Daily Archives: March 23, 2022

Online has remained a key growth driver for Greek gambling group OPAP, which has heaped praise on its showing through 2021s final quarter and full-year despite the ongoing challenges presented.

Gross gaming revenue surged 115.9 per cent through Q4 to 498.5m (2020: 230.9m), which nudged its full-year performance forward 36.2 per cent, due to a strong online showing as well as more retail operating days, to close at 1.53bn (2020: 1.12bn).

Gross profit through Q4, which OPAP says was burdened by Hellenic Lotteries disproportional GGR contribution, so as to meet the annual contractual threshold of 50m, increased 151.4 per cent and 47.5 per cent for Q4 and FY, respectively, to 195.3m (2020: 77.7m) and 605.8m (2020: 410.9m).

EBITDA, buoyed by the full consolidation of Stoiximan, stood at 170.4m through Q4 (2020: 53.1m), which helped deliver a 111.1 per cent FY uptick to 550.3m (2020: 260.7m).

OPAP reaffirmed the strength of its business model, posting robust results and a solid financial position in 2021, despite persisting pandemic challenges, commented Jan Karas, OPAP CEO.

Overall, Q421 was historically one of the best performing quarters, in terms of GGR, and cash reserves were further expanded.

Our retail business demonstrated high resilience, with recovery ramping up, even though our stores had to suspend operations for several months and adjust to strict healthcare restrictions after reopening.

Breaking down the performance by division, online casino, reflecting a strong contribution from Stoiximan, scored significant increases across both time frames to close Q4 and FY at 46.9m (2020: 19.26m) and 184.82m (2020: 23.94m), respectively.

Lottery, boosted by OPAPs retail estate being operational for the full quarter unlike one year earlier, albeit under restrictive measures, soared to 183.84m (2020: 82m) through Q4. For the full-year, a 5.9 per cent rise to 549.17m (2020: 518.6m) was reported.

VLTs recorded a slight 2.9 per cent FY dip to 194.64m (2020: 200.52m) despite its quarterly performance being up 131.3 per cent to 74m (2020: 32m), which was also boosted by extra operational days.

Betting increased 102.6 per cent and 68 per cent across Q4 and FY to close at 166m (2020: 81.97m) and 521.37m (2020: 310.36m), respectively, with passive lotteries and instant scratch games up 76.8 per cent and 16.4 per cent over the same time frames to 27.63m (2020: 15.62m) and 88.83m (2020: 76.34m).

Our comprehensive commercial plan and well-accepted loyalty programs played a key role to this end, continued Karas.

Online remained a key growth driver for OPAP, even after retail reopening. Our online customer base grew further, supported by upgraded front-ends and targeted CRM activities.

Additionally, our dual strategy continued paying off, with Stoiximans full consolidation clearly aiding our performance. Last but not least, our commitment to social contribution remains as strong as ever.

Soon we will complete the renovation of Greeces two largest childrens hospitals our long-term project which tangibly showcases our focus on delivering value to all our stakeholders.

Looking forward, we remain committed to delivering best-in-class entertainment by emphasising on our customer-centric approach and digitalization, to pursue the ambitions of our Fast Forward OPAP Strategy.

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OPAP lauds robust showing with online casino a key growth driver - Casino Beats

Introduction

The inception of cryptocurrencies and decentralized finances has revealed numerous new possibilities for the usage of finances and assets online. While the grip of these new domains is yet to get firm across the world, cryptocurrencies and their applications have already begun to shift the paradigm for money transfers, exchanges, and online payments that include gambling. One of the leading crypto assets by market cap, Ethereum, is among the most popular altcoins that are being used for online gambling.

The transition towards online gambling happened many years prior to the introduction of cryptocurrencies. The online or digital gambling casinos offered benefits to the users by mitigating the limitations of land-based casinos. Some of the primary advantages included a lack of need for a commute to the casino location and also the use of high finances without having to deal with issues related to ones safety. Although traditional online gambling solved multiple issues related to conventional forms of gambling, it still had to operate within the bounds of financial institutions and was mostly limited to their local regions. However, the integration of cryptocurrencies resulted in the dawn of a new approach for online gambling that majorly served as a source of relief for gamblers around the world.

At its core, Ethereum gambling is similar to traditional online gambling with the slight difference being that this form of gambling is done by using Ethereum as the primary mode of payment. The use of a decentralized asset implies that the benefits of altcoins could be easily translated to the benefits of Ethereum gambling. As Ethereum is not controlled by any government or institution, the currency can be easily transferred without completely compromising the anonymity of the users. Several other benefits of gambling using Ethereum are one of the primary reasons behind the exponential rise of cryptocurrency gambling such as, instant transfer of funds, improved cyber security standards, remote access from various parts of the world, incentivized offers and promotions that add value to ones online wagers.

As gambling serves as the foundation for both of these gambling industries, there are a few similarities that can be observed as gamblers venture into either of the domain. Firstly, the inherent risks of gambling still are the common denominator that calls for a need to gamble responsibly. The next similarity that is somewhat common is that many platforms might require complete and thorough verification of the users (that might include a photo ID submission) before allowing the players to withdraw their winnings and this can severely affect the privacy of gamblers which is why it is often advised to look for completely decentralized and anonymous platforms. Lastly, both forms of online gambling strive to offer various bonuses and promotions to the users which is something that was not common in the case of physical and land-based casinos.

The success of Ethereum gambling can be attributed to the list of differences it has from traditional online gambling. The inherent benefit of being based on blockchain technology is Ethereum gambling offers enhanced privacy, security, and almost instant transfer of assets. Ethereum gambling can add value to ones winning if the relative price of Ethereum in relation to fiat currencies increases in the financial market. Furthermore, the decentralized nature of Ethereum means that any user from around the world can get access to the altcoin and proceed to wager on the casinos available in any particular location. However, one thing to be mindful of is that Ethereum gambling might require concrete and proper understanding of cryptocurrencies if one seeks a completely pleasant gambling experience at online casinos.

