Non-Gambling Investment Will Be Welcome on Boracay, President Duterte Spokesperson Says

New tourism projects would be welcome on Boracay when it opens after its six-month environmental cleanup, except casino resorts, a spokesperson for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has said in series of comments on the matter over the past few days.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque further told media during recent briefings that no private entities should challenge the President’s ban on developing casino gambling businesses on the popular tourist hub.

Boracay is undergoing an environmental rehabilitation after a review by environmental authorities found that multiple businesses discharged untreated water into the sea, thus polluting the surrounding environment and threatening the health of locals and visitors. It also became known that there were a number of illegal structures on the island, which President Duterte threatened to blow up.

Boracay was closed in late April and is expected to reopen for business on October 26. It has become clear from previous comments made by President Duterte and members of various government departments that the island might still look to attract international tourism. However, casino gambling would not be allowed, as repeatedly pointed out by the country’s top official.

The casino gambling comments have been made in relation to a recently announced project for the development of an integrated resort with a gaming floor. The project was introduced by Macau casino and hospitality operator Galaxy Entertainment Group and its local partner Leisure & Resorts World Corporation (LRWC). The two companies announced late last year that they planned to build a $550-million resort on the island.

They received a provisional license from PAGCOR, the Philippine gambling regulator, earlier this year and acquired a 23-hectare site where the property will be built. Commenting on Boracay’s closure and how this would affect their project, a LRWC official said over the weekend that the resort remained on track for 2021 opening, despite the island’s ongoing environment cleanup and the fact that no groundbreaking date has been decided on.

Casino Gambling a Vice

As mentioned above, President Duterte has been staunchly opposed to Galaxy and LRWC’s project and has reiterated his determination to stop that one as well as any other casino resort construction plan on the island from materialization.

The President’s spokesperson said in series of comments from the past few days that the official does not like casinos as they promote gambling, which is a vice and “contrary to good morals.”

The latest comments could mean that Boracay would still be open to business and international tourism after its cleanup is completed, despite previous statements made by President Duterte that the island could be subjected to an agricultural reform that would aim to return land to its residents.

The President has said that the government would have to decide how to determine who owns what portion of Boracay’s land and to make sure that the distribution of land would be fair.

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International companies to land in the Philippines

Foreign casino operators are targetting the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and will soon land in the country.

The post International companies to land in the Philippines appeared first on Focus Gaming News.

Caesars Entertainment Corporation casinos to debut sportsbooks

Caesars Entertainment Corporation is set to become the latest casino operator to expand its sportsbetting services in the United States after announcing that it intends to launch sportsbooks for its properties in New Jersey and Mississippi over the next few weeks. Launches to begin in New Jersey: Las Vegas-headquartered, Caesars Entertainment Corporation, used an official Monday press release […]

Brian Soja Claims 2018 MSPT Iowa State Poker Championship Title

Brian Soja finally topped the field of the MSPT Iowa State Poker Championship at Meskwaki Casino in Tama after a couple of near-misses. The player outlasted a field of 455 entrants late last week to collect a top prize of $94,568 and the champion’s trophy.

The tournament took place from July 27 through July 29 and featured two starting flights and a second day of action. As many as 62 survivors returned at the host venue for Day 2 action. Of them, eight had to leave empty-handed as only the top 54 places got paid. Shaun Burnett became the unfortunate bubble boy or the last player to leave the Main Event empty-handed.

Once the money bubble burst and there were 54 players, everyone was looking to secure a seat into the ten-handed final table. Many notables failed in that, though, with some of those being four time WSOP Circuit gold ring winner Amrk Fink, former Run It Up Reno champion Blake Cavanagh, and eleventh-place WSOP Main Event finisher Ryan Phan, among others. Phan collected $725,000 for his recent deep run into this year’s edition of the $10,000 World Championship.

Final Table and Heads-Up

Players were nearly even when cards were thrown in the air for final table action. However, it did not take long before the first eliminations occurred. Several players left the table in quick succession. And several of them were eliminated namely by Soja. The eventual champ busted police sergeant Zac Campbell and then Alex Winter. Kipp Smith was also among the final tablists to fall victim to the player who would eventually claim the title and the accompanying first-place payout.

The elimination of Travis Sweet in third place set the heads-up duel between Soja and Kevin Berthelsen. Soja entered the match with a huge chip advantage over his final opponent and never relinquished that to take down the tournament.

On what turned out to be the last hand of the tournament, Berthelsen went all in with [Kd][5d] to Soja’s [Ad][4h]. The [Jc][3c][2s][4s][4c] arrived on the board to seal it for Soja. Berthelsen left the tournament with a consolation prize of $58,104 for his deep run.

Commenting on his performance in recent months, Soja said after his victory that he has had a good year so far, making his fourth or fifth final table appearance for the past seven months. Asked what he was planning to do with his first-place prize of a little less than $95,000, the player said that he and his wife were planning to retire in the next 15 years and that the money would probably go into their bank account to make sure that they would be able to accomplish that goal.

