The gambling watchdog said Tuesday it imposed fines against Amber Gaming, as well as Top Sport. The duo, according to the regulator, breached Lithuania’s gambling regulations by contacting their customers via email and encouraged them to gamble. This, according to Lithuania’s Gambling Supervisory Authority is in breach of Article 10, Paragraph 19 of the country’s Gambling Act.

Further details released by the regulator revealed that upon investigating, it uncovered that Amber Gaming, engaged with its customers via two e-mails sent between June and August 2022. In the e-mails, the operator included a reminder about the creation of a password along with links t its website.

This, according to the gambling watchdog, “drew the attention of the customers who received the letter to the company and its services and encouraged them to visit the Company’s website.” As a result, the Lithuanian Gambling Supervisory Authority imposed a fine of €6,000 ($6,400) against Amber Gaming.

On the other hand, a probe into Top Sport’s operations also uncovered a breach, revealed the regulator. The Authority said that the operator engaged with its clients by sending e-mails on August 31, 2022, that included links for a download of the operator’s mobile app within Apple and Google stores.

The e-mail communication, explained the Authority, encouraged the customers to gamble by inviting them to install the company’s sports betting app and use its services. Consequently, the regulator acknowledged that such communications are in breach of the Gambling Act and imposed a €25,000 ($26,800) fine against Top Sport.

According to the regulator’s latest announcement, the monetary penalty is not final and the operators can appeal via an established procedure under the Law on Administrative Cases in the country.

The latest fine against Top Sport isn’t the first one the operator has seen. Only recently, the operator was slammed with a €15,000 ($16,000) fine, again from the Gambling Supervisory Authority in Lithuania. Late last year, the Authority uncovered that the operator permitted one person that is not currently within the territory of the country to use its online platform. Deeming the activity as a breach of the gambling regulations, the Authority issued the aforementioned fine.

The Milwaukee Bucks are in sensational form right now; the Los Angeles Lakers are not. But this doesn’t have to mean anything, considering how much star power the Lakers have on the roster. They got LeBron James, for one, whom many consider the GOAT of the sport. But then again, the Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo, who’s been literally unstoppable this season.

When, Where, and How to Watch?

• Place: Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California
• Date: Thursday, February 9, 2023
• Time: 10:00 PM ET
• How to Watch: TNT

Giannis Looking for Another Impressive Performance

The Milwaukee Bucks are second in the Eastern Conference with a 37-17 record (0.685) with eight wins in a row. Their winning run started as soon as their talisman Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a knee injury.

Since his comeback, Giannis has scored a total of 300 points, which accounts for 37.5 points per game on average. He’s also made 116 rebounds in eight games (14.5 per game), and 43 assists (5.37 per game).

Giannis has been brilliant, but his teammates haven’t. At least not as much, which explains why some of their recent wins happened by only a couple of points. For instance, they defeated the Los Angeles Clippers by only one point last week.

LeBron James Has Just Broken the NBA All-Time Scoring Record

After scoring 36 points on Tuesday evening, LeBron James broke the all-time scoring record set back in 1989 by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The 38-year-old legend did great in that game, but it wasn’t enough for his team to avoid another loss. The Lakers lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder 133-130.

In November, PlayNow.com, an iGaming website owned by the British Colombia Lottery Corporation, was launched in Western Canada. This launch followed an agreement between its parent company and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA). The site thus became the province’s first online gaming website.

According to the latest data, the launch of iGaming in Western Canada has been a resounding success. Professor Garragh McGee from the University of Bath said that the site has so far earned a stellar $23.8 million (converted to USD), which is a surprisingly high figure. He said that the number exceeded even his most optimistic predictions.

However, McGee warned that the high interest in online gambling content may lead to a spike in gambling harm rates. He noted that young men tend to get addicted to sports bets more easily. To make matters worse, the stigma surrounding addiction often causes people to hide their problem gambling until their behavior spirals out of all control.

