Internet gaming was the hot topic at the Global Gaming Expo again this year, but how and when it will be regulated is still anybody’s guess.
“The Great Debate: Online Gaming in Indian Country” was the first presentation in the Indian track at the biggest commercial and Indian gaming expo in the world—G2E—which took place October 1-4 at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas.
The panel discussion was moderated by Jana McKeag (Cherokee Nation), president of Lowry Strategies a bi-partisan government affairs firm specializing in tribal issues and gaming issues and a member of the G2E advisory board. McKeag is a former commissioner at the National Indian Gaming Commission and has worked on tribal issues for more than 30 years.
At last year’s G2E, questions revolved around whether Internet gaming would impact brick and mortar casinos, whether the nations should support or oppose legislation or if they should favor state or federal legislation. “It’s kind of remarkable how a discussion can change in one year’s time,” McKeag said. “After December 23, 2011, we have the now-infamous Department of Justice opinion which basically allows (state) lotteries free range to conduct Internet gaming.” States are now considering running virtual slots online; they are planning state-to-state Internet gaming; and unregulated Internet cafes have proliferated, McKeag said. “So the discussion has not turned to not ‘if’ but ‘when,’” she said.
Read more:G2E: Internet Gaming Is Inevitable, but Many Questions Remain - ICTMN-com G2E: Internet Gaming Is Inevitable, but Many Questions Remain - ICTMN-com
We all know that investing can be a very complex and, in many cases, even daunting experience. When it comes to Internet stocks, there is certainly an inescapably huge investment opportunity. However, there is a lot to be said about valuing each company. By default, we associate all technology stocks with inventions and innovations, while investors expect high R&D costs and steady stream of progress.
While progress increases the likelihood of survival in this highly competitive, technology-savvy environment, we shouldn't forget about fundamentals. Knowing a company's numbers and growth statistics inside and out helps to filter out companies that are trading for way more than they're worth.
A good example of a successful investment is Google (GOOG). Trading at $757.84 a share (down 2.13% from its historical high of $774.38 a share), Google has made a truckload of money being the biggest search engine and online advertising platform. In addition to its online presence, Google has acquired a stake of the mobile market along with a couple of "here and there" investments. We all know that early Google investors did a great job picking the right investment that, if held until today, has turned into 791%-plus in capital gains.
Read More: Valuation Of Internet Stocks, Or 'Gold Mine' Gambling - Seeking Alpha
Investment in the future of online gambling has taken a step in another direction in the last year. Social online gambling has become the latest trend inviting investors to step up to the plate and put their money in the game. Facebook, Zynga, even Microsoft have been positioning themselves to take advantage of the massive already connected market that are socially aware and interested in gaming.
The 2012 Global Online Gaming Report revealed that almost 20% of the total time spent playing games online in 2011 was while participating in a social network. Trying to monetize the huge numbers such as web site Socialnomics suggested that as many as 80 million people are actively involved in social media on a daily bases. Superdata a web site dedicated to digital goods measurement proposes that through their research the social casino use will produce $1.6 billion in revenue for the sector. This sum is expected to keep growing as more product becomes available and the use of social gaming and casinos platforms continues to expand.
The $1.6 billion will grow to $2.4 billion by 2015. Some games are used as vehicles to advertize while other free to play games are pure entertainment with a side of adverts. The big guns are out to score as Microsoft which paid an enormous $1.2 billion cash to acquire Yammer which has created a social network for the corporate market. Zynga has been working to be on the forefront of social network gaming producing Zynga with Friends for a multi platform multi player experience.
Land based casinos such as International Game Technologies have acquired a social gambling operator Double Down Casino which is available in number of Nevada casinos such as Bonanza Casino and Casino Del Sol Resort. The social casino DoubleDown application is embedded into the web locations of these casinos. Social networks are popular and are the best thing since sliced bread for the online gambling industry, because they let you play with friends any time anywhere.
Police have revealed they are looking at 120 lines of inquiry and possibly as many as 25 victims relating to the Jimmy Savile sex abuse claims.
