iGaming Industry
Rome City leaders target gambling
You can guess there’s illegal gambling going on, Rome City Commissioner (Georgia) Bill Collins said, when there’s a parking lot full of cars but no visible customers in the convenience store.
“They know to go to the back room for the machines,” Collins said. “It’s odd that the state is not paying more attention.”
City commissioners are pressing for more control over video gaming machines, which are licensed by the Georgia Lottery Corp. They asked local lawmakers for help during a meeting last week ahead of the 2018 General Assembly session slated to start in January.
The Legislature considered banning the machines in 2013, but ultimately decided on stricter regulation that includes a direct connection to the state lottery’s centralized accounting system. The information also can be cross-checked with reports to the Georgia Department of Revenue.
Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, R-Rome, said complaints from municipalities are escalating but he hasn’t yet seen much legislative support for a change.
“I don’t think the system works, but I lost on that vote in the Senate,” Hufstetler said. “They knew there’s a lot of illegal activity, but the argument was the DOR would control it. It wasn’t a workable solution, and we’ve seen this around the state.”
The law limits prizes to store merchandise, fuel or lottery tickets — but there’s no dispute that cash is paid out in some places. The illegal payouts draw more players, which makes the legal machines more profitable for both the merchant and the state.
Mayor Jamie Doss noted an increase in crime around stores that keep large sums of money to pay winners under the table. And local governments own neither the power to license the machines nor a share of the revenue.
“Convenience stores pop up all over, and it seems like their primary purpose is putting these machines in,” Commissioner Craig McDaniel said. “We’re hearing some of them get $20,000 to $30,000 a month from the Lottery. The cities aren’t getting any of that.”
The Lottery Corp., established to help fund HOPE Scholarships and Pre-K education, keeps a share of the monthly proceeds from each machine and distributes the balance to the licensees. It also gets annually a $5,000 base license fee from the owner of each business with video gaming machines, plus $125 a machine, along with $125 per machine from the holder of the location license.
As it stands, however, there are no local reporting duties. City Manager Sammy Rich said allowing cities to require permits would help track the activity and enable them to address complaints from residents.
“We feel like we need to have some role in the regulation of our town,” City Clerk Joe Smith added.
But Hufstetler said that argument may be a hard sell, since the state already knows where the gaming machines are.
“It’s not that it’s an illegal machine. It’s being used illegally,” he said.
Rep. Katie Dempsey, R-Rome, said that, for now, the best suggestion to “clean up Rome” is to ask for a state investigation at the stores where cash payoffs are suspected.
“Illegal machines are absolutely the enemy of the DOR. They want to know,” Dempsey said. “The DOR would be glad to swoop in. You have an ally there.”
She and Hufstetler said they favor banning the machines but complaints to state lawmakers haven’t been loud enough to outweigh calls to keep them, as revenue-generators for businesses and schools.
City commissioners said they would continue trying to rally support through the Georgia Municipal Association, whose members are seeing the fallout in their communities as well..
“The families who can least afford to be impacted are the ones who are most affected,” McDaniel said.
For a link to a Georgia Lottery Corp. video on gaming machines: Click here.
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Source: EEGaming.
Supremeland Gaming, the emerging brand in American iGaming, announced the approval of an interim Supplier License in West Virginia, further solidifying its position as a key player in the rapidly expanding iGaming industry. This milestone marks the company’s third approval following the successful acquisition of the first approvals in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Supremeland Gaming is approved to operate under this interim license and is now authorized to offer its cutting-edge innovation to the Mountain State.
Supremeland’s game portfolio has garnered international appeal since its debut in November 2023. The innovative brand promises cutting-edge slot play, combining immersive storytelling, state-of-the-art graphics, and impressive bonuses.
Rickard Öhrn, CEO of Supremeland Gaming, said: “The acquisition of our interim Supplier License in West Virginia is a pivotal step in our journey, reflecting on our dedication to delivering innovative experiences to a broader audience. As we expand our footprint, our commitment to excellence remains unwavering, and we look forward to contributing to the vibrant gaming landscape in the Mountain State.”
Supremeland is gaining traction for its emerging portfolio of top-notch games, including Red Panda Rising and the international debut title, Munition Mine, underscoring its commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation in the iGaming industry.
Pragmatic Play, a leading content supplier to the iGaming industry, is continuing its momentum in the Latin American market, after signing an agreement to take its three biggest products live with Betsala.
The agreement will see Pragmatic Play’s full portfolio of award-winning Slot content go live, including recently released Slot titles Loki’s Riches and The Big Dawgs in addition to familiar player-favourites such as Sugar Rush and Gates of Olympus.
Betsala customers will soon gain access to Pragmatic Play’s Live Casino products upon integration being completed. The sector has been a focus for the provider over the previous 12 months with releases such as the dynamic Treasure Island game show which complements Pragmatic Play’s comprehensive range of casino classics such as Roulette, Mega Roulette, and Blackjack which are also available on the platform.
Completing the product offering is Pragmatic Play’s cutting-edge 3D renderings of popular sports such as horse and greyhound racing, football, and motorsports.
The latest LatAm development for Pragmatic Play sees it further boost its profile across the region where it has cemented its status as a leading supplier of casino experiences.
Victor Arias, Vice President of Latin American Operations at ARRISE powering Pragmatic Play, said: “Proving LatAm is still a key source of growth, Pragmatic Play is delighted to now count Betsala as another valued partner in the region.
“Pragmatic Play’s three leading products will soon be on the platform, and we look forward to even more players discovering its robust and engaging offering.”
Albert Bellavista, CEO at Betsala, said: “Pragmatic Play has built a stellar reputation across Latin America for its high-quality experiences, and we welcome them as our latest partner to bolster our offering and provide more thrills than ever.
“Most iGaming enthusiasts worldwide are already familiar with Pragmatic Play’s titles and we know the upcoming addition of its content will come with a great response from our players.”
Pragmatic Play, a leading content supplier to the iGaming industry, is set to make another appearance at a Latin American summit, at SAGSE LATAM in Buenos Aires.
Taking place across two days from March 20th-21st, the event sees iGaming professionals gather at Buenos Aires’ Hilton Hotel for the 32nd edition of the iconic exhibition.
SAGSE LATAM marks the second summit attended by Pragmatic Play in Latin America in 2024, with its new immersive proposal Pragmatic Play Experience, after an extremely successful exhibition tour in 2023, which saw the provider make inroads across the continent and impress industry representatives.
The gaming provider will be at Stand 120 to showcase its diverse portfolio, including Slots, Live Casino, Virtual Sports and Bingo content, alongside its brand-new Sportsbook solution.
In addition, Pragmatic Play will be a platinum sponsor of the event, highlighting the importance of such industry exhibitions and the vital role the leading provider plays in them.
Victor Arias, VP of Latin American Operations at ARRISE powering Pragmatic Play, said: “Pragmatic Play is proud to be a platinum sponsor of SAGSE LATAM and to be influential in shaping the future of the Latin American iGaming market. With a comprehensive multi-product offerings and solutions, it is poised to capitalise on the immense opportunities that the region presents.
“With an exciting range of panel discussions and interactivities that the conference brings, it is set to be yet another momentous date in the LATAM gaming calendar.”
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