Soja is a father of two sons – Brady (13) and Beckett (5). The player praised the two boys as well as his wife, saying that he was really thankful she has been letting him play a game for money.

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Poker Buddies Antonio Esfandiari and Kevin Hart to Meet in the Boxing Ring

After some clashes at the poker table, poker pro Antonio Esfandiari and popular comedian turned avid poker player Kevin Hart are set to storm the boxing ring, Esfandiari himself told a TMZ Sports reporter over the weekend.

Delighted to be recognized by paps and asked about “some real juice”, Esfandiari said that he and Hart played poker the other day and “somehow boxing [came] up.” The two made a bet and agreed to step into the boxing ring to test their strength and will. The boxing match will take place “in March, around March,” Esfandiari told the TMZ reporter.

The poker pro refused to unveil how much money was on the line, but given both his and Hart’s estimated net worth, it should be expected that they have made quite a hefty bet.

Esfandiari further said that he is getting 35-1 odds in the upcoming bout, because his opponent is “in much better shape, he’s an athlete, he’s fast as hell”. However, at nearly 6 feet tall, the Magician, as Esfandiari is also known in the poker community, he has an important height/reach advantage. Hart stands at around 5’4″.

Esfandiari and Hart’s Careers

With three gold bracelets from the World Series of Poker and two WPT Main Tour titles, Esfandiari is one of the big stars of global poker. The player boasts live tournament earnings of over $27.6 million. That amount includes his first-place prize of $18,346,673 for taking down the 2012 $1,000,000 BIG One for ONE DROP and outlasting some of the world’s most seasoned pros, including heads-up opponent England’s Sam Trickett.

It is also interesting to note that he had been a professional magician before he started playing poker for a living, hence his nickname The Magician.

As for Kevin Hart, while he cannot boast with as many poker accomplishments as Esfandiari, he is one of the world’s most successful and praised comedians in the world. With estimated net worth of around $58 million, Hart ranks 39th in the Forbes 2018 Celebrity 100 Earnings list. His The Irresponsible Tour has been the biggest comedy tour so far this year with 1 million tickets sold, from which Hart grossed over $30 million.

Earlier this year, Hart became a brand ambassador for online poker room PokerStars, following his multiple appearances in different poker tournaments in 2017 and this year. The comedian and the globally popular poker brand said that they hope their partnership will change the face of poker.

Esfandiari and Hart excel in their respective fields, but it is to be seen who will emerge victorious in their upcoming boxing match. This will not be the first time poker players are clashing in the ring. Bouts have taken place between Bertrand Grospellier and Lex Veldhuis as well as between Brian Rast and Sorel Mizzi in the past few years.

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Caesars steps up US sports betting plans for New Jersey and Mississippi

Caesars Entertainment is “moving quickly” to open sports betting facilities in both New Jersey and Mississippi

Choctaw Casino & Resort to host WPT

The World Poker Tour is back in Oklahoma in just a few days, as the Choctaw Casino & Resort will be hosting the WPT Choctaw event. Running from the 3rd to the 7th of August, the stop will mark the fourth year running that the WPT has traveled to Oklahoma for the main leg of […]

EGT and Reel Games install in California

The companies signed an agreement for the Cache Creek Casino located in California.

The post EGT and Reel Games install in California appeared first on Focus Gaming News.

GVC Holdings in merger talks with MGM Resorts

Isle of Man-based online gambling company, GVC Holdings, has reportedly confirmed it is engaged in talks regarding a merger with global hospitality and entertainment company, MGM Resorts International (MGM:New York). According to Sky News … The owner of British-based betting and gambling company, Ladbrokes Coral Group plc, will this week or as soon as Monday, […]

Pachinko remains king for Japanese gamblers

In Japan, pachinko reportedly remains the most prevalent form of gambling with the amount spent by players enjoying the vertical pinball-like slot machines regularly topping approximately $200 billion every year. Revenues double earnings from automobile exports: According to a Thursday report from The Independent newspaper, the Japanese pachinko sector annually takes in about twice what […]

Ireland’s Revenue Declares War on Dublin’s Illegal Casinos

Ireland’s Revenue has issued enforcement letters to a number of illegally operating casino facilities across Dublin giving them 21 days to remove gambling machines from their premises, The Times reported earlier this week.

News about the government agency launching a crackdown against illegal operations arrived after an investigation by The Times showed that a number of Dublin-based arcades have used their licenses to operate gambling machines, thus breaching a 1988 citywide ban on the latter devices.

Under the long-standing prohibition, no licenses for gambling machines can be issued to facilities located within city limits. However, The Times reported last month that a number of arcade facilities are violating that ban and are using their arcade machine licenses to operate gambling machines.

According to Revenue definitions, arcade/amusement machines are games that gives players the chance to win no more than an opportunity to play again or a non-monetary prize the value of which is worth no more than €7. The Times found that the gambling machines at some of the arcade premises across Dublin offered players the opportunity to wager up to €2,500 on casino-style games such as video poker, roulette, and blackjack. Such premises now have 21 days to remove all gambling machines or face seizure of those.

