Each week, CasinoBeats breaks down the numbers behind some of the industry’s most interesting stories. Today we take a look at pay and benefits extensions, Nevada’s regulatory investigations and loot box concerns expressed.
14
Dutch Gaming Authority Kansspelautoriteit has taken regulatory action fourteen times against firm’s who have advertised illegal online games of chance with terms such as ‘corona-free gambling’.
In all cases, the Ksa announced that it intended to impose an order subject to periodic penalty payments, which is an order to stop a certain action. If this does not happen within a certain period, a penalty will be imposed. In all cases, illegal trading was immediately stopped.
Earlier this year the KSA warned that advertising by operators, such as those labelled ‘corona-free gambling,’ will be regarded as a penalty enhancing circumstance.
This followed the regulator blasting unlicensed operators for attempting to “take advantage of the fact that arcades and gaming casinos have had to close their doors due to the coronavirus”.
47
The New South Wales Government’s Responsible Gambling Fund has issued a warning surrounding the dangers of loot boxes following newly funded research undertaken by the Central Queensland University.
Warning that the study “shows young adults are more likely to gamble if exposed to in-game purchases and loot boxes in video games,” it is asserted that “loot boxes bear a close resemblance to an (unregulated) traditional gambling product”.
The CQU research surveyed 1,954 individuals, with 47 per cent of the participants aged 12-17 with the rest between 18-24, about their gaming experiences.
Some of their key findings showed 62 per cent of the games observed offered loot boxes, with around a third of respondents having purchased one in the last 12 months.
32,000
Betfred is to donate £32,000 to the Stroke Association following their charity activity at the record-breaking 2020 World Matchplay.
The title sponsors of this year’s tournament, which took place behind closed doors, at the Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes from July 18-26, previously unveiled a pledge to donate £50 per 180 hit during the tournament, as well as a £10,000 bonus should last year’s total of 330 be matched or beaten.
That previous record tally was beaten during the final between Gary Anderson and eventual winner Dimitri Van den Bergh, who became the sports first debutant champion in 26 years, with the final total of 333 securing £16,650, plus the £10,000 bonus.
Furthermore, stars from the event took part in a special ‘Nine-Dart Challenge,’ with Betfred donating £1 per point scored.
156
The Nevada Gaming Control Board has conducted more than 10,135 inspections and observations statewide and opened 156 regulatory cases against gaming establishments since reopening commenced.
The update from the casino regulator comes following the mandated implementation of health and safety policies for reopening pursuant to Governor Steve Sisolak’s directive issued in May, with gaming operations authorised to resume after more than two months of closure from June 4.
Of those 156 regulatory cases opened by the authority, the board comments that it has filed three formal complaints against licensees with the Nevada Gaming Commission.
With none of those situated in the Southern Nevada region, formal complaints raised include accessible slot machines despite a Sisolak imposed mandate issuing further restrictions on certain businesses and failure to comply with mandatory face covering requirements.
3.3
Las Vegas Sands has reasserted and extended its employee commitments amid the current health crisis, with pay and benefits to be maintained until at least October 31.
Outlined in a letter sent to employees by Sheldon Adelson, LVS’ chairman and CEO, the move follows LVS detailing optimism at its group-wide recovery efforts in a recent financial report despite revenue plummeting 97.1 per cent from $3.3bn to $98m.
The tonality of focus on recovery across operational markets was maintained by Adelson in his address, as he commented: “I’m confident our business in Asia is trending in the right direction, but Las Vegas may take more time to recover. It is my unequivocal belief, however – informed by more than 70 years of business experience – that our industry will get back to a regular pace at some point in the future.”