While Ethereum gambling is yet to become more prevalent than traditional gambling, it does appear to be the future of gambling and online finances in the future. The list of advantages offered by Ethereum gambling makes it out to be the superior and more efficient form of gambling for the users who have access to it. If one is looking to make use of all the benefits of crypto or Ethereum gambling, starting with understanding the fundamentals of cryptocurrency and narrowing down the platforms to use as per the requirements would serve as a wise step while exploring the uncharted waters of Ethereum gambling.

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Ethereum Gambling Vs Traditional Online Gambling: The Benefit Breakdown - TimesOfCasino

LONDON, March 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Online gambling is becoming widespread in the United States, with about 30 states declaring it legal and 18 that now allow Americans to perform online sports wagering, a report by Forbes shows. More states are expected to join in the legalization of online gambling in the United States, significantly increasing the already growing number of Americans that can legally make use of online casinos and sports betting platforms.

As the popularity of betting increases, gamblers are looking for additional support systems to prevent them from running into financial trouble. Betting on the Super Bowl, online casinos, and other sports platforms has become a common practice, and people want to receive enough value from the bets that they make even though they know that gambling is a 50-50 chance. Apps4 Web Media is pleased to announce the launch of GamblingPromoCodes.com. The new platform is primarily a sports betting aggregator that provides users with promo codes, bonus offers, and news updates.

Gambling Promo Codes intends to be the most extensive, most complete list of online casino and sportsbook promo codes. The platform will help online gamers place bets and enjoy mouthwatering benefits. "We are super excited to launch our new site for players in the US," explained Alex Windsor, CEO of Apps4 Web Media. "The iGaming and online sports betting market in the US is snowballing. We want to help players find the best value when it comes to betting and playing online."

Gambling is a fun but expensive hobby. Gambling Promo Codes is the largest provider of promo codes for gambling and can help Americans save money on gambling and reduce its cost, making it more fun and less time-consuming. Furthermore, Gambling Promo Codes makes it possible for gamblers to sort through the numerous sportsbooks and operators available to players in the United States. They also prevent players from getting involved with unlicensed and illegal casinos, generally available today.

Gambling Promo Codes will only feature licensed legal casino operators and sportsbooks. These include operators based in the US regulated by state gaming authorities like the NJ DGE, MGCB, and PGCB.

About Apps4 Web Media

Apps4 Web Media is a leading iGaming marketing company providing comparisons and reviews of licensed US sportsbooks and online casinos. The company was founded by Alex Windsor, who has been involved in the online gambling industry since 2012 and is a passionate advocate for safer online gambling.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/apps4-web-media-launches-online-platform-to-provide-online-casino-and-sports-betting-promo-codes-and-bonus-offers-301506574.html

SOURCE Apps4 Wed Media LTD

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Apps4 Web Media Launches Online Platform to Provide Online Casino and Sports Betting Promo Codes and Bonus Offers - 69News WFMZ-TV

There are only two weeks left until Ontarians will be able to gamble online in a legal market outside of Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).

Online casinos are set to go live come April, giving people the ability to gamble from the comfort of their own home. But wagering a bet on this game is something not everyone is aces wild for. Some advocates say it could be detrimental to brick-and-mortar businesses and First Nations communities.

I think the province should really press pause on this, says Chief Kelly LaRocca of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

LaRocca says they werent even consulted on the idea of online gaming and how it will affect them.

Our community felt like it was a slap in the face, she said.

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iGaming threatens to take millions from host communities our First Nation relies on to build our economy through the provision of clean drinking water, health care, housing, etc. Its essential to our economy, said LaRocca.

The money helps not only Scugog Island but also the Regional Municipality of Durham.

LaRocca says they have donated more than $30 million to charities over the past 25 years.

The MSIFN Chief also wrote a letter to the province, looking to challenge the Queens Park in court. Given the fact they say Ontario didnt consult with them, it leaves the iGaming concept open to constitutional challenge.

The provinces iGaming model will create hundreds of job losses, and it will happen without the creation of new job opportunities.

Its a fear held by not only her but casino operators as well. CEO with Great Canadian Gaming, Tony Rodio says they are in support of the idea, but not the way it sits right now.

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We want to be able to participate and compete, but we want a level playing field, says Rodio.

The problem they say is that there is no limit on how many companies can go online at this time. And officials say online casinos only have to give a 20 per cent tax rate compared with roughly 55 per cent for bricks and mortar, giving iGaming casinos the better hand out of the deck.

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To bring them in and let them operate under a huge tax advantage when theyve been operating illegally for years, again, I think its grossly unfair.

The province announced the plan in 2019 saying it will help regulate and displace the existing grey market. It will be managed by a subsidiary under the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) called iGaming Ontario. The province says there will be a rigorous vetting process for anyone who applies for a licence. But the ripple effects it could cause is worrisome for casino workers.

Theres going to be lots of competition and competition for players and its kinda scary, says Ian Reeve, as a shift manager at the Pickering Casino Resort. It could have an impact on jobs here.

The casino industry estimates over the next five years, the new gaming model could cause more than 2,000 job losses in Ontario and nearly $200 million less in contributions to municipalities.

It puts some of the revenues with our partners and stakeholders in jeopardy, says Rodio.

In a statement, the province says iGaming will complement land-based gaming. It says there have been several conversations with stakeholders over the past few years.

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It will provide an opportunity to assist Ontario in providing iGaming to diversify revenue sources and cross-promote between online and land-based sites, a spokesperson with the Ministry of Finance said in the statement.

