UK’s independent self-exclusion scheme for online gambling, GAMSTOP, released today the latest data around the number of registrations last year, revealing a 6% increase in new registrations.
Prioritizing Expenditure amid Rising Costs of Living
The latest data from the online gambling self-exclusion register showed that a record 84,000 new registrations have been made during 2022 as people have been more sensitive to their expenditure decisions and how they affect their lifestyles.
Since the launch of GAMSTOP in April 2018, a total of 341,365 people have chosen to self-exclude from online gambling and the number of registrations is showing a steady upward trend year-over-year with an increase of 5% over the past six months and an increase of 6% for the whole 2022.
Commenting on the latest self-exclusion data, Fiona Palmer, chief executive officer at GAMSTOP, outlined that the analysis could not “single out one factor that has contributed to the rise in registrations” as most likely a combination of factors, including “the current economic climate and affordability of living costs” are at play.
“In 2022 we saw more than 80,000 new registrations which is a positive step towards supporting even more people,” Palmer added, highlighting the increasing importance of the self-exclusion register as a protection tool for people experiencing issues with their gambling, a tool that allows them to take a break and seek support.
Palmer also added that the increase in the number of people experiencing gambling-related problems signaled the need for GAMSTOP “to continue to raise awareness amongst friends and family of those who most need it” all the while keeping collaborative “work with ban blocking and other support services to provide a comprehensive solution.”
Palmer is set to join a panel of speakers at 2023 ExCel London this February, leading the conversation “Collaboration to Raise Standards and Broaden the Impact” while GAMSTOP will be present as an exhibitor within the Consumer Protection Zone (CPZ) of the exhibition.
Almost Half the People Self-Excluded for Five Years
Data showed that 24% of those who have chosen to self-exclude from online gambling in the past six months have opted to self-exclude for a year, while twice as many have opted for the longest self-exclusion period of five years. Once registered, GAMSTOP users remain enrolled in the scheme until they request to be removed, even after their self-exclusion period has expired.
The age group distribution of the self-exclusion data showed that more than 40% of the new registrations were people aged between 25 and 34, around 25% in the next age category of between 35 and 44, while nearly 20% were in the 18-24 age group.
The percentage of female registrations peaked in August, at 34%, as around seven out of ten new registrations came last year came from men. Interestingly, a seasonal trend of having the highest numbers in the winter that has been observed since 2018 has been broken in 2022 as the peak of registrations on a single day on July 1 with 371 new entries.
Hacksaw Gaming, a provider of top-level slot games, scratchcards and gaming solutions, has unveiled an expansion into Italy. This move, the supplier noted, was made possible by an agreement with StarCasinò.
Hacksaw Gaming Forays into Italy
As agreed between StarCasinò and Hacksaw Gaming, the operator’s content offering already includes many of the supplier’s best games. This includes popular hits such as Wanted Dead or a Wild, Hand of Anubis and Stack ‘em.
In its announcement, Hacksaw Gaming noted that the operator will include more of the studio’s games in its portfolio in the following weeks, further deepening the ties between the two companies.
StarCasinò is an Italian gaming operator owned by the Betsson Group. Four months ago, the parent company also announced the launch of StarCasinò Bet, its Italian sports betting division. Back then, the operator said that its goal is to “broaden the brand’s positioning as a point of reference within the industry and to further engage with customers.”
The addition of new titles to StarCasinò’s offering will help to popularize the brand among Italian audiences, helping Betsson grow its local footprint.
StarCasinò Is Excited to Expand Its Offer
Hacksaw Gaming is excited about the agreement. Gabrielle Star, the company’s chief commercial officer, spoke on the matter, saying that the opportunity to launch content in Italy has been a “fantastic one.” Star said that her team is very proud to make a foray into a new market and is excited to work alongside StarCasinò.
This was the latest territory that we’ve begun operating in and to announce the expansion by going live with StarCasinò within one month of launching in the market is a proud moment! We are looking forward to working together in this partnership and making Italy the next big thing for Hacksaw Gaming.
Gabrielle Star, CCO, Hacksaw Gaming
Stefano Tino, StarCasinò’s managing director, also shared his thoughts on the new agreement. He noted that the addition of Hacksaw Gaming content reaffirms the brand’s desire to become a local powerhouse. The company wants to provide its Italian fans with an increasingly innovative, wide-ranging and engaging offer, allowing them to live out premium casino experiences.
