Please tune in for GAMSTOPS’ recent announcement that it has had record sign-ups. We also look at a casino fine in Ontario and why it happened. (Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash)
Gambling addiction and money laundering – not fun topics, but they’ve been in the headlines lately. Regulators are cracking down after some high profile cases.
In the UK, a record 93,000 people signed up to block themselves from online betting sites last year. That’s pretty eye-opening. Charity GAMSTOP visited colleges to spread the word to students. Maybe a wake up call about obsessive gambling in young folks?
Meanwhile in Canada, a dodgy customer swapped $60k in cash for chips in an Ontario casino, then walked out without playing. Super sketchy! The venue copped a $52k fine for ignoring protocols. Oops.
Seems punters and casinos alike are feeling the heat these days. Regulators everywhere are policing harder to avoid scandals. Self-exclusion schemes, age checks, source of funds rules – no fun for anyone, but probably necessary.
Stay tuned as we dig into whether these clampdowns are justified and what impacts they might have. Can personal freedom and safety be balanced in this brave new world of non-stop online gambling? Time will tell!
Want to know more about responsible gambling in live casinos? Before we get into the nitty-gritty of fines and GAMSTOP sign-ups, you can always find out more about how to gamble responsibly by using the Livecasinocentral guide to online casino responsible tools.
Record Number Sign Up to Block Gambling Sites
GAMSTOP, a free service helping people control online gambling, announced its highest-ever annual sign-ups in 2023. Over 90,000 people registered last year. This report follows a previously published news story on Livecasinocentral when GAMSTOP UK Self-Exclusions Rose in 2022. The same report also highlighted issues with black market gambling in the UK.
What is GAMSTOP?
GAMSTOP lets people block access to online gambling sites if they are struggling with addiction. Signing up is free and easy. Users pick how long they want to be blocked for, up to 5 years. During that time, registered gambling companies must deny them access.
Why Did More People Sign Up in 2023?
GAMSTOP thinks more young people will learn about the service. After visiting universities to talk about responsible gambling, 21% of new joiners were aged 16-24. The organization also said sign-ups rose across all ages, with 92,086 people joining.
May 2023 saw the most monthly registrations ever.
Most Pick the Maximum Blocking Time
Over half of new users choose to block themselves for 5 years – the maximum period. GAMSTOP’s CEO Fiona Palmer welcomed the figures, saying: “We want more people who need help with gambling addiction to know about GAMSTOP.”
A Former Addict Says the Service Saves Lives
Harj Gahley struggled with gambling addiction for 10 years from age 23. Now recovered, he volunteers for the addiction charity Red Card. “For me, GAMSTOP was a crucial part of my recovery,” Harj explained. “It’s a necessary lifeline for thousands of vulnerable people.”
How to find GamStop Casinos: All online casinos in the UK are linked to the GAMSTOP network. If you self-exclude at any casino in the country, you cannot place real money bets at any other UKGC gambling entertainment platform.
Ontario Casino Fined $52,000 For Allowing Suspicious Cash Exchange
The Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, Ontario, has been fined $52,000 by gambling regulators. They say the casino broke anti-money laundering rules. This is not a casino part of our online casinos in Canada, but a land-based casino. Yet, it is proof that the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario is serious about gambling establishments following the rules.
$60,000 in Cash Exchanged for Chips
In April 2023, a ‘high-risk’ customer entered the VIP area of Fallsview Casino with $60,000 cash in $100 bills. The money was counted, and the patron was given chips. However, surveillance footage showed they left without gambling.
Casino Failed to Verify Source of Funds
Regulators slammed Fallsview for not checking where the money came from and for not informing officials about the risky patron’s behaviour, which is standard practice.
Fallsview Casino to Appeal Fine
Fallsview Casino says it is committed to compliance and will appeal. An independent tribunal will review the case further. The incident comes as regulators increase oversight of Ontario gambling venues. Fines for breaches of rules have become more common. Fallsview’s appeal will test whether the $52,000 penalty was fair.
The Ontario iGaming opened in the Canadian online casino market in 2022 and is now starting to report more fines. Previously in the Livecasinocentral Canadian News Catch Up, we mentioned Mobile Incorporated Limited, Bunchberry Limited, and LeoVegas Gaming PLC were fined 70,000 CAD in total by the AGCO for featuring games from software providers not approved by the iGaming Ontario licensing body.
As a result, Casumo Casino Ontario decided not to make the same mistake and partnered with Mkodo’s Geolocs. In the same report, Casino Woodbine in Toronto received a fine of 70,000 CAD.
You find out more about the fines and partnership in the Canadian News Catch Up published 28 September 2023 by Jack Bannon.
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