Daily Archives: March 18, 2021

SPRINGFIELD Gross gambling revenues at MGM Springfield rose in February to $16.89 million, up from $14.5 million in January.

But gross gambling revenue at the downtown casino still lags pre-pandemic figures in a pattern that holds true elsewhere and reflects the hospitality industrys continued efforts to rebound from COVID-19 and the shutdowns necessary to prevent its spread.

MGM Springfields $16.9 million in tables and slots revenue is the highest total since $17.5 million in October 2020. Gross Gambling revenue at the $1-billion resort casino were $20.6 million a year ago in February 2020, the last full month of operations before the state shut down MGM and the states other two casinos until the middle of July.

In total, gross gaming revenue that is from slots and table games was $67 million total for Plainridge Park Casino, MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor in February 2021, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission reported Monday.

Thats up from $58 million in January, but trails the $86 million collected in February 2020.

Encore Boston Harbor reported gross gambling revenue of $40.9 million in February 2021, up from $33.3 million ini January 2021 but down from $52.5 million in February 2020.

Plainridge reported $9.5 million in gross gambling revenue in February , down from $9.8 million in January 2021. The take was $11.7 million in February 2020.

Last week, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission approved a loosening COVID restrictions and allowing the return of craps games, and an additional seat at blackjack tables.

The casinos continue to operate with occupancy limited to 40% of capacity. But the Gaming Commission reports that so few people are going to casinos hat they have yet to bump up against the 40% ceiling.

February was also the first full months since November MGM and the other two casinos were able to return to 24-hour-a-day operations. The curfew was lifted Jan. 29.

January and February -- February being a short month -- are historically slow because of winter weather and the lingering influence of the holidays.

At MGM Springfield, the biggest one-month total in gross gambling revenue was $26.9 million in September 2018, its first full month of operation. The lowest was $10.5 million in November 2020.

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MGM Springfield monthly gambling revenue up more than $2M, still lags pre-pandemic take - MassLive.com

The people of the State of Alabama may not get the chance to vote on a lottery, casino gaming or sports betting.

Earlier this week, Sen. Del Marshs comprehensive gambling bill made it to the floor of the Senate, but it fell two votes shy of passing by a narrow 19-13 margin. Because the bill would require an amendment to the Alabama Constitution of 1901, a 3/5th majority vote is needed instead of the normal majority vote. The bill needed 21 votes to pass.

He only needed two votes, political analyst Steve Flowers said. I think there are a lot of reasons it didnt pass. I think it would have had a hard time in the House. The bill also had a lottery, casino gambling and sports betting. He may have gotten a lottery, but not all three. I think the House was his biggest problem. I think for this to pass, Gov. Kay Ivey is going to have to have to be out in front and call a special session.

Flowers said, the possibility exists that Marsh may retool the bill and bring it back to the floor. But, he said, most likely the bill is dead for the session.

Flowers also said there was strong opposition to the bill from north Alabama senators. He said out of the six senators in the area, only one, Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, voted for the bill.

When you look at the vote, you have to remember Alabama is in the Bible Belt, Flowers said. North of Birmingham is the most religious part of the state maybe in the entire nation. There may have been some social pressure on those senators to vote against it.

Marshs bill called for legalized gambling at the locations of the states four dog racing tracks, plus an additional site in north Alabama that would be run by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. The bill would have also authorized a gambling compact at all Porch Creek bingo casinos. In addition, Lowndes and Houston counties were added to the bill as sites for casinos at the request of the respective county legislative delegations.

The estimated money generated would have been $194-$279 million for a lottery and $260-$393 million from a 20 percent tax on gaming revenue from casinos.

Flowers said the states budgets remain a strong priority for early in the session. Flowers said the House passed the General Fund budget this week, and that budget now moves to the Senate for debate.

The state is in much better shape than many other states, Flowers said. We had good, conservative [2020] budgets put together by Rep. Steve Clouse , R-Ozark, and Rep. Bill Poole, R-Tuscaloosa, last year. Were in good shape coming out of the pandemic. Theyve got plenty of time to pass the budgets, but Id expect it to be within the next two weeks.

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Gambling bill cut down in Senate - The Troy Messenger - Troy Messenger

The newly elected president of the Tourism Commission delivered a speech in favor of the legalization of Brazils gambling and betting industry before the Chamber of Deputies, and insisted on reopening the debate this year.