Tino proudly stated that in 2022, the casino operator added a whopping 1130 new games to its portfolio and inked agreements with 7 new international providers. This helped the company channel more players toward its platform, boosting customer engagement and loyalty. Tino vowed to continue enhancing StarCasinò’s offer with new games in 2023.
Hacksaw Gaming, meanwhile, continues to grow its global presence. In November 2022, the company secured a provisional license in West Virginia. A month later, it released Rotten, a horror-themed slot.
The PokerStars’ Players No-Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC) will take place from January 30–February 3 at the beautiful Baha Mar Hotel and Resort, in Nassau, Bahamas. The PSPC will be welcoming high-stakes pros and amateurs alike, with a special group that won their entrance into the $25,000 buy-in event, with life-changing money for whoever comes in first.
The PSPC has been on hold for the past three years, with some Platinum Pass winners waiting for their chance to play the event of their lives.
PokerStars Ambassador Ramon Colillas won the first PSPC, which was first held in 2019 during the PCA Festival. The now 35-year-old Colillas won a staggering $5.1 million after beating a field that boasted 1,039 players. The inaugural PSPC was also a unique event, combining Platinum Pass qualifiers and satellite winners with $25,000 high-roller regulars. This will hold true for the 2023 PSPC as well.
Jonathan Newman won his Platinum Pass as the winner of PokerStars ONCOOP (Ontario Championship Of Online Poker) Leader Boards promotion. His Platinum Pass package is worth $30,000. It includes:
Buy-in to the $25,000 PSPC
Six-nights hotel accommodation for winner and a guest in a 5-star hotel
Airport transfer
$1,900 expense money
Platinum Pass Winner experiences during the event
19+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. For more information and support, visit www.gamblingtherapy.org
Click here for more on the 2023 PCA & PSPC!
Q&A w/Jonathan Newman
PokerNews: Can you tell us a bit about yourself (i.e. age, location, family, education, work, etc.)?
Jonathan Newman: I’m a 30-year-old poker player from Toronto, Canada. I was lucky to grow up with a great family – my dad was a doctor, and my mom was a teacher and professional musician. My family mostly consists of professionals with degrees, and I decided to follow a similar trajectory by getting a BA in Political Studies from Queen’s University as well as a Master’s in Teaching from the University of Toronto. I taught full-time for about six years before transitioning towards poker last year.
PN: How’d you get the mental and physical stamina to make it 17 days in a row online to end up clinching the title of winner of ONCOOP Leader Boards promotion and the coveted Platinum Pass?
JN: A strength of mine is being able to stay calm and level-headed while playing. From the beginning, I approached it like a marathon, not a sprint. I tried to remain even-keeled day to day. I was also constantly checking in on my mental state. Was I feeling frustrated, tired, or unfocused? Was that because of my diet, exercise, or sleep? When things were tough, I thought about how playing poker was much easier than teaching during the pandemic. Every day I just felt grateful that I even had this opportunity to chase the leaderboard.
PN: When and how did you learn to play poker?
JN: I learned to play poker when I was 14 at summer camp. We would play poker in the cabins and bet our tuck (candy), which was tons of fun. I was a massive whale back then and I punted off more than a few kit-kat bars! I was always fascinated by the game, but I only started taking it more seriously when I was working full-time in 2017 and felt like I could risk small amounts of money more comfortably. My game took off the most when I reached out to some very good players willing to study with me.
Jonathan “fuzztacular” Newman and other Ontario platinum pass winners at a Toronto meet up.
PN: How long have you been playing on PokerStars and what inspired you to join in the first place?
JN: My first recorded tournament cash was in 2017 on PokerStars. The main reason I joined was because I started watching a lot of Twitch and learned from those players. My favorites at the time were Kevin Martin, Parker Talbot, Jaime Staples, and AllinPav. I gravitated toward the streamers who explained their thought processes. A lot of my favorite players were Stars Pros, and the software always looked the most visually appealing so that’s where I put most of my volume!
PN: Is this your first tournament outside of Canada? What does this opportunity mean to you?
JN: This is my first tournament outside of Canada. The opportunity means the world to me. I always dreamed about playing in a big live event, and honestly, I never thought I would be playing a 25k buy-in. Getting to go to the Bahamas is incredibly fortunate, I have run well in so many areas of my life for that to happen.
