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Another regulator says loot boxes are not gambling, now it’s New Zealand

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As there still no clear consensus on what lawmakers think, however about loot boxes in New Zealand, the regulator has expressed and official statement.

Loot boxes are not a form of gambling, says a New Zealand government regulator. The latest government statement on the practice aligns with the contentions of the United States’ Entertainment Software Association and publishers of games that use them.

Trish Millward, of the Gambling Compliance office for New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs, told Gamasutra on Monday that loot boxes “do not meet the definition of gambling.”

Loot boxes, through which users acquire in-game items at random, have been heavily criticized for their influence on player progression in Star Wars: Battlefront 2, Call of Duty: WWII and other games, and for the fact users can spend real money to acquire these packs of virtual items. The controversy was hot enough that Battlefront 2 suspended the means of these kinds of sales a day before the game’s full launch last month.

Millward, a licensing compliance manager for New Zealand’s gambling compliance office, told Gamasutra that the department was aware of and monitoring the controversy regarding loot boxes. However, the practice does not fit New Zealand’s definition of gambling, under a 2003 law.

“While the payment of money for a loot box with the contents of which are determined by chance may appear to be gambling,” Millward said, “the Department is of the view that loot boxes do not meet the legal definition of gambling.”

Millward further explained that video game players “do not purchase loot boxes seeking to win money or something that can be converted into money.”

In November, after Hawaii state representative Chris Lee called Battlefront 2 “a Star Wars-themed casino designed to lure kids into spending money,” the Entertainment Software Association responded with a statement that the practice could not be called gambling.

“Loot boxes are a voluntary feature in certain video games that provide players with another way to obtain virtual items that can be used to enhance their in-game experiences,” the ESA said.

Lee and a colleague, Rep. Sean Quinlan, had said that the loot box practice should be examined and regulated under state law to shield minors from gambling. A spokesman for Electronic Arts declined to address that allegation at the time.

Days later, the U.K.’s Gambling Commission weighed in, saying loot boxes don’t fit gambling under existing law, but “the line between video gaming and gambling is becoming increasingly blurred.”

Battlefront 2 is now a month into its launch, still with no microtransactions enabled. They are expected to return but EA has given no timeframe for when. Earlier this month, Battlefront 2’s in-game currency rewards, which also had been criticized for how they slowed player progression, were increased under an ongoing program of changes that EA DICE says it will bring to the game.

Source: https://www.polygon.com/2017/12/16/16785474/loot-boxes-gambling-law-government-star-wars-battlefront-2

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ITL Spain head to Madrid for the largest gaming exhibition in the Spanish calendar

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ITL Spain head to Madrid for the largest gaming exhibition in the Spanish calendar
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Innovative Technology (ITL) have announced their participation at the largest global network of gaming professionals in Spain. From 7-9 May 2024, Madrid will become the centre of the Spanish gaming industry, celebrating the 40th anniversary of Feria Internacional del Juego (FIJMA).

FIJMA is the most important event in the leisure and gaming industry in Spain where the main companies, manufacturers and experts in the industry gather to learn about the latest slots and gaming equipment innovations. The Spanish team at ITL will be exhibiting their solutions on stand A49 and plan to have their latest note recyclers and coin handling products centre stage, as well as demonstrating how their biometrics solutions can be utilised to benefit the gaming industry to prevent underage gambling.

Jose Garcia Escudero, General Manager for ITL Spain said, “We are looking forward to showing how combining our compact note recycler (NV22 Spectral) and advanced coin recycler (SMART Coin System) gives the best fit for cash handling efficiency for gaming machines in Spain. These solutions now dominate the Spanish gaming market giving operators considerable float management savings, fewer refills, and a massive reduction in coin starvation for improved machine uptime. We’ll also show the new NV4000 mixed denomination note recycler to the Spanish gaming market for the first time, ideal for high volume applications like change and redemption terminals.”

ITL have a range of AI-powered biometric solutions which perform accurate age verification at gaming venue entrances or integrated in gaming machines.

Continuing Jose said, “We will also have our age check devices on the stand for visitors to demo which can help operators prevent someone potentially underage or even self-excluded trying to play a machine or access an age restricted area. ICU Lite can be fully integrated in a gaming machine or betting terminal to automatically estimate age to prevent minors from playing. MyCheckr can be utilised at 18+ entrances to prevent access. Both devices have a one-off cost with no subscriptions and no internet required. Our technology is affordable, available to all and trusted, with no biometric personal data stored.”

