Gamstop

National online self-exclusion scheme Gamstop has announced that Mike Dixon, CEO of Addaction, has been appointed as a non-executive director.

Specialising in developing treatment support networks and operating voluntary communities, Dixon has served as chief executive of addiction recovery and mental health charity Addaction since May 2017.

Jenny Watson, Chair of Gamstop, stated:“These changes help to strengthen our
independence and I would like to thank the RGA for the constructive nature of our
discussions. As we continue to develop, Mike Dixon’s insight and experience will
provide the operational team with strong independent challenge.”

Penn National Gaming

Casino and racetrack operator Penn National Gaming is to begin searching for a new CFO next year, when William Fair steps down at the conclusion of his current employment contract term, which expires March 31, 2020.

Fair has agreed to stay with the company until the end of 2020’s first quarter in order to allow time for a formal search for his successor, as well as ensure a seamless transition of responsibilities.

He has served in the current role of CFO since 2017, after joining Penn as senior vice president and chief development officer five years ago.

Timothy Wilmott, Penn’s CEO, commented, “We want to express our sincere gratitude to BJ for his many contributions to Penn National’s success during what has been a transformational period for our Company.

“Over the last five years, BJ has played a significant role in overseeing and structuring the financing strategies for our major growth initiatives, which include our recently completed acquisition of Pinnacle Entertainment, the ongoing development of our two new Pennsylvania during BJ’s tenure, he oversaw the construction of Plainridge Park Casino and helped lead our efforts to acquire Tropicana Las Vegas, Margaritaville Resort, and most recently Greektown Casino.”

Hawthorne Race Course

In anticipation of its licensure as part of Illinois’ recent casino and gaming expansion, Hawthorne Race Course has hired Kevin Kline as its new CEO of gaming.

This comes as the business applies to the state’s gaming board for a casino gaming licence, with judgement expected to be brought forward before the end of the year.

Among Kline’s prior experience is of COO and GM of Resorts World Catskills and Monticello Raceway for Empire Resorts in New York, as well as leading the opening of the first casino in Ohio in the $450m Horseshoe Cincinnati.

“The integration of casino-style gaming at Illinois race tracks is a tremendous opportunity that comes with unique challenges and responsibilities,” explained Tim Carey, CEO and president of Hawthorne Casino and Race Course.

“Our goal is to develop one of the nation’s premiere gaming experiences and an all-star executive team will be crucial. Kevin has a proven track record of successful ground-up developments of new casinos and multi-property management including at race tracks, plus direct experience with gaming in the Chicagoland market.”

JPJ

A trio of board changes haven taken place at the enlarged Gamesys Group, which sees Lee Fenton appointed as CEO, Robeson Reeves as COO and Simon Wykes, formerly CEO of operations at Jackpotjoy, moved to the role of transition director, and will remain on the JPJ Board for a 12-month tenure.

This comes as JPJ Group completes the £490m acquisition of Gamesys, with the entity now offering bingo and casino games via jackpotjoy.com, virgingames.com, botemania.es, verajohn.com, heartbingo.co.uk and monopolycasino.com.

“Following [the] successful completion, I am very excited to join the enlarged group as CEO,” Fenton noted.

“The combination of two leading and complementary businesses has created an organisation with greater scale and capability which stands the new Gamesys Group in good stead as the competitive and regulatory environment continues to evolve.”

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians

An executive leadership team has been established by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, designed to support the tribe in its governmental and commercial endeavours.

Consisting of six positions, Peter Arceo, general manager of San Manuel Casino, is to oversee all operations for the property, which represents the primary economic venture of the tribe.

He will be joined by Erin Copeland, chief legal and compliance officer, Dan Little, chief intergovernmental and tribal affairs officer, Brigitte Saria, chief people and infrastructure officer, Rikki Tanenbaum, CMO and Laurens Vosloo, CFO.

The six are to report directly to CEO Loren Gill, who commented: “It is an exciting time at San Manuel. I am truly honoured to work with so many outstanding leaders who have been critical to our success.

“Ensuring we have the right people in the right places is a major priority for us and this is the first step in setting a strong foundation that allows for future growth and development. I’m excited for each of them in this next step in their career as they’re all deserving of this recognition and promotion.”

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Matt Bastock

GAMSTOP, the United Kingdom’s national self-exclusion scheme for online gambling, has reported a 31 percent year-on-year increase in the number of under-25s using the service in the second half of 2024. 

