CONCACAF has announced that it is exploring a number of measures designed to combat match-fixing and corruption in football.
The governing body for football in the Americas and the Caribbean has released a statement saying it's in the process of identifying measures on a case-by-case basis following a workshop which ended in New York Friday.
CONCACAF says it's also examining a number of preventive steps in the form of courses and training programmes as well as specific legislation.
"Match manipulation in football must be tackled in the strongest possible way and we are glad that CONCACAF is taking a proactive approach on this subject," said Serge Dumortier, senior security manager at FIFA.
"We must take all the steps necessary to safeguard the integrity of our sport."
More than 30 delegates from football, government and law enforcement in Canada and the United States attended the workshop co-hosted by CONCACAF and organised by INTERPOL and FIFA.
The two-day Integrity in Sport workshop examined a range of topics, including the betting industry, match-fixing threats, governance, education, and prevention.
"This workshop has the goal to raise awareness of the key contemporary match-fixing issues and threats in football, and to identify good practice and areas for development," said Shawn Bray, head of the US National Central Bureau in Washington.
"The goal is to bring together players, referees, coaches, sports associations, betting regulators and law enforcement to improve individuals' awareness and understanding of corruption in football."
Officials say match-fixing has become a global matter affecting every sport on the planet and that football is now a high target for unlawful business deals.
Presentations were made by INTERPOL, FIFA and Early Warning System, a company established to monitor matches and to safeguard the integrity of football.
"The football family must certainly be an intrinsic part of the battle against match-fixing through education, surveillance and sanction," said CONCACAF General Secretary Enrique Sanz.
"However, we mustn't forget to work in partnership with all other affected sports, governments, media, fans, and society as a whole."
A similar workshop for the confederation's Caribbean members will take place in Panama at their Congress in April.
January 31, 2013
January 28, 2013
KGC investigated BetUS ties with organized crime
Court papers related to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigation into BetWSC (World Sport Centre) and revelations from a later KGC inquiry into Kahnawake-licensed bookmakers exposed possible links between BetUS and the Canadian mafia.
In November 2012, the RCMP charged over 20 people for their roles in an illegal sports betting ring with alleged mafia ties. Two of the people charged at the end of 2012 had been arrested before when the investigation dubbed Project Colisee culminated with the arrest of 91 mafia associates, including Canada's reputed godfather Nicolo Rizzuto.
The Rizzuto crime family and the Montreal mafia bankrolled a sports betting operation present locally in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto and online with internet bookmaker World Sport Centre.
According to the RCMP, World Sport Centre operated betwsc.com, an online bookmaker that between October 2004 and March 2006 generated $26 million in profits from 820,000 online bets processed and almost half a billion dollars in revenues.
BetWSC.com operated from the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory with a license from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.
When the Gaming Commission chairman learned that BetWSC.com was linked to the Montreal mafia, the KGC launched its own investigation that ended with the suspension of BetWSC.com's license and the online bookmaker web site being taken down by hosting provider Mohawk Internet Technologies.
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission extended its investigation to all Kahnawake bookmakers, a circumstance that eventually led to the suspension of BetUS license.
At the time, Sportsbook Review stated that BetUS decided to relocate after Kahnawake changed its telephone betting policies, while another version indicated that BetUS had its license terminated over irregularities.
At the end of 2006, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, worried by the possibility the United States could try to assert jurisdiction and apply their internet gambling laws and the UIGEA payment ban to Kahnawake-licensed operators, decided to amend its telephone betting rules prohibiting placing bets or even discussing betting odds on the phone.
Bookmakers Review spoke to a person that at the time was working for a service provider in the Mohawk Territory and that clearly recalls the KGC decision to suspend the license of BetUS parent company LT Baroda had nothing to do with the newly passed UIGEA, but was rather motivated by the concern the KGC had that criminal organizations could have infiltrated the online betting industry in Kahnawake.
BetUS, which like BetWSC also had a presence in Belize, ended up laying off a staff of around 100 in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake and set up office in Costa Rica, where it remains today.
An article on a French language regional newspaper dated December 2006 confirms that about 100 workers had been laid off on the heels of the concerns created by the criminal charges against the principal of World Sport Centre alleging links with organized crime in Montreal.