Industry Responds to the Looming Crackdown

The Irish Amusement Trades Association (IATA), which represents both licensed and unlicensed arcades, has responded quickly to the pending crackdown, saying that it was considering legal actions against Revenue’s ruling. The association has long been lobbying for the ban on casino-style gambling in Dublin to be lifted.

IATA General Secretary John Roche has previously said that Ireland’s current gambling laws are archaic and are violating directives of the European Union in relation to the provision of gambling services across member states. Ireland’s gambling industry is regulated under the Gaming and Lotteries Act which took effect back in 1956.

Irish lawmakers have been working for years on a piece of legislation that would replace the obsolete regulations, but not much progress has been made so far.

A Revenue spokeswoman has told The Times than any operator of gambling machines without the necessary license or using an arcades license to operate gambling machines would have their machines seized and would be prosecuted. IATA maintains that they can face down the taxman in court and even win, citing recent European Court of Justice rulings, under which any laws restricting gambling to certain areas in a given country should be reviewed if they are applied properly.

According to a 2015 study by Gaming and Leisure Association Ireland the issuance of arcade licenses is cheaper than of gambling machine ones and by favoring the former, the country is thus losing revenue. The study also said that of all 7,559 arcade licenses issued, around 5,000 were actually used for gambling machines that offered cash prizes.

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Gamenet Group SpA purchasing rival GoldBet

Italian gaming operator Gamenet Group SpA has reportedly announced a deal that is to see it pay out approximately $310 million in order to purchase all of the capital in domestic rival GoldBet. Combined entity to be ‘clear leader’ in Italy: According to a report from iGamingRadio.com, Guglielmo Angelozzi, Chief Executive Officer for Rome-headquartered Gamenet […]

Boracay Casino Resort Still On Track to Open in 2021 Despite Ongoing Hurdles

A planned casino resort on Boracay is on track to be launched in 2021, despite the Philippine island’s closure for environmental rehabilitation, a representative of one of the companies behind the project told local media.

News emerged last December that Macau gaming and hospitality giant Galaxy Entertainment Group had partnered Philippine leisure and entertainment company Leisure and Resorts World Corp. (LRWC) to build together a $550-million integrated resort on the island of Boracay. It was announced earlier this year that Galaxy has received a provisional gaming license from the Philippine gambling regulator, PAGCOR, for the operation of a casino at the planned property.

At the same time, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the closure of the island for a six-month environmental cleanup, following a probe into the environmental state of the popular tourist hub. The probe found that local businesses were discharging untreated waste water into the sea and that there were multiple illegal buildings across the island. Boracay was closed on April 26.

Responding to news that Galaxy and its local partner were planning to build a casino on the island, President Duterte has repeatedly said that he would not allow that.

Despite the President’s vows to prevent the plan from materializing and the island’s closure, LRWC is confident that the resort is on track to open by 2021, as originally planned. The company’s Vice President for Legal Affairs Katrina Nepomuceno said Friday that the environmental cleanup is not delaying the project as they were able to finish what they had to finish before Boracay’s closure.

It became known earlier this year that Galaxy and its local partner have obtained a 23-hectare site in the Barangay Manoc-Manoc area. Ms. Nepomuceno said that a land survey has proven that the portion of land was alienable and disposable.

Working Closely with Environmental Regulators

The LRWC official further explained that they have been working closely with the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which is in charge of the ongoing rehabilitation process, as well as with other government agencies, and that they are getting updates on the process from the Boracay task force.

Ms. Nepomuceno also told media that they want to be sure their project is fully compliant with the government’s environmental requirements.

Asked when construction on the resort is expected to begin, the official said that they are yet to decide on the official start of the development process but that they believe the 2021 targeted opening is still achievable despite the island’s closure. Ms. Nepomuceno further pointed out that she is confident in the future materialization of their plan because President Duterte has said that he wants to keep Boracay popular with tourists and they are offering an opportunity for that to happen.

The LRWC official also said Friday that they are yet to receive confirmation from the Department of Agrarian Reform about a recently announced planned for Boracay to be placed under an agrarian reform that would aim to hand land across the island to its natives.

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Simon Lam Takes Down Inaugural WPT Gardens $5,000 Main Event

Simon Lam is the brand new member of WPT’s club of Main Tour Main Event champs. The player outlasted the 584-strong field of the inaugural edition of the WPT Gardens Poker Festival $5,000 Main Event for his first title from the popular poker series.

He collected a payout of $565,055 and a brand new 2018 Mercedes-Benz SLC Roadster (valued at around $50,000). The player also secured a $15,000 ticket into the season-ending WPT Tournament of Champions.

The final day of the WPT Gardens Main Event was played on Thursday at the Gardens Casino in Hawaiian Gardens, California. Lam came into that final day as the chip leader among a total of six survivors who comprised the official final table.

The first levels of the day saw poker pro Jake Schindler take the lead and extend the gap between him and his fellow contenders. Schindler then lost some of his momentum and what followed next was a fierce war for the chip lead between Men Nguyen and Lam. That war lasted hours and extended into three-handed play.

