Category Archives: Gambling

Posted on: September 14, 2021, 09:47h.

Last updated on: September 14, 2021, 02:46h.

Chinas foreign exchange regulator has fined ten mainland citizens almost US$900,000 for illegal currency trades made for the purposes of offshore gambling.

In an announcement on its website, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) named and shamed the perpetrators. The illegal transactions were made either through underground banks or via domestic merchants point-of-sale credit card machines illegally moved outside the country, it said.

SAFE added that the instances were merely typical cases of violations. That implies a far larger crackdown is underway against those who use illegal foreign exchanges for gambling overseas.

The regulator said its actions had strengthened the supervision of the foreign exchange market, and promised to severely crackdown on the illegal buying and selling of funds involved in cross-border gambling, and maintain a healthy and healthy foreign exchange market.

Beijing has escalated its fight against cross-border gambling in recent years as it seeks to control capital flight and maintain the stability of the foreign exchange rate.

Chinas miraculous economic growth since the 1980s has been fueled by a massive export market that relies on the stability of the yuan against the US dollar. As the Chinese economy has slowed, it has become more important for Beijing to protect its exports, and gambling already ideologically distasteful to the government has become part of the problem.

Between 2015 and 2017, massive capital flight exerted severe downward pressure on the yuan, forcing Beijing to exhaust at least 20 percent of its foreign exchange reserves.

Beijing limits the amount that can be transferred out of China for personal use to around US $50,000 per year for each individual. These transactions must be carried out through a foreign exchange account opened with a Chinese bank.

But controls on the movement of money have created a proliferation of Informal Value Transfer operations (IVTs) across the world, otherwise known as underground banks. In many cases, these are linked to criminal gangs that launder the proceeds of crime.

Last year, Chinas Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced it had drawn up a blacklist of foreign travel destinations. Those are where casinos were targeting Chinese citizens, thereby encouraging capital flight.

The ministry has so far declined to publish the list. But its suspected to include countries like the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Casinos in overseas cities attract Chinese tourists to go abroad for gambling activities, disrupting the order of Chinas outbound tourism market and endangering the personal and property safety of Chinese citizens, the ministry said.

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Beijing Names and Shames Ten for Foreign Exchange Violations Linked to Cross-Border... - Casino.Org News

Whichever way you look at it, the Coronavirus pandemic had some positive effects on the online casino industry worldwide.

Although land-based casinos may have taken a hit on punters coming through the door when they were forced to close, this was made up for in the number of people who turned to iGaming in order to be entertained. There are several reasons why the online casino industry grew so much in 2020, but various stay at home rules throughout the world would certainly have contributed. With places like New Zealand still having periods of strict lockdown, it makes sense that people use online services for entertainment. It isnt just online casinos that saw growth during this time Zoom calls have become somewhat of a norm and people relied on internet streaming services to watch TV more than ever. With movement restricted and a lack of socialising opportunities outside of the home, it was industries like the gambling industry that stepped up to the mark and did everything they could to capture this new market of customers.

The Regulation of Online Casinos

Although the UK is quite strictly regulated now, we were late on the uptake compared to much of Europe. There are different ways to partake in gambling throughout the UK and all of them have their own rules and regulations in order for people to be able to offer them as a service. As things get more popular and/or technology changes the way people use them, regulations are often adapted to suit the current audience. For example, The National Lottery age limit was recently increased from 16 to 18. This was down to the access of National Lottery tickets and scratch cards online and in shops. As they become more accessible and it was likely younger people would start to gamble, the age was changed to make it more regulated. Online casinos and indeed land-based casinos are no exception they all have to be regulated in order to legally operate within the UK. The regulations that they have to abide by are monitored and changed regularly depending on how technology is evolving and how the market is responding.

