New Jersey firearm enthusiasts recently got some positive news as the state lifted a ban that prohibited the carrying of guns in casinos. However, this doesn’t mean that customers can just waltz in armed, as casinos will still prohibit visitors from carrying weapons.

The State Cannot Enforce a Gun Ban at Casinos

New Jersey is currently a battleground of ideals where pro-gun and anti-gun supporters are each trying to get their way. Recently, however, pro-gun activists had a breakthrough as a judge lifted the ban on guns in casinos, among other places.

Anti-gun lawmakers were trying to propose a new gun bill that would impose certain limits on where firearm owners can carry guns. It sought to prevent firearms at casinos, parks and other public areas.

However, pro-gambling lawmakers quickly deemed the aforementioned restrictions unconstitutional and shot them down. Judge Renée Marie Bumb restrained the bill and prevented the state from banning concealed carry in certain public places. While firearms remain banned at hospitals, airports, zoos, playgrounds and youth sporting events, they are now allowed in vehicles, museums, libraries and other recreational facilities.

As a result, bringing a gun to Atlantic City’s casinos is technically not illegal now. However, in practice, things are not as simple as that.

Private Properties Can Still Ban Firearms

As announced by Mark Giannantonio, the president of the Casino Association of New Jersey, casinos will leverage their right as private property owners to still ban firearms on their premises. In a statement, Giannantonio said that this is all to protect the safety and well-being of the guests.

Considering the Court Order temporarily restraining enforcement of the State law prohibiting the carrying of concealed firearms in public places, including casinos, all of the Atlantic City casinos are exercising their rights, as private property owners, to prohibit the carrying of firearms on their premises.

Mark Giannantonio, president, Casino Association of New Jersey

New Jersey Monitor later reported that the Casino Association’s decision has offended the pro-gun community. The Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs’ president, Scott Bach, said that not allowing the customers to defend themselves infringes their rights.

If the casinos don’t provide their own armed security, they’d better have good liability insurance.

Scott Bach, president, Association of NJ Rifle & Pistol Clubs

Meanwhile, Atlantic City casino customers and lawmakers continue to debate the future of smoking in casinos. Anti-smoking activists argue that allowing smoking jeopardizes the health and wellbeing of casino workers and customers alike.

Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale is something of a legend in sports betting. The owner of the Texan Gallery Furniture retail chain is known for his fervent love for professional sports, his generosity toward his clients and his ludicrous sports wagers. One might think such a person would be one of the first to support the legalization of sports betting in Texas. And they’d be wrong.

“All that Glitters Is Not Gold”

Lawmakers in Texas are once again trying to get a local gambling and sports betting industry going. Currently, there are separate efforts to legalize both casino resorts and mobile sports betting. The sports betting bill was proposed by Senator Lois Kolkhurst a few days ago.

The new legislation follows a failed attempt to legalize sports betting in 2021. The earlier bill managed to secure the backing of some notable lawmakers and many notable sports franchise owners but still failed to pass.

Lt Gov Dan Patrick has been historically known for opposing sports betting. However, some optimistic proponents of wagering believe that his close ties with Kolkhurst might lead him to change his stance.

While Patrick may (or may not) change his opinion on expanding the state’s gambling industry, Mattress Mack is certain that Texas is not ready for sports betting – at least not in the proposed format. According to McIngvale, “all that glitters is not gold.”

McIngvale Elaborates on His Stance

Mattress Mack’s biggest concern is that the measure’s proponents are overestimating the revenues Texan gaming companies will earn. In an interview with the Houston Chronicle, the furniture mogul said that lawmakers should carefully examine the facts.

As for his more personal reasons, McIngvale shared that he knows how much of an impulsive bettor he can be. However, each time he wants to place one of his famous wagers, he has to drive to Louisiana, which inhibits his urges, protecting him from harm. He concluded that driving to Louisiana is not that much of an inconvenience and that he actually prefers things to remain that way.

In November, Mattress Mack made headlines by becoming the biggest betting winner in history, earning $75 million from his clever bets on his favorite Houston Astros. Against all odds, the team won the World Series, resulting in what’s probably the biggest payday in Mack’s life.

To this day, Mack continues his sports betting endeavors, winning some bets and losing some.

The figure is for the entire month of January, and although the number of accounts is known, the total bets placed will be available later this month.

