Press Releases
Commission on Crime and Problem Gambling publishes literature review
An academic literature review has revealed a dearth of knowledge worldwide about the links between crime and problem gambling – so the Commission on Crime and Problem Gambling is to embark on a new research programme.
The Commission, set up by the Howard League for Penal Reform, began looking into the issue last year and carried out a literature review, which was published on Monday, 1st of June. The review found that, while millions of people are affected by gambling either directly or indirectly, there appear to be fewer than 50 peer-reviewed papers in the last 25 years that address the links between problem gambling and crime specifically.
In response, the Commission intends to conduct its own research, in three strands: the first project will look at the prevalence of gambling-related crime; the second will consider the lived experience of people caught up in the system; and the third will explore sentencers’ awareness of the issue.
Chaired by Lord Goldsmith QC, the Commission seeks to establish what the links between problem gambling and crime are; what impact they have on communities and wider society; and what steps could be taken to reduce crime and make people safer.
Lord Goldsmith QC, Chair of the Commission on Crime and Problem Gambling, said: “Concern about harmful gambling activity has been growing for some time, but this is the first commission to focus specifically on the relationship between problem gambling and crime.
“From people getting into debt and defrauding family members or employers, to domestic violence and other crimes relating to gambling-related stress, we know anecdotally that police stations, courts and prisons see significant numbers of cases – but only a handful of academic studies have looked at this across the globe.
“The criminal justice system itself does very little work to capture the scale of the challenge and even less in terms of offering interventions like those we see for alcohol or drug problems. This has to change and our Commission can play a key role in improving the response to disordered gambling and crime.”
The literature review covers jurisdictions including Australasia, the US, Canada, Germany, Scandinavia and the UK. It reveals that, while the overall quantity of research is not huge, there is a consistency in findings across all jurisdictions.
Researchers have found high prevalence rates of people committing crimes to fund their gambling. A wide variety of crimes are committed as a result of gambling addiction; not just ‘white collar’ crimes such as theft and fraud, but also offences that occur in public spaces such as street robbery. There is significant evidence of domestic abuse and child neglect linked to problem and pathological gambling.
Studies have indicated that the more complex, prolonged and persistent a gambling problem is, the more likely it is that a crime will be committed and, indeed, that many crimes may result.
Although there has been a growing understanding that gambling addiction is a behavioural disorder, little of this has been translated to sentencing; problem gambling is not considered to be a mitigating factor in sentencing in the way mental health problems or drug and alcohol addiction are.
Research suggests that, in spite of extremely high rates of gambling addiction among prisoners, prisons offer only limited treatment. There is evidence of resistance to undertaking treatment among prisoners.
Several of the studies reviewed agreed that a custodial sentence, especially when no treatment is available for gambling addiction, was not a cost-effective way of avoiding further harm to the individual or society once the sentence is completed.
A small number of specialised gambling courts have been established in the US, with the aim of ensuring that people with gambling addictions who are in trouble with the law receive appropriate treatment. There is limited data on the success or otherwise of these initiatives.
Research is needed into the potential effect of gambling addiction treatment on the rate of recidivism, as well as more general research on how best to help vulnerable populations avoid the criminal justice system.
The literature review was written by Sarah Ramanauskas, Senior Partner at Gambling Integrity, who sits on the Commission.
EGT Digital will present its impressive iGaming portfolio at this year’s G2E Las Vegas show. Along with Euro Games Technology, the company will demonstrate its latest developments and top-performing products on booths 2452 and 3352.
Visitors will be able to get acquainted with the 4 jackpot bestsellers Bell Link, High Cash, Clover Chance and Single Progressive Jackpot, including more than 100 titles on different themes. Among them the latest slot in EGT Digital’s portfolio Senor Muerto will stand out. Inspired by Dia de los Muertos, the latest addition to Clover Chance will take players to a world of mystery and vibrant festivities, where the Toppling reels with Multiplier feature will add even more thrill to the game.
EGT Digital’s in-house developed “all-in-one” betting platform X-Nave will be on display as well to demonstrate how it could help operators to build and maintain a successful business online. Its 4 main modules: CRM Engine, Sport Product, Gaming Aggregator, and Payment Gateway, can be part of the complete solution or function independently, as they allow integration with solutions of third-party developers.
X-Nave’s CRM Engine will show numerous new competition opportunities, including different games and tournaments, which will enrich even further the betting sites’ capabilities to offer more attractive gaming options to its customers. The operators also will be able to make more detailed player segmentation and will have at their disposal an AI/ML chatbot and a new AI/ML module, which will make selection of casino games based on visitors’ behavior.
The main highlight in EGT Digital’s Sport Product for the show will be the new Customizable tournament page, which aims to enhance user engagement and simplify navigation. Thanks to it players will be able to access relevant information and place bets very easily. The page is divided into different tabs: Lobby, Matches, Boosted, Outrights, Bet Feed, Teams, Groups, Brackets, Promotions, and Quiz. This way players will enjoy more personalized and engaging betting experience.
