Compliance Updates
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Levies $147,500 in Fines
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board also places three adults on exclusion list for gambling at casinos while leaving children unattended
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has approved three consent agreements presented by its Office of Enforcement Counsel (OEC) during its public meeting regarding violations that occurred at three casinos. Total fines levied were $147,500.
The approved consent agreements were the result of negotiations between OEC and:
* Mount Airy #1, LLC, operator of Mount Airy Casino Resort in Monroe County was fined $120,000 for failure to timely submit internal audit plans, a stipulation of its statement of conditions for licensure.
* Downs Racing, LP, operator of Mohegan Pennsylvania casino in Luzerne County, received a fine of $20,000 for two incidents in which supervisory employees worked without the proper Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board-issued permit.
* Sugarhouse HSP Gaming, LP, operator of Rivers Casino Philadelphia, a $7,500 fine for not properly notifying its security and surveillance staff along with law enforcement about an alleged cheating incident at a table game involving marked cards.
Copies of the approved consent agreements offering more details on these matters are available upon request through the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s Office of Communications.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board also acted on petitions to ban three adults from all casinos in the Commonwealth for leaving a total of six children unattended in order to engage in gaming activities:
* A male patron was placed on the involuntary exclusion list after leaving three children, ages three, eight and ten, unattended in a vehicle in the Mohegan Pennsylvania casino parking lot while he wagered at the sportsbook.
* A female patron was placed on the involuntary exclusion list after leaving two children, ages two and five, unattended in the food court at Valley Forge Casino Resort in order to wager at the sportsbook and later, once again, left the children unattended in a vehicle in the casino’s parking lot but was approached by security before she was able to gamble.
* A female patron was placed on the involuntary exclusion list after leaving her 13-year-old child unattended in a vehicle at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course while she cashed a check and gambled on slot machines.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s actions serve as a reminder that adults are prohibited from leaving minors unattended in the parking lot or garage, a hotel or other venues at a casino since it creates a potentially unsafe and dangerous environment for the children.
Leaving minors unattended at a Pennsylvania casino also subjects the offending adult to criminal prosecution in addition to exclusion from all Pennsylvania casinos.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is reporting that since the start of 2022 through March of 2023 it has identified 344 incidents of adults leaving children unattended to gamble at Pennsylvania casinos involving 568 minors.
For more information on this issue and to assist in bringing awareness of this problem, you can visit the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s special Don’t Gamble with Kids campaign website. The next meeting of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is scheduled for 10:00 am, Wednesday, May 24, 2023, in the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s public hearing room located on the second floor of the Strawberry Square Complex in Harrisburg.
Canada
AGCO issues $110,000 in penalties to BetMGM Canada for offering cash to induce new gambling customers
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has served BetMGM Canada Inc. with an Order of Monetary Penalty (OMP) of $110,000 for violations of the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming.
In two separate incidents in 2024, BetMGM engaged marketing companies who offered cash to members of the public in return for opening new BetMGM accounts. The marketing activities occurred in public forums, such as a major national trade conference. Under AGCO’s Standards, operators are responsible for the conduct of their third-party suppliers who are contracted to support the operator’s Ontario gaming business, and must require their third-parties to meet Ontario laws, regulations and standards (Standard 1.19).
Ontario is one of the first jurisdictions in the world to establish and enforce rules that strictly limit high-risk inducement advertising and marketing in the online gambling industry. Registered iGaming operators are prohibited from offering gambling inducements, bonuses and credits as part of their broad public advertising and marketing activities (Standard 2.05). These Standards exist to protect Ontarians from predatory advertising and promotional marketing practices in order to limit the risk of gambling-related harm.
A registered operator served with an OMP by the AGCO has the right to appeal the Registrar’s decision to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), which is an adjudicative tribunal independent of the AGCO and part of Tribunals Ontario.
QUOTE
“Responsible gambling safeguards and the protection of Ontarians on registered gaming sites is among our key priorities. The AGCO monitors the activities of all registered operators and their third-party suppliers to ensure they are meeting our high standards and we continue to take strong action to ensure they operate within the public interest.”
Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar – AGCO
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
BetMGM Canada Inc. failed to comply with the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming. Specifically, the licensee failed to comply with the following provisions of the Standards:
- 1.19 Operators are responsible for the actions of third parties with whom they contract for the provision of any aspect of the Operator’s business related to gaming in Ontario and must require the third party to conduct themselves in so far as they carry out activities on behalf of the operator as if they were bound by the same laws, regulations, and standards.