Casino Use Over the Last 18 Months

There is no denying that online casino use has increased over recent months, which is probably what has led to a review of gambling regulations. The UK Gambling Commission are keen to promote gamble responsibly culture and as such, often tweak and change rules to help this be the case. For example, in land-based casinos and betting shops, the amount of money that could be spent on a slot machine and how quickly it could be spent was changed a couple of years ago. This was as a result of statistics showing that people were spending more money on slot machines and perhaps more than they could afford in some cases. As such, this was restricted further to ensure that being a responsible gambler was something that was being encouraged.

A Change in Gambling Restrictions

With the increased use of online casinos and the ever-evolving technology behind these, it makes sense that the gambling laws will need to catch up with this. In the past gambling laws have been predominantly about what is and isnt allowed in land-based establishments, but this way of thinking is now a little outdated. As such, in December 2020 the Government announced that they would be looking at the restrictions in place by the Gambling Commission to ensure that all gambling laws are fit for the digital age. This certainly isnt the only sector that needed to have changed the way it operates and what it does for its customers based on a switch to using digital products instead?

Initially, it was thought that the increase in the minimum age for National Lottery tickets, a change in online stake limits and a review of the powers that the Gambling Commission has would be enough for the restrictions to keep up with the iGaming industry. However, industry insiders are now wondering whether these will be reviewed again soon due to the continued increase in online gambling revenue.

Some companies have reported record numbers of transactions within the first half of 2021. This means that although 2020 was a big part of the growth for the online casino industry, this growth shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. As displayed by this list of slot sites in the UK, there is constant competition in the iGaming market meaning operators often resort to bonuses and promotions to entice new customers and as such, the UK Gambling Commission and the Government need to make sure that this is regulated and everyone is operating as they should.

What Changes Might They Bring In?

Although it is hard to say exactly what they are likely to bring in, it is likely to be around casino operators needing to ensure that the people using their services do so responsibly. This will mean things like even stricter affordability checks and watching for patterns where it might indicate someone is betting even though they cant afford to. Stricter ID checks are likely to come into play too to ensure that the people who say they are using the accounts are the people that actually are.

Stricter rules may come into play about how much can be bet at one time or even how many games can be played in a session, to encourage people to take a break from online gambling and not spend too much. The iGaming industry isnt going anywhere soon and it is likely that the growth will continue as technology adapts and games become even more exciting and accessible to play. But it will mean that there will need to be strict regulations in place to make sure that everyone taking part is doing so safely and without risk, including casino operators who will want to make sure that they are operating in the correct way.

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Will The Growth In iGaming During Lockdown Result in More Gambling Restrictions Long-Term? - Gary Skentelbery

When Tom Brady threwhis first pass in the NFL's opening game Thursday night, someone in Arizona probablybet on which Tampa Bay Buccaneercaughtit.

This week is the first time Arizonians couldbetonline betting on everything from who would winto the minute details of the game. The state joins 22 others and the District of Columbiawhere sports betting is legal.

Connecticut, Maryland and Louisiana might not be far behind as the states and the gambling industry capitalize on the NFL's popularity to entice more Americans to wager online.

"NFL is the 800-pound gorilla for sports betting and for daily fantasy sports. Its the one sport where youll see a lot of casual sports betters come out," said Kevin Hennessy, director of publicity for FanDuel Group.

"With nearly half of all U.S. states now live, this NFL season will be big for sports betting operators," said Andre Zammit, head of trading at Tipico. "Legal betting has reached its mainstream tipping point, with every sportscast integrating statistics and odds into their commentary."

Gannett, the parent company of USA TODAY, has a partnership with Tipico, one of the top sports betting companies worldwide.

And the interest in all kinds ofonline sports betting continues to grow.

"Starting in mid-August, the volume of bets has boosted significantly," Zammit said."In years past, pre-season NFL games didnt attract much interest ..., but this year we saw a real spike, and turnover has grown week on week through Labor Day with NCAA football action."

Americans have wagered more than $65 billion onsports, according Legal Sports Report, since 2018 when the Supreme Court sided with New Jersey's challenge toNevada's monopoly on sports betting.

