time gambling, he said. More and more time trying to find ways to get money with which to gamble.

He recalls it all started so innocently.

Probably the first time I gambled was when I was very young playing cards with family, he said. I just thought it was exciting. It was something that made me feel good that I thought was fun.

But the fun with family and friends changed to days alone at the casino.

I like to play blackjack and poker but I think the game I really truly loved was playing craps, Luke said. I dont think anyone really knew the true depths of my gambling addiction. I definitely think it did affect my career, my gambling addiction.

So luke made it his job to get help. He turned to the Way Back Inn and their exclusion program.

And I thought if I would exclude myself from the casino, I wouldnt be able to go without getting arrested. So that would be a barrier for me, he said. I banned myself in Illinois. That didnt stop me from going to Indiana. I banned myself in Indiana, didnt stop me from going to Wisconsin or Michigan. As compulsive gamblers well go to any lengths to find a way to gamble.

Then came the soul searching and the desire for change. Soon Luke was enjoying long walks and the peaceful days free from the thrill of gambling.

I try not to live in the highs because if you have the highs, you have the lows, he said. So I try to maintain a balance now.

But pandemic and quarantine threw the balance of life off for so many. While they were home, addictions didnt shut down. The stress of the disorder spread like a virus.

During the pandemic with the shut down the assumption was no one can gamble, so its all good. Its all solved, Pindiur said. What we saw is changes in peoples moods. There was a steep increase in domestic violence. Weve seen a steep increase in suicides.

Therapists and survivors say more lives can be saved. its about walking away from the table and heading toward help.

When you start noticing that it becomes an obsession, almost where its day-to-day, Pindiur said. Where all you can think is about your next time of gambling, when it starts taking over.

When I first entered recovery, I had a void in my life becasue I couldnt get that rush from gambling and I knew it was bad for me, Luke said. Its a process. I am always going to be a compulsive gambler. I am always going to be a gambling addict. But ifcontinue to better myself through my journey to recovery I wont have to worry about it because I am doing all I can to arrest the disease.

If you or someone you know needs help with a gambling addiction, reach out to the following numbers:

1-800-GAMBLER

1-833-DONTBET

And visit Waybackinn.org

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The pandemic seems to be heating up gambling addiction - WGN TV Chicago

The European Union should handle video game loot boxes with consumer protection legislation rather than gambling.

That's the conclusion of a report conducted for the EU Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCP) committee titled Loot boxes in online games and their effect on consumers, in particular young consumers, which says that that the business model represents a specific problem with games design.

Is it gambling?

The IMCP's research also says that different countries banning loot boxes under gambling legislation as Belgium has done represents a threat to the EU's single market, given that the same opportunities aren't available to all citizens across all nations in the union. Furthermore, the IMCP says that parental controls in games aren't an effective deterrent because they are often not on by default and guardians often don't know how to use them properly.

"It is therefore recommended to broaden the perspective beyond gambling aspects and approach the issue of loot boxes and other problematic game designs from a wider consumer protection angle," the report concludes.

The UK's House of Lords has recently said that loot boxes should be regulated as gambling.

For the full story head over to PCGamesInsider.biz.

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Report: EU should treat loot boxes as a consumer protection matter rather than gambling - Pocket Gamer.Biz

Greeces online gambling market suffered a 40% revenue decline over the first five months of 2020 as sports halted due to COVID-19.

Figures released by the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) show the local online gambling market generated revenue of nearly 150m in the first five months of 2020, a 40% decline from the same period last year.

The year started out well enough with revenue of 49.3m in January, but this slipped to 45m in February, by which time the race to the bottom was well and truly on as the pandemic forced the suspension of most major sports. Revenue slipped to 36.1m in March then hit bottom in April with 29.5m before rebounding slightly to 30m in May.

The Stoiximan betting brand was the unchallenged market leader with a nearly 49% share of the overall pie. Stoiximan started the year off right with revenue of 24.3m in January but this sunk to 14.8m by May.

