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ODDS ON COMPLIANCE UNVEILS GAMBLING AND TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY ALL-STAR ADVISORY BOARD

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3 years ago

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Odds On Compliance, the industry-leading technology and consultancy firm specializing in sports betting, iGaming, and gambling compliance and regulatory frameworks in the US and abroad, has unveiled Tom Auriemma, Michelle Chatigny, Robin Chhabra and Sanjay Chopra as the industry experts who comprise the company’s newly formed Advisory Board.

Tom Auriemma was a pioneer of the New Jersey gaming industry and spent 28 years as a casino regulator in that State culminating in his appointment as the Director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. Auriemma now currently serves as the Chairman of the Compliance Committees for MGM Resorts International, Penn National Gaming and Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment. Joining Auriemma on the Odds On Compliance advisory board is Michelle Chatigny, a 20-year veteran of IGT where she was Vice President, Global Regulatory and Product Compliance, before joining Wynn Resorts, Limited’s Compliance Committee, a position she has held since August 2018. Robin Chhabra is the third expert lending his experience and knowledge to Odds On Compliance. Chhabra is President of Tekkorp Digital Acquisition Corp., and has previous experience including being CEO and Special Advisor to FOXBet, Chief Corporate Development Officer of The Stars Group, and Group Director of Strategy and Corporate Development at William Hill. Sanjay Chopra completes the Advisory Board. Chopra is Co-Founder and CEO of Cognistx, the AI specialists with whom Odds On already has a previously announced partnership.

“I am extremely proud and honored to welcome such a distinguished group of experts to Odds On Compliance as our advisory board,” said Odds On Compliance CEO and Co-Founder Eric Frank. “In our initial group of four we have some of the smartest, most experienced people in their respective industries worldwide, and they will play a strong role in helping us shape the future of our business as we grow and expand in 2022 and beyond. At our core, Odds On Compliance is a technology business, so having the experience that Sanjay brings from Cognistx is invaluable for our whole team, but we are a tech business which specializes in regulatory compliance in the sports betting, iGaming, and gambling industries, in the US and abroad, so Michelle, Tom and Robin very neatly complement Sanjay, giving us the benefit of their combined knowledge, leadership, and experience. We are excited to welcome them all to our team and look forward to working with them in an exciting 2022 and beyond.”

Tom Auriemma is one of the casino industry’s leading gaming attorneys and consultants and is the 2019 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Association of Gaming Advisors for his many contributions to the gaming industry. He is the Chairman of three Compliance Committees: Penn National Gaming, Inc., MGM Resorts International, and Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment. Previously, he was Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Chief Compliance Officer for Penn National Gaming, Inc. Auriemma was a pioneer of the New Jersey gaming industry, and spent 28 years as a casino regulator in that State before culminating in his appointment as the Director of the Division of Gaming Enforcement. Auriemma received his Juris Doctor degree from Seton Hall University School of Law where he graduated second in his class.

Michelle Chatigny was previously with the Nevada Gaming Control Board. After her departure she joined IGT, one of the world’s largest gaming suppliers that was licensed and conducting business in every jurisdiction in the world where gaming was legal. As acknowledged by regulators, IGT set the “gold standard” for compliance in the gaming industry. Michelle remained with IGT for just over 20 years and was responsible for its global compliance efforts, including but not limited to licensing, product approvals, suitability determinations, corporate security, the IGT Compliance Committee, as well as the Company’s Code of Conduct, and internal integrity reporting matters. Michelle previously served on The Stars Group Compliance and Political Activities Committees, and currently serves on the Wynn Resorts, Limited Compliance Committee, a position she has held since August 2018. She was also elected to the Wynn Resorts, Limited Special Litigation Committee in October 2018. Michelle is currently a member of the International Masters of Gaming Law and the International Association of Gaming Advisors.