GeoComply’s Data Indicates Strong Growth

Data from GeoComply shows that Ohio’s sports betting apps have been enjoyed quite heavily in January. About 160 million geolocation checks came up from Ohio, but this doesn’t tell the story of how many bets were placed, for example, or the size of the bets. This information will come from Ohio’s Casino Control Commission and Lottery Commission.

These geolocation checks are how apps and websites can verify the person placing the bet is doing so from the proper location. In the case of Ohio, for example, it’s the reason why Kentuckians must travel there to place their mobile sports bets. However, the check itself doesn’t only happen when placing a bet – opening the app or traveling can also be triggers.

Therefore, it’s not possible to tell how many of those 160 million geolocation checks were actual bets, and why the data from Ohio’s regulators is so eagerly awaited. Although direct comparisons aren’t entirely possible, it’s noteworthy that Ohio surpassed New York in the number of geolocation checks during launch day and the day after.

There is also information about the number of active accounts in Ohio for January 1 and 2. GeoComply’s data showed that the total active accounts in Ohio were 784,000 back then. This means that Ohio’s betting apps have almost tripled their users within just a month. Given that Super Bowl 2023 is set to attract more than 50 million Americans, this growth might just continue in Ohio.

The Future of Ohio’s Market Looks Positive

Although there is no data to compare Ohio to other states for the entire month, there’s another metric in which Ohio is a clear leader, that’s the number of geolocation checks during the playoffs between January 14 and January 29. Ohio was leading with 87 million checks, followed by New York with 72 million, and Pennsylvania with 65 million checks.

The growth in the number of active accounts, along with the activity they display is probably very attractive for operators who haven’t jumped in the state yet. There were no fewer than 16 digital operators and 13 retail sportsbooks active in the state at launch, including FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars, Barstool Sportsbook, and more.

These figures are also important when looking at Ohio’s future. Strongly developing markets sometimes leave regulation lagging. Not only does this inhibit growth at some point, but it sometimes also leaves lasting effects when corrective measures are late. Fortunately, Ohio had the foresight to implement tighter responsible gambling rules ahead of the launch to combat this.

The allegations claim that the company made false statements regarding their anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing duties. This follows previous similar lawsuits filed against The Star by Slater & Gordon in March 2022 and Maurice Blackburn in November 2022.

Angry Shareholders Join Two New Class Actions Against Star Entertainment Group

Business News Australia reported that the law firm of Phi Finney McDonald is accusing Star Entertainment of making false statements regarding their compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulations from 2016 to 2022. 

They claim that the casino operator failed to reveal crucial information to the market, leading to an inflated share price and negatively affecting shareholder interests. The allegations also include accusations of violating continuous disclosure obligations and engaging in misleading and deceptive practices.

The second class action filed by Shine Lawyers is more or less similar to that by Phi Finney McDonald. The Australian Financial Review reported that Shine has accused Star Entertainment of misleading the public and violating continuous obligation laws, resulting in a decline in their stock price from March 2016 to May 2022. 

In a 308-page statement of claim, the law firm alleges that the casino operator failed to inform the market about the potential risks of money laundering, links to organized crime, fraud, corruption, terrorism financing, and regulatory issues, despite being aware of these matters after a 2018 report by KPMG. 

Craig Allsopp, Shine’s joint head of class actions, stated that investors suffered the consequences of Star Entertainment’s deceit. He will be leading the case with the assistance of Fiona Forsyth, Tim Chalke, and Owen Nanlohy.

Star Entertainment Group Has Struggled with Various Legal Matters for a While

Star Entertainment Group has faced numerous legal challenges as a result of investigations conducted by the gaming regulatory bodies of New South Wales and Queensland.

One of these challenges includes a legal action brought forward by AUSTRAC, claiming serious and persistent violations that left Star Entertainment vulnerable to criminal activity.

The casino operator was hit with a massive AUD 100 million ($69 million) fine and forced to halt operations for 90 days due to a stern stance taken by the Attorney-General of Queensland following the results of the Gotterson review.

Additionally, the Australian Securities and Investment Commission took action against the leadership of Star Entertainment, filing a lawsuit in December 2022 for alleged violations of their directorial responsibilities.

The legal difficulties faced by Star Entertainment Group have their roots in a review conducted by the New South Wales gaming regulatory body into the casino’s eligibility to retain its license. This review resulted in a massive AUD 100 million ($69 million) penalty and a major shake-up of the company’s leadership.

