Sports betting operator SportPesa has lost its sponsorship agreement with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) after the sports body came under heavy criticism from anti-gambling campaigners.
This weekend, the FAI announced that it had called time on its two-year SportPesa sponsorship deal, despite the deal being less than one year old. The FAI said it made its decision after “re-evaluating its partnership portfolio” and “shifting priorities.” The FAI thanked SportPesa for its “professionalism over the course of this deal.”
SportPesa issued its own statement saying that the decision to “mutually terminate” the contract ahead of schedule was the result of “discussions between the two parties.” SportPesa added that “as an organization that takes responsible gambling incredibly seriously, we understand the new approach taken by the FAI toward its partnerships with those in the gaming sector.”
The FAI’s SportPesa deal was subject to intense criticism from anti-gambling campaigners who felt the body was improperly promoting betting. The decision to forego SportPesa’s sponsorship cash came despite the body being so cash-poor that it was forced to accept a €20m financial assistance package from the Irish government last week.
The FAI’s rejection of betting cash comes nearly two years after the Gaelic Athletic Association voted to ban “sponsorship by a betting company of any company of any competition, team, playing gear or facility.”
The FAI deal was part of a major football sponsorship drive the Kenya-based SportPesa undertook as it looked to boost its presence in Ireland, the UK and other European markets. SportPesa was also a major football sponsor in its home market Kenya but withdrew its support last August due to its ongoing tax fight with the local government.
The gaming industry’s relationship with sports is under fire in numerous markets, including the UK, due in part to some operator’s social responsibility missteps and an increasingly unhinged media approach that views any action by gambling operators as an existential threat to society.
February 05, 2020
January 31, 2020
Bulgarian tycoon Bozhkov accused of corruption and bribery
Gambling magnate Vasil Bozhkov, one of the richest men in Bulgaria, has been charged in his absence with extortion and attempted bribery including other crimes, as per Ivan Geshev, the Balkan country’s chief prosecutor.
Bozhkov, who is 63 years old, owns many gambling companies – this includes Levski Sofia, one of the two most popular soccer clubs in the Black Sea state, as well as an extensive compilation of antiques and paintings.
“Vasil Bozhkov has been charged in absentia on 7 charges, including organising a crime group, extortion, attempted bribery of an official and incitement to commit criminal offences,” Geshev informed reporters, pointing that a European arrest warrant had been circulated for Bozhkov.
Bozhkov later spoke to a local television channel bTV, from what he said was a non-European Union country, and denied any wrongdoing describing the allegations as ridiculous.
Bozhkov, known as “The Skull”, said, “Nobody was looking for me, I do not know about any charges. I am not a criminal. I am ready to show up immediately if they want me. I have something to say, in my opinion, there is a gross violation of the laws.”
Bulgaria is known to be the poorest and most corrupt countries in the European Union – it joined the EU in 2007 and has made little progress towards removing graft and organized criminal activities.
The European Commission has continuously been rebuking the former communist state for failing to indict and punish allegedly corrupt officials and for not overhauling a weakening judiciary.
Geshev said, “We will make every effort to take Bozhkov to court. This is another oligarch who has fled Bulgaria. I do not know where Bozhkov is, but I know he is not in the country.”
Geshev’s statement came hours after Bulgarian parliament supported plans to ban private lotteries and bring the one billion lev ($562 million) market under the state jurisdiction.
Bozhkov, believed to be worth around $1.35 billion, owns Bulgaria’s biggest lottery.
Geshev said more than 16 officials, including the head of the state gambling commission, were arrested as part of an investigation which started last week after prosecutors raided its headquarters and some companies owned by Bozhkov.
State auditors had initiated the investigation after accusations of serious financial violations in the gambling industry, with a reported shortfall of at least 210 million levs in lottery taxes and fees dating back to 2014.
Bozhkov, who is 63 years old, owns many gambling companies – this includes Levski Sofia, one of the two most popular soccer clubs in the Black Sea state, as well as an extensive compilation of antiques and paintings.