Recent data shows that 24% of people self-excluding through the service are now between the ages of 16 and 24, which marks a shift from the previous period. The period examined included major global sporting events such as the Olympics and the European Football Championship.

Areas with the Highest Self-Exclusion Rates

GAMSTOP also revealed that, for the first time in the company’s history, it had analyzed detailed data to provide a regional breakdown of self-excluding individuals. This is in an effort to help support local authorities in targeting their services. 

Hull is the postcode area with the highest proportion of GAMSTOP registrants, equating to 1.5% of the area’s total population. Teesside and Sunderland were in the top three, with 1.4% of the total population. Doncaster and Blackpool are the other two areas in the top five. 

Between its launch in April 2018 and the end of 2024, 532,484 people registered with GAMSTOP, over one percent of the total adult UK population. 

July through December 2024 saw a 14% increase compared to the same period in 2023, which goes against the notable trend of more people typically self-excluding in the first half of the calendar year. 

Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP, commented, “The increase in the number of under-25s registering for GAMSTOP has become an accelerating trend, with a 31 percent year-on-year increase in the second half of 2024, following a 12 percent increase in the first half of the year. 

When considering solutions, she continued, “There is a clear need for targeted education and support aimed at this group which is why we continue to put so much emphasis on collaborating with Ygam and Gamcare reaching out to students. We go to where they are to ensure they are aware of tools, such as self-exclusion, which can help to prevent gambling harm.” 

GAMSTOP has recently introduced a ‘5 years with auto-renewal’ exclusion aimed at ‘vulnerable customers looking to extend their abstinence from gambling. The feature was introduced as a direct result of feedback from users. Alternatively, users can self-exclude for six months, a year, or up to five years. 

Discussing the new, regionalized data, Palmer said, “GAMSTOP allows vulnerable consumers to take a break from gambling, and we want to raise awareness of the service amongst those who need it most.” 

She concluded, “Our detailed regional data has highlighted the postcodes where self-exclusion has been most widely adopted, and we hope this will help local authorities and other bodies to target appropriate support in the areas where the need is greatest.”

Written By

Matt Bastock

Matt is a casino and sports betting expert with over two decades’ writing and editing experience. He loves getting into the nitty gritty of how casinos and sportsbooks really operate in order to make solid recommendations based on real experiences. His favourite games are blackjack and poker, and he loves watching NFL and soccer in his spare time.

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Describing GAMSTOP as an “effective tool for reducing gambling-related harm”, Ipsos‘ research also found that 72% of users feel safer and more in control since registering. 

Three key recommendations were also provided by the report on how to improve the self-exclusion service, including a longer or lifetime exclusion period for those who register.

Ipsos conducted an independent evaluation of GAMSTOP by surveying more than 4,650 of the service’s users.

Earlier this month, GAMSTOP said that the research was being completed to analyse its “effectiveness in reducing gambling harm and how it supports its users alongside other forms of gambling prevention and support”.

Of the respondents, 78% said GAMSTOP had delivered the results that they were hoping for, 80% would recommend the service to others and 73% said they were satisfied with the service, with this number rising to 85% amongst those who no longer gamble. 

In addition, three out of four respondents said they felt more in control of their gambling behaviours since registering with GAMSTOP.

“GAMSTOP literally did what it said on the tin, it stopped me from being able to register with gambling websites, which was the major issue,” a service user with a five-year exclusion, who no longer gambles, told researchers.

More than 500,000 people have registered with GAMSTOP since its inception in 2018. The service offers options to self-exclude for six months, one year or five years. Users self-excluding for the maximum period were more likely to stop gambling altogether.

As for the most common reasons for registering, the research found that 55% did so to stop online gambling, 55% to regain control over their life and 51% registered to spend less money on gambling. Three out of four users no longer gamble online and 48% no longer gamble at all.

Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP, commented: “We regularly evaluate the effectiveness of the service through comprehensive independent research, and it is gratifying to know that most of our users feel GAMSTOP has helped them significantly reduce gambling-related harm.”

While many users said GAMSTOP doesn’t eliminate the “urge” to gamble, it offers “a mostly effective physical barrier to online gambling and symbolises a commitment to stop gambling”.

