DraftKings 

DraftKings has expanded its executive team with the appointment of Brian Angiolet in the newly created position of chief media officer, a role that will see him direct and optimise content creation and media strategy, effective April 26.

Most recently, Angiolet served as SVP and chief business officer at Verizon Communications, where he spearheaded a number of high-profile, multi-billion-dollar content and advertising initiatives.

Jason Robins, DraftKings’ co-founder, CEO and chairman of the board, said: “Brian brings invaluable experience to this new chief media officer position and deeply understands how the virtuous circle among sports, gaming, and content has the potential to boost engagement.

“As our media presence grows with the acquisition of VSiN, among other strategic moves, Brian’s creative ideas and insightful perspectives will further propel the possibilities of DraftKings content. Our warmest welcome to Brian, and we’re thrilled to have him aboard.”

Crown Resorts

Bruce Carter, the former deputy chair of SkyCity Entertainment Group, has been appointed as a non-executive director of Crown Resorts, subject to the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals.

In his former SkyCity role, Carter, who is currently chair of the Australian Submarine Corporation and Aventus Capital, oversaw the expansion development at SkyCity Adelaide.

Carter says that his is “excited” to be joining the company during its current transformative period, as well as hoping to drive “important changes” amid an “ambitious timetable to complete tough and wide-ranging reforms”.

“Bruce brings to the Crown board the ideal blend of commercial, governance and gaming sector expertise and is respected across Australia for his contribution to corporate and government roles,” noted Helen Coonan, Crown’s executive chairman.

“Attracting someone of Bruce’s calibre to the board is an endorsement of our strategy, ambition and commitment to reform. With a track record of building stronger businesses and extensive experience in advisory and board roles, Bruce’s appointment will enhance our governance as we work to implement our ambitious reform program.

“I am determined to maintain the pace of change right across the business and remain committed to further board renewal.”

Greenwood Racing

Greenwood Racing, the owner and operator of Parx Casino in Pennsylvania, has announced the appointment of David Grissen to its board of directors.

Grissen joined Marriott International in 1986, and most recently served as group president until his retirement in April 2021. For the past 11 years, he led the company’s Americas business, overseeing all of the territory’s lodging business, comprising more than 5,500 properties and a vast workforce of 160,000 people.

We are pleased to welcome David to our Greenwood Racing board of directors,” said Eric Hausler, CEO of Greenwood Racing. “David’s impressive 36 year career with Marriott and his wealth of knowledge about all aspects of the hospitality industry and guest service will be invaluable as our company continues to evolve and grow.”

Casino Association of New Jersey

The Casino Association of New Jersey has named its first female president, with Terry Glebocki to be succeed Steve Callender who retired in March.

Glebocki has served as CEO of Ocean Casino Resort since 2019. She has three decades of financial management experience, including serving as chief financial officer of Ocean Casino Resort and Tropicana Entertainment.

“I am privileged and honoured to succeed Steve Callender as the next president of the Casino Association of New Jersey. Steve successfully led our organisation during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are grateful for the strength and leadership he has shown in these unprecedented times,” said Glebocki.

“I am thrilled to lead the CANJ forward as we work to help Atlantic City and the region recover from this devastating pandemic and continue the ongoing revitalization of this world-class destination resort.”

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The resumption of the investigation follows the conclusion of the casino’s proceedings with the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre for its breaches of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006.

Investigations into SkyCity Adelaide began in July 2022, after Consumer and Business Services, the South Australia gambling regulator, appointed Martin to conduct an independent review under section 22(2) of the Casino Act 1997 (SA) regarding “the suitability of SkyCity Adelaide to continue to hold the SkyCity Adelaide casino licence and the suitability of SkyCity to continue to be a close associate of SkyCity Adelaide”.

However, in February 2023, the investigation was put on hold as Martin advised former Liquor and Gambling Commissioner Dini Soulio that he was unable to determine the question of whether the casino was suitable to hold a licence until the AUSTRAC proceedings had been resolved.

SkyCity Adelaide was then directed by the commissioner to appoint an independent monitor to “oversee a program of work aimed at ensuring the casino was meeting its anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing obligations and its obligations in relation to minimising gambling harm”.

Last week, following joint submissions filed by SkyCity and AUSTRAC, the Federal Court of Australia ordered SkyCity Adelaide to pay a A$67m penalty to AUSTRAC for the AML/CTF Act breaches.

With the conclusion of the AUSTRAC proceedings, Acting Liquor and Gambling Commissioner Fraser Stroud has requested for Martin to recommence the investigation, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

“Given the AUSTRAC proceedings have now been finalised, I have determined that Mr Martin’s review should recommence,” commented Stroud.