“Vasil Bozhkov has been charged in absentia on 7 charges, including organising a crime group, extortion, attempted bribery of an official and incitement to commit criminal offences,” Geshev informed reporters, pointing that a European arrest warrant had been circulated for Bozhkov.
Bozhkov later spoke to a local television channel bTV, from what he said was a non-European Union country, and denied any wrongdoing describing the allegations as ridiculous.
Bozhkov, known as “The Skull”, said, “Nobody was looking for me, I do not know about any charges. I am not a criminal. I am ready to show up immediately if they want me. I have something to say, in my opinion, there is a gross violation of the laws.”
Bulgaria is known to be the poorest and most corrupt countries in the European Union – it joined the EU in 2007 and has made little progress towards removing graft and organized criminal activities.
The European Commission has continuously been rebuking the former communist state for failing to indict and punish allegedly corrupt officials and for not overhauling a weakening judiciary.
Geshev said, “We will make every effort to take Bozhkov to court. This is another oligarch who has fled Bulgaria. I do not know where Bozhkov is, but I know he is not in the country.”
Geshev’s statement came hours after Bulgarian parliament supported plans to ban private lotteries and bring the one billion lev ($562 million) market under the state jurisdiction.
Bozhkov, believed to be worth around $1.35 billion, owns Bulgaria’s biggest lottery.
Geshev said more than 16 officials, including the head of the state gambling commission, were arrested as part of an investigation which started last week after prosecutors raided its headquarters and some companies owned by Bozhkov.
State auditors had initiated the investigation after accusations of serious financial violations in the gambling industry, with a reported shortfall of at least 210 million levs in lottery taxes and fees dating back to 2014.
January 20, 2020
Game theory
The world’s largest gambling hub is desperate to diversify. Macau’s gross gaming revenue in 2018 was equivalent to around 70% of the territory’s GDP. Watch out for authorities using their clout to force casino operators like the $56 billion Las Vegas Sands and $16 billion Wynn Resorts to invest more in theatres, arenas and malls.
The timing is ripe with the rebidding process for concessions due in 2022. With lucrative licences at stake, the government could coerce casinos to offer more business- and family-friendly options. Beijing is also eager: China’s President Xi Jinping urged Macau to pursue diversification during his visit in December.
Other centres have used stick to force change: Japan, the Asia region’s newest gambling market, has required resorts to reserve resources for building non-gaming attractions. Meanwhile, Singapore’s licence extensions in April saw Sands and Genting agree to build a 15,000 arena, a theme park, and new business facilities.
True, casino kingpins know how to hedge a bet. Sands’ Sheldon Adelson won big by making Las Vegas a hub for events and exhibitions. These commitments add up, however. In Singapore, the two operators pledged a combined $7 billion for their expansion. Investors dumped Genting’s local stock, leaving it down almost 10% in a single day on the news.
Investors in Macau casinos have reason to worry. Although a new bridge brought more visitors to the tiny territory last year, the newcomers are not keen gamblers. Tourist numbers rose 13% in the first eleven months of 2019 but gross gaming revenue fell over the same period. Beyond the gaming floor, per capita spending also fell by a fifth in the first three quarters of 2019.
Growth is already looking more modest on the back of a domestic Chinese slowdown. In the first half of 2018, the likes of Wynn Macau and Sands China saw their adjusted EBITDA rise by more than a quarter: but during the same six months of 2019, Sands’ rose by low single digits, while Wynn’s shrank. Splurging on new ventures in a period of uncertain demand would be painful. Macau’s new tourism makeover could come at a cost for the house.
The timing is ripe with the rebidding process for concessions due in 2022. With lucrative licences at stake, the government could coerce casinos to offer more business- and family-friendly options. Beijing is also eager: China’s President Xi Jinping urged Macau to pursue diversification during his visit in December.
