Latest News
GC Chief Sarah Harrison attempts to harmonize Gamblers and operators
The Gambling Commission Chief Executive Sarah Harrison, who will promptly step down brought on board a “Tripadvisor” for gambling consumers to harmonize punters and operators. While speaking at the International Casino Exhibition (ICE) in London on Monday, assuming for the last time as the Chief Executive of the regulator she said: “Currently, in this industry, there is an imbalance between businesses and consumer. The consumer bears a disproportionate share of the risk and tends not to have much access to information and data about their own pattern of play”.
Demanding to implement change, she said: “The GC would be pushing for a more transparent industry going forward, and vowed to put more data into the public domain.” she said: “This could comprise information on the risks of particular products, the level of payout to good causes from lotteries, the treatment of customer funds, and the level of complaints.”
Consequently, she affirmed: “Brought together this could be the equivalent of a Tripadvisor for consumers helping them differentiate across operators on customer care and welfare features, as well as on price and brand.” Harrison went on to expand on three pillars of the GC’s strategy going forward; “preventing harms; protecting the interests of consumers and optimising returns to good causes from lotteries”.
Looking forward to the first National Lottery licence to be awarded by the GC in 2023, Harrison said the commission was already shaping “a robust and effective competition for the next licence, we will think creatively about how to grow the value of Lottery so that good causes continue to see significant benefit”.Harrison will step down at the end of this month to take up a senior role within the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Coming to the close of her speech, Harrison alluded to the sometimes “dark” sense of foreboding that comes over the industry at the hands of much of the national media.“But you are not powerless – the ability to change public perception lies entirely within your hands,” she added. She said it was time to make “big, bold gestures to demonstrate a real commitment to fairer and safer gambling,”
As well as an independent ombudsman scheme for consumers, she suggested these should include a proper and sustainable approach to funding research, education and treatment of harmful gambling that extends beyond donating a “rudimentary percentage of GGY”, and changing the industry business model to depend less on “larger spenders” (high rollers).
Harrison added that it was also time to “bring an end to the normalisation of gambling as an activity, for children and young people,” calling for advertising of gambling products to be curbed on social media and at major sports events.
On the industry approach to problem gambling, she added: “Making gambling safer and reducing harm will not be delivered simply by GambleAware receiving and using the 0.1%. They are just one part of the system. In truth much more significant investment will be needed to meet treatment needs, to ensure high-quality research and to provide proper education about the risks from gambling.”
Harrison also pointed to further regulatory interventions on the way for the online space, revealing that as well as continuing to work with partner regulators – the CMA, ASA and ICO, the Gambling Commission would reinforce this by “proposing changes to our regulations that allow us to enforce theirs using our sanctions.”
Further, a review of how the market has evolved since the introduction of the point-of-consumption regime in 2014 “will shine a light on the need for stronger age verification and more effective customer due diligence checks at the start, and at every stage of the customers’ relationship with the gambling operator”, Harrison told the audience assembled at ICE this morning. Harrison was also critical of the industry’s propensity to use scantily clad women to attract attention to their products and called for an end to the practice.
Source: igamingbusiness.com
Blockchain
Kore Digital Mining Ltd Announces Additional 14 PH/s Bitcoin Mining Capacity
Kore Digital Mining Ltd, a UK based Bitcoin mining company, announces that effective 1st May 2024, an additional 14 PH/s mining capacity will be added to its existing infrastructure.
This additional capacity will be provided by a major Bitcoin mining corporation and will be operational until 30th June 2024.
Derek Nisbet, Kore’s Founder & CEO, said – “We are pleased to work with a leading Bitcoin Miner in securing a large amount of mining capacity, for a 2 month trial period. We look forward to hopefully extending this period and engaging more with major mining corporations offering Bitcoin hashing opportunities, in the future.”
This additional 14PH/s Bitcoin mining capacity adds to the existing 2 PH/s currently operational with Kore’s own infrastructure and an additional 4 PH/s is due to be added over the next quarter, totalling 20 PH/s.
Latest News
The Benefits of Playing at EU Casinos
There are many EU casinos that not only attract players from Europe itself but also from countries around the world, including the US, UK, and even those from countries where online gambling isn’t permitted. So why is it that EU casinos are so popular? What drives the online gambling community to these casinos?
Well, that’s what we’re going to be looking at today. What’s so attractive about EU casinos to people who are looking for an immersive and entertaining online casino experience? Why do people in the USA, the home of Las Vegas, go outside of the USA to play at online casinos?
