Daily Archives: September 17, 2022

Legal online wagering advocates like to say regulated apps will supplant illegal, offshore gambling sites. On Wednesday, proof of the claims validity showed up in a Brooklyn courtroom, where an indictment was unsealed charging six defendants for their roles overseeing and operating a large-scale illegal, online gambling business under the protection of the Lucchese organized crime family.

Thus, Rhino Sports became a footnote in New Yorks online gambling history.

Instead, the gambling operation that was in business from at least 2004 to December 2020 is replaced by headlines like these:

Even the geolocation provider, Vancouver-based GeoComply, said the same of offshore gambling.

Its a major defeat for the black market as bettors flock to the regulated sector, GeoComply wrote on LinkedIn six days ago.

One area of online gambling regulation remains unfinished in New York. Online casino and poker arent yet legal.

However, State Sen. Joseph Addabbo promises to return to the issue in 2023. Addabbo, whos advocated for New York online casino legalization for years, is seeking reelection in November.

The announcement on Wednesday about the unsealed indictment reads like every popular mafia movie.

Luchese [sic] crime family soldier Anthony Villani had $407,000 in cash, brass knuckles, and gambling ledgers in one of his residences, according to the Department of Justice US Attorneys Office Eastern, District of New York.

Villani, 57, of Elmsford, is one of only two defendants without nicknames.

Charges of racketeering and money laundering related to the offshore gambling enterprise are also pending against:

The Gambling Business was hosted online using offshore servers in Costa Rica and employed local bookmakers to pay and collect winnings in cash, reads the tale about the shut down offshore gambling site, Rhino Sports. Records obtained from the Gambling Businesss website indicated that Villanis illegal gambling operation regularly took bets from between 400 and 1,300 bettors each week, most of whom were based in New York City and the metropolitan area.

All but Praino were arraigned on Wednesday by USMagistrate Judge Roanne L. Mann.

A fifth defendant, bookmaker Michael Praino, was arrested in West Palm Beach, Florida, and will make his initial appearance tomorrow morning in federal court in West Palm Beach, Florida, Wednesdays announcement said.

US Attorney Breon Peace says his office will continue to root La Cosa Nostra out of New York.

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael J. Driscoll adds:

Members of the mafia are not giving up the tried and true methods of criminal behavior, even in the face of the burgeoning world of legal gambling. As we allege, a Luchese [sic] soldier and other family members ran an illegal gambling operation and offered their clientele the same twisted customer service: do what they say or face terrifying consequences.

Villani received more than $1 million a year from Rhino Sports, part of which arrived as US Postal Service money orders disguised as rent payments for one of his properties, the press release says.

It appears as though part of the offshore gambling sites downfall may have come from threatening the wrong gambler.

The US Attorneys Office says:

Between April 2020 and October 2020, Villani is alleged to have attempted to extort an individual identified as John Doe in the indictment, including by telling John Doe: Im telling you right now, you dont get this money [expletive] run away.

Its unclear if the attempted extortion involved brass knuckles.

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Offshore Gambling Site Linked to Mafia - NY Sports Day

Rod'sson Olliewas 18 when the first Covid lockdown began.

Bored, lonely and receiving an unexpectedly high income thanks to his part-time tennis coaching job being replaced by the JobKeeper payment, he began to bet on sports games via apps on his phone.

"Even though I thought I thought I'd brainwashed him into how bad these companies are, he just got sucked in," Rod said

"He ended up losing $25,000 with about five different agencies or companies."

Rod said his son would lose about $5,000 with one company, ban himself from the app in an effort to stop gambling but soon receive more ads and join another company to bet again.

"Ollie said in the end, he was betting on ice hockey in Estonia, because he could, they're always sending you a deal," he said.

After about a year, Ollie confessed his gambling issue to his parents and got help.

"His mother ended up taking control of his finances just so that he couldn't bet anymore, and he went and saw this psychologist who deals with gambling addiction," he said.

Ollie has now stopped gambling completely and is moving on with his university studies and his part-time job.

But the experience has galvanised his father to speak out, saying few people are aware of the extent of the problem and how it's affecting young people.

His goal is to see online gambling advertising completely banned, just as cigarette advertising was, arguing it's targeting children and young people who love sport and teaching them betting is normal.

"I've sort of made it my own little personal goal to have the gambling ads off by the end of next year," he said.

