Buenos Aires’ battle against underage gambling

The rapid expansion of the online gambling industry, particularly in the U.S., raises critical questions about the uniformity and adequacy of regulatory frameworks across different jurisdictions. The discrepancy in the regulatory landscape between the U.S., UK, and Europe is stark. Companies like Flutter and Entain, which have acknowledged and rectified potentially harmful practices in the UK, continue to employ these same practices in the U.S., where the market is less mature and regulatory scrutiny is less intense.

This situation prompts many grey areas: Should there be a global, uniform standard for responsible gambling? While this idea might seem appealing, it opens up a minefield of challenges, given the varying degrees of regulation enforcement across different countries and states. However, the need to tackle problem gambling from a corporate viewpoint is undeniable. Thes, including the use of practices deemed too risky for the UK market but used in the booming U.S. online gambling industry.

The question remains: How can the industry ensure that the race to capitalize on this rapidly growing sector does not overshadow the need for robust, uniform, and effective regulations that prioritize customer protection? The answer to this question will require careful consideration, collaboration among stakeholders, and a commitment to prioritizing the well-being of customers over profits. The stakes are high, and the time for action is now.

The special Reuters reportbrought to light that Flutter and Entain in the US market that have abandoned in the UK due to regulatory concerns.

The focus of the report is on the differences in regulatory environments between the US and the UK, highlighting how these companies have not implemented the same safeguards in the US that they have in the UK. This includes practices like VIP programmes and high betting limits that can lead to problem gambling.

In the UK, stricter regulations have led to the curtailment of certain practices to protect gamblers, which are still being used in the U.S. The report points to some case studies with examples of individuals who lost large sums of embezzled money through gambling on platforms like FanDuel. It also examines how these companies justify their different approaches in the US and Britain, and the potential harm it is bringing to US gamblers.

For example reference is made to a case in 2018, when the UK branch of the online gambling giant Flutter was penalized by British regulators due to an extraordinary oversight. The director of an animal shelter had been misappropriating funds from his workplace to finance his compulsive betting habits, resulting in losses exceeding half a million dollars over a four-year period, as reported by the charity where he worked. The gambling regulatory authority compelled Flutter to pay approximately $2.8 million for failing to safeguard customers from evident unregulated gambling and for failing to prevent the use of pilfered money.

Peter Jackson, the Chief Executive of Flutter, publicly expressed regret for not stepping in, stating that the company had an obligation to intervene “when our customers exhibit signs of problem gambling.”

It is also interesting to note that FanDuel and BetMGM, two major players in the U.S. online gambling industry, collectively account for approximately 50 percent of the country’s net revenues from this sector. Flutter, the parent company of FanDuel, has been questioned about its practices in the U.S., which have been identified as potentially harmful in the UK. In response, Peter Jackson, the CEO of Flutter, stated that the company is dedicated to maintaining high customer protection standards across all its operational markets. He gave his reassurance that Flutter’s role was to lead the industry towards higher standards.

He explained how Flutter operates in strict compliance with the rules and regulations of the jurisdictions it is licensed in and tailors its strategies to the local markets it serves, taking into account their maturity and competitive landscape. The U.S. is Flutter’s largest and fastest-growing market in terms of revenue, with its FanDuel brand recording over $40 billion in online bets last year.

BetMGM’s co-owner, Entain, operates in numerous markets and believes that a ‘one size fits all’ approach would not be feasible or commercially viable. Rob Wood, Entain’s CFO, acknowledged that the U.S. market is still in its early stages and lacks the level of protections seen in the UK. However, he defended BetMGM’s practices, asserting that the company does not compromise on standards.

BetMGM, the third-largest online gambling company in the U.S. by revenue, is a joint venture with casino operator MGM Resorts International. The company is committed to providing a safe environment for customers and exceeding its regulatory obligations to ensure a positive player experience. MGM Resorts did not respond to requests for comment.

A customer of Jackson’s, this time in the United States, fell into an even deeper spiral of uncontrolled gambling, wagering millions of dollars of stolen money through Flutter’s U.S. brand, FanDuel. Amit Patel, who was then a mid-tier finance manager at the Jacksonville Jaguars football team, transferred $20 million of his employer’s money into his FanDuel account between 2019 and early 2023. He subsequently lost the majority of these embezzled funds, according to court records. Both Patel and the head of the British animal shelter admitted to committing fraud.

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The Cambodian government has raised concerns as online gambling has seen a rise in the Southeast Asian country.  

The Phnom Penh Post reported that Meas Sok Sensan, spokesman for the Ministry of Economy and Finance, confirmed that the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia (CGMC) had not issued any online gambling licences, rendering all online betting agencies illegal. Despite this, many online betting sites operate freely without significant interference from authorities.   

According to the local report, the process of accessing, registering, and depositing money with online gambling companies in Cambodia has become notably straightforward. Users navigate through a user-friendly registration process requiring basic personal information, followed by swift account activation. Depositing money is equally simple, with options such as local bank transfers, international payment gateways, and e-wallets. Essential details like deposit amount and payment method are all that's needed, with 24/7 live chat support available to assist with any queries. These streamlined systems enable users to start gambling with minimal hassle.  

The CGMC has been actively identifying and cracking down on illegal online gambling promotions on platforms such as Facebook, Telegram, and websites. Authorities also have been monitoring, researching, and acting against gambling advertisers, operators, and players involved in illegal gambling. The CGMC the public to avoid participating in these activities.  