Scotland Yard has formally recorded eight criminal allegations against the star, including two of rape and six of indecent assault.
Commander Peter Spindler, head of Specialist Crime Investigations, said the allegations span four decades and information so far suggests abuse was on a "national scale". He said there are currently 120 lines of inquiry, although some could be duplicates.
Spindler said police were working with broadcasters BBC and ITV to investigate Savile, who was one of Britain's best-known TV personalities.
Savile, who died last year aged 84, hosted Top of the Pops and children's program Jim'll Fix It and was well known as a charity fundraiser.
Since his death several women have come forward to say he sexually assaulted them.
Meanwhile, David Cameron has raised the prospect that Savile could be posthumously stripped of his knighthood amid allegations of sexual abuse against young girls. But the move would require a change in the law as technically, when the former DJ died last year, the honour ceased to exist.
Mr Cameron told ITV's Daybreak: "We have something called a Forfeiture Committee. It is not chaired or sat on by me but it is responsible for looking at honours and the removal of honours, and obviously they have to do their job too."
But the Cabinet Office said Savile no longer had a knighthood to revoke, as individuals cease to be a member of the order when they die.
A campaign by The Sun newspaper is calling for a change in the law so that honours can be revoked posthumously by the Forfeiture Committee.
The European Commission is scheduled to release its action plan on online gambling on October 10, but will it use the opportunity to enforce rules for responsible gambling and consumer protection?
The policy paper on gambling will be a "key test" of the Commission's commission to tackling fragmentation in the sector, Sigrid Ligne, secretary general of the European Gaming and Betting Association said. She used the opportunity to call for hard action from the commission to protect consumers.
Ligne said the EGBA deplores the situation in which 27 mini-markets are competing for gambling in Europe. She called for the introduction of European rules to ensure proper protection for consumers while enabling open, fair and transparent licensing conditions for EU-regulated operators.
Online gambling regulation is a hot topic across the entire continent, and EGBA is there to stand up for the leading operators. It consists of a number of leading partners, including PartyGaming, bwin Group, Unibet, bet-at-home-com, Carmen Media Group, Expekt, Interwetten Gaming and digibet.
EGBA states in its mission a commitment to legal and responsible online betting and gaming. This includes fair products as well as fair competition. Along with freedom of choice, which the EGBA states as a goal, they also fight for fair competition and a regulated environment for European operators.
Will EU Enforce Uniform Online Gambling Rules? - The Headlines - Onlinecasinoreports-com
Investment in the future of online gambling has taken a step in another direction in the last year. Social online gambling has become the latest trend inviting investors to step up to the plate and put their money in the game. Facebook, Zynga, even Microsoft have been positioning themselves to take advantage of the massive already connected market that are socially aware and interested in gaming.
The 2012 Global Online Gaming Report revealed that almost 20% of the total time spent playing games online in 2011 was while participating in a social network. Trying to monetize the huge numbers such as web site Socialnomics suggested that as many as 80 million people are actively involved in social media on a daily bases. Superdata a web site dedicated to digital goods measurement proposes that through their research the social casino use will produce $1.6 billion in revenue for the sector. This sum is expected to keep growing as more product becomes available and the use of social gaming and casinos platforms continues to expand.
The $1.6 billion will grow to $2.4 billion by 2015. Some games are used as vehicles to advertize while other free to play games are pure entertainment with a side of adverts. The big guns are out to score as Microsoft which paid an enormous $1.2 billion cash to acquire Yammer which has created a social network for the corporate market. Zynga has been working to be on the forefront of social network gaming producing Zynga with Friends for a multi platform multi player experience.
Land based casinos such as International Game Technologies have acquired a social gambling operator Double Down Casino which is available in number of Nevada casinos such as Bonanza Casino and Casino Del Sol Resort. The social casino DoubleDown application is embedded into the web locations of these casinos. Social networks are popular and are the best thing since sliced bread for the online gambling industry, because they let you play with friends any time anywhere.
