August 2017 Infinity Gaming Magazine

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AUGUST 2017

27 ALIBABA For Macau?

33 SKILL GAMES & VEGAS

22 HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY! Teresa Tunstall

Opinion Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in all external articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Infinity Gaming Magazine Any content provided by our feature writers or authors are of their opinion, and are not intended to malign any religion, ethic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.

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AUGUST 2017

4 EDITOR NOTES Lana welcomes you to the June edition of Infinity Gaming Magazine.

6 OUR WRITERS Meet our feature writers, the superb writers on our rosta.

09 UP FOR A MARATHON? Can you help?

11 NEW BOSS

14

Paddy Power Betfair

29 CAESARS WANTS IN On Japan license

JE RECLUSE Christina Thakor-Rankin

35 TRUMP BRANDS licensing in Macau

AFFILIATE CONSOLIDATION Lee-Ann Johnstone

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45 GOOGLE Apps accepted

47 MACAU ONLINE Gambling boon this year

49 NEWS & MORE NEWS from the gaming industry

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A note from the editor CONTACT US Clever Duck Media Centrix@Keys Keys Park Road Staffordshire WS12 2HA UK Tel: +44(0)1543 478 889 PRODUCTION Clever Duck Media Centrix@Keys Keys Park Road Staffordshire WS12 2HA UK

Where did the summer go to?

PUBLISHING Infinity Gaming Magazine is operated by © Clever Duck Media Ltd ®

Lana Thompson - Editor

Welcome to the Summer edition of the Infinity Gaming Magazine

Company Reg. No. 687 1018 (Registered in England) V.A.T reg. no 972 6372 91

Sponsorship Opportunities Colin@cleverduckmedia.com

Welcome to the summer edition of the

part in next years London Marathon?

Infinity Gaming Magazine and here we

Inside the magazine you will find all the

are lazing about on our holidays, well

details and if any questions you can al-

nearly all of us and all thinking about

ways contact myself or any of the team.

Business Partnerships Svetlana@gaming-awards.com

all know that with the end of summer

I will let you get on with reading all the

Marketing & Advertising claire@cleverduckmedia.com

brings the two busiest times of the year

superb articles as always and till next

together, which is Autumn and Winter.

time.

So many product launches, events and

“To Infinity and Beyond!”

the impending Autumn schedule. We

expos, it is no surprise we all need the summer to prepare for what is to come.

Regards,

However here at Clever Duck Media HQ

Lana

we have been busy over the summer preparing another great magazine and of course the 11th annual International Gaming Awards, it is going to be an amazing event.

But before all that I and the whole team want to ask if any of you super readers would like to support our focused charity Care International and offer to take

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The Editor

Editorial Content & PR media@cleverduckmedia.com

Enquiries@RedTigerGaming.com

www.RedTigerGaming.com

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AUGUST 2017

Infinity Gaming Magazine Contributing Writers A magazine is only as good as the content inside and with some of the leading specialists within the gaming industry. With specialised articles covering customer service, the gaming law, new prducts, technology and current affairs with the sector the Infinity Gaming Magazine is delighted to showcase our superb line-up of contributing writers.

Christina Thakor-Rankin Christina is Principal Consultant at 1710 Gaming Ltd, a specialist betting and gaming consultancy, delivering a range of services including licensing and compliance (incl. regulation, money laundering and social responsibility), business start-up, training and strategic reengineering, project management, research, business analysis and development, to start-ups and established multi-national operators and providers, gambling regu-

lators, law enforcement and government agencies, media, and specialist interest groups and associations within the sector, in both established and emerging markets across the world.

www.1710gaming.com

Teresa Tunstall – Independent Gaming Consultant After many years of working in casinos in the UK and on USA ships as a croupier and inspector, Teresa turned from ‘poacher to gamekeeper,’ spending 16 years with GamCare, who offer help and support to those who develop problems with their gambling.

Teresa now works independently consulting on all issues relating to Social Responsibility and Problem Gambling.

Working closely with the betting and gaming industry, She developed strong links delivering Social Responsibility and Problem Gambling training around the world, from Antigua to Moscow, and Auditing in the UK.

To contact Teresa regarding consulting please email: Teresatunstall1@gmail.com

Lee-Ann Johnstone - CEO Best Odds Marketing With almost two decades of digital marketing and affiliate experience gained within retail, payments and at blue chip iGaming brands, Lee-Ann Johnstone has a wealth of expertise as an award winning digital marketing expert and business mentor. In 2015 she founded AffiliateFEST (www.affiliatefest.co.uk) a learning academy for iGaming entreprenuers and has recently founded Best Odds Marketing (www.bestoddsmarketing.com) offering digital marketing services, training, event management and business coaching for iGaming

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businesses. https://www.affiliatefest.co.uk/

AUGUST 2017

.com

ALEA.com is an award-winning casino operator founded in 2012 by Alexandre Tomic and Charles Gross, who have over ten years' industry experience ranging from affiliate network owner to casino operator. They are driven by innovation and dedicated to staying on the cutting edge of technology; with this in mind, ALEA’s product, SlotsMillion, is an online casino with over 1,300 slots and many inventive features. This includes the world’s first real money virtual reality casino, which is available to play in both VR and 3D and has received very positive reactions at conferences and from industry and mainstream publications.

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GAMING NEWS

AUGUST 2017

London Marathon call for runners to support Care International

D

o you fancy taking on the London marathon?

Well our charity that we have supported for several year and raised hundred of thousands are asking if anyone from the gaming industry wants to take on the challenge.

We have partnered with CARE International for the last seven years, raising over £121,750 for their work putting an end to poverty around the world and responding with lifesaving assistance in emergencies.

We’re passionate about the difference supporting CARE makes, and we would like to invite you and even your colleagues to support CARE by running the London Marathon in 2018.

There is a total of five places available and would love to see runners from the gaming industry taking part to support CARE, allowing us to help more communities living in poverty together. A direct donation of £2,000 to CARE will cover one place in this unforgettable event for a member of your team.

zine will cover your support of the Marathon and CARE and ensure you and your colleagues get the recognition and praise such a challenge deserves.

If you’re interested in supporting CARE through the 2018 London Marathon, please get in touch with our contact Tony Jones at tjones@careinternational.org or on 020 7091 6049 to discuss this great opportunity for your staff.

The Infinity Gaming Maga-

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GAMING NEWS

AUGUST 2017

Paddy Power Betfair name new boss

P

addy Power Betfair has announced Peter Jackson as their in-coming CEO following the decision by current boss Breon Corcoran to step down. Mr Jackson come from Worldpay where he held the role of CEO since March 2017.