PN: Have you ever played in any other major poker tournaments?
JN: As far as live poker, my experience is limited. I played a few local tournaments in Ontario before the pandemic. That said I’ve played a ton online!
PN: How and when did you decide to transition from being an elementary school teacher to playing poker full-time?
JN: Teaching during the pandemic was getting very grueling, and my dream was always to try playing poker full-time. I’m 30 now, felt like I had my finances in order, and thought that if I didn’t give myself the shot right now, when would I ever take that risk? Luckily things have worked out well so far.
“I spend most of my time playing and studying the game, so being around people who are just as obsessed with poker as I am is really exciting!”
PN: What’s your proudest poker accomplishment to date?
JN: My proudest accomplishment was winning the ONCOOP leaderboard. That showed consistency, dedication, and mental toughness. I was able to win six events overall and four within the span of two days. Even though I ran well in important spots, I managed to close out events and compete with the best players in Ontario. It was a great feeling.
PN: Aside from maybe winning, what are you most looking forward to about your upcoming PSPC stop? Any poker pros you would like to meet? If so, why would you like to meet them?
JN: I am looking forward to being in an environment surrounded by high-level poker players. I spend most of my time playing and studying the game, so being around people who are just as obsessed with poker as I am is really exciting! There are so many players I would love to meet, but I’m not sure who will be in the Bahamas.
The player I most look up to in terms of style and approach is Patrick Leonard. I would love to meet some high rollers and pick their brain. These players are at the top of the game for a reason – people like Kevin Rabichow, Jason Koon, Nick Petrangelo. I also want to meet “tonkaaaaP” (Parker Talbot), Spraggy (Ben Spragg) and Sam Grafton. They are amazing poker players and also incredibly funny people.
I got to hang out with Arlie Shaban at the PSPC winner’s meet-up at Jenn Carter’s house, which was an amazing experience. There are so many great people in poker!
PN: Will any friends or family be joining you in the Bahamas?
JN: Two of my closest friends Mike and Ian are joining me in the Bahamas. I’m so excited that I get to share this amazing experience with people who mean a lot to me!
*Images courtesy of Jonathan Newman.
Eligible iGames conducted and managed by iGO are only available to those physically present in the Province of Ontario. PokerStars Ontario operates pursuant to an agreement with iGaming Ontario.
For more information, visit the Ontario Players Homepage
Christina Bradfield
Editor
Christina is a Las Vegas-based freelance writer who discovered poker at the age of twelve. She’s been a contributor to PokerNews since 2022.
In December 2022, UK’s leading gambling company released a trading update that presented a performance overview of the five months that ended on November 30. The update also spoke about the company’s recovery which had been slowed down in the context of the shrinking UK market.
Now, the company has published its interim results for the six months that ended on December 31, 2022. The report emphasized the continuously growing cost of living, energy costs, high demand for energy, high inflation, and slow return of foreign visitors during the first half of 2022.
“Slower than Anticipated” Post-Pandemic Recovery for Grosvenor and Mecca
Combined, all the previously enumerated factors are expected to continue to put a great deal of pressure on retail customers in the UK.
For the group that describes itself as a “unique blend of experiences, branded venues, and digital channels” for the Spanish and British markets, the upcoming months of 2023 are expected to be challenging as well.
The group’s chief executive John O’Reilly further explained that the recovery that the company had anticipated from the “severe impact of the pandemic” on their venues located in the UK, Grosvenor Casinos and Mecca Bingo, had been a lot slower than they had originally anticipated.
The operator of the two gaming businesses explained that while it recorded good numbers during Christmas, New Year and the first three weeks of 2023, the cost-of-living pressures and the stricter regulatory environment are expected to bring an even more challenging time.
Plus, the group chose to remain cautious regarding its H2 results in the context of the said macroeconomic situation, in spite of the good results recorded by their Grosvenor venues.
In spite of the fact that the group had already expressed its intention to lower its costs last December, O’Reilly spoke about the way trading can improve when more is invested “in the quality of our products and properties”.
He also spoke about the importance of investing more in the introduction of innovative gaming mechanics and concepts, shrinking the level of intrusion when managing risks associated with customers, and bringing back lapsed customers to their engaging gaming experiences.