The Gaming Aggregator will show its extensive portfolio, currently consisting of more than 12,000 titles, including slots, live games, table games, bingo, lottery, Poker, TV games, and skill-based games from over 110 popular providers. Operators will be able to learn more about the newly-added leaderboard widget as well.
X-Nave’s Payment Gateway will present its wide range of payment methods, which includes Open Banking. The guests will also have the chance to become familiar with the Quick Deposit feature – a small Cashier that can be opened directly from the casino games, i.e. the players don’t have to leave the game in order to take advantage of it.
Tsvetomira Drumeva, Head of Sales at EGT Digital, commented: “We are excited to participate in G2E Las Vegas for another year in a row. We have prepared properly for the event and will welcome our guests with an attractive selection of products that I am confident will arouse great interest among them. We are looking forward to meet our current and potential new clients on October 8-10.”
Swedish-founded gaming giant live in New Jersey, Michigan, Connecticut, and now Pennsylvania and West Virginia with top-tier operators
Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, has today announced a five-state partnership with leading US operator DraftKings, which also includes its sister brand, Golden Nugget.
Having launched in New Jersey, Michigan, and Connecticut earlier this year, today marks a clean sweep of five regulated states where Play’n GO is active and in partnership with DraftKings. To date, DraftKings players in the aforementioned states have enjoyed classic Play’n GO titles such as Piggy Blitz, Fire Joker, and the game taking the US by storm, Colt Lightning Firestorm, all of which are now available in Pennsylvania and West Virginia too.
Play’n GO first partnered with DraftKings in May 2024, and have wasted no time in launching in each regulated state. Having first launched in the US in July 2022, Play’n GO is now live in five US states with multiple operators.
Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer at Play’n GO, commented “The DraftKings and Golden Nugget brands are synonymous with gaming in the US, and we are excited to further strengthen our partnership with both brands by expanding into these fourth and fifth states together. We believe our games portfolio, our preference for direct integration, and our commitment to listening to our customers all make us the best casino entertainment provider in the world, and the ideal partner for any operator. We are proof that a sustainable, entertainment-led business model is the key to success in the long-term, and we believe that this will allow us to continue providing world-class content in the US and beyond for many years to come.”
Golden Goal Sweepstakes
PlayStar announces partnership with the New Jersey Devils and Prudential Center
Leading U.S. online casino brand partners with local NHL franchise to sponsor “Golden Goal Sweepstakes” and offer money-can’t-buy experiences to fans
PlayStar, the innovative, customer-focused online casino brand that’s currently taking the U.S. by storm, has announced it will be stepping up its engagement efforts in the Garden State after signing a partnership deal with the New Jersey Devils and Prudential Center.
As official partner of the New Jersey Devils and Prudential Center, the new collaboration will see PlayStar gain substantial exposure in the state both online via branded communications with the popular NHL franchise on the PlayStar website and offline during Devils home games at Prudential Center, where it will sponsor the ongoing “Golden Goal Sweepstakes.”
A season-long “Golden Goal Sweepstakes” promotion will enable Devils fans the chance to win $10,000 cash at every home game. If a goal is scored during the 11:00 – 10:00 minute mark in the 2nd period of a Devils’ game,
PlayStar will randomly select a winner from one of the players who entered a submission in the Golden Goal contest. The online casino will also be featured in in-game graphics and PA announcements at the arena. Not only that, PlayStar will be able to offer fans a number of money-can’t-buy experiences including VIP match packages, post-game photos on ice and more.
This partnership represents an exciting opportunity for PlayStar to build brand affinity and credibility among a highly-engaged audience.
Throughout the course of the 24-25 season, PlayStar will also look to leverage its partnership with the Devils to create further engagement opportunities, with current plans including the creation of co-branded ice-hockey themed gamification & leaderboards that will enable PlayStar customers to win tickets to upcoming games and events at Prudential Center.
Jon Bowden, Chief Marketing Officer at PlayStar, said: “Having already made such significant in-roads into the competitive New Jersey market, PlayStar is thrilled to announce that it will be partnering with the New Jersey Devils to bring even more locally-focused benefits to our players.
“Through our sponsorship of the ‘Golden Goal Sweepstakes’ promotion and our extensive presence at Prudential Center, we’ll be able to position the PlayStar brand in front of a highly-engaged online casino audience while also offering new and existing customers alike the chance to win VIP home game and concert tickets as well as many other money-can’t-buy experiences.”
Chad Biggs, Senior Vice President, Corporate Partnerships Activation, New Jersey Devils & Prudential Center, said: “The New Jersey Devils and Prudential Center are thrilled to welcome PlayStar as our first-ever online casino partner and sponsor of the ‘Golden Goal Sweepstakes.’ Together with PlayStar, we look forward to enhancing the fan experience with this in-game promotion and creating unique money-can’t-buy opportunities for fans to enjoy.”
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