During that key and lengthy stage of the final table, the chip lead exchanged hands between Nguyen and Lam, and Schindler occasionally managed to double through his two remaining opponents to get ahead of them for a while. It was the elimination of Nguyen in third place that put an end to the mad three-handed race. The player collected $270,430 for his performance.

Heads-Up Duel

Lam was the chip leader at the time heads-up between him and Schindler kicked off. And the player never really lost his momentum, despite his opponent’s efforts to improve.

The two-handed match began with Lam holding 19.2 million in chips to Schindler’s 4.175 million. The two players battled it out for 11 hands until Hand #164 of the six-handed final table was dealt. It saw Lam raise to 600,000 pre-flop and Schindler call.

The [Js][7c][2c] landed on the flop. Schindler checked, while Lam bet 500,000 to see his opponent check-raise to 1.5 million. Lam spent the next 30 seconds thinking what to do next and eventually shoved. Schindler snap-called for his last 4.675 million, tabling [Jd][8d] for a pair of jacks. Lam turned [Jc][9s] for pocket jacks but with a higher kicker. Blank [3h] on the turn and [2d] on the river sealed it for Lam and sent Schindler to the rail. The tournament’s runner-up finisher collected $366,740.

Craig Varnell finished fourth in the WPT Gardens Main Event for $201,615. Saya Ono took home $151,995 for her fifth-place finish. Jared Griener went out in sixth place for $115,885.

The first ever WPT Gardens Main Event saw 584 entries who created a prize pool of $2,944,800. The top 73 finishers received a portion of the money.

The WPT is next heading to Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, Oklahoma for the second poker festival on its 2018/19 schedule. That festival’s Main Event take place on August 3-7. It features a $3,700 buy-in fee and a guaranteed prize pool of $1 million.

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Operators reaffirm their interest in coming Japanese casinos

Following last week’s passage of the Integrated Resort Implementation Bill, three of the world’s largest gambling operators have reportedly reaffirmed their interest in running one of Japan’s coming trio of integrated casino resorts. According to a Thursday report from GGRAsia, the past seven days have seen leading figures at Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited, Las […]

Massachusetts regulator delays Brockton casino talks until September

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC), which voted against a $677m casino-and-hotel complex for Brockton two years ago, said it will reconsider the project later this September

Puyallup Tribe would open a casino in Washington

Washington State could become the host of a new casino operated by local Tribe, Puyallup.

The post Puyallup Tribe would open a casino in Washington appeared first on Focus Gaming News.

Provisional license for fifth Entertainment City integrated casino resort

Chinese real estate firm, Landing International Development Limited, has announced that one of its subsidiaries has been granted a provisional gaming license for the new integrated casino resort it is planning to build in the Philippines. Hong Kong-listed Landing International Development Limited revealed via an official filing (pdf) that its wholly-owned Landing Resorts Philippines Development Corporation […]

Bookies may be entitled to VAT refund worth over 100m

Highstreet bookmakers across the country may expect to receive billions of pounds in VAT refunds from HM Revenue & Customs

Simon Lam Leads WPT Gardens Main Event Final Table

The WPT Gardens $5,000 Main Event final table was set early today after a long Day 4 of the tournament. Six players are set to return later today at the host venue, the Gardens Casino in Hawaiian Gardens, Southern California, to play down to a champion.

The winner will take home a nice payout of $565,055, including a $15,000 seat into the season-ending WPT Tournament of Champions, and a brand new Mercedes-Benz SLC Roadster worth over $50,000.

Simon Lam is leading the final pack of six players after the fourth day of play. The overnight chip leader had accumulated a stack of 6.155 million by the end of Day 4 action to pack with a considerable advantage over his fellow contenders for the title. Popular poker pro Jake Schindler bagged the second largest stack, good for 4.45 million.

This will be Lam’s second WPT Main Tour Main Event final table. Back in 2016, the player finished 4th in the $3,500 buy-in WPT Borgata Poker Open Main Event, good for his best live tournament cash of $250,970. Overall, Lam has nearly $1.4 million in earnings from various live tournaments.

Day 4 Action

Day 4 of the WPT Gardens Main Event kicked off with 46 hopefuls still in contention. Saya Ono was leading the survivors. While the local player failed to keep her lead throughout the day, she managed to secure her spot at the official final table. She currently occupies the fifth spot in the temporary leaderboard with a stack of 3.445 million, good for 57 big blinds. In other words, even though she stands near the bottom of the chip counts chart, she is still running pretty deep.

The Day 4 hopefuls first played to the unofficial final table of nine. Men Nguyen was holding the largest chip stack when that stage of the game was reached with 3.635 million. The remaining nine survivors were then relocated to a single table. It took 98 hands of play for the official six-handed final table to be reached.

Nguyen maintained quite some momentum halfway through those 98 hands. However, to everyone’s surprise the player fell asleep at the table and spent more than 20 hands in that state. He eventually woke up, but Lam was already gaining momentum by that time and was eying the top of the leaderboard.