Slower-than-Expected Return of Visitors to London
The slow rate at which visitors returned to London after the pandemic and the ongoing tightening of affordability restrictions on high-end customers caused Grosvenor venues to only contribute £153.4 million ($189.7 million) to the total revenue, marking a 4.8% drop compared to last year’s numbers.
Overall, Rank Group’s revenue during H1 2022-23 reached £338.9 million ($420.3 million), signaling a 1.6% year-on-year increase.
Mecca Bingo revenue went up 4.1% on a year-on-year basis, reaching £65.5 million ($81 million) while customer visits went up 4% up in spite of the decline in visits from older players.
Revenue from the group’s Spanish Enracha venues increased by 25.5% to £17.7 million ($21.9 million) helped by the country’s retail sector that continued its strong post-pandemic recovery.
At the same time, customer visits went up 16% on a year-on-year basis, while still marking a 14% drop compared to pre-pandemic numbers.
This is just the beginning of a collaboration between the two companies which will see 10 games introduced with Bull Gaming’s operations in the country, thus giving WorldWatch a further boost in Italy.
Italy Beckons New Opportunities to Suppliers and Operators
Bull Gaming CEO Francesco Gatti has welcomed the opportunity and said that it was a chance for both companies to continue growing in the market. He hailed the agreement as one the company was extremely happy with and argued that the games will be available across various platforms in the coming months, adding:
We will be able to offer the player a quality gaming experience and the partnership with WorldMatch will allow us to make the most of our work.
Bull Gaming CEO Francesco Gatti
WorldWatch is further committed to providing its new partnership with the most advanced and worthwhile casino gaming content. The company chief executive, Andrea Boratto, was similarly pleased with the opportunity, teasing some of the products that the group would be able to get its hands on, including the SlotBar family.
“We are proud to be able to contribute to their online expansion and confident that this partnership will be mutually beneficial and will offer players the best experience possible,” Gatti confirmed. The partnership comes at a time when the Italian iGaming market enjoys a continued and sustained interest in its operations.
Suppliers have been flocking to the market at a rapid pace in a bid to make the most out of a lucrative online casino ecosystem that has thrived despite the hardliner position of the government against it.
There have been a number of prominent partnerships involving interesting local brands and foreign or local suppliers. Pragmatic Play expanded its Live Casino offer with Sportbet, a local operator. CT Interactive expanded with MondoGaming to provide 20 of its own unique games to Italian players.
Play’n GO also pushed into the market recently, looking to continue growing its footprint in the country and with prominent local operators. The company teamed up with SKS365, which has been recognized as one of the top employers in Italy for 2022.
In its latest report, the company revealed data regarding its financial performance for the four months ended December 31, 2022. Judging by the recent report, LVS reported revenue of $1.12 billion in Q4, 2022. This result, when compared to the corresponding period in 2021, marked a strong increase of nearly 11%.
Additionally, the company revealed that its operating loss in Q4 2022 was $166 million, compared to an operating loss of $138 million for Q4 2021. Further details released by LVS reveal that the net loss from continuing operations in Q4 last year was $269 when compared to $315 million for the corresponding period in 2021.
According to the latest report, the company’s consolidated adjusted property EBITDA in Q4 2022 was $222 million. This result marked a decrease when compared to the $251 million result from the same quarter the prior year. LVS’ latest report revealed that the consolidated hold-normalized adjusted property EBITDA for the quarter was $329 million.
Las Vegas Sands: Optimistic about the Future
Besides its Q4 2022 results, the company revealed data outlining its performance for the whole year. In total, LVS’ net revenue in 2022 hit $4.11 billion, marking a slight decrease when compared to the 2021 result which was $4.23 billion.
A breakdown of the $4.11 billion shows that the company’s casino operations were responsible for the lion’s share of the revenue, or $2.63 billion. The revenue from rooms in 2022 was $469 million, while mall revenue hit $580 million. Food and beverage operations and convention retail and other operations delivered $301 million and $133 million respectively in 2022.
