After it rejected a proposal for a series of measures aiming to protect gamblers from spending more than they can afford at the start of the year, the Department of Justice in Ireland has announced that it was ready to help the Gambling Regulation Bill progress in its 2023 Justice Plan.

Over 140 Actions Part of the 2023 Justice Plan

The Justice Plan for 2023 was officially released on April 6 and it introduces more than 140 headline actions that would help build safer and more powerful communities in the country.

The plan consists of a series of updated actions in fields like anti-social behavior, policing, and family and civil law, among others. It is based on the previously recorded progress under the Justice Plans released in the past two years.

As the third and also the last installment of plans meant to explain the goals belonging to Ireland’s 2021-2023 statement of strategy, the 2023 Justice Plan continues last year’s Plan that originally introduced the Gambling Regulation Bill.

As explained by the country’s Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne T.D., the Bill represents one of the top priorities that would ensure progress in the current year.

The Gambling Regulation Bill Aims to “Meet the Challenges of Gambling Responsibility“

Browne called the Bill which was originally published last December an important milestone as well as much-anticipated legislation needed to “meet the challenges of gambling responsibly in 21st century Ireland.”

The minister added that the 2023 Justice Plan plans on seeing the Bill advance through Oireachtas, which is the country’s Parliament. This would help set up the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, which would be called Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann.

As a main goal, the Bill would display the necessary framework for a “robust regulatory and licensing regime for the gambling sector in Ireland”.

Provided the Bill would pass, it might ban all forms of promotional activities related to gambling. Plus, operators would be forbidden to use free bets as stimuli to convince new players to join them and gamble for real money.

DoJ to Offer Management Services for Establishing the Regulatory Authority

The Department of Justice has announced it was prepared to show its support for the successful implementation of the Gambling Regulation Bill in the following months.

Namely, DoJ will help introduce a complex system for regulations and licensing designated for the gambling sector in the country by offering the necessary management services that would set up the Gambling Regulatory Authority.

The Authority will be responsible for the implementation and close supervision of the laws of the Gambling Regulation Bill.

The same department will also help establish the new chief executive officer Designate of the Authority while overseeing the Bill’s ongoing progress on its path toward “enactment and commencement later this year”.

Last September, Minister Browne appointed Ms Anne Marie Caulfield as the new CEO Designate of the Gambling Regulatory Authority with the intention of facilitating the preparatory work in advance of the establishment Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland.

The Finnish National Lottery’s subsidiary, Fennica Gaming, announced a new partnership, expanding further the reach of its trailblazing digital technology. On Thursday, the company announced a deal with the German lottery operator, offering its services in the state of Hessen, Lotto Hessen.

Thanks to the new partnership, Lotto Hessen will benefit from Fennica Gaming’s range of advanced eInstants, delivering new experiences for its growing customer base. Per the new deal, the lottery will integrate digital solutions, expanding its portfolio.

The introduction of new games by Lotto Hessen will be facilitated via Fennica Gaming’s state-of-the-art cloud platform and game engine, also popular as games as a service (GaaS). The platform will enable the operator to benefit from innovative technology that ensures it is always up to date and meets the high security and quality standards of the gambling vertical.

Moreover, thanks to GaaS, Lotto Hessen will be able to quickly deploy new and engaging games for its customers. Expanding its offering is expected to boost the German lottery’s operations, while at the same time, expanding the reach of Fennica Gaming’s leading technology.

Although the integration of the content from Fennica Gaming has started, it might take a few months until Lotto Hessen brings the new content to its customers. Once the process is completed, customers of the lottery can expect engaging content at some point this summer.

eInstants to Boost the Lottery’s Operations

Joni Hovi, Fennica Gaming’s SVP, said that the company is delighted to team up with Lotto Hessen which is the first lottery in Germany to integrate its eInstant games portfolio. “Today we are happy to start a new era in our cooperation and we believe that our games will be a great fit for Lotto Hessen and that they will provide hours of excitement and entertainment to their customers,” he added.

“We believe that Fennica Gaming’s cutting-edge games will be a great success and will keep our customers engaged and entertained for years to come.“

Alexander Sausmikat, EVP at Lotto Hessen

Alexander Sausmikat, Lotto Hessen’s EVP, added the lottery is excited to sign the new deal with Fennica Gaming and deliver new forms of engaging and responsible entertainment for its customers. Speaking about the negotiations, he said that the process “was smooth, following the industry standards in corporate governance, compliance and integrity.” Finally, Sausmikat predicted that the new collaboration will deliver success for the lottery and Fennica Gaming.

