Last October, a criminal gang from Hong Kong was arrested after it was discovered that it had collected HK$40 million ($510,000) using an illegal gambling platform run by the members of the organization. 

Now, further proving its ongoing efforts to crack down on the triads that are usually connected to illegal gambling, sex and drug trafficking, the authorities in the special administrative region have announced the results of another impressive operation with code name Levington. 

Hong Kong Police Sparing No Effort to Block Triads’ Income Sources 

The police forces’ investigation around the city was intended to disrupt the sale of drugs, as well as brothel and gambling activities controlled by gangs and triads. The authorities’ efforts were also aimed at stopping illegal debt collection along with illegal money lending. The operation, which was led by the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau, resulted in the successful confiscation of illegal cigarettes and drugs along with weapons, cards, and gambling chips. 

This was possible after police forces forcefully shut down 15 different gambling dens and two brothels and busted a storage center in Tin Shui Wai that was hiding contraband cigarettes.

The same authorities that announced they would adopt a zero-tolerance policy for the illegal activities of triads arrested a total of 234 suspects. 

The bust covered dozens of suspected members belonging to a number of triad factions such as Sun Yee On and 14K triads. The list included 206 Hong Kong residents and 12 people with origins in mainland China. The other 16 individuals who were busted used temporary identification documents which allowed them to stay in Hong Kong without having a job there. 

The 137 men and 97 women were busted on suspicion of wounding, money laundering, criminal intimidation and damage, possession of offensive weapons, drug trafficking, processing illegal cigarettes, illegal gambling activities, and operating vice or gambling venues. 

The Police Confiscated HK$2M in Gambling Chips 

Besides the HK$220,000 (US$28,039) worth of illegal narcotics that were confiscated as a result of the special operation, the authorities also got their hands on HK$5.9 million ($752,000) from illicit cigarettes and HK$2 million ($255,000) from confiscated gambling chips. The Hong Kong Police Force also managed to successfully seize HK$1.93 million ($246,000) worth of cash, two vehicles, and illegal weapons.

In 2022, the police authorities were handed 2,554 reports regarding crimes related to triads in Hong Kong, a number that was 35.3% higher compared to the previous year’s figure. In September 2022, three police officers in Hong Kong faked a raid in order to protect an unlicensed casino. After their actions were discovered and reported to the police by an undercover officer, the trio was arrested and sentenced to a few months in prison.

The UK Gambling Commission’s (UKGC) fresh data showcases the way players’ overall gambling behavior has been influenced by the environmental changes taking place in Great Britain.

The UKGC data has been carefully sourced and collected from important operators in the industry. However, the report is not a comprehensive one, which means the commission has not sourced data from all existing operators in the UK. The report covers the period between March 2020 and December 2022, inclusive. The commission advises against any comparisons made with the industry’s sets of data based on statistics. 

This is because the current dataset also includes bonuses and free bets and it is not a complete one in terms of participating operators. The information was collected from a number of online and brick-and-mortar licensed betting operators that are oftentimes found on the high streets in Britain.

The main purpose of the fresh release was to allow a comparison between the third quarter of the financial year 2022-2023 with the third quarter of the financial year 2021-2022. Ultimately, the report wishes to establish the way the gambling market has changed over comparative periods throughout the years.

Gross Gambling Yield Down by 2%, Total Bets and Spins Up

The latest UKGC operator data has shown that the online total gross gambling yield (GGY) has gone down 2% in the period between October-December 2022, compared to the same quarter in the previous year. GGY represents the amount that operators retain after paying players’ winnings and before deducting their operating costs.

According to the fresh datasets, Great Britain’s GGY for Q3 2022-2023 reached the £1.2 billion ($1.43 billion) mark. At the same time, total bets and spins went up 8% during the same period on a year-on-year basis. 

British operators also recorded a total number of average monthly active accounts of 3.7 million in the quarter ending December 31, 2022. The figure signals a 13% increase in the quarter compared to the numbers in the same quarter ending December 31, 2021. 

At the same time, the number of total bets and spins went up 2% reaching the 3.4 billion mark between Q3 2021-2022 and Q3 2022-2023. Licensed betting operators’ GGY went up 5% to £560 million ($670 million) when comparing the same two quarters. 

Customer and Operator Interactions and Slot Sessions 

The UKGC report also shows that the number of customer interactions recorded in the third quarter of 2022-2023 went down 10% to 2.9 million when compared to the same quarter in 2021-2022. Most of these interactions have preserved their automated characteristics. At the same time, the number of direct interactions recorded by gaming operators went up by 32% on a YoY basis. 

Slots GGY went up 2%, reaching £582 million ($696 million) between the third quarter of 2021-2022 and the third quarter of 2022-2023. The total number of spins also recorded an 8% growth. 

The number of online slot sessions that were longer than 60 minutes recorded a rise of 11%, reaching the 9 million mark for the first time since the dataset started to be released to the public. 

During the same quarter under discussion, players also engaged in 21% more gambling sessions. Even more, the report shows that 6.5% of all sessions were longer than the 60-minute limit. This represents the lowest percentage since March 2020, when the UKGC initiated the collection of data from operators. 

Finally, players engaged in shorter gaming sessions, with the average length of a gaming session being two minutes shorter, from 19 minutes to 17 minutes when compared to the YoY data for the same quarter. 

