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Gambling in the USA

Compulsive gambler sues B.C. Lottery Corp.

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Compulsive gambler sues B.C. Lottery Corp.
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A gambling addict who says he blew $550,000 in disability payments on online lottery games is suing B.C. lottery officials for allegedly failing to intervene and help him.

A gambling addict who says he blew $550,000 in disability payments on online lottery games is suing the B.C. Lottery Corp. for allegedly failing to intervene and help him.

Tyler Hatch says despite being enrolled several times in a B.C. Lottery Corp. (BCLC) program for problem gamblers, he had incurred a ā€œsignificantā€ gambling debt by the end of 2015.

As a solution to his debt, he negotiated a lump-sum payout of disability benefits he had begun receiving after being diagnosed with a major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder in about 2010.

In January 2016, he received the $550,000 payment and paid off his gambling debts, but decided to keep on gambling, according to a lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court.

ā€œStarting on or about January 2016, the plaintiff began depositing thousands of dollars on a regular, weekly basis, which he gambled and lost on the PlayNow .com website,ā€ says the lawsuit.

ā€œBy November 2016, he had gambled away the entirety of his lump-sum payment settlement and had incurred approximately $50,000 in consumer credit debt.ā€

Hatch, who was enrolled three times in the BCLCā€™s GameSense voluntary exclusion program, claims lottery officials should have taken steps to help him with his compulsive gambling.

He says there were no algorithms or protocols in place to identify sudden and dramatic spikes in gambling on the part of people such as himself.

ā€œAs a result of his compulsive gambling addiction and the failure of the BCLC to take any steps to prevent him from gambling away the entirety of his future income, the plaintiff suffered disastrous financial ruin.ā€

According to the lawsuit, Hatch graduated with a bachelor of criminology degree from Simon Fraser University in 2000 and a law degree from the University of Manitoba and was called to the bar in B.C.

His psychiatric problems in 2010 caused him to be unable to work.

He says he started playing blackjack on the BCLC website PlayNow .com in 2012, feeling secure using that site as opposed to foreign sites.

Hatch enrolled in the voluntary exclusion program in September 2015 for a period of six months, his second six-month self-exclusion.Ā 

He says he was prescribed with a medication for his psychiatric symptoms, which had a side effect of causing compulsive behaviour.

Hatch, a forensics specialist, could not be reached for comment, but his lawyer released a statement on his behalf.

ā€œOnline gambling sites, including the one run by our provincial government, have the potential to exploit people with gambling addictions and to create more of these addictions,ā€ said the statement from Vancouver lawyer Scott Stanley. ā€œThis case is one of many tragic examples of this problem.ā€

Hatch is seeking restitution from BCLC for his gambling addiction losses, as well as general and special damages, and damages for breach of contract.

The BCLCā€™s voluntary self-exclusion program is billed as an ā€œimportant first stepā€ in helping problem gamblers.

Under the program, someone can agree to exclude themselves from all facilities with slot machines, commercial bingo halls or PlayNow .com for a period of six months, one year, two years or three years.

If they have an existing PlayNow .com account, BCLC will automatically close it if they are enrolled in the program. Registered problem gamblers are not eligible to win gambling prizes while in the program.

The BCLC said in an email that it will file a statement of defence in due course and will not comment further at this time.

 

Source: canoe.com

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Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup ā€“ September 2-8

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Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

Golden Matrix Group announced that the Company is progressing in its efforts to expand its market presence, particularly with its anticipated entry into the U.S. iGaming market. The Company, through its subsidiary Expanse Studios, which specialises in the production and distribution of iGaming content, is currently in the process of applying for the New Jersey Casino Service Industry Enterprise license.

Comanche Nation Casino has been recognised as the No. 1 Casino in the state at Oklahomanā€™s annual Community Choice Awards. The award programme recognises destinations throughout Oklahoma that provide exceptional service and experiences to the community and guests. Award finalists were invited to an awards gala at the Embassy Suites in Oklahoma City. In attendance to accept the award on behalf of Comanche Nation Casino was Shandi Tahhahwah, General Manager, and Megan Norberto, Marketing Manager.