In the three years since, dozens of legislatures have opened the doors tosports betting in their states.

New Jersey has since surpassed Nevada as the state with the most sports bets monthly.In June, sports bets in Nevada represented just 15% of the $3.68 billionwagered in the U.S., according to Legal Sports Reports.

And much of the money Americans wagered on sports in June was bet online.

While there are manyonline sports books vying for Americans' online gambling dollars,three companies, according to VIXIO GamblingCompliance,handle more than 80% of the online sports betting in the U.S. That includesFanDuelwith nearly double the market share of No. 2 DraftKings.

Goldman Sachs projects that online sports betting could grow 40% annually over the next decade, and investors have taken note. The BETZ exchange-traded fund, which includes several online gaming companies, has grown more than twice as fast as theS&P 500 since the ETF's inception in June 2020.

"I definitelyview it as a cultural shift," said Will Hershey CEO of Roundhill Investments, a SEC-registered investment advisor and sponsorof the BETZ ETF.

"This feels like the first year since the repeal of PASPA (2018) that betting is no longer taboo," said Hershey. "After all, even Disney-owned ESPN is looking to get involved."

Moregovernors signsports-betting legislation eachyear, but both Hershey and Hennessy see the growth continuing in early adopter states such as New Jersey.

With that outlook, NFL fans everywhere can brace themselves for an onslaughtof online betting ads throughout the season.

"This year will also mark the first time in history that betting-related advertisements can be run during official NFL broadcasts," Hershey said. "I expect theadvertising dollars to be flowing, reminiscent of the 2015 season when the (daily fantasy sports) commercialsdominated TV."

Repeatedat the end of every one those advertisements will be reminders of the dangers of gambling and where to turn if you think you've gotten in too deep.

Rising rates of gambling addiction area worrisomeprospect of enabling millions more peopleto bet on the NFL each weekend not to mention any other sport.

Not unlike what Robinhood's stock trading app has done for investing, sports betting legalization mayattract younger gamblers. A 2018 Morning Consult study conducted just days after theSupreme Court ruling showed "prospectivegamblers" wereyounger and lower income than current gamblers.

The study stopped short of asking about online betting, but it wouldn't be a stretch to think that mobile app use will skew younger as well.

TheNational Council on Problem Gambling survey raised severalred flags in its 2018 findings, among them:

More than half of younger gamblers had at least one indicator of risky behavior compared to older gamblers.

Sports bettors were at least five times more likely report frequent risky gambling behaviors than other gamblers.

Regardless of the pitfalls, with states such asNew York, California and Texas still awaiting entry into the online gaming market, online sports betting industry looks to be, as Hershey put it "in the early innings."

Published6:43 pm UTC Sep. 9, 2021Updated11:47 am UTC Sep. 12, 2021

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Six charts show sports betting's digital explosion with NFL season about to kick off - USA TODAY

Wheeling, W.Va. (WTRF) Its that time of year when many diehard football fans have been waiting for: NFL season a green light to put all bets on the table.

Local News from WTRF

You think of it as all fun and games until it could spiral into something else.

Its something that I dont think a lot of people really take very seriously, but it can be devastating.

And as sporting bets are on, advocates say addictions may spike, but gambling itself isnt all bad.

For most people, they can gamble responsibly.

Until it takes a turn for the worse, and, in some cases, it does.

Advocates say at least one in 50 people face a gambling addiction in West Virginia: something that shouldnt go unnoticed.

The National Council on Problem Gambling has recently released a study showing that people who gamble in sports are five times more likely than other gamblers to exhibit risky behavior, which means theyre on the road to a gambling problem.

And if you or someone you know gambles, advocates say theres ways you can keep yourself in check. In other words, dont think of the money as an investment.

Gambling is supposed to be about entertainment, not about an investment or a way to make money, and we found when people cross that line, and they start looking at it as a retirement plan or a second job, thats when they get into trouble. They lose money they didnt mean to lose, start chasing that money and it spirals.

