Monthly Archives: September 2017

Malaysia police vow biggest ever online gambling crackdown

Malaysian authorities are launching yet another national crackdown on illegal online gambling, and this time they swear it will actually produce the desired results.

On Tuesday, Deputy Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Noor Rashid Ibrahim (pictured) emerged from a strategic meeting with his state deputies to announce the formation of an “illegal gambling action committee to plan, analyze, synergize and execute the actions to be taken to completely wipe out illegal gambling once and for all.”

While the crackdown will start with raids on known illegal gambling dens, Noor Rashid said eradicating online gambling was a more “complicated task,” as “they mostly operate through servers located overseas and push their software through multiple collapsible local servers.”

The police plan to coordinate their anti-online efforts with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and internet service providers. The illegal gambling committee also plans to recommend amendments to Malaysia’s gambling laws, which Noor Rashid said contain loopholes that “prevent us from eradicating illegal gambling and allowing such operations to resurface again and persist with their activities.”

Goa’s floating casinos given another six-month reprieve

Floating casinos in the Indian state of Goa have been granted yet another reprieve from their proposed expulsion from the Mandovi river.

On Wednesday, Goa’s state government announced that the five shipboard casinos currently plying their trade on the Mandovi had been given an additional six months to find an alternate waterway to call home. The government had previously announced the casinos would need to find a new home by September 30.

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said he doubted that the government would require the full six months to come up with a solution to relocating the floating casinos. “By December, as promised, we should be able to come out with a policy.”

For years now, Goa’s government has been trying to find a new temporary location for its floating casinos, but ‘not in my backyard’ attitudes seem to prevail wherever the government suggests alternatives.

How WTO, Antigua, Calvin Ayre Overcome US Hypocrisy: Watch the International Debate livestream

Fourteen.

Everyone has a story to tell about this number. It may be a date of their first pay check or your first promotion. Fourteen may also signify the number of failures and successes that a person may have encountered in his lifetime.

Antigua-licensed online gambling operators hold on dearly to this number. Fourteen is the number that reminds them of the years of US’ continued denial of their right to access the US market.

Tonight, the Democratic Institute will tell the story of the 14-year struggle of this Caribbean nation against the US hypocrisy on free trade.

ESSA Nets Hat-Trick of EU projects to combat match-fixing

Brussels, 27 September 2017: International betting integrity body ESSA is to engage in three new anti-match-fixing projects that have been granted funding from the European Commission’s Erasmus+ programme. It will see the association involved in a total of four anti-match-fixing projects simultaneously and is part of ESSA’s on-going policy to participate in and promote integrity efforts on behalf of its members, which include leading global sports betting brands.

Khalid Ali, Secretary General for ESSA, welcomed the successful funding applications stating: “These projects have the potential to make a significant positive impact in the fight against match-fixing. They represent an important part of ESSA’s goal to protect our members, consumers and sporting events from betting related corruption, in collaboration with key stakeholders. We look forward to working closely with our partners and contributing fully to all of the projects we are involved in.”

ESSA has supported the EU Athletes’ player betting education programme since 2010 and its new PROtect Integrity+ project is one of the three that have received Erasmus+ funding. The new project’s aim is to combat the cross-border match-fixing threat to European sport by providing the  first European-wide, athlete-led whistleblowing system. Implemented in the first stage in seven countries and five different sports, the secure mobile application reporting tool will encourage athletes to report approaches and suspicions of match-fixing.

ESSA will also be involved in the T-PREG and Fundacja Ekstraklasy anti-match-fixing projects. The Lisbon and Milan Catholic University coordinated T-PREG project will roll out a programme of workshops designed to educate and deter match-fixing, enhancing the know-how on reporting systems across all levels of sport in at least five EU countries. The Polish football managed Fundacja Ekstraklasy programme will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the reasons motivating match-fixing in European football and seek to implement preventative actions.

Playtech launches game-changing Age of the Gods live roulette

Leading slot brand available in Casino and Live and linked to pioneering 4-tier progressive jackpot for the  ultimate cross-sell gaming experience

London: September 27th 2017 – Playtech has unveiled Age of the Gods Live Roulette providing licensees with the ultimate cross-sell, progressive jackpot product, and slot fans with twice as many chances to win huge cash prizes with every spin of the wheel.

In a first of its kind move, and the first Live Casino Playtech ONE experience, players can play one of the industry’s best performing slot brands across both casino and live casino, offering two unique experiences while also doubling their chances of winning massive jackpots when playing the live product.

