Daily Archives: April 7, 2020

Gambling sites are turning to virtual sports during the coronavirus lockdown

Theyre under starters orders for the 15:56 from Puntwell Park. Theres a large field of 15 horses and the slight favorite is Laughing Lola, ridden by Simon Schuster, at 11/2.

Lolas slow away. She immediately gets bunched at the back of the pack and her names not even mentioned in the opening few furlongs by the race commentator. But then he doesnt mention any horse by name, impersonally referring to each of the runners and riders by their number alone. Still, its his 20th race this hour alone he can hardly be expected to remember all of the horses names.

Lola makes a strong recovery in the second half of the race, but she cant get close to the runaway leader, Loveit, who storms home by three or four lengths, delighting punters who backed him at 20-1.

Theres no time for photos in the winners circle, however, as theres a new race starting in just a few seconds. And if the jump racing doesnt take your fancy, theres live World Cup soccer, motor racing, greyhounds and more all taking place now, on this Monday afternoon at the beginning of April, in the midst of a global pandemic that has all but eliminated live sport across the world.

But who needs real sports when virtual sports can keep the punters money rolling in?

Yes, lest anyone think that one of the few side benefits of a global lockdown would be fewer opportunities for gamblers to blow their money, virtual sports have filled the vacuum. Whether that be betting on the computerized thoroughbreds at Puntwell Park on sites such as Betfair, or betting on real human players in esports tournaments. The gambling industry doesnt need actual sport to part punters from their cash.

Thats why, with Betfair listing only four real live events on Monday afternoon two tennis matches, one darts, one volleyball the gambling sites have become increasingly dependent on providing their own entertainment. Almost all of the major betting sites in the U.K. are hosting these virtual sports events and they run around the clock, every two minutes, like clockwork. No virus is going to wipe out Ecuador vs Ivory Coast in the PaddyPower virtual soccer World Cup or cycling from the Michaux Velodrome on Betway. Well, only a computer virus.

Whats striking is how these virtual events give punters even less chance of beating the bookmakers than the real events do. Take the race mentioned at the top, for example, which incidentally was listed as race 70,879,877 on Betfairs graphics, giving you some indication of the frequency of these virtual events.

Races run every couple of minutes on Betfair

The runners and odds of winning are listed on the site for a just a couple minutes before each race, but the punters are otherwise starved of information to make any kind of informed judgement about which virtual horse might win. Graphics showing each horses recent form are briefly flashed up before the race, but thats as close as punters get to actual form and they have no time to study or compare it to the other horses in the race, as they would with regular racing. Gamblers are effectively betting blind.

Its the same with the Monaco Kings vs Barcelona Braves football match being played out on Betway. There are loads of markets to bet on match winner, total goals, correct score, away team goals and so on but no information on which to base a bet other than the bald odds. Even before the match kicks-off, no more bets is announced as it is before the start of all the virtual sports Ive watched on betting sites meaning the player has no chance to change their bet once the action gets underway and they can see which way the wind is blowing. And when I say matches, I mean a short set of FIFA-style match highlights. Theres no way these sites would leave 90 whole minutes between opportunities to place wagers. The next one kicks off in no more than three minutes.

Football, cycling, motor racing... take your pick on Betway

Charles Ritchie from Gambling with Lives, which was set up by families bereaved by gambling-related suicide, worries that people who might normally gamble on regular sports will be drawn to these much more frequent, much less predictable virtual sports during the coronavirus crisis. While virtual sports betting has so far accounted for only a small proportion of overall betting activity, they have become increasingly popular amongst regular online bettors, he says.

But these are not real sports events these are events constructed entirely to provide an opportunity to bet, indeed multiple and frequent bets. No one is interested in the result per se. There is no form to be studied, no skill in picking a winner. They owe more to so-called slots and casino games, based on high speed random number generators, which are associated with incredibly high addiction rates. And thats where the worry lies. Will more people who either dont bet or bet on traditional sports be drawn into this dangerous activity, essentially through boredom?