The new concept launches April 4 with casino operators watching closely.

2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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Casino operators and First Nations concerned over iGaming launch - Global News

A wide variety of PlayStation games may be found at the shop and online nowadays. This list includes some of the most well-known and widely played casino online games. You may now play your favorite casino games or gambling games on your console.

Here, well go through some of the top casino games available. Since casino gambling is more popular than ever, you should brush up on your knowledge of it. Lets get started without further ado.

As far as slot machine games go, the Four Kings Casino and Slots game has been hailed as one of the greatest on PlayStation. For the PlayStation 4, you may get this one for free from the PlayStation Store. There are no additional settings or features in the game, only a casino and slot machine game. To put it another way, its for those who cant get enough slot machines.

In addition to roulette, poker, bingo, and slot machines, youll be able to pick from six more casino games as you join the game. In addition to the games themselves, the gaming environment is visually stunning and intended to resemble a virtual casino somehow. Play the games you like in virtual casinos using an avatar you design yourself. You may also socialize by dancing and mingling with other guests in the casino.

Texas holdem is one of the games where you may make money by playing it. Everything you need is there, and youll be able to compete in tournaments across a wide range of games.

Youll have a fantastic time at the casino and have the opportunity to take home some great incentives and prizes. Although this PS4 game only features gas poker, it is more than enough for most players and provides the most exhilarating poker experience.

Playing it is unlike anything youve ever done before, so youll want to get in and give it a try. Its free to download from the PlayStation Store, and many gamers and some gamblers consider it the best option available. There have been several updates to this gambling video game throughout its long existence.

Become a high-roller and win some serious cash. The visuals are fantastic. However, despite its lack of uniqueness, it does provide all of the essential features that gamers want.

As the name says, you can only have fun playing poker with this invention. A well-known casino innovation, it allows players to learn and improve their abilities and gain money and other rewards. Online, you may face off against real people or a computer program. You may discover all there is to know about playing at an online casino and even becoming a professional player in a short period. The game is 4K capable and one of the most complex on our list, so its a blast to play. We also like the games level of depth and realism.

Choose the game you prefer and give it a try. According to experts in the field, these are some of the most powerful, most sophisticated, and most enticing solutions that you can choose from right now. We expect every player to have a favorite choice, but most will try them all. Despite this, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

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The Best Gambling Games for PlayStation - PlayStation Universe

TOPEKA The Kansas House unveiled Tuesday a plan for legalizing sports wagering in Kansas through online platforms and bets placed at casinos, convenience stores and racetracks.

House Bill 2740 has widespread support from gaming interests that have squabbled for years over who gets to control the action and how to slice up the revenue.

I never thought this day would get here, said Rep. John Barker, an Abilene Republican and chairman of the Federal and State Affairs Committee.

The committee heard testimony in support of the bill from three state casinos, a tribal casino, the Sporting Kanas City soccer team and a lobbyist for billionaire Las Vegas casino owner Phil Ruffin, who for years has tried to resurrect operations at his now-closed Sedgwick County racetrack. The only opponents to offer testimony were concerned by restrictions placed on greyhound racing.

Animal rights and gambling addiction organizations expressed concerns while asking for their testimony to be considered neutral.

The bill authorizes sports gambling by allowing the Kansas Lottery to contract with gaming facility managers. Those managers could offer wagering through websites, interactive mobile applications and on site. The legislation also allows wagering on machines at Ruffins facility, but it bans machines at greyhound races.

The state would get 20% of revenue through online gambling and 14% from in-person bets. Whitney Damron, a lobbyist for Hollywood Casino at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, said revenue estimates suggest the state could receive $50 million in annual revenue. An official fiscal note has not yet been determined for the new House bill.

Jim Gartland, executive director of the National Greyhound Association, and Mike ONeil, representing the Kansas Greyhound Association, submitted written testimony that named Ruffin and raised concerns about his influence on the bill.

This is akin to letting a McDonalds franchise owner write the laws on what other fast food companies are allowed to be operated in the state, Gartland said.

ONeil said provisions of the bill dealing with greyhounds are not germane to the subject of sports betting.

ONeil also asked that lawmakers not make judgments about greyhounds unless they have the opportunity to tour a facility.

Believe me, ONeil said, if there were such a thing as reincarnation, Id want to come back as a Kansas greyhound. Theyre the sweetest athletes youll ever meet.

Barker said the committee would consider amendments and take action on the bill next week. If the House were to adopt the legislation, representatives would have to work out a deal with senators who passed a competing bill last year.

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Kansas House unveils sports gambling plan with support of casinos, opposition by greyhound industry - Kansas Reflector

Are you new to gambling or looking for a refresher on some key terms?

Our comprehensive casino terms and glossary guide will teach you how to use and understand all of the most important gambling lingo.

Premium betting is coming to Ontario. Register here for exclusive benefits including promos, NorthStar Bets content & the chance to win $5,000.

A

Action: The process of making bets. Also the total sum of bets in any situation.

Aggregate limit: The casinos total obligation to pay out bets in any one game.

winnings: The total amount of winning bets paid into a players account.

All-in: In poker, when a player bets all their chips at once.

Ante: A small bet made by all players before a hand of cards is dealt, particularly in poker tournaments.

B

Baccarat: A casino table game of chance played between a player and a banker. Each side receives two cards, with a possibility for a third card depending on their total. The hand with the higher value, up to nine points, wins.

Banker: Usually the dealer, who is responsible for paying out winnings and collecting losing bets.

Bankroll: The amount of money a player decides to put into play in any given session, or the total amount of money at a players disposal for betting.

Bet: Any amount wagered.

Betting limit: The high end of what a player may wager.

Black chip: A betting token worth $100.

Bonus: Cash offered by a casino as a reward or inducement to play.

