Category Archives: Gambling

Implementation of a penny-per-push tax on video gambling machines by suburbs that adopted it generally hasn't been as swift as last fall's rush to get it on their books before a state legislative deadline.

Many that stayed ahead of the Nov. 1 cutoff approved language with a default effective date of May 1.

But last week, Schaumburg's finance, legal and general government committee recommended deferring implementation indefinitely. If formally approved April 12, discussion of the tax would not come before the village board until a member asked for it.

Schaumburg Trustee George Dunham, who chairs the committee, said the village board's adoption of the controversial tax last fall was to ensure it would remain an option beyond the legislature's deadline.

"It wasn't necessary at the time and we have no plan to implement it, but we're able to do so if the need ever arises," he said.

Waukegan and Oak Lawn were among the municipalities that came up with the idea for the tax last year to raise more revenue. When a state bill was passed setting a deadline for others to follow suit, some did so while the decision was still theirs to make.

Under state law, 5% of gambling machine revenues go to municipalities, 25% goes to the state, and the Video Gaming Terminal Central Communication System, to which all machines in the state connect, collects 1%. The remaining 69% is split evenly between the machine operator and the establishment hosting the machine.

The push tax would provide another penny to the municipality's share every time a player presses the button on a machine.

The Support Main Street Illinois Coalition, which opposed the tax for the impact it anticipated on already struggling businesses, said implementation remains a logistical issue as well as one of individual policy.

Travis Akin, co-director of the coalition, said software doesn't yet exist to effectively charge the player an additional penny. He added that some establishments in towns already enacting the tax have made a nod toward compliance by putting out jars for players to drop coins into.

"What we're hoping happens here is that people understand the difficulty of collecting the tax and continue to defer," Akin said.

In the case of municipalities that already have approved collection of the tax, he hopes more will follow the examples of Galesburg and Pekin and repeal it.

Hanover Park began implementation of the push tax on Jan. 1 in an effort to stave off an increase in property taxes. And Mayor Rod Craig said he's not been amused by efforts to pay for what's calculated to be thousands of dollars of monthly push tax revenue with a few dollars worth of pennies in a bag.

"They're playing games with us," Craig said. "I look at it as a protest by them. We're sending them a bill with a late fee."

Craig emphasized that he doesn't interpret the businesses t to be on the hook for the tax. But while some were able to count how many pushes they had in a month, others said they couldn't despite the machines being manufactured by the same company, he said.

At one business in the village, the January amount of the push tax was calculated at about $7,500. But by the due date of Feb. 20 the village had received only about $2.14 in pennies, he said.

"My village doesn't need higher property taxes," Craig said. "The gaming people are becoming millionaires. I want to put this problem behind us. I don't want to be taking people to court. I'm not losing any sleep over their losing a few dollars."

Mount Prospect and Hoffman Estates are other villages that adopted the tax with tentative May 1 start dates. Officials said the issue will be back before those two village boards in the near future.

Wheeling also adopted the tax last fall but without any defined starting date. Village Manager Jon Sfondilis said Wheeling expects to defer any further action until after pending litigation against the tax in Waukegan and Oak Lawn has been resolved, per a recommendation from the Illinois Municipal League.

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Towns rushed to get video gambling tax on books. The rollout hasn't been as swift - Daily Herald

Like most problems, gambling addiction is a complex issue that doesnt have just one solution.

Treatment for problem gambling can be as diverse of an issue as the people facing it.

As Gambling Awareness Month draws to a close, advocates are spotlighting the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in treatment methods.

According to Deborah G. Haskins, Owner and Chief Consulting Counselor of MOSAIC Consulting, less than 5% of community members actually seek gambling disorder treatment.

Approximately 100,000 people in the state have struggled with a gambling disorder, but not all seek treatment for various reasons.

For people of color, or within minority communities, those reasons are amplified by a lack of trust or belief that the system can work for them.

My mission statement is always going to say, how are we reaching the other 95%?, Haskins said. That is what I want us to think about moving forward. It may mean we have to change everything we have done so far.

Haskins is stressing the importance of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) in the approach for gambling addiction treatment.

Equity may be the biggest piece of this puzzle, as Haskins illustrates.

What we want to strive for with equity is the recognition that not everybody starts out in the same place. In order to provide access and provide health wellness, we have to recognize in our mission that different community members are going to need different accommodations, she said. We think that people have equality, that everyone has the same playing field, that they can access health equity in the same way, and they have the same resources even with the Affordable Care Act, but that is not the case.

As was touched on during our look at youth gambling concerns, Adverse Childhood Experiences play a role in the world of gambling disorder and diversity.