Earlier in the week, the UKGC announced that while it would not be enforcing affordability checks on operators, the latter will need to personally implement these checks on their customers. 

TransUnion, a company that is global information and insights provider, confirmed the launch of a new leading solution catering to the gaming sector. The company said Thursday it introduced Open Banking for Gaming, a solution that leverages its market-leading categorization engine that was built with more than a billion transactions.

Thanks to the new solution, gaming operators will be able to benefit from 330 different categories and sub-categories. Those options will enable gambling operators to make informed decisions about their growing customer base and at the same time promote safer gambling.

“TransUnion’s Open Banking for Gaming dashboard enables operators to gain insights into a player’s affordability, with transaction categories and filtering options, to make considered player risk decisions using consented data,“

explains a statement released by TransUnion

Using TransUnion’s Open Banking for Gaming tool, gaming companies will be able to gain unique insights into a player’s affordability. This is achieved via leveraging consented data which helps filter and categorize players’ affordability.

Such information can include employment data, bank statements, warning flags and other data that can help gaming operators determine the affordability of their players. At the same time, this solution helps with compliance as it also may deliver information regarding the source of funds. The whole process, according to TransUnion, is completed “in a matter of minutes.”

The Solution Helps Operators Make Informed Decisions

The latest announcement comes on the heels of a strategic investment made by TransUnion announced late in January. The company invested in the leading Open Banking and data intelligence firm Bud Financial Limited, in an effort to strengthen its Open Banking offering and boost the growth of its solutions.

“We’ve created this new bespoke solution for the gaming sector by drawing on our expertise in affordability assessments.“

Adam Hancox, director of gaming at TransUnion in the UK

Adam Hancox, TransUnion’s director of gaming in the UK, shared his excitement saying that the company leveraged its extensive experience to create this new solution that will help companies within the gaming vertical. According to him, the new solution will help operators make responsible and informed decisions for their customers. Finally, Hancox said that besides strengthening the trust in operators, the new solution helps by bringing an enhanced digital experience for the players.

Details emerged as a part of a trading update released on Thursday which saw the company report fourth quarter revenue of $576.7 million. This result, when compared to the Q4 2021 result of $547.7 million, marked a strong increase of more than 5%.

Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended December 31, 2022, hit $145.8 million. When compared to the $118.7 million result from the corresponding period in 2021, the latest result marked an increase.

A breakdown of the total revenue of $576.7 million for Q4 2022 reveals Bally’s reported growth within its two main operating segments. For the period, the company’s gaming revenue increased to $461.6 million, while the non-gaming segment increased to $115.1 million, up from $458.9 million and $88.7 million respectively.

Focusing on the bigger picture, Bally’s recent report revealed data regarding the company’s overall performance in 2022. Last year, the company’s revenue soared to $2.3 billion. This result, when compared to the 2021 figure of $1.32 billion, marked a significant increase of more than 70% in revenue. Adjusted EBITDA in 2022 increased as well. Back in 2021, adjusted EBITDA halted at $329.9 million, while last year, it increased to $548.5 million.

The Results Bring Excitement to Bally’s

Earlier this month, Bally’s confirmed a planned C-level change. The company revealed that its current chief executive officer, Lee Fenton, would be stepping down from his role and will be replaced by Robeson Reeves. Although the leadership-level change was announced earlier this month, it will be in effect as of March 31, 2023, Bally’s explained.

“We remain committed to taking a deep dive approach in North America to ensure that investments we make in sports have a near-term path to profitability.“

Robeson Reeves, currently president of Bally’s and incoming CEO

Reeves commented in light of the recent financial update explaining that the company is excited to have “achieved record results in both our Casinos & Resorts and International Interactive segments.” Moreover, he pointed out that Bally’s continues to see strong cash flow generated by its core businesses.

According to Reeves, growing further into North America will be a key priority for the company. In conclusion, he pointed out that Bally’s online gambling operators have increased their share in Ontario, as well as New Jersey.

Twenty-one rounds of the 2022-23 German Bundesliga have passed, and the top three teams are on level points. Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Union Berlin each have 43 points right now. Thirteen more rounds are left, but all of these teams have no room for complacency.

In fact, Sunday’s game between Bayern Munich vs Union Berlin could prove crucial for them later on. This is why we expect both teams to give their utmost, which, in turn, will lead to 90+ minutes of absolute joy for soccer fans.

Bayern Munich vs Union Berlin Odds

*Odds taken from bet365 on Friday, February 24, 2023.

When, Where, and How to Watch?

• Place: Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany
• Date: Sunday, February 26, 2023
• Time: 11:30 AM ET
• How to Watch: ESPN+

Bayern Munich Missing Several Key Men

The reason why Bayern Munich are sitting top of the Bundesliga table despite having the same number of points as Borussia Dortmund and Union Berlin is that the reigning champions have a superior score differential.  

Julien Nagelsmann’s men are the highest-scoring bunch in the league, with 61 goals scored in 21 games. They also have the best defense in the Bundesliga, with only 21 goals conceded thus far. What needs to worry them is that one-third of the goals they allowed this season happened in their last five games. A possible explanation for this is that they’ve been having some injury problems at the back.