Rod is just one of many who plan to make a submission to a federal parliamentary inquiry into online gambling and the impacts on problem gamblers, announced lastThursday.

Labor MP Peta Murphy, chair of the House of Representatives standing committee on social policy and legal affairs, told ABCRadio Perth the inquiry would be looking at presentregulations.

"[We intend to] take a fresh look and interrogate whether the legislative and the regulatory regime is really doing enough in terms of harm reduction, and helping people to not fall into problem gambling in the first place," Ms Murphy said.

She said that would include looking at the volume of advertising.

"You just can't watch sport, particularly football, without feeling like it's everywhere," she said.

"And we're interested to see what the everyday person who is subjected to those ads and gets those messages, feels about whether or not [regulation] is working.

"You hear all the time parents' concerns that the way that children talk about who's going to win a game now is in the language of betting and they just see it as part and parcel of sport."

Kate Chaney, independent MP for Curtin who also sits on the committee, believes there is direct link between children's exposure to advertising and stories like Rod and Ollie's.

"Research shows that three quarters of Australian children between eight and 16 who watch sport, think that betting on sport is normal," she said.

"They can name one or more sports betting companies and, in fact, a quarter of kids that age can name four or more betting agencies.

"It's so normalised and Nielsen data shows that a gambling ad is shown every two minutes on free-to-air TV in Australia, so it's a huge issue."

For people ensnared in a gambling addiction, they say the ubiquitous natureof the marketing makes it even harder to break free.

Sandra'sson Williamhas lost close to $100,000, both in savings and borrowed money and is still working on overcoming his gambling habit.

With the help of his parents, William applied to the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering commission, where many online betting agencies are registered, for self-exclusion, which is supposed to stop companies giving him an account and from receiving communications.

"But earlier this year, he was sent a text message by one of these operators who was soliciting business from him, and they dangle the carrot: 'spend $50 and we'll add $100', that sort of thing," she said.

Sandra made a complaint, and the company was fined $13,000, half the maximum penalty for contacting someone on the exclusion register, a penalty she believes is far too low for targeting someone with a known gambling issue.

"It's small change for them. They were fined $13,000 but the text would bring in an enormous amount of revenue, so it just doesn't matter to them."

She believes William's data has also been on-sold and he receives constant emails from betting companies despite his voluntary exclusion.

She has suggested changing his phone number and email address but he finds himself in bind: the marketing may stop, but he could also use a new phone number to set up fresh gambling accounts and bypass the block.

"There's no escape, there's absolutely no escape," she said.

Like Rod, Sandra would like to see a complete ban on gambling advertising and she's also hoping the inquiry raises awareness among parents about the extent of the problem.

"That's why I'm speaking out, because I really want people to be aware," she said.

"There's so much shame involved with this, people don't talk about it, they keep it in the family, they're trying to deal with it.

"People are in a really bad way with not being able to stop. It's like a drug addiction, it's a serious public health issue."

For Rod and his son Ollie, giving up gambling has not just meant hanging on to his savings but also allowed him to return to the simple pleasure of watching sport.

"He said to me a few weeks ago, it's just great now that I can just watch the footy and just enjoy the footy," Rod said.

"Because previously, when he was gambling for a year, he couldn't really enjoy the footy because it was all about the money.

"He confessed to me that when we watched the grand final together last year he was totally stressed out the whole time because he had bet on it, he didn't enjoy watching it at all."

*Rod, Ollie, Sandra and William's names have been changed at their request for privacy reasons.

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Online gambling advertising should be banned say parents ahead of parliamentary inquiry - ABC News

Posted on: September 16, 2022, 11:40h.

Last updated on: September 16, 2022, 04:35h.

The Australian gaming industry is continuing to change. The latest moves include new spending limits for Tasmania, but loot boxes and live sports betting are also potential targets across the country.

Issues surrounding Crown Resorts, Star Entertainment, and other casino operators in Australia have instigated an overhaul of land-based gaming regulations. Accusations of money laundering, negligence, and more created an environment that left legislators demanding change.

However, Australia was in the process of revamping its gambling laws even before the operators exploits. One of the biggest changes is loss limits, and Tasmania will have new regulations within two years.

Beginning in 2024, Tasmanians wont be able to spend more than AU$5,000 (US$3,348) per year on slots, according to ABC News. The state becomes the first to introduce a mandatory pre-commitment regulation, which it will enforce through a cashless payment system.

