Powell Tribune reported that on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, the commissioners of Park County in Wyoming unanimously decided to decline the Wyoming Department of Health’s offer of $32,141 to address problem gambling. 

Park County Commissioners Unanimously Reject Department of Health’s Offer to Combat Problem Gambling

Wyoming lawmakers recently legalized online sports betting, and the state requires operators to pay 10% of their revenues. The state then allocates the first $300,000 each year to the Department of Health, which then distributes it to county health programs to prevent and treat problematic gambling behavior.

The Department of Health defines problem gambling as the inability to resist the urge to gamble, even when there are negative consequences. It affects about 1% of Americans, and extreme cases can lead to financial ruin, legal issues, job loss, family separation, and even suicide.

The state funding allocated to address the problem is based on the adult population of each county. Although Park County received its share of the $600,000 pot for fiscal years 2022 and 2023, the commissioners decided to decline the offer after consulting with attorneys and health providers.

Commissioner Overfield clarified that Park County already receives several other grants from the Department of Health, which are utilized for Healthy Park County initiatives.

Millions in the US Are Affected by Gambling Addiction

Every year, millions of adults in the United States are affected by severe gambling addiction, while millions more have mild to moderate problems, according to the American Association for Problem Gambling. The insidious nature of gambling addiction makes it a particularly troublesome issue, as it can impact individuals of all ages, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Research from Mindful Brain indicates that a significant portion of individuals with gambling disorder also suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), putting them at a heightened risk for other mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. 

According to the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, various factors can increase a person’s vulnerability to developing a gambling addiction, such as peer pressure, early exposure to gambling, and certain personality traits. Additionally, rare cases involve medications that have side effects leading to compulsive behaviors, like gambling. 

Unfortunately, the social stigma around gambling disorder often leads to individuals hiding their condition and not seeking help, as noted by the Journal of Gambling Studies.

Help is available for those at risk of gambling addiction through hotlines and support services. These resources provide assistance to individuals, as well as concerned loved ones, to address and overcome issues related to gambling.

Leading developer and operator of world-class integrated resorts, Las Vegas Sands, acknowledged the importance of responsible water use and vowed to further reduce its use by 2025. The announcement came Wednesday and coincided with World Water Day, an initiative designated by the United Nations (UN) to reaffirm the importance of access to fresh water.

World Water Day, which happens annually on March 22, encourages businesses, communities and families to help preserve fresh water by managing their consumption better. The initiative is also a part of the UN Sustainable Development plan.

“Water stewardship is one of Sands’ core environmental focus areas under the Planet pillar of its global corporate responsibility platform, and the company has set a 2025 target to reduce potable water use per square foot by 3% from a 2019 baseline,“

reads a statement released by Las Vegas Sands

Now, in light of World Water Day, Las Vegas Sands confirmed its plans to reduce potable water use per square foot by 3%. The target year set for this ambitious initiative is set for 2025 based on the 2019 baseline, explained the company.

Sands added that it expects this target to be achieved by preserving water use and improving its water operations within different segments of the business. At the same time, the company vowed to continue to offer supreme services for the guests of its properties.

The Company Remains Focused On Preserving Water

Sands, just like other globally recognized gaming operators, has an extensive sustainability program that also focuses on responsible growth and reducing environmental impact. This year, for World Water Day, the company shared “its water stewardship efforts,” which include multiple actions that seek to increase water reuse, protect water ecosystems and encourage water efficiency.

Previously, Sands has invested in low-flow water fixtures within different operating segments such as fountains, spas and hotel rooms, among other places where water is needed. Moreover, the company has implemented efficiency upgrades that contribute toward saving water and confirmed that this process will continue in the future as well.

“Water is one of the resources most critical to our business.“

Katarina Tesarova, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer at Las Vegas Sands

Katarina Tesarova, Las Vegas Sands’ senior vice president and chief sustainability officer, explained that water represents one of the critical resources for the company’s business. She outlined that water is used within all aspects of the business including restaurants, offices, hotel rooms and more. “Water also is fundamental to our building operations, from cooling systems to landscaping” added Tesarova.