Virtual sports arent mere sideshows on the gambling sites, tucked away from general public view. Theyve been turned into televised substitutes for mainstream sporting events during this crisis.

ITV, the U.K.s second biggest television channel, last weekend broadcast The Virtual Grand National an AI version of the countrys biggest horse race, at the exact same time the real race was meant to be held. The virtual race included all 40 of the horses and jockeys who were most likely to have qualified for The Grand National and viewers were encouraged to place wagers on the race, with bookmakers donating profits to National Health Service charities.

People watching the Virtual Grand National on a TV in Leicester. (Photo by Joe Giddens/PA Images via ... [+] Getty Images)

The race was won by 18-1 shot Potters Corner, but Charles Ritchie fears the losers wont only be the punters who backed the other 39 virtual nags, but anyone who registered with a gambling site to bet on the charity race in the first place. The worry for campaigners for gambling reform is that this was just a Trojan Horse for gambling companies, with people having to sign up for an online account in order to place their bet who will now be subjected to the relentless marketing by this voracious industry, he says.

Of course, it will have also introduced many people to the whole concept of betting on a virtual sport, which is the only sport to bet on in these days of lockdown. The event raised 2.6 million for charities a tiny proportion of the industrys 14.5 billion winnings (and punters losses). But for how many people was this the first step on the path to addiction? That 2.6 million will be swamped by the costs of harms caused by gambling and the deaths by suicide to add to the estimated 500 gambling related suicides every year in the U.K.

The gambling companies arent purely relying on virtual sports to entertain bored punters. Look at any of the major bookmakers sites over the past couple of weeks and you will have noticed eSports climbing up the menus and appearing in the in-play screens much more prominently than they were pre-coronavirus.

Betfair alone is taking bets on tournaments in games such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, Dead or Alive 2, NBA2K and Starcraft 2. Though figures on the volume of bets being placed on such events are hard to come by, there are signs of a huge upswing in eSports gambling. The Online Betting Guide claims it has seen a 943% increase in traffic to its esports betting tips page, suggesting gamblers are seeking out new ways to spend their money. Dead or Alive 2 alone saw a 245% month-on-month increase in betting tips placed on the site from February to March.

The COVID-19 crisis is potentially going to be disastrous for gambling disorders in the U.K. and across the world, Charles Ritchie warns.

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All Bets Are On: How Virtual Sports Are Feeding Gambling Addiction During The Coronavirus Crisis - Forbes

There was a federal law in place in the United States which blocked gambling on sports. This was enforced across the majority of the states in America and it prevented people from betting on sports including football, basketball, ice hockey, and baseball. Therefore, the option to place bets on competitions including the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB were very restricted in the United States.

However, that all changed in May 2018 when the supreme court ruled 6-3 to remove the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which had been in place since 1992. The act ensured that Nevada was the only state where a person could wager on the result of a single game in any sport.

For those living outside of Nevada, options for sports betting were very limited. That being said, there were and still are other ways to enjoy gambling and sports without having to actually bet on a real sporting event, especially when it comes to basketball. A great example is Basketball Star Slots.

This slots game has been created by Microgaming and was released towards the end of 2015. This 5-reel video slot offers 243 ways to win and features a stunning design with excellent graphics, symbols, animations and crowd effects. You play with the backdrop of a basketball arena with symbols including the coachs chalkboard, drinks bottles, sneakers, gold medals and basketball players in action. The Basketball Star logo is the wild and you will find over 40 of them on the reels. These can trigger up to 25 free spins.

For fans of the NBA, Basketball Star Slot certainly hits the spot and the theme comes across perfectly but what if you would like to place a bet on a real NBA game?

New Jersey was one of the leading states who was battling to have the 1992 Act struck down having fought for many years to make sports gambling legal. However, the major sports leagues in the United States were initially against the move. The NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB had previously argued that New Jerseys gambling expansion would hurt the integrity of their games. If there were to be large sums of money placed on the potential outcome of games, this would have a significant impact on the result of those games.

They made their point in the courtroom but outside, the leagues were more open to the suggestion of sports gambling being made legal in the country. The NFL was one of the leading organizations seemingly open to a change in the ruling but once it happened, every professional league in the United States was surely going to get involved.