New Jersey has cleared the way for casino patrons to gamble on their iPads, smartphones and other mobile devices.
But amid uncertainty about whether Internet gambling will ultimately be approved or banned, the Atlantic City casinos seem to be taking a wait-and-see approach before actually offering hand-held gambling.
The state Gaming Enforcement Division issued temporary regulations governing gambling on hand-held devices that took effect Monday. The state passed a law earlier this year permitting the use of mobile gambling devices.
“These regulations are another example of the cooperation of all our partners and use of our own imaginations to move past the prescribed technology,” said David Rebuck, the division’s director. “Most importantly in this process was the development of regulations that provided safeguards to prevent underage gambling, and to continually ensure the integrity and security of mobile gaming in New Jersey.”
Read More: Portable gambling devices OK'd for Atlantic City | The Daily Journal | thedailyjournal-com
Did last Wednesday's presidential debate not have enough fireworks or personal attacks for you? Were you bothered, as some Democrats have been, that President Obama didn't call out Mitt Romney on some of his misleading claims (or vice versa)? Tune in Thursday night, then, when Vice President Joe Biden faces off against GOP vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan, and sparks are almost certain to fly.
Given the "attack dog" role that most VP candidates assume, it's not surprising that vice presidential debates are often heavy on aggression, and contain some memorable one-liners. (Think Lloyd Bentsen telling Dan Quayle in 1988, "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy," or Walter Mondale telling Bob Dole in 1976 that he "has richly earned his reputation as a hatchet man.")
Read More: Why watch the vice presidential debate? Entertainment value. (+video) - CSMonitor-com
The capabilities of mobile devices have evolved remarkably over recent years, from today’s high powered, graphic rich smartphones and tablets,and in an effort to continue is success with online operators and online players, Microgaming has created a dedicated brand to supply mobile gaming to the masses.
With the newly formed Microgaming Go, the world’s largest provider of online gaming software stated, “We are delighted to launch Microgaming Go, which encompasses our leading mobile gaming solutions,” said Microgaming head of product channels Neill Whyte.
Microgaming Go has now expanded its offering on its HTML5 and Android Air products with the addition of six new languages to include Spanish, Danish, German, Swedish, Russian, and Dutch. The new languages reflect the growing demand for advanced mobile products in regulated markets and means that Microgaming operators will now be able to offer mobile solutions to a much broader player demographic.
“As more and more devices support HTML5, it is vital that Microgaming is able to supply the best products to operators via a dedicated brand. As part of this we’re pleased to introduce six new languages and our Mega Moolah Progressive Jackpot video slot to our mobile suite. We are looking forward to introducing more innovations and game content over the coming months.”
Recently online casino’s Jackpot City, Royal Vegas and Platinum Play launched special promotions to help further increase the popularity and introduction of the Mega Moolah Progressive Jackpot on their mobile offerings.
Microgaming will be showing its latest mobile games at EiG Barcelona including HTML5 games Ladies Nite and Spring Break.
Microgaming Go Offers HTML5 Mobile Online Gambling Solutions | Casino Scam Report
Sports betting over the internet is very popular all over the world, but in Europe it is a passion for many. Today’s mobile technology that offers gambling make playing the odds an experience like no other.
Inspired Gaming Group, is licensed by Alderney Gaming Control Commission and authorised in Italy by L'Amministazione Autonoma Dei Monopoli Di Stato and is accredited by Gaming Laboratories International and is considered the leading supplier of the world’s most advanced virtual sports products. The firm recently announced it had become the most active supplier of retail and online virtual sports betting products to the Italian market.
Inspired Gaming Group has made arrangements with six of Italy’s gambling operators among them Eurobet, SNAI, Intralot, Gogetech, Sisal, and Lottomatica. Managing Director of the Virtual Sports division at Inspired Steve Rogers said, “Virtual sports are a very lucrative part of the product offer for operators. Our virtual products are in high demand from retail and online concessionaires in Italy who understand the value in being able to offer a high frequency stream of betting opportunities to their customers. Our years of experience have shown our virtual sports provide incremental revenues for sports betting operators across all channels.”