“Given his knowledge and understanding of the subject matter and the considerable work he had done prior to the AUSTRAC proceedings beginning, resuming this work will be the most effective way to determine the suitability of the casino licensee.

“Since Mr Martin’s review was placed on hold, Kroll Australia has been appointed to oversee SkyCity Adelaide’s work in addressing deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing obligations.

“These developments will be taken into account as Mr Martin resumes his investigation.”

In a statement, SkyCity and SkyCity Adelaide noted that they will “continue to cooperate with Consumer and Business Services and the Acting Commissioner in relation to the independent review”.

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29%

Macau enjoyed a historically strong May, as gross gaming revenue reached its highest post-pandemic levels. 

As reported by InsideAsianGaming, total GGR was recorded at MOP 20.2bn ($2.52bn), a 29 per cent increase on the same period last year. 

Furthermore, underlining the upward trajectory of the region, it also saw a nine per cent rise from GGR in April, continuing to build back from a challenging period – fuelled by the lifting of pandemic restrictions. 

It also marks a trend of Macau’s gambling sector, continuing to exceed expectations when it comes to engagement and turnover, as in March, it also enjoyed a staggering 53.1 per cent growth compared to the same period last year. 

In total, March saw MOP 19.5bn ($2.4bn) coming in, numbers that were bolstered by a rising number of visitors in the region – as footfall and tourism continued to grow significantly. 

Speaking to Bloomberg China, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macau Tourism Office, predicted that a total of 33 million tourists will embrace the region this year.

15%

Spain’s Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling has reported a gross gambling revenue increase in the first quarter of 2024, rising by over 15 per cent year-over-year.

Casino revenue was down in comparison to the previous quarter but had improved when compared to Q1 2023 figures by just over 17 per cent.

For Q1, the Spanish authority declared a GGR of €350.69m, up 11.23 per cent when compared to Q4 2023’s €315.29m and a 15.14 per cent YoY improvement.

Deposits for the quarter stood at €1.09bn, a 5.61 per cent increase quarter-over-quarter and a 15.85 per cent uptick YoY. Withdrawals came in at €739.96m, up 0.72 per cent QoQ and 13.9 per cent in comparison to the same period last year.

New accounts came in at 446,586, a 15.21 per cent increase QoQ and a 33.64 per cent uptick YoY. The monthly average of active game accounts was 1,327,575, up 4.57 per cent QoQ and 14.58 per cent YoY, while the monthly average of new game accounts was 148,862, a 15.21 per cent increase QoQ and a 33.64 per cent uptick YoY.

Of the €350.69m GGR, casino operations had the largest share at 47.84 per cent (€167.76m), followed by betting at 42.85 per cent (€150.28m), poker at 8.11 per cent (€28.45m), bingo at 1.19 per cent (€4.19m) and contests with a minimal share (€2,000).

For Q1, the Spanish market had 78 licensed operators – casino: 50, betting: 41, poker: nine, bingo: four and contests: two.

Casino’s GGR of €167.76m is a decline of 2.05 per cent QoQ but a 17.02 per cent improvement YoY. Slots fell by 7.51 per cent QoQ but rose by 14.98 per cent YoY. Live roulette grew by 6.37 per cent QoQ and by 22.19 per cent in comparison to the same period last year.

A$67m

The Federal Court of Australia ordered SkyCity Adelaide to pay A$67m to the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre for breaching the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006. 

SkyCity has also been ordered to pay the Australian Government agency’s costs of $3m.

Civil penalty proceedings were commenced by AUSTRAC in December 2022, analysing historical contraventions of the AML/CTF Act during the period of December 7, 2016 to December 14, 2022.

This action stemmed from a compliance campaign initially started by the agency in September 2019.

Last month, SkyCity and AUSTRAC filed joint submissions with the Federal Court, with the operator admitting that it operated in contravention of two sections of the AML/CTF Act.

AUSTRAC stated that SkyCity admitted that its contraventions “made it vulnerable to criminal exploitation, and exposed the Australian community and financial system to money laundering and terrorism financing risk”. 

SkyCity has also been accused of not establishing an “appropriate framework to ensure adequate board and senior management oversight of its AML/CTF programs”.

AUSTRAC added that SkyCity has taken steps to address the issues identified, but the remediation remains ongoing.

18%

According to the Betting and Gaming Council, the number of deposit limits set during Safer Gambling Week rose by 18 per cent in comparison to the same month in 2022, while 54 per cent of players setting deposit limits did so for the first time.