The leading gaming company delivering entertaining and responsible gaming experiences for players within different channels, International Game Technology (IGT), strengthened its US presence via a new partnership announced Wednesday. The company revealed it signed a multi-year deal with the Pueblo of Santa Ana tribe, expanding further its footprint in New Mexico.

Under the terms of the new collaboration, IGT agreed to power the Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel in Santa Ana Pueblo with its award-winning IGT PlaySports platform. Besides self-service betting kiosks, the platform delivers trading advisory services, creating strategic advantages for partner operators.

The new deal supercharges the Santa Ana Star Casino’s sports betting operations. At the same time, thanks to the new partnership with the tribe, IGT expands further the reach of its innovative and award-winning products. Currently, more than 80 gambling venues in Canada and the United States, leverage IGT’s IGT PlaySports platform, benefitting from premium betting options.

The Technology Supercharges Santa Ana’s Sports Betting Operations

Joe Asher, IGT’s president of sports betting, outlined that the new partnership will boost the sports betting experiences for Santa Ana Star Casino visitors. He explained that when the venue initially introduced sports betting, it delivered a new form of entertainment.

“Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel knew that adding sports betting would enhance the gaming experiences available to its patrons when it opened its sportsbook several years ago and we are thrilled that the tribe has decided to upgrade its offering by partnering with IGT.“

Joe Asher, president of sports betting at IGT

Now, thanks to the new deal, Asher said that Santa Ana Star Casino is taking the experience to a new level. Finally, he said that IGT remains committed to delivering unique technology for sports betting operators, helping them grow and enhance the experience for their customers.

“IGT offers a scalable and reliable turnkey sports betting solution that Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel deployed to elevate the performance and appeal of our sportsbook.“

John Cirrincione, CEO at Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel

John Cirrincione, Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel’s CEO, added that the new solution from IGT is both reliable and scalable. He predicted that thanks to the new deal, the casino resort will boost the performance of its sportsbook. Finally, Cirrincione acknowledged that thanks to IGT’s technology, Santa Ana Star Casino will deliver engaging experiences for sports bettors.

Digitain, a leading sportsbook and casino platform provider serving the iGaming industry, has reinforced its team with a new leadership appointment. The company announced that Grigor Asoyan will be joining its team as group deputy chief executive officer of technology with immediate effect.

Asoyan is a Digitain employee who previously served as the company’s chief technology officer. He has worked with the provider for a decade and is familiar with its team and business. During his time with the company, Asoyan has occupied various tech-related positions.

Asoyan Is Looking Forward to Helping Digitain Grow

The newly-promoted CEO of technology commented on his new role. He said that he is delighted by the opportunity to serve Digitain in a new capacity and help the company grow. He said that Digitain, which has been his home for the last ten years, is a brand that he felt delighted to be a part of.

Asoyan noted that he has personally experienced the company’s growth in all areas of operations and across multiple markets. He trusts Digitain to continue evolving and said that he can’t wait to open a new chapter in his journey with the brand.

I will look forward to this next part of my journey with the brand. We have been and will continue to focus on new experiences, innovations, and the latest digital technologies for all our partners and customers to ensure we continue empowering your success within the iGaming supply chain.

Grigor Asoyan, group deputy CEO of tech, Digitain

Digitain’s founder, Vardges Vardanyan, welcomed Asoyan on board, praising the new CEO of tech’s leadership qualities. He said that Asoyan’s experience with technology will help the company cement its position as a leading provider in the iGaming sector.

As we expand our global reach in new and existing markets, his contribution to technology and solutions will further consolidate our market position as a leading iGaming provider.

Vardges Vardanyan, founder, Digitain

Other Recent Digitain Appointments

Asoyan is not the only change to Digitain’s team in 2023. In February, Digitain promoted the experienced Simon Westbury as the chief executive officer of Sport Generate, a sports tournament subsidiary.

The appointment will see Westbury work to improve Sport Generate’s global recognition and, by extension, expand Digitain’s presence. Back then, Digitain noted that this appointment is in line with its ongoing expansion plans.

A few days later, the company named Iain Hutchison as its chief revenue officer. As someone with significant experience in finance and gaming, Hutchinson is expected to spearhead the company’s revenue growth strategy.

Benfica is one of the best home teams in the world, which is why bookies are giving shorter odds on the Portuguese than on the visitors from Italy. The hosts are priced at +120, but their UCL odds keep shortening. To see whether there’s value in backing the Eagles, keep on reading!