On March 12, Joo Carlos Bacelar was appointed president of the Tourism Commission of the Chamber of Deputies for a one-year term. He pointed out three key priorities during his term as a president the approval of the Regulatory Framework for Gambling in Brazil, the resumption of tourism in the country, as well as transforming the commission into a large tourist body able to rebuild the bases of Brazilian tourism in the post-pandemic period.

Tourism in Brazil had losses of R$290 billion in the pandemic, and 397 thousand jobs were closed. Today, it has only 42% of the revenues it had and it also needs help in the very short term.

Carlos Bacelar has been a vocal supporter of gambling regulation for years. His position is now shared by the new Minister of Tourism, Marcelo lvaro Antnio, who hopes to reactivate the economy of the country during the pandemic with the launch of casino resorts.

The new head of the Tourism Commission said in his speech that gambling exists in either legal or illegal forms. He also expressed his discontent that a government that presents itself as liberal decides what people can do in their spare time.

Bacelar presented financial reports that estimate that Brazil could collect R$20 billion (about US$3.5 billion) in annual taxes, and that some 400,000 jobs would be created if gambling is regulated. The country is on the way to legalizing sports betting, as a new regulatory framework is expected to enter in force in July.

Bacelar insisted that the Chamber of Deputies resume the debate related to House Bill No. 442/1991, which awaits a vote in the Plenary. Under this proposal, video bingo, slots, the lottery-type animal game and casinos would be regulated. In addition, a national gambling authority would be created to supervise, control and regulate the industry.

According to Bacelar, the betting market has a higher potential than casino resorts that would need three or four years before becoming beneficial to the public coffers. Bacelar says that electronic games and online betting might be a substitute for the lack of large events during the pandemic. The new president adds that the current law forces the gambling industry to act in an unregulated manner, which could be avoided with the adoption of a new law.

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Deputy Bacelar to Push for Gambling Regulation in Brazil - GamblingNews.com

William Hill has asserted that its committed to responsible gaming year-round, as the sportsbook operator rolls-out a campaign, during the US Problem Gambling Awareness Month, which aims to showcase tools available and empower customers to make informed and responsible decisions.

The National Council on Problem Gambling led campaign, now in its nineteenth year, aims to leverage the backdrop of March Madness to help raise awareness and create action for those suffering from gambling problems.

Among its efforts throughout the month, William Hill has created new training tools for all employees and has strived to greatly increased the visibility of its responsible gaming messaging at all sportsbooks and online.

Responsible gaming messages are appearing on all betting kiosks nationwide throughout March, and all betting tickets at William Hill sportsbooks include the companys Always Bet Responsibly. Play By the Book logo, accompanied by a local gambling helpline.

March is a great time of year to bring awareness to the issue of problem gambling, said Joe Asher, CEO of William Hill US. Our goal is to educate new and existing customers about how to identify problem gambling and the resources that are available to help them and their families.

Sports betting should always be about fun and entertainment, and were taking the extra steps in our communications and our products to ensure that we always put protecting our customers first.

William Hill has also worked with the states of New Jersey and Mississippi to create and fund public service announcements bringing awareness to the issue of problem gambling and provides resources for people to get help.

The videos, titled Through a Childs Eye, aired across multiple television networks in the two states, providing a different and important perspective to the issue of problem gambling.

This video is through a childs eye; we felt it was important to help viewers understand how a child is affected from a parent gambling, said Neva Pryor, executive director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey.

We would like to thank William Hill for allowing the Council to produce such a compelling video. Many people said that they hugged their child immediately after watching.

Such a powerful message helps the Council to heighten awareness of problem gambling, as well as the effects on the family.

Angi Wilson, deputy director of the Mississippi Council on Problem and Compulsive Gambling, added: We want to thank William Hill for helping us publicize our helpline number and in turn helping problem gamblers and their families in Mississippi. We really appreciate their support.

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William Hill debuts US responsible gambling campaign - Casino Beats

The head of the Gambling Commission is to step down, leaving Great Britains gambling regulator without a chief executive in the middle of a government review into laws governing the sector.

Neil McArthur resigned with immediate effect, with a search for an interim chief executive due to begin shortly.

His departure comes at a critical juncture for the regulator, which has faced criticism for being underpowered and failing to adapt to the rise of online and mobile gaming, in part because it receives too little funding from government.

The regulator has come under fire for a perceived failure to provide proper oversight of Football Index, although McArthurs departure is understood to be unrelated to this.