Robin Chhabra is President of Tekkorp Digital Acquisition Corp and has been at the forefront of corporate acquisition activity within the digital gaming landscape for over a decade. His experience includes leading corporate strategy, M&A, and business development at two of the global leaders in the digital gaming industry, The Stars Group and William Hill, and a leading supplier, Inspired Gaming Group. At The Stars Group, Robin was Chief Corporate Development Officer, and served as the CEO of FOX Bet, the leading U.S. online gaming business which is the product of a landmark partnership between The Stars Group and FOX Sports, a transaction which he led. While with The Stars Group, Robin led several transactions which transformed The Stars Group into the largest publicly listed online gambling operator in the world with revenues of over $2.5 billion. Previously, he was Group Director of Strategy and Corporate Development at William Hill, where he led transactions which transformed the company from a land-based gambling operator in the United Kingdom to a leading online-led international business. This included William Hill’s entry into the U.S. sports betting and online lottery markets via the acquisition of four businesses.

Sanjay Chopra is the Co-Founder and CEO of Cognistx, a six-year-old applied AI company with several high impact AI applications for retail, cybersecurity, supply chain, logistics, and manufacturing. Chopra is also the Co-Founder and CEO of Intellions, a pricing software company. He has over 28 years of expertise in AI, e-commerce strategy, business development and technology and is the winner of the E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year 2000 award for OnlineChoice. He actively participates in promoting entrepreneurship in Pittsburgh and was the Founding Chair of Pittsburgh Social Venture Partners, and a founding charter member of the TiE Pittsburgh. He has also consulted for Goldman Sachs in various strategy and e-commerce projects, and has worked as a software engineer/manager at Federated Investors, Carnegie Group, and Allegheny Management Company. He is an Adjunct Professor of e-Commerce at Carnegie Mellon University and holds an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University (GSIA – Tepper Business School), a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) and Bachelors in Computer Technology from Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT – REC), Bhopal, India.

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BetVictor

BetVictor Canada launches Tracy McGrady Safer Gambling campaign

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6 days ago

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March 31, 2025

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BetVictor Canada has launched its new out-of-home advertising campaign across the streets of Toronto to promote NBA legend Tracy McGrady as its Safer Gambling Ambassador.

Two mobile digital trucks strategically targeting high-traffic areas near Scotiabank Arena, Rogers Centre, and major sporting events will provide prime audience exposure for the campaign, scheduled around Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, and Toronto Blue Jays home games.

To further enhance the campaign’s reach, BetVictor Canada has partnered with Clear Media Group to leverage digital taxi tops across Toronto, providing city-wide exposure with 100 taxis displaying key brand messaging. These digital taxi tops will run during peak evening hours (5:00pm – 9:00pm) on select dates until April 5th, 2025.

The campaign coincides with Problem Gambling Awareness Month, a nationwide grassroots campaign held each March that seeks to increase public awareness of problem gambling and promote prevention, treatment, and recovery services.

BetVictor Canada offers an array of tools and services to help its Canadian customers bet and play safely and responsibly, across a host of sports betting markets and online casino games.

Mark Harper, Head of Emerging Markets at BV Group, said: “BetVictor is delighted to be participating in the National Council of Problem Gambling campaign in March, to help increase public awareness of problem gambling and the need to promote prevention, treatment and recovery services.

“In using our Safer Gambling Ambassador, Tracy McGrady, to raise awareness about BetVictor’s safer gambling tools such as loss limits, time alerts and product restrictions we are dedicated to ensuring all players have a safe gambling experience. #PGAM2025.”

The post BetVictor Canada launches Tracy McGrady Safer Gambling campaign appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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AGCO

AGCO issues $110,000 in penalties to BetMGM Canada for offering cash to induce new gambling customers

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6 days ago

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March 31, 2025

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The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has served BetMGM Canada Inc. with an Order of Monetary Penalty (OMP) of $110,000 for violations of the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming.