Going back to 2014 and NBA commissioner Adam Silver seemed willing to accept gambling as part of the National Basketball Association. An article appeared in the New York Times in 2014 in which he advocated for the legalization of sports betting. He said, In light of these domestic and global trends, the laws on sports betting should be changed. Before continuing, Congress should adopt a federal framework that allows states to authorize betting on professional sports, subject to strict regulatory requirements and technological safeguards.

What Silva was actually pushing for was for the NBA to receive 1% of all bets made on NBA games. 1% may seem minimal but if you consider the number of bets which are sure to be placed on NBA games in a single round of fixtures and then multiply this figure throughout the season, you have a huge amount of money.

However, once sports gambling was made legal in the United States, one of the first steps the NBA took was to announce an official gambling partner for the league. This came in July 2018, just two months after the announcement that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was no longer binding. On Tuesday the 31st of July, the NBA announced that MGM Resorts International would be the leagues official gambling partner. This was a historic moment as it was the first time a major sports league in the United States created a partnership with a betting company in this way.

What exactly did the deal mean for both parties? In terms of MGM Resorts International, they would have the right to use official NBA data on its betting platform plus the right to use NBA and WWNBA marks and team logos. The data would not only be used to enhance the gambling experience for wagers but also to detect and prevent fraud and game-fixing. Fraud and game-fixing were the main reasons why some people involved in the NBA were against sports gambling being made legal. So, it was a little surprise to see steps being made to try and avoid any issues resulting in the integrity of NBA games.

Adam Silver, the NBA commissioner who outlined the 1% plan highlighted above, said the leagues collaboration will result in the best possible gaming and entertainment experience for consumers through the use of accurate, real-time NBA and WNBA data, and our collective efforts to maintain and enhance the integrity of our games.

Despite MGM Resorts International being announced as the exclusive gambling partner for the NBA, this was mostly for marketing purposes. Therefore, the NBA could make other deals with gambling companies in the future and thats exactly what has happened.

One of the leading sports bookmakers in the United Kingdom is William Hill. They have a long history when it comes to sports betting in the UK but what many British people do not know is how popular William Hill has become in the United States. As mentioned previously, prior to the abolishment of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, Nevada was the only state in America where it was possible to legally bet on individual sports games. Therefore, in 2012 William Hill expanded to Nevada by purchasing three chains of sportsbooks. This allowed William Hill to control 55% of the sportsbook locations in Nevada and gave them a very strong presence in the United States sports betting market.

That meant that as soon as sports gambling became legal across the United States, William Hill was in a great position to strike up a partnership with the NBA.

On the 2nd of October 2019 a statement on the NBA website read, The National Basketball Association (NBA) and William Hill, one of Americas leading sportsbook operators, today announced a new partnership that will make William Hill a Proud Partner and an Authorized Sports Betting Operator of the NBA in the United States.

This deal came just over two months after the partnership with MGM Resorts International was announced and showed the NBA was keen to make immediate strides in the sports gambling world. By striking the deal, William Hill had access to official NBA betting data and league marks for both its mobile platform and sportsbooks in the United States. The Association did not end there and in return, the NBA would promote William Hill, with the logo appearing across several of its digital platforms including NBA.com, the NBA App, and the NBAs social media such as Facebook for example.

As always, the NBA was keen to point out that both they and William Hill would be working hard to ensure the integrity of individual games and the league as a whole would be protected.

The value to William Hill of having the official NBA data can be seen in their live betting markets. Having access to the NBAs feed means all the live information displayed at William Hill will not only be accurate but will also be updated efficiently, which is vital for a successful live betting experience.

Fast forward to February 2020 and they are now 11 gambling deals in place involving betting companies and the NBA. The Australian-founded PointsBet is the latest betting company to make a deal with the NBA. They join MGM Resorts International, William Hill, DraftKings, Unibet, Tabcorp, BetEasy, Supermatch and theScore among others to have agreed on an official partnership with the NBA. As with all the other deals, PointsBet will gain access to the official NBA data feed and NBA marks to use on their digital betting platforms.