72% of the survey’s respondents said they felt safer from the negative effects of gambling, as GAMSTOP “reduced the short-term financial harms of gambling for individuals, as well as their close friends and family, giving them a sense of financial liberation and improving their mental and physical health”.

Users also said that after registering with the service, they had the “time and disposable income to invest in their health and general mental well-being, easing the isolation and stress caused by concealing their gambling and freeing up time previously spent worrying about gambling”. 

76% of the survey’s respondents are in work, with 21% having a household income of £55,000 to £99,000.

Ipsos’ report also outlined three key recommendations for how to improve GAMSTOP:

• Provide the option of a longer or lifetime exclusion period to give greater “peace of mind” for those who use GAMSTOP to stop gambling online altogether.
• Communicate more frequently with users after their minimum exclusion has ended.
• Continue advertising on social media to raise awareness amongst younger audiences.

Palmer added: “Six out of ten users who were surveyed said they rely on GAMSTOP as their sole means of support, and we are aware of the responsibility that this brings with it. 

“We will study the recommendations in detail, including the suggestion of extending self-exclusion periods, although exclusion periods do already continue automatically for seven years unless a user asks for it be lifted.”

The report also asked the UK’s government, Gambling Commission and other stakeholders to address the illegal gambling market via greater regulation and the imposition of restrictions on its promotion through social media, with users raising concerns about illegal operators who use targeted advertising of websites claiming to be “not on GAMSTOP”. 

Last week, the Betting and Gaming Council called for “balanced regulations and stable taxation” to combat the illegal gambling market, after a report estimated that 1.5 million members of the British public wager almost £4.3bn on the illegal market every year.

Ipsos’ research noted that GAMSTOP “remains an effective blocking mechanism for licensed UK online gambling operators, but some users have engaged with unlicensed gambling operators since registering with GAMSTOP”, adding that “wider regulation of advertising would improve the recovery of GAMSTOP users”.

The report concluded: “The evaluation has established that GAMSTOP is an effective tool for reducing gambling-related harm for individuals seeking to exclude themselves from online gambling operators…

“The service provided is widely considered both satisfactory and impactful. This is most significant for individuals with a sustained commitment to reducing their gambling behaviours, seeking a lifestyle change rather than a break.

“Our evaluation found that satisfaction with GAMSTOP is high for the majority of people who use the service. This includes registration and the overall experience of having the self-exclusion in place. The majority of people also found that GAMSTOP delivered against their expectations and that they would recommend it to others.”

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500,000

GAMSTOP announced that over 500,000 people have registered for its self-exclusion service since its inception in 2018.

According to GAMSTOP, over 440,000 people are currently excluded, with approximately one in two opting for the longest time frame possible. 

April 2024 had the highest volume of monthly registrations since the service’s launch with 8,686 new registered users.

The average age of those registering for self-exclusion is reportedly decreasing, with one in two who registered for the service being aged 16-35. 

There was also a 12% year-on-year increase in the number of registered 16-24-year-olds.

Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP, commented: “We have come a very long way since our launch in April 2018 and GAMSTOP is now widely recognised as an important tool to help vulnerable consumers take a break from their gambling. 

“We are proud to have been able to help hundreds of thousands of people to take back control of their lives through self-exclusion and we hope to help many more in the years to come.”

8

Ohio state Senator Niraj Antani is hoping to cement the Buckeye State as the eighth US state to legalise online casino gaming. 

Issued on 4 September, Antani introduced a 146-page bill with the sole purpose of legalising igaming in the state. The bill would create a regulatory framework for online casinos to be maintained by the Ohio Casino Control Commission.

Under the terms of the bill, the 11 casinos and racinos currently active in Ohio would each gain permission to offer one online casino offering. 

The bill underlined the remit of the Commission with the OCCC to be made responsible for monitoring and overseeing the introduction of each online casino offering, while approving games set to be offered on every platform.  

6.8%

Veikkaus Oy reported a year-over-year dip in gross gaming revenue and operating profit during the first half of 2024, with Veikkaus Group’s actual sales revenue dropping by 6.8% YoY to €483.8m. 

Operating profit also dipped, falling by 20.4% to €246.9m while profit slid by 19.1% to €252.3m.

The profit decline occurred due to major investments in the group’s future and the increase in lottery tax on gross gaming revenue, which rose by seven percentage points to 12%, resulting in the company paying €57.6m in lottery tax to the state, €31.7m more than H1 2023.