- 2.05 Advertising and marketing materials that communicate gambling inducements, bonuses and credits are prohibited, except on an operator’s gaming site and through direct advertising and marketing, after receiving active player consent.
Contrary to the Standards, BetMGM Canada Inc. and/or their affiliates allegedly engaged in the following activities:
| a) | On or about January 13 and 14, 2024, BetMGM representatives were alleged to have attended the National Franchise Show and were offering $100 in cash to new players for opening a new account and depositing $15. |
| b) | On or about March 11, 2024, BetMGM acknowledged that its marketing affiliate “Above the Street” had engaged in prohibited inducement marketing. The conduct resulted in 377 player sign-ups and $127,180.00 in commissions to “Above the Street”. |
| c) | On or about April 13, 2024, another BetMGM marketing affiliate “Maple Leaf Marketing” engaged in prohibited inducements and marketing to induce on-site activations and acquire new players. The conduct resulted in 94 player sign-ups and about $34,000.00 in commissions paid to “Maple Leaf Marketing”. |
4ThePlayer has officially received game certification for the Brazilian iGaming market, reinforcing its commitment to regulated markets worldwide. This milestone enables the company to bring its acclaimed player-first gaming experiences to a brand-new audience.
Approved by Gaming Associates and eCogra, these certifications allow licensed operators in Brazil, to offer 4ThePlayer’s high-quality, player-centric games through their existing platform integrations with Relax Gaming and Yggdrasil.
Certified game titles include 4 Fantastic Fish, 4K Ultra Gold, and 5 Wild Buffalo as well as their innovative and unique table games 100 Bit Dice and 1000x Busta, all top-performing, player-favorite releases. Moving forward, all 4ThePlayer games will be certified for Brazil from day one.
Beyond its existing portfolio, 4ThePlayer is committed to delivering region-tailored content, leveraging its local team in Brazil to develop engaging, culturally relevant gaming experiences set to launch later this year. The first one of these titles is 4 Fantastic Fish Amazon Adventure, the latest in their player favourite 4 Fantastic series, coming via Yggdrasil in April.
Henry McLean, Co-Founder, Commercial & Marketing Director at 4ThePlayer, expressed his enthusiasm: “We are thrilled to bring our unique, player-centric games to Brazil, a market full of energy and potential. These game certifications are a major milestone, reinforcing our dedication to regulated markets and delivering best-in-class entertainment. We look forward to collaborating with operators and creating unforgettable gaming experiences for Brazilian players.”
With this certification, 4ThePlayer continues its mission of providing exceptional, player-focused gaming worldwide, ensuring its engaging and innovative titles reach new markets and audiences.
SOFTSWISS, a leading iGaming software provider, continues its expansion in LATAM by obtaining certification for the Peruvian market for its Jackpot Aggregator, a comprehensive player engagement solution. This follows the recent certification of the SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator in Brazil.
The certification was achieved through GLI, an accredited testing laboratory, ensuring that the Jackpot Aggregator meets all technical and legal requirements set by Peruvian authorities.
The online casino segment in Peru has seen steady ARPU growth, increasing from 181 dollars in 2017 to a projected 513 dollars by 2028. Similarly, online sports betting has shown consistent growth, with ARPU rising from 319 dollars to 453 dollars over the same period.
The SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator effectively caters to both segments, as it can be seamlessly integrated with sportsbooks and online casinos, even those based on third-party platforms. Also, SOFTSWISS recently announced the launch of the first Network Jackpot for Sportsbooks, a rare and effective engagement tool in the market.
Angelina Stasiuk, Head of Business Line at SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator, commented: “When it comes to player retention and engagement while delivering an exciting entertainment experience, the SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator offers a powerful solution. It allows operators to easily configure and implement a variety of mechanics, from multi-level prizes to branded jackpots. We are excited that these effective tools are now available for the Peruvian market.”
The Jackpot Aggregator can also be seamlessly integrated with the SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator, which is also certified for the Peruvian market.
The SOFTSWISS team will be available to discuss sweepstakes, social casino segments and partnerships at SiGMA Americas in São Paulo, Brazil, from 7 to 10 April.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds several gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 23,500 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team counts over 2,000 employees.
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