“While travel restrictions and reduced visitation continued to impact our financial performance during the quarter, we remain confident in a robust recovery in travel and tourism spending across our markets and deeply enthusiastic about the opportunity to welcome more guests back to our properties throughout 2023 and in the years ahead.“
Robert G. Goldstein, chairman and chief executive officer at Las Vegas Sands
Robert G. Goldstein, Sands’ chairman and chief executive officer, acknowledged that reduced visitation and some travel restrictions had a minor impact on the company’s performance in Q4 2022. Still, he explained that the company remains confident about the recovery of the retail sector and the return to normal traveling. Goldstein added that Las Vegas Sands is excited to welcome more guests this year.
Focusing on the future, he predicted success for the company and acknowledged it is well-positioned for further growth, especially considering the increase in traveling. Finally, Goldstein said that Las Vegas Sands continues to explore opportunities for further growth within emerging markets around the globe.
The tiny but fabulously wealthy alpine country of Liechtenstein recently approved several land casino licenses with the first of six now-operating venues opening in 2017.
Liechtenstein is sometimes referred to as a “microstate” as the city of London is ten times larger by land mass and the population only numbers in the tens of thousands. More recently, the country has been referred to affectionately by gamblers as the “Las Vegas of the Alps“.
Players are attracted from neighboring Switzerland to the west and south and Austria to the east and north as well as from Germany in good numbers.
Voters in Liechtenstein will face a referendum on the January 29th ballot promoted by a pressure group with concerns about gambling addiction and the country’s rising reputation. The initiative seeks to close all six of the casino resorts by banning casino gambling in the country that has only enjoyed local liberalization for less than 5 years.
According to a Reuters report, IG VolksMeinung fears that Liechtenstein, which was on international tax haven blacklists until a little more than a decade ago, risks having its reputation damaged after all of the hard work that went into building a new standing in the international community.
European Poker and Casino Hotspot?
Guido Meier, a member of the opposition group who lives in the capital city of Vaduz and sits on the “board” or is counted as a member of the core IG VolksMeinung team, said: “We don’t want to establish ourselves as a casino and poker hotspot in the middle of Europe. It’s a big reputation problem.”
The government is not supportive of the measure and has encouraged citizens to vote against the ban. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs of Liechtenstein, Sabine Monauni said it is “too radical, too excessive” and does not actually address gambling addiction.
She continued, “We want to continue to allow gambling in Liechtenstein and that’s why we now have to find a balance between measures that reduce activity but at the same time don’t totally destroy the market.”
The referendum language would give the casino 5 years to wind up gambling operations if it is approved by voters. Some of the well-known international gambling businesses involved in the casinos include Casinos Austria International and Novomatic AG of Austria’s sister company, Gryphon Invest AG which indirectly controls a majority interest in three of the operations.
When contacted for comment, Gryphon told Reuters: “We hope that the voters will follow the advice of the two major parties, as well as the economic chamber and further institutions and recognize that a well-regulated market is better than an outright ban.”
Casinos Austria reportedly did not reply to Reuters with a comment by press time.
Equilibrium Should Reduce Casino Count to Four
Reinhard Fischer is the director of Grand Casino as well as the president of Liechtenstein’s casino association. Fischer purportedly believes that the market is too small for the current number of operators and that “natural attrition” will result in a maximum of four casinos.
Nor does he believe that casinos represent a threat to the country’s reputation. He reiterated the company’s position that all they do is in accordance with the law and in many cases they operate above and beyond legal requirements.
The relatively sudden birth of six major gaming houses in the country has had a significant impact on federal revenues. In 2022, casino visitors, mostly from outside the country, contributed about 50 million Swiss francs (US$54.51m) in taxes through their travel and gameplay.
Regarding tax monies, Deputy Prime Minister Sabine Monauni said: “This is certainly revenue that is also relevant for our budget.”
According to the World Bank, Liechtenstein’s annual per-capita income is $175,813, which puts it ahead of Monaco, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Bermuda as the richest country in the world.
Source: ‘Las Vegas of the Alps’ to vote on casino ban, Reuters, January 20, 2023
The post Liechtenstein Casinos Facing Ban Referendum January 29 appeared first on Casino News Daily.
I’ve been a professional footballer for more than a decade. In nearly all of my 500 appearances, I’ve had an online casino advert either on my shirt or surrounding me on the pitch.
It’s no surprise. It’s impossible to watch a match in the top five men’s divisions in England without seeing adverts for gambling. My career has not taken me to the Premier League (yet) but these ads can appear more than 700 times a match on television in our top flight, where nearly half the teams have a betting sponsor on the front of their shirts.
