CasinoBeats is breaking down the numbers behind some of the industry’s biggest stories. Our latest headline reflection features potential financial action in Sweden, revenue reports from Denmark and the tribal gaming scene as well as penalty increases in the Netherlands.
$41.9bn
The National Indian Gaming Commission has reported record annual gross gaming revenue numbers for tribal gaming, declaring $41.9bn for the fiscal year 2023.
FY2023’s figure of $41.9bn is a 2.4 per cent increase on the previous year’s $40.9bn, which was also a new high at the time. Figures come from the audited financial statements of 527 gaming operations from 245 tribes across 29 US states.
The NIGC’s Acting Chair Sharon M Avery and Vice Chair Jeannie Hovland made the financial announcement at the Wisconsin Gaming Regulators Association Summer Conference in Green Bay.
The commission noted that the figures highlight the “viability of tribal gaming operations”, as well as the industry’s ability “to adapt to technological advances and changes in consumer preferences”. All eight NIGC regions also demonstrated year-over-year growth.
“This year’s GGR results demonstrate how a strong regulatory framework and diversity of tribal gaming enterprises generates growth in the gaming industry,” commented Avery.
“Again, this year, tribal gaming operators and regulators have proven that their ingenuity and tenacity are catalysts for growth, even in the face of an ever-changing gaming landscape.
“This steadfastness will ensure that tribal gaming remains a valuable resource for continued economic sustainability in tribal communities.”
£530
Spelinspektionen, Sweden’s Gambling Authority, has initiated an investigation into online casino operator Kanon Gaming Limited which could lead to a fine of SEK 7m (£530k) over procedural and player protection shortcomings.
The probe will assess whether the company’s losses disclosure procedure for recording losses falls in line with Sweden’s Gambling Act. Kanon currently operates licensed websites casinoepic.se, casinogami.se, frejacasino.se, and lokecasino.se.
Sweden’s regulator will also look into the operator’s player protection measures, as Kanon has allegedly failed to intervene when players show signs of problem gambling.
If found in breach of Sweden’s Gambling Act, Kanon will face a penalty of up to SEK 7m (£530k).
According to Spelinspektionen, the operator has also been found to make no distinctions between the age groups of its players, handling those over 24 in the same way as those between 18 and 24, with the latter widely considered more prone to gambling harm.
€20,000
Dutch gaming authority Kansspelautoriteit has increased its fine policy for those offering gambling kiosks illegally, with penalties now reaching up to €20,000.
Updating policy rules that have stood since 2014, basic fines have been raised by the gaming authority from €7,500 to €20,000 per device, to €25,000 to €100,000 per device.
The KSA describes a gambling kiosk as a “device that allows gambling on location” and that they’re sometimes referred to as an “internet kiosk or football kiosk”, adding that the games of chance featured are “almost always illegal”.
According to the gaming authority, slot machines don’t fall under the term gambling kiosk as they require an operating or presence permit. However, they noted that the number of gambling kiosks is increasing and that mobile devices such as laptops and telephones have an increasing share in the devices used.
The KSA added that administrative fines imposed “consist of a fixed fine amount per device found used in gambling” and that it doesn’t matter whether “the device is used entirely or partially” as a gambling kiosk.
Fines can also be adjusted based on other conditions at the location of the kiosks, for example, the fine amount would be increased if an earlier warning or a previously imposed fine was given or if underage gambling is taking place.
3.4%
Spillemyndigheden has once again declared a 3.4 per cent year-over-year decrease in Denmark’s monthly gross gaming revenue across betting, gaming machines and land-based casinos.
Although overall GGR declined, online and land-based casinos improved, but betting and gaming machine figures fell in comparison to the same month the previous year.
Posting figures for May 2024, the Danish gambling authority reported a GGR of DKK 571m (approximately €76.6m), down 3.4 per cent when compared to May 2023’s DKK 591m.
May’s figure was also a decline in comparison to the DKK 595m reported by the market the previous month.
By game sector, Spillemyndigheden stated that online casino generated 48.69 per cent of the total GGR during the month, followed by betting with 28.82 per cent, gaming machines with 16.85 per cent and land-based casinos with 5.64 per cent.
Online casino GGR rose by 10.35 per cent YoY to DKK 278m (2023: DKK 252m) with gaming machines leading the way with 76.76 per cent of the total GGR for the vertical during the month.
Elsewhere in the vertical, the authority said that blackjack produced a 6.88 per cent share of the vertical’s total GGR, followed by roulette at 6.19 per cent, commission at 3.87 per cent, other at 3.43 per cent and bingo at 2.86 per cent.