The Esports Integrity Commission has announced that the highly anticipated ESIC Global Esports Summit (EGES) will make its US debut in 2024. The summit, a pivotal gathering for the esports industry, is set to take place on October 3 and 4, 2024, at the prestigious Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

Betr Holdings Inc., a leading sports gaming and media company, announced the launch of its peer-to-peer product ā€œGroup Modeā€ for Betr Picks, as well as the soft launch of the new Betr Sportsbook, just in time for the NFL season. With the launch of Group Mode, Betr Picks is now live in Florida and Massachusetts, with Virginia, Arizona, Tennessee, Missouri, Alabama, West Virginia, New Hampshire and Delaware to be launched imminently, which will have Betr Picks live in 33 states plus Washington, D.C.

New Partnerships

MGM Resorts International and BetMGM announced that they are once again partnering with the American Gaming Association to promote Responsible Gaming Education Month (RGEM 2024) in September. The two companies will execute their responsible gaming campaign at designated National Football League stadiums for the second year, with increased exposure for GameSense.

Allwyn announced its support of the U.S. premiere of DvoÅ™Ć”k Dreams, an immersive, A.I.-generated digital exhibition by renowned artist Refik Anadol. This is the second year Allwyn has sponsored the international tour of this exhibition, underpinning its commitment to supporting the arts and innovative cultural initiatives across the globe.ā€ÆAllwynā€™s support means the exhibition is free for the public to experience.

FaZe Clan, one of the most prominent and influential gaming organisations in the world, and G FUEL, the leading energy drink formula for gamers and creators, announced the revival of a new multi-year, multi-million-dollar sponsorship and licensing deal. This partnership is one of the largest transactions in GameSquareā€™s history, where FaZe Media will receive an equity component in G FUEL as part of the contract, further aligning the two companiesā€™ core community-focused values and fostering deeper collaboration to drive growth and engagement within the gaming ecosystem.

EPIC Global Solutions and Ballyā€™s have announced a groundbreaking three-year partnership aimed at promoting responsible gaming and making a positive impact on communities. This collaboration positions both organisations as leaders in responsible gaming within the gaming industry.

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Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup ā€“ August 26-September 1

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Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new appointments. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

Hard Rock Digital and Hard Rock Casino Rockford announced that Hard Rock Bet has been launched in Illinois, with its highly rated online sports betting app now live throughout the state and in-person wagering began on August 29 at Hard Rock Casino Rockfordā€™s sportsbook. Hard Rock Bet recently launched its ā€˜Roll With Usā€™ fall campaign, welcoming players of all types to play on its easy-to-use app and online sportsbook by visiting HardRock.bet. New Illinois players can take advantage of Hard Rock Betā€™s signup offer and receive $100 in Bonus Bets instantly following their first cash bet of at least $5. Hard Rock Bet offers pre-game, live betting, futures and multiple parlay options (including Same Game Parlays) as well as a free online rewards programme and engaging promotions.

Table Trac Inc. along with TransAct Technologies Incorporated, a global leader in software-driven technology and printing solutions, shared the results from the first six months of the SlotSUITE deployment. The floor-wide, single-wire printing solution, announced in December 2023, was recently implemented in a large regional casino in the American Southwest. SlotSUITE was developed through a partnership between CasinoTrac and TransAct Technologies. It integrates TransActā€™s Epicentral SE with PromoTrac, CasinoTracā€™s unified promotions administration and management system, using a single-wire solution that works on existing CasinoTrac gaming floor networks.

Related Companies/Oxford Properties Group and Wynn Resorts revealed new project details for the next phase of Hudson Yards, including new renderings and animations as well as additional testimonials of support. The $12 Billion total project proposal to build Hudson Yards West on top of the undeveloped western rail yards, is a once-in-a-generation commitment that, if approved by City and State officials, would provide significant quality-of-life improvements for the neighborhood and enormous economic opportunity for the entire city.

