Huge losses

Kindred Group is battling a lawsuit from a prominent fashion designer in Sweden. Per Holknekt is seeking SEK10m (USA$1m) in damages, claiming that the gambling group and its subsidiary Spooniker Ltd contributed to his addiction. The lawsuit hearing began on Tuesday in the Stockholm District Court.

lost more than SEK26m (US$2.5m) on Unibet

The Odd Molly clothing brand founder lost as much as SEK100m (US$9.5m) gambling on 30 different online platforms. Holknekt liked using Kindred brands the most and said he lost more than SEK26m (US$2.5m) on Unibet between 2005 and 2019. In one month alone he spent SEK2.7m (US$257,897).

The majority of the events that Holknekt describes in the lawsuit took place before Sweden’s new Gambling Act came into place in 2019; he believes that Kindred violated the previous laws. The 63-year-old has not gambled since 2018.

Highlighting issues

The designer explained that in certain moments of desperation when he vowed to quit gambling, he would receive a phone call within a couple of days from a Unibet representative who would tell him they had credited his account with bonus money. He believes that the operator was afraid that he had moved to a competing platform. Kindred contested on Tuesday that Holknekt was never a VIP customer, while he said that GDPR excerpts refute this statement.

There is a track record of customers who lost big sums of money gambling online in Sweden receiving damages from the operator. Betsson AB has to pay a former customer SEK5.8m (US$554,000) for “aggravating his mental illness” following a decision in December by the Swedish Patent and Market Appeal Court.

The ruling states that the operator targeted the customer with aggressive marketing and that the staff encouraged him to keep gambling. His lawyer was able to show that the gambling company knew about his serious gambling problem. Holknekt welcomed this decision and also noted that similar judgments have taken place across Europe.

A potentially landmark case

Holknekt has pushed for gambling reform over the years in Sweden. He reportedly compiled a long list of irregularities and deficiencies within Kindred platforms after filing the lawsuit in the summer of 2022. The designer worked alongside data experts to identify how the gambling group allegedly exploits problem gamblers and does not meet its anti-money laundering obligations.

The Swedish government will be implementing new rules in April that will bolster protections for gamblers and introduce higher fines for operators that have anti-money laundering failings.

Holknekt believes that a positive ruling would mean that other people who lost money through platforms that were operating in Sweden before the regulated market launched would be entitled to their money back. These types of rulings are already happening in Germany and Austria. Holknekt is also working on building an app that will allow people to block unlicensed gambling platforms.

The post Kindred Squares Off in Liability Lawsuit Against Fashion Designer Who Gambled Away $9.5m appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

Source link

Stakelogic, the innovative Malta-based iGaming provider, has started the year strong with several new partnerships.

In this sense, it first allied with AB Trav och Galopp (ATG) on January 18th, and then on January 19th, it extended its already existing alliance with 888casino, the flagship online casino brand that is part of 888 Holdings plc.

New partnership with ATG:

With this alliance, Stakelogic hopes to solidify its presence in the regulated market of Sweden and attract an additional number of players from that country. Examples of the plethora of modern and classic online slots that will be hosted on ATG’s platform include Wild Hogs, Wild Wild Bass 3, which is the newest title in the firm’s famous Wild Wild Bass series, and Rooster Mobs.

Among the classic online titles, which blend modern gameplay mechanics and bonuses with old-school designs, players at ATG will have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of titles that include Bar Bells, 7s, favorite fruit symbols, easy-to-trigger free spins and simple mechanics, which will only enhance the overall experience for fans of classic games, according to the official press release.

Furthermore, the provider’s titles are widely-known for their remarkable innovation, meaning that they include engaging gameplay and one-of-a-kind bonus features that are the provider’s trademark.

On a related note, Stakelogic is one of the leading providers known for its innovation, especially when it comes to changing the game with bonuses, as demonstrated via the recent debut of the Super Wheel™ feature. This outstanding feature blends Stakelogic’s remarkable brand of slots with thrilling live casino action. Once activated, it takes players out of the game they are playing and into a live studio. There, they are offered the chance to spin a cash wheel equipped with various rewards including 3 extra bonus rounds.

Extension of partnership with 888casino:

888casino and Stakelogic have a pre-established business partnership as mentioned above, meaning that the Malta-based provider provides its slots portfolio to the aforementioned online brand in Malta, UK and Sweden among other regulated markets. The main reason for this partnership extension is Stakelogic’s goal to continue expanding into the regulated market of Ontario, which is one of the largest growing markets in the industry of online gaming.

In this sense, players at 888casino in Ontario will be able to play the provider’s portfolio of classic online titles, including few famous titles created to evoke nostalgia in players, providing an escape to the good old days when classic fruit machine slots were all the rage.

Beside the aforementioned classic slots, players will also have access to the provider’s modern titles, including the ones mentioned earlier. These games are known to offer an exciting experience to players, blending memorable and stylish designs with unique and explosive gameplay.