Wordpay are in the midst of a purchase from Vantiv for nearly £8 billion, before working at Worldpay Mr Jackson held senior executive roles at Travelex between 2010 and 2015 and has also worked for Santander, Lloyds Bank and HBOS. Gary McGann, chairman of the Paddy Power Betfair, said: “Breon has been talking with me and the board about his long-term plans and accordingly, some months ago, we intensified our focus on executive succession planning to ensure an orderly transition.

“While we will be sorry to see Breon leave, we are delighted to have appointed a candidate of Peter’s calibre to succeed him.”

Breon Corcoran has not said where or what he will be doing when he leaves Paddy Power Betfair where he has been CEO since the merger of the companies back in 2016, prior to that he was the Chief Executive of Betfair since 2012 and earlier was a senior executive at Paddy Power since 2004.

Mr Jackson will take up his role later in the year.

Paysafe agree deal of $3.9 billion Paysafe Group made an announcement today that confirms they have reached an agreement with investment firms CVC Capital Partners & Blackstone for the takeover valued at $3.9 billion.

The payment firm that runs such brands as Skrill, Neteller and Paysafecard are hugely popular within the online gambling industry and is the latest of several acquisitions in the sector with Worldpay the target of a takeover

by US based firmVantiv for a claimed £7.7 billion.

Dennis Jones, chairman of Paysafe, said: “Paysafe has been on a remarkable journey, undergoing significant transformation and generating substantial shareholder value.

The deal will have to be approved by several global regulators such as the UK, The European Union and the US authorities before going through which if successful will be in the fourth quarter of 2017.

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GAMING NEWS

AUGUST 2017

Responsible Gambling is Undergoing a Change in Rules in the US

T

he casino industry in the US is undoubtedly one of the largest in the world. The industry has witnessed a series of changes in its regulatory and legal framework ever since the country became a gambling hub. The American Gaming Association (AGA) is the largest influential group regulating and protecting the industry against compulsive or illegal gambling in the United States.

released a new code of conduct on Thursday in Las Vegas to promote responsible gambling. The new code, with consumer protection measures, appeals to casino operators to promote transparency in their dealings with their patrons and provide effective training to their employees. The code comes within months of two notorious criminal cases that were perpetrated by compulsive gamblers.

The American Gaming Association has a mission to promote responsible gambling across the country, and protecting the industry against misinformed public policies. The group seeks to prevent underage gambling, protect vulnerable gamblers, provide online payment protection, and secure the overall online gambling environment. AGA recently passed a code to strengthen responsible gambling.

According to the association’s senior director of gaming policy, Elizabeth Cronan, responsible gambling is a year-round responsibility that every player has to fulfill. However, this is highly appreciated because this issue should be a matter of priority for the entire industry. It should encompass everyone- from those who interact regularly with customers to senior executives and the board of directors.

The American Gaming Association’s Code

As per the new rules, casino operators should give a general explanation of winning or losing chances to patrons who gamble in their casinos.

The American Gaming Association

Moreover, the association also calls on them to avoid advertising claims to guarantee somebody’s financial, personal or social success. The code also seeks to train employees in various procedures for dealing with gambling issues, including underage gambling.

The industry’s enduring estimate is that 98 to 99 percent of patrons gamble responsibly in casinos. But after the murder of a Cleveland retiree in April and a deadly attack in a casino in Manila reflect otherwise. Both these crimes have been executed after both perpetrators lost everything to gambling, thus showing that gambling addiction is a pressing issue facing the world.

Cronan met with industry representatives such as MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment and a regulator at the University of Nevada on Thursday to discuss the issue in detail. MGM will release a new responsible gambling program in Las Vegas and other states later this year.

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‘Je recluse’: the US battle for online gaming hots up

By Christina Thakor-Rankin

I

n the autumn of 2016, whilst the

The letter-cum-petition opened with:

In the hearing, Sessions appeared to

rest of the world was watching

‘In the dark of night on Christmas 2011,

question the validity of the Office of

the media circus that was the US

the Obama administration overruled 50

Legal Counsel’s opinion which ruled that

election campaign, a rising star of the Re-

years of practice and precedent when

the 1961 Wire Act only applied to sports

publican party, Senator Tom Cotton was

a Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of

betting. The newly appointed Attorney

quietly filing a placeholder bill (S.3376)

Legal Counsel opinion claimed the Wire

General appears to have advised legisla-

which seeks to reverse the 2011 decision

Act only applied to sports betting,’ and

tors that he was ‘shocked’ by the ‘unu-

of the Department of Justice that the

arguing that ‘By returning to the Wire

sual’ memo and indicated his intention

Wire Act only applied to sports bet-

Act’s original interpretation, the Trump

to ‘…revisit it or make a decision about it

ting, thereby allowing individual states

administration will seize an opportunity

based on careful study’.

to open the door to regulated online

to restore the rule of law and reinstate

gambling.

vital protections for our communities.’

This new bill (S.3376) aims to restore not

The implication is clear. The ruling in

just the Wire Act to its pre-2011 inter-

(September) 2011 which took the view

pretation, it also seeks to future-proof

that the Wire Act did not explicitly outlaw

it by ensuring that “the integrity of laws

all forms of internet gambling, only

enacted to prevent the use of financial

sports betting, and which opened the

instruments for funding or operating on-

door for states to take their own position

line casinos are not undermined by legal

on online gambling, was a shady, stealthy

opinions not carrying the force of law is-

move which by-passed Congress, and the

sued by the federal government lawyers.”

rule of law - and therefore ‘unlawful’.

for a federal ban on on-

same time that Sheldon Adelson, who

The move towards a probable reversal of

line gambling. The letter-

pledged to spend ‘whatever it takes’ to

the 2011 decision was further augured

outlaw online gambling, decided to throw

by the appointment of Jeff Sessions as US

his not insignificant financial support,

Attorney General, who aside of being an

behind Donald Trump.

original supporter of S.474 – the Internet

The filing of the bill came around the

Gambling Prohibition Act (1997) which Almost immediately after the US election,

sought to outlaw all online gambling,

the Trump team received a letter signed

seemed to re-iterate his anti-online-gam-

by 10 state Attorney Generals, calling

bling stance in his Senate confirmation

for a federal ban on online gambling.

hearing earlier this year.