McArthur presided over the commission during a period marked by growing unease about the behaviour of the gambling industry, notably its use of so-called VIP schemes, as well as concern about the impact on young and vulnerable people of gambling advertising and its links to football.

He led efforts to rein in the VIP schemes, ban gambling on credit cards and impose tighter controls on both advertising and online casino game design.

But the commission has also found itself at the centre of mounting criticism, amid stories about industry exploitation of vulnerable people and a highly critical report by the government spending watchdog the National Audit Office.

The regulators deputy chief executive, Sarah Gardner, and its chief operating officer, Sally Jones, will jointly become acting chief executives.

However, a permanent chief executive will not be hired until a new chair is appointed. The term of office of the chairman, Bill Moyes, ends later this year.

McArthur spent nearly 15 years at the regulator, serving as both general counsel and as chief executive from 2018.

He said: I am proud of everything the Gambling Commission has achieved during my 15 years with the organisation. We have taken significant steps forward to make gambling fairer and safer, and I know that I leave the organisation in a strong position to meet its future challenges.

With a review of the Gambling Act under way, now feels the right time to step away and allow a new chief executive to lead the commission on the next stage in its journey.

This article was amended on 16 March 2021. The commissions main jurisdiction is over Great Britain, not the UK as stated in an earlier version.

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Head of Great Britain's Gambling Commission resigns - The Guardian

Payne Porter and his sister, Piper, jumped on the GameStop stock frenzy in late January. Mr. Porter, a 23-year-old clothing designer in Los Angeles, invested $5,000, while his 26-year-old sibling, who works at an L.A. marketing agency, put in $3,000, both using the Robinhood trading app.

The wild ride they experienced during the two weeks they owned the stock was both thrilling and terrifying, they said.

I remember texting my dad when I was up $40,000 and he told me to pull out and I didnt, Mr. Porter said. It was definitely an emotional rollercoaster.

When they finally quit, they were still ahead by about $10,000 each. It was their first time buying stock on their own, and while they timed their exit well, they said next time they will proceed with more caution.

It felt more like gambling than investing, Ms. Porter said.

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Investing, Not Gambling: These Apps and Services Help Young Stock Buyers Think Long Term - The Wall Street Journal

One of the no votes that was thought to be a possible yes vote on State Sen. Del Marshs (R-Anniston) comprehensive gambling package, which included a constitutional amendment that fell just two votes shy of meeting the three-fifths majority required, was State Sen. Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road).

Barfoot, similar to his Montgomery-area colleague State Sen. Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville), took issue with the possibility of passing a constitutional amendment on gambling without having a full understanding of enabling legislation, which would have laid the groundwork for the expanded gaming the amendment would legalize.

The Montgomery County legislator told Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5s The Jeff Poor Show that while he wasnt an advocate of gambling, he was not against it, either. However, he likened a yes vote on Marshs legislation to House Speaker Nancy Pelosis (D-CA) 2010 proclamation of having to pass a bill to know what is in it during the Affordable Care Act debate.

Let me say this you wont see me on the State House steps advocating for gaming, he said. Im not the guy that says weve got to have it under any circumstances. But, you know, I was not a no from the beginning, from the standpoint I do think that, you know, if you have a palatable piece of legislation it will never be perfect but a palatable piece of legislation to give the folks an opportunity to vote on, I think that is certainly something I could do. So, my opposition this past Tuesday was, you know, more procedurally than it was on the merits. I wasnt a no vote based on the merits. Although I think myself, like many other of the senators even some of the yes had concerns understanding and knowing the if it had gotten that 21 votes, three-fifths of the Senate, it would have moved to the House, where they would continue to shape it, mold it, modify it, maybe cut out some things or add to it. But my no vote on Tuesday was, you know, the constitutional amendment, as you know the Constitution of Alabama, the 1901 Constitution, says there is a prohibition against games of chance. And that has been amended some 18, 19 or so times local legislation that allows bingo facilities around the state, other local county organization to conduct certain types of gaming.

But that constitutional amendment referenced many times multiple places general law, Barfoot continued. That is not existing general law that it referenced. It was general law pertaining to legislation that had just been filed on Tuesday and, you know, in my opinion, a yes vote on that on Tuesday a constitutional amendment that referenced law that we had not discussed, debated, or even passed in the Senate would be akin to, you know, we throw bombs at Democrats in Washington on account of, Well, lets pass it and then well know whats in there. I think its a proverbial cart before the horse. Thats what happened last Tuesday. And had that enabling legislation that required a simple majority had that been up for debate first, the finer points of how that would be lottery, sports wagering, casino-style gaming had that been debated, decided and passed first in the Senate, you might have seen a different vote on the constitutional amendment.