Blind bet: A bet made in poker before a player sees their cards. All players take turns making blind bets for set amounts, which forces others to place bets or fold.

Blackjack: A casino table game played against a dealer. Each participant receives two cards to start, with the aim of getting as close as possible to a total value of 21. Going over 21 results in an automatic loss.

Bluff: Betting in poker with a hand of little or no value.

Board: Exposed cards in table games or community cards used by all players.

Brick: A card in a round of poker that does not improve a players hand.

Burn card: In poker, a card thats taken off the top of the deck before one or more board cards are revealed by the dealer.

C

Call: A poker term that describes matching a bet already made.

Cannon: A player who consistently bets big, especially at poker.

Card shark or sharp: A highly skilled player.

Card wash: An extra shuffle before cards are dealt, done at the request of a player.

Check: An action in poker of staying in a hand but declining the option to bet. Chips may also be referred to as checks.

Cooler: A bad run of cards or a generally unlucky player.

Commission: A set percentage or amount raked by the casino in some table games.

Cowboy: Slang term for a king card in table games or poker.

Craps: A casino table game that uses dice, in which players place bets based on what they believe the outcome of the next roll will be.

Croupier: A roulette dealer (or online simulation).

D

Dealer: A casino employee (or online simulation) that distributes cards to players, pays out winnings and rakes in losing bets.

Down card: A card dealt face-down.

Drop: The house rake or money collected by a dealer that is the casinos take or profit.

Deuce: A card with a value of 2.

E

Edge: The casinos advantage, usually measured by percentage. Also describes a players skill over others.

Even money: A payout of one-to-one.

Expected win rate: The percentage of the total money a player is expected to win or lose.

F

Face card: A king, queen or jack.

Face-down: A card dealt without its value exposed.

Face-up: A card dealt with its value exposed.

Fish: A player who makes ill-advised bets. Also a newcomer to gambling.

Flat bet: When the same amount is bet each time.

Flop: The first three common or community cards in hold em poker, used by all players.

Fold: To surrender a hand without playing any further.

G

Green chip: A betting token worth $25.

Grinder: A skilled, patient player who seldom bets unless they believe they have an advantage.

Gross winnings: The total amount returned to a player from winning bets.

H

Hand: Cards dealt to a player.

High-roller: A big bettor.

Hit: An action in blackjack to draw an additional card.

Hole card: A concealed card dealt to players and held face-down.

Hot table: A game where most of the players are winning.

House: Another name for a casino.

House edge: The advantage that favours the casino in all games.

House rules: Terms of play imposed by the casino.

I

Inside bet: Bets made on a number or series of numbers in roulette (as opposed to betting on the winning colour, or whether the number will be odd or even).

Insurance: A side bet in blackjack, offered when the dealer shows an ace.

J

Jackson five: Two cards, a jack and a five.

Jackpot: A large prize pool or individual win.

Johnnies: A pair of cards that are both jacks.

Juice: The casinos cut or fee from any game. Also called the vigorish, or simply the vig.

K

Keno: A lottery-style casino game.

L

Ladies: A pair of cards that are both queens.

Limit: An imposed cap on the value of a bet.

Lobby: A page on a casino website where players can access all games.

Long shot: A bet that doesnt hit often but pays big when it does.

Low-roller: A player who makes small bets.

M

Maximum bet: The highest amount that can be bet.

Me and Betty: Two cards, a six and a nine.

Minimum bet: The lowest amount that can be bet.

Monster: A hand of cards with a huge value.

N

Natural: Cards in blackjack or baccarat that automatically win.

No-limit: When a player can bet all their chips at any time, which is usually seen in poker.

Nuts: The best possible hand in poker, blackjack or baccarat.

O

Odds: The amount paid in return for a wager or the statistical chance at winning or losing a bet.

Optimal strategy: The best way to play that will result in a win.

Omaha: A poker game similar to hold em, but with four cards dealt to players instead of two.

Orange chip: A betting token worth $1,000.

Out: A card that will improve a players hand.

P

Paint: Another term for face cards kings, queens and jacks.

Parlay: To take the winnings from one bet and make another bet with it.

Payout table: A guide that shows the amount that bets will pay at some table games.

Pigeon: A bad player.

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Casino terms and glossary guide | The Star - Toronto Star

The firewall between colleges and the legalized gambling industry has collapsed.

Colleges around the country are now partnering with online gambling casinos and sportsbooks.

In September 2020, PointsBet became the sportsbook of the University of Colorado.

In September 2021, Caesars Entertainment was named the official sportsbook of LSU Athletics.

In December 2021, PointsBet became the official sportsbook of the University of Maryland the first Big Ten School to enter into a partnership with a sportsbook.

And in November 2021, Gonzaga basketball star Drew Timme signed a deal where he will advertise for a local tribal casino Northern Quest Resort & Casino in the state of Washington.

The ground is fertile for a sports betting scandal. How would it play out?

Its not a question of if, its a question of when, Les Bernal of Stop Predatory Gambling told Corporate Crime Reporter in an interview last week. As the money flows in, the risk becomes greater. There is no question the risks will increase. We have seen it in Australia and the UK. Its a dangerous high risk situation for many of these athletes now.

Bernal has headed Stop Predatory Gambling for 15 years now.

Since we last interviewed Bernal in 2016, betting has gone from brick and mortar casinos to everyones cell phone. Sports betting companies are now sponsoring college programs. That would have been unheard of just a few years ago.

Do you agree that despite all of your work, the situation is getting worse?

There is no question it is getting worse. And it will continue to get worse over the next two to three years. ESPN and sports talk shows are relentless in pushing these extreme forms of gambling into peoples homes and onto their smartphones. It is driven by very powerful financial interests. These are multi-billion dollar companies. You have state governments that are using gambling as the preferred way to raise money to pay for public services. This is a new form of taxation now.