A prediction made by the American Gaming Association (AGA) has outlined a record number of Americans likely to wager on the upcoming American football championship game of the National Football League for the 2022 NFL season.

The event will take place on February 12 at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, when the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs will be disputing the mouth-watering title in front of a massive audience.

Two in 10 American Adults to Place at Least One Bet 

According to data collected from a nationwide sample that counted 2,199 adults, 20% of the Americans who are of the right age for gambling have expressed their intention to make at least one wager on the heated game. 

The percentage represents more than 50.4 million Americans, marking a massive 61% increase compared to last year’s record number of bettors. 

The AGA also expects the amount that will be wagered by these players to more than double compared to last year’s event, reaching the $16 billion mark. The figure will be 66% higher compared to the 2022 statistics.

The rest of the bettors (28 million) have expressed their intention to place casual bets with their friends or to join a pool or squares contest. This figure represented a 50% increase on a year-on-year basis. 

As for their betting preferences, according to the pre-game survey, 44% of bettors expressed their plans to wager on Chiefs. The same percentage of bettors is expected to bet on a win from the Eagles.

NFL, More Interesting to Watch Since the Legalization of Sports Bets 

The association explained that the legalization of sports betting in 33 US states and Washington DC have significantly influenced the rise in interest in the NFL. 

According to the same data, 34% of sports fans stated the expansion of legal sports bets has turned watching NFL into a more interesting activity.

As a consequence of the continuously increasing interest in legalized sports wagers, AGA’s chief executive officer CEO Bill Miller explained the industry will stay committed to “responsibly delivering world-class entertainment, educating consumers about how to bet responsibly, and combating illegal gambling”.

Miller also acknowledged that the yearly Super Bowl is an excellent event that emphasizes the perks of legal betting on sports. 

Among them is the way bettors are protected by regulated markets, the enhanced engagement recorded by sports media and leagues, and the extra tax revenue that reached state budgets.  

Even more, the AGA has shown that over 70% of traditional Super Bowl bettors acknowledged seeing a campaign promoting safe betting in the past year.

Prop betting is also expected to turn into a popular wagering option during the upcoming championship that will be held at a stadium equipped with a sportsbook for the first time in history.

Kindred Group has announced that its Unibet brand has been selected as the official partner of the National Hockey League (NHL) in Sweden. The deal will be celebrated with a variety of activations and exclusive NHL-themed content.

Thanks to this arrangement, Unibet, which is the first Swedish betting company, will be able to engage fans of professional hockey with a plethora of NHL-themed dynamic marketing campaigns across its digital channels.

Kindred’s flagship brand already offers a strong suite of hockey-oriented betting offerings, which will now be further enhanced with the introduction of the aforementioned NHL campaigns. This way Unibet will be able to provide customers with a “more authentic experience,” Kindred believes.

According to the announcement, the partnership will be supported by Sportradar, a sports data specialist that serves as the NHL’s official betting data rights partner. The provider’s ad:s solution powers the NHL with data-driven marketing, helping it grow its online presence and find sports betting partners outside of North America.

Unibet Remains Committed to the North American Hockey Scene

John Lewicki, the vice president of business development and partnerships at the NHL, shared his thoughts on the new deal. He said that the league is thrilled to welcome Unibet as its official partner in Sweden and grow its presence in the Nordic country.

Lewicki praised Unibet for its exceptional commitment to responsible gambling and said that he is looking forward to working with Unibet.

We welcome this opportunity to work with Unibet to continue to engage our robust and expanding hockey fanbase in Sweden.

John Lewicki, VP business development and partnerships, NHL

Philip Lagström, the country manager of Unibet Sweden, also shared his sentiments, saying that he feels honored that Unibet is the first Swedish company to become an official partner of the NHL. Lagström added that he hopes to increase interest in ice hockey and the North American sports scene as a whole because there will be many exciting developments to follow in the upcoming years.

Ice hockey and NHL is very important for Unibet, and we have for a long time wanted to get more involved to cement the position as the customers’ first choice when they want to bet on ice hockey by offering the absolute best, safest and most secure gaming experience.

Philip Lagström, country manager of Unibet Sweden, Kindred Group

In other news, Kindred Group just released an update on its Journey Toward Zero program. Currently, only 3.3% of the company’s revenues come from problem gamblers – a number the betting specialist hopes to bring down to zero.