Benefits of EU casinos
Online gambling is by far one of the most popular methods of gambling online. Throughout Europe, specific laws in each country can vary, so access to land-based casinos can sometimes be few and far between. Thus, going online to enjoy a casino experience has become a more preferable option. And so why EU casinos? Well, for those who are joining EU casinos from outside Europe and not from the UK or the US, the English-based support and customer service are very attractive. A lot of people who play at EU casinos access it using a VPN or from a country where they don’t have any domestic online casinos, and most of the time English is their first language or one that they can understand.
The next attractive factor regarding EU online casinos is safety and security. Each online casino in the EU is strictly regulated and licensed. It’s this reassurance that a lot of players look for when choosing an online casino to go to and play at. They are held to the same strict and high standards as those of their British counterparts in the UK, which are upheld and monitored by the UK Gambling Commission. In the EU, a lot of the casinos are also regulated by either the Malta Gaming Authority or the Curacao Gaming Licence Authority. All of which share the same standards and expectations as other authorities across theglobe,e which ensures that all players playing online at EU casino websites.
The casinos that are available online in the EU are also very open to a lot of different payment methods. There are even some crypto casinos where you can play casino games online with cryptocurrency. This openness to accepting a lot of different payment methods means a lot to people who like to play at online casinos. The vast majority of them also pride themselves on providing very quick withdrawals, which are measured in hours rather than days. After all, there is nothing more frustrating than having a big win and then having to wait days to get your hard-fought winnings.
And lastly, bonuses and promotions. The vast majority of EU online casinos will have a wide range of different bonuses and promotions that you can sign up for and take advantage of. There are certain countries, such as Sweden, where the online casinos are strictly limited to one bonus or one promotion; however, the vast majority of EU casinos are not subject to such restrictions and offer a great online casino experience.
When it comes to the popularity of EU online casinos, it is growing year on year. There is plenty going in their favour and more people than ever before are shifting to online casinos rather than having to go down to the casino themselves. The fact that they can access these EU casinos from their smartphones, wherever they are, means it’s easier than ever before to win big at a casino online and have a good time.
Latest News
William Hill Announced as Official Betting Partner of Qipco Guineas Festival
Leading bookmaker becomes official betting partner of first UK Classic meeting of 2024
William Hill has been announced as the new official betting partner of the Qipco Guineas Festival, the first UK Classic meeting of the season.
It’s the latest addition to William Hill’s spring racing roster, following sponsorship of The Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster, the Punchestown Champion Chase and its status as official betting partner of the Randox Grand National Festival.
The 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas headline the three-day meeting and the leading bookmaker will sponsor 15 races across the weekend with the Jockey Club Stakes, Palace House and Dahlia Stakes among the races now featuring the William Hill title.
Aidan O’Brien’s unbeaten superstar City of Troy is still all the rage for the 2,000 Guineas at 4/6 whereas Karl Burke’s Fallen Angel heads a competitive looking 1,000 Guineas market at 7/2.
“We’re delighted to become the official betting partner of the Qipco Guineas Festival, strengthening our relationship with The Jockey Club on the back of a fantastic Grand National Festival,” a spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said. “It’s brilliant for William Hill to be associated directly with such a prestigious event at Newmarket, the home of the thoroughbred, for this season’s first two Classics. The company has a close connection with the history of the 2,000 Guineas as William Hill himself bred the 1949 winner, Nimbus, who then went on to win the Derby.
“We’re excited to be involved at racing’s key meetings and see the Qipco Guineas Festival as the perfect sponsorship as the British flat season kicks into gear.”
Newmarket – 2,000 Guineas: May 4, 2024
City Of Troy | 4/6 |
Rosallion | 4/1 |
Notable Speech | 12/1 |
Henry Longfellow | 12/1 |
Night Raider | 16/1 |
Alyanaabi | 16/1 |
Ancient Wisdom | 16/1 |
Task Force | 16/1 |
Ghostwriter | 16/1 |
Iberian | 20/1 |
BAR | 25/1 |
Newmarket – 1,000 Guineas: May 5, 2024
Fallen Angel | 7/2 |
Ylang Ylang | 4/1 |
Dance Sequence | 5/1 |
Ramatuelle | 10/1 |
See The Fire | 12/1 |
Content | 12/1 |
One Look | 14/1 |
Pretty Crystal | 14/1 |
Buttons | 20/1 |
Purple Lily | 20/1 |
Porta Fortuna | 20/1 |
Star Style | 20/1 |
BAR | 25/1 |
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