UK operator Bet365 started the year in the runner-up position by generating around 14.3m in each of the first two months but its over-reliance on sports betting dropped the company to third place by May with just 5.2m.

GVC Holdings Sportingbet brand was in third place for most of the year but narrowly usurped Bet365 in May. Sportingbet weathered the pandemic storm better than most, as its 6.1m score for May was only moderately below Januarys 6.3m.

Greek lottery and betting operator OPAP, which is in the process of acquiring a majority stake in Stoiximan, saw its online revenue almost entirely erased over 2020s first five months. The companys fledgling online operations didnt add casino games until May, leaving it without any options when sports shut down.

Some smaller Greek-facing operators bucked these trends by increasing their revenue over the year-to-date, including Flutter Entertainments PokerStars brand. Stars effectively doubled its revenue from January to April as the lack of sports left customers seeking online casino and poker options that the site had in spades.

Similarly, NetBet more than tripled its revenue from January to May, although the companys Greek presence was minor at the start of the year, putting its May total at only 790k.

Greece recently approved the reopening of its land-based casinos and betting shops, so while the online gambling sector may be on the rebound, its no longer the only game in town.

Meanwhile, the government is proceeding with its plans to relicense its online market after its draft regulations met with little opposition from the European Commission. The HGC is expected to publish the final regulations any week now, after which the license vetting can proceed with purpose toward this oft-delayed conclusion.

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Greece online gambling revenue fell 40% in first five months of 2020 - CalvinAyre.com

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Pitt Chancellor Pat Gallagher and Athletic Director Heather Lyke stand on the field before the game. (Photo by Wenhao Wu / Assistant Visual Editor)

Athletic Director Heather Lyke said she is not encouraged by the way the COVID-19 pandemic mitigation is progressing. As cases continue to rise across the country particularly in Pitts home of Allegheny County she offered a pessimistic, yet not definitive answer to what she called the million dollar question will college football be played in 2020?

I am an optimistic person at heart, but I wouldnt say Im overly confident, Lyke said.

Pitt football players returned to campus on June 8 and began workouts after completing a two week quarantine period. According to Lyke, the program considered expanding the number of players allowed in the same workout group from 25 to 50, but a string of several days of record-setting positive COVID-19 case tallies forced Pitt to delay.

While few games on Pitts schedule have been altered save for a week two matchup with the Colonial Athletic Associations Richmond Spiders, who, despite a canceled football season, might still try to play some games they are under threat as college footballs loose plans become even more uncertain.

National college football writer Brett McMurphy reported Thursday morning that a number of options are on the table for the ACCs football season. Whether they follow the Big Ten and Pac-12s lead and play only the normal eight conference games already scheduled or a longer 10-game schedule, the move to ACC plus Notre Dame games only seems inevitable.

Pitt still plans on hosting Miami (OH) for the 2020 season opener on Sept. 5, but that game and any subsequent contests will likely look radically different from seasons past. Lyke said Pitt and its Heinz Field roommate the Pittsburgh Steelers are working on a plan to allow 15,000 to 20,000 fans in a socially distant stadium with a mask mandate.

But even that would require approval from Gov. Tom Wolf, in addition to a rapid change in the progression of virus mitigation efforts.

And more successful mitigation seems unlikely, as Lyke openly admits that with Pitts campus reopening for classes in the fall, there is little the University can do to enforce social distancing among athletes and regular students alike.

Its impossible to keep kids away from one another, Lyke said. I expect there will be some increase in cases. Hopefully its not really exorbitant.

College football might not be in the cards for 2020, but it is, for now, a safe assumption that it will be played at some point in the future. With the games, pushes for radical reform of the pre-professional football model will resume as well.

Lyke also testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee during a hearing on Wednesday afternoon about the NCAAs policies regarding the rights players have to their own name, image and likeness, as well as state and federal college sports gambling laws.