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Almost immediately after the US election, the Trump team received a letter signed by 10 state Attorney Generals, calling

cum-petition opened with: ‘In the dark of night on Christmas 2011, the Obama administration overruled 50 years of practice and precedent

AUGUST 2017

Jeff Sessions

His words prompted a number of Sena-

by the end of September 2017 – all

ternet gaming” and cites the negative

tors to take up the cause, including:

suggesting that a reversal of the 2011

impact that reversing the 2011 deci-

Senator Mark Warner airing his views

decision and a ban on online gambling

sion would have on the on-going regen-

that online gambling sites are ‘fertile

is not so much a case of if but when.

eration and recovery of Atlantic City:

platforms for the facilitation of money

“A federal prohibition against Internet

laundering, collusion and other illegal

In contrast to this, and in addition to the

gaming would directly and negatively

activities’ and that ‘(the) potentially

growing number of states expressing an

impact New Jersey by dismantling the

predatory nature of online gambling

intention to regulate online gambling,

investments that the State and Atlantic

represents a heightened threat to eco-

in January this year, the President of

City casinos have already made to im-

nomically

populations’;

New Jersey’s General Assembly Vincent

plement and regulate Internet gaming,

whilst Dianne Feinstein and Senator

vulnerable

Mazzeo, introduced a joint resolution

taking away the economic and employ-

Lindsey Graham, both members of the

urging the President and Congress to

ment opportunities already realized by

Senate Judiciary Committee, expressed

consider the positive impact and role

the State and its residents, and fore-

the hope that he (Sessions) would seek

online gambling has played in the re-

closing the future potential of Internet

to ‘restore the department’s longstand-

generation and recovery of Atlantic City.

gaming to generate tens of millions of

ing practice of enforcing the Wire Act

dollars in tax revenue, create high-tech

against online gambling by revoking

The resolution “Urges United States

software jobs, and foster valuable busi-

the opinion’; and an alleged attempt

President Trump, members of his ad-

ness ventures for Atlantic City casinos in

by Rep Charlie Dent to insert ‘RAWA-

ministration, and Congress to oppose

this State.”

esque’ language into a congressional

measures and actions to prohibit states

appropriations bill that must be passed

from authorizing and conducting In-

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AUGUST 2017

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‘Je recluse’

AUGUST 2017

By Christina Thakor-Rankin

17

The bill urging a pro online gambling

involvement in any discussion about

As someone who does not appear to

stance was formally signed by New Jer-

the 2011 Department of Justice opinion

have disclosed his personal views on

sey Governor Chris Christie John Chris-

on online gambling - despite his stated

gambling, these actions do not mean

tie in July this year.

stance on online gambling, and his disa-

that Rosenstein is against on-line gam-

greement with and promise to ‘revisit’

bling in principle, it could just mean that

Essentially, what has historically been

the 2011 DOJ decision during his Sen-

he takes his job as upholding the law

a debate about the rights and wrongs

ate confirmation hearing.

very seriously, and his previous actions

of online gambling is now very much a

against ‘illegal’ online gambling are just

discussion about federal law versus the

The reason for his reclusion seems to

that. He is also a firm advocate of States’

rights of the States.

be linked to his decision to hire an at-

rights.

torney, Charles Cooper, who has previIt is generally acknowledged that Presi-

ously worked as a lobbyist for Sheldon

That notwithstanding, someone holding

dent Trump is a supporter of states’

Adelson’s Coalition to Stop Internet

the office of Deputy Attorney General

rights, but what remains to be seen is

Gambling (CSIG). Despite the lobby-

may well have ambitions to progress

how strong that resolve and support

ing activity having been completed

further, and if this is the case, then

will be in the face of an argument which

some time ago, a Department of Justice

winning the support of the GOPs most

is seemingly grounded on a re-instate-

spokesman confirmed that the Attorney

influential movers and shakers would

ment of the rule of law, and backed by

general would have no further part in

be helpful to his career. Unfortunately,

some of the most influential names in

any possible examination of the online

it just so happens that most of these

the party.

gambling issue. This in theory delegates

‘king-makers’ are also anti-online gam-

responsibility for the online gambling

bling.

The course of online gambling in the

discussion to the Deputy Attorney Gen-

US has never run smooth however, with

eral, Rod Rosenstein.

It is impossible to predict what the fu-

each turn followed by a twist, and this

ture holds, but the longer it takes to

month threw up perhaps one of the

For those unfamiliar with the history of

review the 2011 decision, or for any

biggest surprises of all - the apparent

US online gambling, Rod Rosenstein is

financial bill including a ‘RAWA’ style

recusal of Jeff Sessions from the online

the man behind some of the best exam-

clause to be passed, the more time the

gambling debate.

ples of the US enforcing the law against

States will have to build a case based

online gambling. From trying to shut

upon ‘strength in numbers’ by passing

Whilst the catalyst for the reclusion is

down payment providers such as Ne-

online gambling regulations (if only in

the investigation into the links between

teller, to the seizure of domain names

principle) in anticipation of a time when

Trump and the Russians, for some rea-

such as, bodog.com.

bookmaker.com

the fight for online gambling will be in-

son Sessions appears to have extended

and truepoker.com, and issuing arrest

extricably linked to defending the rights

this to the question of online gambling,

warrants against Calvin Ayre and Bodog

of the State.

and in a move which few anticipated

executives.

seems to have recused himself from any

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GAMING NEWS

AUGUST 2017

Will the UK’s General Elections Change the Country’s Gambling Industry in 2017?

T

he UK’s gambling industry has never been a smooth-sailing ship.

The Government also reflected the love-hate relationship that characterizes the country’s gambling industry. There’s no doubt that the government can earn money in the form of taxes from the industry. But it also takes money to sustain the industry in the long-run.

Brexit and the recent general elections had a significant effect on the UK’s gambling industry. Analysts from the industry are of the belief that the triennial review of the UK’s gambling industry and the decision of the country to treat free plays as means to acquire players could pave the way for mergers and acquisitions in 2017.

However, despite being eight months into 2017, no mergers or acquisitions in the country’s gambling industry is apparent.

But William Hill, a major company to seek partnerships for coping with pending regulatory changes, revealed recently that the industry is able to recover from its previous losses on its own. It was last year when the government started its triennial review of the gambling industry, expressing its drive to introduce the highly-disputed fixed-odds betting terminals. The gaming machines in the UK have seen a considerable rise in opponents in the past few years, thus calling for changes in regulations.

Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals or FOBTs are facing opposition from regulators because they are believed to be very tempting and unsupervised for consumers. The UK has many restrictions on the betting amount before players are cut off by the clerk. FOBTs are believed to promote clandestine gambling in a short period of time.