There are 10 commonly researched ACEsand their connection with frequency of gambling. They are:

The 2018 Nevada Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data showed that odds of frequent gambling was 69% higher among those exposed to three or more ACEs compared to those who had none.

The Adverse Childhood Experiences often are accompanied by Adverse Community Environments. Those include:

These challenges create a greater threat of problem gambling, and have impacted minority communities at a greater rate.

Haskins identified more direct issues within the different communities.

Verbiage is important for the black community, according to Haskins.

She says gambling is perceived as a solution for many within the community, not a problem. So, when treatment identifies with the words problem and addiction, that can deter them from seeking help right away.

If we are branding all of our awareness as problem gambling, we are not going to reach some people. As soon as they see problem, they are going to feel it doesnt relate to them because they dont see themselves as having a problem, she said.

Haskins also pressed the living conditions, social needs, and laws and policies as other key factors standing in the way of proper treatment for people of color.

We have to, from the beginning, include the race and cultural context in approaches to treatment, Haskins said. You have to able to articulate right out the gate that you understand, even though you may not know what its like to be a black or brown person and living in these experiences, but you have empathy culturally and you are learning about it more and want to provide a safe place. If you cant do that, most of these community members are not going to access your services. We have been very shy as a discipline, professionally, to really talk about race. Many times its not an easy conversation, but guess what? By not addressing it, it sends a message to a person that we dont see that their living conditions are true and valid.

According to the 2016 Journal of Gambling Studies, almost 80% of Latinx mental wellness patients said they had gambled in the past month.

Trust was an issue for many in seeking treatment, as they would first seek help from a close family member before looking for clinical help.

Those that have immigrated to the U.S. face additional challenges as they feel greater pressure to provide for their family when earning low wages.

People who immigrate to the United States, English is one of the hardest languages to master. It can be hard for English-native speakers, let alone someone coming into a new land, Haskins said. You have to learn the language, then you have to figure out how you are going to work. You may have had a vocational identity in your native land, but now you come here and may not be able to access that same occupational status. All these things create a lot of acculturation stress that creates psychological challenges, spiritual challenges, financial challenges and family challenges.

The Native American community is exposed to the harms of problem gambling due to their connections with the industry.

While the industry has been successful for many tribes across the country, it can come at a high cost for some in regard to developing addiction.

However, most guides on treatment dont specify the best approach within their community.

Haskins highlights the lack of holistic approaches to treatment, something that the Native American community feels is important.

Even in 2022, how do the theories and techniques and prevention that we use match the cultural communities, Haskins asked. Right now if you look for a practitioner guide on diversity, equity and inclusion on problem gambling disorder, it doesnt exist.

According to Haskins, there are three crucial strategies that should be implemented in improving the services for all people.

Haskins also stressed the need for treatment services to evaluate how they operate and provide more options to their patients. Those can include:

Are you really meeting people where they are? Because if you really are meeting them, you understand that using the term problem gambling, disordered gambling is very deficient-focused. It focuses on pathology, and people feel more stigmatized, Haskins said. We have to be very sensitive. We have to use different messaging.

For more information on equity in problem gambling prevention, check out the Our Voices Matter study done in May of 2021.

If you or anyone you know needs help with their gambling-related issue, call the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-270-7117.

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Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Needed For Gambling Addiction Treatments - Play Michigan

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Kiltarlity man blew 12000 of his grandparents' money to fund gambling addiction - The Press & Journal

Posted on: March 28, 2022, 08:52h.

Last updated on: March 28, 2022, 09:58h.

New Zealands gambling industry enjoyed solid results in its most recent fiscal year. An update from the countrys Department of Internal Affairs shows a 17% year-on-year increase in gambling spend across the 12-month period.

Gambling has always been a standard component of countries economies. Evidence exists that shows it was part of the entertainment ecosystem in Mesopotamia as far back as 3000 BC. Its not surprising, then, that it still enjoys a lot of interest today.

New Zealand has a lot of reasons to appreciate its gambling industry. The latest figures indicate that Kiwi gambling spend is on the rise, which means more money for the government, as well as the economy.

For fiscal year 2020-21, according to the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), gambling spend in the country was NZ$2.63 billion (US$1.81 billion). This is a 17% increase from the previous year and the highest amount from the last five years.

Much of that comes through slot machines not located in area casinos. This segment, which covers Class 4 operations at clubs and bars, rose 23% to reach $987 million (US$680.53 million).

The second-best improvement was in the TAB racing and sports betting segment. It trailed the slot segment by only 1%, collecting $385 million (US$265.45 million).

Casinos saw an increase as well. The segment reported an overall increase of 11%, as it took in $559 million (US$385.31 million). The improvement came even as New Zealands casinos were still dealing with COVID-19 restrictions and inbound travel complications.