Inspired is the leading server based games provider with its Open SBG Core™ platform that manages over 35,000 live endpoints. Italy’s new liberalized legislation for online gambling legalized fixed-odds bets on simulated sporting events. Inspired has contracts in Italy for over 10,000 terminals with many leading operators. Inspired products generate in excess of €5bn in revenue, €700m gross win every year, and they employ over 1,000 people in 10 offices around the world. The company has been awarded the “Best Betting Product of the Year” this year at the Totally Gaming Awards. Seven sports are available from Inspired at he moment but Inspired continues to develop new and innovative games. All are available for internet, gaming terminals and mobile devises.
Inspired Gaming Group Growing Its Market Share in Italy
Internet gambling, the next frontier for casinos, occupied center stage last week at Las Vegas’ Global Gaming Expo, known as G2E.
What form I-gambling will take and how it will be regulated are anyone’s guess, but the industry already is creating interactive products that will allow anyone who frequents a casino to enjoy favorite slot machines or table games online, in virtual versions that look identical to those on the casino floor.
The idea, said Mike Trask, spokesman for game-manufacturer Bally Technologies Inc., is “for the customer to have the same experience whether online, in the casino, or waiting in line at the grocery store, while playing games on an iPhone, iPad, Android and other tablets — anything with an Internet connection.”
A proposal in Congress calls for legalizing online poker nationwide. Meanwhile, states are looking for ways to do it themselves, said Frank Fahrenkopf Jr., chief executive officer of the American Gaming Association.
This year, Nevada became the first state to legalize and implement regulations for online poker. This past summer, Delaware authorized a wider array of online casino-style games, and California and New Jersey are weighing legislation.
“The entire gaming industry is anxious to see more clarity on the legality of online gambling,” Fahrenkopf said at a news conference last week on the $36 billion-a-year U.S. casino industry overall. “The AGA supports states having the right to license and regulate online poker, but not without federal minimum standards that address consumer protection, prevent underage gambling, promote responsible gaming and provide help for those with gambling problems.”
Read More: Internet gambling: Next sure thing? | The Columbus Dispatch
The thieves who stole Justin Bieber's laptop and camera are threatening to release his personal videos and photographs if he does not meet their demands.
The 'Never Say Never' hitmaker was performing in Tacoma, Washington, on Tuesday night (09.10.12) when the theft took place and those responsible contacted him via twitter with their threats.
According to HollywoodLife-com, they wrote on Wednesday (10.10.12): ''@justinbieber i got your stupid dms. i dont think so. gonna show the world. TOMORROW! (sic)''
They also posted some of his videos to YouTube.
They then added on Thursday (11.10.12) ''notice us and answer your dms or we are going to put the other videos from the camera out! (sic)''
Justin was annoyed about the theft of the ''personal footage'', writing on twitter: ''sucks when u take personal footage and people dont respect your privacy.
''yesterday during the show me and my tour manager josh had some stuff stolen. really sucks. people should respect other's property
''i had a lot of personal footage on that computer and camera and that is what bothers me the most. #lame #norespect (sic)''
The public are called to refrain from illegal online gambling which is getting rampant.
“We are glad to see the police carry out operations to tackle illegal online gambling activities, but it is more important that everyone stay away from illegal activities,” Dudong assemblyman Yap Hoi Liong said at a press conference at DAP’s headquarters here.
Yap said he received a lot of complaints from parents in Sibu that their children were involved in illegal online gambling.
He said the councils and police should work closely to check suspicious cyber cafes.
The youngsters who were addicted to online casinos owed debts and caused financial problems for their family.
“They should have self-control and live a righteous life. All this illegal gambling will lead to trouble and social problems,” he added.
He said those doing such business should follow the procedures and guidelines.