This led BGC CEO and Acting Chair Michael Dugher to describe the campaign as a “powerful advert” for player awareness of safer gambling tools.

There was also a 300 per cent increase for the second year in a row in the number of players actively setting a reality check, while the use of maximum stake limits also rose by 300 per cent. 

In total, 83,242 unique account holders set deposit limits, which is up by 12.5 per cent in comparison to the previous year.

Across social media – X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram – Safer Gambling Week 2023 achieved over 50 million impressions, as well as a 70 per cent increase on the previous year as Safer Gambling Week messages appeared on major social media websites nearly 30 million times. The Safer Gambling Week website also had half a million visits.

Dugher commented: “These new figures show Safer Gambling Week continues to be a powerful advert for increasing use of safer gambling tools in the regulated industry.

“Millions of customers now use safer gambling tools including deposit limits and time outs. This is a pillar of the regulated industry and is in marked contrast to the unsafe, unregulated and growing online gambling black market, which provides no safer gambling support, contributes zero tax and does not support sport.”

£49.5m

GambleAware has revealed the donations it received across 2023/24 as British betting operators contributed heavily to the charity’s total of £49.5m in voluntary donations. 

However, CEO Zoë Osmond has reiterated the message that vital funding for gambling harm prevention and treatment programmes should not be disrupted as services wait for the implementation of the new statutory levy. 

Britain’s largest four gambling operators – bet365, Flutter Entertainment, Entain and William Hill – contributed around 94 per cent of the total figure, donating £46.6m to support GambleAware. 

This figure from the ‘big four’ represents an increase of £3.1m from the operators’ contributions of £43.5m across 2022/23.

Described as essential funding by the organisation, the donations will aid the organisation in encouraging responsible gambling and player protection with public health campaigns, education and training programmes, harm prevention tools, treatment services and research. 

Osmond stated: “While we await the implementation of the new statutory levy, donations from the voluntary funding system are key to ensure GambleAware can continue to deliver the essential gambling harm prevention and treatment programmes we commission.”

5.7%

Eminence Capital has become the third largest investor in Entain and increased its stakes in the embattled gambling giant to 5.7 per cent. 

Eminence increased its stake in the firm via the acquisition of around 7.1 million shares, which are reportedly priced at around 710p.

Since the start of the year, Eminence has continued to increase its interest in Entain after the investment firm’s boss, Ricky Sandler was named a non-executive director of Entain. 

The US investment firm has also been critical of Entain, specifically when it comes to the group’s acquisition strategy and the lucrative takeover of STS Holdings. 

Before being made an executive director, Sandler had been vocal about Entain exploring the sale of BetMGM. 

The deal continues a trend of equity suitors and private investors circling over the gambling giant eyeing the firm as a potential key opportunity for growth. 

Nonetheless, Sandler and Eminence are limited in being able to purchase shares up to eight per cent, as per the agreement between the two parties. 

The post Macau, SkyCity, Safer Gambling Week and GambleAware: the week in numbers appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Reaching an agreement, SkyCity admitted that it operated in contravention of the AML/CTF Act under two different sections.

• Section 81 – its AML/CTF Programs did not meet the requirements of the AML/CTF Act and AML/CTF Rules.
• Section 36 – it did not carry out appropriate ongoing customer due diligence with respect to certain higher-risk customers and customers transacting through higher-risk channels.

Justice Lee will consider the proposed settlement between SkyCity and AUSTRAC when the court hearing takes place on June 7.

While a $67m penalty has been agreed to between the two parties in question, the court will have the final say on the appropriate penalty to be issued.

AUSTRAC’s Chief Executive Officer, Brendan Thomas, commented: “AUSTRAC took this action out of concern that SkyCity’s conduct meant that a range of high-risk practices, behaviours and customer relationships were allowed to continue unchecked for many years.”

Thomas added that the action demonstrates the importance of AML/CTF obligations to casinos and gaming companies and to be vigilant to money laundering and terrorism financing risks.

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SkyCity

SkyCity has announced that David Christian has resigned as Chief Operating Officer Australia.

Callum Mallet, interim CEO of SkyCity, noted: “David has held a number of senior roles during his career with SkyCity since joining in 2005 and has led the SkyCity Adelaide business through a very challenging and demanding period, demonstrating strong leadership and resilience.”

From April 13, Christian will be replaced as Chief Operating Officer Australia by Avril Baynes, who is the current General Manager of Hospitality at SkyCity Adelaide and has previously been the General Manager of the Mindil Beach Casino Resort in Darwin, Australia.