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Behind this bombardment of marketing, most of us know someone who has struggled with gambling because this addiction can happen to anyone. The harms can devastate every part of someone’s life, and those closest to them, with huge long-term cost to society.
You might think: “Well, this revenue pays wages.” But I can assure you I’d rather be paid less if it meant not profiting from addiction, harm and suicide – and I’m not the only one.
It’s easy to believe that football needs as much money as possible at all costs but we must not fall for that. Clubs are precious, they act as mental health solace for many – as the Grimsby chair, Jason Stockwood, said recently – and they are deeply trusted. I see the love, dedication and hope in the eyes of fans every week. To think this trust is exploited by the gambling industry leaves me uneasy.
Some of the gambling companies advertising at the stadiums I play in every week have been fined millions for failing to protect customers. One operator was fined more than £400,000 for advertising on the children’s colouring-in section of a club website. It will claim it has invested in “responsible gambling” messaging but this is just window-dressing.
David Wheeler (left) in action this month for Wycombe against Sheffield Wednesday. Photograph: Dennis Goodwin/ProSports/Shutterstock
I’m not saying gambling is bad, nor do I want to stop people from having a bet, but it says all you need to know about how a sport and a country treat a public health issue that we name our national league after a gambling company. The EFL deal with Sky Bet ends next season and after Sky Betting and Gaming sent self-excluded gamblers free spins and exploited fans through sign-up offers, I would urge the league to look elsewhere for its next sponsor.
It’s clearly not the responsibility of footballers to set policy – this should sit squarely at the feet of the government, the regulator and governing bodies, all of whom have so far failed. The government has been reviewing gambling laws for about three years and it is its duty to protect young fans from harm. But players do have a responsibility to speak up when something is so obviously harming our supporters, the communities we represent and even our colleagues.
Over the past few years, we have seen high-profile examples of footballers punished for betting on football. We are part of a strange world where we are expected to heavily promote products that could lose us our jobs if we use them.
There are reasons to be positive. It looks as if football is heading towards some sort of reset with a regulator being introduced this year which would hopefully make our game fairer, cleaner and more sustainable. It would be a huge missed opportunity if this didn’t also change the relationship between gambling and football. Betting companies contribute a tiny percentage of huge profits to football via advertising and sponsorship designed to lure in the next generation of lucrative profit makers – that’s a bad deal for the sport and for fans.
Some clubs are acting. The team I started my senior career with, Lewes FC, were one of the first of more than 30 clubs who have backed The Big Step, a campaign to end gambling sponsorship in football led by people harmed by gambling. It is part of the charity Gambling with Lives, set up by families who have lost loved ones to gambling-related suicide. Their experiences show what many of us know but don’t say: by promoting online casinos, football is risking the lives of its young fans. The stakes are just too high.
There is a growing movement to kick gambling advertising out of our national sport. I was delighted to see the Wales legend Hal Robson-Kanu publicly call for an end to gambling sponsorship last year. Now more of us on the pitch need to do the same.
David Wheelerhas played in the English Football League for Exeter, QPR, Portsmouth, MK Dons and now Wycombe
Australian prison employee gambled with stolen money
A former general manager of an Australian prison is facing jail time for stealing nearly $80,000 from inmates he then used to gamble.
Brenton Williams, formerly of Adelaide Remand Centre operator Serco, admitted to stealing AUD$112,000 ($79,279) from a safe used to hold prisoners’ money. The money was illegally taken from April 27-July 27, 2022.
he risked over AUD$1m ($707,975) at the Adelaide Casino
The prosecution also shined light on William’s troubling gambling history. From January-July of the same year, he risked over AUD$1m ($707,975) at the Adelaide Casino.
Guilty by admission
Williams pled guilty in court to stealing the money from the inmates.
The defense told the court that Williams moved to Perth without his family to work for Serco on a salary of AUD$250,000 ($176,944). After he completed the move, COVID lockdown protocols went into place, causing what the defense described as a great strain on his mental well-being.
“[Lockdown] created a huge stress on him, being away from family, not being able to travel back,” Williams’ representation, Christopher Weir, said.
he had fallen AUD$234,000 ($165,666) into debt in 2022
The defendant’s large salary was overshadowed by a struggling pub he managed, known as Stirling North. According to records, he had fallen AUD$234,000 ($165,666) into debt in 2022, which led to him considering bankruptcy.