Rounding out the list is the lottery. New Zealand lotto products captured $694 million (US$478.44 million), or 10% more than they did in the prior year.

Some, like Problem Gambling Foundation Spokesperson Andree Froude, believe this indicates a problem in the country. The average breakdown of gambling spend per adult 18 years old or older, if each gambled, is $662 (US$456.78) for the year. Thats only about what someone spends on a new cell phone and a Starbucks coffee.

The DIA, as well as a number of politicians in the country, believe that the slot machine segment needs an overhaul. There is mounting concern that their existence threatens society. This despite studies that show that, in general, those who could fall into the problem gambling segment only comprise 1% of the population.

Still, its enough for the government to allocate more time and money to review slot machines. The DIA launched a review of harmful gambling that could ultimately lead to a reduction in the legal market.

As part of its review, the government is also accepting feedback. It launched a public consultation on slot machines, giving consumers a chance to weigh in on the subject. The consultation period began on March 17 and will run through April 28.

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New Zealand Gambling Spend on the Rise, with Slot Machines Leading the... - Casino.Org News

Joseph Thaxter, born in Hingham in 1744, grew up sickly and impoverished. He worked on his parents meager farm until the age of 19, and planned to become a cooper. But then he bought a winning lottery ticket, and used his substantial proceeds to attend Harvard. After graduating in 1768 (and for a while thereafter selling lottery tickets of his own as a fundraiser for the Revolution), he landed a job as minister of the Congregational Church in Edgartown, where he served as the religious leader of the town for the next half-century.

Gambling mostly illegal has been present on the Island in one form or another for centuries. Although it was banned by the early Colonial government, historian Charles Banks found hints of card playing among the early settlers. He writes, The games of cards known [in Colonial times on the Vineyard] were Primero, Trump, Gresco, Port, Noddy, Gleek, and others not known to the present generation. Whist, or as it was formerly written, Whisk, was not developed till the next century. The card games of Pedro and Cribbage both became popular on the Island by the turn of the 20th century. We can only assume that at least some of these games involved nontrivial stakes.

There were other popular Vineyard activities, too, on which one could place a quiet bet. Thaxters lottery eventually mutated into the ubiquitous Vineyard numbers racket. Gambling was reportedly commonplace at the horse track at Girdlestone Park in Oak Bluffs. Then the slot machines arrived.

The history of slot machines is intertwined with the history of vending machines, which became popular in American cities in the 1890s, dispensing gum, candy, cigars, and soap. Penny-in-the-slot or nickel-in-the-slot machines could soon be found at county fairs, hotels, drugstores, cigar stores, saloons, and other public places. They were used not only for dispensing products, but also as fortune-telling machines, scales, music boxes, and, inevitably, games of chance. As early as 1893, some cities in Massachusetts were beginning to ban them.

In an attempt to circumvent the bans, a form of slot machine known as the trade stimulator became popular at the turn of the 20th century. Users of all ages would insert a coin into these countertop machines, pull a lever, and hope for a winning combination of numbers or symbols to align. But instead of a cash payout, winners would receive cigars, candy, or credit toward other store merchandise, and thereby it remained a legal pastime in many jurisdictions, at least until the law caught up. (One common payout was fruit-flavored gum; the cherries and other fruit-themed symbols associated with modern slot machines are vestiges of this tradition.)

For more than 50 years, one such machine was a popular showpiece at the Marthas Vineyard Museum. A miniature metal bicycle, its coin-operated wheels marked with numbers from 1 to 24, was encased in a wood-and-glass housing. Deidamia Bettencourt recalled in her 1972 booklet, Come Tour with Me, Both wheels are numbered, the slot at the side took nickels, the bell would ring, a lever would be tipped and the wheels spun around. If they both stopped on the same number, the men won a cigar. If the ladies won, they received an ice cream cone. The device was originally kept in Fred Bunkers ice cream parlor on Main Street, Edgartown. Sometime after Bunkers 1896 arrest for liquor sales, the nickel-in-the-slot machine was incorporated into bicycle-enthusiast Leroy Tiltons newspaper and ice cream store on Main Street, later run by Irving Willoughby, who in turn eventually loaned it to the museum temporarily. (Restored by the museum staff, visitors fed it nickels to watch it operate. Remarking on the regular whirring of its wheels all summer, a 1980 Intelligencer noted, Of all the exhibits in the room, it is the one that is most universally exclaimed over.)

Soon, modern slot machines arrived. I played the slots in Tiltons drugstore, served by Big Hutch, recalled John Canha of Vineyard Haven, referring to Kenneth (Big Hutch) Hutchinson, a popular clerk at H.L. Tiltons drugstore in Vineyard Haven (later Yates). I lost about $5 once, and it bothered me for weeks. It was during the Depression. It was in the mid-30s.