Experts opposing FOBTs have been requesting a reduction in the maximum stakes accepted by them. Currently, players can gamble up to £100 every 20 seconds at betting shops with these terminals. The maximum stake is proposed to be slashed to only £2, which is an unlikely change.

About 34,184 FOBTs across 8,788 betting shops were there between October 2015 and September 2016.

Any reduction in stakes could hit the profitability of gambling operators.

Regulation of gaming machines was one of the focal points of the government for encouraging M&A deals. But political instability earlier this year has certainly affected the dynamics of the UK’s gambling industry.

Free plays are also not taxed so far, which is favorable for operators.

But taxing free plays could increase revenues by £345 million in the first five years of its introduction. It can be said that the UK general elections did roil the gambling industry to some extent just as it did the other sectors. But game-changing deals are expected later this year or earlier next year.

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GAMING NEWS

AUGUST 2017

Nerves show as Macau operators license renewal looms

A

re Macau casino operators getting nervous about the upcoming license renewal process that starts in 2019 as their licenses run out in 2020?

In recent months the Macau government have been getting tough with land developers and under a 2013 law able to snatch land back in order to avoid corruption in the world’s largest gambling zone.

Since the law came in to effect in 2013 the government has taken back over 100 plots of land from developers in order to stop corruption, in some cases those parcels of land have stood idle for more than 25 years, however some have seen developers start building on them and still been taken.

Many industry executives there along with observers of Macau feel this could be the stance the government may take with operators although neither are connected it could be the new flavour of a hard line stance that some fear could be they lose their operating licenses.

Since early in 2000 operators have spent over $30 billion developing their resorts such as Galaxy Entertainment Group’s Galaxy Macau to Wynn Macau’s Wynn Palace and to potentially lose a license would be a disaster.

The question is how will the government set the criteria for applying successfully for a license renewal?

They have already said that there will be a new public bidding process

when they expire, but what guidelines have not been set.

This all makes many of the operators nervous and in many cases refuse to speak to the media about the process in case of offending officials.

What is certain is that many are working hard in diplomacy to show they want to help the local communities such as MGM who recently hosted a health check for elderly resident in Macau.

What is certain is that the next couple of years all operators there will be nervous as the renewal process looms and for those operators such as Caesars who have no presence in Macau will be hoping some do lose a license or two and gives them a chance to bid for it.

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AUGUST 2017

Happy 10th Anniversary!

By Teresa Tunstall

T

he last time the Bank of England raised the interest rate was a decade ago. Whatever you spend well earned money on be it gambling or having a good time - financially things are heading for a change. The Office for National Statistics published records this year showing that levels of saving in Britain are at their lowest since records began in 1963.

It has been calculated that 16 million people in the UK have less than £100 to their name and that 2.5 million adults live permanently on their credit cards. Last year the UK Gambling Commission introduced that gambling companies should be sure that their customers can afford the money that they gamble with, which is one step closer to safeguard players.

After 800 complaints, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) from customers, launched action against five Online operators relating to ‘play through conditions attached to sign-up bonuses,’ which requires customers to commit to extensive gambling before they are allowed to withdraw money. However, only twelve cases over the last decade have resulted in the CMA tak-

INFINITY GAMING

ing court action. Previously, online companies only received a slap on the wrist and agreed to review their conditions of play, or the Gambling Commission could decide to use their power and take control of such unacceptable workings. It’s possible that a combination of a Bank of England interest hike in the months ahead could put pressure on many to turn to gambling to increase their financial resources.

Of course there are many avenues in which to do so, gambling even whilst stuck in a traffic jam, in the office or late at night. Whatever or whoever, the result could eventuate as a cold wind over the UK economy.

As a child growing up in London I would accompany my mother when we went to give donations to the homeless charity, The Simon Community. She would always remind me how lucky we were to have a roof over our heads so it was with great sadness that I read of a manager at the charity stole nearly £10,000 from their funds to enable him to embark on a gambling spree, notwithstanding the fact he himself had been homeless in the past.

As it appears transpired he suffered

from clinical depression and furthermore his wife was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm. Subsequently he checked himself into residential rehab and the sympathetic judge trying his case gave him a nine months custodial sentence, suspended for one year. Without appearing to be philosophical, nobody wakes up one morning and decides he or she is going to be a problem gambler or an alcoholic. It’s a process that takes time which ultimately and almost surreptitiously explodes in the mind, becomes unmanageable and like most addiction results they have no escape except to continue, ‘chasing the dragon’.

Apologies for repeating myself but it’s important to bring to your notice just what’s hitting the business news pages and what is anticipated. City regulators are raising alarm bells over runaway consumer credit; fears that high pressure sales tactics are pushing people into loans they simply can’t afford. Inscrutable consumer credit firms have now rightly been told that they are facing a crackdown by the Financial Conduct Authority and that their aggressive sales force will have their bonus schemes tightened up as a result of practices.

AUGUST 2017

For your edification the consumer credit market has grown by an eyewatering 10% per annum as families shun bank borrowing in favour of over-utilisation of ‘plastic’ for everyday purchasing or gambling. Indicatively this is the first time consumer credit firms have been requested by the Financial Conduct Authority to avoid taking too much risk by lending to ill-affordable borrowers.

A recent study revealed that two thirds of the public have no idea what their credit score is and four in ten have never bothered to find out.

This leaves 20 per cent who haven’t checked it for years and we are told

that poor financial education is to blame. Or is it possible that 20% of the population are frightened by the fear of discovering how much they owe?

North Korea’s threat of nuclear war might scare us all, however the up side is all your gold coins, rings and necklaces have risen in price which is good for those who are fortunate enough to have enough paper money to buy it. Apparently, in times of trouble investors run for cover it’s a safe-haven that re-emerged after the last missile test in North Korea!

Artificial intelligence is going to save

us all or so we’re told but what actually is artificial intelligence? It could be anything from robots that are looking to take over your job, to hackers posting views of your house on the internet (courtesy of the security cameras you erected to make your house more secure) and the chances are you will never know it’s even happened. A damning report said there were almost two million online fraud incidents but because of staff shortages added to lack of knowledge, as just 1 per cent of scams reported to police end in prosecution.

Interestingly new start-up companies are joining the war against hacking,

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Happy 10th Anniversary! - Teresa Tunstall

fraud and the like. The UK’s new breed; cyber-warriors are repeatedly damaging Islamic State in the first major test of the country’s digital warfare capabilities.

The growth of Cyber security start up’s such as Darkface continues, doubling staff numbers whilst stating that Latin America and Asia in particular are increasingly turning to their Artificial Intelligence approach to enhance their resilience to cyber-attackers.