Williams, however, was scared that taking that step would lead to him losing his job at Serco. So, rather than submitting the paperwork, he attempted to use casinos and gambling as a way to dig his way out of the financial hole.
As that proved tricky, he also turned to the Adelaide center’s prisoner vault. Weir said that his client planned on returning the money if he could and knows that he was “foolish” in hindsight.
Tough times behind bars
Williams is not being held in general population, given his previous status within the prison system. However, the prosecution is hoping he will be met with a serious penalty, as they do not want to encourage criminal behavior for people in positions of power within the legal system. They have also requested he not be allowed to rest at home until trial.
Weir told Judge Jo-Anne Deuter that his client has been “depressed” during “tough” times behind bars and had to be moved to the high dependency unit after attempting to take his life twice.
“He’s done his best as a remandee to address his gambling problem,” said Weir. “This is a man with very good, if not excellent, prospects of rehabilitation, and a man who is deeply sorry.”
had been treated for gambling addiction from 2002-03
As a counterpoint, prosecuting attorney James Watson shared with the court that Williams had been treated for gambling addiction from 2002-03. They are referring to his recent actions as a “breach of trust.”
Williams will return to court for sentencing in March under the charge of theft. The penalty for theft in Australia is ten years imprisonment, which can be extended to 15 years if it is deemed “aggravated” theft.
The post Australian Prison Worker Stole and Gambled With $80k Belonging to Inmates appeared first on VegasSlotsOnline News.
The global leading gaming publisher committed to providing state-of-the-art solutions and innovative content has teamed up with one of the UK’s leading gambling machine providers to release Double Lucky Mushrooms DoubleMax.
The new slot is an adaptation of Relax Gaming’s original slot called Luck Mushrooms. The addition of Yggdrasil’s mesmerizing Game DoubleMax Engagement Mechanic (GEM) is one of the main things that sets the new game apart from its predecessor.
Double Lucky Mushrooms DoubleMax Metrics Overview
Reels: 5
Rows: 3
Paylines: 20
RTP: 95.5%
Hit Freq: 27.86%
Max Win: x19900
Volatility: High
Min/Max Bet: 0.20-100
Release date: January 26, 2023
Join the Leprechauns and Chase the Pot of Gold!
Reflex Gaming invites players to embark on the fun journey in search of the much-anticipated pot of gold at the end of the rainbow on the 5×3 grid that counts 20 paylines. The overall Irish theme and feel of the game are experienced through the specific graphics elements representing the game symbols. The list includes pots of gold, leprechaun hats, and vividly colored Gaelic runes acting.
Seeing a Wild Clover symbol land anywhere on the reels while engaged in the base game will automatically expand the reels and fill up the whole column.
Landing a minimum of three Free Spins symbols brings players at least eight free spins. During the bonus round, all mushroom symbols popping on the grid reward players with a mystery surprise.
When the Lady Luck symbol lands on reel number five, its multiplier doubles starting at 2x and can ultimately attract a massive win. All mushroom prizes are multiplied by the value of this symbol when both are seen on the grid.
Wishing Well Bonus – Choose Your Lucky Bucket!
Having at least three Wishing Well icons land during a spin brings players face-to-face with an interactive choice of wells. Any of these wells can reward them with a cash value. Its value depends on what is found inside the bucket selected by the player.
Some jurisdictions will allow players to use Bonus Buy to purchase the bonus round and be automatically rewarded with Free Spins or jump straight into the Wishing Well round.
Reflex Gaming’s chief product officer Mat Ingram spoke about the huge success of their original multichannel game and the feeling of nostalgia that is expected to make old players want to go back to the classic gameplay. He also discussed the modern updates and innovations embedded in the new release, including the DoubleMax mechanic which has significantly boosted volatility and helped the game cover a greater audience.
Yggdrasil’s head of product and programs Stuart McCarthy praised their ongoing partnership with Reflex Gaming which “repeatedly delivers popular, engaging hits through the YG Masters program”.
At the start of the year, Yggdrasil and Peter & Sons released Dragon Blox GigaBlox with the same popular GEM. Relax Gaming also introduced Horror Hotel, a horror-themed slot meant to boost the positive momentum gained by the provider in recent months.