At the time of writing, the NBA still prohibits teams from agreeing on deals with sports betting companies unless the state in which they reside allows sports betting to take place. The Philadelphia 76ers are a good example and they became the first NBA team to agree on a sponsorship deal in the sports betting industry. They have a partnership with Fox Bet which means the betting company presents sponsorship of radio game broadcasts and the video on the Wells Fargo Center video board heading into the fourth quarter. They can also display Fox Bet signs in the arena and promote the company using the teams digital and social media.

This is another big step in the future of the NBA and partnerships with sports gambling in the USA. It will be interesting to see how it develops over the next decade with more NBA teams and the league itself sure to take advantage of the relaxing in the sports gambling laws in the United States.

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NBA Moving To Legalize Gambling And Partnering With Leading Companies In The USA - LakersNation.com

Singapores gambling regulator, the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA), will be overhauled, combining the functions of multiple branches of land-based and online casino regulation starting in 2021.

Singapore will be overhauling its gambling regulations the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced, with a planned new Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) to reunite different watchdogs under the same roof starting in 2021.

The changes will be implemented next year with the re-purposing of the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA), the current casino authority in Singapore, and the Gambling Regulatory Unit, the online casino authority, merging into the new unit.

Adding to the scope and remit of the GRA, the regulator will also take up the functions of the Singapore Totalizator Board as well as the Singapore Police Force, which is responsible for enforcing responsible gambling under the supervision of the Ministry of Social and Family Development.

The news was announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) which remained optimistic about the prospects of the gambling industry and the results achieved this far. The MHA specifically said that only 1% of all crime in the country stemmed from gambling activities and illegal gambling had gone down 28% between 2011 2019.

Commenting further on its motivation, the MHA added that new technology has made the experience vastly more accessible, bringing new challenges to the regulatory sector. One particular emphasis was on the fact that many traditional products have evolved to the point they now offer gambling, even though they are not traditional gambling.

One area where GRA will act is electronic sports and loot boxes in video games. The newly-emerging agency will also make sure to enforce penalties to operators that had been consistently breaking regulations.

In light of these changes, the MHA hopes that the GRA will help consolidate the regulatory footprint in the country and streamline gambling oversight by bringing all resources under the same roof and coordinate gambling policies.

The MHA expects to remain fairly prohibitive of gambling operations and continues to run as a regulator that tries to eliminate risk for consumers. Starting in 2015, the MHA has been busy clamping down on illegal gambling in the online sector. The increase in operations came with the Remote Gambling Act, which came into effect in 2014.

Amid the planned gambling regulation overhaul, the country is also temporarily shutting down its casinos to combat the spread of the coronavirus, starting today, April 7. The measure will run through May 4. A number of high-profile casinos, including Marina Bay Sands, Las Vegas Sands, and Resorts World Sentosa have complied and shut down.

Singapore has only used travel restrictions so far to help combat the virus. Under the new measures, the country will also seek to restrict all non-essential services. Singapore is also responding to the virus by ussing a $33 billion economic stimulus package issued last weekend.

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Singapore to Overhaul National Gambling Regulator for 2021 - GamblingNews.com

New Jersey, United States: Market Research Intellect has added a new research report titled, Gambling Software Market Professional Survey Report 2020 to its vast collection of research reports. The Gambling Software market is expected to grow positively for the next five years 2020-2026.

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Market Segment as follows:

The global Gambling Software Market report highly focuses on key industry players to identify the potential growth opportunities, along with the increased marketing activities is projected to accelerate market growth throughout the forecast period. Additionally, the market is expected to grow immensely throughout the forecast period owing to some primary factors fuelling the growth of this global market. Finally, the report provides detailed profile and data information analysis of leading Gambling Software company.

Gambling Software Market by Regional Segments:

The chapter on regional segmentation describes the regional aspects of the Gambling Software market. This chapter explains the regulatory framework that is expected to affect the entire market. It illuminates the political scenario of the market and anticipates its impact on the market for Gambling Software .