Julian Cook, Board Chair of SkyCity, added: “On behalf of the SkyCity Adelaide board and the SkyCity board, I thank David for his tireless efforts and dedication to SkyCity and wish him well.”

GiG

GiG has submitted its proposal for two separate board entities ahead of the company’s split of its Media and Platform businesses.

GiG Media will be operated under the company’s current corporate structure, while GiG Platform, the business tech subsidiary, will be spun off to GiG’s shareholders later in the year.

The proposal has been submitted to investors before the company’s annual general meeting on May 22. The two separate boards have been created “with the aim to optimise the growth opportunities for each business entity”.

GiG Platform’s board will be led by Petter Nylander as Chair, alongside Nicolas Adlercreutz, Mikael Riese Harstad, Hesam Yazdi, Tomasz Juroszek and Steve Salmon. It will not feature Karolina Pelc, as she declined re-election due to other commitments. 

For GiG Media’s board, the committee has proposed Harstad as Chair alongside a re-elected Hesam Yazdi, with the additions of Cristina Romero de Alba, Mateusz Juroszek and Nicholas Batram.

Romero de Alba is a legal expert in gambling disciplines, a partner of Madrid law firm LOYRA, and has worked as counsel for M&As of clients including institutional and strategic investors, operators and suppliers in over 30 countries.

Juroszek has 20 years of gambling industry experience and was previously CEO of Poland’s largest bookmaker STS from 2012 to 2023. Batram is the former Group Director of M&A and Corporate Development at Entain.

Chicken Ranch Casino Resort

Chicken Ranch Casino Resort has appointed Katie Kirkland as Group Sales Manager.

Kirkland brings over 14 years of experience in the hospitality, tourism, and sales industry to the resort ahead of its planned opening later this year in the summer.

She previously worked at Club Med Resorts, Black Oak Casino Resort and Development Counsellors International.

Commenting on her new role, Kirkland said: “As the new Group Sales Manager at Chicken Ranch Casino Resort, I am excited to bring fresh perspectives and innovative strategies to enhance our guests’ group experiences.

“Our team is dedicated to creating memorable events and ensuring every detail exceeds expectations. I look forward to collaborating with our clients and partners to elevate our offerings and establish Chicken Ranch as a premier destination for group gatherings.”

Raketech

Raketech’s nomination committee has proposed the appointment of Jon Moss to the company’s board of directors ahead of its annual general meeting on May 16.

The committee has also proposed the reelection of all current board members and Ulrik Bengtsson as Chair.

Moss has extensive experience in igaming, as he has previously spent over a decade as Head of International Development at bet365.

He has also been an independent consultant working across various geographies, including numerous markets in Europe, North America, Australasia, certain Asia markets and Latin America. 

The committee is confident that Moss would strengthen Raketech’s board with his igaming and international experience, bringing value to help the company’s growth initiatives.

Svenska Spel

Svenska Spel has appointed Gustav Georgson as Head of Public Affairs.

Taking on the role from April 29, Georgson joins the operator from the Government Offices, where he worked as a political adviser at the Liberal Party’s coordination office.

“Five years after the re-regulation of the gambling market, gambling is still the subject of much debate. With Gustav’s cutting-edge expertise in public affairs, we will continue to develop our relationship with Svenska Spel’s stakeholders,” stated Frank Hojem, Head of Communications and Sustainability at Svenska Spel.

“We will be a clear voice in the debate and contribute with concrete views on the industry’s most important issues. Gustav will play a central role in this work.”

Commenting on his new role, Georgson said: “I have always had a positive view of Svenska Spel as a player with an important role in society. I look forward to working with my new colleagues to consolidate our position as a responsible role model in the gaming market.”

Rush Street Interactive

Rush Street Interactive has hired Brian Sapp for the newly-created role of Chief Marketing Officer.

Sapp has a strong record in data-driven marketing and live operations within the mobile industry. He was previously on the Executive Team at Rec Room, overseeing several functions, including media buying, product marketing, creative, social and first-party revenue.

He has also held the position of Senior Vice President of User Acquisition & Ads at Jam City, Director of Digital Publishing at WB Games and Director of Developer Partnerships at Tapjoy.

“As we continue to grow and expand across the Americas, a marketing leader with Brian’s unique blend of gaming and mobile experience, strategic insight, and creativity will be additive to the team as we shape the future of our brand and continue to innovate our customer-first experience,” said Richard Schwartz, CEO of RSI. 