Despite his unexpected nap, Nguyen made it to the official final table with the third largest stack among the remaining survivors. The player will enter the final day of action with 3.935 million or 66 big blinds.

Aside from the chip leader, Lam, Schindler, Nguyen, and Ono, Jared Griener with 3.875 million and Craig Varnell with 1.955 million were the other two players to make it to the tournament’s official final table.

Six-handed action is slated to kick off today at 4 pm local time at the host venue. The hopefuls will play down to a champion. Each of them is guaranteed a minimum cash of $115,885.

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Promising future for Delta in Goa

According to Union Gaming, Delta Corp’s financial performance “continues to make the case” for moving riverboat casinos to land.

The post Promising future for Delta in Goa appeared first on Focus Gaming News.

Experts dismiss Japanese successful market

Morgan Stanley experts think Japanese regulations could jeopardise casino profits.

The post Experts dismiss Japanese successful market appeared first on Focus Gaming News.

Exclusive Interview with PlayOJO CEO Ohad Narkis on UK Gambling Industry’s Challenges

Ohad Narkis is the CEO of PlayOJO, an innovative online casino that launched last year and is aiming to challenge the big industry names. Having previously worked for some of the global gambling industry’s powerhouses, including PokerStars and Scientific Games, Mr. Narkis is now using his knowledge and experience in the field to build a brand that places fairness and transparency at its core.

The UK gambling space is one of the main markets PlayOJO has been targeting since it went live. What are the challenges facing a new operation in the highly competitive UK online gambling environment? How is PlayOJO handling competition? And how does it make sure that its is fully compliant with the wave of regulatory reforms in the UK gambling industry from the past several years? Mr. Narkis has provided answers to these and many other important questions and has offered our readers an insight into how PlayOJO believes customers should be treated and industry challenges should be approached.

Operating an online casino business in the current environment of extreme competition, rising costs, and growing regulatory pressure must be really hard. What are the biggest challenges a new casino comes across when it goes live?

I would say that the biggest challenge of all is to cut through the noise in the market. The UK market is extremely competitive, very fragmented and is dominated by several well-established brands, some of which are high-street brands that have been around for years. To break into this cluttered market takes a lot of effort, preparation and much thought about how to differentiate yourself and stand out in the 3 key levels – Product, Brand, and Value proposition.

Without these major considerations and a creative and cut-through marketing strategy, it would be hard for any new brand to launch into a market and build any kind of significant market share. The growing compliance and regulatory pressure makes things even more challenging for a new casino. As far as PlayOJO goes, we believe that as operators we have a responsibility to our players and this is why we decided to challenge the market on some of its core shortfalls relating to fairness and transparency. With our fairness implementation, we’ve created a win win situation for both our players as well as for our business.

In what ways does PlayOJO stand out from its competition?

We’ve established PlayOJO to challenge the perception of the market. The outdated way of how things were being done was creating friction with customers and a greater level of mistrust within the industry. In order to address this fundamental inherent issue, we wanted to create a brand that is very transparent and fair. This is why we created a completely new value proposition with PlayOJO; we scrapped all the traditional bonus systems and created a new platform where customers could interact with us and not have concerns about things like funds availability or bonus money.

We wanted to create a brand that looked and felt different to any other brand. The name itself is not even a traditional casino name as we wanted to steer clear of using words like “luck” or “spins” that scream casino. The same goes for the visual brand elements being gender neutral, warm and welcoming. We treat players as our friends and this comes across in our playful and fun tone of voice and the way that we communicate with them.

Your bonus rewards system is a bit different from what is usually offered at online casinos. Can you elaborate more on how you approach new customers and how you reward them?

Keeping our players loyal is of essence and that’s why we came up with features like OJOPlus – a money-back mechanism which gives players back a percentage of their wager every time they bet, whether they win or lose. Unlike other casinos, it’s not a promotional offer but an inherent part of our value proposition which is active 24/7 and of course paid in cash.

On the same note, we don’t believe in luring our players in with too-good-to-be-true match deposit bonuses. Instead, we reward them for actually playing, using our levels system and the OJO Wheel, which they can spin by reaching new levels or just as a surprise extra perk. At PlayOJO, all funds are available for customers to play or withdraw at any time and without any restrictions. We do not impose painful wagering requirements on our players and we set no max win limit – they are in control.

The UK is the largest regulated iGaming market, but it has become a bit of a challenge to operate there due to competition and regulatory pressure. What are your personal views about that market and its current state?

The UK market is becoming much more challenging to operate in, particularly because of the increased regulatory pressure, some of which is understandable and actually very positive. It took extra attention and enforcement from the Gambling Commission and the likes of CMA and CPA to pave the way for operators to be more upfront about how they operate.

There was much non-transparency in the market between customers and operators that became a problem. I believe that it’s very positive that regulators are now pushing for operators to clean up their acts and give customers more control over their money and their play. This is a fundamental and welcome change in the way that the industry operates and I anticipate that it will take some time for the industry to adapt.

