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YGAM calls for Government to support education as part of the Gambling Act Review

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The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM) has told the Government that the need to educate our future generations on the potential harms of gambling is more important than ever, regardless of any legislative changes.

The charity has submitted its written evidence to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) as part the call for evidence for the Gambling Act Review. In their response, YGAM outlined the importance of education and the impact of their portfolio of evidence-led programmes.

The Gambling Act Review has been labelled a ‘once in a generation’ moment for everyone connected to the sector and YGAM believes the process presents an opportunity for the UK to set standards for the world to follow.

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YGAM wants the issue of gambling harm to be is given the same level of focus as other public health issues such as alcohol and drugs. In their response, the independent charity has called for increased long-term funding to be directed towards research, education and treatment and meaningful engagement from the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Education. YGAM has also encouraged the Government to ‘support the progress that has been in the third sector and promote initiatives that demonstrate meaningful impact’. The charity is supporting the notion of a statutory levy.

James Matthewson, Marketing & Communications Manager at YGAM said “The Gambling Act Review presents a much-needed opportunity for the regulation to catch up but also an opportunity to demonstrate the ongoing progress being made to educate and safeguard future generations.  This review will scrutinise all aspects of regulation and, as an education charity, we do not claim to have the expertise to contribute to most of these intricate policy decisions. We believe keeping our young people safe should be the key focus of any outcomes from this review. Prevention is a better solution than treatment and we want Government to recognise that education has a vital role to play.”

The topic of gambling harm prevention now features on the PSHE curriculum in England and whilst YGAM welcomes this, they argue it should be a compulsory awareness session for young people during secondary education. Figures released by YGAM earlier this year show that the education charity trained 2,906 practitioners in 2020 (up from its original target of 2,592) as part of the Young Peoples Gambling Harm Prevention Programme. With this training, those practitioners have reached an impressive 184,700 young people to provide vital educational sessions on the harms associated with gambling and gaming (up from a target of 170,300).

The written evidence submitted by YGAM also calls for the gambling industry must do much more to protect consumers and admits that education alone will not prevent gambling harms. They charity welcomes the introduction of any further protections for young people and wants to see more done to minimise the exposure that children have to gambling advertising.

Lee Willows, Chief Executive of YGAM recently wrote a column for The Times newspaper in which he said ‘we have a responsibility to educate young people about the risks of gambling’ and highlighted YGAM’s close working relationship with the education sector.

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Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Releases Annual Report

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The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (“PGCB”) has released the 18th edition of its Annual Report.

The PGCB’s 2023-2024 Annual Report provides detail on the work of the agency in regulating the Commonwealth’s gaming industry, and also includes:

  • individual revenue figures during another record-setting fiscal year for slot machines, table games, sports wagering, internet gaming, fantasy sports contests and video gaming terminals at eligible truck stops;
  • a year in review report with pertinent statistical figures from the PGCB’s key bureaus;
  • information on the PGCB’s efforts to stop adults from gambling while leaving minors unattended; and,
  • a section on problem gambling and the PGCB’s Self-Exclusion Program.

The PGCB was established in 2004 through the passage of the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act. Since then, it has become one of the pre-eminent gaming regulators in the world overseeing all aspects of gambling in the Commonwealth. Currently, the number of outlets for the various types of gaming regulated by the PGCB are:

  • 17 land-based casinos;
  • 18 retail sports wagering locations;
  • 12 online sports wagering sites;
  • 22 sites for online casino-type games (slot machines, table games, poker);
  • 74 truck stop establishments with Video Gaming Terminals (VGTs); and,
  • 9 online fantasy sports contest sites.

In addition to supporting nearly 16,000 jobs at casinos, overall gaming revenue reached a record high during the fiscal year generating $5.89 billion and resulting in $2.54 billion in tax revenue.

The 2023-2024 Annual Report can be downloaded as a PDF document by choosing Organization Reports under the About PGCB tab on the agency’s website.

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Allwyn International a.s. relocates to Switzerland

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Allwyn, a leading multi-national lottery operator headquartered in Switzerland, announced that the Allwyn entity Allwyn International a.s. (“AIAS”) has relocated from the Czech Republic to Switzerland. Effective 1 October 2024, AIAS has become a Swiss entity (under the new legal name Allwyn International AG) and has transferred its place of business to Switzerland.

As of the date of relocation, the €500 million 3.875% senior secured notes due 2027 (the “2027 Notes”) originally issued by AIAS have been transferred to Allwyn Entertainment Financing (UK) Plc, as substituting issuer. Allwyn Entertainment Financing (UK) plc is the issuer and borrower of certain other Allwyn bonds and loans. AIAS has become a guarantor of the 2027 Notes, which continue to be guaranteed and collateralised pari passu with other indebtedness under Allwyn’s intercreditor agreement dated 16 December 2020.

The relocation has no effect on Allwyn’s workforce or lotteries and gaming operations in the Czech Republic.

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Oddin.gg Breaks New Ground as Ohio Marks its 5th North American Betting License

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Oddin.gg is proud to announce that it has secured a full 3-year sports betting license in Ohio, further strengthening its standing as the esports betting solutions provider with the most licenses in North America. With this latest addition, Oddin.gg now holds four US licenses—New Jersey, Colorado, West Virginia, and Ohio—and a total of five across North America, including Ontario, Canada.

The Ohio license is a strategic milestone, as the state is set to become one of the most active betting markets in the American Midwest. According to projections from the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, the state’s sports gaming market is expected to reach approximately $3.35 billion annually as it matures. By securing this license, Oddin.gg is well-positioned to support operators in tapping into this significant potential.

Obtaining the Ohio license also demonstrates Oddin.gg’s ability to meet the state’s comprehensive regulatory standards, which include arduous assessments of financial stability, operational integrity, and adherence to state laws. This achievement reinforces Oddin.gg’s reputation for compliance and reliability, enhancing its capability to deliver full-service esports betting solutions tailored to a growing market.

Ohio’s sports betting legislation imposes a 10% tax on sports gaming receipts, contributing to public education and initiatives supporting veterans in the state. Oddin.gg’s entry into this regulated environment reinforces its role as a leader in shaping the future of esports betting in the US while offering operators a pathway to engage with a new generation of bettors in a secure and exciting way.

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Vlastimil Venclík, CEO of Oddin.gg, shared his enthusiasm about the news: “Securing a license from the Ohio Casino Control Commission is a significant step in our North American journey. Ohio is poised to become one of the most dynamic betting markets in the US, and gaining this
approval aer meeting the state’s rigorous standards is a true reflection of our commitment to integrity and excellence both in Ohio and beyond. However, this license isn’t just about expanding our reach; it’s about ensuring our partners have access to market-leading esports betting solutions that fully align with all local regulatory requirements.”

He continued, “Ohio’s market is gearing up to be something special, and we’re excited to help operators tap into that potential. As esports betting continues to evolve, Oddin.gg is ready to provide the expertise, technology, and support to make sure our partners succeed.

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