On top of that, advocates says there are also ways that help you keep your spending and time spent gambling in line, especially if you gamble online or on your phone.

But at the end of the day, advocates say if gambling turns into an addiction, speak up.

The most important thing is to, first of all, I understand that gambling is a real addiction. Many people dont understand that, so when you do that and you sit and have a conversation with your loved one, its important to talk about it like its real, not that its a joke. People will say well at least this person is not on drugs, at least youre not addicted to alcohol, but gambling can be just as devastating.

If you arent sure you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to gambling, call 1 (800) Gambler, and theyll offer treatment options. Its free and confidential.

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Signs you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling addiction - WTRF

Baseball used to be the U.S. national pastime. Now, it may be gambling on football.

More than $20 billion will likely be legally bet on college football and National Football League games this season, nearly triple the $7.5 billion of last season, according to PlayUSA, a gambling information service, MarketWatch reports.

Thats good for sports-gambling-related companies, such as DraftKings (DKNG) - Get DraftKings Inc. (DKNG) Report, Penn National Gaming (PENN) - Get Penn National Gaming, Inc. Reportand Flutter Entertainment PDYPF, owner of FanDuel.

The spreading legalization of sports gambling is fueling the trend, PlayUSA analyst Dustin Gouker told the news service. More than 20 states and Washington enable sports betting.

Propelled by the launch earlier this year of legal sports betting in relatively large states like Michigan and Virginia, in addition to states such as Arizona that are expected to launch near the beginning of the NFL season, the U.S. market has grown significantly since the beginning of the 2020 football season, Gouker said.

The U.S. sports betting market looks entirely different than it did just one year ago. There is no question that it will be a historic football season unlike any weve seen before.

DraftKings recently traded at $64.55, up 1%, and has gained 17% over the past three months amid optimism about the outlook for sports gambling.

Penn National recently traded at $84.89, up 1%, and has surged 18% in the past month.

And Flutter was at $102, up 0.5%. The stock is off from a 52-week high $241.52 set in late March.

Meanwhile, Wynn Resorts (WYNN) - Get Wynn Resorts, Limited (WYNN) Reportreportedly plans to spend more than $100 million marketing its new sports betting app. The company's shares recently traded at $105.27, up 1%.

Wynn Resorts is a holding in the portfolio of Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS investing club. Want to be alerted before Jim Cramer buys or sells WYNN? Learn more now.

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Legal Football Gambling Seen Hitting $20 Billion This Season - TheStreet

Al Michaels no longer has to subtly refer to the point spread if a game comes down to the wire on NBCs Sunday Night Football.

Now he can refer to it directly without worrying about drawing a comment from NFL officials in New York.

Three years after the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act and allowed states to legalize sports betting, the NFL has embraced gambling as part of the landscape.

Nowhere will that be more apparent than during pregame shows, the occasional mention during games and commercials as the point spread is no longer a taboo subject.

Were in a brave new world of sorts. Ive always had fun by being the guy who could play a little bit of the rascal role because the perception of the fan was that the league didnt want any references to gambling, Michaels said.

So what I would do through the years is I would come in the back door, sometimes I would come in the side door, and now I guess theyre allowing me to come in the front door, which is not as much fun as doing it subtly.

It also brings a smile to the face of Brent Musburger, who did prediction segments with the late Jimmy The Greek Snyder on CBS The NFL Today for 12 years. Musburger left ESPN in 2017 to help launch the Vegas Stats & Information Network.

I guess I am a little bit surprised at how quickly the leagues transition from being completely anti-gambling, at least publicly, to being now complete partners with the entire operation, he said.

Much like discussions of analytics and Next Gen Stats, gambling topics during pregame shows or even games will be in moderation.

Christopher Halpin, the NFLs Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer, said networks can reference betting lines in pregame shows, but only to help contextualize game analysis or a broader storyline. There can also be limited displays of lines during pregame in graphics and the bottom scoreboard updates.

