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Betting Sites: US Vs. EU Gambling Laws

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Still a major taboo for some, mostly those in governmental power. Casinos and gambling, the two words that strike fear into the political heart. We take a look at two sides of the argument when it comes to the legalization of gambling and licensing casinos, both online and as land-based establishments.

We will be reviewing the American stance on the gambling industry, and that of the EU’s position. What are the differences, why is there a gulf in approach, how licenses are able to work and how it has an effect on players on both sides of the pond?

Why the issues with gambling?

We all know the terms that it’s a political hot potato, no one really wants to deal with it or handle it. For a government to openly say they support gambling is voter suicide. So, when it comes to the allowance of casinos and betting sites how is it that there is a form of unspoken agreement, as long as it’s not overly in the public eye?

Orla Byrne, Editor-in-Chief of BetinIreland, spoke of the issues of unclear communication between governments and the public regarding the interest of betting sites.

In Ireland, there is a huge betting community and interest especially with sport, most noticeably the Irish horse racing out here. With no communication, it’s the player that suffers most. From not having the guidance to legal sites, to falling foul of gambling addiction and not knowing how to seek help. Our service steps in to make sure players in Ireland are fully aware of what can and cannot be done and we’re proud to help people find licensed casinos that can support Irish players.”

On an economic basis and from this standpoint, gambling is a massive contributor to taxes if they are imposed by a government. Revenues can reach high into the billions and this is much needed income for certain countries.

Gambling, betting, playing, however, you paint the activity, tell people you do this and there is an unease, so ingrained into us that it’s bad, it is a taboo that will long remain.

What does betting offer?

From a player’s perspective, betting online offers an abundance of services. Betting online can be free in cases of bonuses. When you join an online casino, a welcome bonus is granted to new players that make their first deposit to play. Inside the betting sites, you have a huge selection of games, offering the best games and sports markets to place your bets on. The customers can stake their money on more sports and markets than what they can do at the local bookmaker, that’s if there are any local bookmakers for the public to use.

Casinos online and betting sites have fewer restrictions, and in the area of banking, a customer can have many ways of depositing into their casino account and withdrawing.

These are just standard elements of betting, but on a personal level, betting is an escape, a means of enjoyment and entertainment, and for some, it is a source of income that could be much needed.

Even with free games, there is still an interest in playing despite free options being mainly demo games with no real cash reward, but so entertaining are they, people will still play games with no real return.

Betting is different, there is the reward, it’s something beyond simple casino gaming, there is an element of knowledge involved. It puts punters in a position not that of the player versus the bookmaker, but they become the team they are backing. It’s more personal this way, especially if they are personally invested in a sporting team.

With betting sites online, there is the added appeal of live streaming, you can bet on games in real-time and place in-play bets during a game with fluctuating odds. Because the platform of betting is global, no days pass without some form of sporting fixture taking place. It really is a world of betting that lasts 365 days of the year.

The Laws in the USA

When it comes to the US laws on gambling, you first might think they are somewhat relaxed given that the entire state of Las Vegas is the mecca of gambling in the world. This is not the case and a huge misconception.

The laws in the US are similar to a few other countries, Canada, Australia, and India to name a few.

In the United States of America, you have federal law and state law. The federal laws are made by the overseeing government and the Senate, when it comes to state law, these are controlled and ordered by that one state alone.

At a federal level gambling is banned, online and offline. So, how does Las Vegas even exist? Well, this is where the state takes control. The governor of Nevada state will overrule the federal law and control the state of gambling within that area. They can, to a degree, allow for online gambling, however, often is the case that when local law controls all i.e lotteries and casinos, they do not want individual businesses taking business away from the state, especially if you can tax people who win.

So, what about the US Powerball? The US Powerball Lottery which covers 45 states is a multi-state lottery association, again, bypassing federal law.

In Canada, this is the same with their provinces, and with the states inside India.

So, what is the catch? Well, the catch is that US laws are only bound to US soil. The internet is a far too complex an entity when trying to write it into law. At most, you can stop foreign casinos from advertising, that is clear enough. They cannot, however, stop players from using foreign casinos. This is the loophole in the law that actually makes it legal for players inside of America to gamble inside of casinos online that are registered and licensed outside of the US borders. Those casinos then benefit from not having to pay business tax, get millions of players and the US lose out because of the political hot potato that the religious sect of America would frown on and take their votes away.

The Laws in the EU

In the EU, there is no one specific rule of law to say all is accepted. With it being a Union, countries like the states of America can make their own laws. This is the TFEU treaty of the EU rule, and to give it the full name, Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Gambling has the freedom to be provided as a service or business in another EU country.

For the laws on online gambling, there is a similar diversity regulatory framework that allows for business in this field as long as it is compliant with the EU laws and that of the national regulator.

In the EU there are only a handful of licensing regulators, the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority, the Malta Gaming Authority and formally of the EU, the UK Gambling Commission.