Commenting on the partnership expansion, Stakelogic’s Head of Account Management, Daniela Fricchione, commented according to the official press release: “The Ontario market is a key focus for us in 2024, and we are delighted to have a partner like 888casino by our side as we continue this journey. Our partnership with 888casino has proved incredibly fruitful for both of us in Europe, and we are excited to provide our unique brand of online slot action to their players in Ontario. 888casino is an industry-leader, and their players want the best online slots on the market, by extending our partnership, we are providing their players in Ontario with exactly that.”

Group Head of Content at 888 Holdings, Ofir Gal-Mor, added: “Our existing partnership with Stakelogic across Europe has proven extremely popular, adding variety and quality to our casino game lobby and strengthening our position as the go-to operator for players seeking a thrilling online slot experience. We are sure our players in Ontario will also be impressed with Stakelogic’s groundbreaking slot portfolio as we further establish ourselves as a must-play operator in Ontario.”

Massive change on the horizon

While the integration of robots and artificial intelligence (AI) into everyday life seemed like a far-off reality just a few years ago, this is no longer the case. The rollout of ChatGPT to the general public in late 2022 opened people’s eyes to the capabilities of these technologies.

300 million full-time jobs could be automated through AI

Workers across many sectors are now expressing concern over the future of their jobs. The fear is that everything from writers to cooks to accountants to coders could be phased out to some extent in the coming decades if things keep going the way they are. Goldman Sachs has predicted that 300 million full-time jobs could be automated through AI. Could casino jobs be among those replaced by machines?

Automation is nothing new

Robots are already vitally important to many industries. Car factories rely heavily on them to assemble vehicles, while Amazon has more than 750,000 robots working in warehouses to manage inventory. Machines can now carry out everyday tasks with a high level of accuracy.

It often isn’t until individuals see these robots with their own eyes that they begin to realize what’s on the horizon. The recent CES 2024 convention in Las Vegas schooled many casino workers, with some of the exhibits showing machines that can prepare, cook, and deliver food.

Unions across the globe are already aware of the potential dangers of emerging technology. The Culinary Workers Union, which represents about 40,000 casino employees in Las Vegas, threatened strike action for much of last year when fighting for new five-year contracts.

job protections relating to the adoption of new technology

One of the most heavily debated topics during the negotiations was job protections relating to the adoption of new technology. The union eventually secured assurances in the new contracts that workers would receive training on any new technology and if new adoption leads to job losses, people can possibly move to a different role or receive additional severance pay.

Changes to the customer experience

Some Las Vegas casinos already use robots in different aspects of their businesses. They can help lower hefty labor costs and fill in the gaps when there are staff shortages. Robots prepare and serve drinks at bars in The Venetian and Planet Hollywood, while the M Resort has a robot security officer patroling the parking lot. Customers also no longer need to manually check in to their rooms.

A 2019 Nevada Independent article estimated that between 38% and 65% of Southern Nevada jobs could be automated by 2035.

Patrons could theoretically spend their entire stay at a casino without having to directly interact with any staff. They can use the automatic ticketing valet service upon arrival, self-check-in, order room service delivered by a robot, and have machines make their drinks at the bar. If they feel like gambling, they can play electronic table games or slot machines.

Increasing profitability

Casinos are always looking for ways to boost their bottom lines. Replacing non-customer-facing roles like cooks and cleaners with machines could be a big money saver without compromising the guest experience.

The savings that it could achieve through automation could be substantial.

Robots won’t need health or retirement benefits, can work longer hours, don’t go on strike, or get paid. MGM Resorts International employs about 75,000 people around the world and the company accrued payroll-related liabilities of $478m in 2022. The savings that it could achieve through automation could be substantial.

A powerful robot vacuum cleaner would cost about $30,000 and a bartender machine would typically cost between $100,000 and $200,000. While repairs and replacements will be necessary from time to time, casinos will weigh the trade-offs to see what will be the most beneficial to their long-term profitability.

Not entirely gloomy

While nobody will be able to stop the continual march of new technology and jobs will inevitably be lost, it isn’t total doom and gloom for casino workers. There will always be a place for the human touch in the service industry. People enjoy chatting with bartenders and wait staff, rather than sitting in silence sipping their drinks. They like interacting with dealers and their fellow players when gambling.

Concerns remain about underage people bypassing robot bartender systems to purchase alcohol. Bots also struggle to identify when to cut someone off after they have had too many drinks.

Many casino workers don’t even oppose some level of automation as it would mean a lighter workload. They do want to get a proper heads-up from employers about its arrival, though. A more efficient workplace in which robots take over certain unsavory or labor-intensive jobs could even help boost the happiness levels of the workforce.  

The post Are Robots Coming to Replace the Jobs of Casino Workers? appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

Source link