The NFL was the last of the four major U.S. professional sports leagues to partner with sportsbooks even though it commands the most interest and dollars.

According to Play USA, estimates are nearly $12 billion will be wagered this season on NFL games at legal sportsbooks.

The league has also partnered with seven sportsbooks, including Caesars Entertainment, which has a partnership with ESPN, NBC partner PointsBet and FOX Bet.

DraftKings, FanDuel, MGM and WynnBet are also among those who can advertise during games and other league media platforms.

The biggest change viewers will see is during commercials. NBC, CBS, FOX, and ESPN will be allowed to make up to six spots available for sportsbooks during each game one during pregame, one per quarter, and one at halftime.

Halpin said there is a limit because the league doesnt want to see games oversaturated with legal sportsbook ads as they saw six years ago with daily fantasy sports games.

Marc Ganis, the co-founder of Chicago-based consulting group Sportscorp, projects sportsbooks will join automobile companies, fast food, beer, and soft drinks among the large advertising spenders.

The people watching the games make up the market, a very targeted market, that the sports gambling companies need to recruit. So this becomes just a cost of customer acquisition, Ganis said.

FOX, NBC, and ESPN have all experimented with gambling-oriented features the past couple of seasons. FOX and NBC have run free-to-play prediction games offering cash prizes, while ESPN had a gambling spin during one of its MegaCast presentations of a playoff game last season.

ESPN Daily Wager host Doug Kezirian said the betting aspect on last years MegaCast shows that the NFL has come a long way in a short amount of time in changing its stance.

So far, 31 states and the District of Columbia have approved sports gambling. Arizona is on track to be the 24th state to accept bets when their approved sportsbooks plan to go live on Thursday.

I give them a lot of credit, how open-minded theyd been and how progressive theyve been in just a short time window, he said. So in three years, theyve gone from something thats, you know, against the law, embraced it understood it, kept an open mind about it.

Of all the networks, CBS remains an outlier as it has not partnered with a sportsbook. CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus said gambling information will not be a part of game broadcasts for various reasons.

Were trying to thread the needle with respect to how much gambling information that we should put in our studio shows. What is useful to the gambler but not obtrusive to the non-gambler. And I think thats a delicate balance right now, he said. When we think its appropriate, and it makes the telecast more enjoyable and more informative for our viewing audience, we will add more information when we think thats important.

Not everyone is happy, though, with the leagues new relationship with sportsbooks. During an NBC Sports conference call last week, Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy said that the NFL shouldnt be in a position where it promotes gambling, especially among young people.

Its a great game. I know people gamble. I know its legal. I dont want to see the NFL promoting it, he said. I understand times change, but again, for me, its just a personal opinion.

Viewers looking for gambling-centric information will find it on other shows besides the noon pregame shows. ESPN and FS1 have daily gambling shows and are also increasing their digital content. VSIN, which started with five hours a day of live shows in 2017, has jumped to 21 hours this season.

Even staunch gambling supporters know that distributing gambling information remains a delicate balance and that the approach of a steady rollout makes the most sense.

Theres still a big percentage of the population that will never put a bet down, and you dont want to tick that crowd off. But you cant put your head in the sand and pretend that there arent billions of dollars at stake based on the outcomes of these games, so its a tricky balance, said VSIN co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Brian Musburger.

I still think that the primary broadcast feeds will remain relatively pure to the sport. You dont need to overdo it with sports betting. There are other ways for that audience to be served.

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Gambling wave coming to NFL television screens - Chicago Sun-Times

Its no secret that lockdown restrictionscontributedto the popularity of online gambling which channeled its acceptance as a leisure activity. But what are the key factors driving global consumers to gamble? And, when it comes to non-gamblers, whats making them wary of gambling?