These states are not taxing billionaires. Instead, its a lot easier to tax the poor using predatory gambling than it is to get wealthier people to pay more. Public officials of both parties have realized that. And they have pushed gambling as a way to fund public services.

LSU, one of the leading colleges in the country when it comes to big time sports, has partnered with Caesars Sportsbook. In September, 2021, LSU named Caesars as the colleges official sportsbook partner.

They are being driven by greed. And there is no check on this. Not a single state Attorney General has brought an enforcement action against predatory gambling operators. Its open season on everyday people. This is a highly dangerous product. This is not about whether you and I had a friendly wager on the Super Bowl. When you get into the sportsbook, its almost certain that over time you are going to end up losing almost everything.

ESPN now has a reporter they assigned to cover the gambling industry. And he interviewed an Australian bookmaker operating now in the United States. And the reporter asked him how many of your accounts are profitable? Out of 500,000 accounts, only fifty were profitable. Thats from the lips of an ESPN reporter quoting a bookmaker from Australia.

The sportsbooks are making the headlines now. They are saying sign up and get $5,000 worth of risk free bets. But these gambling operators dont make the money on sportsbooks. The sportsbook app is a way to get people to sign up. Then they will market to you online casino gambling apps online blackjack, online slots. Then you will have a Las Vegas casino right on your phone wherever you are 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Eighty percent of the profits comes from the online casino piece. Sportsbooks just get people in the door. And thats true even for the brick and mortar casino model.

Sportsbooks just bring people in, but its the online casino games where these companies just feast on ordinary people.

You compare gambling to alcohol and tobacco. With tobacco, civil lawsuits and the state Attorneys General led a crackdown that changed the industry and dropped smoking rates.

Is there any similar movement by Attorneys General or tort lawyers?

Because state governments are a partner with the gambling industry, not a single state Attorney General has ever brought consumer protection litigation against the industry. Commercialized gambling operators are exempt from truth in advertising regulations enforced by the Federal Trade Commission. And thats because the FTC leaves the regulation of the industry up to the states.

Some of these states get ten percent of their public revenues from predatory gambling.

In what way are these casinos partners with the state?

Those apps are legal only if you partner with the state government. You have to have a license with the state government. These state governments are supposedly regulating these online gambling operators. You have to have a state license.

What about civil lawsuits?

The last high profile civil lawsuit against the industry was in West Virginia. The decision came down in 2016. A federal court in West Virginia deferred to the West Virginia Supreme Court. This was a case about a man who was a CFO of a major company in western Pennsylvania. He became addicted to slot machines. He lost millions of dollars.

The West Virginia Supreme Court unanimously ruled that when West Virginia passed its gambling legislation, it said we have to weigh the pros and cons. And we are going to embrace the economic benefits of gambling and we are going to embrace it as a revenue source. And we have to push aside the impact this will have. We are going to rule unanimously that casinos do not have a duty of care to their citizens. Unlike any other business, they are exempt from having a basic legal duty of care to their customers.

When New Jersey passed a law allowing casino gambling, they included strict limits on advertising. Are there any other states that have strict limits on advertising?

Occasionally when there is pushback against the predatory gambling industry in a state, they will put into legislation loss limits, some restrictions on the amount of advertising. But then after a year or two, the industry gains a foothold and becomes the most powerful special interest in the state. They come in and say we are losing to our neighboring states because we have loss limits. We are not contributing as much as we should be contributing to the teachers, we are not funding public education the way we should be because we have loss limits.

Over time, the gambling industry gets what it wants. There is no check on their power. You need federal action. The states have shown that they cannot handle this responsibility. Its completely open season on their own citizens.

Richard Daynard and others who led the way in civil litigation against the tobacco industry have been writing about predatory gambling. What are the prospects for a mass tort lawsuit against the industry?

Its going to happen. There are many potential cases. But these cases are difficult to bring. To get people to invest their time, we have to show there is momentum for reform. Until the pendulum begins to swing back, the ground for civil litigation isnt fertile. In the next five years, there is no doubt in my mind you will see a strong civil case coming forward. But in the next two or three years, probably not. We are going to sink lower before the pendulum begins to swing back.

Last month, a lobbyist, Jack ODonnell, penned an article in Politico titled The Ugly Truth Behind All Those Fun Gambling Ads. He predicted that unless officials crack down on the flood of advertising, a national crisis of gambling addiction is coming.

This Sunday, Americans are expected to wager nearly $8 billion on the Super Bowl matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals, he wrote. This number is nearly twice the amount bet on last years big game.

What explains this staggering increase? Its not just the popularity of the teams. This is the first Super Bowl of the online gambling era.

Sports betting has been legalized in 30 states, plus Washington, D.C., thanks to a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned the ban on sports betting. Now, more than 100 million Americans live in places where they can legally wager. In 2020, the industry hit $1.5 billion in revenue, a 69 percent increase year to year. And in the first quarter of 2021, it is estimated that revenue rose another 270 percent. But it wasnt until the NFL agreed to allow ads for sports gambling on its telecasts at the beginning of this season that the betting floodgates truly opened.

He ends it with this:

In the business of gambling, the house always wins. They are going to make their money it is just a matter of how many lives will be ruined in the process before they are mandated to change the way they prey on their victims. This Sunday, there will be one loser on the field but as you watch the blitz of gambling ads, think about the millions of losers off the field.

How many lives is it going to take?

Right now, its countless lives. We have twenty million citizens in our country addicted to gambling. That doesnt include all of the people in their immediate family who are impacted by this. At least five other people are impacted by someone who is an addicted gambler.