In November 2012, the RCMP charged over 20 people for their roles in an illegal sports betting ring with alleged mafia ties. Two of the people charged at the end of 2012 had been arrested before when the investigation dubbed Project Colisee culminated with the arrest of 91 mafia associates, including Canada's reputed godfather Nicolo Rizzuto.
The Rizzuto crime family and the Montreal mafia bankrolled a sports betting operation present locally in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto and online with internet bookmaker World Sport Centre.
According to the RCMP, World Sport Centre operated betwsc.com, an online bookmaker that between October 2004 and March 2006 generated $26 million in profits from 820,000 online bets processed and almost half a billion dollars in revenues.
BetWSC.com operated from the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory with a license from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.
When the Gaming Commission chairman learned that BetWSC.com was linked to the Montreal mafia, the KGC launched its own investigation that ended with the suspension of BetWSC.com's license and the online bookmaker web site being taken down by hosting provider Mohawk Internet Technologies.
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission extended its investigation to all Kahnawake bookmakers, a circumstance that eventually led to the suspension of BetUS license.
At the time, Sportsbook Review stated that BetUS decided to relocate after Kahnawake changed its telephone betting policies, while another version indicated that BetUS had its license terminated over irregularities.
At the end of 2006, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, worried by the possibility the United States could try to assert jurisdiction and apply their internet gambling laws and the UIGEA payment ban to Kahnawake-licensed operators, decided to amend its telephone betting rules prohibiting placing bets or even discussing betting odds on the phone.
Bookmakers Review spoke to a person that at the time was working for a service provider in the Mohawk Territory and that clearly recalls the KGC decision to suspend the license of BetUS parent company LT Baroda had nothing to do with the newly passed UIGEA, but was rather motivated by the concern the KGC had that criminal organizations could have infiltrated the online betting industry in Kahnawake.
BetUS, which like BetWSC also had a presence in Belize, ended up laying off a staff of around 100 in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake and set up office in Costa Rica, where it remains today.
An article on a French language regional newspaper dated December 2006 confirms that about 100 workers had been laid off on the heels of the concerns created by the criminal charges against the principal of World Sport Centre alleging links with organized crime in Montreal.
Norskespill launches on EveryMatrix open games platform
Malta-licensed gaming operator Norskespill.com has gone live with its Norwegian-facing operations utilising EveryMatrix’s GamMatrix open gaming management platform.
The GamMatrix platform, including the newly introduced Casino Engine, is a vendor-neutral gaming management and payment processing platform which allows EveryMatrix customers to integrate any kind of gaming software into one single wallet system.
Through the platform, Norskespill.com offers its players a range of third-party casino games from the likes of Net Entertainment, BetsoftGaming, IGT, Microgaming and Play’n GO.
“EveryMatrix has demonstrated a very high standard both in terms products and services in addition to delivery and flexibility,” said Norskespill.com CEO Niclas Lundquist. “The EveryMatrix product suite makes us capable of meeting our objective of being the market leading online gaming provider in Norway by continuously satisfying player expectations through quality solutions.”
Norskespill.com already has EveryMatrix’s OddsMatrix sportsbook integrated onto its online platform, as well as the company’s Mobile360 solution which incorporates sports betting and casino games into a single mobile web application.
“Norskespill has been a very interesting acquaintance for us,” said EveryMatrix CEO Ebbe Goes. “Their knowledge of mobile solutions is very deep and they have definitely helped refine the EveryMatrix mobile offering, making interaction faster and more streamlined. Growing through our partners is a core strategy for us and Norskespill is a great example of this.”
The GamMatrix platform, including the newly introduced Casino Engine, is a vendor-neutral gaming management and payment processing platform which allows EveryMatrix customers to integrate any kind of gaming software into one single wallet system.
Through the platform, Norskespill.com offers its players a range of third-party casino games from the likes of Net Entertainment, BetsoftGaming, IGT, Microgaming and Play’n GO.
“EveryMatrix has demonstrated a very high standard both in terms products and services in addition to delivery and flexibility,” said Norskespill.com CEO Niclas Lundquist. “The EveryMatrix product suite makes us capable of meeting our objective of being the market leading online gaming provider in Norway by continuously satisfying player expectations through quality solutions.”
