Live betting losses proposal in Australia
First, a proposal has been put forward in Australia to allow gamblers to view live losses on betting apps.
Submitted by independent MPs Andrew Wilkie and Rebekha Sharkie, the proposal is aimed at helping protect players from gambling harm. The two MPs say monthly statements are currently not transparent enough for players to understand how much they have lost.
“This would cost the government very, very little to police,” Sharkie said according to the Canberra Times. “But this would stop lives being lost.
“Right now, young people across Australia are losing thousands of dollars. They can’t see a way out and this would help them to see exactly how much they’re losing.”
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland faces rising pressure to act on gambling reform. A draft policy that would have banned adverts on children’s programming and either side of sports broadcasts was recently scrapped ahead of May’s elections.
BetMakers acquires Protocol Zone assets
Staying in Australia, BetMakers Technology Group has acquired certain intellectual property and software from specialist developer of wagering software Protocol Zone Private (Protocol Zone).
Detailing the deal, BetMakers said the purchase includes digital tote technology, API data feeds, proprietary trading and ratings models. This, it said, will form part of its new GTX software due to release soon.
Protocol Zone managing director Kartik Modi also agreed a contract with BetMakers exclusively for an extended period of three years. He will act as country manager in India overseeing local operations and exploring opportunities in Asia.
“This partnership represents more than just a business transaction,” Modi said. “It’s a testament to the innovation, dedication and expertise our team has demonstrated in developing cutting-edge wagering technology over many years and we look forward to continuing this journey as part of BetMakers.”
Illinois Attorney General issues illegal betting warning
Into the US now and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has urged players in the state to take care when betting online.
Certain sports betting apps and websites are licensed to operate in Illinois. However, sites that are not approved are also accessible in the state and are targeting Illinois-based players.
In recent weeks, the Illinois Gaming Board has issued cease and desist letters to Bovada.com and PrizePicks for alleged unlicensed activity.
Issuing a call ahead of the weekend’s Super Bowl, Raoul said players should first check if the site they want to use to bet is licensed.
“Using an unlicensed betting service puts your personal information and your money at risk,” Raoul said. “Even if a sports betting website or app is licensed, it’s also important to read the details of any promotional offers to make sure there are no hidden costs or obligations.”
Bally’s completes Queen Casino merger
Other news out of the US this weekend was Bally’s Corporation completing its merger with Standard General and its affiliates including regional casino operator The Queen Casino & Entertainment (QC&E).
Announced in July, the deal sees Bally’s combine with QC&E. The operator runs four casinos across three states, including the Queen Marquette in Indiana and the Queen Baton Rouge and the Belle of Baton Rouge, both in Louisiana.
Confirming the deal, Bally’s said both the Belle of Baton Rouge and Casino Queen Marquette are currently undergoing land-side conversions. These are due for completion later this year.
With the merger, this means Bally’s now owns and operates 19 casinos across 11 US states. This is in addition to a golf course in New York and horse racetrack in Colorado, as well as online sports betting licences in 13 jurisdictions in North America.
Livespins lands Malta licence
Finally this week, games provider Livespins has secured a supplier licence from the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA).
The approval means Livespins can now provide its content to gambling operators that also hold an MGA licence. The new licence was confirmed earlier today (10 February).
Livespins’ online casino offering includes ‘Bet With Streamers’, which allows operators to tap into demand for streaming content. Players can watch and bet alongside their favourite online streamers.
The provider falls under Evolution‘s portfolio of games providers.
Michael Pedersen, chief commercial officer at Livespins, said: “With our licence in hand, we will now be striking deals with tons of MGA operators and taking the Livespins revolution to even more markets across the world.”
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/sustainable-gambling/responsible-gambling/weekend-report-betting-losses-australia-illinois-warning-illegal/