Along with the hard annual cap, there are monthly and daily limits. No one can spend more than AU$100 (US$66.97) per day or AU$500 (US$334.85) per month. While the 12-month total would be AU$6,000, Tasmania established its $5K limit to supersede the others.

It will be possible for some consumers to change their limits. But to do so, they must prove that they can afford to spend more. Tasmanian officials havent explained how this process will work.

The scheme will provide those that are at the most risk of gaming harm with protection, in many cases the best, while having little impact, and I would argue no impact, on recreation or casual gamblers at all, said Tasmanian Treasurer Michael Ferguson.

Although the limits appear to be an effort to increase responsible gambling in the state, some arent happy with the announcement. The Tasmanian Hospitality Association, an entity that supports hotels, restaurants, cafes, pubs, and clubs in the state, isnt a supporter of the plan.

It expected the government to ban slots in non-gaming facilities and views the new measure as traitorous. The group said in a statement that the government promised to ban gambling machines when it won the 2018 election and now accuses it of having lied.

The spending limits may be irrelevant. ABC News cites a study that shows that the average annual spend for problem gamblers in Tasmania is around AU$3,600 (US$2,412). While the average daily amount is AU$200 (US$134), the amount for the year is well below the new limit.

A few years ago, researchers in Australia determined that loot boxes might contribute to problem gambling. The items, which allow players to claim prizes for payment, have been a standard component of video games, with the world divided on whether they constitute gambling since the prizes contained in them are unknown.

Now, the countrys government will look closely at the subject. It has established an inquiry that will explore loot boxes and live sports betting to determine whether they create an increased risk for consumers.

The inquiry will travel across Australia and gather feedback directly from consumers. It will also study an increase in gambling ads and the common presence of online gaming.

In addition to understanding how these activities might contribute to gambling problems, the inquiry wants to determine if its time to redefine the term gambling. The review committee will consider if the current definition is broad enough to cover the evolving ecosystem and the rise of social casino gaming.

Labor MP Peta Murphy, who will participate in the inquiry, emphasizes that the goal is not to develop policies to ban gambling. Instead, she says, its an effort to understand the role gambling plays and how the government can prevent problem gambling.

Once the committee wraps up its tour, it will finalize its report and deliver it to the government. Ultimately, it could be used to guide the development of policies, including loot boxes and gambling advertising.

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Gambling Spending Limits and Live Sports Bets on the Front Line in Australia - Casino.Org News

It wasnt exactly the sort of thing you expected to hear from a family-friendly, positive-values company like Disney.

CEO Bob Chapek was asked at the D23 fan-service fiesta in Anaheim the other day about sports betting. After all, the company owns ESPN, the high-profile sports network.

Were working very hard on that, Chapek answered.

One can almost picture Mickey Mouses eyes going wide in astonishment.

Not that its a bad business decision.

Sports betting and online gambling are clearly gaining traction in the United States. A number of state and federal bills are aimed at facilitating a domestic sports-betting industry.

One recent report found that the sports betting market will grow from about $77 billion last year to more than $167 billion by 2029.

Chapek himself noted that sports betting is a frequent request from Disneys under-35 sports fans.

Adding gambling functionality to the ESPN app, in other words, is a smart move.

But is it the right one?

Chapek told Deadlinethat theres so many dimensions of sports and were passionate about it, and we have a plan.

One of those dimensions, however, is that gambling can be addictive and can ruin the lives of individuals and families.

Not to be glib, but if a wholesome brand like Disney can embrace gambling in the name of entertainment, couldnt it make the same argument for Disney-branded alcohol or cigarettes?

After all, these too are leisure products that many people enjoy and ask for.

What about Disney weed? A Disney escort service?

I know such suggestions sound ludicrous, but are they any more far-fetched than a Disney-run casino (which is essentially what a sports-betting app is).

In the end, financial considerations will win out, and ESPN undoubtedly will be a leading player in online sports gambling.

But make no mistake: Thats no spoonful of sugar.

Its a bottle of trouble for anyone who gets hooked.

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Laz: Disney-run gambling? What would Walt think? - KTLA Los Angeles

Boxing legend and famous gambling enthusiast Manny Pacquiao teams up with online gaming platform M88 Mansion, which hints at holding exhibition fights featuring the eight-division world champion

MANILA, Philippines Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao has signed with online gambling platform M88 Mansion as its newest brand ambassador, the company announced on Thursday, September 15.