Aligning with Playtech’s market-leading progressive jackpot network, the Live product shares casino liquidity for the first time while also offering players the ultimate desktop and mobile gaming experience. Due to this Playtech ONE innovation players have the chance to not only win on the table if they hit the right number, combination of numbers or colour, but also to simultaneously win huge cash sums across a four-tier jackpot with every spin of the wheel.

Betting terminal curbs get Paddy Power Betfair backing

Different bookmakers are now raising their eyebrows after UK-listed firm Paddy Power Betfair surprisingly throws its support on the imposition of heavy curbs on betting machines.

The Financial Times reported that Paddy Power is the first big bookmaker to ever expressed support on the fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) curbs, which may lead to shop closures, job losses, and a hit to the Treasury’s tax receipts from gambling companies.

Citing a supposed letter to Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Minister Tracey Couch, Paddy Power chief executive Breon Corcoran has proposed for the implementation of a machine stakes limit of “£10 or less.”

He is convinced that the FOBT curb will “address societal concerns” and at the same time save the reputation of the whole gambling industry in the long run.

FICO outlines plan to monitor Bitcoin exchanges in new patent filing

To help catch potential money launderers, U.S. data analytics company FICO has developed a system that aims to collect financial data from Bitcoin exchanges.

FICO’s patent application, called “Advanced Learning System for Detection and Prevention of Money Laundering,” describes a programmable system that gather publicly available information from cryptocurrency exchanges and miners to track the flow of digital currencies. The information gathered can be used to create “threat scores,” which bank specialists can use “to identify behavior for a banking customer that is suspicious and indicates high likelihood of money laundering activity.”

“Because emerging payment systems such as mobile and cryptocurrencies may have limited interaction with traditional financial institutions, there are more limited opportunities to detect laundering which involves them,” the filing stated.

To improve detection, FICO said it plans to create “a Cloud-based data store [that] integrates information from multiple sources,” such as “entities associated with legal and illicit Bitcoin exchanges” as well as “entities associated with mobile payment and remittance networks.”

BOSS Gaming Studio integrates a new BOSS platform with Betsoft-provided games

BOSS Gaming Studio has recently signed a deal about the integration of games provided by Betsoft Gaming company with BOSS Platform.

From now on, any Betsoft game could be added to a BOSS Platform-based casino in several minutes. This is a great chance to integrate such popular games like Greedy Goblins, WhoSpunIt, The True Sheriff, Under the Bed and many other modern video-slots. Apart from slot games, Betsoft also offers a great collection of table games, classic slots, video poker and scratch cards.

Anton Chibisov, BOSS Gaming Studio Head of Marketing, commented on the recent agreement: “Another successful integration with a leading game provider was quick and easy. At this stage, BOSS Platform justifies all the efforts made 100%.”

BOSS Gaming studio executives inform that the platform is already integrated with a number of game providers and more are coming. Catalina Lukianenko, Head of Business Development at BOSS Gaming, commented on the integration: “This was a wise and well-thought move, we have a long and long and productive history of cooperation with Betsoft Gaming and we’re happy to explore new opportunities together again.”

Philippine AMLC to issue casino regulatory framework next month

The Philippine Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) will issue a casino regulatory framework by the third week of October, according to the Manila Bulletin.

AMLC is mandated by the Philippine law to come up with an implementing rules and regulations within 90 days after Republic Act No. 10927 or “An Act Designating Casinos as Covered Persons under the AMLA, as amended, otherwise known as the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001 (AMLA)” has taken effect.

“Based on our time line, we might be able to issue one week before the deadline,” AMLC executive director Attorney Mel Georgie Racela said at the sidelines of the SGV seminar on Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism. “We’re looking at between October 10 and 14 to get approval from our respective boards (AMLC).”

Once they issued the IRR, Racela said they will subsequently issue different guidelines.

Tom Horn signs Solid Gaming deal

Agreement will see slots provider’s full suite of games made available via games aggregator

Malta, 27th September 2017 – Leading slots provider Tom Horn Gaming has agreed a deal with Solid Gaming to supply its unique casino content.

The provider’s portfolio of video slots, which can be enjoyed on mobile, desktop and terminal, has been made available to the aggregator and its network of operators.

Titles include Dragon Riches, Tom Horn’s first ever progressive video slot, as well as favourites such as Geisha’s Fan, Don Juan’s Peppers, Crystal Fruits, and Monster Madness.

Win Systems restructures digital presence with website and social media relaunch

Malta, 27th September 2017 – Win Systems, the global supplier for the gaming and entertainment industry, has launched a website spearheading its newly integrated digital presence which sits alongside a revised social media strategy to align its various products and brands.