She pointed out that the initiative seeks to make a positive impact and help preserve fresh water and natural ecosystems. Finally, Tesarova noted that Sands is continuously improving its water stewardship strategies in an effort to implement best practices.

Responsible gambling is one of the hot topics of the modern gambling industry as many markets and operators seek to protect players from harm. Australia, according to the BBC, is not doing all that well.

According to the news outlet, about 1 in every 100 Australians has some sort of a gambling problem. Much of the harm is caused by electronic slot machines or poker machines, both known as pokies by locals.

Some of the most vulnerable people sometimes end up in debt, spending thousands on losing bets. A recent estimate by H2 Gambling Capital shows that if gambling losses were averaged over all adult Australians, each of them would lose around $800 (converted to USD) a year.

A Former Addict Spoke with the BBC

BBC spoke with Kate Seselja, a former addict who once lost $336,000 to gambling. She played for 12 years and would sometimes cry when her money ran out. She even contemplated suicide but finally decided against it because she was pregnant with her sixth child at the time.

Seselja said that she had felt “emotionally done” with her existence and wanted to end it all but didn’t want to end her child’s life.

Seselja says that people are always warning others about smoking and alcohol but pokies are rarely mentioned in such conversations. She was introduced to pokies at the age of 18 when she wagered $20 and won hundreds. This made her feel lucky and clever, which is why she continued to play as her addiction worsened.

Eventually, the woman started spending all her money on gambling and even began lying to her family in order to get money for gambling. Luckily, after more than a decade, Seselja managed to overcome her addiction. However, she was but one of many Australians struggling with problem gambling.

Pokies Are Everywhere

One of the biggest problems about pokies is how ubiquitous they are. Despite housing just 0.33% of the world’s population, the country fields a whopping fifth of all pokies. These can be found in casinos, pubs, clubs and even hotels.

Games are often designed to be addictive and to congratulate players even when they are losing money. To make matters worse, pokies are oftentimes concentrated in vulnerable communities. Dr Livingstone from Monash University told the BBC that this is nothing short of exploitation of at-risk people.

While Australia’s Gaming Technologies Association says that the machines are fair and designed with safer gambling in mind. A spokeswoman noted that millions of people enjoy the vertical harm-free. However, Seselja argues that even if not all people experience harm, that doesn’t mean that the game is harmless.

Perrottet Hopes to Reform NSW Gambling

Many people in Australia and New South Wales in particular hope for a change. With elections looming in the Australian state, some hope that the problematic machines will finally be addressed.

Should he get re-elected, Premier Dominic Perrottet promises to introduce spending limits and make all machines cash-free within five years. Despite the favorable pokies tax revenue, Australia cannot continue to benefit from people’s misery, Perrottet says.

However, not all agree with Perrottet and his measures. While certain organizations and reformed addicts such as Seselja have welcomed his proposal, others say that he should instead focus on banning criminals from gaming rooms, instead of forcing everyone to go cashless.

At the same time, ClubsNSW continues to lobby against significant changes in the sector, because of the negative impact they may have on its members. Pressure from the union previously prevented an earlier attempt by MP Andrew Wilkie to introduce gambling reforms.

Wilkie hopes that Perrottet will be able to do better and introduce his reforms in spite of the opposition. However, Seselja is less optimistic about Perrottet’s re-election. She grimly noted that Australia is the number one country in terms of gambling harm and that there is something “profoundly wrong there.”

As VP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Blake will build on his previous successes with the NHL. His employee learning programs helped unify the organization and usher beneficial behavioral changes even among the senior executive team. Blake joins IGT at a pivotal moment for the company as it continues to pursue expansion through high-profile partnerships.

Blake’s Resume Makes Him Perfect for the Position

IGT’s new VP of DEI started his professional journey as a career management consultant for JP Morgan Chase. His ten years with the company were a solid foundation for his future career growth, honing his learning and coaching skills. Blake used the experience to found his own training and coaching company Achieve Peak Performance, providing services across various industries.

Between 2013 and 2019, Blake occupied senior leadership positions across several high-profile organizations, building HR capabilities, ushering organizational transformation, and bolstering cultural strategy development. His most recent job with the NHL was a pivotal step in his career, allowing him to apply all his accumulated knowledge to advise NHL Clubs on recruitment, culture, and diversity-minded growth strategies.