Her testimony offered a prediction of the negative effects that gambling on college sports could have on the psyche of competing athletes.

While currently a spectators pride and team spirit might hinge on a win or loss, if sports gambling is permitted, ones livelihood could depend on the outcome of a Saturday afternoon game, she said in her written testimony. This significantly increases the pressure of student-athletes to perform or not perform depending on the current bet.

She said she is also worried about the accessibility of sports gambling today. Gamblers can submit bets online from almost anywhere, making it too easy for betters to, as Lyke puts it, turn your college football venues into a casino.

Lyke said her testimony represents an opinion shared by college athletics officials and staff, as well as the athletes themselves, from across the ACC. According to Lyke, her testimony was universally supported by the conferences presidents, athletic directors, athletic faculty representatives and student-athlete advisory councils.

I think its been well received, she said. Ive gotten a number of messages from across the country and the ACC as a sort of thanks for carrying the torch The addition of college gambling is another level.

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Lyke talks football scheduling, gambling and campus returns - University of Pittsburgh The Pitt News

A Game, an experienced marketing agency, has joined forces with Beanstalk, the firm behind Gamban, on a joint venture that will launch a new solution meant to help governments and regulators clamp down on unlicensed gambling activities.

The two chose Yield Sec as their Advisory and technical tool, and this will allow regulatory bodies to police, monitor as well as enforce their gaming and betting markets.

The tool allows access to a real-time black market database that A Game stated contains the most extensive list of this kind globally, allowing users to update and develop their operator blacklist.

A Game also stated that the tool offers features that allow for player protection by forcing unlicensed websites off the market. That implies that minors and those suffering from problem gambling have no access to sites, and bettors cannot go to sites that have not shown compliance with safeguards for social responsibility.

Jack Symons, the director, and Co-founder of Beanstalk stated that across many markets, the people at risk of Gambling harm have no clue who turn to when they have problems. Escaping compulsive, spiraling play is nearly impossible when no there is no gambling cessation tool or helpline, and no mechanisms have ever been put in place to root out the black market.

Symons added that Yield Sec would help operators achieve this and also offer meaningful player protection. Providing care and advice to the most vulnerable is not achievable if conditions are imposed on operators only while leaving out the black market.

Source: https://www.igamingbusiness.com/news/gamban-operator-launches-solution-targeting-illegal-gambling

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Gamban Operator Rolls Out Solution Targeting Unlicensed Gambling - Tunf News - Tunf.com News

Player protection company Beanstalk has formed a joint-venture with A Game Above to launch a tool designed to help governments and regulators block access to unlicensed gambling.

Yield Sec, the technical and advisory solution produced by customer experience specialists A Game Above, will allow regulatory bodies to monitor, police and enforce the regulated gambling marketplace, to help with player protection.

The tool is believed to have the worlds largest real-time database of black market sites, allowing it to remove the illegal market influence by blocking and removing access to black market sites, aimed to become the catalyst for a truly level, licensed playing field in the industry.

The product, part of a joint-venture with Beanstalk, the makers of gambling blocking software Gamban, will remove the easy availability those struggling with gambling related problems and minors, can have to the illegal market.

A Game Above CEO Steen Madsen, said: The operation of a sustainable marketplace, with cared-for customers and practically excluded minors and at-risk audiences, whilst raising valuable taxation revenues for society, predictably, is the perfect way to support our shared mission across A Game Above and Beanstalk: the customer experience.

Beanstalk co-founder and director Jack Symons, added: Across most markets today, those at risk of gambling-related harm do not know where to effectively turn when facing a problem. Yield Sec will achieve this and provide for meaningful player protection.

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Beanstalk and A Game Above launch new tool targeting illegal gambling threat - Gambling Insider - In-depth Analysis for the Gaming Industry

Treatment for people suffering from gambling addiction in the UK have been placed on pause during the months of lockdown, a report by the BBC outlined. Due to the virus outbreak, NHS personnel have been redeployed where they were needed most, jeopardizing the improvement in the treatment of gambling addicts across the country.