The decision to renew its social media activity has come as it looks to confirm its position as the solutions supplier for the gaming industry, with the integration of Gold Club now finalised.

The new website, http://www.winsysgroup.com, features modern visuals with an intuitive, easily navigable system. It showcases Win Systems’ full range of casino management systems, marketing and business intelligence tools, including WIGOS, Intellia™ and WinUp™, as well its market-leading Gold Club electronic roulette products and premium GameStar slot machines.

It also features an improved news section which will update visitors on product launches and other relevant stories, as well as an in-depth look at its renowned employee journey.

NYX Gaming Group ramps up investment in Greek development hub

Wednesday, September 27, 2017 – LAS VEGAS, NYX Gaming Group Limited (TSXV: NYX), a market-leading supplier to casino, sportsbook, lottery and bingo operators across the globe, is looking to hire a further fifty people for its NYX development center in Greece.

A variety of vacancies are available at the Athens tech hub, as the provider looks to invest in new talent to drive further innovation in its product development. This well-established hub has contributed significantly to OpenBet’s large global Sportsbook integration and implementation projects over the last five years.

Roles available include front-end engineers, software architects, development managers and BI engineers across sportsbook, casino, lotteries and bingo.

Keith O’Loughlin, NYX Gaming Group Executive Vice President, Sportsbook, said: “We’re undergoing a major recruitment drive as part of our ambition to deliver the next iteration of our sportsbook platform. The hub already houses some of the industry’s leading engineers, and we’re looking to expand our operations by hiring the very best technical talent.

Yggdrasil signs SkillOnNet deal

27th September, 2017 ­­– Yggdrasil Gaming has reached an agreement to integrate its portfolio of award-winning slots with SkillOnNet.

SkillOnNet operates a proprietary platform and a range of B2C brands, including EUcasino, SlotsMagic and PlayMillion, as well as the recently-launched, UK-facing PlayOJO brand.

The integration will give SkillOnNet access to Yggdrasil’s entire suite of titles, including the summer-themed arrivals Spiña Colada and Sunny Shores.

It will also utilise Yggdrasil’s suite of in-game promotional tools, BOOST™, and the social sharing tool, BRAG.

Aspire Global enter Portugal with a new strategic partnership with Media powerhouse Cofina

Aspire Global, the complete iGaming solution for operators and white labels, is pleased to announce its entry to the newly regulated Portuguese market, following an agreement with Cofina, one of the largest Media groups in Portugal.

Aspire Global will be powering Cofina’s Nossa Aposta brand, offering casino games, slots, and sports betting. Nossa Aposta will also benefit from Aspire Global’s comprehensive range of services , including, payments, risk and fraud management, advanced analysis tools, CRM, support and VIP .

Tsachi Maimon, the CEO of Aspire Global was quoted: “I am happy to announce that in line with the company’s long term strategy and growth initiatives, focusing on Regulated markets, we are entering a new chapter in Aspire Global’s continuous success story, while we couldn’t have chosen a better partner than Cofina. Teams on both ends have worked hand in hand diligently, demonstrating professionalism & cooperation levels second to none. I am confident this partnership will be a significant milestone for both companies. Media companies in regulated markets possess a unique opportunity for generating new income streams leveraging their established brands.”

Fernando Paes Afonso, CEO of Nossa Aposta said: “We are very pleased to start operating in the Portuguese online market, offering our players a strait and fun set of games created by excellent and well known providers like Aspire Global, NetEnt and NYX, in a very fruitful partnership with Aspire Global. This is an important step of a journey that has just started, with a common vision based on trust, integrity and added value to the players, that are on the centre of our activity. We’ll continue to invest together on an unique and distinctive offer, made possible by bringing together the media knowledge of Cofina and the wide experience of Aspire Global in the online gambling activity. Above all, players can be confident that both teams will do their best to provide them a great playing experience.”

Are gambling affiliates all F’d?

This is a guest contribution by Graham Carrick, CEO & Founder of RunLastMan. If you would like to submit a contribution please contact Bill Beatty for submission details. Thank you.

You may have seen in the news over the past week or have gotten an email from Sky Bet (if you’ve signed up as an affiliate) that Sky Bet have, with a paltry 30 days notice, decided to disband their affiliate program that drives new players.

This seems a bit harsh on the affiliates right! But a quick check of the T&Cs shows that they’re actually allowed to shut the program down with zero notice so they were being nice with the 30 days.

Sure you may have been thinking so what, it’s just one of hundreds of betting sites! Or that they must just have another weapon up their sleeve to attract thousands of players without paying some chap who runs a football blog 30% of the losses for the next 4 years.