Barfoot speculated the legislation could return, either later in the regular session or a special session possibly called by Gov. Kay Ivey.

I dont think its dead, he added. Mark Twain, you know, said, The rumors of my demise are greatly exaggerated. I think thats probably true with the gaming legislation, whether it be later this session or maybe in a special. I think youll see it again, and you know I think theyll be an opportunity. Ultimately, if it were in a special, you can kind of isolate that and have everyone focused on how to make that potential legislation better something to send to people maybe to vote on. I think thats probably the way to go about it. But again, voting on a constitutional amendment with references to general law that we havent discussed, debated, or even passed I think that is a faulty error.

@Jeff_Pooris a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor ofBreitbart TV, a columnist for MobilesLagniappe Weekly, and host of Mobiles The Jeff Poor Show from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.on FM Talk 106.5.

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State Sen. Barfoot on gambling 'no' vote: Constitutional amendment referencing 'general law' that hasn't been passed is putting 'cart before the...

The industry must get on the front foot and stop being reactive to regulatory change, asserts Paul Foster, CEO of the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association.

These comments come in the immediate aftermath of the trade association, which represents online gaming operators that have been issued a remote licence in Gibraltar, completing the set-up, formation and funding of the Gibraltar Gambling Care Foundation as a registered charity.

Initially detailed towards the start of the month, Foster sits down with CasinoBeats to delve a little deeper into what prompted the establishment of the GGCF: Responsibility is at the centre of Gambling today and as a jurisdiction, Gibraltar, wanted to drive the responsibility agenda and make a real difference.

Given there is a concentration of gambling companies and therefore related data, the opportunity to work with an independent body at the University of Gibraltar was a clear opportunity.

However, in order for the open-source evidence and analysis from the University to be acceptable on the global stage, it was necessary to create an independent Foundation to collect associated monies from the industry and distribute them to the University and other approved establishments, so that there could be no influence from the Gambling Companies on the research which will drive integrity of data.

goals are to reduce gambling related harm, encourage independent research and drive player protection

The GGCF will be operated independently from the GBGA under the support and guidance of councillors Stephen Reyes and Selvan Soobiah, and will initially predominantly fund research that will take place at the Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming that is being set up by the University of Gibraltar.

Having currently raised over 2.5m from Gibraltar gaming companies to fund the setting up of the CERG and fund it for an initial three year period, Foster moves to touch upon the initial goals of the Foundation and how these could evolve over time: The initial goals are to reduce gambling related harm, encourage independent research and drive player protection, he says.

This will be achieved through making grants to recognised and approved establishments which can achieve these goals. The primary initial establishment is the Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming at the University of Gibraltar where a 2m+ grant has been approved to fund the first three years of research.

We expect that as the Centre of Excellence becomes more established that they will drive further research which will be innovative and cutting edge and that this will be supported as well. The foundation will also look to support responsibility through other grants as the landscape evolves both in, and outside of Gibraltar.

Upon unveiling news of the establishment of the GGCF, Nigel Birrell, GBGA chairman, emphasised that this is a pivotal step change for all Gibraltar licensed operators and the jurisdiction as a whole.

With this in mind, Foster continued by elaborating on exactly why this is so: Responsibility has always been at the centre of the Gibraltar licensing regime. In most countries the regulator or Gambling Act will require the establishment of bodies to promote responsibility, research, education and training.

The GBGA members are the driving force and will continue to be

In Gibraltar, it has been the operators who have taken the lead with the support of Her Majestys Government of Gibraltar and the gambling regulator to fund through the foundation the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming. This means having cutting edge research and support at the heart of the industry which will drive knowledge and therefore better player protection across the industry.

Among the numerous strategic ambitions touched upon throughout, industry support has been critical thus far, and will continue to be so moving forward for the GGCF. But how wide ranging has the support received been? And how key was this in the initial set-up?

The GBGA represents the industry in Gibraltar and this initiative has been driven by our members who have committed substantial support in both a financial sense and the time and energy of company employees in supporting it, it is added.