Norskespill.com already has EveryMatrix’s OddsMatrix sportsbook integrated onto its online platform, as well as the company’s Mobile360 solution which incorporates sports betting and casino games into a single mobile web application.
“Norskespill has been a very interesting acquaintance for us,” said EveryMatrix CEO Ebbe Goes. “Their knowledge of mobile solutions is very deep and they have definitely helped refine the EveryMatrix mobile offering, making interaction faster and more streamlined. Growing through our partners is a core strategy for us and Norskespill is a great example of this.”
January 25, 2013
Gamesys launch Playboy game theme on Facebook
Gamesys has recently launched Playboy Casino on Facebook. The game sees players play their way through a series of slot machines winning prizes along the way.
It starts with a 1950s style slot in order to win money and experience points, players can also win money by inviting friends to play.
Experience points are then used to progress to the next level and unlock additional machines. Each machine is based around a different era from Playboy’s history and all the slot machines feature multiple pay lines, wild symbols and bonus games.
As a player completes more levels they can collect a series of badges and trophies, the aim being to collect them all. However, while the machines are very different in aesthetics, they are essentially the same with no great surprises along the way.
The game also features a real-time chat facility which allows players to talk to each other when playing.
It remains to be seen how popular the game will become, but already there are over 50,000 monthly active users and it is currently featured in the New Games section of Facebook’s App Center.
It starts with a 1950s style slot in order to win money and experience points, players can also win money by inviting friends to play.
Experience points are then used to progress to the next level and unlock additional machines. Each machine is based around a different era from Playboy’s history and all the slot machines feature multiple pay lines, wild symbols and bonus games.
As a player completes more levels they can collect a series of badges and trophies, the aim being to collect them all. However, while the machines are very different in aesthetics, they are essentially the same with no great surprises along the way.
The game also features a real-time chat facility which allows players to talk to each other when playing.
It remains to be seen how popular the game will become, but already there are over 50,000 monthly active users and it is currently featured in the New Games section of Facebook’s App Center.
Venetian Macau suing two Chinese gamblers
Sheldon Adelson’s Venetian Macau took legal action in a Hong Kong court this week to recover approximately $4.5m (£2.8m), against two of its former high roller customers from China.
In one lawsuit, filed on Wednesday with Hong Kong’s high court, the Venetian is trying to recover $3m from Zou Yunyu, who once featured on lists of China’s richest people and has an estimated $220m fortune from her company, the Shanghai Gaoyuan Property Group.
In the second case, the Venetian is pursuing $1.5m from Xie Xiaoqing, a businessman and deputy to the provincial legislature in Hubei province, according to Hong Kong media.
The Venetian is one of four casinos owned by the Chinese arm of Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands Corp. Adelson’s fortune is valued at over $20bn and his interests span gaming empires in Nevada and Asia, the Israeli newspaper market and Republican politics in the US. In the 2012 elections, he and his wife, Miriam, donated $95m to Republican candidates, including a massive late surge of $33m to pro-Romney political committees.
Macau’s rise to the top of the casino market has been powered by wealthy mainland Chinese gamblers, but the lawsuits highlight the difficulties in collecting debts if they return to the mainland, where gambling is illegal and debts aren’t recognised by courts. Both Macau and nearby Hong Kong have separate legal systems from mainland China.
In one lawsuit, filed on Wednesday with Hong Kong’s high court, the Venetian is trying to recover $3m from Zou Yunyu, who once featured on lists of China’s richest people and has an estimated $220m fortune from her company, the Shanghai Gaoyuan Property Group.
In the second case, the Venetian is pursuing $1.5m from Xie Xiaoqing, a businessman and deputy to the provincial legislature in Hubei province, according to Hong Kong media.
The Venetian is one of four casinos owned by the Chinese arm of Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands Corp. Adelson’s fortune is valued at over $20bn and his interests span gaming empires in Nevada and Asia, the Israeli newspaper market and Republican politics in the US. In the 2012 elections, he and his wife, Miriam, donated $95m to Republican candidates, including a massive late surge of $33m to pro-Romney political committees.
Macau’s rise to the top of the casino market has been powered by wealthy mainland Chinese gamblers, but the lawsuits highlight the difficulties in collecting debts if they return to the mainland, where gambling is illegal and debts aren’t recognised by courts. Both Macau and nearby Hong Kong have separate legal systems from mainland China.