Concluding Jose said, “We have very strong relationships with the Spanish market and we’re proud to know that our products will be displayed on a number of stands from our long standing customers. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone in person in Madrid and we welcome you all to stand A49.”

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NetBet Denmark joins forces with Wazdan

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NetBet Denmark joins forces with Wazdan
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NetBet Denmark, a leading name in the iGaming sector, has signed an agreement with Wazdan as it continues to expand its portfolio of the industry’s finest games.

As part of this newly forged partnership, NetBet Denmark is set to integrate the full spectrum of Wazdan’s cutting-edge games into its platform. Players at NetBet can now enjoy an array of engaging titles, including popular offerings such as 9 Coins™ Grand Diamond Edition, Mighty Wild™: Panther, and 16 Coins™.

This collaboration aligns with the operator’s mission to provide its players with an unparalleled gaming environment, marked by innovation and a diverse selection of top-quality games.

Players at NetBet can seamlessly access and enjoy the new additions to their gaming repertoire by visiting the official NetBet Denmark website. The integration of Wazdan’s games is expected to enhance the overall gaming experience for players, offering them a broader selection of titles that cater to various preferences and playstyles.

Claudia Georgevici, PR Manager at NetBet Denmark, said: “Wazdan has come a long way since its founding back in 2010, developing rapidly to propel the company to the forefront of the iGaming industry. As well as innovation, the company has always prioritised enjoyment and responsible gambling in equal measure – making them an ideal partner to help NetBet expand our operations in the Danish market.”

Andrzej Hyla, Chief Commercial Officer at Wazdan, said: “It brings us great excitement to forge a partnership with NetBet, a well-established presence in the thriving landscape of Danish iGaming. The potential in Denmark is vast, and our collaboration with NetBet is poised to fortify our standing in this dynamic market.”

NetBet players can now explore the thrilling new titles from Wazdan by visiting the official NetBet Denmark website.

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Pariplay® adds Kero Gaming Micro Betting Product Suite to Fusion® platform

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Pariplay® adds Kero Gaming Micro Betting Product Suite to Fusion® platform
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NeoGames S.A subsidiary Pariplay®, the leading aggregator and content provider, has further enhanced its Fusion® platform offering through its latest partnership with Kero Gaming (“Kero”), which will see sports betting options added to the aggregator for the first time.

Kero, a leading supplier of micro betting data feeds, products and services will integrate its full product suite onto the Fusion platform.  The Kero platform allows players to watch, bet and chat by combining dynamic, next-play betting markets, live chat for player socialization and the live stream of any match into a single entertainment destination within the sportsbook.Kero’s micro betting technology is uniquely powered by a recommendation engine that leverages proprietary algorithms to create contextually relevant betting markets that are delivered to players, creating a casino style sports betting experience where players can bet on any individual play or moment throughout the course of every match.

The latest provider relationship boosts the wide variety of content available on the rapidly expanding Fusion® platform into the sports betting sphere as Pariplay® maintains its focus on providing enhanced entertainment value for players in regulated markets worldwide.

The Fusion® aggregation offering features over 14,000 games from more than 150 of the industry’s leading game developers and a suite of back-office conversion and retention tools that enhance player value.

Ashley Bloor, Director of Partnerships at Pariplay®, said: “Our content deal with Kero Gaming Inc.      demonstrates our position as one of the world’s pioneering gaming aggregators and we are thrilled to be welcoming its portfolio onto the Fusion® platform.

“With both parties solidifying themselves as visionary forces in the industry, we are confident the partnership will spearhead success as we branch into new sports betting technologies and will resonate with players globally.”

Tomash Devenishek, CEO at Kero Gaming Inc., added: “We at Kero are continually striving to innovate and enhance the sports fan experience by integrating our advanced recommendation technology with real-time micro markets. Pariplay stands out as a leader, powering some of the most renowned global brands. Our shared clientele lays a solid foundation for this collaboration.

“This partnership represents a significant stride towards delivering exceptional sports betting products globally. We are thrilled to embark on this journey with Pariplay as our partner.”

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