Other centres have used stick to force change: Japan, the Asia region’s newest gambling market, has required resorts to reserve resources for building non-gaming attractions. Meanwhile, Singapore’s licence extensions in April saw Sands and Genting agree to build a 15,000 arena, a theme park, and new business facilities.
True, casino kingpins know how to hedge a bet. Sands’ Sheldon Adelson won big by making Las Vegas a hub for events and exhibitions. These commitments add up, however. In Singapore, the two operators pledged a combined $7 billion for their expansion. Investors dumped Genting’s local stock, leaving it down almost 10% in a single day on the news.
Investors in Macau casinos have reason to worry. Although a new bridge brought more visitors to the tiny territory last year, the newcomers are not keen gamblers. Tourist numbers rose 13% in the first eleven months of 2019 but gross gaming revenue fell over the same period. Beyond the gaming floor, per capita spending also fell by a fifth in the first three quarters of 2019.
Growth is already looking more modest on the back of a domestic Chinese slowdown. In the first half of 2018, the likes of Wynn Macau and Sands China saw their adjusted EBITDA rise by more than a quarter: but during the same six months of 2019, Sands’ rose by low single digits, while Wynn’s shrank. Splurging on new ventures in a period of uncertain demand would be painful. Macau’s new tourism makeover could come at a cost for the house.
January 15, 2020
Reaction to UK Gambling Credit Card Ban
The UK Gambling Commission announced yesterday that gambling businesses will be banned from allowing British consumers to use credit cards to place wagers, starting from April 14th
According to Gambling Commission Chief Executive Neil McArthur, the commission’s Tuesday decision should “minimise the risks of harm to consumers from gambling with money they do not have.”
Dr Mark Griffiths, Distinguished Professor from Nottingham Trent University, shared his views on the possible consequences of the decision.
He said: “I’ve been researching in this area for 32 years now and one of the things that’s always concerned me is the idea that gamblers can gamble with credit and money they haven’t got. I mean the move to ban credit cards being used for gamblers, I think, is a positive move. Obviously, people can still use their debit cards, at least with debit cards, it’s usually money they’ve got in the first place, but obviously, with credit cards, this is something that, traditionally, people don’t necessarily have the money to do it.
“I think one of the reasons that the gambling commission wanted to introduce this is they’ve done their own research and they said that 22 percent of online gamblers that use credit cards for online gambling were actually problem gamblers, and that is obviously a lot higher amongst that particular group, and we find across the general population, this does seem to be a move that they’ve got the interests of the problem gambler at heart.”
He added that although the issue of problem gambling will not be eliminated through these measures that it is a “step in the right direction” and encourages the gambling industry to consider their harm minimisation policies on problem gambling.
Mr Griffiths said: “Well, I certainly think the industry, now they know if they want operating licenses, they’ve got to show what they’re doing in terms of player protection, harm minimization, responsible gambling and social responsibility. By that I mean their duty of care to their customers. Obviously, gambling, just like tobacco and alcohol, it’s a consumptive product, which, at the end of the day for a small minority of people can cause problems.”
Adam Bradford, co-founder of the Safer Online Gambling Group, said: “This is excellent news and it will provide an extra layer of support for people who are addicted to gambling.
“It has been a long time in coming and we are glad the Commission have acted decisively on this matter.”
Gambling firms saw their shares slide in reaction to the new legislation to ban the use of credit cards for online bets when the markets opened yesterday.
Online specialist 888 saw shares slide 3.3 per cent, William Hill shares fell 3.2 per cent, Ladbrokes owner GVC Holdings dropped 2.8 per cent and Paddy Power owner Flutter sank 1.4 per cent in early trading.
According to Gambling Commission Chief Executive Neil McArthur, the commission’s Tuesday decision should “minimise the risks of harm to consumers from gambling with money they do not have.”
Dr Mark Griffiths, Distinguished Professor from Nottingham Trent University, shared his views on the possible consequences of the decision.