In two separate incidents in 2024, BetMGM engaged marketing companies who offered cash to members of the public in return for opening new BetMGM accounts. The marketing activities occurred in public forums, such as a major national trade conference. Under AGCO’s Standards, operators are responsible for the conduct of their third-party suppliers who are contracted to support the operator’s Ontario gaming business, and must require their third-parties to meet Ontario laws, regulations and standards (Standard 1.19).

Ontario is one of the first jurisdictions in the world to establish and enforce rules that strictly limit high-risk inducement advertising and marketing in the online gambling industry. Registered iGaming operators are prohibited from offering gambling inducements, bonuses and credits as part of their broad public advertising and marketing activities (Standard 2.05). These Standards exist to protect Ontarians from predatory advertising and promotional marketing practices in order to limit the risk of gambling-related harm.

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

QUOTE

“Responsible gambling safeguards and the protection of Ontarians on registered gaming sites is among our key priorities. The AGCO monitors the activities of all registered operators and their third-party suppliers to ensure they are meeting our high standards and we continue to take strong action to ensure they operate within the public interest.”

Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar – AGCO

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

BetMGM Canada Inc. failed to comply with the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming. Specifically, the licensee failed to comply with the following provisions of the Standards:

  • 1.19 Operators are responsible for the actions of third parties with whom they contract for the provision of any aspect of the Operator’s business related to gaming in Ontario and must require the third party to conduct themselves in so far as they carry out activities on behalf of the operator as if they were bound by the same laws, regulations, and standards.
  • 2.05 Advertising and marketing materials that communicate gambling inducements, bonuses and credits are prohibited, except on an operator’s gaming site and through direct advertising and marketing, after receiving active player consent.

Contrary to the Standards, BetMGM Canada Inc. and/or their affiliates allegedly engaged in the following activities:

a) On or about January 13 and 14, 2024, BetMGM representatives were alleged to have attended the National Franchise Show and were offering $100 in cash to new players for opening a new account and depositing $15.
b) On or about March 11, 2024, BetMGM acknowledged that its marketing affiliate “Above the Street” had engaged in prohibited inducement marketing. The conduct resulted in 377 player sign-ups and $127,180.00 in commissions to “Above the Street”.
c) On or about April 13, 2024, another BetMGM marketing affiliate “Maple Leaf Marketing” engaged in prohibited inducements and marketing to induce on-site activations and acquire new players. The conduct resulted in 94 player sign-ups and about $34,000.00 in commissions paid to “Maple Leaf Marketing”.

The post AGCO issues $110,000 in penalties to BetMGM Canada for offering cash to induce new gambling customers appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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BCLC

BCLC Launches “What’s played here stays here” Campaign

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1 week ago

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March 27, 2025

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BCLC’s new “What’s played here stays here” campaign is issuing an important reminder to British Columbians who choose to gamble – specifically that all net profit its operations generate stays in B.C. to help fund critical services like education, health care and community programs.

The campaign also reinforces that all other gambling websites operating in B.C. are illegal and take away funds from critical community programs and services.

“Across B.C. and Canada, we’ve seen incredible groundswell around the importance of buying and supporting local, and that’s no different for British Columbians who choose gambling for their entertainment. We want our B.C. players to know they can find a world-class gambling experience in their own backyard, whether it’s at one of our 33 casinos, 3,400 lottery retailers, or online at PlayNow.com, and that the proceeds from their play with BCLC make a positive impact at home in their community,” Pat Davis, President and CEO of BCLC, said.

Along with illegal online gambling websites, BCLC also competes with Washington State and Las Vegas casinos, all of which aggressively market to B.C. residents.

“BCLC continues to raise awareness that these gambling options do not support B.C.’s economy and take away funds from vital provincial and community-based programs and services. In a time when British Columbians are standing united, we want to reinforce that playing together with BCLC helps make B.C. even better,” Pat Davis added.

The post BCLC Launches “What’s played here stays here” Campaign appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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