They do this by using an immune product to monitor a company’s system and spotting any unusual activity

or potential breaches as they occur rather afterwards. They also boast cyber security experts from top spy agencies in the US and UK appointed to their staff developing software with products that can locate and rewrite bugs in code.

Last but not least, Royal Ascot comes only once a year which is a good thing as far as I’m concerned. It’s nothing to do with gambling but the sheer expense of shouldering the cost of a new outfit, travelling, food and drink etc. A good time was had by one and all, made even more delightful

AUGUST 2017

being among my casino friends. Did I mention that I once worked in casinos, mostly in London, and that my daughter was also a dealer/inspector?

Anyway, I did manage to wave to the Queen when she arrived in her beautiful carriage amongst all the armed security that has now become a sign of the times. However, I do have a small confession... I did actually place a couple of small wagers, none of which won but I enjoyed the day and it’s always fun to people-watch!!

INFINITY GAMING

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AUGUST 2017

Plans for The Alibaba Group to transform Macau into a ‘Smart City’ by 2021

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he world’s most renowned and biggest retail giant, The Alibaba Group recently sealed the deal for a four year partnership with the Chinese government to transform Macau into a ‘Smart City’ by the year 2021.The epicenter for gambling in the world, Macau recently signed up for a partnership with the Chinese retail giant in a bid to tap the expansive potential of the domestic market.

The massively popular Alibaba Group had its roots in a congested pad belonging to a local named Jack Ma in Hangzhou. The company started with a total strength of 18 employees and went on to overtake Walmart as the largest retailer in the entire world. As the company expanded, Jack Ma had to upgrade his small apartment to accommodate a total of 9000 employees with revenues skyrocketing as high as a staggering $15.7 billion in the current scenario. With a net worth of $36

billion, Jack Ma is among some of the wealthiest and most powerful entrepreneurs on the planet.

According to the four year deal, the Mecca of gambling, Macau will be upgraded in two distinct phases by splitting the city into two major renovation zones. According to the plans, the first upgrade phase will comprise of two major process including data mapping for assisting the government with local and global information and the formulation of a data center for cloud computing in Macau. The first phase will most probably end by June, 2019.

Commencing July 2019, the second phase will run for the entire duration of two years up to June 2021. The second phase will incorporate all the data gathered in the first phase along with the in house Artificial Intelligence of Alibaba and Deep Learning Systems

for introducing never before features in financial forecasting, customs clearance and the overall environment within the city.

In addition to this, the Smart City will also comprise new and improved education system, city governance, transportation facilities, healthcare systems and what not. And that’s not all. The City’s tourism department is also likely to get a brand new makeover to transform the gambling Mecca into one of the most sought after travel destinations in the world.

It would be interesting to know that Macau is not the first city to be partnering with The Alibaba Group for an upgrade. Hangzhou (Jack Ma’s hometown) partnered with Alibaba for a Smart City transformation in 2016, and the process has revealed remarkable results.

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GAMING NEWS

AUGUST 2017

Caesars wants Japan IR license

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ver since Caesars Entertainment lost out on developing casinos resorts in Macau the gaming giant has been looking for other opportunities in Asia. The US based casino firm that failed to secure any licenses in Macau when other such as Wynn Resorts, MGM and Las Vegas Sands enjoyed the huge revenues Macau offered them Caesars has for several years struggled with debt.

However the company has come out and boldly announced in an interview with Asia Gaming Brief the President of International Development for Cae-

sars Entertainment Steven Tight said the company is “aggressively seeking an IR license in Japan.”

Many International operators see Japan as the next biggest gaming market behind Macau even with the possible restrictions the Japanese government could place on Integrate Resorts limiting the revenues that were expected.

The trouble with Caesars and applying for a license in Japan is they have no track record in Asia in operating casino resorts when it comes to considering them. Las Vegas Sands has Macau and South Korea, MGM

has Macau and so does Wynn Resorts but Caesars has nothing apart from a license to develop a resort for Incheon in South Korea.

“I think there’s strong evidence that this market will be extremely successful,” states Tight, “and I think that when you look at the analysts’ studies of the size of that market, it puts it probably the second-largest in the world behind Macau.”

Those words could be correct but Caesars has to be an outsider to gain a license for Japan and the failure in Macau could again cost them dear.

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GAMING NEWS

AUGUST 2017

Queensland Rejects Gold Coast Spit Casino Plans

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lans to construct a multibillion-dollar integrated resort and casino in the southeastern region of Queensland have been rejected by the State. The reason provided was that the area upon which the construction was to take place happened to be protected.

Barring the decision to ban the construction of the resort, Palaszczuk and her cabinet also discussed plans to work on the Spit. The Premier equated the Spit to New York’s Central Park.

She also mentioned that there would be a 3-story height limit on any further construction at the Spit.

The construction, which was to be done by the Chinese firm ASF, was proposed as an integrated resort with 5 towers that would house a casino. It was to be built on Crown Land at the Spit near the Gold Coast in Southport.

Licensed casinos to stay

The announcement concerning the rejection of the plan was made by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who made it clear that the Spit required protection. In her announcement, she also stated that the Gold Coast was a unique location and that it held a special place in the hearts of Queenslanders.

Palaszczuk state that casino licenses would still be valid on the Gold Coast and that only integrated resorts would be banned. Citing reasons for the rejection, Palaszczuk mentioned that the ASF proposal would lead to tremendous traffic congestion, which, in turn, would raise the rates being paid by locals. Other than that, she also referred to the proposed construction as being a possible “eyesore”.

ASF’s project had been met with criticism from the start. Even the locals rallied against the resort, despite the

fact that it would have generated plenty of employment.

Future plans Palaszczuk told the media that the Spit would now continue to serve as a source of joy for generations to come.

She also spoke of how she wanted the protection of the Spit to be part of her legacy and that of her cabinet’s as well. Jackie Trad, Planning Minister, told the media that the Spit’s future was to be determined by the local residents. Trad also added that the cabinet’s current plans to work on the Spit would not continue without the community’s consultation. The idea is to strike a perfect balance between preserving what needs to be preserved and developing what needs to be developed.

She stated that the cabinet wants to ensure that Queenslanders always have the opportunity to enjoy the Spit’s beauty.

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GAMING NEWS

AUGUST 2017

Crown Resorts entering the skill gaming business Dubai poker accused all acquitted

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ames Packer and his Crown Resorts casino company are stepping into the world of skill based gaming with the planned roll out of new games for their resorts. The joint venture between Chill Gaming and Crown will according to the company “see new entertainment product options.”