He said: “I’ve been researching in this area for 32 years now and one of the things that’s always concerned me is the idea that gamblers can gamble with credit and money they haven’t got. I mean the move to ban credit cards being used for gamblers, I think, is a positive move. Obviously, people can still use their debit cards, at least with debit cards, it’s usually money they’ve got in the first place, but obviously, with credit cards, this is something that, traditionally, people don’t necessarily have the money to do it.
“I think one of the reasons that the gambling commission wanted to introduce this is they’ve done their own research and they said that 22 percent of online gamblers that use credit cards for online gambling were actually problem gamblers, and that is obviously a lot higher amongst that particular group, and we find across the general population, this does seem to be a move that they’ve got the interests of the problem gambler at heart.”
He added that although the issue of problem gambling will not be eliminated through these measures that it is a “step in the right direction” and encourages the gambling industry to consider their harm minimisation policies on problem gambling.
Mr Griffiths said: “Well, I certainly think the industry, now they know if they want operating licenses, they’ve got to show what they’re doing in terms of player protection, harm minimization, responsible gambling and social responsibility. By that I mean their duty of care to their customers. Obviously, gambling, just like tobacco and alcohol, it’s a consumptive product, which, at the end of the day for a small minority of people can cause problems.”
Adam Bradford, co-founder of the Safer Online Gambling Group, said: “This is excellent news and it will provide an extra layer of support for people who are addicted to gambling.
“It has been a long time in coming and we are glad the Commission have acted decisively on this matter.”
Gambling firms saw their shares slide in reaction to the new legislation to ban the use of credit cards for online bets when the markets opened yesterday.
Online specialist 888 saw shares slide 3.3 per cent, William Hill shares fell 3.2 per cent, Ladbrokes owner GVC Holdings dropped 2.8 per cent and Paddy Power owner Flutter sank 1.4 per cent in early trading.
January 10, 2020
GVC Holdings holds vote on relocating the firm’s management control and tax residence
The governance of GVC Holdings has this morning confirmed that it has scheduled an ‘extraordinary general meeting’ on 6 February (9 am CET), to vote on relocating the firm’s management control and tax residence from the Isle of man to its UK headquarters.
GVC Holdings was incorporated as an Isle of Man enterprise in 2010, in which it maintained its management control benefitting from a more suitable tax regime for its business purposes.
However, publishing its EGM document, GVC reveals that certain Isle of Mann governance conditions have become a constraint with regards to how and where the Directors are able to manage the Company.
GVC details that directorial restrictions have led to ‘administrative burdens’, related to among other things requiring that Board meetings be conducted outside of the UK and limiting who the Company is able to appoint to the Board as Chairman.
Should GVC transfer its management control to the UK, the FTSE firm would be able to remove existing corporate directorial restraints.
Further benefits underlined by GVC governance details that the company would benefit from improved internal/external corporate communications, whilst improving its logistical capacities managing the company from the UK, which in turn would reduce corporate costs.
Closing its statement, GVC details that changes to tax regimes across its operating markets underscore that there is no longer a significant benefit in being tax resident in the Isle of Man
“The Board believes that if the Company becomes UK tax resident, this should have no material adverse impact on the GVC group’s effective tax rate or tax cash outflow for the foreseeable future.” – GVC details in its EGM statement.
GVC Holdings was incorporated as an Isle of Man enterprise in 2010, in which it maintained its management control benefitting from a more suitable tax regime for its business purposes.
However, publishing its EGM document, GVC reveals that certain Isle of Mann governance conditions have become a constraint with regards to how and where the Directors are able to manage the Company.
GVC details that directorial restrictions have led to ‘administrative burdens’, related to among other things requiring that Board meetings be conducted outside of the UK and limiting who the Company is able to appoint to the Board as Chairman.
Should GVC transfer its management control to the UK, the FTSE firm would be able to remove existing corporate directorial restraints.
Further benefits underlined by GVC governance details that the company would benefit from improved internal/external corporate communications, whilst improving its logistical capacities managing the company from the UK, which in turn would reduce corporate costs.