Veikkaus Oy noted that GGR fell by 7% in H1 in comparison to the same period the previous year to €482.8m. 

However, the state-owned operator did note that the number of customers has increased by around 15,000 during H1 to 2.54 million registered customers, while the share of the digital channels out of the GGR rose by 6.6 percentage points to 60.5%.

28,000

The Australian Communications and Media Authority announced that more than 28,000 people have registered for its national online self-exclusion service BetStop since it launched in August 2023.

According to the authority, of that figure, almost half were aged 30 and under, while around 80% were aged 40 and under. 

In addition, approximately 40% have decided to self-exclude for life, less than 20% chose the minimum period of three months and over 14% have already extended or reactivated their self-exclusion period.

The ACMA stated that as of 21 August 2024, BetStop had around 23,000 current users.

“Online gambling can cause a great deal of harm to individuals, their families and friends, so it’s encouraging that so many people have decided to take the step and register to self-exclude,” commented ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin.

3

New Zealand’s government has opened a consultation to ask for the country’s opinion on the next three-year strategy to prevent and minimise gambling harm.

Matt Doocey, the Minister for Mental Health, published the comments on gambling harm prevention and minimisation in a statement on the government’s website, encouraging the public to voice their views so that the right initiatives and interventions can be put in place.

“While many New Zealanders enjoy gambling as a pastime without issue, the statistics are clear that harm from gambling can have a significant impact, therefore it is important that we put in place initiatives and interventions that prevent and minimise harm from gambling,” stated Doocey.

“I would encourage you to have your say on this consultation document by 6 October 2024 to help inform its development. In talking to people about mental health and addiction, I’ve become firmly of the view that the ideas we need to solve the issues we face are already in the community, so please make your voice heard.”

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The UK’s self-exclusion service allows consumers to exclude themselves from gambling sites licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, for a period of six months up to five years.

According to GAMSTOP, over 440,000 people are currently excluded, with approximately one in two opting for the longest time frame possible. April 2024 had the highest volume of monthly registrations since the service’s launch with 8,686 new registered users.

GAMSTOP noted that it uses insights from the UKGC’s most recent research to inform its outreach strategy.

Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP, commented: “We have come a very long way since our launch in April 2018 and GAMSTOP is now widely recognised as an important tool to help vulnerable consumers take a break from their gambling. 

“We are proud to have been able to help hundreds of thousands of people to take back control of their lives through self-exclusion and we hope to help many more in the years to come.”

As previously mentioned, GAMSTOP has reported that the age of those self-excluding is falling, as in the first half of 2024, one in two who registered for the service were aged 16-35. There was also a 12% year-on-year increase in the number of 16-24-year-olds registering.

A second independent evaluation of the self-exclusion service will be published later in September, as Ipsos surveyed more than 4,650 GAMSTOP users on the service’s “effectiveness in reducing gambling harm and how it supports its users alongside other forms of gambling prevention and support”.

Providing a snippet of the Ipsos survey, the self-exclusion service stated that “78% said that GAMSTOP had delivered the results they were hoping for, with 75% feeling more in control of their gambling choices”.

Palmer noted: “It is right that we regularly evaluate the effectiveness of the service through independent research and we will shortly be announcing the results of a comprehensive listening exercise conducted by Ipsos, who have surveyed thousands of GAMSTOP’s users.”

GAMSTOP’s report comes ahead of the third annual Self-Exclusion Day on 12 September, when football clubs across the UK raise awareness about the self-exclusion service to their supporters, with self-exclusion messaging displayed at EFL stadiums on 7-8 September and digital assets posted on partner clubs’ social channels.

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2.6

Groupe FDJ has laid out its ambitions to form a “new European gaming champion” as it launched an all-cash tender offer of €2.6bn to acquire Kindred Group. 

The strength of FDJ’s approach was underlined as the offer has been “unanimously recommended by Kindred’s Board of Directors” and “five key shareholders holding a combined 27.9 per cent of the capital irrevocably support FDJ’s deal and terms”.

Stéphane Pallez, Chair and CEO of FDJ Group, said: “I am pleased to announce today the proposed acquisition of Kindred. Fully aligned with our strategy, it will give the Group a diversified and balanced profile, based on several pillars.

“Given their respective histories, strategic strengths and core values, FDJ and Kindred are highly complementary, and I will be delighted to welcome Kindred’s management team and many talented individuals into the combined Group following this transaction.”