Read more: Illegal online gambling gives parents headache – BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News | Largest English Daily In Borneo
Icon Irish book maker Paddy Power has been making headlines regularly with its gorilla marketing campaigns and its huge growth rate in the online gambling division. Headquartered in Dublin the Paddy Power staff is getting upgraded with the expanded employment of another 600 plus people over the next few years. Paddy Power has the intention of being that much busier with its interactive cell growing at an enormous rate. The online aspect of Paddy Power is generating the biggest portion of Paddy’s profits driving the firm to put more in as an investment.
Paddy Power’s recent release of its Roller Casino app for iPad and iPhone will boost the business and the company needs the staff in Dublin to handle the volume. Paddy is recruiting for e-commerce, risk management, quantitative research, social media, online marketing and technology professionals. After the hiring is complete, the new employees will total 2,783 in Ireland. The retail sector of Paddy Power is under a siege of sorts as the company fights the government along with Betfair to have its betting shops allowed to remain open for business later in the night.
The government has failed to extend the shops’ hours of operation which some bookies believe will result in the layoff of as many as 500 betting shop staff. The unemployment rate in Ireland is but 15% so Paddy Power may have to look hard for those much needed new hires. Paddy Power is waiting to see if its application for late night operations come through from the Heath District Council’s licensing committee, which is scheduled to deliver its decision on Oct. 24th.
Looking at the online gambling sector the development of its mobile platform application Roller Casino with Viaden Gaming which now offers 19 slot games, casino table action and an HTML5 option for Android users shows a serious commitment to the future of Irish betting power 24/7.
Paddy Power Recruiting Personel To Service Online Gambling
Just before this year’s University of Texas-Oklahoma University football game, a group that hopes for legalized casino gaming across Texas hatched a radio ad about how much Texans spend gambling across state lines.
Mike Lavigne, spokesman for Let Texans Decide, said its ad is running on Dallas radio stations and will be heard a few times during the radio broadcast of Saturday’s football game.
In the 60-second spot, a drawling Oklahoma tour guide welcomes a busload of Texas gamblers to the Sooner State which, she says, is home to 54,000 slot machines. "Now we just love seeing you Texans in our state," she says. "Spend as much time and money as you want."
Text in the ad on YouTube says Texans gamble more than $1 billion a year in Oklahoma.
Next, a narrator says: "Fellow Texans, this has to stop. Yet we Texans spend $2.5 billion a year gambling in neighboring states like Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, funding their schools, roads and hospitals with our money."
She encourages listeners to go to the group’s website.
The proclaimed expenditures by Texans sounded familiar to us because in April 2011, we checked a claim by a pro-casino group that Texans "spend $2.5 billion gambling in our neighboring states every year."
Read More: PolitiFact | Texas-OU and gambling across state lines
Shoulder pads were big. Hair was bigger. And Schwarzenegger and Stallone were the biggest action heroes in the multiplex.
So here we are several (yikes!) decades later and we were just wondering -- are Arnie and Sly still relevant?
We know that Arnold's selective-memory tell-all book, Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story, is selling briskly, fuelled no doubt by his promise to come clean about his long-term affair with the family housekeeper, but that's not what we're getting at.
What we mean is, as once-reigning pop culture icons, are they considered indispensable where remakes of some of their best-known movies are concerned?
And we say, yes. And yah. And yo. Here's the deal:
Over the course of the past year there have been several remakes/reboots/reconceptualizations -- whatever you want to call 'em -- of fondly remembered titles from the Stallonegger catalogue, minus the guys themselves.
The trend started in August 2011 with the 3D re-do of Conan the Barbarian, with Jason Momoa taking over the lead in the picture that would serve as Arnold's big breakthrough.
While the film scraped together a meager 23% fresh rating on the Rotten Tomatoes site, the international box office was less kind, not even earning $50 million against an estimated production budget of $90 million.
As for the 6-foot-4 Momoa, he'll next be popping up in the crime thriller, Bullet to the Head, opposite - Sylvester Stallone.
Cut to the summer of 2012 and the August arrival of Total Recall, with Colin Farrell now doing double duty in the twin roles of Douglas Quaid and Hauser.