Closing its statement, GVC details that changes to tax regimes across its operating markets underscore that there is no longer a significant benefit in being tax resident in the Isle of Man
“The Board believes that if the Company becomes UK tax resident, this should have no material adverse impact on the GVC group’s effective tax rate or tax cash outflow for the foreseeable future.” – GVC details in its EGM statement.
Spain to impose “tobacco-like” restrictions on gambling advertising as Parliament greenlights Sánchez government
Spain’s new coalition government, headed by Pedro Sánchez, has said it will bring gambling advertising regulations in line with those imposed on the tobacco industry.
“We will approve a regulation of the advertising of gambling – online gambling and betting – at the state level and similar to that of tobacco products,” the coalition agreement states. Specific details, however, have not yet been disclosed.
Considering the harsh rhetoric directed at the gambling sector during the latest election campaign, these new restrictions have the potential to significantly change Spain’s gambling landscape. Alberto Garzón is to be appointed as Minister of Consumer Affairs and will oversee the further development of Spain’s gambling regulation.
“We will approve a regulation of the advertising of gambling – online gambling and betting – at the state level and similar to that of tobacco products,” the coalition agreement states. Specific details, however, have not yet been disclosed.
Considering the harsh rhetoric directed at the gambling sector during the latest election campaign, these new restrictions have the potential to significantly change Spain’s gambling landscape. Alberto Garzón is to be appointed as Minister of Consumer Affairs and will oversee the further development of Spain’s gambling regulation.
January 08, 2020
FA urged to ‘reconsider’ deal with bet365
The Football Association has been advised to “reconsider” its relationship with bet365 by Nicky Morgan, the secretary of state for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
The bookmaker streamed 23 FA Cup third-round matches last weekend as part of the deal it signed with the FA in January 2017. The matches were only available to watch if the customer had placed a bet or put £5 in an account in the 24 hours before kick-off.
All third-round matches last weekend were delayed by one minute to publicise the FA’s ‘Heads Up’ mental health campaign, backed by FA president Prince William, which appears to jar with the bet365 tie-up given the link between problem gambling and mental health issues.
The FA has said it will review this element of how it sells its media rights in the future, with the bet365 deal due to run until 2024. However, Morgan appeared to call on the governing body to look at the deal to see if there was any way out before that.
She wrote on Twitter: “This is a contractual matter for the FA & Bet365 but things have moved on since the contract was signed & I hope they will re-consider.”
Sports minister Nigel Adams added on the social media platform: “The gambling landscape has changed since this deal was signed in early 2017.
“All sports bodies need to be mindful of the impact that problem gambling can have on the most vulnerable.”
Duncan Selbie, the chief executive of Public Health England whose Every Mind Matters campaign was also publicised during the recent round of FA Cup matters, said: “PHE is currently reviewing the evidence about the health harms of gambling, which we believe are wide-ranging.
“Our report will provide sports governing bodies a fresh opportunity to review their relationships with gambling.”
That relationship between gambling and sport is an intimate one. Premier League clubs work with betting partners while the EFL’s title sponsor is Sky Bet.
It is understood the EFL’s streaming arrangement with its betting partners differs in that all the games are available elsewhere – either via television or club websites.
The Royal Communications office at Buckingham Palace said the Duke of Cambridge had no comment to make on the matter.
The bookmaker streamed 23 FA Cup third-round matches last weekend as part of the deal it signed with the FA in January 2017. The matches were only available to watch if the customer had placed a bet or put £5 in an account in the 24 hours before kick-off.
All third-round matches last weekend were delayed by one minute to publicise the FA’s ‘Heads Up’ mental health campaign, backed by FA president Prince William, which appears to jar with the bet365 tie-up given the link between problem gambling and mental health issues.