The company Chill Gaming is owned in a partnership with Crown Resorts and New Gaming Pty Ltd, Ken Barton the CFO of Crown said, “Skill-based gaming is an interesting concept that is getting traction in a number of markets. It is a reaction to the emergence of games that are different to traditional games.”

“We have got prototypes developed, and at gaming shows that are coming up over the next few months, we should have some demonstrations that we will be able to show.’’

Skill gaming has been on the radar in the US also with several casino operators in Nevada looking at introducing the concept there.

The arrests of an Iranian businessman and nine others for holding a poker game in the Dubai community of The Springs a well known and wealthy gated location has been acquitted of running a gambling den.

Presiding judge Mohammad Jamal said there was a lack of corroborated evidence to proceed with the case. Along with the Iranian businessman there were two Lebanese, two Iranians, two Russians, a Danish, an Indian and one Norwegian, who were all arrested in April this year following a raid by police.

However the judge has recommended that all should be referred to the Dubai Misdemeanours Court to face the lesser charges of gambling and the single charge for the Iranian businessman who house was used for possessing 83 types of alcoholic beverages.

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GAMING NEWS

AUGUST 2017

Trump Brand Seeks New Casino Trademarks in Macau

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s stated in the documents published by the Chinese government last week, a company operating under the Trump brand name, DTTM Operations LLC, recently signed up for a total of four new trademarks in Asia’s largest gambling hub, Macau.

According to the report, the company currently operates from its address listed at 725 Fifth Avenue, The Trump Tower in New York City and had submitted the documents along with the application about eight weeks ago. South China Morning Post is the first one to have reported the submission of applications.

Macau is a semi autonomous territory in China that has recently emerged as one of the leading gambling destinations across the world, with some of the Casino Giants including Sheldon Adelson and Steve Wynn holding the ownership of several casinos in the region.

The trademarks have been applied for a variety of services under the Trump brand name. While one of the applications has been submitted in lieu of conference facilities, bars, and restaurant, there are two other applications that list real estate development and construction and real estate services in general. The fourth application, however, seeks a gambling trademark for the purpose of using the Trump brand name for the provision of casino facilities as well as gambling and casino services in the area.

As per the records, the government of Macau already holds about 22 DTTM Operations trademarks for a wide range of brands including the Donald J. Trump, Trump International Hotel and Tower and the Trump Tower brand, the first of which dates back to 2006.

right after being sworn in as the President of the United States, he transferred the stake to a trust that is operated under his two sons.

Trump Organization recently expressed its intentions on CNNMoney, stating that the Trump brand has been proactively striving towards the enforcement and protection of its global intellectual property rights for more than two decades, with its major focus on regions that report frequent cases of trademark infringement. It further added that the trademark applications in Macau are merely an effort in the said direction.

Going with Trump’s announcement after the commencement of his term that his company would not indulge in any new deals while he holds office, the Trump brand does not seem to have any plans of expanding the business on the Chinese soil.

Although Donald Trump gave up all control of his several businesses

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GAMING NEWS

AUGUST 2017

Clarion Events sold again

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larion Events has again been sold this time to Blckstone in a deal expected to value the company at £600 million.

The private equity company has acquired the majority shareholding from former owner Providence Equity Partners which itself bought Clarion back in 2015 for £200 million and previously was acquired in 2008 by another private equity firm Veronis Suhler Stevenson for £120 million.

Clarion CEO Russell Wilcox said, “I’m delighted to be able to say that we have reached a successful conclusion to this process and that we have secured Blackstone as our new majority shareholder.

“Blackstone are one of the largest

and most respected private equity investment houses in the world. From the start of this process it has been clear that they share our expansive vision for how we can grow and develop the company. We’re obviously excited by their resources, their network, and by the many ways in which they’ll be able to support us in the future.”

The events company which runs Olympia Horse Show, the Baby Show, the House and Garden Show among others including gaming will also look at further acquisitions to grow

the business further.

However several gaming industry observers have already warned that with the new purchase by Blackstone prices for exhibitors will certainly rise to ensure the new owners see a good return on their latest acquisition.

Genting to spend $400 million on expansion in New York Resort

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esorts World Casino in New York City which is operated

by Genting Group have announced further investment in their resort with the expansion of 400 four star new hotel rooms, four new dining areas, retail outlets and more space to accommodate gaming tables and slots.

The cost of the expansion is set to be around $400 million which will bring the total invested in the resort which was built in 2011 to $1.1 billion. The company said it will create thousands of jobs in the construction phase and when completed said Genting.

President Scott Molina of Resorts World Casino New York City said: “We are incredibly excited to break ground on this extraordinary project, which will welcome visitors from around the world to enjoy the ultimate play, stay, dine and shop experience right here in Queens.

The expansion will serve as an economic engine for our local community and the state, create more good-paying jobs for local residents, and generate significant

revenue for New York State’s Lottery Education Fund.”

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GAMING NEWS

AUGUST 2017

Japan’s Strict Regulatory Framework Slowing Down Casino Excitement

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t appears as though the future of Japan’s casino industry could be shakier than expected, despite the overall gung-ho attitude surrounding the topic. The country recently launched a series of regulations concerning casino operations within the country. If reports are to be believed, the regulations are quite stringent.

As a result, there is a strong possibility that the casino business may fail to gain substantial traction. With investors looking to invest considerable amounts of money into the industry, the new regulations come as a major disappointment.

It has been an uphill battle trying to legalize casinos in the country due to the significant amount of opposition to the idea. Several concerns were brought up about introducing gambling in Japan; something the industry is not new to. Opponents presented arguments ranging from social ills to crimes such as money laundering in their attempt to dissuade the concerned authorities

from legalizing casinos.

However, after several negotiations and discussions, the legalization did come through. But, progress has been gradual. At present, legislators are still working towards establishing a legal framework for the industry. The bill, titled “Integrated Resorts Bill”, is predicted to make it by the end of the year.

But, the suggested regulations have been labeled as being too stringent; something that could see casino operators discouraged, especially when they have waited this long to make inroads into the Japanese market. Earlier last week, Grant Govertsen form the Union Gaming Securities Asia Ltd. stated that the restrictions were “extremely tight” and that they would actually end up achieving the exact opposite of the industry’s plans for Japan.

Japan is a country known for its large population, which is the reason why several casino operators have found the market here to be

ripe with opportunity. Unfortunately, they have not been able to navigate the country’s regulatory map as requirements remain unclear.

In fact, Govertsen states that the rules are only becoming stricter and that could eliminate all hope for the casino industry. He implied that it wouldn’t come as a surprise if investors decided to abandon the idea of investing in Japan even before giving it a shot.

