The British House of Lords have announced that a select committee will question members of the U.K. Gambling Commission (UKGC) during a hearing researching “the social and economic impact” on the country. The committee will begin hearing testimony at 3:15 pm on February 11.

Two persons scheduled to appear before the committee are UKGC Chief Executive Neil McArthur and Chairman Dr. Bill Moyes. The two are expected to provide insights on how the regulatory organization governs the gambling sector within the U.K.

This evidentiary committee is part of the House of Lords year-long investigation into the gambling industry. It has been led by Lord Michael Grade of Yarmouth who has been seeking to find “reliable facts” on this industry.  He has been hoping to create a better regulatory framework which will help to create better oversight now and in the future.

The leadership of the UKGC will be questioned about their approaches to governing the gambling industry within the country. Much of the questioning is expected to be focused on the direct relationship between the regulatory body and executives within gambling operations. This has become a growing concern, as criticism has been raised against the UKGC by MPs who are concerned about the impact of gambling on the country and the potential conflict of interest for regulators.

The British House of Lords have announced that a select committee will question members of the U.K. Gambling Commission (UKGC) during a hearing researching “the social and economic impact” on the country. The committee will begin hearing testimony at 3:15 pm on February 11.

Two persons scheduled to appear before the committee are UKGC Chief Executive Neil McArthur and Chairman Dr. Bill Moyes. The two are expected to provide insights on how the regulatory organization governs the gambling sector within the U.K.

This evidentiary committee is part of the House of Lords year-long investigation into the gambling industry. It has been led by Lord Michael Grade of Yarmouth who has been seeking to find “reliable facts” on this industry.  He has been hoping to create a better regulatory framework which will help to create better oversight now and in the future.

The leadership of the UKGC will be questioned about their approaches to governing the gambling industry within the country. Much of the questioning is expected to be focused on the direct relationship between the regulatory body and executives within gambling operations. This has become a growing concern, as criticism has been raised against the UKGC by MPs who are concerned about the impact of gambling on the country and the potential conflict of interest for regulators.

They say it isn’t good to put all of your eggs in one basket. That hasn’t stopped MGM Springfield from betting on the legalization of sports betting to play a significant role in their growth in 2020.

Right now, the casino is one of a number of groups that are lobbying the state legislature to legalize sports gambling within the state of Massachusetts. This they feel is absolutely necessary after the casino reported lackluster revenues in 2019 which led to former President Michael Mathis and vice president and chief financial officer Courtney Wenlender stepping away from the company in January.

According to reports, new president Chris Kelley is concerned about stagnant gambling revenue. Employment at the MGM has remained at 2500, which is 500 fewer than what the casino had promised both the state and city it would be able to hire when they first petitioned to receive a gaming license.

Those numbers may take an even bigger hit should the Massachusetts state legislature approve the opening of a new casino within the state. This idea is being strongly considered after the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian tribe proposed building a $1 million resort-casino. In addition, the Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe is looking to add a gambling hall on Martha’s Vineyard.

It was a record-setting month in Ohio as the state’s 11 casinos and racinos announced that they had smashed records for revenue in January. Meanwhile, things are not looking as bright two states to the west. For the seventh straight year, gambling revenues from the 10 casinos in Illinois decreased over the previous year.

In Ohio, all of its facilities combined took in $167 million in revenue after paying out all of their winnings. This was a 19% increase over what the facilities had set as a record in January 2019 when they brought in $141 million.

That kind of revenue is a big deal to the state, which receives about one-third of the total winnings. That means about $56 million went to the state of Ohio last year.

Each of the states four casinos and seven racinos reported an increase in revenue in January of this year as compared to last. Leading the way was the Hollywood Casino Columbus, which took in a total $20.4 million in revenue from their table games and slot machines. Among slots-only racinos, MGM Northfield Park had the highest revenue, coming in at $22.9 million. This was a $1.3 million increase over January 2019.

On February 10, a hearing at the state legislature was being held for three separate bills which would expand gambling in Nebraska. Both sides of the argument provided testimony during the hearings.

The first bill seeks to amend the state constitution. LR295CA would permit the legislature to legalize gambling throughout the state. The other two bills specifically address sports betting. One would redefine the state lottery to include sports betting, LB971, while the other would legalize all “games of skill.” This would include both fantasy sports and poker.

There is a growing push throughout the state to legalize gambling. One group, calling themselves ‘Keep the money in Nebraska,’ has already been working to gather the needed number of signatures to get the measure on the 2020 ballot. To be added as a referendum in November, the constitutional amendment needs at least 130,000 signatures, while the other two bills require about 70,000 each. The group has until July to get the requisite number of signatures to meet the deadline.

Not everyone is happy about the plan, however. Opponents of the bill were also expected to appear before the committee. Included in that group was former Nebraska Cornhuskers head football coach Tom Osborne as well as Johnny Rogers.

Casino operator Melco Resorts & Entertainment (MRE) has won its court challenge of an Australian gambling regulator’s demand for certain company documents.