Nevada casinos post combined loss of $1.2 billion
Nevada’s largest casinos suffered a combined loss of $1.2 billion in 2012, even though revenues saw an increase.
The annual “Gaming Abstract” released yesterday by the state Gaming Control Board analyzes the financial information of casinos that gross $1 million or more in casino revenues.
There were 265 Nevada casinos that fell into that category during the 2012 fiscal year that ended 30th June 2012.
Casinos reported total revenues of nearly $23 billion, up from $22 billion the previous year.
The 2012 report marks the fourth straight year of losses for Nevada’s largest casinos. But it also marks a big improvement over last year, when the resorts had a combined loss of nearly $4 billion.
The annual “Gaming Abstract” released yesterday by the state Gaming Control Board analyzes the financial information of casinos that gross $1 million or more in casino revenues.
There were 265 Nevada casinos that fell into that category during the 2012 fiscal year that ended 30th June 2012.
Casinos reported total revenues of nearly $23 billion, up from $22 billion the previous year.
The 2012 report marks the fourth straight year of losses for Nevada’s largest casinos. But it also marks a big improvement over last year, when the resorts had a combined loss of nearly $4 billion.
January 24, 2013
Greece monopoly ruled illegal
OPAP’s gambling monopoly in Greece is close to the end of the road after the Court of Justice for the European Union (CJEU) ruled it illegal. The monopoly contravenes European Union (EU) law as it grants exclusive rights without serving the public interest by limiting the amount of betting opportunities, according to a court ruling this morning. The current case was one filed by Stanleybet, William Hill and Sportingbet, with the result sending OPAP’s share price sliding downwards on the Stoxx Europe 600 Index – 11 percent to €6.27 at the last check.
There is still breathing room for Greece and if they implement stricter controls to ensure consumer protection they will be allowed to preserve it. If that doesn’t happen then Greece will have to open up the market to allow firms from other EU countries to operate.
Immediate reaction to the ruling came from Sigrid Ligné, secretary general of the European Gaming and Betting Association, who stated: Given the factual setup of OPAP’s monopoly which clearly fails to meet the CJEU test we hardly expect effective control to be implemented in the future. Therefore, Greece should follow the Court’s clear advice to liberalise the market. The ruling is highly relevant and gives the EC yet more jurisprudence to put an end to non-compliant gambling policies across the EU.”
Ligne is hopeful this ruling will give way to more cases being investigated by the EU regarding other member states that contravene EU law.
“At this stage only the EC, as the Guardian of the Treaties, can restore legal security by acting directly on the many complaints it has received, not only against Greece, but also against many other Member States. The EC can now take firm action on all pending infringement cases in order to ensure all Member States are in full compliance,” she added.
There is still breathing room for Greece and if they implement stricter controls to ensure consumer protection they will be allowed to preserve it. If that doesn’t happen then Greece will have to open up the market to allow firms from other EU countries to operate.
Immediate reaction to the ruling came from Sigrid Ligné, secretary general of the European Gaming and Betting Association, who stated: Given the factual setup of OPAP’s monopoly which clearly fails to meet the CJEU test we hardly expect effective control to be implemented in the future. Therefore, Greece should follow the Court’s clear advice to liberalise the market. The ruling is highly relevant and gives the EC yet more jurisprudence to put an end to non-compliant gambling policies across the EU.”
Ligne is hopeful this ruling will give way to more cases being investigated by the EU regarding other member states that contravene EU law.
“At this stage only the EC, as the Guardian of the Treaties, can restore legal security by acting directly on the many complaints it has received, not only against Greece, but also against many other Member States. The EC can now take firm action on all pending infringement cases in order to ensure all Member States are in full compliance,” she added.
January 21, 2013
PokerStars signs Olympique Lyonnais sponsorship deal
In France, online poker operator PokerStars has announced that it has replaced rival BetClic after signing an official sponsorship deal with football club Olympique Lyonnais.
The agreement began at last weekend’s match against Evian Thonon Gaillard and sees video branding for one of the world’s largest online poker brands appear on screens inside the club’s 40,000-seat Stade De Gerland.