The research undertaken by the national media showed that 8 out of 30 members of staff from the two NHSs trusts, the Central & North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) and the Leeds and York Partnership Foundation Trust (LYP), who were dealing with gambling treatment, were moved to different roles without backfill. As a result, the ongoing treatment for 33 people was placed on hold, another 29 waiting for assessment were also paused, while contact was maintained remotely for 78.

This happened during times when data showed a spike in the interest for online gambling, with searches for online casino reportedly hitting an all-time high during the lockdown. Despite the overall drop due to the lack of professional sports, data showed gamblers substituted sports betting with playing online slots, poker, casino and even betting on esports.

Gambling charities have been expressing their concern that vulnerable people are likely to reach out to gambling due to isolation, boredom, personal conflicts and financial insecurities, prompting recovering addicts into relapses. The Gordon Moody Association, a leading gambling addiction charity, pointed out the significant increase in the number of gamblers seeking help, from around 30 a month to nearly 1,000 during the period of lockdown.

The LYP which covers the north of England including north Midlands had 4 of its 18 staff redeployed, a response under the Freedom of Information Act showed. The trust had 25 out 125 people referred not progressed to assessment, with the period from contact to assessment stretching from the usual 14 days to nearly a month.

CNWL, which had previously deployed to work in substance misuse services 12 members of staff, redeployed 4 of them due to more pressing needs arising from the virus outbreak. The trust pointed out it carefully risk-assessed everyone in treatment and on its waiting lists, and only those deemed as low risk were placed on hold. CNWL outlined it kept track of the people whose treatment was halted and offered them a series of pre-treatment therapy groups, while patients who were waiting for treatment were offered information about GamCare.

UK adults who have problems with gambling addiction now have another option to receive help as a new Primary Care Gambling Service opened up in London recently. Besides offering relief for people suffering from gambling-related harm, the NHS-backed service is also looking to train general practitioners to be able to recognize the gambling addiction symptoms in the early stages.

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UK: Gambling Addiction Treatment Halted During the Lockdown - GamblingNews.com

Gamblers that want to play online in Illinois now hove to register in-person. This is because the Executive Order which allowed online registration was effective until yesterday, July 26.

Creating an online betting account now must be done in-person in Illinois. From today, July 27, gamblers that want to open an online account must visit one of the states land-based casinos. The measure, which was previously eased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was rolled back.

This happened following Fridays announcement by Governor J.B. Pritzkers office, where some Executive Orders were extended. Executive Order 2020-41 which temporarily suspended the requirement for in-person registry of players who want to bet online was effective through July 26. However, the Order was not extended on Friday. This means that users now must visit a land-based venue in order to register for online betting activity.

Currently, one land-based operator has launched an active online gambling app Rivers Casino Des Plaines. With that in mind, some players will have to travel significant distance if they would want to open up an online betting account. Moreover, this raises a question as to how safe the registration is going to be in-person, considering the post-COVID-19 environment. With that being said, state officials may decide to roll back the relaxed measure given the recent surges in positive COVID-19 cases.

The regulated online gambling market in Illinois was launched in March this year. This was the result of the Sports Wagering Act signed into law by Governor Pritzker back in July 2019. According to the Sports Wagering Act, for the first 18 months, any player that wants to create an online betting account must do so in-person in a land-based property.

With that in mind, amid the growing COVID-19 pandemic, Illinois shut the doors of its casinos. This was an effort by the state to reduce the spread of the respiratory disease. Keeping in mind that the gaming venues were closed, early in June, the Governor introduced the Executive Order 2020-41 which relaxed the measure for in-person registry effectively allowing users to create accounts online.