On Tuesday, the New South Wales Supreme Court ruled that the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) lacked the legal authority to compel MRE to produce documents detailing MRE CEO Lawrence Ho’s connections to companies linked to his father Stanley.

The ILGA launched its inquiry last year after MRE struck a deal to buy a nearly 20% stake in Australian casino operator Crown Resorts. NSW regulators had previously imposed a condition on Crown’s Sydney casino project that the company have no dealings with Stanley Ho due to his alleged ties to Hong Kong triads.

When the ILGA discovered that Lawrence Ho held director positions in companies linked to Stanley, it launched an inquiry into Lawrence’s suitability. MRE paused its Crown deal after acquiring the first 10% tranche but announced last week that it was abandoning its pursuit of the remaining 10%, saying it needed to focus on its existing operations in Macau and the Philippines while the coronavirus crisis rages on.

Greece’s casino market underwent a significant decline in the final quarter of 2019 thanks to new smoking laws, while Hard Rock International’s CEO explains why he believes the fix was in for the Hellinikon integrated resort casino.

Official figures from Greece’s Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) show the land-based casino market generated revenue of €54.5m in the final three months of 2019, down 17.2% from the same period in 2018. The pace of decline accelerated each month, from -2.6% in October to -19.3% in November and -27.7% in December.

The culprit is the country’s new rules on smoking in public indoor areas, which took effect on October 16th. Similar laws have been on the books since 2009 but enforcement only became a reality after the new government — led by a strident anti-smoking advocate — took power.

Crucially, the new rules eliminate the exemption for large entertainment venues that had gone to the trouble to erect dedicated smoking areas. Smokers are now banished to areas off the gaming floor where there are at least two open sides, but – unlike casinos in some US states – Greek casinos aren’t (yet) allowed to put gaming options in these outdoor spaces.

After six years of fierce but friendly competition, the MPN live tour has come to an end with a Main Event in Madrid creating yet another delighted winner.

Martin Piik will forever have the final MPNPT title to his name after his victory over Richard Liu heads-up in Madrid and as well as creating history, Piik won a huge €52,000 in the process.  He was over the moon after clinching the win.

“It’s incredible!” he told the MPN team after the event. “To be honest, the money doesn’t mean anything – it’s the title and trophy I care about. It’s just amazing.”

The stunning Gran Casino in Madrid is an oasis of gambling and gaming opportunity that rises out of the desert-like arid landscape of the region just outside the centre of the Spanish capital and never was that more the case than this past weekend. With just 30 players of the 575 entries still in their seats by the time the final day kicked off, the lion’s share of the prize-pool of over a quarter of a million Euros (€278,875 to be precise) was still up for grabs, with just 71 players paid.

A pulsating Milan derby saw Inter Milan come from two goals down to rally in an incredible second half to come back from the dead and rise to the summit of Serie A.

The derby was billed as a potential classic, and would eventually deliver on that potential, but for the home side at the shared San Siro stadium, a half to forget kicked off this most memorable of matches. Inter were insipid in the first 45 minutes, negated by Milan’s defensive rallying and energy in midfield. By comparison, I Nerazzurri looked pedestrian, and when Zlatan Ibrahimovic assisted Ante Rebic for the opener, it was no less than the Rossoneri deserved. When Ibrahimovic himself headed in from close range right on half-time, it looked like the death knell for Inter’s hopes in both the game and, by extension, the title race.

Momentum is everything, after all. But instead of the clanging chime of doom to Inter’s ambitions, the two-goal deficit inspired them to ring the changes and turn the game on its head. Six minutes into the second half, Marcelo Brozovic volleyed a goal back, and when Matias Vecino equalised two minutes later, the comeback was on.

If there was a period of uncertainty, neither side wishing to concede, then it always looked likely to end, and when Stefan de Vrij headed home for 3-2, it was the Dutchman’s first header since the corresponding fixture a year earlier. Now A.C. Milan needed to push for an equaliser, and they went for it with everything they had, Ibrahimovic not content with becoming the oldest player to score in the Milan derby.

UK bookmaker William Hill has confirmed its sports betting media partnership with US broadcaster CBS Sports.

Following several weeks’ worth of rumors and reports of failed talks, Hills and CBS confirmed their ‘strategic partnership’ that designates Hills as the Official Sports Book and Wagering Data Provider across all CBS Sports platforms. Financial terms weren’t disclosed but the deal formally takes effect in March and will ramp up in time for the 2020 NFL season.

The deal will grant Hills exclusive rights to promote its betting brand to the 80m or so monthly users of CBS Sports’ digital platforms, while CBS will utilize Hills’ odds and experts to bolster said digital offerings. The official announcement also teased the possibility of featuring Hills’ “data, odds and markets across CBS television programming.”

Hills CEO Ulrik Bengtsson said the CBS deal was “another major step forward” in the company’s US expansion efforts. With Hills already active in 10 US betting states, the “exclusive media, branding and promotional rights” from the CBS deal will “take the William Hill brand further and faster in the US.”