As suggested by FDJ’s recent Paris filing, the offer represents a premium of 24 per cent over the closing price on 19 January 2024 and 35 per cent over the weighted average price for the last 30 trading days.

Nils Andén, CEO of Kindred, added: “I’m delighted with today’s transaction announcement between FDJ and Kindred, creating a leading European gaming operator with the financial and strategic capabilities to further expand its global footprint. 

“I believe that combining with FDJ, Kindred can accelerate the delivery of long-term strategic projects, continue to grow in core markets, and provide a trusted source of entertainment to customers.”

7.5

Scott Sibella, former CEO of MGM Resort International’s MGM Grand, pleaded guilty to failing to file reports of suspicious transactions when he was working as head of the resort. 

According to his plea agreement, Sibella allowed a customer to continue to gamble large amounts of money at MGM properties despite having knowledge he was working as an illegal bookie. 

The player, named Wayne Nix, was also reportedly provided with lavish hotel stays and casino weekends hosted by Sibella from August 2017 to February 2019.

It’s a case that largely centres around the 2019 Super Bowl, which saw Nix accept a $5m bet on the Super Bowl – something Sibella was fully aware of.  

The sentencing for Sibella could be significant as he faces up to five years in prison followed by five years of probation. He will also pay a fine of $250,000.

The Cosmopolitan and the MGM Grand have also agreed to pay an additional $7.45m for their part in the transgression.

9.5

Self-exclusion service GAMSTOP has reported a 9.5 per cent increase in registrations in 2023, with registrants expected to surpass 500,000 this year.

Since its creation in April 2018 to the end of December 2023, GAMSTOP has registered 433,357 people onto its service, with more than 92,000 registering in the past year, a record high. May 2023 saw the most new registrations within a single month at 8,591.

In June, representatives of the self-exclusion scheme and those with lived experiences spoke at an event at the House of Lords to mark the service’s fifth anniversary.

55 per cent of all registrants self-excluded for a period of five years with GAMSTOP, which is also the longest period someone can self-exclude for. Registrants can also self-exclude for six months or a year.

Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP, commented: “We are continuing to see a year-on-year increase in the number of registrants, which shows the importance of self-exclusion for anyone struggling with their gambling, alongside other blocking tools and support,” commented Palmer.

“We want to continue raising awareness of GAMSTOP to anyone who might benefit from self-exclusion and to the friends and families of anyone affected by gambling.” 

2

Sweden’s Gambling Authority, Spelinspektionen, has issued its first two bans of 2024 to companies accused of illegally providing gambling in the country.

True Polygon Entertainment Limited and Smein Hosting NV have been accused by the gambling authority of providing gambling in Sweden without the necessary licence and have been banned as a result.

Investigations found that True Polygon Entertainment’s CSGOBIG website or their affiliates, as well as Smein Hosting’s websites under the Gamdom brand or their affiliates, were found to have marketing in Swedish.

Spelinspektionen stated that in both cases, it was not discovered that Swedish consumers would be prevented from registering and creating an account on the websites in question.

The authority noted that both True Polygon Entertainment and Smein Hosting have been given an opportunity to make a statement, but it has yet to receive a response from either company.

1.2

A significant intervention has seen the Supreme Court of Justice in Mexico take action in a bid to settle ongoing disputes between Codere SA and SHCP, Mexico’s Ministry of Finance and Public Funds.

It stems from SHCP demands that Codere pay taxes and surcharges for the year 2008, which the Ministry estimates to be MEX 1.2bn pesos (approximately €300m).

However, Codere claims it was exempt from tax obligations in 2008 due to an ‘amparo’ granted by Mexico’s Federal Court of Administrative Justice (TFJA).

The SHCP has once again begun with the dispute, off the back of a rise in Codere’s tax charge from MEX560m to 1.2bn pesos after a ‘new determination’ by the Tax Administration Service (SAT), increased.

The Ministry contends that the initial protection is no longer applicable given Codere’s increased tax obligation, providing the basis to demand the operator to settle its outstanding liabilities.

As the SHCP details, “Following the SAT’s reassessment, Codere’s subsequent nullity trial upheld the SAT’s resolution, and their direct protection appeal was denied.”