The Gambling Software Market research presents a study by combining primary as well as secondary research. The report gives insights on the key factors concerned with generating and limiting Gambling Software market growth. Additionally, the report also studies competitive developments, such as mergers and acquisitions, new partnerships, new contracts, and new product developments in the global Gambling Software market. The past trends and future prospects included in this report makes it highly comprehensible for the analysis of the market. Moreover, The latest trends, product portfolio, demographics, geographical segmentation, and regulatory framework of the Gambling Software market have also been included in the study.

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Table of Content

1 Introduction of Gambling Software Market1.1 Overview of the Market1.2 Scope of Report1.3 Assumptions

2 Executive Summary

3 Research Methodology3.1 Data Mining3.2 Validation3.3 Primary Interviews3.4 List of Data Sources

4 Gambling Software Market Outlook4.1 Overview4.2 Market Dynamics4.2.1 Drivers4.2.2 Restraints4.2.3 Opportunities4.3 Porters Five Force Model4.4 Value Chain Analysis

5 Gambling Software Market, By Deployment Model5.1 Overview

6 Gambling Software Market, By Solution6.1 Overview

7 Gambling Software Market, By Vertical7.1 Overview

8 Gambling Software Market, By Geography8.1 Overview8.2 North America8.2.1 U.S.8.2.2 Canada8.2.3 Mexico8.3 Europe8.3.1 Germany8.3.2 U.K.8.3.3 France8.3.4 Rest of Europe8.4 Asia Pacific8.4.1 China8.4.2 Japan8.4.3 India8.4.4 Rest of Asia Pacific8.5 Rest of the World8.5.1 Latin America8.5.2 Middle East

9 Gambling Software Market Competitive Landscape9.1 Overview9.2 Company Market Ranking9.3 Key Development Strategies

10 Company Profiles10.1.1 Overview10.1.2 Financial Performance10.1.3 Product Outlook10.1.4 Key Developments

11 Appendix11.1 Related Research

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Tags: Gambling Software Market Size, Gambling Software Market Growth, Gambling Software Market Forecast, Gambling Software Market Analysis, Gambling Software Market Trends, Gambling Software Market

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Gambling Software Market Size Analysis, Top Manufacturers, Shares, Growth Opportunities and Forecast to 2026 - Science In Me

He had a good thing going, but got greedy. Now, a former police officer in South Carolina will not only lose any chance at retirement benefits, but he will also possibly spend time behind bars. Instead of serving and protecting the community, Florence County Sheriffs Lieutenant Mark Edward Fuleihan was serving and protecting an illegal gambling ring for about five years, giving its leaders information and services in exchange for bribes. If the courts decide to throw the book at him, the 48-year-old is looking at up to ten years in jail, a fine of $10,000 and no chance at ever holding a public service job.

It was apparently during the investigation that the cops involvement was uncovered. Once that happened, he was fired by the countys Interim Sheriff, William Barnes, and, last Thursday, he was arrested by South Carolinas State Law Enforcement Division and agents from the Department of Homeland Security. His expulsion from the force and subsequent arrest followed an investigation into his involvement that started in April 2017.

Fuleihan was reportedly able to be identified easily because he wasnt smart enough to cover his tracks. He used his cell phone to communicate with those in the gambling ring, and even rookie police officers, and most 12-year-olds, know that burner phones are better for hiding illegal activity. The disgraced cop is now looking at charges of violating the states Ethics Act, as well as bribery and illegal gambling.

South Carolinas gambling laws are pretty basic and straightforward dont do it. The only exception is the state lottery, but this could change in the near future. There is now increased attention being given to casinos, as well as sports gambling, in the state; however, there is still a long way to go before any legalization will occur. As is the case in several southern states, there is overwhelming opposition to gambling, as it is seen as an evil activity that can only lead to drugs and crime, despite any evidence linking the two.

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South Carolina ex-cop busted for long-time role in illegal gambling ops - CalvinAyre.com

With brick-and-mortar casinos across the United States shut down to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, public health advocates are concerned that a shift to online wagering may lead to an increase in problematic behaviors.

Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the indefinite closing of Atlantic Citys nine casinos March 16 but permitted online gaming to continue. Industry experts expect an escalation in online gaming activity because of the retail casino closings, and the anticipated growth in internet play has gambling addiction professionals worried.

We believe every risk factor for gambling problems is increasing right now, said Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling.

ATLANTIC CITY More than $700,000 a day in casino-related taxes and fees has been lost sinc

The social distancing measures recommended by government health officials exacerbate conditions such as loneliness, isolation and depression that lead to problem behaviors, Whyte said.

Its kind of a perfect storm, he said. (Casino) closures and quarantine can increase risk factors, theres a shift to online gambling which may have some higher risk factors and then the impact on state budgets (for gambling addiction resources and programs) may disproportionately impact available behavioral health services.

Academic studies show a majority of people who gamble are able to do so responsibly. The NCPG estimates 2% to 3% of Americans display some form of problem gambling behavior.

But, according to a report published by the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University, the rate of problem gambling disorders and behaviors increases for online players.

Some gamblers, such as Devy Goodrich, of North Philadelphia, are aware of the potential pitfalls of online gaming. Goodrich, a member of the Everything AC Casinos Facebook group, said he would rather wait for Atlantic Citys casinos to reopen than try his luck online.

I believe that online gambling is more addicting than in-house due to the fact that there is more leeway to pull out of your account than when you can exercise better caution when you are in possession of your ATM card, he said.

ATLANTIC CITY A two-month shutdown of the states casino industry will lead to $1.1 billio

Internet gaming in New Jersey has been steadily growing since it was legalized and regulated more than six years ago. In 2014, the first full year of online gaming, revenue from internet wagering was less than 5% of the industrys annual total. In 2019, revenue from online gaming (not including online sports wagering) accounted for nearly 15% of the industrys total. The $482.7 million in internet gaming revenue last year was nearly 62% higher than the total in 2018.

Neva Pryor, executive director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, said she was very concerned about problem gamblers during the pandemic. She said that, as is common with other addictive behaviors, some might use gambling as an escape.

A lot of people are going to reach out to gambling, theyre going to reach out to substances and other activities that might prove to be harmful, and then come out of it with a problem, Pryor said.

Online gaming provides users with tools to mitigate those problems, Pryor said. New Jersey regulations include provisions for self-exclusion lists, and most internet sites that operate in the state allow players to limit how much and how often they gamble.

The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey has also found new ways to connect with those who are vulnerable to problem gambling behaviors, including tele-therapy, webinars, social media and hosting Gamblers Anonymous meetings over the phone.

We have to reinvent ourselves, Pryor said. I would suggest that theres probably more help out there now than before, because were constantly putting the message out there.

The COVID-19 outbreak will not entirely change player behavior, even if the retail casinos are closed. Some gamblers are confident they can continue playing online, and it may even benefit their bankroll in the long run.

ATLANTIC CITY Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the closure of the citys nine casinos, effective M

I gamble online almost every weekend if I dont go to Atlantic City, said Andrea Marano Mercer, of Brick Township, Ocean County. I find I spend less actually. If Im there, Im more tempted to take out more money. At home, I can just shut the computer off and walk away.

Lone cyclist on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

The casino floor is closed at Caesars Atlantic City, off the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Pleasant weather brought out a few strollers on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

The beach was quite with the exception of a few lone strollers off the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Pleasant weather brought out a few strollers on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Sign announces the closing of Caesars Atlantic City as a result of the Covid-19 virus off the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Wet Willies sits idle, closed as a result of the Covid-19 virus, inside Resorts, off the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Margaritaville sits empty, closed a result of the Covid-19 virus, inside Resorts off the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Resorts Casino Hotel is closed a result of the Covid-19 virus, off the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Council Oak Fish sits empty, closed a result of the Covid-19 virus, inside Hard Rock, off the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is closed, off the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is closed, off the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

The buds on trees were out, but shoppers were not along Michigan Avenue at Tangers Outlet the Walk in Atlantic City on Thursday.