Realizing the importance of safer gambling, the SIGA and PlayNow remain committed to protecting players. Some, however, believe that more can be done. McGee, for example, is an advocate for further research into problem gambling prevention.

PlayNow Offers Safeguards Unlike Its Unlicensed Competitors

Despite the dangers associated with online sports betting, SIGA’s iGaming sports and production specialist, Ben Whiting, argues that a legal site is preferable to letting players wager with offshore websites.

Whiting noted that PlayNow has built-in safer gambling tools and 24/7 support – things that many black market sites do not. As a result, PlayNow customers can always get the help they need to get their habits under control.

Not only can people find help from the site’s support but they are also protected by the site’s mandatory weekly deposit limits and other tools they can use to self-moderate their behavior. Whiting concluded that SIGA is committed to making gambling fun and healthy for its customers.

Sadly, the Safeguards Might Not Be Enough

Despite all the efforts to protect customers, many remain disgruntled by the ludicrous amounts of gambling ads that have been broadcast on TV ever since single-event sports betting was legalized in the country. Decades ago, Joe owed $250,000 following a compulsive gambling spree. He has since recovered but remains wary of the dangers of gambling harm.

In an interview with CBC, Jim, a former gambling addict said that he and many others have been disgusted by the new ads. He noted that he has seen people lose homes and marriages to gambling and shudders to imagine the same happening to more people.

Nowadays, Jim and other anti-gambling activists are finding themselves unable to watch a regular TV show without being bombarded by ads.

If sites would spend as much money providing help that they spend on advertising I think that would go a long way.

Jim, former addict

Jim lambasted the industry for its focus on advertisement and refusal to showcase the people it harmed. He, furthermore, believes that the current safeguards might not be enough to protect everyone.

The European Casino Association (ECA) made an important announcement during its General Assembly at ICE London 2023. The organization shared that Per Jaldung will be stepping down as chairman after eight years in the position. He will be succeeded by Erwin van Lambaart who is a media, entertainment and hospitality veteran.

The Former ECA Chair Is Leaving

As mentioned, Jaldung served as the ECA chair for the past eight years, helping the association grow and evolve. He is an experienced industry professional with over two decades of experience in the gambling industry. A former law enforcer, Jaldung has a strong sense of justice – a quality that made him a suitable chairman of the association.

Jaldung said that it has been an honor to chair the ECA. He said that the biggest strength of the casino industry is the passionate people behind it. Jaldung was glad to work with many of the talented casino workers in the European land-based sector.

It has not been a role without its difficulties, and the industry continues to face ongoing headwinds from multiple directions, but the members of the ECA, and especially this Board of Directors and the new Chairman, can accept and master these challenges.

Per Jaldung, ex-chair, ECA

In the wake of his leave, Jaldung was named “honorary president of the ECA.”

Lambaart Promised to Help the Industry Get Through the Challenging Times

Erwin van Lambaart was chosen as Jaldung’s successor with unanimous approval. He has been a member of the ECA board since 2021 and is an experienced media, hospitality, event, marketing and entertainment worker.

Lambaart has 15 years of experience in the hotel industry and just as many in the entertainment sector. In 2016, he was named as chief executive officer of Holland Casinos, which cemented him as an industry specialist. In 2022, Lambaart moved to Austria where he became the CEO of Casinos Australia AG and Österreichische Lotterien.

The new chair said that he is happy with the opportunity to serve the ECA. He understands that this is an important responsibility and promised to do his best to help the industry get through the challenging times.

The licensed European casino industry continues to face great changes and even disruptions. In the coming weeks, I will be working with the ECA members and the ECA board as well as our partners on the priorities for the future work of our association.

Erwin van Lambaart, chair, ECA

Lambaart thanked Jaldung for his hard work and praised his predecessor for his ongoing support, advice and leadership.

Since Jaldung will leave, the association appointed Yared Gabretensye, GM of Casino Cosmopol, to represent Sweden on its board of directors.

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.