The SAT reinstated its inspection and determined a revised “tax credit of 1,272,385,927 pesos”. Dissatisfied, Codere pursued another annulment trial, which upheld the SAT’s resolution; subsequently, Codere appealed to the Supreme Court for direct protection against this outcome.

Codere has challenged the Supreme Court, questioning the constitutionality of specific sections of the Federal Law of Administrative Procedure to avoid paying the taxes demanded by the SHCP.

This appeal marks the first time Mexico’s Supreme Court will intervene in a legal dispute regarding gambling taxes.

15

Online casino and sportsbook operator bet365 has enhanced the jackpot offering of its UK-facing platform by gaining progressive jackpot campaigns from Games Global. 

As part of a partnership between the two firms, Games Global will integrate a selection of 15 proprietary slot titles into bet365’s online casino lobby, each offering enhanced prizes from the studio’s Mega Moolah and WowPot! progressive jackpots. 

A spokesperson from bet365 commented: “The inclusion of Mega Moolah and WowPot! titles significantly enhances our jackpot offering, providing our players with the prospect of record-breaking wins.

“Our partnership with Games Global is going from strength to strength and we look forward to creating unforgettable gaming experiences for our customers together.

Within the supplier’s content offering, bet365 players will gain access to slots such as Mega Moolah, Wheel of Wishes and Immortal Romance Mega Moolah, as well as Cash N Riches Megaways WowPot!, Treasures of Kilaueau Mega Moolah and Wolf Blaze Megaways WowPot.

In 2023 alone, both Games Global’s Mega Moolah and WowPot! jackpot campaigns paid out over €155m, with increased prizes being won every 10 seconds on average. 

This figure included a record-breaking jackpot win of €38.4m, won by a lucky player on Games Global studio Alchemy Gaming’s Wheel of Wishes slot in December. That multi-million-pound win was the largest jackpot prize ever awarded on an online slot.

The post Kindred acquisition, GAMSTOP & Codere: the week in numbers appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Since its creation in April 2018 to the end of December 2023, GAMSTOP has registered 433,357 people onto its service, with more than 92,000 registering in the past year, a record high. May 2023 saw the most new registrations within a single month at 8,591.

In June, representatives of the self-exclusion scheme and those with lived experiences spoke at an event at the House of Lords to mark the service’s fifth anniversary.

55 per cent of all registrants self-excluded for a period of five years with GAMSTOP, which is also the longest period someone can self-exclude for. Registrants can also self-exclude for six months or a year.

Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP, noted that the registration increase signifies the importance of self-exclusion in helping those who need support with their gambling.

“We are continuing to see a year-on-year increase in the number of registrants, which shows the importance of self-exclusion for anyone struggling with their gambling, alongside other blocking tools and support,” commented Palmer.

“We want to continue raising awareness of GAMSTOP to anyone who might benefit from self-exclusion and to the friends and families of anyone affected by gambling.” 

Harj Gahley, Non-Executive Director at gambling charity Red Card and registered with GAMSTOP, had a gambling addiction for over 10 years from the age of 23. He praised the support he received from the service.

Gahley said: “As the prevalence of online gambling has continued to grow in the UK, schemes such as GAMSTOP have become a necessary lifeline for thousands of vulnerable people. For me, GAMSTOP has been a crucial part of my recovery knowing that I’m safely blocked from being able to gamble online.  

“With the start of a new year comes the opportunity to implement changes in one’s life, I can’t recommend GAMSTOP highly enough for anyone, young or old, male or female, who might be suffering from gambling-related issues.”

GAMSTOP added that there has also been an increase in the number of teenagers and young adults self-excluding, as in the latter half of 2023, there was a 31 per cent uptick in the number of registrants aged 16 to 24.

The same group also made up around 21 per cent of all registrants between July and December, up from 17 per cent during the same period the previous year.

During the year, GAMSTOP conducted a UK university campus tour, meeting with students and conducting in-depth conversations to educate and raise awareness on gambling self-exclusion.

The service added it will soon be revealing the results of its annual research into student gambling. 

Palmer added: “The prevalence of young adults among GAMSTOP’s registrants shows the importance of educating younger consumers and we will continue our outreach to this age group in 2024, working collaboratively with like-minded organisations and harnessing the support of our football club partners.”

The post GAMSTOP: Increase in registrants shows self-exclusion importance appeared first on CasinoBeats.

500

The political process to overhaul Finland’s licensing system and end the current monopoly held by Veikkaus is underway, according to the country’s Ministry of the Interior.