“We are thrilled to welcome him aboard to lead our marketing strategy, team, and operations.” 

Mattias Stetz, RSI’s Chief Operations Officer who previously led the marketing team, will now focus more on scaling operations and increasing Latin American growth.   

Sapp stated: “I am thrilled to join Rush Street Interactive at a time when the company has such strong momentum. RSI’s customer-first focus really resonated with me as a marketer who understands what it takes to succeed in a competitive mobile landscape.

“I look forward to leveraging my experience and expertise to drive forward our marketing initiatives during RSI’s next phase of growth and deliver exceptional experiences to our customers.”

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FanDuel

Former National Indian Gaming Commission Chairman E. Sequoyah Simermeyer has been appointed as FanDuel’s Vice President of Strategic Partnerships. 

Announced on Monday February 26, Simermeyer’s position at the sportsbook and casino operator is an entirely new position for FanDuel. 

The move comes just one week after the former Chairman resigned from his role at the NIGC, bringing his nine-year stint at the Commission to an end. 

“Sequoyah Simermeyer has been at the forefront of shaping and safeguarding tribal gaming, focusing on priority issues and public policy for close to 25 years,” said Rikki Tanenbaum, Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnerships. 

“We are very honoured to welcome Chairman Simermeyer to the FanDuel leadership team, as he brings a career dedicated to addressing tribal economic development. With his guidance, we look forward to learning how to best partner with and support native sovereign nations across the country.”

“I am joining the private sector for the first time, and it mattered to me to join a team where I could use my background as a former regulator, legislative staffer and public servant to Indian Country,” added Simermeyer. 

“FanDuel is the leader in mobile gaming and has helped shape the rise of the legalised and regulated marketplace in the U.S. Mobile gaming remains a very young and dynamic industry, and I’m excited to help the team build out our capacity to work within Indian Country nationally to take advantage of opportunities ahead.”

PointsBet

Daniel Lucas has been announced as PointsBet’s inbound Group Chief Technology Officer. 

Lucas is set to begin his role on September 1, 2024, after having served out his current role as Global Director of Trading Technology at Flutter Entertainment. 

PointsBet’s current Group CTO, Jerry Bowskill, will step down from the role to be replaced by Lucas after the completion of the sale of its US Business to Fanatics Betting and Gaming. 

“We are very pleased that a Senior Executive of Dan’s quality and experience is joining PointsBet,” commented Sam Swanell, PointsBet Group Chief Executive Officer.

“Dan’s understanding of complex platform and trading operations, in particular algorithmic trading, risk and advanced analytics together with his strong people leadership skills, are valuable assets to PointsBet’s Australian and Canadian operations, as we continue to invest in our market leading live betting and multi capability through Odds Factory.” 

Prior to his role at Flutter, Lucas held senior positions at Sportsbet based in Melbourne, including Head of Data Solutions and Head of Trading Technology. 

Currently based in the UK with Flutter, Lucas is set to head back to Melbourne to take up his new role with PointsBet. 

Lucas added: “I am super excited about the opportunity to join a technology and product led company like PointsBet. They continue to invest in their platforms and there are exciting growth opportunities ahead.” 

SkyCity

SkyCity Entertainment Group has announced that Brad Burnett has been appointed to the role of Interim Chief Operating Officer for New Zealand. 

The move allows current New Zealand COO, Callum Mallet, to assume the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer, after the company announced in October that current CEO, Michael Ahearne, would be resigning come March 2024 for family reasons. 

Ahearne held the role of CEO from November 2020, overseeing the New Zealand and Australian operator after having been with the firm since 2017.

With his new role starting on March 9, 2024, Burnett has previously held the role of General Manager Table Games Auckland at SkyCity since June 2022. 

Prior to that role, the inbound Interim COO for New Zealand had held other positions at SkyCity, such  as the Group General Manager for Hotels. 

Continent 8

Continent 8 Technologies has added Jerad Swimmer to its global sales teams, leveraging Swimmer’s 33-years of experience in the global gaming industry. 

Having previously held roles with Gaming Laboratories International, FABI Cash, Indigo Sky Casino, and 13 other gaming companies, Swimmer joins Continent 8 from BIG Cyber where he was Director of Business Development for the past year.

Swimmer will be responsible for supporting the company’s growth across North America, using his knowledge of the Tribal gaming scene, from roles under the Quapaw Tribal Gaming Agency and the Eastern Shawnee Tribal Gaming Commission, to focus on tribal and commercial gaming operators. 