The people who have been harmed by this have to come forward. If you are an addicted gambler in our country, you are treated like roadkill. How could you be so stupid that you could lose all of that money? Who could lose a million dollars on a slot machine? Dont you know that the machines are rigged against you? How could you lose $10,000 on $30 scratch tickets?

They put all of the onus on the individual. The only way this is going to change is the people who have been victimized have to come forward. And thats whats happening right now.

The United Kingdom has sunk lower than the United States. In the words of a member of Parliament there is an epidemic of child gambling in the UK. And now the pendulum has begun to swing back in the UK for reform. And the victims are driving the reform movement. The victims are coming forward and speaking out.

More than fifty percent of commercialized gambling profits come from people who are addicted to gambling. The business model is based on the addicted gambler. But if any state would stand up to protect their citizens, they would lose all of this money thats coming into the state treasury.

Over time the states have to add more and more extreme forms of gambling. States like Texas went from one dollar lottery tickets to $50 lottery scratch tickets. Citizens who are making the minimum wage have to work a full days labor before you can go and piss it all away on a $50 scratch ticket. And its being marketed as your fastest way to wealth.

State lotteries had their best year ever during the pandemic. State governments during the worst of the pandemic were closed, except for one government program state lotteries and predatory gambling. People were spending their public subsidy checks on lottery tickets.

This is a tax on poor people which are primarily black and brown folks. We continue to shift the tax burden from the wealthy and the middle class to lower income people.

Over the next eight years, the American people are going to lose over one trillion dollars of personal wealth to government sanctioned gambling. If we cut the amount of gambling losses by fifty percent over the next eight years, thats $500 billion that you would put back into the daily lives of the American people. There isnt another policy reform idea from the left or the right that comes close to saving that amount of money.

Who in Congress is standing up to the gambling lobby?

Right now, virtually nobody.

[For the complete q/a format Interview with Les Bernal, see 36 Corporate Crime Reporter 9 (12), Monday February 28, 2022, print edition only.]

Read more here:

Les Bernal on the Normalization of Predatory Gambling - Corporate Crime Reporter

Finland houses just two land-based casinos, but this has not prevented the casino industry from being one of the countrys most popular sectors as Finland is the worlds fifth gambling economy which is rather impressive considering its population of 5,5 million. A lot of those Finns have increasingly shown to rather access their favourite games via online casino websites instead of brick-and-mortar venues. Although the growth of the online casino industry has had many across the globe surprised, most operators have already started targeting Finnish players.

And there are more and more operators from around the world believed to open their services for players based in Finland. The pace of this will depend on the decisions made on a legal level, however, as Finland has been facing a challenging time in recent months that has led to more questions than answers among stakeholders. The gambling space in Finland once had a promising beginning; it started with just the Payazzo machine in the 20s which is a typical Finnish gambling arcade game. The gambling space in Finland has come from far compared to where it stands today, but most importantly, it has seen new laws come into effect earlier this year to better control how users access their preferred markets. Find out how gambling and gambling laws have changed over the years in Finland. Youre about to learn everything about gambling in Finland and its future.

The Parliament in Finland adopted a new gambling law a few days before Christmas 2021, and the law came into force a few weeks later on January 1st, 2022. A few points in the law were granted a transitional period, which is why some of the reforms will only be addressed later, at the latest in 2023. The major changes, however, have already been introduced via what is referred to as the new Lottery Act. The government in the country initially stated that the laws main objective is to help Finland maintain its monopoly system of gambling and at the same time bring down problem behaviours caused by gambling as much as possible. In the past, the de facto goal of the government was meant to optimise the revenue for the countrys economic and finance ministry, but now it seems that this objective plays a smaller role when compared to the importance of responsible gaming. Responsible play now seems to be the biggest challenge of the new gambling law.

In light of the above events, state-owned gambling has got even more importance while offshore gambling companies are expected to be pushed away by the reforms. A major point of interest has to do with marketing and advertising of gaming related activities as the core principle of the gambling law reforms is to restrict advertising for offshore companies in Finland as much as possible. While this was banned in Finland even in the previous law, offshore companies have shown to avoid this ban via social media marketing which now needs to be tackled even more by local gaming authorities. The new Lottery Act applies even stricter rules to assure that non-regulated companies are kept away from promoting their products and services in Finland. The law came into effect within a very short period of time as it was only proposed a few months before, in September 2021.

Since the end of the Second World War the Finnish government has enjoyed a significant monopoly in the gambling sector and it is not likely that this will change any time soon considering its role in the new gambling law. Every stakeholder in the gambling space has to directly answer to the authority of Veikkaus, meaning the industry remains under complete government control for many years, as it has always been. Veikkaus Oy is the state-owned betting agency that holds a status as monopolist in the country and will continue to do so. It was founded in 2017 when three betting and gambling agencies in the country merged: Finland's Slot Machine Association, Veikkaus, and Fintoto. The European Union addressed Finnish authorities multiple times about its policy which is considered as a form of protectionism. This is in opposition with the guidelines of the European Community (EC) that are meant for economic integration among its member states.

The recently introduced Finnish Lottery Act took effect on January 1, 2022 and gives Veikkaus Oy even more control of the market and the way it is marketed towards its target group. Many different adjustments have been made in the law in line with the government's program that is aimed at enforcing Veikkaus' monopoly position in order to supposedly reduce the risks caused by gambling the most important of which are directly marketing and promotion related. In Finland, as from January 2022 it is now forbidden to market any gambling platforms other than Veikkaus Oy. Non-regulated operators that do advertise are expected to face payment blocks. It hasnt been revealed yet how the payment blocks will work in practice or how they are introduced as multiple financial institutions communicated that it is difficult to detect all transactions that are related to gambling activities. According to local experts, gambling related payment blocks arent expected to come into effect before January 1, 2023.