Pacquiao, a well-known gambling enthusiast in the prime of his boxing career, is taking on a hands-on approach to this new partnership with the so-called Pacquiao Mansion an online space featuring boxing, basketball, and MMA events handpicked by the sports icon himself.

I could not be more thrilled to partner with M88 Mansion with a special focus on sports. M88 Mansion has always amplified international sports events, and our partnership will surely take their approach to even greater heights, he said.

Our collaboration will offer huge promotions and much more. I am so excited to create new opportunities with M88 Mansion worldwide. I believe this partnership has the capacity to deliver entertainment in the most powerful and imaginative of ways.

M88 features betting spaces in multiple sports, esports, casino games, and slots, among others.

With Pacquiao on board, the company has also hinted at featuring the eight-division world champion in possible exhibition boxing matches and other unspecified pop-up activities throughout Asia.

The 43-year-old former Philippine presidential candidate already has one friendly bout lined up this December in Seoul against South Korean YouTuber DK Yoo, although this one has no connection so far to M88.

We are excited to have boxing legend and national icon Manny Pacquiao as the newest M88 Mansion ambassador, said Alan Wafer, M88s head of commercial.

Rest assured that M88 Mansion is fully committed to bringing out quality products on par with the legendary boxers status.

Following his retirement from politics after losing in the 2022 presidential elections, Pacquiao continues to be a visible figurehead in sports events across the country particularly in his own basketball venture, the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).

Rappler.com

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Online gambling platform M88 Mansion taps Manny Pacquiao as brand ambassador - Rappler

The newest Assassins Creed game, Assassins Creed Mirage, was revealed over the weekend during Saturdays Ubisoft Forward event. Despite the details shared at the event, the most surprising development seemed to come from the Assassins Creed Mirages Xbox.com store listing, which suggested that it would be rated Adults Only, and would contain real gambling (as well as intense violence, blood and gore, sexual themes, and partial nudity).

But Ubisoft quickly clarified that Assassins Creed Mirages listed AO rating and hints of gambling were a mistake. Microsoft has since updated the games listing to reflect that it has not received a rating yet.

In a statement to Eurogamer, Ubisoft said, following the announcement of Assassins Creed Mirage during Ubisoft Forward, some store pages mistakenly displayed the game for preorders with an Adults Only ESRB rating. While Assassins Creed Mirage is still pending rating, Ubisoft wants to reassure players that no real gambling or lootboxes are present in the game.

The initial rating caused a great deal of confusion among fans, largely because of how improbable it sounded. Very few games ever receive an Adults Only rating from the Entertainment Software Ratings Board, and those that do face an uphill climb to success, thanks to the limited places they are generally sold or allowed to be marketed. This is also why it should come as no surprise that the rating didnt stick, and that the Xbox store page now says that the game is expected to be rated M for Mature.

The gambling was also a point of concern for players, though that one had a little more basis. Ever since Assassins Creeds radical reinvention with Assassins Creed Origins, Ubisofts leveling system in the series has proven controversial, in part because the company has sold boosts via in-game microtransactions to make the single-player leveling experience faster.

While those boosts are certainly a far cry from real gambling, fans are already a little leery of the franchises microtransaction history. That being said, Ubisofts clarification that there wont be any real gambling or lootboxes in the game should at least assuage some concerns.

Assassins Creed Mirage is set for release sometime in 2023.

See the article here:

Assassins Creed Mirage isnt rate AO, wont have gambling or lootboxes - Polygon

Due to a perfect storm of factors including advancements in technology and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, online gambling is booming all over the world, with the industry generating a record-breaking revenue of $53 billion in 2021. Its never been easier to access an abundance of quality online casino sites, but with the increasingly tight regulation of European and international gambling markets (including online casinos in the United Kingdom), places that have previously been known for their comparatively inhospitable approaches to legalized online casino gambling (such as Canada and some African countries) are opening up to fill the newly emerging gap. If youre an African gamer looking to find the best casino sites to play with, you could be spoilt for choice depending on your country of residence.