Michael Tobin, CEO and Founder at Continent 8, stated: “I’d like to give a warm welcome to Jerad who becomes the latest member of our global sales team. Jerad is an industry veteran, with a deep understanding of the US market and the infrastructure and cybersecurity solutions businesses need to succeed in tightly regulated and highly competitive markets. 

“With Jerad on board, we can continue to deliver a world-class experience to our existing customers while engaging those yet to work with us.”

Swimmer added: “It’s an honour to join Continent 8’s global sales team and to be able to support the business with its plans for the North American market, specifically focused on developing relationships with Tribal businesses and Tribal leaders. As a proud member of the United Keetoowah Band and growing up in the gaming industry, I must do my absolute best to protect Tribal country and Tribal assets; the biggest asset being the youth which is the future of our Tribes. 

“I look forward to working closely with Tribal Governments, operators, regulators, and suppliers over the coming months and helping them to find the right cybersecurity solutions for their needs. After all, cyber risks are at an all-time high, and all businesses must be prepared. 

“This is an aspect of business that simply can’t be ignored, and Continent 8 has the solutions and services needed to ensure resilience and protect sovereignty, assets, networks, systems, and data.”

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11.7 

Intouch Games had its operating licences suspended by the UK Gambling Commission, which becomes the latest action taken after three penalty packages were handed down over the past four years.

The regulator is to commence a review under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005 following concerns that activities may have been carried out contrary to licensing conditions. This may mean that the licensee may be deemed unsuitable to continue with activities.

It is suspected the operator failed to follow licence conditions related to money laundering, fair and transparent terms and practices, and reporting key events.

In January, the UKGC cited a “history of failings” in handing down a £6.1m penalty, taking its total to £11.7m, for social responsibility and money laundering failings.

This followed a £2.2m settlement being paid in 2019 for regulatory failures, as well as a £3.4m action and warning in 2021 after a UKGC assessment revealed social responsibility, money laundering and marketing failures.

41.3

Stake resumed its services as normal after becoming the target of hackers that reportedly exploited the company for $41.3m.

Taking place onMonday 4 September, the suspicious transactions were confirmed by the online casino and sportsbook as affecting its Ethereum and BSC hot wallets.

However, in a post on X, the group did offer assurances that its consumers’ funds were safe, with Bitcoin, XRP and other wallets said to have been unaffected and remained fully operational. 

A number of reports have the exact figure drained standing at $41.3m, although this has not been confirmed by the operator.

10

SkyCity Entertainment could be on the brink of receiving a temporary suspension of its casino licence for a period “in the range of 10 days” following a customer complaint. 

The operator issued an update on the potential course of action after being informed by the Department of Internal Affairs that its Secretary, Paul James, intended to make an application regarding such a course of action to the New Zealand Gambling Commission.

A decision will subsequently be assessed by the Commission regarding a potential suspension and duration, however, it is reminded this “may not be forthcoming for a number of months”.

The application follows a customer complaint that was made in February 2022 by a former customer that had gambled at SkyCity’s Auckland-based gaming venue between August 2017 to February 2021. 

100,000

Tipwin accepted a fine of DKK 100,000 (£11,473) after the group was referred to the police by the Danish gambling authority, Spillemyndigheden, in June 2022.

This course of action was initially taken after breaches of the rules on risk assessment, policies, business procedures, and supervision of sections of the Anti-Money Laundering Act were discovered.

The referral was issued by the DGA as Tipwin, up until May 16, 2022, had not prepared a risk assessment of their sale of land-based betting products, and did not have written procedures on their provision of such products. 

Furthermore, it was also found that the company did not have sufficient business procedures for and supervision of their provision of land-based gambling products in relation to anti-money laundering up until May 25, 2022. 

150,000

Carol Boate, Regulator of the National Lottery, revealed that a €150,000 penalty was levelled against Premier Lotteries Ireland during this past year following a breach of self-exclusion protocols. 

This failing was disclosed upon the publication of an annual report and accounts for the office of the Regulator of the National Lottery and the National Lottery Fund for the year ending December 31, 2022.

It was said that this stemmed from an IT incident concerning a number of permanently self-excluded player accounts being deleted in error, following which an investigation was launched.

2026

Finnish state-owned gambling operator Veikkaus stated that it plans to make several reductions across the organisation as it prepares for upcoming changes to the country’s gambling industry.

As Finland moves towards a licensing model, which is expected to be implemented no later than 2026 according to government, the company has stated that cuts could occur in employment contracts and venues.

Veikkaus’ digital gambling business is intended to become part of the international licensing gaming market, however, lottery and physical slot machines will remain within the monopoly.