We are also seeing interest and support in the Foundation from non-Gibraltar licensed companies, and we welcome all offers of support and are therefore open to discussions.

The GBGA members are the driving force and will continue to be at least during the early days of the project, however we hope through collaboration across multiple markets that we can draw further support.

The university are backing this by making their research open source to all and the independent charitable status of the Foundation should help all companies to donate.

The industry has to get on the front foot and stop being reactive to regulatory change

The foundation of the scheme comes as the industry finds itself under an ever increasing spotlight across many regions, to conclude Foster touched upon what more can be done to demonstrate a commitment to minimising gambling related harm.

The industry has to get on the front foot and stop being reactive to regulatory change. The industry knows its customers better than any regulator or non-governmental agency and because of this they are best placed to make a difference and drive the responsible agenda, he explains.

We would recommend the formation of strong, focused industry bodies across all jurisdictions which can pull companies together to explore and support responsibility at the centre of the industry. Companies on their own, will always have limited resources to explore the options to support customers and prevent gambling related harm.

When companies work together collaboratively and share these resources there is the opportunity for real change. The GBGA has become a blueprint for how to make change happen, and we welcome any industry body who would like to know more to contact us so that we can share our learning on how collaboration, determination and honesty can drive real change.

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Paul Foster, GBGA Responsibility is at the centre of gambling - Casino Beats

(United Kingdom) March 15, 2021

GamStop is a self-exclusion website service specifically developed to assist with problematic gambling behaviors. It is helpful to those that have a gambling addiction but can be a hindrance to the enjoyment of online casino gaming if an individual ends up registered with GamStop inadvertently or while they self-registered during the addiction process. Some users once they are registered with GamStop are enrolled inadvertently by others, or do not have a real gambling problem and regret that they have registered. Removal from GamStop is possible but it does take a bit of intuitiveness and some work. Pick7.bet is a site specifically with casino gaming sites that are not listed with GamStop.

The history of GamStop and gambling habits in the UK led to its inception.

Operators of the GamStop scheme must be registered with GamStop in order to prevent gambling. It cannot be used on sites that are not registered. GamStop is registered only in the UK and Wales and out-of-country problem gambling addictions are not subject to its use. The House of Lords in the UK determined in 2020 that about a third of the population of the UK and Wales suffer from a gambling addiction, and this has been exacerbated by the lockdowns due to the Pandemic, plus the availability of online gambling sites. This was the reasoning behind the development and implementation of GamStop. According to the BBC (British Broadcasting News), there are new restrictions now being placed upon online gambling and the British National Lottery. Some restrictions are that credit cards cannot be used or abused, spin speeds are now going to be regulated, and losses can never be celebrated as wins. This happens when bonuses are applied and seem as wins to users when in fact the winner has suffered a loss.

GamStop is not forced upon gamers in any way.

What GamStop does is have a player register themselves to put a limit on how many times they can gamble, and on the amount of money they are spending while gambling, especially on the slot games. Slot machines typically are the most problem with online gambling sites as the spin action can be determined by the site and speeds can be notoriously quick. Gamers many times do not even realize how fast they are playing or how much they are losing while they play. So, what is GamStop? It is a self-enclusion registration site that will prohibit the use of some sites that do not follow the new regulations that the British government is imposing on online gambling casino sites. GamStop has mixed reviews with some users that were spending too much online loving it, while others find that it prevents them from using sites even occasionally and getting off the registration is not easy. Problem gamblers are now limited and seem to enjoy being on GamStop while those that had only a minor interest in online casinos seem sorry that they registered.

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GamStop Can Be Either Helpful or a Hindrance to Online Gamblers - The African Exponent

Dan Wetzel, Pete Thamel, and SIs Pat Forde react to blue-bloods falling out of March Madness as Kentucky and Duke are set to miss out for the first time in decades.

The guys also get you set for a weekend of wagers by picking each conference tournament. Make sure to play this years Yahoo Fantasy 50-K Tourney Pickem contest for your chance to win cold hard cash as well. The bracket with the highest score will win the Grand Prize of ten thousand dollars and a Las Vegas getaway. It is free to enter and over ten thousand people will win cash prizes. Sign up now at tourney.yahoo.com.

Stick around for an unexpectedly wild FCS Degenerate Minute too.

Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports Podcast family at https://apple.co/2Abi8jk or at yahoosports.com/podcasts

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Conference weekend gambling guide, COVID forces Duke out of the tournament - Yahoo Sports