Players based in Finland who are wondering why online casino marketing campaigns have stopped to be shown, will understand by now that this is because of the previously mentioned warnings made by the Finnish government to offshore operators who have largely shown to respect the new rules. This has made the new Lottery Act successful so far when merely considering how it has affected marketing and promotion of foreign, non-regulated brands that still are allowed to market better casino sites in countries like Canada. Although most operators have shown to respect the new marketing rules, it remains unclear how the marketing bans are monitored by the authorities. Promos and offers remain available for Finnish players, but due to advertising bans, players are expected to go after them themselves. Coolbet Casino and Optibet Casino are two of the Finnish Casinos that have stopped advertising in Finland in 2022, but other complete casino groups have decided to do the same. These brands include major names like:

With billions of euros per year being spent on online gambling, the Finnish have worked their way up to become the 5th largest gambling nation in the world. For this exact reason, many online casino operators turned out to be happy to line up and target Finland based players. The best options that are available to Finnish players in 2022 according to local expert online casino web portal Suomalaiset Kasinot are:

Designed for Scandinavian players, Finlandia Casino offers one of the richest and most diverse collections of online slot games to be found on the internet. Available only in Finnish and Swedish, Finlandia Casino is considered a great choice for Finnish players that love to play slot games, table games, and scratchcards. Over 900 games are available in Finlandia Casinos lobby.

Suomikasino is an online casino that is exclusively designed for Finnish players. Suomikasino literally translates into Finland Casino and it has never hidden its goal to become the countrys most preferred casino ever since it went online in 2013. The lobby holds over 1,000 games.

A popular Finnish online casino showing the blues and whites of the Finnish flag which make this one hard to miss for any player in Finland. The colours used make this casino as Finnish as it can get and with a Finnish warrior taking watch on top of a treasure chest, you cant really go wrong here. Kalevala Kasino is an online casino that is targeted at players in Finland, Malta and Estonia.

Some of the newest casinos available in Finland might be recognised by players from other countries in the world as well as the websites youll find below arent exclusively meant for the Finnish market. This might just turn out to be a major advantage for players as these operators already hold other licences that are issued by gaming authorities that have a lot more experience than Finnish institutions that are completely new to the online market. Offshore online casinos tend to have larger game portfolios and bigger bonuses as youre about to discover if you visit (at least) one of the casinos listed below:

Thanks to the introduction of live casinos, the gambling experience has become a lot more realistic and interactive catering for beginners and pros alike in live games like online poker. Via a live video stream players can now view all the action going on, including the game host, game table, and casino floor giving players the ultimate experience. Live dealer lobbies help players bring the ambiance of their favourite brick and mortar casinos to their living room. It doesn't matter whether youre a fan of table games, game shows, or both there are always options available in a live lobby. As the number of Finnish live dealer casinos has increased rapidly, it may be a bit tricky to make the right choice in terms of trustworthiness, bonuses, and user friendliness. Regarding the offer of live games, the best Finnish live casino gaming sites have all the options that can be found in international casinos. Some of todays best live dealer casinos in Finland are:

Casinos can be categorised into all sorts of performance metrics, but mobile play is definitely one of the most important criteria for most players. Three of todays best mobile casinos that are available for Finnish players are:

An authentic Finnish online casino also means that the Finnish language needs to be available and there are lots of options when it comes to websites that use the local language. This gives players from Finland the opportunity to make wagers in their mother tongue and play live games that are hosted by Finnish dealers. Some of todays best options when it comes to Finnish speaking online casinos in Europe are:

Casinos available in Finland are also connected to several international progressive jackpot networks which is why players in the country will also compete for the major prizes once they make their spins on the most popular jackpot slots available in Scandinavia. At the time of writing, these are the biggest jackpots available to Finnish players:

Microgamings WowPot! progressive jackpot has been around for a while now and was originally featured in one of the first online progressive slot games. In 2020, the WowPot! progressive jackpot went through a statistical makeover, and the top tier progressive jackpots now begin with a seeding value of no less than 2 million (which is in fact double that of Mega Moolah). The WowPot! progressive engine also features 3 smaller jackpots: the Mini (starting at 10), the Minor (starting at 100) and the Major (starting at 50,000). The first game to feature the new and improved WowPot! progressive jackpot was Wheel of Wishes, but it wouldnt take long before other games like Book of Atem WowPot! and Sisters of OZ WowPot! were added to the progressive jackpot network.

Mega Moolah is a name that most jackpot slot enthusiasts will be familiar with as it is one of the worlds most famous casino games ever released, not only in terms of jackpots that is. This game by provider Microgaming was released back in 2006 and has managed to break multiple Guinness Book of World records. Most players would almost forget that the game theme takes them to Africa as there is also a lot of buzz going on around this game that isnt related to the game play itself. Although the trip to Africa sounds like a huge adventure, this is not a game to be played for its theme or visuals. Most users only go for this title for its jackpots while they forget about the rest. And its hard to blame them.

The game theme itself comes from Norse mythology and the main characters in the game are the Norse gods Odin, Loki and of course Thor. Clearly, Thor is the most known of all and as youll expect, he has a lot in store for you if youre a little lucky. If Thor happens to be in a good mood, you will end up with 3 bonus symbols in the bonus game. Your mission is to smash a hammer shield and if you manage to do that then a great prize awaits you. With three similar jackpot symbols to be found in Hall of Gods youll have a chance to win the jackpot. In fact, there are even 3 jackpots for you that can lead to millions of euros.