3

The Dutch gambling authority, Kansspelautoriteit, issued three warnings after untargeted advertising was witnessed in public places.

The regulator noted that “several providers” had violated the new advertising rules regarding online gambling that were introduced at the turn of July.

At the time of these entering into force, the Ksa had warned the industry “not to push the boundaries” regarding a prohibition that is intended to heighten protections for vulnerable groups against the risk of addiction.

However, following this, the receipt of “several signals” have been detailed by officials, which highlighted numerous examples, across billboards and bus shelters, from various unnamed online gambling providers that ads are still visible in public places.

1

The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission’s enforcement crusade continued with a A$1m fine being imposed on Tabcorp, the largest received by the company within the state, for a major system outage during the 2020 Spring Racing Carnival.

Set against the backdrop of a 2021 royal commission and numerous recent financial sanctions and gambling reforms, the scale of the fine, the VGCCC said, reflects a failure to comply with directions to provide information concerning the issue. This left the group’s wagering and betting system unavailable for around 36 hours. 

75

Betsson reiterated that M&A remains at the forefront of its quest for global expansion, following recent activity in Belgium and a vow that acquisitions are permanently on the radar when in conversation with SBC’s iGaming Daily podcast.

This followed the completion of a €75m bond issue, which saw Betsson stress that this move better positions the operator to make significant progress on multiple long term ambitions, of which acquisitions forms a key facet.

The senior unsecured bonds have a framework of up to €25m, tenor of three years, floating interest rate of EURIBOR three months plus 460 bps and final maturity date in September 2026.

This, the group noted, will be used towards general corporate purposes, which include, but are not limited to, acquisitions.

6.7

Licensed gambling companies in Sweden recorded a slight drop in revenue year-on-year through 2023’s second quarter, with the figure of SEK 6.7bn down a little over one percentage point from SEK 6.77bn.

However, this does represent a slight nudge of 1.77 per cent from the SEK 6.58bn witnessed through Q1. For the year-to-date, overall revenue is down less than half a percentage point after closing at SEK 13.28m (2022 SEK 13.33bn).

Looking at the country’s latest quarterly revenue in more detail, online betting and gaming maintains its front running status when highlighting each individual reporting segment, despite revenue dropping 1.5 per cent to SEK 4.18bn (2022: SEK 4.23bn). 

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The operator issued an update on the potential course of action after being informed by the Department of Internal Affairs that its Secretary, Paul James, intends to make an application regarding such a course of action to the New Zealand Gambling Commission.

SkyCity Casino Management Limited, a subsidiary of SkyCity, is the holder of the casino operator’s licence for its Auckland, Hamilton and Queenstown casinos in New Zealand.

A decision will subsequently be assessed by the Commission regarding a potential suspension and duration, however, it is reminded this “may not be forthcoming for a number of months”.

The application follows a customer complaint that was made in February 2022 by a former customer that had gambled at SkyCity’s Auckland-based gaming venue between August 2017 to February 2021. 

It is suggested that the company, which has asserted full cooperation through the ongoing process, did not comply with requirements relating to the detection of incidents of continuous play.

“Given that the application is before the Commission it would be inappropriate for SkyCity to comment further on the application and allegations at this stage,” the company noted.

Under section 144(a) of the New Zealand Gambling Act 2023, a casino licence suspension may be imposed if it is deemed satisfactory that the holder breached the Act, a condition of the casino licence or minimum operating standards.

Should a temporary closure of casino operations be issued, SkyCity has issued an assurance that this would not impact its non-gaming operations, including its hotels and restaurants. 

“SkyCity is committed to maintaining the highest standards of host responsibility best practice, with priority given to minimising the impacts associated with problem gambling as an area of primary focus,” the company continued.

“SkyCity has made, and continues to make, significant investment and enhancements in its host responsibility controls, technology and resources.” 

Last month, South Australia’s Liquor and Gambling Commissioner, Dini Soulio, gave the go ahead to consultancy firm, Kroll Australia, to be appointed as the independent monitor of SkyCity Adelaide.

An independent review into the operations of this facility remains on hold pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings undertaken by AUSTRAC in the Federal Court.

The group has set aside a A$45m provision for a potential AUSTRAC civil penalty and associated legal costs, as well as writing down the value of its Adelaide casino licence by A$45.6m.

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The group will be tasked with providing an independent perspective on the casino and entertainment operator’s anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing protocols, as well as gambling harm minimisation obligations.

In addition, the individual that is appointed will also seek to implement amendments to enhancement programs should they not be satisfied with their contents.