Reviews were only marginally better than the Conan retread, but, more tellingly, the North American box office returns have been better left forgotten, piecing together all of $59 million to date against a reported price tag of $125 million.
Now we turn to last month's release of Dredd 3D, the remake of Stallone's 1995 effort, Judge Dredd.
Let's face it -- there certainly was plenty of room for improvement considering the derisive response that greeted the previous take on the British comic anthology and Dredd 3D rose to the occasion with much stronger reviews for both the movie and for star Karl Urban.
But to date, the $50-million production has only been able to lock up about half that amount globally, and is barely clinging to the domestic Top 20.
See, the thing is, no disrespect to Urban, Farrell and Momoa, but these types of movies cry out for great big personalities, not understated, focused performances.
Over the top is the only way to go here, which was a lesson learned by a miscast Christian Bale in the ill-fated Terminator Salvation.
No matter how well-made these remakes may or may not be, without a little camp and an accompanying, highly quotable Ahnuld/Sly-type soundbite, they end up being largely forgettable.
So while Schwarzenegger and Stallone plot their latest screen comebacks (Terminator 5? Rocky 17?), they should take some comfort in the fact that whether or not they make good on the threat that they'll be back, they never really went away.
Unlike those hairstyles and shoulder pads.
Arnie, Sly Stallone still kicking butt | Celebrities | Entertainment | Calgary Sun
Some are calling social online gaming the new frontier for the internet gaming industry with that statement being qualified by experts in the field. It’s the online gambling part of social gaming that has everyone’s attention focused with the big question being, where is the money?
A conference specific to Social Gambling will come to London on November 16th 2012. The venue Dexter House on Tower Hill will provide the ultimate in conference spaces. iGaming Business is the host of this important gathering where those investing in social gaming and gambling will learn the intricate and interesting facts related to this complicated subject.
Media sponsors include Lyceum Media which was founded to exploit the experience and abilities of its founders and to consolidate their considerable experience in journalism, casino marketing and PR into one entity. This conference is unique as it will address issues that deal with the changes in social gaming as it transforms into real money gambling with all the implications including the legal and regulatory requirements.
The leaders in the social gaming industry will share their experience and shed light on the moves required for success. Among the confirmed speakers at this first ever conference for casino type social gaming is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Playgistics, George Zaloom, where he and other experts will join in a panel discussion on the monetizing of social online gambling. On the CEO panel the co- founder of Plumbee, Raf Keustermans, will contribute with his vision of the social gambling gaming market and how it will unfold.
The conference Chairman, Michael Caselli commented, “George and Raf joining the show add new perspective and ideas to the already diverse conference.” Caselli continued, “As leaders in the space, it’s our great pleasure to have them on our line-up of expert panelists.” There are many great opportunities presenting themselves in the social gaming and gambling industry that this conference will illuminate.
Investors Take Note Social Gambling Conference November 16th London
Eastern Europe is a market largely untapped by the online gambling industry. Favbet founded in 1999 by Andrii Matiukha has grown since then and services a large number of Eastern European and the Commonwealth of Independent States countries such as Russia, the Ukraine, Belarus and Armenia among others.
Favbet and in-play betting specialist Buzz Sports have signed a partnership agreement that will see Buzz Sports’ noted product ZonePlay applied to the Favbet offerings throughout the region. ZonePlay is an inplay product the presents the customer with the proposal, “what happens next” Favbet-com adds the extra offering to attract new players to the site and encourage existing punters to stay a while and bet on the exciting sporting events. Favbet-com is located in the Ukraine and is from a high risk country but after checking into the site it does indeed have a 97 % trust rate.
The Chief Commercial Officer for Buzz Sports, Ian Williams, commented on the partnership arrangement, “This deal further extends the reach of the ZonePlay brand into yet another new territory, and Favbet are the perfect partner as they understand the Eastern European market better than anybody. We are looking forward to being a key part of their growth plans, both online and through their growing network of betting shops.” ZonePlay is available for cricket, football, tennis at the moment with basketball coming soon.