Mega Fortune Dreams is an all-time favourite among many players. This is partly because this is a game that is known to be easy to play and its a lot of fun too. That wont surprise most players as were talking about a NetEnt production here which continues to be one of the worlds leading slot providers. The RTP of 95,9% is slightly below industry average, but not bad for a jackpot slot that pays out millions of euros. At the same time, players have a lot to expect in terms of game entertainment. Mega Fortune Dreams wasn't a completely new game when it came out in 2014 as this is the successor to the Mega Fortune jackpot slot, which was released in 2009 and turned out to be highly successful too as youre about to find out next. Mega Fortune Dreams is offered in many Finnish online casinos.

Is the original Mega Fortune game that was launched in 2009 by NetEnt. Even more than a decade later Mega Fortune remains extremely popular among players from all over the world including those that make their wagers in Finland. According to the developer, its widespread popularity is mainly thanks to the simplicity of the game and the fun bonus game. The bonus round works with a bonus wheel and thus builds up the tension with every spin of the wheel. To win the Mega Fortune jackpot, all the player needs to do is activate the bonus game and you will be taken to the jackpot wheel. If you manage to make it to the innermost wheel, a maximum win of 80,000x awaits you.

Some casinos have their own pros and cons and some just happen to be pretty darn generous when it comes to offering casino bonuses. In Finland there are a few operators that have continued to stand out in recent years and in terms of bonuses we sincerely think the best options are the following online casinos:

Free spins are among the most popular bonuses and a lot of the casino deals awarded in Finland contain free spins. The casino websites listed below give away free spins to either Finnish players that sign up, existing players, or all users. Always make sure to read the terms and conditions for each casino and whether you can make use of the bonus.

The same holds for no deposit bonuses which are extremely popular among players as well as they dont require a deposit and still give players a bonus. This can either be free spins, bonus cash, or a combination of both. As no deposit bonuses dont require a deposit, terms and conditions tend to be slightly stricter. Make sure to check these out.

We highly enjoy everything about online casinos and we believe the Finnish gambling market is one of the most fascinating markets in Europe. This is why we always try to find the newest websites available in Finland of which we hope you enjoy them as much as we did during our reviews. Some of these sites get blacklisted, others get shortlisted, but most operators get evaluated any sooner or later, giving you one of the most complete platforms to learn more about the best Finnish online casinos available. In order to come up with a complete review we work with a large number of performance metrics that we summarised below. Please note that these performance metrics include a lot more specific metrics.

Strong licences are crucial for online casinos while theyre trying to build a strong reputation. A licence will make sure a site is frequently audited and for an online casino to obtain and maintain a licence itll need to meet high standards as most gaming authorities are part of governmental organisations which means they have to follow the local rules and laws at all times. If casinos fail to meet the local laws, they risk losing their licence which means they will need to shut down their operations in that respective jurisdiction. The online casinos we recommend hold a licence and are all audited by independent institutions. Part of the licensing pays close attention to the consumers safety and security. This stretches to both (financial) data security and responsible play.

In order to find the ultimate casino experience, players will need to feel comfortable at a casino for a longer period of time which is why customer support is one of the most crucial factors. It is one of the ways to both gain and retain customers. Were glad to say that online casinos in Finland are like any other online operating business which are known to work very efficiently when it comes to customer satisfaction and providing immediate support. We make sure to test all of the customer support desks ourselves and share our experiences with our readers. Good support desks are professional, responsive, and customer friendly. Those that operate in Finland widely use the Finnish language as well.

There are very few industries that require its operators to have such a strong reputation as the online casino business as competition is fierce. As online casinos in Finland pop up like daisies it is crucial for any business to convince its visitors that it offers a platform that can be trusted and is considered stable. One of the ways to keep players on board is by having a strong brand reputation which is why we perform a vast background check on the company, looking into where it's registered and who runs it. Although a casino website might be brand new, the company behind it may be highly experienced, giving the user a lot more confidence. Part of enjoying a lot of experience is that casinos that have been around for a while are known to already have deals with major game providers. This means that players should be able to count on the best games and large game portfolios.

As most users sign up at a casino to play with real money, depositing money will need to be easy and trouble free as online gaming is considered an immediate need. Once you sign up at a casino you want to be able to immediately enjoy the fun which is why the banking process needs to be both efficient and fast. Luckily, this has turned out to be a lot easier in recent years as there are lots of e-wallets available that have speeded up online transactions. Finland also houses a lot of Pay N Play casinos which make it possible to pay and immediately play, not requiring players to create an account themselves.

Proper online casinos offer proper payouts, basically meaning that payouts should be as fast as the deposits. Most online casinos work with daily, weekly, and monthly payout limits and the main idea is that their limits should be fair to enjoy your wins as fast as possible. Do note that every casino needs to perform an identity check before letting a customer withdraw his or her money. This is imposed by the government and international Know your Customer (KYC) and Anti-money laundering (AML)-standards, not by the casino. Other than that, withdrawals should be processed rapidly making it possible for players to enjoy their winnings within a short period of time after having requested the withdrawal.

Finlands gambing space was widely known to be relatively stable, but recent changes are expected to shake up the gambling industry in the country and time will need to tell whether this is for good or for bad. Finland has come to this point because the government wants to be able to stop offshore operators from targeting their nationals. The new law is expected to give local authorities even more control over its own players. As such, the government has decided to set up tighter measures to promote responsible gambling, centralising the offer, and simultaneously blocking offshore companies from marketing their products in Finland. What the government wants to continue to do is to stay in charge and show authority over the gaming space in its own territory. At the same time, many casinos from other countries remain open for Finnish players and continue to be highly interesting alternatives as most of them hold even stronger licences, bigger game assortments, and better bonuses than those that are brought to the market by state owned Veikkaus Oy. Our expectation? That the limited amount of legal options might just push them further away from Finnish casinos to the thousands of sites available offshore.

Disclaimer: Play responsibly. Players must be over 18. For help visit https://www.gamcare.org.uk/.

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The Finnish casino landscape in 2022 - Times of Malta