By the 1930s, Boston newspapers were full of stories of murder and crime associated with the growing racket of the slot machine syndicate committed by slot machine gangs in Boston and other cities. In 1933, District Attorney Warren Bishop declared a War on Slot Machines. Every nickel in a slot machine during the Depression robs a baby of a glass of milk, declared one editorialist.

Walter Renear of Vineyard Haven told this story: Fred Hall ran the general store on Cuttyhunk the summer I worked there. He was a rather profane person, and outspoken in his general dislike for mankind. There was a soft drink hangout that we young people referred to as the Night Club. At this location there was a one-armed-bandit (slot machine); there was also another at the Allen House (a Sunday lobster dinner and boarding house). Someone reported these machines to the mainland authorities, and they sent two State Police officers to the Island at night and via the Coast Guard. While one of the officers went to the Night Club, the other went to the Allen House. At the Allen House, not seeing any slot machine, the officer asked for a lobster sandwich. After Clarence Allen took the order to the kitchen, he asked the officer if he would be interested in some amusement. The officer responded in the affirmative, whereupon Clarence whipped away a closet curtain and revealed the slot machine. Clarence was actually trying to teach the officer how to operate the machine when the officer called a halt and made his arrest; poor Clarence, as you may have gathered, was not exactly of sound mind, was put in handcuffs and taken to jail in Edgartown. The next morning there was a funeral wreath on Fred Halls front door; someone thought he had called the cops. I dont know, but I think he was capable of it.

Late one evening in August 1933, the State Police raided the Marthas Vineyard Country Club in Oak Bluffs. While 150 couples danced, 18 state and local police officers (including eight Vineyard cops) seized two slot machines and roughly $500 of liquor from the club. (Prohibition would not be repealed for another three months.) The clubs manager, Marston Flanders, was arrested and a $500 bail set. (The liquor raid, which followed an undercover operation, also included two Oak Bluffs hotels and three private homes the same night.) Flanders, a Vineyard native and a dropout of Yales finance program, soon left the Island to become a resident of West Palm Beach.

But the raid did little to stem the popularity of the machines on Marthas Vineyard. Four years later, in 1937, after weeks of complaints by residents, police warned proprietors of establishments across town to remove the gambling machines from the Island or face arrest. Some did. Others were visited by plainclothesmen, evidence quietly collected, and search warrants secured. Then, in late July, the State Police staged a fresh raid across Oak Bluffs this time exclusively for the illicit machines. Led by Oak Bluffs Police Chief Gus Amaral and a contingent of State Troopers, six men were arrested at four locations, and nine slot machines seized.

Plumber Jack Hughes and his partner Sanford Webb, who held the three-year lease on the bathhouses at the town beach, were arrested. Here at the bathhouses, the most valuable machine was taken, according to news reports. An English immigrant, Hughes ran a plumbing shop for many years on Circuit Avenue. (His son, John, helped out at the bathhouses and the attached pavilion, and fondly told stories of his time there up until his passing last fall at the age of 99.) Webb, the 28-year-old son of Dukes County Registrar of Motor Vehicles Harry Webb, worked off-season as a chauffeur and auto mechanic.

At the Oak Bluffs bowling alley, Raul Maciel was arrested. An Azorean immigrant from Fayal who spent much of his life as a Vineyard Haven farmer, Maciel also ran the bowling alleys underneath Cromwells hardware store in Vineyard Haven (occupied today by the Green Room).

At the Tivoli Taxi office, Roy Danforth was arrested, and four machines seized. On Oak Bluffs Avenue, William H. Jones and William Wilson were arrested, and three machines seized. Wilson ran a store and billiard hall in Oak Bluffs, but also worked as an employee of Danforth.

There are no gambling slot machines operating in Dukes County, the Boston Globe quoted the police after the arrests, in an article subtitled, Racket Declared at End in Dukes County.

But of course, they returned. Historian Arthur Railton described the officers quarters at the Naval Air Base (today the Marthas Vineyard Airport) during World War II, which included a recreation building, complete with slot machines, off-limits, of course, to the ordinary sailor.

Horserace gambling was legalized in Massachusetts in 1934, and the state lottery was established in 1971. But outside of the states three state-sanctioned casinos, slot machines remain illegal in the Commonwealth, unless they are privately held, at least 30 years old, and not used for gambling.

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This Was Then: The gamblers - Martha's Vineyard Times

Betting on sports online has proved to be a big hit with Americans as more states legalize it, with gamblers smashing records on the Super Bowl and March Madness. But one group has so far proved more skeptical: investors.

The stock prices of leading sports betting companies have slumped despite the betting boom, raising questions about how quickly the public's enthusiasm for online betting will translate into fatter profits for the businesses behind all that gambling action.