Global consumers are gambling for fun

International data from YouGovreveals that two in fiveglobalconsumersgamble for fun (41%). This view is most pervasive in Great Britain (49%), US (48%),Australia (48%), Sweden (47%)andurbanMexico (46%). Not too far behind are those who gamble to fantasize about winning (31%). More than a quarter of global gamblers play to win big, while just one in ten (11%) feelitsa reliable way to make moneyor is just part of their routine.

Gamblers who play to win bigwish to winan expensive prize

Digging deeper into the data suggests that its poker players (61%), followed by online sports, esports and slot bettors who cite fun as the top motivator for gambling (57%, 55% and 53% respectively). On the other end of the spectrum, those who fantasize about winning are most likely to be lottery draw participants (42%). Gamblers playing to win bigaremorelikelyto have bought alucky drawticket to win an expensive prize such as a car, house, or holiday (40%).

Inadequate money: a reason to stay away from gambling

A plurality ofnon-gamblersgloballybelievethat there is noparticular reasontheydontgambleonline(28%) indicatingthat theres scope for marketers to convince this grouponcegiventhe right insights about their attitude and behaviors. However,itsworth noting thatnearly aquarterbelieve they are unlikely to win big (23%)and one in fiveare short of money to gamble (22%). Just11% say it is morally wrongwhile10% say that theydonthave the time to gamble.

Gambling is a subject of discussion for US adults

American consumers are slightly more likely than global consumers to gamble for fun (48% vs 41%). Butthatsnot the only driving motivator for US adults to gamble a quarter here sayit enhancestheir experience on what theyrebetting on(26%).When asked about the barriers to gamblingonline,more thana quarter in the US are either short of money or feel that the odds are stacked against them(27% and 26% respectively). Only one in ten (9%) say that its against their beliefs.

One in five British gamblers want to win big

More than a quarterof Britsgamble to fantasize about winning (27%) while up to a fifth want to win big (20%).On the flip side,when asked about the barriers to gamblingonline,nearly one infivenon-gamblers here tell us thatithasnt occurred to them (20%) suggestingan opportunity for gambling companies to focus on this audience.Furtherdown the list are 11% of non-gamblers who feel that gambling is morally wrong.

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Unlock gambling insights now withYouGov Global Gambling Profiles

Methodology:The data is based on the interviews of adults aged 18 and over in 13 markets with sample sizes varyingbetween 1034 and2107for each market. All interviews were conducted online inMarch2021. Data from each market uses a nationally representative sample apart from Mexico and India, which use urban representative samples.

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Global: Motivators and barriers to gambling - YouGov US

Editor's note: A lot happened this week, so here's your chance to get caught up. Read on for the week's most popular headlines.

1.Choctaw resort debuts new hotel and casino 2 hours' drive from Fort Worth.An entertainment destination for many North Texans has opened a much anticipated major expansion: Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, Oklahoma, has debuted the new Sky Tower Hotel and a casino, expanding its status as a quick getaway destination.

2.Fort Worth's iconic Paris Coffee Shop presses pause for renovations. Fort Worth is facing a breakfast crisis, but it's only short-term: Paris Coffee Shop, one of the city's oldest restaurants, closed for renovation at the end of lunch service September 3. The breakfast-lunch icon at 704 W. Magnolia Ave. in the Near Southside will reopen at the same location in early 2022 but with a fresh face.

3.These are the 12 best things to do in Fort Worth this weekend. It's a concert-heavy weekend around Fort Worth, with five different concerts taking place at various venues. There's also a theater/dance festival, great stand-up comedy, a movie about tennis, a horror movie convention, the start of the Halloween season, an open house for area art galleries, and an Italian car showcase. These are the best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend.

4.Second Rodeo Brewing beer garden opens in Fort Worth's Stockyards. A new brewery and live music venue is coming to Fort Worth's Stockyards. Called Second Rodeo Brewing, it's an indoor/outdoor destination from the team behind the Truck Yard beer garden chain, and will open at Mule Alley at 122 E. Exchange Ave. on Thursday, September 16.

