Each week, CasinoBeats breaks down the numbers behind some of the industry’s most interesting stories. A prevented strike in Canada, UK problem gambling data, action being urged on loot boxes, a Caesars financial penalty, and long awaited Sydney gaming start date for Crown Resorts all feature in our latest headlines recap.
2020
GambleAware called on the UK’s new government to consider taking legislative action on the use of loot boxes in video games, with it noted that this should be with regards to “limiting the access of children and young people to these products”.
This came after a Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport inquiry ruled against taking legislative action following a two-year investigation into the virtual items.
After opening a call for evidence in 2020, the government suggested that the purchase of loot boxes should be made unavailable to children and young people unless they are approved by a parent or guardian.
Furthermore, a working group will also be convened to unite games companies, platforms and regulatory bodies to develop industry-led protocols to protect players and reduce the risk of harm. This will include measures such as parental controls, and making sure transparent, accessible information is available to all players.
8
Crown Resorts is to officially open the gaming operations at the group’s A$2.2bn (US$1.7bn) Crown Sydney Hotel Resort next month after receiving the regulatory green-light during June.
This came after the 2021 Bergin Inquiry deemed Crown as an unsuitable licence holder, following which a series of investigations were launched across Australian state’s which uncovered an array of failings.
The New South Wales Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority issued its approval a little over month ago, with it now confirmed that a floor called the ‘Crystal Room’ will debut on Monday 8 August, 2022, before a ‘Mahogany Room’ debuts at a later date.
The company previously lauded a “critical boost” that it expects to be felt by Barangarro and the wider hospitality industry in Sydney following the news, with Crown Sydney expected to employ up to 2,000.
0.2
Year-on-year problem gambling rates continued to decline across all age group’s but the 16-24 year-old age bracket, reported the UK Gambling Commission.
This latest set of data, based on a quarterly UKGC telephone survey conducted by Yonder Consulting of 4,018 applicants, showed that general problem gambling rates dropped from 0.4 per cent to 0.2 per cent for the 12 months to June 2022.
The survey’s breakdown of problem gambling participation indicated a 0.3 per cent (2021: 0.6 per cent) and 0.1 per cent (2021: 0.1 per cent) split between males and females.
Participation among those between the ages of 18-24 was marked as the most vulnerable group with 0.8 per cent, up from 0.4 per cent year-on-year, with all others recording declines.
On moderate risk gambling rates, an increase to one per cent from 0.7 per cent in the year to June 2021 was recorded, with the figure for males, who made up 2,037 of respondents, remaining at 0.8 per cent, as that for females doubled among the 1,981 participating to 1.2 per cent (0.6 per cent).
Low risk rate declined from two per cent to 1.5 per cent YoY, with falls recorded across the board except among the 65+ demographic that recorded a figure of 1.2 per cent (2021: one per cent).
50,000
Caesars Entertainment accepted a $50,000 monetary penalty by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement for a failure to “comply with certain statutory and regulatory requirements” of the Casino Control Act.
This was due to the company “employing, for a number of years, approximately 49 individuals in numerous positions throughout various departments, including in the areas of purchasing, information technology, marketing, human resources, and credit, without such employees holding the requisite casino employee registrations”.
Furthermore, it was also discovered that the firm, whose Atlantic City properties include those branded under the Harrah’s, Tropicana, and Caesars monikers, failed to “maintain complete, accurate, and current records for each of its employees, including licence and registration numbers”.
88
Fulham confirmed that the club had signed a “record sponsorship” with W88, following rumours that circulated after the official Premier League Handbook 2022/23 listed the brand as shirt sponsor.
The agreement sees the Fulham women’s and men’s first teams feature the W88 logo, which replaces World Mobile as the blockchain-based mobile network becomes sleeve sponsor for the coming season.
These new kits were unveiled on Friday 29 July, before being worn the following Sunday by the men’s first team for the final pre-season friendly against Villarreal at the club’s Craven Cottage home.
45
The Kansspelautoriteit issued a warning to licensees regarding the use of promotional gambling products which could bring enforcement action if misused.
The regulator noted that it is seeing an increase in the usage of what it calls “promotional games of chance” which are deployed “to draw attention to themselves or their products”.
Licensees were reminded that they are bound by the strict advertising rules imposed by the Gambling Act regarding these promotional games, which are utilised as a means of boosting sales.
Similar examples cited included the promotion of soft drinks by putting codes in the caps of the bottles, or a like and win campaign on social media.
Such promotion is permitted without a permit, but a number of “special conditions,” that can be found within a code of conduct, do apply.
These include that a supplier may only offer a promotional game of chance up to a maximum of once a year per product, as well as communication costs of 45 cents being the only associated charge with “the greatest care and restraint” having to be exercised where minors are concerned.
6
Tentative agreements were reached by Unifor, Canada’s largest union in the private sector, and Great Canadian Gaming Corporation to prevent potential strikes from taking place.
Details will be released following the membership ratification votes to be held during the coming week after the threat of action, which would have begun on July 22 at midnight, was threatened last week.
This was said to be down to workers prioritising wages, benefits and pensions for Unifor members working at table games, slot, security, cashiering, food and beverage, kitchen and culinary, guest services, housekeeping and maintenance.