Benfica vs. Inter Milan Champions League Odds

*Odds taken from bet365 on Thursday, April 6, 2023.

When, Where, and How to Watch?

• Place: Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal
• Date: Tuesday, April 11, 2023
• Time: 3:00 PM ET
• How to Watch: Paramount+

Estadio da Luz Crowd to Carry the Eagles on Tuesday

The Eagles are flying high when playing on their turf, especially in big games like the one that’s scheduled for Tuesday. The last time they played a Champions League game at Estadio da Luz, we saw them demolish Club Brugge 5-1.

Further, in the group stage of the competition, they went 2-1-0 at home, with wins over Juventus and Maccabi Haifa, and a draw with PSG.

They’re dominant at home, but that wouldn’t be possible if they didn’t have some really good players on the roster. In fact, their squad looks amazing in 2023, with a very long bench. Even though they work great as a collective, the Eagles do have a couple of standout players.

Goncalo Ramos is their best scorer this season with 25 goals in 37 games in all competitions. Still, their best player overall is Joao Mario, who’s not just been scoring a lot, but also recording plenty of assists. Speaking of Mario, he’s an ex-Inter Milan player who’s probably very eager to get revenge over his former club.

Inter Milan Hoping to Put an End to a Poor Run

I Nerazzurri did start the year in a good shape, but their form has been abysmal over the last couple of weeks. Scoring has been their main problem, which is kind of surprising given the fact that they got some really good strikers on the roster – Edin Dzeko, Romelu Lukaku, and Lautaro Martinez.

Their defense has been alright, allowing no more than two goals since October. The last time they conceded three goals in a game was against Barcelona on the road in a Champions League game.

Benfica vs. Inter Milan Prediction

Inter Milan will probably do okay in the defense, but their offense is bound to struggle. It’s not just because their strikers are out of shape but also because they probably won’t have the ball in their possession too often. Benfica’s players are almost guaranteed to be the ones to dominate Tuesday’s game. Our Benfica vs. Inter prediction is that the hosts are going to win, but probably by a small margin.

Pick: Benfica to win & under 2.5 goals

Two long-term gaming executives with significant experience within the vertical were recommended for licensing by the Nevada gambling regulator, the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB), a report released by Las Vegas Review-Journal reveals. One of the executives was Julie Cameron-Doe, Wynn Resorts’ chief financial officer, while the other one was Joe Asher, IGT’s president of sports betting and chair of the Board at The Wilson Center.

The recommendation for new licensing came during two separate hearings in Carson City. The NGCB recommended Cameron-Doe for an officer, while Asher was recommended for licensing as a key executive. The two discussions resulted in unanimous approval. Besides the recommendation, the duo is expected to receive final approval for their licensing during an NGCB meeting planned for April 20, 2023.

Cameron-Doe’s recommendation for licensing comes as no surprise, considering her extensive experience within the gaming vertical. Currently serving as a chief financial officer at Wynn Resorts, Cameron-Doe joined the company back in 2021. She took over the role of Craig Billings, who was appointed as CEO of Wynn at a time when Matt Maddox left the company.

Before Wynn Resorts, Cameron-Doe was a part of the leading provider of gaming solutions, Aristocrat, for nearly a decade. Besides the role of a chief financial officer, during her tenure with the company, she was also a group general manager of finance.

Throughout her career, Cameron-Doe has secured many licenses. Overall, she has pending licensing applications within 13 different jurisdictions. NGCB’s board member, George Assad, acknowledged that Cameron-Doe’s approval for licensing was “a slam dunk,” considering her extensive experience and knowledge within the sector.

On the other hand, Asher is also a seasoned iGaming industry veteran with significant knowledge and a deep understanding of the gaming vertical. His extensive experience includes close to a decade as CEO of William Hill US, the US-facing arm of the gambling giant William Hill.

Moreover, Asher was also the president and CEO of Brandywine Bookmaking, a company he helped form in 2006. After a few years of successful business, the company was sold to William Hill in 2021 and this is when Asher became the CEO of William Hill US. Brandywine remained an asset for William Hill until it was sold to Caesars a few years ago.

More recently, Asher joined IGT in October 2021 and is currently holding the role of president of sports betting. Last month, he was appointed as chairperson of the Board for The Wilson Center, a non-partisan policy forum for research and open dialogue.