New Appointments

Rush Street Gaming announced that casino and hospitality veteran Cliff Ehrlich has joined the company as its chief operating officer. Ehrlich assumes the role of Rush Street COO from Bill Keena, a longtime company and industry leader, who plans to retire later this year. Ehrlichā€™s career began in marketing at the Catskillsā€™ Pines Resort Hotel in the 80s and transitioned in the 90s to casino development and operations. In 1996, he became co-owner of the Monticello Raceway and helped recruit the Oneida Indian Nation to build a casino on the property. Since 2022, Ehrlich has been Navajo Nation Gaming Enterpriseā€™s chief operating officer, with oversight of four casinos, a resort destination hotel, travel plaza and food & beverage manufacturing.

Wanna.com, in August, announced the appointment of Chuck Bowling, former President and COO at MGM Resorts International, to its Board of Directors. With an impressive career overseeing prestigious properties such as the Mandalay Bay, Delano, Four Seasons Las Vegas and Luxor, Mr. Bowling brings a wealth of experience and strategic insight to the burgeoning enterprise. As Wanna.com prepares for its initial launch in approximately 25 to 30 states, Mr. Bowlingā€™s extensive expertise in hospitality and gaming will be instrumental in guiding Wanna.com and Wanna Parlay, through this exciting phase of growth and development.

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Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup ā€“ July 29-August 4

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Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

During a community celebration at The Village in Meridian, the Idaho Lottery commemorated their record-breaking 35th Anniversary by returning the single largest dividend in their history to the people of Idaho. The Idaho Lottery Commission presented Governor Brad Little with an $84,000,000 dividend check, a 2.4% increase over last yearā€™s dividend.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) issued a cease and desist demanding that Playgon Interactive Inc. (Playgon) and its affiliate, Bitrate Productions (Bitrate), cease production of live dealer content from a studio located in Las Vegas, NV. The demand, signed by NGCB Chairman Kirk Hendrick, alleges that Bitrate is using live dealers in Las Vegas to deal games such as baccarat and roulette, and broadcasts the content to online casinos located around the world.

Casino of the Kings is redesigning its website. Though the existing version of the site functions flawlessly, the purpose of redesign is to make the website faster, easier to navigate and more user-friendly. In addition to the website redesign, Casino of the Kings is also launching an official YouTube channel. Casino of the Kings YouTube channel is going to feature slot reviews, casino investigations and exclusive insights for viewers who prefer visual content.

Aristocrat Gaming will bring all-new content to the first and only mechanic of its kind, Frenzy Jackpots, alongside new and top-performing game titles to impress attendees at the upcoming Oklahoma Indian Gaming Show (OIGA). The all-new Frenzy Jackpots SSP $10,000 Link, created specifically for Class 2 gaming floors with higher frequency jackpots, spans across many Aristocrat games.

International Game Technology PLC announced that Jade Luchauer, IGT Senior Manager Global Sustainability, recently won the Don Feeney Award for Responsible Gambling Excellence at the National Council on Problem Gamblingā€™s (NCPG) 2024 National Awards. Held in conjunction with NCPGā€™s National Conference on Gambling Addiction & Responsible Gambling, the National Awards honours individuals and organisations from across the world for their work on problem gambling and responsible gambling.

Partnerships

Pollard Banknote Limited has announced an extension to its Instant Ticket Printing Services Agreement with the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation (ILC). The original contract term began on December 30, 2013, and under this extension Pollard Banknote will continue to provide instant tickets, game design and related services through December 31, 2028, with an option to renew for an additional five years.

The LA Clippers announced that Pechanga Resort Casino has expanded its partnership to become the teamā€™s exclusive tribal casino and a Founding Partner of its new arena Intuit Dome, which opens Aug. 15. The long-term partnership is rooted in the organisationsā€™ shared value of giving back to Southern California.

SCCG Management has announced a sponsorship partnership with Hoppa! Card. This collaboration is set to revolutionise the payment landscape for the gambling industry with a strong focus on crypto technology, leveraging SCCGā€™s extensive ecosystem of over 120+ client partners and its global presence across all major regions. Through this partnership, SCCG Management will support Hoppa! Card in delivering their innovative crypto payment and banking solutions to a wider audience within the gaming industry.

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