Each week, CasinoBeats breaks down the numbers behind some of the industry’s most interesting stories. A record financial penalty imposed by the UK Gambling Commission, and subsequent response by 888, dominated the industry agenda through the past week. In our latest recap, we also revisit fresh developments in the Netherlands and Sweden, an American Gaming Association plea and Entain Foundation and GambleAware funding projects.
17
The UK Gambling Commission continued its recent regulatory rampage after hitting the William Hill Group with a record £19.2m for a lengthy list of social responsibility and anti-money laundering failures.
In handing out its latest sanction, which eclipsed the £17m action taken against Entain in August last year, the regulator suggested that failings were “so widespread” and “alarming” that consideration was given to a licence suspension.
This financial punishment will see Mr Green pay £3.7m, while William Hill’s online business will pay £12.5m and a further £3m is aligned to the company’s retail operations, which counts 1,344 gambling premises across Britain. All £19.2 million will be directed towards socially responsible purposes.
Furthermore, additional licence conditions will also be added to ensure a business board member oversees an improvement plan. A third-party audit will also be undertaken to assess effective implementation of its AML and safer gambling policies, procedures and controls.
19.2
In response, 888 vowed to continue collaborative efforts alongside the UKGC after the group acknowledged receipt of the penalty package.
Reflecting on the highest ever financial sanction handed down by the regulator, the operator cited that the infractions stem from previous ownership. It was also noted that remedial efforts to address the range of failures identified were undertaken “quickly”.
Responding to the regulatory action, a spokesperson for the operator said: “The settlement relates to the period when William Hill was under the previous ownership and management. After William Hill was acquired, the company quickly addressed the identified issues with the implementation of a rigorous action plan.
“The entire group shares the GC’s commitment to improve compliance standards across the industry and we will continue to work collaboratively with the regulator and other stakeholders to achieve this.”
4
A fresh wave of certifications saw Nolimit City, Inspired Gaming, Finnplay and Play’n Go become the latest development studios to gain Swedish B2B licences.
Coming as EveryMatrix and Thunderkick voiced excitement at the growth opportunities presented via receipt of certifications, the Spelinspektionen confirmed the latest additions after suggesting it had around 60 applications to review earlier in the month.
Earlier last week, regulatory green-lights were issued to Yggdrasil; Relax Gaming; Hacksaw Gaming, and a pair of subsidiaries; Thunderkick‘s Maltese and Swedish divisions; Arland Gesellschaft Fur Informationstechnologie and EveryMatrix.
They joined SkillOnNet and Synot Games and Swedish group Programutvecklarna i Norrköping, who previously became the first three licensees.
2022
Winning Poker Network was issued with a cease and desist order in the Netherlands after it was discovered that Dutch nationals could participate in illegal online games via one of the group’s websites.
This came after a September 2022 investigation that was undertaken by the Dutch gaming authority, Kansspelautoriteit, following which it is said that the provider “promised” to terminate these practices.
However, despite a recheck showing that the original website was no longer accessible from the Netherlands, a closer inspection showcased a further infraction.
This, said the Ksa, showed that a new account could easily be created on another website of the same provider, which made it possible to participate in games offered via that website.
740,000
The Entain Foundation has strengthened its support of Gordon Moody after agreeing to provide funding of approximately £740,000 for the Alumni Project.
This two-year programme is tasked with establishing a network of former problem gamblers who have been successfully treated by the charity and now want to support others who may be seeking, or have recently finished, treatment.
The project will formally launch next month and will be overseen by Gordon Moody’s Head of Service Development, Clinical Director and the members of its Clinical Governance Committee.
200,000
The American Gaming Association vowed to ensure that Washington DC “makes good” on problem gambling obligations after slamming the “latest misstep” by local government.
This came after reports that Mayor Muriel Bowser was seeking to repeal a provision in the region’s taxation of sports wagering that allocated $200,000 to the prevention of treatment of problem gambling.
Since the legalised sports betting marketplace launched in mid-2020, revenue was to be split between early education and violence interruption programs, with the first $200,000 going to the Department of Behavioral Health for problem gambling support.
350,000
GambleAware awarded a grant of £350,000 to a project that will delve into how people who experience gambling harms are affected by stigma and discrimination.
Citing a lack of research across Great Britain into such areas, the study aims to dissect the struggles posed across a range of groups and sectors across society.
This will look into how those experiencing harms are stigmatised and discriminated against by service and healthcare providers; civil society, and third sector and charitable organisations; their communities and families; popular media, and in political and policy discourse and the industry.
The funding was awarded to the National Centre for Social Research and University of Wolverhampton, who are collaborating with Liverpool John Moores University.
140
The Howard League urged His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service to review the role of gambling within the system after disclosing the results of fresh inquiry.
Undertaken by the Commission on Crime and Gambling Related Harms, the research looked to explore “the growing role of gambling in prison culture and the damaging impact this can have on people living behind bars”.
Chaired by Lord Peter Goldsmith KC, the study featured 140 participants, comprising 90 people living in prison, 10 with lived experience of prison, 24 staff, and family members of people serving time.
The research found that while gambling is not officially sanctioned in prison, it has become increasingly normalised as a part of day-to-day life and “is often seen in a positive light”.
40,000
The Danish gambling regulator, Spillemyndigheden, hailed the important role” that ROFUS plays in ensuring the protection of players who need a short or long-term break from gambling.
In addition to also praising the tool as “useful and very meaningful,” the DGA revealed that player registrations have recently topped the 40,000 barrier.
Since being introduced in 2012, the number of sign-ups has increased every year, which the regulator said falls in line with the “partial liberalisation of the Danish gambling market”. A 3.53 per cent uptick was felt from 2022’s 38,921 to the current 40,296 that are currently registered.