Over the last 12 months, DraftKings shares have tumbled 73%, to $18.20 on Friday below the $20 the stock traded at when the company went public in April 2020. Shares of FanDuel-parent Flutter Entertainment are down 47% over that time period, while Caesars Entertainment's stock price is off 5%.

DraftKings reported $1.3 billion in revenue and $615 million in profit for 2021, while the Flutter division that includes FanDuel reported $1.8 billion in revenue and nearly $1 billion in profit.

In the short term, the main issue weighing on sports betting platforms are the vast sums they've spent on advertising and marketing to acquire customers a common predicament for younger companies seeking to drive growth by gobbling up market share.

Players like DraftKings and FanDuel have spent so aggressively that it has drained their cash, said Daniel Adam, senior analyst at Loop Capital Markets. In 2021, DraftKings and Flutter spent $981 million and $875 million, respectively, on marketing, promotions and advertising, regulatory filings show.

"That's really the main driver in the underperformance in the share price," Adam told CBS MoneyWatch.

Adam remains bullish on their longer term prospects, although he said it could take two or three years for the additional earnings to flow. At some point in the future, gambling operators will start to spend less on advertising and more money from dedicated customers will flow in and strengthen profits. He predicts DraftKings stock price will grow to $35 a share in the next 12 months while Caesars may grow to $109 a share.

Certainly, the explosion of online sports gambling stands to drive industry growth, with Arkansas, Louisiana and New York all legalizing it this year. New Yorkers alone placed $1.6 billion worth of online sports bets during the opening month of wagering, while Arkansas and Louisiana also had lucrative rollouts. Thirty states now offer legalized online sports betting.

Betting companies also are heeding Wall Street's call to rein in their costs and lay the groundwork for profitability. Caesars Entertainment CEO Tom Reeg said in an earnings call last week that the company is pulling back on advertising. For television and website viewers, that will mean seeing fewer spots for the casino company's and sportsbook's "We are all Caesars" campaign, featuring actor Jerry Brooks, known as J.B. Smoove.

"You are going to see us dramatically curtail our traditional media spend effective immediately," Reeg said during the call. "We have accomplished what we set out to do."

DraftKings also plans to dial back its ad spend in New York and other markets, CEO Jason Robins said during an earnings call last month.

"One of the reasons you see such a faster pace to 100,000 users in recent states like Arizona and New York is because of the competitive advertising, ironically," Robins said. "I think a lot of that is actually accelerating our ability to launch faster and to grow faster, and it might even lead to a faster path to profitability in states."

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Khristopher J. Brooks is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering business, consumer and financial stories that range from economic inequality and housing issues to bankruptcies and the business of sports.

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Online sports gambling is a home run, but not yet with investors - CBS News

Western Australias gambling regulator, Gaming and Wagering Commission, has been told by the Perth Casino Royal Commission it needs to lift its game when it monitors whether casinos are complying with the law, and beef up its own code of conduct.

The final report of the royal commission chaired by Neville Owen, who is also known for chairing the royal commission into the collapse of the general insurer HIH almost two decades ago, identifies weaknesses in the expertise of the gambling regulator.

It also finds that the companies that hold a casino license in Perth were unsuitable and that they needed to take remedial steps to fix their operations over a two-year period to become suitable again.

This makes it the third report from an inquiring body that has found Crown Casinos operations failed to comply with the conditions of the license.

The final report of the Perth Royal Commission also proposed there be an independent monitor to oversee a remediation plan for the casino to get back to suitability.

This recommendation replicates the tighter regulation and scrutiny of the Crown Casino business that was recommended in the Victorian and New South Wales inquiries that reported last year.

One of the weaknesses identified in the approach taken by the Gaming and Wagering Commission in Western Australia is that it did not have a formal information-sharing agreement with AUSTRAC, the government agency that monitors the details of financial transactions to identify money laundering and terrorism financing.

The royal commission recommends an information-sharing agreement be sought with AUSTRAC and that the gambling regulator get help from an external expert on anti-money laundering to help it comply with its obligation to better regulate the way in which a licensed casino manages its money laundering and terrorism-financing risks.

There is also a suggestion that there needs to be more detailed guidance on how a conflict of interest perceived or real could arise for a person working for the gambling regulator.

It identifies four areas in which the code of conduct of the gambling regulator should be updated to provide more detailed guidance for individuals charged with regulating casino and gambling businesses.

A prohibition on participation in casino gambling is already covered in the documents but other ways in which a person working at a regulator might be compromised needed greater detail.

It may not be advisable for GWC members to stay at a hotel at the Crown Perth Resort because there is a potential for gratuities to be provided, such as a free room upgrade or a free bottle of champagne, which may be perceived as benefits being provided by reason of the persons position as a member of the regulator, the report says.