Sign on the Reebok store was similar to many along Michigan Avenue at Tangers Outlet Atlantic City, announcing that they are closed as a result of the Covid-19 virus, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

With stores closed as a result of Covid-19 precautions, it was a ghost town along Michigan Avenue at Tangers Outlet Atlantic City,, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Some ventured to the beach for a walk, at Albany Avenue, off the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Some ventured to the beach for a walk, at Albany Avenue, off the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Even though the weather was pleasant Thursday, there were few people on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.

Noontime traffic was light along Pacific Avenue, in Atlantic City, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Noontime traffic was light along Pacific Avenue, in Atlantic City, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Even though the weather was pleasant, there were few people on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Joanne Imperatore, of Egg Harbor City, was wearing her mask but was still happy to be on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. She said there would have been many more people on the Boardwalk on a pleasant day like today. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Joanne Imperatore, of Egg Harbor City, was wearing her mask but was still happy to be on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. She said there would have been many more people on the Boardwalk on a pleasant day like today. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Kylie Kertz, of Egg Harbor City, was still feeding the cats that live under the Atlantic City Boardwalk Thursday for Alley Cat Allies, an organization that tends to the wild cats. The Bethesda, Maryland-based organization will continue to feed and care of community cats, according to founder and president Becky Robinson. We have read nothing in any of the orders issued by various jurisdictions that prohibit on-going care and feeding of community cats, Robinson said. To discontinue care and feeding to which the cats have grown accustomed would be to put them in grave danger. Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

The porte cochere at Resorts was empty with the casino hotel closed as a Covid-19 precaution, off North Carolina Avenue, off Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Even though the weather was pleasant, there were few people on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Even though the weather was pleasant, there were few people on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Some people wore masks as a Covid-19 precaution strolling along the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Some people wore masks as a Covid-19 precaution strolling along the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

A group of men walk on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Some people wore masks as a Covid-19 precaution strolling along the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Some people wore masks as a Covid-19 precaution strolling along the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Some people wore masks as a Covid-19 precaution strolling along the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Some people wore masks as a Covid-19 precaution strolling along the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Some people wore masks as a Covid-19 precaution strolling along the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Some people wore masks as a Covid-19 precaution strolling along the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Stores are closed as a result of the coronavirus and there are no strollers along Michigan Avenue at Tangers Outlet Atlantic City, Thursday,March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Stores are closed as a result of the coronavirus and there are no strollers along Michigan Avenue at Tangers Outlet Atlantic City, Thursday,March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

Stores are closed as a result of the coronavirus and there are no strollers along Michigan Avenue at Tangers Outlet Atlantic City, Thursday,March 26, 2020. (VERNON OGRODNEK / For The Press)

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Pandemic isolation, shift to online gambling set up 'perfect storm,' experts say - Press of Atlantic City

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

GeoComply Receives License in Colorado

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

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

140 industry leaders join SBC Digital Summit speaker line-up

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

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

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

Sky Racing World launches Japan NAR simulcasting

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

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

partypoker obtains Italian gaming license

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Brand Architects offers Operator MOT appraisal service

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

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

Push Gaming joins forces with GVC

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

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

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

Pragmatic Play and Leovegas Announce Highly Awaited Bingo Deal

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

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

Red Rake Gaming continues its regulated market focus with Belarus

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

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

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

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

Yobetit enhance games library with Nolimit City integration

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

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

BETBY adds huge esports portfolio to offering

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

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

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

Slotegrator Forges a New Partnership With Betsolutions

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

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

Digitain boosts gaming catalogue with ReelNRG integration

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AF

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MY BOYFRIEND GETS SUCH BAD ROAD RAGE

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

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

BT

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

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

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

HE PROPOSED THEN CHANGED HIS MIND

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

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

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

CN

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

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

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

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

I DON'T LIKE MY DAUGHTER'S BOYFRIEND

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

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

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

TF

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

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

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

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

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

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

Apr 4th 2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The joys of teaching poker to your kids - The Economist

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nick Cohen is an Observer columnist

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