5.Here's your big shot for single tickets to Hamilton in Fort Worth.Hamilton tickets, the reprise: Single tickets for the rescheduled run of Hamilton, January 18-February 6, 2022 at Bass Performance Hall, will go on sale to the public at 10 am Monday, September 13, producer Jeffery Seller and Performing Arts Fort Worth have revealed.And there's only one way to get them.

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Gambling resort's expansion wins week's hottest Fort Worth headline - culturemap.com

Jessica Haworth07 September 2021 at 11:06 UTC Updated: 07 September 2021 at 15:01 UTC

Nevada-based hospitality firm confirms cyber-attack on its networks

A cyber-attack on US fast food and gambling chain Dottys has exposed the personal data of customers, the company has warned.

Dottys, a fast food chain which offers gambling services across 175 locations, is owned and operated by Nevada Restaurant Services (NRS).

NRS said that malware was discovered on certain computer systems on January 16, 2021, allowing an unauthorized individual to gain access to, and copy, data.

Potential datasets that were accessed include customer names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, drivers license or state ID numbers, passport numbers, financial account and/or routing numbers, health insurance information, treatment information, biometric data, medical records, taxpayer identification numbers, and credit card numbers and/or expiration dates.

Read more of the latest data breach news

NRS has not yet released any details on the number of people affected in the breach.

It said it has contacted potential victims via post and has urged NRS customers to be vigilant and look for any signs of fraud.

More information on steps that victims can take to protect themselves can be found in the press release.

The company said in a statement: NRS has security measures in place to protect its systems and the information in its possession and NRS has worked to add further technical safeguards to its environment.

Following this incident, NRS took immediate steps to secure its systems and to conduct a diligent investigation into the full nature and scope of the incident.

The Daily Swig has contacted NRS for more information and will update this article accordingly.

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Data breach at US restaurant and gambling chain Dottys may have leaked sensitive customer information - The Daily Swig

An Auckland pub baron could face a fresh Internal Affairs inquiry into potential breaches of the Gambling Act following an investigation by Stuff.

An Auckland charity paid over 600 per cent more rent when it shifted six doors along the street to a bigger building co-owned by publican Parminder Parry Singh Takhar.

At the same time, the charity saw its grants from a pokie machine trust triple the same trust that had machines in pubs co-owned by Takhar.

The DIA cleared the arrangement in December 2018, nine months after a company owned by Takhar and business partner Jay Bath bought the building, the Saanjh Sports and Cultural Club moving in shortly after when their lease expired. But DIA may take a second look after DIA gambling director Dave Robson called the money-go-round very concerning.

READ MORE:* Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon rejects allegations of pokie grant kickback in historical investigation* Proposed million dollar Waikato tavern without a plan* Once a homeless alcoholic, Colin Bridle now fights the proliferation of booze and pokie machines* Cash-free pokies: a great opportunity, or a huge dent in charitable funding?* Trust says story about pub turning off pokies because of gambling mum 'less than accurate'

Financial records show the Saanjh club which runs Indian dance classes, sports teams and a senior citizens drop-in centre paid just $25,000 a year at their old premises at 129 Kolmar Road.

But when the lease there expired, and they moved to Bath and Takhars bigger building at 129 Kolmar Rd, the rent rocketed to $137,885 a year, plus almost $40,000 invested in fit-out costs over two years.

Saanjhs grants from the Grassroots Trust, a pokie machine trust with machines in 62 North Island pubs, also rose steeply once they moved home.

Saanjh club secretary Teejay Basra said their grants had grown because the club was providing more activities and had a good relationship with Grassroots. There was no link between the move and the increased funding.

He said the Grassroots money had not been allocated to rent, but to building fit-out and salaries.

The increase in grants was because we moved into a new building and had to set it all up, our fit out was the majority of the cost.

He said rent was lower than recorded in their accounts and was just $80,000, but fit-out costs higher, covering carpets, electronics and dance studio mirrors. The new building was bigger: It has worked out well for us.