Concerns were also raised in the report about the possibility of personal relationships between people working at the regulator and individuals working at the casino affecting independence and objectivity.

Personal relationships between officers of the regulator and officers of the licensee, if not properly managed, have the potential to compromise the regulators objectivity and independence and the publics perception of the same, the report says.

The GWC Code of Conduct does not explicitly identify how personal relationships give rise to conflicts of interest and how such conflicts should be managed.

Further and clearer guidance is required, the royal commission report says, on conflicts that arise from the acceptance of gifts.

Gifts and benefits, whether received or given, give rise to conflicts of interest. This is not to say that every cup of coffee or biscuit at a business meeting should have to be declared, the report says.

The Code could deal with trivial or low-value gifts and benefits in the same manner as the Departments Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality Policy.

A range of other recommendations for the governance of the gambling regulator includes the introduction of a board charter that gets reviewed periodically, and a board-skills matrix be developed so that the regulators board has a guide to what skills are needed to properly regulate the sector.

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Lessons for public sector in Crown Perth report

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WA gambling regulator told to lift its game - The Mandarin

On March 10, iGaming Business hosted a webinar on practical implementations for blockchain technology, safer gambling, and anti-money laundering (AML).

Many critics dismiss blockchain and the associated coins as nothing but a speculative asset attached to a distributed spreadsheet. However, as this insightful webinar shows, the technology is so much more than that, and it has the potential to revolutionize entire industries. Watch it or read a full summary below.

Introducing the webinar guests

This conversation involved:

Ai Ishii on why blockchain can help with safer gambling and AML

Ai begins by addressing the elephant in the room:why the heck do we need blockchain?She notes that blockchain is one of the most controversial technologies she has ever worked with, mostly thanks to thepump and dumpdigital currency industry and the 2017 ICOs that never delivered.

Ai notes that the industry has changed a lot since then. The first blockchain to be adopted for its utility was Ethereum, but its too slow,doesnt scale, and the transactions fluctuate wildly. All of this puts businesses off as they cant forecast the costs of using blockchain technology.

However, Ai notes that some companies have solved the scaling issues. The technology has matured and is ready for everyday use, but were still at the beginning of the era of adoption.

What are the main benefits of blockchain for the iGaming sector?

(i) Anonomyzing data using hash technology.

(ii) The immutable ledger develops trust.

Ai outlines the various problems blockchain technology can help within the industry. These include the societal damage of problem gambling in the United Kingdoma burden on the taxpayer of between 1.2 billion ($1.58 billion) to 2 billion ($2.64 billion) per year; and the increasing litigations against casino operatorsover 49 million ($64.60 million) of fines were issued in 2021 alone.

nChain has partnered with iGaming industry veterans Crucial Compliance and W2 to make player protection effortless and realize the Single Player View project.

Player protection in the iGaming industry with Single Player View

Drilling down intoplayer protectionin more detail, Ai outlines how blockchain technology and some of the products nChain is developing in conjunction with its partners can help.

In short, blockchain can free up lots of resources for operators, ensure data integrity and compliance with regulations, and streamline and automate manual processes.Single Player View will allow for collaboration within the iGaming industry without jeopardizing the privacy of players. Ai rightly says that to truly achieve safer gambling, iGaming industry participants need to be able to collaborate and communicate across jurisdictions. Single Player View will allow them to do this.

An open discussion on safer gambling, AML, and Single Player View

After Ais excellent presentation, Becky opens the discussion by inviting other panel members to discuss their thoughts.

Warren begins by noting that these problems have been talked about for a long time in iGaming and other industries. Understanding customers across a network of contact points is challenging, and assessing the risks involved is complex. He echoes the perspective that multiple checks and processes for the same customer dont make sense. Simplifying the process is whats needed. He emphasizes a need to balance these needs without turning into big brother.

Paul echos that there has to be a collaboration between third-party providers, companies, and regulators. Storing the same data which has been logged the same way is key here. What we need is the industry to come forward to set the standards, he says.

Nick explains how player information remains private. The information itself is fed back to nChains productKensei, is hashed, and then a certificate indicating the timestamp of the interaction is sent back to Crucial Compliance, W2, the operator, or other relevant third parties. All of this is anonymous to everybody else, but it can be made available to anyone who is given permission to access it. This can allow for various use cases, such as allowing academics to pull the raw data without compromising player details.

What do regulators think about this technology?

Nick explains that the technology is still relatively new to most since were at the very beginning of the adoption curve. However, he also says that theyre beginning to warm to progressive tech that will help reduce harm and enhance compliance.