The consumers in the Eastern Europe region market is passionate about their betting and the ZonePlay offering will add yet another secure and exciting component to the Favbet mix. The Commercial Director of Favorit United N.V. the parent company of the Favbet offering Andrew Behan, also commented on the deal, “We are extremely proud to have been chosen by Buzz Sports to be the first representative of their award winning ZonePlay product in Eastern European markets.”
Winona Ryder thinks people who fear ageing are "nuts".
The pretty actress has been in the film industry for years, starring in Tim Burton's movie Beetlejuice when she was just 17.
Winona will be celebrating her forty-first birthday later this month, but insists she doesn't worry about growing older.
"I think that all this insistence that you shouldn't get older is nuts - it's a part of our existence that make us more human," she told the latest edition of Italian magazine Io Donna.
"I always refused the idea that ageing is something that we have to fight. On the contrary, for me it is welcome."
Winona has reunited with Burton for the director's latest animated offering, Frankenweenie, where she lends her voice to the character of Elsa Van Helsing.
Despite her involvement in the film, she insists working isn't the most important thing in her life.
"Working is no longer a priority for me? Maybe it's because I have been acting since I was 12, but now I just want to enjoy life and focus on other things," she explained.
According to an article published recently in the Australian news source The Herald Sun, the state of Victoria in Aus is in a crisis situation when it comes to gambling. The article says that punters in Victoria are losing their money at an alarming rate. The article uses numbers to illustrate its point with $15 million a day or $625,000 every hour describing the funds going into casino owners pockets.
Information obtained by the Herald Sun from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, indicated more than $5.4 billion ASD was lost by gamblers in the last financial year with $1.5 billion going into the Crown casino. The article is critical of the stats that revealed that underage gambling is on the rise with the availability of smart phones and that so called illegal online gambling is also on the rise with almost $1 billion being spent on unregistered web locations.
The report says that the most disadvantaged municipalities are the biggest losers at the pokies and that there are many more problem gamblers in those areas. Sally Gainsbury, a researcher from the Centre for Gambling Education & Research at Southern Cross University, has noted that there were no records for those illegal web sites and there was no mention of the loses to these sites in the official records. "Police don't have the power to go after overseas sites," Gainsbury commented. The Commission did comparison studies on online gambling in various places in Victoria revealing that the poorest areas were the most prone to gambling away a serious amount of cash and that as many as 250 people call Gambler's Help Line each week.
The article and the information revealed by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation has given the critics lots of ammunition to call for changes to federal government laws regarding gambling in Australia. Chair of the Australian Churches Gambling Taskforce, Tim Costello, said, "Smartphones are what kids use, now gambling is creeping into homes and it's crossing the lines of age of consent, which most families are very worried about."
Australia's Victoria Experiencing Online Gambling Crisis
“The Great Debate: Online Gaming in Indian Country” was the first presentation in the Indian track at the biggest commercial and Indian gaming expo in the world—G2E—which took place October 1-4 at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas.
The panel discussion was moderated by Jana McKeag (Cherokee Nation), president of Lowry Strategies a bi-partisan government affairs firm specializing in tribal issues and gaming issues and a member of the G2E advisory board. McKeag is a former commissioner at the National Indian Gaming Commission and has worked on tribal issues for more than 30 years.
At last year’s G2E, questions revolved around whether Internet gaming would impact brick and mortar casinos, whether the nations should support or oppose legislation or if they should favor state or federal legislation. “It’s kind of remarkable how a discussion can change in one year’s time,” McKeag said. “After December 23, 2011, we have the now-infamous Department of Justice opinion which basically allows (state) lotteries free range to conduct Internet gaming.” States are now considering running virtual slots online; they are planning state-to-state Internet gaming; and unregulated Internet cafes have proliferated, McKeag said. “So the discussion has not turned to not ‘if’ but ‘when,’” she said.
Read more:G2E: Internet Gaming Is Inevitable, but Many Questions Remain - ICTMN-com G2E: Internet Gaming Is Inevitable, but Many Questions Remain - ICTMN-com