The Developer Continues to Excel across the USA

IGT congratulated Blake on his addition to the management team, lauding his inclusion teaching experience across the entire corporate ladder. The new VP of DEI should substantially bolster the company’s professional development, advancing organizational goals through building consensus and understanding. Adding such a seasoned professional to the management team matches the developer’s commitment to progressiveness.

IGT is committed to… fostering a diverse culture of respect and inclusion. We have no doubt that Brian will continue to build upon (our) solid foundation and achievements…

IGT official statement

Blake joins IGT in a fluid and dynamic period. The company recorded stable 2022 financial results, posting a 3% year-on-year revenue increase to $4.2 billion. The lottery solution supplier generated good cash flow while promoting future growth. IGT’s momentum has remained strong in 2023, thanks to several new milestone agreements.

The company made significant advancements across North America. A deal with BetSkybox allowed IGT to expand its Ohio footprint, distributing its self-servicing kiosks at restaurants and bars across the state to provide them with retail sports betting. The agreement opened the way for future cooperation and additional expansion opportunities.

IGT has continued to seize new growth avenues, distributing its award-winning content with other industry-leading companies like Ruby Seven Studios and BetMGM. As the developer’s influence across the US grows, maintaining internal cohesion and unity becomes even more vital. Onboarding a professional like Blake is a natural progression toward IGT’s ongoing ambitions to preserve its winning streak.

Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA), the independent peak body for Australian-licensed wagering service providers, has announced a major new appointment. The organization said that it will welcome the experienced Kai Cantwell as its new chief executive officer.

Cantwell will join the company on April 17, 2023, bringing a wealth of experience to the team. Cantwell has distinguished himself as a skillful leader in service delivery and policy development in both the public and private sectors. He has led large and diverse teams through major transformations without losing the public’s trust.

In addition to his experience in senior leadership roles, Cantwell is familiar with Australian law and regulations. He has previously served the cloud tech specialist Oracle in the capacity of its senior public sector adviser.

His earlier experience, moreover, includes more than ten years in the federal government. This included a tenure as the NSW/ACT State Manager in the Commonwealth Department of Social Services.

Cantwell has additional experience in social policy and service delivery, having served as the chief of staff of federal ministers. He was also instrumental in the coordination, development and implementation of the National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Gambling.

Cantwell joins RWA as Australia continues to scrutinize and debate the future of gambling regulation and sustainability.

Cantwell Is Looking Forward to Leading RWA

Nick Minchin AO, chair of Responsible Wagering Australia, welcomed Cantwell on board, praising the new appointee’s leadership excellence. Minchin said that the new CEO has all the skills required to lead the body, which is why he is trusted by the organization’s members.

His deep understanding of social policy, sports, wagering and Government position him perfectly to lead RWA and its members as we continue to promote socially responsible wagering and advocate for the highest standards in the sector.

Nick Minchin, chair, RWA

Cantwell also shared his sentiments on joining RWA, saying that he is honored to be able to join its team. He said that he is looking forward to leading the company and driving further understanding of problem gambling.

I am honored to have the opportunity to work with RWA members, sporting and racing bodies, and governments of all levels to ensure we continue to get the balance right between protections, regulation and freedoms.

Kai Cantwell, to-be-CEO, RWA

RWA is one of the main promoters of responsible gambling and increased industry standards in Australia. Its members support 32,000 jobs across the country, paying almost AUD 2 billion in annual taxes and contributing as much as AUD 6 billion to the local economy.

In other news, the Northern Territory Racing Commission recently criticized BetStop, a new self-exclusion scheme in Australia, for its questionable efficiency.

Global gaming content and technology company Aristocrat Gaming, announced a new deal with the fast-growing provider of content, technology, services and hardware for the regulated betting, gaming and lottery industry, Inspired Entertainment. Under the terms of the new partnership announced Friday, Aristocrat confirmed it will deliver virtual sports experiences from Inspired for the National Football League (NFL).