To prepare for this transition, the Ministry has initiated a project to draw up “necessary legislative proposals” for reform, particularly concerning the allocation of licences and the framework behind this.

This will include games covered by the licence system, fees and taxation rates, use of gambling management tools and harm prevention measures and the control and marketing of betting activity.

Reforms to the Finnish gambling system have been on the government’s agenda for much of this year, with policymakers – as well as Veikkaus itself – concerned about channelisation rates and the subsequent impact on player protection. 

With Veikkaus holding the monopoly over Finnish betting, gaming and lottery operations, many locals are wagering with overseas operators, with the amount of money going to such firms estimated to be between €500m and €550m.

3

The Netherlands is to launch a multi-year campaign that will be tasked with increasing the digital resilience of its citizens through the reduction of cybercrime and online fraud.

This was confirmed by Franc Weerwind, Minister for Legal Protection for the Dutch Government, in response to questions submitted by the trio of Mirjam Bikker of the Christian Union, Michel van Nispen of the Socialist Party and the Christian Democratic Appeal’s Anne Kuik.

As the issue of combating social engineering became central to the discussion, Weerwind was also tasked with addressing reports that influencers defraud victims of thousands of euros via Telegram by helping to promote fake sports results.

452.62 

Evolution highlighted the fact that “we are underserving the market at the moment” as evidence of the increasing demand that the group is witnessing for its services on a global basis.

This was highlighted in detail by CEO Martin Carlesund, who suggested that continued investment and optimised recruitment, as well as a focus on product innovation and financial strength, stand the company is good stead to achieve its ambitions through 2023 and beyond.

Speaking in a third quarter earnings breakdown, he also stressed that the gambling group is “focused on factors that are within our control”, despite external factors said to be playing a more significant role than ever before. 

These comments came as the company reported third quarter revenue of €452.64m, up 19.6 per cent year-on-year from €378.53m, with the live casino taking the lion’s share of €385.8m (2022: €310.4m).

17

Light & Wonder finalised the purchase of the remaining 17 per cent interest in SciPlay that it did not previously own in an approximately $500m definitive agreement that was initially detailed in August.

The purchase price of $22.95 per share in an all-cash transaction represents an increase from May’s $20 offer, which accounted for an enterprise value of $2.1bn.

SciPlay will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Light & Wonder, with the company’s common stock to no longer be publicly traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.

Among the numerous plus points previously stressed by L&W as a result of the transaction are maintaining momentum of the company’s cross-platform strategy, flexibility for use of SciPlay cash flows for investments, and the facilitation of long-term margin enhancement opportunities via synergies.

3.3

Kindred Group witnessed a slight increase on both yearly and quarterly terms regarding the share of company revenue that is derived from harmful gambling. 

Through the third quarter, this percentage stood at 3.3 per cent, which is in contrast to the 3.8 per cent reported one year earlier and the 3.1 percentage points during the second quarter of 2022.

In addition, this latest result also comes in contrast to the 3.3 per cent and 3.1 per cent, which were highlighted during the current year’s first and second quarter, respectively.

Despite reaffirming a commitment to “work actively to achieve a safer gambling experience for all customers”, the online gambling group has again recognised that “further steps need to be taken” in order to establish a long-term sustainable industry across all markets.

237.6

Betsson declared record numbers in the third quarter of 2023, as well as sequential growth in revenue and earnings attributing to key gains in several markets.

Commenting on the results, CEO Pontus Lindwall highlighted that “continued high customer activity, strong financial development and further investments in product and new markets” supported its high revenue growth in all major regions except for the Nordics.

Publishing its Q3 financials, Betsson declared group revenue of €237.6m, a 19 per cent increase year-over-year (2022: €200.3m) and an organic increase of 39 per cent, largely driven by casino games.

Per segment, casino revenue improved by 27 per cent YoY to €172.1m (2022: €135.4m) to occupy 72 per cent of the group’s revenue (2022: 68 per cent). 

2

GAMSTOP completed its second annual tour of UK universities freshers’ week as part of its awareness campaign on gambling self-exclusion.

Visiting several campuses across the North of England supporting Ygam and GamCare in Yorkshire and Humber, the GAMSTOP team met with over 600 students and conducted 140 in-depth conversations about gambling habits, how to find support and how to spot and talk about problem gambling with friends and family.