Cambodia's gambling sector has seen significant investment, particularly from China, contributing to local economies but also leading to gambling-related crimes, including human trafficking and cyber scams. Despite several raids and arrests, concerns about the effectiveness of enforcement remain. Cambodian authorities continue to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to suppress illegal gambling operations and maintain public order.  

In May, 135 individuals involved in illegal cross-border gambling and fraud from Cambodia was to China. This marked the conclusion of a joint operation between Chinese and Cambodian authorities.  

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Milan Mihaldinecz speaks about how Casinolove has evolved since its inception and its future growth.

Absolutely, that's our bread and butter. As a video content creation startup specialising in the iGaming industry, we produce a wide range of iGaming video content: game tutorials (e.g., how to play Blackjack), gameplay videos (e.g., trying out a new slot game) in both pre-recorded and livestream formats, operational support videos (e.g., user tutorials for KYC), professional interviews with industry members, and more. Operators, platform providers, and affiliates can order videos from us. We also create videos for our portfolio website and YouTube channel and are open to adding sponsored sections to those.

Yes, one of our current promotions for new potential partners is a free video interview at events such as SiGMA. Depending on the content, we may also include this video on our YouTube channel and website, offering valuable free exposure. I encourage any business attending such events to reach out to us. We can also shoot on location, including at the partner's office.

When producing video content, meeting our partners’ requirements is crucial. This includes brand guidelines and regulatory compliance. For interviews, we propose questions upfront and collaborate with partners to ensure the interview projects the right image and provides the necessary information. Our team has strong industry knowledge and corporate experience, which is vital for streaming content as many brands are cautious about influencers or freelance content creators not adhering to their guidelines.

It depends on the campaign's objective. Most video campaigns in this industry focus on acquisition rather than brand awareness. There is often a misunderstanding regarding the relationship between KPIs such as production cost, viewer numbers, link clicks, registrations, and customer lifetime value. These metrics are not always linearly connected, especially across different creators or products. Content creators typically understand their audience well through continuous feedback. Unless the marketing manager is highly experienced, it’s usually better to consider the creator’s insights and assign a trial campaign budget accordingly.

We are actively recruiting presenters, so aspiring content creators are welcome to apply. We’ve collaborated with established creators in the past and plan to continue doing so.

Besides video content creation and potential exposure from our portfolio, we can convert video content into SEO-friendly articles for the partner’s website. We also support localisation, including subtitling and translated voiceovers. Companies without in-house video content creation experience can benefit from our consulting services to help translate their messaging into effective video content.

When someone orders streaming content from us, we also manage the live chat and comment section. However, handling partner-specific inquiries often requires their knowledge, so we don’t offer standalone audience engagement or customer service.

We learn from every video we produce, and our audience is our greatest teacher. While quantitative data is important, we gain much more from viewer comments and live chats. For any company aiming to be user centric, I wholeheartedly suggest using videos and livestreams to build a community and receive continuous feedback.

We are a young and niche brand based in Hungary a country known for its growing film industry (you’ve probably seen many AAA movies shot in Budapest). Bootstrapped in 2021, our first year was the toughest, building a portfolio and gaining initial partners. We became profitable by the 12th month. This year involved a lot of experimentation and learning regarding formats and processes. We developed several in-house automation tools to keep our team small. Currently, we need to recruit to scale up video production, focusing on quality applicants. We aim to partner with larger brands and assist with content creation. Being bootstrapped allows us to consider higher objectives beyond just improving business metrics, though it’s too early to discuss them in detail.

Macau’s Court of Final Appeal has rejected the appeal of Alvin Chau, former CEO of Suncity Group, solidifying his 18-year prison sentence. This decision, announced on Wednesday, also dismissed the appeals of eight other co-defendants.   

The , handed down by the Court of Second Instance, ranged from nine to 18 years for Chau and his associates, including Si Tou Chi Hou, Cheung Yat Ping Ellute, Ali Celestino, Cheong Chi Kin, Chau Chun Hee, Lou Seak Fong, Wong Pak Ling Philip, and Leong Su Weng. The appeals court maintained these sentences despite the defendants' efforts to seek leniency.  

In addition to denying the defendants' appeals, the court also rejected the prosecution's bid for harsher penalties. Last November, prosecutors had attempted to reinstate a fraud conviction against several defendants, a charge previously overturned by the intermediate court.  

Under the upheld ruling, and his co-defendants must collectively pay HKD24.865 billion (€2.9 billion) to the Macao Special Administrative Region. This substantial financial penalty underscores the gravity of their crimes, which encompass illicit gambling operations and involvement in a criminal organization.  

Following his initial sentencing in January 2023, Alvin Chau sought to reduce his punishment through an appeal. He went as far as to write an open letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping in December 2023, depicting himself as a pivotal figure in Macau's transformation from a "small fishing port" to a "world centre of tourism and leisure." However, this plea did not sway the judicial authorities.  

Chau’s downfall, alongside other notable gambling figures like Levo Chan, has prompted a significant crackdown on junket operations within Macau. The government has intensified its regulatory measures, aiming to curb illegal activities that have long been associated with the junket sector.   

The decision by the Court of Final Appeal not only cements Alvin Chau's lengthy prison term but also sends a clear message about Macau's stance on illegal gambling and financial crimes. The case marks a critical juncture in the city's efforts to regulate and reform its gambling industry, ensuring a more transparent and lawful operational environment for the future. 

Upcoming SiGMA event: Click  to find out all about SiGMA East Europe powered by Soft2Bet happening in Budapest, September 2024.