In May, Soulio instructed SkyCity to appoint a “suitably qualified independent expert” at its Adelaide-based venue, in a move reminiscent of similar appointments in the country, notably in Sydney by Star Entertainment.

This comes as an independent investigation into the suitability of SkyCity Adelaide in continuing to possess a casino licence remains on hold, pending the outcome of the AUSTRAC proceedings in the Federal Court.

The investigation was triggered in July 2022 when Consumer and Business Services, South Australia’s gambling regulator, cited a “number of the matters raised to date” that it said highlighted “broader systemic issues within the casino industry”.

In confirming the appointment, Soulio noted that the significant relevant experience possessed by Kroll was key to the decision.

In addition, a belief that the business will be able to effectively monitor the property’s compliance with its ongoing regulatory obligations with regards to the aforementioned matters was also stressed.

“I approved the appointment of Kroll, after being satisfied that they would be sufficiently independent and have the expertise to effectively monitor SkyCity Adelaide to ensure they are meeting these very important requirements,” Mr Soulio said.

“Kroll’s staff include people who have worked for the national regulator, AUSTRAC, are experts in fraud and risk management and have extensive experience ensuring casinos are fulfilling their regulatory requirements.

“SkyCity Adelaide, as the operators of our only casino, have a duty to the broader South Australian community to ensure their anti-money laundering and counter terrorism funding measures along with their measures to minimise gambling related harm comply with all regulatory requirements.

“Kroll is an experienced consultancy firm with staff who have a tremendous amount of experience in this field both nationally and internationally.”

The Hon Brian Martin AO KC’s independent review into the operations of SkyCity Adelaide remains on hold, pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings undertaken by AUSTRAC in the Federal Court.

SkyCity and its Adelaide property assure that they will continue to work pro-actively and cooperatively with the Commissioner and Kroll on all matters.

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As the group stresses its online ambitions and cautious optimism for the year ahead, compliance commitments have been highlighted amid an ongoing AUSTRAC investigation.

This has seen SkyCity factor in an approximately A$90m financial hit that could stem from the ongoing civil penalty proceedings. 

Earlier in the year, a penalty of A$450m was imposed on Crown Resorts by the financial watchdog, with an investigation into Star Entertainment currently being undertaken.

“The increased allocation we have made in resources to continuous improvement in our compliance standards underscores SkyCity’s commitment to caring for our customers and our communities and ensuring everyone has a safe experience at SkyCity,” CEO Michael Ahearne commented.

“We have also recently created the role of Chief Risk Officer, reporting to the CEO, to lead the risk and compliance function.” 

Across a year that saw NZ$5.3m in grants be approved by SkyCity to 122 community organisations, normalised revenue witnessed an uptick of 53.1 per cent to NZ$966.7m.

Further headline figures saw normalised EBITDA increase 125 per cent to NZ$310.3m, while net profit after tax more than doubled to close the year out with a figure of NZ$138.8m.

This, it was said, was due to a strong performance across the company’s home market of New Zealand despite a “high inflation environment”.

Growth in electronic gaming machine revenues and rebound in non-gaming also offset the anticipated impacts of the aforementioned AUSTRAC investigation.

With it noted that current levels are now ahead of the pre-COVID period, Ahearne continued: “We are pleased to have a full year of no interruptions which has meant SkyCity has rebounded strongly. 

“It is a real credit to our entire team who have responded fantastically to the challenges and the complexities of the last few years to deliver a year where we are now ahead of pre-COVID levels. 

“The backbone of our business is our team who have been incredible this year – I want to acknowledge and thank them for their hard work. 

“I also want to thank our loyal customers who have continued to enjoy our precincts and we are excited about what we can offer them in the coming year.” 

“The company credits robust performances within domestic gaming, hotels, food and beverage, attractions and the resurgence of international tourism in Auckland for the upswing.”

Looking ahead, the SkyCity CEO noted that the company is “cautiously optimistic about the outlook for the coming year”, with a fresh operating model designed to offer additional flexibility to adapt to changing operating climates. 

With this in mind, Ahearne reserved space in his address to elaborate of the group’s online aspirations.

“The regulation of online casino gambling is something that SkyCity continues to be strongly supportive of as the market continues to grow,” he said. 

“Currently, offshore online gambling operators are not required to abide by base-level harm minimisation standards or to protect New Zealanders from harm.

“Regulation will also ensure online gambling providers pay their fair share of taxes and community contributions for the benefit of Kiwis rather than benefiting offshore markets which is what is currently happening.”

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