This is a contractual matter for the FA & Bet365 but things have moved on since the contract was signed & I hope they will re-consider https://t.co/KJA7o0LDiU
— Nicky Morgan (@NickyMorgan01) January 8, 2020
The FA has said it will review this element of how it sells its media rights in the future, with the bet365 deal due to run until 2024. However, Morgan appeared to call on the governing body to look at the deal to see if there was any way out before that.
She wrote on Twitter: “This is a contractual matter for the FA & Bet365 but things have moved on since the contract was signed & I hope they will re-consider.”
Sports minister Nigel Adams added on the social media platform: “The gambling landscape has changed since this deal was signed in early 2017.
The gambling landscape has changed since this deal was signed in early 2017. All sports bodies need to be mindful of the impact that problem gambling can have on the most vulnerable. https://t.co/fDJREk2Ojw
— Nigel Adams (@nadams) January 8, 2020
“All sports bodies need to be mindful of the impact that problem gambling can have on the most vulnerable.”
Duncan Selbie, the chief executive of Public Health England whose Every Mind Matters campaign was also publicised during the recent round of FA Cup matters, said: “PHE is currently reviewing the evidence about the health harms of gambling, which we believe are wide-ranging.
“Our report will provide sports governing bodies a fresh opportunity to review their relationships with gambling.”
That relationship between gambling and sport is an intimate one. Premier League clubs work with betting partners while the EFL’s title sponsor is Sky Bet.
It is understood the EFL’s streaming arrangement with its betting partners differs in that all the games are available elsewhere – either via television or club websites.
The Royal Communications office at Buckingham Palace said the Duke of Cambridge had no comment to make on the matter.
January 03, 2020
‘It keeps you coming back’: the rise of VIP gambling schemes
VIP schemes have been cited in the majority of regulatory sanctions issued against gambling companies for failure to prevent problem gambling. Here, two recovering addicts explain how VIP status contributed to their loss of control.
Nick Firth, 29, from Bradford, was a VIP gambler with Betfair. Like many addicts, the level of his gambling increased after he had a big win and he was made a VIP.
Firth says: “We’re talking about Thailand Division 3 women’s under-19 football. Teams that I’ve never heard of [betting] at 3am in the morning, just to get my fix.
I actually stole some money from my ex-girlfriend’s mum, about £10,000. She was giving us a house deposit and I gambled every single penny on the Betfair website. I kept going and going, chasing the losses. They gave me the VIP status during that period.”
Emails shared showed Betfair offered him free bets and football tickets “providing you maintain your VIP status”. Betfair declined to comment.
Phil Worrall, 33, from Nottingham, had VIP status with several companies and said it kept him coming back for more.
Worrall says: “The more you bet, the more you’ll get given free bets and the more likely that you give it straight back. It keeps you coming back.
“You might think you’ve got no money left but if you get an email saying you’ll get a £50 free bet if you bet £50 of your own money, you find a way to scrape it together. It’s a little hook back in.
“The whole industry needs to be thoroughly cracked down on because it’s like the mob. This nation is putting a fortune into it every weekend and they’re thriving on misery. VIP schemes are just a part of that system.”
Nick Firth, 29, from Bradford, was a VIP gambler with Betfair. Like many addicts, the level of his gambling increased after he had a big win and he was made a VIP.
Firth says: “We’re talking about Thailand Division 3 women’s under-19 football. Teams that I’ve never heard of [betting] at 3am in the morning, just to get my fix.
I actually stole some money from my ex-girlfriend’s mum, about £10,000. She was giving us a house deposit and I gambled every single penny on the Betfair website. I kept going and going, chasing the losses. They gave me the VIP status during that period.”
Emails shared showed Betfair offered him free bets and football tickets “providing you maintain your VIP status”. Betfair declined to comment.
Phil Worrall, 33, from Nottingham, had VIP status with several companies and said it kept him coming back for more.
Worrall says: “The more you bet, the more you’ll get given free bets and the more likely that you give it straight back. It keeps you coming back.
“You might think you’ve got no money left but if you get an email saying you’ll get a £50 free bet if you bet £50 of your own money, you find a way to scrape it together. It’s a little hook back in.