The UK Government announced started taxing freeplays last summer. How has this affected your operations in the country?

To be honest, it didn’t have a significant impact on our operations because we only launched a few months before the change to taxation calculation took place so were able to plan for it from the outset. Because we’re less bonus-heavy, the introduction of tax on bonuses didn’t impact our bottom line in a significant way.

The UK Gambling Commission has slapped massive fines on a number of operators for compliance failures over the past year. How do you make sure that all aspects of your UK-facing business are compliant with the growing number of requirements?

Along with the entire industry, we have learned a lot from these high-profile cases of certain operators, some of which who were were charged with failings within crucial operational functions. In an environment where the Gaming Commission keeps raising the bar when it comes to Responsible Gaming, KYC and Customer Protection, we need to stay one step ahead of the game so that our players stay protected.

This last year we’ve seen a greater endorsement in operators being challenged to be more socially responsible. The significant fines that the Gambling Commission has imposed onto operators clearly shows that much more attention, time and resources need to be devoted into internal processes. These should include rigorous checks for customers’ sources of funds, AML prevention, preventing instances where self-excluded players are marketed to via 3rd party channels and very importantly, ensuring that players are not encouraged to play beyond their financial means.

We actually introduced several new safety measures that identity unusual playing patterns very early on in the player’s life-cycle. These involve a very efficient KYC process, including source of fund authorisation, play monitoring and in certain cases, a total suspension of play activities. This is something we have seen across the industry and it has impacted VIP players in particular. Our VIP player numbers have actually decreased over the last months which is simply due to these suggested measurements, but we feel that this is the only way for responsible operators to operate.

You have quite unique approach to responsible gambling. Can you tell us more about your focus in that area?

We’ve created an environment where players feel secure because there is nothing hidden in our terms and conditions and they have full control of their money, which is held in a single cash account. It’s about being socially responsible in terms of how we communicate with players and the fact that everything is upfront for them makes them feel protected.

All of our marketing is based around this idea – in fact our new marketing campaign is based around our fairness message. There is no other operator that has built an entire brand or campaign around being fair and with this initiative we hope to educate the industry as well as the customers by setting the “fairness bar” of how players should be treated in the industry. It’s a long-term goal that requires a great deal of resources, patience and stamina because changing perceptions in an industry that has been operating for many years with low-trust levels is not something that can be done overnight.

The matter of social responsibility goes beyond the UK for us. PlayOJO operates in a number of different markets and one of our fastest growing markets is in Sweden, where we launched at the beginning of 2018 with exactly the same propositions and “fair” brand promise.

Despite the fact the market there is still unregulated and the industry does not face the same pressures from regulators, our perception of how we believe the industry should operate remained intact. With the knowledge that the Swedish market will re-regulate at the beginning of 2019, we anticipate that the Swedish Gambling Authority will follow in the same footsteps as the UK Gambling Commission as far as getting operators to clean up their acts. Therefore, we see ourselves as the pioneers of a fair casino promise in Sweden, setting that “fairness bar” high as we have done in the UK and demonstrating how we believe operators should treat their customers, in a socially responsible and fair way.

The post Exclusive Interview with PlayOJO CEO Ohad Narkis on UK Gambling Industry’s Challenges appeared first on Casino News Daily.

Melco Resorts revenues decrease by 5 in Q2

Hong-Kong listed casino operator Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd saw its net revenue decrease by 5% between April and June to approximately $1

BC Hard Rock workers end strike

After a deal reached with the employer, more than 400 workers are set to return to work.

The post BC Hard Rock workers end strike appeared first on Focus Gaming News.

VELUX EHF Champions League signs BETANO as regional betting partner

EHF Marketing GmbH has confirmed a new regional betting partner on the German market for the upcoming season

New casino may be on the cards for Saipan

In the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, a Japanese businessman has reportedly met with the Mayor of Saipan in order to discuss the possibility of opening various businesses including a new casino in the American territory. Return visit scheduled for August: According to a report from the Marianas Variety newspaper, Saipan Mayor David Apatang […]

Sports betting at Meadowlands Racetrack generates 3 5m in the first nine days

The Meadowlands Racetrack generated approximately $3

YouGov survey finds over one in ten bet on the World Cup

A large study showed about 12% of people surveyed placed a bet on the FIFA World Cup, with SkyBet being the most popular operator

BetChicago prepares for legalized sports betting market with Sportradar partnership

NEW YORK – CHICAGO - JULY 23rd  2018 – Sportradar AG – global market leader in betting technology and services – and BetChicago, the go-to source for Chicago sports betting news and analysis, announced a formal multiyear partnership

Kansas warned against sports betting over-optimism

Legislators in Kansas have reportedly been warned that bringing legalized sports betting to ‘The Sunflower State’ may not end up being the magic pill that will help them to solve an estimated $320 budget deficit. Revenue cannibalization warning: According to a Sunday report from local television broadcaster, WDAF-TV, the caution came as part of a study […]

Disappointing six months for Greek casino industry

The first six months of 2018 reportedly saw licensed casinos in Greece experience cumulative year-on-year reductions in gross gaming revenues, turnover and visitor numbers. Gross gaming revenues tumble: According to a Sunday report from the I Kathimerini newspaper, the nation’s nine casinos saw their first-half aggregated gross gaming revenues drop by almost 3.3% year-on-year to […]

Larnaca airport to feature two casinos

The two facilities are expected to be ready and operational by the end of the third and fourth quarter of the year.

