IN THE NEWS

Tabcorp urges ban on gambling ads on TV

Financial Review

21 Nov 2022

Tabcorp managing director and CEO Adam Rytenskild has said Tabcorp will phase out gambling advertising during peak times even if the government does not enact new laws. The caveat on that deal (one source said) is that Tabcorp’s own stations such as Sky Racing – which run non-stop gambling ads – would be exempt from the proposed blackout.

More Australians gambling online as AMA calls for government regulation

AMA

24 Nov 2022

The AMA is calling on the federal government to do more to regulate online gambling platforms and advertising of online gambling products in a submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Online Gambling and its Impacts on Those Experiencing Gambling Harm.

It comes as new research from the Australian Gambling Research Centre shows many Australians opened accounts with online gambling companies for the first time during COVID-19. Nearly 1 in 3 of those surveyed said they signed up for a new online betting account during COVID-19. Young men were the most likely group to sign up for new accounts, increase their monthly spend on gambling and be at risk of gambling related harm.

NSW cashless cards a must: whistleblower

The West Australian

21 Nov 2022

Gambling whistleblower Troy Stolz hasn't wavered in his determination to take on one of the most powerful lobby groups in NSW, despite battling metastatic cancer.

For eight years he was the head of anti-money laundering with ClubsNSW, before leaving in 2019, leaking an internal report showing more than 90 per cent of gaming venues were not complying with money laundering regulations.

AUSTRAC to probe Sportsbet, Bet365 over money laundering concerns

The Sydney Morning Herald

3 Nov 2022

The policy director of Australia’s peak financial counselling body has called for a major regulatory overhaul of online gambling, after the financial crimes watchdog announced an investigation into two of the industry’s biggest players over potential breaches of money laundering laws.

The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre announced Sportsbet and Bet 365 may face multimillion-dollar fines and severe regulatory interventions after appointing two external auditors to probe the foreign owned bookies’ compliance with anti-money laundering and counterterrorism laws on Thursday. Last month, the regulator announced a similar crackdown on Irish giant Entain.

Gambling’s Spread

The New York Times

21 Nov 2022

Four years ago, betting on live sports was illegal in most of the United States. Now, fans watching games or attending them at stadiums are barraged with advertisements encouraging them to bet on matchups, not just watch as spectators.

Scattered voters lose democracy sausage spirit

The Age

23 Nov 2022

"You have to wonder why neither of the major parties will commit to pokie reforms, despite record losses in pokies by the Victorian community this year. Is it because they don’t want to help those with shocking gambling addictions or is it because they don’t want to lose support of gambling donations?" Sophie Paterson, Hawthorn

‘Seriously flawed’ pokies grants scheme should be axed, says welfare group

The Sydney Morning Herald

22 Nov 2022

NSW’s peak body for welfare services says the state government should axe a grants scheme funded from poker machine profits, warning clubs view the money as theirs “to spend as they see fit” at the expense of the disadvantaged communities it was designed to help.

The NSW Council of Social Service (NCOSS) also wants to end its 24-year association with ClubGrants after a review found the scheme that has handed out more than $1 billion was “seriously flawed, rife with opportunities for conflicts of interest, and had no real enforcement of the rules”.

‘Socially aware’ superannuation funds among those investing billions in gambling industry

The Guardian

15 Nov 2022

Australia’s biggest super funds have poured more than $4.2bn of workers’ retirement savings into the gambling industry – including pokies manufacturers, casino operators and lottery companies – even through investment options that claim to be “socially aware”.

Game, set, bankrupt: how an addiction to gambling on tennis lost me £40,000

The Guardian

20 Nov 2022

The UK gambling industry is worth billions, with 5% of customers responsible for 70% of that revenue. That includes me – after my addiction spiralled in the pandemic

Revealed: star football pundits promote World Cup gambling despite ban

The Guardian

20 Nov 2022

Football pundits Harry Redknapp, Peter Crouch and Robbie Keane are helping to promote betting on World Cup matches despite stricter rules on celebrity gambling endorsements to protect young people.

Fifa officials estimate the last World Cup generated £120bn in betting turnover. Gambling companies hope for a similar betting spree for this year’s tournament, despite a ban on gambling in Qatar.

‘Social casino’ apps: the games exempt from Australia’s gambling laws – because no one can win

The Guardian

17 Nov 2022

The wheels of the virtual poker machine spin with every bet. Everything on the screen twinkles and shines. Coins jingle when the symbols line up and a win is recorded. A jackpot lights up the screen with colour and movement.

At first glance, Slotomania, a mobile phone game developed by the Israeli company Playtika, seems almost the same as any other electronic poker machine. Users pour tens of thousands of dollars into it, motivated by the same desire to win big that motivates any gambler.

Costello takes aim at AFL over gambling, as Zorko calls for Brownlow voting rethink

The Age

15 Nov 2022

Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko has called for umpires to be stripped of voting on the Brownlow Medal, coming as Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello says the AFL has become “Dracula in charge of the blood bank” in terms of sports betting.

A Victoria Police investigation is continuing after an AFL umpire was arrested for allegedly leaking Brownlow Medal votes from specific matches of the 2022 season.