Business in Vancouver reported that a Canadian law firm has failed in its bid to have a CAD18 million ($13.4 million) lawsuit against them dismissed, which was filed by two international online gambling companies. However, the British Columbia Supreme Court ruled that the case should proceed.

Jazette and Go Forward Sue Beadle Defendants Over Alleged $13.4M Theft

The lawsuit was filed in 2019 by Jazette Enterprises Ltd. and Go Forward Solutions Ltd., companies based in Mauritius and St. Vincent and the Grenadines respectively, that operate an online gambling website. According to the plaintiffs, a sum of CAD18 million ($13.4 million) produced by the website was unlawfully taken in 2016 by some individuals associated with the enterprise, and subsequently transferred through a trust account administered by Beadle Raven.

Although the allegations have not been proven in court, the judge noted that it was clear from the evidence in the application that some CAD18 million ($13.4 million) did indeed pass through the trust account operated by the Beadle defendants. The matter is also the subject of litigation in Qatar.

To investigate the lost funds, the plaintiffs enlisted the services of a contractor. In October of the previous year, Charlotte Payne, one of the Jazette owners, was scheduled to participate in a discovery examination, which is a pre-trial procedure that allows parties in a civil dispute to obtain information from the other side. However, she ultimately declined to do so.

The plaintiffs then said that the contractor was the appropriate person to represent them for discovery. This led to an application by the Beadle defendants to have the case thrown out entirely for non-compliance.

Judge Orders Charlotte Payne to Attend Discovery Hearing

The judge rejected the request for dismissal, deeming it a particularly harsh measure since the plaintiffs proposed an alternative to Payne and the other Jazette owner Keith Helman and thus did not completely refuse the discovery process. 

The judge further noted the gravity of the CAD18 million ($13.4 million) claim. She ordered Payne to attend a discovery hearing, noting that the Beadle defendants have read her affidavit, in which she claims to have little relevant knowledge and are still insisting on interviewing her for discovery.

The judge expressed that the Beadle defendants may be making an unwise choice by exercising their right to discovery with a representative who is unlikely to provide information or admissions that can strengthen their defense against the plaintiffs’ claims. However, the judge noted that it is not the court’s place to question the Beadle defendants’ litigation strategy.

The judge also stated that although Payne had a back ailment, she would need to be accommodated but could not skip discovery entirely for that reason.

The Short Races promotional tool is designed to help operators engage with their customers and offer modern players a brand-new format to experiment with. The contests introduced by Short Races are fast-paced and offer quick-fire gameplay that turns Playson titles into strong engagement gateways for operator audiences.

Playson Enhances Engagement Opportunities for Its Titles

There are motivating prize pools, bigger chances to win and climb a leaderboard, and so many other different fresh experiences, that Playson insists are much different from regular slot tournaments. This claim will surely be put to a test before long.

The Short Races tool is very easy to inject into the content and doesn’t require additional integration. It is simple to configure and it delivers on Playson’s commitment to creating and delivering products that are designed to help improve overall engagement with customers.

The format is designed in such a way as to allow operators to address the individual needs of their audiences and further deliver powerful and worthwhile titles. Playson Product Owner for Promotional Tools Ganna Guseva welcomed the arrival of the new tool and what it can do for both partner operators and the Playson brand as a whole.

We’ve devised the Short Races tool to help operators keep a new generation of players with shorter attention spans engaged and boost dwell time when gamer activity is low.

Playson Product Owner for Promotional Tools Ganna Guseva

Playson promotions manager Mihai Dumitrescu said that Playson was constantly on the lookout for engaging with players and helping operators. “We are always looking for new ways to innovate new and exciting products at Playson, which is why I’m thrilled to announce the launch of our Short Races feature,” Dumitrescu said.

The Short Races format will certainly help boost engagement and offer players new experiences; the promotions manager wrapped up.

Rizvan Kuniev is cruising on a 9-win streak, which is why it’s no surprise that oddsmakers see him as an odds-on favorite in Friday’s fight. However, Renan Ferreira is a fighter with an awesome fight portfolio, who’s already defeated a number of big faves, much bigger than Kuniev.

Renan Ferreira vs. Rizvan Kuniev Odds

*Odds taken from BetOnline on Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

When, Where, and How to Watch?