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Camel Rock Casino agrees licensing deal with VizExplorer

Provider of operational intelligence (OI) solutions to the casino industry, VizExplorer, recently announced that it had entered into a new licensing agreement to initiate deployment of its campaignViz and floorViz solutions at the Camel Rock Casino in New Mexico. Highly competitive market: Owned and operated by the Pueblo of Tesuque, the entertainment facility opened in 1995. […]

IGT brings Fort Knox video slot to Portugal

Gaming machine and systems innovator International Game Technology (IGT) has reportedly announced that its Fort Knox multi-level progressive jackpot video slot has made its debut in Portugal by being unveiled at Casino Vilamoura. Fort Knox Debut:  According to a Thursday report from G3Newswire… Fort Knox is housed in the New York-listed developer’s CrystalCurve cabinet, which […]

Australian Racing Rolls Out New Rules to Combat Illegal Online Gambling

Australian horse racing trainers and owners could have their computers and mobile devices seized if they are suspected of gambling with illegal betting websites, under a new set of rules by Racing Australia, local news outlet The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Racing Australia is the regulatory body tasked with overseeing Australia’s thoroughbred racing industry. The regulator has adopted speedily a fresh wave of rules aimed at clamping down on illegal offshore operators targeting Australian bettors.

Although Australians are allowed to wager on legal websites, they often prefer black market operators to regulated ones, tempted by the promise of a better product and odds. According to a 2015 report by the former Australian Council, the country’s illegal betting market was worth around A$400 million at the time and was expected to reach A$900 million by 2020.

A study by Racing Wagering Australia, the body that represents the nation’s online wagering sector, claims that the black market could be worth up to A$1.3 billion. The money goes to illegal operators who do not contribute back to Australia’s horse racing industry unlike regulated businesses.

New Regulations

The new rules are set to come into effect from August 1, 2018. They will apply to racing horse owners and trainers. Participants in the nation’s horse racing industry could thus have their electronic devices seized for forensic image if they are suspected to be wagering with non-licensed operators.

Racing Victoria, the regulatory body responsible for the racing industry of the state of Victoria, has previously implemented a similar rule to prevent participants from engaging into illegal operations. Racing Australia will now expand that rule so that it applies to all racing authorities in Australia.

Local regulators, including Racing New South Wales, have said they welcome the new approach to illegal betting as the growing betting market poses a great threat to Australia’s horse racing industry.

News about Racing Australia implementing new rules against illegal operations come shortly after a rollout of announcements from various Australian states and territories that they would implement a point of consumption tax on regulated betting operations.

Most recently, New South Wales confirmed that it would be taxing licensed operators at 10% on their revenue from the state. The new tax would be implemented from January 1, 2019.

Queensland has, too, recently announced that a new taxation regime on betting would take effect on October 1, 2018. Operators servicing customers from the state will be required to pay 15% on revenue from their local operations.

It became known earlier this year that the Australian Capital Territory will introduce a 15% point of consumption tax on January 1, 2019. Victoria will, too, roll out its new regime early next year, but it will tax licensed betting operators on 8% of their revenue from local wagering customers.

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La Jolla tribe adds gaming to local business

In northern San Diego County, a partnership between the federally recognized La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians and multinational oil and gas company, BP, will reportedly see the opening of the La Jolla Trading Post & Casino before the month’s end. The Valley Roadrunner newspaper reports…. Chief executive officer for the 700-member La Jolla tribe, […]

Playtech BGT Sports inks Mexico deal

The Playtech BGT Sports sportsbetting subsidiary of omni-channel gaming software and services innovator Playtech has reportedly announced the signing of a deal that is to see Corporacion Caliente install around one dozen of its self-service betting terminals at locations across Mexico. New Terminal Installation: According to a Thursday report from G3Newswire… Corporacion Caliente is a subordinate […]

Melco Opens Two Casino Facilities at Larnaca Airport Within Months

Two satellite casino facilities will open doors at the Larnaca International Airport by the end of the year under an agreement between Integrated Casino Resorts Cyprus and Hermes Airport Ltd., a joint statement by the two companies says.

Integrated Resorts Cyprus represents the joint venture between Hong Kong-based gaming and hospitality giant Melco Resorts & Entertainment and its Cypriot partner CNS Group. The two companies were selected as the preferred bidder for the development of the first integrated resort with a casino floor in the Republic of Cyprus. Under the term of their license from the Cypriot government, Melco and CNS Group are also set to open four satellite casinos across the tiny Mediterranean republic.