The self-exclusion scheme has previously noted that there has been a 30 per cent uptick in sign-ups amongst 16-24-year-olds in the first half of 2023, showing the value of university roadshows as they introduce students to self-exclusion and provide education on available support channels.

7

The GambleAware commissioned English Gambling Education Hub marked its debut last week, targeting early intervention and prevention regarding gambling harms.

This represents a collaboration of seven organisations across England, with national partners GamCare and Ygam joined by local group’s Aquarius, ARA, Beacon Counselling Trust, NECA and Breakeven. In addition, the programme also works alongside the Scottish and Welsh Gambling Education Hubs.

The portal, which is aiming to enhance the capabilities of youth, family services and formal education services, will supply evidence-based information, support, and education to those working with children and young people.

16.7

GambleAware research highlighted Scotland as having fewer people accessing support or treatment for gambling harms in comparison to averages across Great Britain.

The data came from recently published maps by the gambling charity, detailing the level of gambling harm at a local authority and parliamentary constituency level across Britain.

Using the Problem Gambling Severity Index and produced by PoliMapper, the maps also cite the demand and usage of support and treatment services, showing which regions have higher levels of people experiencing gambling harm.

GambleAware’s evidence noted that Scotland has lower levels of people accessing treatment, support or advice for gambling harms at 16.7 per cent of those who gamble with any level of problems (PGSI 1+ on the Problem Gambling Severity Index scale).

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Visiting several campuses across the North of England supporting Ygam and GamCare in Yorkshire and Humber, the GAMSTOP team met with over 600 students and conducted 140 in-depth conversations about gambling habits, how to find support and how to spot and talk about problem gambling with friends and family.

The self-exclusion scheme has previously noted that there has been a 30 per cent uptick in sign-ups amongst 16-24-year-olds in the first half of 2023, showing the value of university roadshows as they introduce students to self-exclusion and provide education on available support channels.

Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP, stated: “For the second year running we’ve seen a fantastic response to this collaborative university roadshow. 

“We’ve visited a number of campuses alongside Ygam & GamCare Yorkshire and Humber to highlight the support available to students and how best to tackle the topic of problem gambling with their friends and family.

“The GAMSTOP team also conducted several important conversations with students about their own gambling-related issues, providing them with information as well as reaffirming the support channels available to them.”

A report from GAMSTOP and Ygam earlier this year on the extent of gambling within the university students community revealed that more than seven out of 10 had gambled in the previous 12 months and 43 per cent had sometimes bet more than they could afford to lose. 

More than one in five students admitted to using their overdraft or a payday loan to help fund their gambling. 

GAMSTOP added that it will continue to work alongside Ygam and GamCare as it visits more universities in the new year.

The self-exclusion scheme’s visits to universities come as the UK government opened a consultation for stakeholders to provide responses on the statutory levy for research, education and treatment of gambling addiction.

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This officially took place last month after the UK’s independent self-exclusion scheme showcased #TakeBackControl2023 in a bid to raise awareness of the service across social media channels.  

This called on the support of numerous organisations, most notably those in the sporting ecosystem which are noted as “a key demographic” for the group.

Football clubs from all four divisions of the professional game in England supported the initiative, with these including Crystal Palace, QPR, Bolton Wanderers and Crewe Alexandra. 

In Scotland, Ayr United and Livingston FC supported a self-exclusion day whilst Welsh Premier League Champions, The New Saints FC, also shared GAMSTOP assets. 

In addition, the group also updated that it is currently in discussions with one unnamed Premier League Club to provide gambling awareness workshops.

In addition, other sports organisations taking part included the Professional Darts Players Association and the Professional Players Federation.

Social media activation efforts reached over five million users across all platforms, with these posts supplying essential information about registering with GAMSTOP.

“Everyone at GAMSTOP is incredibly grateful to the football clubs and sports organisations who supported our second self-exclusion awareness day, and we were delighted to welcome new partners this year,” stated Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP.

“Sports fans are a key demographic for us, so we know how important they are in reaching these audiences through their own social media channels”.

More than 400,000 consumers have registered with GAMSTOP since its inception in 2018. Recent GAMSTOP data reported a 12 per cent increase in sign-ups to its self-exclusion service in the first half of 2023 in comparison to the previous year, including a 30 per cent uptick in sign-ups from 16-24 year olds.

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