Of many of the sites you will find online, most will be licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority. The service of a casino licensed by such a body is able to serve any nation it wishes, it is merely down to the casino to set its own banking requirements as it would be for any online business to arrange the banking setup of foreign currencies.

This forms a complete circle of service as these are the very casinos that players from the US are able to join and play in.

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Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa Opens with Legendary Guitar Smash and Star-Studded Celebration

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Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa officially opened its doors with a signature guitar smash, marking the arrival of Canada’s first fully integrated Hard Rock resort, a bold new destination where entertainment, hospitality, and music take center stage.

The $350 million resort brings the brand’s unmistakable energy to Canada’s capital, offering locals and visitors an immersive Hard Rock experience blending iconic music history with world-class entertainment, hospitality, dining, and gaming.

In true Hard Rock fashion, the opening festivities kicked off with the Canadian Tenors’ electrifying rendition of O Canada followed by the brand’s signature Guitar Smash, a modern take on the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony. Executives, dignitaries, and community leaders took the stage to ceremoniously smash guitars, signaling the official opening of the state-of-the-art entertainment destination.

A special moment included the presentation of a $100,000 donation to Ottawa Food Bank, reinforcing Hard Rock’s commitment to giving back to the communities it serves.

“Bringing Hard Rock to Canada’s capital is an iconic milestone for our brand. We’re proud to expand our global footprint and create a destination where locals and visitors can experience world-class gaming, hospitality, and entertainment all in one place,” said Jim Allen, Chief Executive Officer of Hard Rock International.

“Our government is thrilled that Hard Rock chose Ontario for its first fully integrated hotel and casino venue in Canada. This new entertainment and hospitality destination will draw visitors from near and far to Ottawa, create and sustain hundreds of local jobs, and provide millions of dollars for local infrastructure and community programs,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming.

The post Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa Opens with Legendary Guitar Smash and Star-Studded Celebration appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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MIXI Receives AGCO Approval for PointsBet Acquisition

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PointsBet Holdings Limited announced that MIXI has received written confirmation that AGCO has no concerns with the proposed acquisition by MIXI of the shares in PointsBet Holdings Limited.

PointsBet has also received written confirmation from iGaming Ontario (iGO) in relation to MIXI’s proposed acquisition of shares in PointsBet.

Accordingly, the condition precedent to MIXI’s proposed PointsBet-Board recommended Takeover Bid relating to Ontario approvals in paragraph 4.5 of Schedule 1 of the Bid Implementation Deed dated 16 June 2025 (BID) has been satisfied.

MIXI’s proposed Takeover Bid remains subject to the satisfaction of certain other limited conditions as previously announced, including a 50.1% minimum acceptance of the proposed MIXI Offer (as defined in the BID).

The Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission provided its approval on 24 March 2025 for MIXI to acquire PointsBet. PointsBet confirmed that MIXI’s proposed Takeover Bid is no longer subject to any gaming regulatory approvals.

The post MIXI Receives AGCO Approval for PointsBet Acquisition appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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AGCO Fines Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto $350,000 for Serious Regulatory Violations Linked to Impromptu After-Party on Gaming Floor

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The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued monetary penalties totaling $350,000 against Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto for multiple violations of provincial gaming standards. The penalties follow an impromptu after-party that was permitted to take place in the pre-dawn hours directly on the casino’s gaming floor.

On September 27, 2024, an electronic dance music event attended by thousands of people was hosted in the theatre adjacent to the casino at Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. The event was marked by widespread intoxication, disorderly behavior, and numerous criminal and medical incidents – both inside and outside the venue – including alleged assaults, drug overdoses, and acts of public indecency. Although paid duty officers were present, additional police and emergency services were required to manage the situation.

In the midst of this high-risk environment, casino management approved an unscheduled request by the performing artist to host an after-party on the active gaming floor. The artist and more than 400 guests were permitted onto the gaming floor where the artist was allowed to perform amidst operational table games and gaming machines – without any prior risk assessment or planning.

As a result, security personnel were unable to effectively control the casino floor, including witness reports that an attendee was seen climbing onto slot machines. Failure to maintain appropriate control compromises the security, safety, and integrity of the casino floor. Following the conclusion of the event, the operator failed to promptly report these incidents to the AGCO as required.

Based on the findings of its review, the AGCO’s Registrar has issued an Order of Monetary Penalty (OMP) totaling $350,000 against Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. These penalties address critical failures in their operations, incident reporting, employee training, and the management of disturbances.

A gaming operator served with an OMP has 15 days to appeal the Registrar’s decision to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an adjudicative tribunal that is part of Tribunals Ontario and independent of the AGCO.

“Casino operators have a fundamental duty to control their gaming environment. Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto’s lapses in this incident compromised the safety of patrons and the security and integrity of the gaming floor,” Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of AGCO, said.

The post AGCO Fines Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto $350,000 for Serious Regulatory Violations Linked to Impromptu After-Party on Gaming Floor appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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