In addition, the PokerStars.fr website is to run a series of special tournaments giving fans of ‘Les Gones’ the chance to win prizes including shirts, scarves and tickets along with trips to meet the players while Olympique Lyonnais is to display offers for the online poker brand via its own domain.
“Digital is a major focus of development for the club,” said Vincent-Baptiste Closon, Marketing Director for the seven-time domestic champion.
“PokerStars is a major player in the digital arena so it is natural for us to associate with this site.”
The agreement began at last weekend’s match against Evian Thonon Gaillard and sees video branding for one of the world’s largest online poker brands appear on screens inside the club’s 40,000-seat Stade De Gerland.
In addition, the PokerStars.fr website is to run a series of special tournaments giving fans of ‘Les Gones’ the chance to win prizes including shirts, scarves and tickets along with trips to meet the players while Olympique Lyonnais is to display offers for the online poker brand via its own domain.
“Digital is a major focus of development for the club,” said Vincent-Baptiste Closon, Marketing Director for the seven-time domestic champion.
“PokerStars is a major player in the digital arena so it is natural for us to associate with this site.”
January 18, 2013
Dutch regulators invite online operators to consultation
Dutch regulators have invited operators to a consultation on the 28th January where proposals for a new liberal regulatory system will be discussed.This will be the first formal meeting between the Dutch Gaming Authority (DGA) and operators interested in acquiring a license under new gaming laws.
New proposals will be published at the end of March and regulation is expected to come into effect sometime in 2014.
Gaming regulation has been a hot potato in Dutch politics over the last few years as politicians clashed over the extent to which online gambling should be liberalized.
Under the existing Dutch Betting and Gaming Act, the operation of online poker is illegal in the Netherlands. The regulation ignores all forms of remote or online gambling.
But recent elections brought a new coalition government into power, and its leader Mark Rutte has taken on the issue. He is determined to create a legal online gaming structure to “exploit” the tax raising opportunities that regulation will provide.
Earlier suggestions that the new laws should only legalize online poker have fallen away and the new likelihood is that licenses will be awarded for casino and sportsbook betting too.
New proposals will be published at the end of March and regulation is expected to come into effect sometime in 2014.
Gaming regulation has been a hot potato in Dutch politics over the last few years as politicians clashed over the extent to which online gambling should be liberalized.
Under the existing Dutch Betting and Gaming Act, the operation of online poker is illegal in the Netherlands. The regulation ignores all forms of remote or online gambling.
But recent elections brought a new coalition government into power, and its leader Mark Rutte has taken on the issue. He is determined to create a legal online gaming structure to “exploit” the tax raising opportunities that regulation will provide.
Earlier suggestions that the new laws should only legalize online poker have fallen away and the new likelihood is that licenses will be awarded for casino and sportsbook betting too.
Health Lottery boss critical of Camelot, players also angry
Health Lottery owner Richard Desmond has attacked Camelot for doubling the price of the National Lottery to £2. The media mogul used a full-page ad in his Daily Express newspaper to say the move “incredibly unfair and is at the expense of lottery players” and done “so that Camelot can line the pockets of its management and overseas shareholders”. Camelot announced the news this week they were hitching up the price for the first time since 1994. There was also a raft of changes to the prize money being handed out with the prize for matching three numbers rising from £10 to £25, and four numbers now netting a cool £100 instead of £60. Anger from players came from the fact the prize for matching five numbers dropped by a third to £1,000.
Desmond’s words came after the change to a £2 caused a public outcry from customers. Politicians have even got involved, with UKIP deputy leader Paul Nuttall: “This is going to ruin people’s bit of weekend fun. It is nothing more than a tax on the poor to subsidize the rich.”
A spokesman for Acevo, the association of chief executives of voluntary organisations, said: “We understand that this move is projected to increase the amount of lottery income going to charities and community groups, which in these difficult times will be very welcome.”
Desmond’s words came after the change to a £2 caused a public outcry from customers. Politicians have even got involved, with UKIP deputy leader Paul Nuttall: “This is going to ruin people’s bit of weekend fun. It is nothing more than a tax on the poor to subsidize the rich.”
A spokesman for Acevo, the association of chief executives of voluntary organisations, said: “We understand that this move is projected to increase the amount of lottery income going to charities and community groups, which in these difficult times will be very welcome.”
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