Later on, from July 1, the gaming venues were allowed to reopen their doors, although operating under reduced capacity. Looking at how the COVID-19 spread has impacted the gaming industry, we can honestly say that the online betting in the state was off to a shaky start. But this is not the only industry affected by COVID-19. Last week, the hospitality industry in the state said that hundreds of thousands of jobs are threatened due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) not going away.

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Illinois Rolled Back In-Person Registration for Online Betting - GamblingNews.com

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Supplier partners with Croatian market leader

Casino software provider Playson has signed a content distribution agreement with SuperSport, Croatias foremost operator.

The online sportsbook will significantly enhance its casino offering by directly integrating a thrilling set of Playson titles, including Buffalo Power: Hold and Win, Solar Temple and Solar Queen.

The partnership also covers the developers Timeless Fruit Slots and Funky Fruits portfolios, which are likely to perform well in a jurisdiction where classic fruit-themed games resonate with a wide audience.

SuperSport will also benefit from access to Playsons retention-boosting suite of integration-free engagement tools, such as bonus spins and regular tournaments with daily prize drops.

The deal sees Playson further enhance its impressive player reach in regulated markets across the globe, as the games studio continues to go from strength to strength in Europe and beyond.

Blanka Homor, Sales Director at Playson, said: We are thrilled to team up with Croatias most prominent operator in SuperSport, in a move that cements our leading credentials as a premium supplier of quality slots.

With a packed game collection boasting widespread appeal, alongside an engagement toolkit that is proven to drive player retention, were ready to deliver for our latest operating partner.

Tugomil Cerovecki, Online Casino Manager at SuperSport said: Playsons absorbing portfolio is enjoyed by an ever-growing legion of global fans, so we are very pleased to partner with the company.

The providers premium quality games, in particular its Timeless Fruit Slots and Funky Fruits portfolios, will undoubtedly help us to continue standing out in a competitive commercial environment.

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Bulgarian Legislature Approves the Bill to Abolish Gambling Commission - European Gaming Industry News

Having spent plenty of time in Manila since 2007, its fair to say that Saxon Shadforth, Director of Avalon Marketing Services, is no stranger to the online gaming market in the Philippines. Shadforth took some time out to chat with our Becky Liggero Fontana on the benefits of working from a country that has become a major hub for the online gambling industry.

Shadforth highlighted the rapid growth that had occurred in infrastructure in Manilla since 2007. The first time I went there around 2007/8 was around the time many other serviced focused industries were looking to the Philippines whether it was airlines, banks, financial services or telcos, he explained. The infrastructure evolved quite rapidly and the telecoms infrastructure and the maturity of the talent continued to improve at that time. So I think online gambling has benefited greatly from all the other industries but also has contributed to the improvement of the economy there, and certainly provided opportunities not just for financial reward but for education for many people in the Philippines.

The country offers benefits that one may not find in other areas of Asia. The Philippines does have a good hub of all different types of languages and skillsets than some other cities you might think of, Shadforth said. The Philippines has been the one that has consistently been the one thats tried to put their arms around regulation and making it a safe place for people to work and whether it be foreigners or locals and providing services to an industry that is not viewed as the same in every country that you look at in the region.

However, outsourcing businesses may need to adapt to benefit from the unique office culture in the Philippines. For some of us that have worked in traditional offices that nine to five, its quite a foreign concept to that you know professionals at a senior level will be willing to work from 10 pm to 6am, he said. Many generations of families live together in the Philippines and so, you know its an opportunity for some to spend time with the family. There are many good people not just working in call centre jobs, but there are layers and layers of people with interesting roles that work the evening shift.

In the full interview, Shadforth covers some of the mistakes that European companies have made entering the Asian market and what you can be doing to avoid issues. Also, dont forget to subscribe to the CalvinAyre.com YouTube channel to see every interview we make as it goes up.

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Saxon Shadforth: Philippines have offered a safe space for online gambling - CalvinAyre.com