Warren adds that there is a lot of confusion about what blockchain is. He notes that it gets confused with crypto and likens it to early conceptions of the cloud and how people used to confuse it with WiFi. He finds that talking about its benefits such as speed, immutability, low cost, and the ability to move data quickly helps. Regulators need to understand that blockchain isnt something to be scared of.

Paul emphasizes that at this stage, its all about education.Crucial Complianceis listening carefully to regulators and what they want. Single View is an amalgamation of those desires; its one way they could all come together in one product. He says that leading with the products related to affordability checks, KYC, etc., helps, and then the next stage is to introduce the blockchain as a way to unify and anonymize the data. Theyve been talking to regulators inGibraltar, theIsle of Man, and other locations.

How familiar do players need to be with blockchain and tokens to use these products?

As a player, you dont need to know anything, Ai answers. She explains that if you can use a browser extension or a QR code, youre already at the technical level you need to be at. The blockchain is on the back end, and players dont have to worry about it.

Warren notes that his own level of knowledge of blockchain technology is elementary. He understands the main concepts, but W2 doesnt know how to put data on-chain on a technical level. This led to forming relationships with Ai and others who can facilitate this. Paul echos this sentiment, saying that itsnChains Kensei systemthat allows his company to interact with the blockchain easily.

Not all blockchains are created equalfees, energy output, and streamlining data

Nick says that the key to solving many of the blockchains problems is simply mining big blocks. This allows for millions of transactions to be processed quickly, it provides for sub-cent low fees, and because there are many more transactions going into blocks, the energy consumption per block is much lower.

Ai also emphasizes that actual source data isnt stored on the blockchain. Only the hash is stored on the chain. This protects everyone, including potentially vulnerable players and the operators themselves. She points out that while source data can be uploaded, it will be deleted to comply with GDPR, but the hash will be stored in perpetuity.

Paul also mentions that along with enabling operators and regulators to request data quickly and assuring them that its legitimate and valid data, this technology can also help players to view their own activity. Often, players that overspend or spiral into problem gambling want to know where they went wrong so they can analyze their own behavior.

In summary, all of these aims to make it quick, easy, hassle-free, and streamlined for all parties involved; players, operators, regulators, and other stakeholders. It also means greater data integrity thats easier to access.

Watch: CoinGeek New York panel, Blockchain Solutions for Responsible Gaming Compliance

New to Bitcoin? Check out CoinGeeksBitcoin for Beginnerssection, the ultimate resource guide to learn more about Bitcoinas originally envisioned by Satoshi Nakamotoand blockchain.

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Practical implications for blockchain: safer gambling and AML discussed on iGaming Business webinar - CoinGeek

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Whether its Poker, Texas Hold Em, Baccarat, or any other casino table game, online gambling offers you an excellent opportunity to join great communities of passionate players and to spend some quality time having fun. Who knows, you might even get the chance to play against a professional online gambler if youre lucky enough, or should we rather say unfortunate?

One of the many perks to online gambling is that no matter what time of the day it is, youre bound to find someone else who is as free and willing as you are to play a round or two, something that cant always be said about family or friends.

And so, not only is your playtime unlimited but so is the space in which you choose to play. In addition to playing on your PC, certain platforms offer you the chance to play from anywhere youd like using your smartphone. A lot of online casino websites have a special application for online gambling. Here you can find thelist of mercurynews of best online casinos

To the limitless time and space, you can add as well the endless number of rounds to be played, given that many online gambling games depend on the other players gameplay and their strategic choices when it comes to choosing which card to play next. And endless rounds to play are endless rounds of fun: its simple, youll never get bored!

In her book titled For Richer, For Poorer: A Love Affair with Poker, Victoria talks about her love for poker players, saying she loves anyone who playes poker because they spend their lives in the card room, and that is all because they leave their time tick as they keep playing hand after another.

Sometimes life can be too much of a heavy burden to bear, and you feel the dire need for a distraction. Thats where gambling online comes in handy as it offers you a moment of peace where you can turn a deaf ear to the outside noise and just relax and have some much-needed fun.

The greatest thing about online gambling is that its not only a wonderful opportunity for leisure; its a way of staying healthy as well, mentally speaking, of course. At the same time, as you have your fun, youre also developing your mental capacity because you are always searching for the best way to win. Therefore, the more you play, the stronger your memory gets, the sharper your reflexes are, and the more you can concentrate on things a lot easier. The risk of a neurodegenerative disease such as dementia or Alzheimers decreases because the wheels inside your brain are turning nonstop.

If you are a usual gambler, then you know how tiring it gets to put on your clothes, drive your car to the land-based casino, then go back home a winner or a loser. All that effort means you need to allocate time for the gambling habit you have specifically. Meanwhile, online gamblers dont need to waste their time doing that, and on the contrary, they can just use their smartphones at any dead time during the day, like while waiting for a bus at the bus station or during the break time the company.