He said Saanjh knew both Takhar and Bath as members of the Sikh community, but neither was involved in the club.

In 2016-17, Saanjh received $51,900 in grants from Grassroots, and $129,469 in 2017-18.

But that climbed to $163,812 in 2018-19 and in the nine months from March-December 2020 they collected $109,567. So far this year, theyve received $141,223.33 from Grassroots. The Grassroots money is their biggest single source of income.

Section 113d of the Gambling Act prohibits key persons such as publicans from influencing the flow of gaming funds, and from providing services to grant recipients if the goods or services [are paid for by grants]. It provides for fines of up to $10,000.

In a December 2018 letter clearing the arrangement, DIA gaming inspector Artie McClelland said a complaint had been received, but he had received assurances from Saanjh that their grant money was not going to pay rent.

A senior gaming industry official said that was a woefully inadequate response from the DIA: Theres a clear conflict of interest. At the very least, the DIA need to go back and say again, please explain.

Any funding boost benefits the landlord as the recipient is better able to handle the increase in rental expense being incurred. If thats not a rort, I dont know what is.

Saanjhs financial records show they are completely reliant on donations, principally gaming grants, to survive. In 2018-2019, donations made up $284,000 of Saanjhs $311,000 revenue, and rent made up $137,885 (plus $20,536 on fit out) of their $273,020 outgoings. In 2019-2020, donations were $359,000 of $365,000 revenue, and rent was $132,368 plus $18,000 on fit out.

The source said in previous similar cases, the DIA had banned grant recipients from receiving grants from a specific trust to avoid any perceived conflict of interest.

A former gambling inspector said this type of thing goes on all the time but it can often be hard to prove if well disguised.

One problem in proving such an offence is the grant may be given for something else, but padded out to include and hide the rental.

In a statement, Robson said: The Department take allegations involving the misuse of community grant funding seriously, and if what you have outlined is true, it is very concerning.

Like all allegations we become aware of, the Department first assess the information provided, and investigates where appropriate.

Takhar, whose extensive pub interests have included the Red Fox Tavern in Maramarua (with Bath), the Village Hotel in Patumahoe, and Rewa Bar in Manurewa, all of which had Grassroots machines, refused to answer questions, directing them to Bath, saying: I dont know much about any of it.

DAVID WHITE/STUFF

The Rewa Bar in Manurewa is among Parminder Singh Takhars pub interests.

Bath said his only current bar interest was the Red Fox, where he had changed his machines last year from Grassroots to another trust, BlueSky.

He said he now had no connection with Grassroots, that it was wrong for publicans to attempt to influence the flow of gaming money, and hed never tried to do so. He said Saanjh was paying a fair market-appraised rent (two commercial property experts agreed, telling Stuff the rental rate was probably reasonable). Theres no breach if there is any breach, bring it to my knowledge.

Asked if he was saying any questions were for Takhar, he said: Thats right anything related to Mr Takhar, I cannot answer, I do not have knowledge of it.

Asked about the grants, Martin Bradley, executive chairman of Grassroots, initially said: I dont know mate, we make hundreds of grants a month.

Responding later to written questions, Bradley said: This potential issue was raised in 2018 and the situation was investigated by DIA, who found that no issue existed.

Bradley said Grassroots were aware Takhar and Bath owned the building, and had advised Saanjh in 2018 they wouldnt fund rent, and hadnt, and had always been aware of the law governing such relationships. They had never had conversations with either landlord about where grant money should be directed.

In summary, we were aware that Mr Takhar and Mr Bath controlled the company that is the landlord and no grants were made for rent, fit out or other building related costs.

Explaining the grants, he said Grassroots had a director with intimate knowledge of the South Auckland community and a complete understanding of that communitys needs and the many organisations that do a fantastic job there.

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'There's a clear conflict of interest': Internal Affairs 'concerned' over potential gambling breaches by Auckland pub baron - Stuff.co.nz