It is believed that Japanese legislators are referring to the same legal framework that Singapore employs in regulating its casino industry.

However, this is the wrong strategy.

Barring the fact that even Singapore’s gambling laws are quite stringent, the country is also very different in terms of overall size and population.

With Japan aiming to boost its economy by legalizing casinos, the strict regulations come off as being counter-productive.

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AUGUST 2017

Affiliate Consolidation where is this all headed?

By Lee-Ann Johnstone

T

here has recently been a lot of talk about affiliate consolidation and how M&A continues to take place in the market. With the recent acquisition of bets.co.uk and bonuses.co.uk by Catena Media being pulled under their roster not to mention new investor groups such as Investoo coming into the mix it’s hard for anyone to ascertain how the land may lie twelve months from now as apparent affiliate consolidation continues.

Having spent a lot of time talking to affiliates and operators about this topic recently at the Bingo and Slots Conference in June, I’ve summarised a few key area’s where this market movement could impact or benefit the participating parties.

1. Consolidation is happening but it’s not yet a buying frenzy Whilst the market still appears to be buoyant, with Rakatech giving notice earlier this year that it was raising capital (70 Million Euro) for M&A in this space and affiliates looking excited to exit for a good price, we should still expect to see deals being made based on reasonable multiples of turnover based on the valua-

INFINITY GAMING

tion of what is being purchased as a whole. Whilst it’s clear investors are looking for opportunity and growth in what is now a fragmented market, nobody is going to be paying over the odds for a business that is heavily reliant on fragile traffic sources without performing the due diligence on the company infrastructure, set up , recurring revenue streams, terms of governance, operational standing and financial history as well.

Affiliates need to be wary of the fact that whilst the acquisition of sites seems to be moving quite fast, there is a vast amount of due diligence involved before a sale is made. Yes - the affiliate business model seems to be interesting more than ever to investor groups but it goes without saying that the business still needs to be financially sound. Now is the time to focus on building a solid infrastructure and create a management structure to support your business growth and facilitate the due diligence process if you are intending to get your site ready for a future sale.

2. Market fragmentation means opportunity.

There doesn’t appear to be a clear

strategy taking place for consolidation and opportunities are still ripe for new players to enter this space.

What does this mean for affiliates - well , if you aren’t ready to sell your business today, there is still time to get it ship shape for a buy out in future. If you are not intending to sell just yet - you need to be looking at where you want to be positioned in the ecosystem in a year’s time and start building a path to get your business steered in the right direction so that it adds value and remains relevant for operator engagement.

Nobody wants to see a monopoly form in the affiliate sector of potential acquisition real estate and this is where the opportunity comes in.

Affiliates who can innovate now to differentiate from the competitors and offer good value in the ecosystem of affiliate programmes will be in a great position to spearhead growth throughout the consolidation phase that is currently occurring in the marketplace.

The trick is to think about the future and not what is happening today.

If you have a longer term approach to running your business now is the

AUGUST 2017

the time to look at embedding futuristic technology , create value added services and focus in on developing your site as your brand to ensure your “real estate” or website continues to build a loyal fan base of followers who are invested in your affiliate service.

Operators still want to make sure their programme isn’t heavily reliant on just a few websites for the bulk of their traffic and therefore you need to be positioning your business to add value at the mid tier level when consolidation again slows.

3. The current “Affiliate - Operator” ecosystem is at best - still delicate Affiliates still play a key part in regards to supporting operator acquisition programmes with an estimated 3045% of their new customer sign ups being received from the affiliate channel vs direct acquisition strategies or paid media campaigns.

Whilst this is probably true it by no means suggests that operators are

solely reliant on affiliates for the bulk of acquisition of their new customers.

It’s a symbiotic relationship that still works - for now, but with the current lack of any form of industry regulation on the applicable affiliate terms in use across the sector , it also means that the tables could turn at any time which could impact affiliate business revenue and valuation opportunities.

What does this mean?

Affiliates are effectively a part of a functioning ecosystem of acquisition tactics that help to lower the direct marketing costs for operators for brand building on the bottom line.

Whilst there has always been the murmur of commercial changes to the life time revenue share model in iGaming becoming outdated, not many have moved from the traditional commercial methods just yet. Affiliates need to innovate and move away from just being a traffic source, they need to be building a business based on being a brand of their own, and focussing on

building a tribe of loyal customers. In doing this they are building the infrastructure required to pass the due diligence for the sales process under the consolidation movement.

It’s a natural lifecycle of a growing market and the fact is , that with the onset of intelligent CRM and greater data analytics being readily available to ascertain traffic value and player behaviour on site and via other devices this only serves to open up the book on opportunity development even further.

Change is coming, that is clear - but the opportunity that is available could be endless in this scenario. Now is the time to take stock of your business and to understand where you will be positioned in the short and long term, knowing exactly how and when you will take advantage of the changing affiliate partnerships ecosystem to benefit from it.

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AUGUST 2017

The Stealthy Line Between Casinos and Sports Betting

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ports betting is illegal in all states of the US except in Oregon, Nevada, Delaware, and Montana. Over the past several decades, laws have been passed to regulate the gambling industry in the United States of America. But some states have been fighting to expand legal sports betting in pursuit of economic and employment gains. New Jersey is one such state to have appealed to the Supreme Court to legalize sports betting.

But Mississippi is also not lagging behind in the scenario. The state has been more aggressive than New Jersey in proposing the legalization of sports betting in the state. It is one of the states where casino gambling is a long-standing source of revenue. However, efforts to change laws related to sports betting in the U.S is moving ahead both at the federal and state levels.

Sports betting in Mississippi casinos

Mississippi casinos are not away from the scrutiny of a lot of legisla-

tors. A bill passed to tax fantasy sports betting would probably open the door for casinos in Mississippi to provide and control sports betting resembling the Las Vegas style.

However, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, Governor Phil Bryant, and Speaker of the House Philip Gunn clearly expressed that this is not the original intent of the law.

So who is to be blamed? Legislators for showing imprudence? Or casinos, who get into the trickery business? Nonetheless, the trajectory of events leading to this is noteworthy: Early November 2016: State Commissioner of Revenue Herb Frierson suggests legislators that sports betting could contribute more than $88 million to $100 million as tax revenue.

November 14, 2016: Attorney General Jim Hood meets with attorney general from Arizona, Louisiana, West Virginia and Wisconsin to support the appeal of New Jersey to the

Supreme Court that would change laws limiting sports betting in these states.

February and March 2017: The Senate and the House passed the bill to tax fantasy sports betting.