The delivery of the new virtual sports experiences is facilitated via Aristocrat’s multi-year licensing agreement with the League. Thanks to the collaboration, new NFL-themed virtual sports simulations will enable sports fans and bettors alike to engage in “head-to-head in fast-paced, ultra-realistic simulated matchups.”

The new simulations will offer the users options just like a standard sportsbook such as over/under, money line bets and more. To further strengthen the engagement with the NFL, the virtual sports simulations will feature different NFL-themed images including all 32 team logos, the famous NFL shield, the Super Bowl, AFC and NFC Conference logos.

The Deal Brings Excitement to Inspired, Aristocrat

Brooks Pierce, Inspired’s president and CEO, explained that the company is delighted to join forces with Aristocrat and the NFL. He pointed out that the collaboration will deliver unique experiences for NFL fans even during the off-season. Finally, Pierce said that the company is looking forward to seeing the partnership lift off and engage with millions of NFL fans.

“We are delighted to work with the NFL and Aristocrat Gaming on this historic new simulated gaming experience to bring fans a unique way to connect with the game, even in the off-season.“

Brooks Pierce, president and CEO of Inspired Entertainment

Hector Fernandez, Aristocrat Gaming’s CEO, shared similar excitement about the latest announcement. He pointed out that Inspired will help connect NFL fans and deliver engaging entertainment. Finally, he noted: “As part of our overall NFL strategy, we are thrilled to tap into the global appeal the NFL offers to current and new fans and casino, sports betting, and lottery players.”

“Through Inspired, this NFL license expansion into virtual sports presents a ground-breaking entertainment option that’s never been done before.“

Hector Fernandez, CEO of Aristocrat Gaming

Earlier this month, Aristocrat’s Anaxi announced a new partnership with Caesars. The terms of the collaboration saw Caesars Sportsbook & Casino elevate the experience for its customers. At the time, Aristocrat confirmed that Caesars will benefit from leading online gaming experiences provided by Anaxi.

The Netherlands will proceed with its plans to restrict gambling advertising. The harsh measure was announced by Frank Weerwind last summer, with the minister planning to ban the first set of ads on January 1, 2023. However, the ban was eventually delayed because of public consultations regarding the law.

Now, Weerwind has announced that the ban on untargeted gambling ads should happen by July 1. As a result, the other planned bans will also be delayed. Thus, TV program sponsorships should be banned from July 1, 2024, with sports sponsorships to follow on July 1, 2025.

Weerwind added that if the ban on untargeted ads is further delayed, the other two bans will also be postponed accordingly. This will provide operators, TV companies and sports teams with enough time to prepare.

Weerwind made his statement as a response to questions from other parliamentary members. However, the minister added that he is against the idea of suspending an operator’s license after two violations have been identified.

Weerwind Opposes the Two-Strikes-You’re-Out Model

The Netherlands, known for its strict gambling regulations, is bullish on protecting the youth from being bombarded with gambling content. A survey from a year ago proved that young adults are exposed to tons of ads, while minors still encounter promotions on TV and radio.

In the wake of such concerns, Dutch lawmakers proposed restricting gambling ads and temporarily suspending the license of big-time offenders. Under the proposed two-strikes-you’re-out model, the Netherlands will be able to temporarily suspend operators if they commit two or more offenses and promote to young people.

However, Weerwind said that the rules should be enforced proportionally. In addition, the minister noted that the local regulator should be able to correct its licensees’ mistakes once they have been identified.

Weerwind noted that conversation often leads to compliance. He said that the regulator is also able to impose periodic penalty payments when necessary and, if a violator still fails to comply, further fines can be imposed.

Weerwind added that the Kansspelautoriteit can also prevent payment providers from accepting payments from incompliant companies – a measure that he believes is much better than a two-strikes-you’re-out model.

Overregulation Allegedly Does More Harm than Good

While the Netherlands continues to be keen on regulating the online gaming market, some have suggested that overregulation might have adverse effects.

In a recent letter to the Dutch House of Representatives, affiliate companies claimed that certain bans encourage customers to play with illegal operators. Since offshore companies rarely offer the same safeguards that their licensed counterparts do, channeling players toward the black market can be very dangerous, the letter said.

The affiliates asked the government to rethink its stance on certain sports betting markets that are currently prohibited in the country.