Lets take a closer look at some of the reasons behind the rapid growth of online gambling in the African continent:

Whilst much of the investment in the African online casino industry has come from offshore companies with the end goal of expansion in the continent, its also worth noting that a key reason for the markets growth is the fact that sports betting, online gambling and casino gambling are extremely popular with many Africans. Residents in a range of African countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Malawi are especially well-known for their love of placing bets. Given this natural affinity with gambling, it seems only natural that the growth of the African online casino industry has been propelled in part by the casino-loving players who reside on the continent.

The influx of new online casinos in African countries such as Malawi has led to many regulators and responsible gaming advocates amping up their visible responsible gambling strategies. As stipulated by the Malawi Gaming Board, its essential that gamblers never use online casinos as their main source of income. Playing your favorite online casino games should be fun, fulfilling and entertaining, not about financial gain. If you feel as though the fun may have come to an end when it comes to gambling responsibly online, it might be time to quit or take a well-deserved break. With widely-practiced responsible gambling serving as a key indicator of development and success in any regulated online casino market, the rise of regulated responsible gaming in countries across the continent could be another key reason why offshore operators have been inclined to branch out into Africa in recent years.

Gradual changes to Africas famously complicated gambling regulation system have also had an effect on the growth of the online gaming industry, but the African continent can still be a bit of a regulatory minefield, depending on which country is in focus for instance, Tanzania has always displayed a far more liberal regulatory stance towards gambling than many of its neighbors. Because Africa is a vast continent made up of 54 countries, things start to get more difficult when we consider that each of these 54 jurisdictions can have its own rules and regulations related to gambling online.

Generally speaking, players in many African nations may legally access and use offshore online gambling sites, whereas the legality of domestic operators often depends wholly on the rules of their specific country or region. If youre on the lookout for the best online casinos SA has to offer, youll be happy to learn that many of the most popular gaming sites in the country are run by domestic (as well as offshore) operators. Some of the most popular choices of iGaming sites amongst South African players include PlayOJO Casino, Casino Tropez, Springbok Casino, Yeti Casino, and Genesis Casino. With the expansion of the online casino industry across the continent, it seems likely that the future of African online gambling will include a more standardized set of regulations that can be more easily applied to multiple countries or regions.

Since being first officially declared a pandemic in March 2020, COVID-19 has had a dramatic effect on all aspects of our lives. While the lockdowns related to the pandemic were extremely damaging for certain sectors (most notably hospitality, nightlife & entertainment and land-based retail), they have had almost the opposite effect on web-focused industries such as online gambling and online shopping. Its thought that more people started gambling online during lockdowns due to the fact that they were forced to stay at home, often accumulating more disposable income than usual despite the prevalence of furlough schemes. The cancellation of much-loved tournaments and live sporting events all over the world has been another key boost to online gambling, as more of us than ever turned to virtual sports betting and sportsbook sites to fill the void. While the negative effects of the pandemic need little explanation, its certainly interesting that the African online gambling market seems to have benefited from the lockdowns, perhaps more than any other emerging market in the world.

With the peak of the pandemic well behind us, countries all over the world have started to lift restrictions and try to get back to normal. However, the initial economic slumps experienced at its worst have been largely avoided or remedied in many African countries, with various economies thriving in the face of adversity. With an average expected GDP of 3% and a growing middle class with increasing levels of disposable income to spend as they please, Africa has seen unparalleled economic growth despite the turbulent current climate.

Along with economic growth, advancements made in technology have had an unavoidably positive effect on the rising popularity of the online casino and sportsbook betting industry, in Africa and indeed the rest of the world. With more easily-accessible high-speed internet acting as the key thrust, higher numbers of players in developing countries have been encouraged to start gambling online, while the rise of digital wallet providers and the recent crypto-currency boom have also been important factors behind industry growth. While its now easier to play and pay online than ever, the online gambling experience is also becoming increasingly immersive due to emerging tech such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Metaverse. With the rapid rate at which new tech is developed and released, its inevitable that there will be further technological tricks up the sleeve to be utilized by the African online gambling sector in the coming years.

If the past two years are anything to go by, the online gambling industry in Africa is set to continue to grow exponentially, along with its regional economy. As more foreign investors and casino and sportsbook operators establish offshore gambling services accessible to players on the continent, it seems highly likely that we will see more domestic operators spring into business too. Especially as national legislation becomes more gambling-friendly and loosely regulated across the region. If youre an online gambler based in Africa, the future looks very bright indeed.

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The Growth of Online Gambling in Africa - Nyasa Times