“The whole industry needs to be thoroughly cracked down on because it’s like the mob. This nation is putting a fortune into it every weekend and they’re thriving on misery. VIP schemes are just a part of that system.”
December 05, 2019
Philippines Shuts Door on New Online Casinos
In an attempt to avoid a proliferation of the industry as witnessed in Cambodia, The Philippines is keeping its door shut for new online casinos.
Andrea Domingo, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation chairperson, said on Tuesday that her agency will be placing a halt on the acceptance of any new license applications in the foreseeable future to stay focused on the sustainable growth of the gaming industry in the Philippines.
The comments were made by Ms Domingo during her opening speech at the G2E Asia conference in the Philippines, which started today.
Domingo said, “We don’t want to overburden the industry by blatantly giving out licenses.”
She added, “The President declared a ban on IRs and casinos in January 2018 and we have observed that. He lifted the ban in Clark last year and we have observed that too, but even the Clark region is saturated.”
She reiterated, “Even in Clark we have stopped acceptance of any applications for new casinos.”
As per Domingo, acceptance of any new POGO licenses, which had been going on for some time, will also be halted. Domingo said the idea is to allow the gaming industry to mature so that all the regulations can be put in place.
She also noted that she was confident that around 95 to 97 per cent of the issues related to POGO and its dark side, including kidnapping, prostitution and finance, will be addressed by the ned of 2020.
The Philippines’s regulator also issued a warning to gaming operators who represent themselves as BPOs. She said, “We have the formula to catch that.”
Domino said that licences for e-bingo and e-games have also been halted in areas where they are deemed to be saturated.
“We want people to know that if it’s overcrowded, there’s no reason to put your money in, just go and invest somewhere else. These are the things we have been discussing with the board, and these are the things that we will be implementing by 2030.”
“But for all those that are here now, rest assured, that PAGCOR will do everything to support you and your profitability within the framework of the law.”
The Southeast Asian country does not want to benefit from Cambodia’s ban on online casinos and is monitoring if gaming service providers here are hiring workers from Cambodia, Domingo said.
Online casinos banned in Cambodia may relocate to the Philippines and boost office demand, property consultant Santos Knight Frank senior director Morgan McGilvray said in October.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. is regulating the issuance of new licenses for both land-based and online casinos. “We want to rationalize so that everybody with a license has a good chance of being successful,” Chairman Andrea Domingo said.
Andrea Domingo, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation chairperson, said on Tuesday that her agency will be placing a halt on the acceptance of any new license applications in the foreseeable future to stay focused on the sustainable growth of the gaming industry in the Philippines.
The comments were made by Ms Domingo during her opening speech at the G2E Asia conference in the Philippines, which started today.
Domingo said, “We don’t want to overburden the industry by blatantly giving out licenses.”
She added, “The President declared a ban on IRs and casinos in January 2018 and we have observed that. He lifted the ban in Clark last year and we have observed that too, but even the Clark region is saturated.”
She reiterated, “Even in Clark we have stopped acceptance of any applications for new casinos.”
As per Domingo, acceptance of any new POGO licenses, which had been going on for some time, will also be halted. Domingo said the idea is to allow the gaming industry to mature so that all the regulations can be put in place.
She also noted that she was confident that around 95 to 97 per cent of the issues related to POGO and its dark side, including kidnapping, prostitution and finance, will be addressed by the ned of 2020.
The Philippines’s regulator also issued a warning to gaming operators who represent themselves as BPOs. She said, “We have the formula to catch that.”
Domino said that licences for e-bingo and e-games have also been halted in areas where they are deemed to be saturated.
“We want people to know that if it’s overcrowded, there’s no reason to put your money in, just go and invest somewhere else. These are the things we have been discussing with the board, and these are the things that we will be implementing by 2030.”
“But for all those that are here now, rest assured, that PAGCOR will do everything to support you and your profitability within the framework of the law.”