The bill opened the doors to sports betting in the Las Vegas style. Scott DeLano, a Biloxi Representative, believes that it could be a game changer that could bring in huge investments, which were commonly seen in the early 1990s. But it would be a serious mistake to allow other states to earn profits from sports betting. It’s hard to imagine that those in power were imprudent to act on behalf of Mississippi’s casinos.

In 1992, Americans voted to legalize lottery but never voted to legalize fantasy sports betting, casinos, and bingo parlors. However, the political reality is that legislators tend to provide casinos with whatever they want, either on the table or off the table.

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GAMING NEWS

AUGUST 2017

Google Play to Accept Real Gambling Apps

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or a long time, Google has had a very strict “no-no” policy against hosting real-money gambling apps in the Google Play Store. However, all that is set to change as the techgiant is planning to revoke the existing ban, which means, gamblers will soon be able to use their Android devices for gambling. But, there is still one condition – the providers will have to hold gambling licenses within the countries they plan to offer services to.

Europe launch Initially, the apps will be made available exclusively to customers in France, Ireland, and the UK from the start of August. Other jurisdictions that allow gambling will see the app being rolled out much later, according to official information from Google.

tool for direct acquisition.

Android users have found ways to use their devices for the purpose of gambling. However, actual gambling apps were never available in the Play Store. Users would have to visit gambling sites and download the apps directly from the primary source. As a result, the operator had to deal with restrictions concerning the route to market and having a

Google Play had once allowed branded free apps and gambling ads as long as the developers fell in line with local laws such as not targeting ads at an underage demographic and including messages promoting responsible gambling.

Currently, the Android OS makes up about 50% of the phone market. Considering this, Google’s new move will see Play Store becoming a significant customer acquisition channel for operators.

Change of heart The real-money app ban had come into play in 2013 after Google struggled to verify the ages of users accurately. Other than that, allowing gambling apps proved to be troublesome as the laws concerning gambling varied from region to region.

on the subject stated that it did not permit services or content that encouraged or allowed gambling. This included lotteries, cash prize games, casinos, and sports betting. Now, Google has overcome its apprehensions and has even mailed gambling companies and app developers informing them of the new development.

According to Andrew Daniels of tech firm Degree 53, the emails stated that submissions will have to be accompanied with valid and applicable licenses. Daniels added that the emails also mentioned about the process taking a long time in order to ensure compliance and adherence to regulations.

Google’s change of attitude was apparent after it allowed real-money apps during the NFL season in 2015.

The company’s rules

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AUGUST 2017

How is Online Gambling a Boon for Macao in 2017?

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as Vegas was synonymous with gambling till 2006 before Macao took it over as “The” gambling hub. Macao’s gambling revenue has sky-rocketed by 22 percent to $6.95 billion. The boom in casino investment in Macao started ever since China took it over in 1999. The annual revenue has soared dramatically within a short span of time, with $2.75 billion taken in February 2017.

The figures show that online gambling is a significant contributor to the region’s economic gains.

Macao is also home to one of the finest casinos, slot machine parlors, and e-gaming zones in the world.

Moreover, the land-based gambling industry has also contributed immensely towards tourism activities in the region. Thus, Macau’s gambling industry is certainly a boon if revenue and other economic metrics are considered.

Online gambling certainly helps smaller gambling spots in Macao to keep their head above water. The market size of online gambling in Macao is $47.11 billion this year and it is expected to rise to $59.79 million by 2020. The reason behind the industry’s success is the world-class experience offered to players. The experiences are not very different from what players get in real casinos. Live links to real table games along with virtual reality makes the experience realistic and enjoyable. It is also a great way for beginners to get a hang of different games.

But online gambling in Macao can adversely affect the Chinese influence over the market. Macao crossed a terrible spell of 26 months in 2006 when its gambling revenue fell drastically. Steve Wynn and Sheldon Adelson opened two resorts that helped the region recover from this economic stress. Moreover, it

was proposed to expand Macau’s appeal beyond greater China because a large chunk of visitors there are Chinese. Nonetheless, online gambling certainly helps smaller gambling spots to keep their head above water.

The long run effect There’s no doubt that the flourishing online casino industry could benefit Macao in the years to come. New players will get an opportunity to be a part of the industry and learn new games. This will train them to be a part of the real-life casino setting.

Macao is the home to the largest casino in the world, the Venetian Macao. This is on the bucket list of almost every gambling enthusiast.

If Macao succeeds in attracting more players from the online casino players, it would rise to even higher peaks of success in the long run.

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AUGUST 2017

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GAMING NEWS

AUGUST 2017

Disney Working Hard to Prevent Gambling Expansion

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ver since Florida proposed expanding gambling within the state, there has been criticism from various quarters. As the efforts against the move continue to progress, there have been new allies queuing up to show support.

One of the newer and more powerful allies happens to be Disney Worldwide, and recently the entertainment giant is reported to have invested $500,000 to the cause, according to the Florida Division of Elections. The money is being given to the “Voters in Charge” political committee, which has been fighting against the gambling expansion.

In April, the committee was given $250,000 by Disney Worldwide.

According to other reports, Disney is believed to have donated a total of $1.15 million to the committee, which makes up for about 80% of the overall contributions received by Voter in Charge.

More donations

Even so, Disney isn’t the only contributor to the committee. Other groups and agencies have also offered up enough in monetary funds. One major contributor happens to be No Casinos Inc. which is an anti-gambling expansion group. There have also been “inkind” contributions worth thousands of dollars.

The committee is in charge of the initiative to transfer decision-making powers concerning casinos over to the people rather than politicians. This is a move supported by Disney, which, has stated earlier that a casino would be detrimental to the family-friendly atmosphere that Florida is well-recognized for.

The state corporation operates several family-oriented theme parks that attract thousands of tourists every year.

No Casino Inc, on the other hand, uses examples showing increased crime rates and the elimination of smaller business as part of its rhetoric against

the gambling expansion proposal.

The anti-gambling group justifies its statement by claiming that people would end up opting for casino-based businesses, leaving the others with very little revenue.

If the initiative manages to see its bill being passed on the 2018 General Elections, the State of Florida will see residents gaining the rights to vote on the issue.

Supreme support The Supreme Court, in April, offered support to the initiative. Currently, there are 766,200 petitions that are still pending. As of now, 151,476 valid signatures have been collected. Collecting signature is turning out to be the hardest part of the whole initiative as it is an expensive affair.

Out of the $1.15 million received by Voters in Charge, $943,858 has been spent on gathering and verifying signatures.

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