• Place: The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada
• Date: Friday, April 7, 2023
• Time: ~10:00 PM ET
• How to Watch: ESPN 2 / ESPN+

Renan Ferreira to Show the World He Deserves Respect

The 33-year-old Brazilian is a dictionary definition of a heavyweight. He’s big and strong and likes finishing his fights early. Ferreira is 9-3-2 in his professional career with only one of his fights going the distance. He’s got 7 wins by KO/TKO, which is his strongest weapon, but he’s also decent in grappling/wrestling despite having just one win by submission in his portfolio.

The win in question happened against Jared Vanderaa at LFA 74 in 2019. Sure, it happened before Vanderaa went to the UFC, but nevertheless, it’s still a huge achievement. The best thing is that Vanderaa isn’t the only UFC-affiliated fighter Ferreira’s fought.

In 2021, he fought Fabricio Werdum, the former UFC Heavyweight champ. He beat him by TKO in round 1, but it was later overturned as it became clear that Ferreira had previously tapped out.

After that fight, he went on to win three fights in the PFL. In his last two, we saw one of his fights (vs. Klidson Abreu) get declared no contest, even though he lost it by decision originally. And in his most recent fight, he suffered the third loss of his career – Ante Delija beat him by TKO in round 1. Still, losing to the winner of the 2022 PFL Heavyweight tournament isn’t something to be too embarrassed about.

Reasons Why Rizvan Kuniev Is the Betting Favorite

Born and raised in Dagestan, Rizvan Kuniev is 12-2-1 overall, with no losses inside the distance. He’s a well-rounded fighter with plenty of weapons in his arsenal. Kuniev is without a single loss since 2015, winning his last nine fights.

All this shows why bookies think of him as the favorite in the first fight of the PFL 2 main card. However, one needs to take into account that most of his recent fights were in local Russian competitions – Eagle FC, Gorilla Fighting Championship, and others.

He did, however, compete in Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021, which saw him win his fight by TKO. Still, that wasn’t enough for him to land a UFC contract.

Renan Ferreira vs. Rizvan Kuniev Prediction

Renan Ferreira is the underdog against Rizvan Kuniev, but we think the Brazilian has what it takes to cause an upset. He’s a great fighter who can put Kuniev to sleep.

Pick: Renan Ferreira to win by KO/TKO

Ontario’s budding iGaming market continues to be targeted by international scammers, a recent GeoComply report highlighted. This news comes a year after online gambling was launched in the Canadian province.

The launch of iGaming and online sports betting in Ontario has proven a success. However, this success has also attracted a lot of fraudsters, the report shows. While GeoComply emphasized that customers are most protected when playing with licensed operators, it also added that a lot of people have been trying to cheat the system.

Ontario Attracted a Lot of Attention

Starting with the good news, GeoComply said that the number of total player accounts in the province is set to exceed a million. Revenue, meanwhile, is on track to smash half-a-billion Canadian dollars.

GeoComply added that the launch of iGaming in Ontario attracted a lot of attention from players all over the world. Since the regulated market was launched in April last year, over 744,000 international users have attempted to log in 19.9 million times to Ontario operators.

The geolocation specialist added that 54,000 users from the United States have attempted 305,000 logins. It concluded that a total of 3.3 million location spoofing attempts have been made.

Many Fraudsters Were Drawn to the Market

While the Ontario market attracted the attention of players all over the world, it, unfortunately, attracted the attention of many fraudsters as well. According to GeoComply, the first year of iGaming in the province saw over 219,000 devices blocked from gambling for fraud reasons. GeoComply noted that it has detected a whopping 1,045 fraud rings affecting multiple operators.

GeoComply’s services, in particular, prevented 127,000 devices known to be associated with fraud from accessing the market. In addition, 56,000 devices with multiple users (a usual sign of bonus abuse) were barred from playing.

GeoComply also banned 34,000 that used illicit software that hid the players’ actual location. Lastly, the geolocation specialist was able to identify and block 1,500 jailbroken devices.

DiRienzo Noted that Cybercrime Rates Are Rising

The matter was addressed by Danny DiRienzo, GeoComply’s director of risk services. He said that online fraud is a serious problem that continues to get worse. He noted that the recorded fraud attempts mostly included identity theft, bonus abuse and some instances of account takeovers and credit card chargebacks.

Ontario is such a large market and the opening of any market results in bonus offerings attracting fraudsters. This, coupled with the traditional gray market operations in Canada, resulted in experienced fraudsters hunting bonuses from day one, as anyone with a set of stolen identities could collect bonuses from several operators.

Danny DiRienzo

DiRienzo concluded that GeoComply will continue to vigilantly protect the Ontarian iGaming market from fraud.