The Southeast Asian country does not want to benefit from Cambodia’s ban on online casinos and is monitoring if gaming service providers here are hiring workers from Cambodia, Domingo said.
Online casinos banned in Cambodia may relocate to the Philippines and boost office demand, property consultant Santos Knight Frank senior director Morgan McGilvray said in October.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. is regulating the issuance of new licenses for both land-based and online casinos. “We want to rationalize so that everybody with a license has a good chance of being successful,” Chairman Andrea Domingo said.
November 19, 2019
Spanish Betting Sites Agree to Voluntary New Advertising Code
Gambling operators in Spain have agreed to a new voluntary code of conduct on advertising in a bid to avoid tougher, mandatory rules which could be imposed by the government. Taking effect from January 2020, the regulator has approved the new rules but it’s too early to tell whether the tough coalition government will think they’ve gone far enough.
The advertising legislation was created by online betting trade association in Spain, JDigital and has been given the green light for launch on 15 January 2020 by regulator, Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ).
Adopting a responsible approach
The new code of conduct largely mimics the legislation in other country which calls upon betting firms to take a responsible approach when considering their advertising campaigns. This includes not showing images of anyone who appears to be under 25, refraining from celebrity endorsements with a large youth fanbase and not using any professional athletes to promote gambling. The message of responsible gambling must also be prominent in any type of advertisement.
Other limitations include a restriction on the number of bonus offers which are made but they don’t go as far as restrictions in place in other countries. For example, in the UK there is a “whistle to whistle” block on advertising which prevents any promotional ads being shown during competitive events.
Some of the members of the Jdigital online betting group include Bet365, The Stars Group and GVC Holdings together with local operators such as R Franco and Luckia. The operators will be hoping that the new code will pacify a government which had previously threatened a tough clampdown on all gambling ads in a move backed by the country’s ombudsman.
New coalition government
Elections last week couldn’t produce an outright majority in government so a coalition has been struck up between the PSOE ruling party and UP, the party that campaigns against austerity. The UP has been particularly vocal in its opposition of gambling and given the chance would restrict operators in any way possible.
However, UP have had their own recent scandals. During their election campaign they showed an individual who claimed his life had been ruined by bookmakers and betting, and was now destitute. Super-sleuths soon tracked down the man online after he uploaded a video from his recent skiing holiday, throwing doubt on the “testimony” that he had provided about the damage done by gambling.
The advertising legislation was created by online betting trade association in Spain, JDigital and has been given the green light for launch on 15 January 2020 by regulator, Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ).
Adopting a responsible approach
The new code of conduct largely mimics the legislation in other country which calls upon betting firms to take a responsible approach when considering their advertising campaigns. This includes not showing images of anyone who appears to be under 25, refraining from celebrity endorsements with a large youth fanbase and not using any professional athletes to promote gambling. The message of responsible gambling must also be prominent in any type of advertisement.
Other limitations include a restriction on the number of bonus offers which are made but they don’t go as far as restrictions in place in other countries. For example, in the UK there is a “whistle to whistle” block on advertising which prevents any promotional ads being shown during competitive events.
Some of the members of the Jdigital online betting group include Bet365, The Stars Group and GVC Holdings together with local operators such as R Franco and Luckia. The operators will be hoping that the new code will pacify a government which had previously threatened a tough clampdown on all gambling ads in a move backed by the country’s ombudsman.
New coalition government
Elections last week couldn’t produce an outright majority in government so a coalition has been struck up between the PSOE ruling party and UP, the party that campaigns against austerity. The UP has been particularly vocal in its opposition of gambling and given the chance would restrict operators in any way possible.
However, UP have had their own recent scandals. During their election campaign they showed an individual who claimed his life had been ruined by bookmakers and betting, and was now destitute. Super-sleuths soon tracked down the man online after he uploaded a video from his recent skiing holiday, throwing doubt on the “testimony” that he had provided about the damage done by gambling.
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