Although it would be rather nice to up and visit Las Vegas and to play cards on the tables or run the slots of one of its many glamorous casinos whenever we fancy, sadly, we dont always get what we most wish for. And so, gambling online just has to be the next best thing and with all of its aforementioned unexpected advantages, you may not be settling for less after all.

Please gamble responsibly.

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Unexpected Benefits of Gambling Online (Sponsored content from Hovhannes Serobyan) - Varsity Online

Gambling in Alabama: A high-stakes game of political intrigue

Advertiser reporter Josh Moon previews an exlusive report, "Gambling in Alabama: A high-stakes game of political intrigue." Read the story at montgomeryadvertiser.com

Shannon Heupel/Montgomery Advertiser

Alabama gambling bills demonstrate the Heisenberg uncertainty principle: the better you understand their position, the less you understand their momentum.

"Pardon the pun, but I would not bet on anything when it comes to gambling or a lottery," said Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, on Friday. "You just never know. It can look like its dead and then pick up traction."

And with just seven full days left in the 2022 session, advocates of the gambling bills will have to engage in four-dimensional thinking, determining the breadth and depth of support as time runs out.

The issue should come up at meetings of the House and Senate GOP caucuses on Tuesday, before the chambers gavel in. The decisions of the Republican supermajority there will be critical to the issue in the Legislature.

Two packages are pending. One, sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollingers Island, would establish a state lottery and use the proceeds for college scholarships, college debt relief and bonuses for retired employees. Another bill, sponsored by Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, would establish a lottery; five casinos; two "satellite casinos," and sports betting in the state, with the proceeds going to postsecondary education.

Both measures would be constitutional amendments, requiring the approval of two-thirds of the chambers and then voter approval. The Legislature last approved a lottery bill in 1999, which voters rejected later that year. Subsequent attempts to get legislation out have stalled amid a cold war between established gambling interests in the state and divisions among Republicans in the Legislature, particularly in the House.

More: They live in a state with no lottery. Here's the ice cream shop where they go to play

Related: Lottery and gambling suddenly hovering over end of Alabama legislative session

Each package faces obstacles. Albritton's bill has to confront House Republicans' traditional skepticism about casino gaming. House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, has never been enthusiastic about the Senate package. Albritton, in turn, doesn't think Brown's lottery-only approach can make it through the Senate.

"It creates another body of law that would probably be in conflict with the other 20 constitutional amendments that are out there," he said on Friday. "It confuses the law, it expands gaming, it doesnt satisfy any of Alabama's needs right now."

Brown said Friday afternoon that he hoped to have a vote on the bill next week, and said he thinks he has the votes to pass it.

"Im pretty confident," he said."We look good right now."

Both Albritton and House Ways and Means General Fund chair Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, also said they expect an attempt to bring the lottery-only bill to the floor next week, if only because of the shrinking window to pass legislation.

"I would think we're in for some long days, is what I think," Clouse said.

Passing the bill means complicated math. Rep. Reed Ingram, R-Pike Road, said Friday he would vote against Brown's bill in its current form. Ingram said he wants to see all the education funding in Brown's proposal go to debt relief for college graduates who choose to work in Alabama. Brown's bill does put money toward that, but it also allocates funds for scholarships for two and four-year college students.

Ingram was pessimistic about the chances of Brown's bill passing, saying he thought there should have been more collaboration with the Republican caucus. He predicted filibusters from Republican opponents of the measure if it came to the floor.

"If they do try to push it, I think it divides our caucus, and thats one thing we dont need," he said. "Were looking at the speaker, were looking at the people in leadership we're electing the next quadrennium. In my opinion, it's in our best interest to set it aside."

More: Alabama House erupts in anger, chaos, confusion during late-night battle over gambling bill

Putting gambling out for a vote also means less time for other pieces of legislation. Lottery fights can be intense and time-consuming: a comprehensive gambling bill passed by the Senate last year after months of negotiations fell apart last May after day-long negotiations in the House and a failed attempt by House Republicans to turn it into a lottery-only bill.

Republican gambling supporters have needed help from House Democrats to pass their bills in the past, but House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, said Friday they should not count on that. Democrats throughout the session have criticized House leadership for bringing agendas without what they felt was appropriate notice, and Daniels said a lottery and gambling bill would need Democratic input to win his support.

"Dont need me or want my help after you've baked the cake," he said. "Were not going to operate like that."

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Brian Lyman at 334-240-0185 or blyman@gannett.com. Updated at 2:51 p.m. with comments from Rep. Chip Brown.

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Will they or won't they? Alabama legislators face decision on lottery, gambling votes - Montgomery Advertiser