The recently signed agreement with Hermes Airports, the company operating the Larnaca International Airport, will allow Melco and its local partner to establish two gaming facilities at the airport. The agreement has a two-year term and an option for renewal.

The first facility will be located in the departures area and is expected to become operational in the next three months. Only departing passengers will be able to access it. The other facility will be established in the arrivals section of the airport and will be accessible to everyone. It is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Both facilities will be branded Cyprus Casinos. They will feature slot machines only and no gaming tables. It is yet to be determined whether the satellite casino at the Larnaca International Airport will be open 24 hours.

Melco Hails First Days of Temporary Casino Operation

News about Melco’s agreement with the Larnaca International Airport emerge days after the company said that its temporary casino in Limassol welcomed 34,000 unique visitors during its first three weeks of operation thus beating original expectations. The property opened doors on June 28 as a temporary operation while the main City of Dreams Mediterranean resort is under construction.

Melco revealed that guests from 41 countries played at its casino during its first days. Patrons from Cyprus, Greece, Israel, the United Kingdom, and Russia represented the largest group of players, and slot machines followed by American Roulette proved to be the most popular games.

The temporary operation currently features 242 slot machines and 33 gaming tables, a VIP salon, a restaurant, and two bars. It is open 24/7 and players must be 21 or over in order to be admitted to the gaming floor. Melco has said that 6,000 patrons have joined its rewards program since the casino opened doors.

The main resort is currently under development in Limassol. The property is slated to open doors in 2021. Melco plans to invest more than €550 million into what would be its first integrated resort outside Asia. The company has said that it would look to combat seasonality in Cyprus by establishing an operation that would be drawing visitors all year round.

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Ponca Tribe could open new casino

Despite the legal battle around the facility, the tribe is considering opening the casino in order to bring revenue.

The post Ponca Tribe could open new casino appeared first on Focus Gaming News.

Vietnamese Casino Fined for Faulty Tax Reports

The owner of Royal International Gaming Club in Ha Long, Vietnam has received a $15,000 fine after being found to have provided faulty reports of value added tax and using illegal invoices, local news outlet VnExpress reports.

Royal Casino is part of the larger Royal Halong Hotel owned by gaming and hospitality company Royal International Corporation. The gaming venue currently offers four table games, with those being blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and Sic Bo, as well as 70 slot machines.

According to the Tax Department of the Quang Ninh province, owners of the casino have breached several tax regulations in their 2017 returns filings and VAT receipts due February 2018. Authorities revealed that Royal International Corporation was penalized with a $15,000 fine, which included a $10,500 levy for faulty VAT reports and another $3,700 levy for providing illegal invoices.

Similarly to most of Vietnam’s land-based casinos, Royal Casino services foreign patrons only. The VnExpress reports that the gambling venue has been recording profit losses since 2013. According to the owner’s report for the third quarter of 2017, the casino saw its loss jump more than 23 times to over $3.04 million.

Revenue during the first quarter of 2018 totaled $2.92 million, the company’s financial report states. The property also generated $69,000 in profits after tax, which is a considerable increase from a loss of $908,000 during the same three months of 2017. However, it is believed that Royal International Corporation has accumulated loss of more than $7.4 million from its gambling operation on a total capital investment of around $30.5 million.

Casino officials have revealed that visitors from Taiwan represent their largest customer group and that the number of patrons from Mainland China has decreased significantly over the past several years. Chinese gamblers are the most popular customer group with stakeholders of the Asia-Pacific region’s casino industry due to their spending habits. Patrons from China are targeted heavily by casinos in the area and competition has become even fiercer in the years after Chinese President Xi Jinping’s anti-graft campaign that resulted in high rollers steering away from Asia’s gambling mecca Macau and looking for other destinations to gamble without appearing on Chinese authorities’ radar screens.

Regulatory Changes in Vietnam

Up until recently, Vietnamese nationals were prohibited from gambling at the country’s casinos. However, the country’s government announced earlier this year that it would lift the long-standing ban partially by launching a three-year pilot program that would allow residents to gamble at two gambling venues – one on the Phu Quoc island in South Vietnam and the other located in the Van Don Special Economic Zone. Both properties are currently under development.

In order to be admitted to the gaming floors of the two resorts, Vietnamese nationals will have to be aged 21 or over and to prove that their monthly income exceeds VND10 million.

Vietnam saw another important change in its gambling laws this year. The country’s government decided to relax previous restrictions on the provision of sports betting and engaging into the activity. A new set of rules was rolled out ahead of the World Cup, allowing nationals to bet on football matches but only with a state-run operators. Bettors can wager up to $44 on a match under the new regulations.

Despite the reforms, Vietnam’s black market was thriving during this year’s edition of the major football championship. Vietnamese police bust a number of illegal gambling rings in the months leading up to the World Cup and during the sporting event. News emerged most recently about an $87-million illegal online betting scheme that was nabbed by police during the football tournament. Ten people were arrested for their alleged involvement in the illicit operation which could easily be dubbed Vietnam’s largest one ever busted.

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