NFL calls for backup
NFL federal call, Brazil amends, Aspers in trouble, compliance job survey, Australia’s Curaçao complaint, India tax +More
Good morning. On today’s agenda:
NFL demands more action on illegal books from the federal authorities.
Brazilian Congress adds 240 amendments.
Aspinall resigns from Aspers as company misses annual report deadline.
Compliance roles on the rise, suggests BettingJobs.
Australia’s Curaçao licensee complaint.
Because it’s time you realized, that this is the time.
NFL calls in the Feds
The NFL says more attention and resources are needed from the federal authorities to combat illegal sports betting.
Once more with feeling: The NFL said the increased accessibility of sports betting has made its efforts towards ensuring the integrity of the sport even more important, according to a letter from Jonathan Nabavi, the league's vice-president of public policy and government affairs, seen by ESPN.
Titus awakes: The letter was sent in response to a series of letters sent to 12 sports leagues and commissioners by US Rep. Dina Titus in June.
The letters inquired about their combined efforts in the area of sports integrity.
In his response, Nabavi said "there is no higher principle at the NFL than safeguarding the integrity of the game”. He added: “We believe that additional attention and resources are needed from lawmakers and law-enforcement to address the illicit sports-betting market, which still has the power of incumbency.”
Titus groan: But the response drew a furious response from Titus, who said she was disappointed in the lack of specifics from the NFL.
"It's very disappointing that the NFL has declined to answer our questions and instead pivoted to illegal sports betting generally in their response. It makes one wonder what they are trying to hide," Titus said.
ESPN reported that last year Titus, who co-chairs the Congressional Gaming Caucus, sent a letter to the Department of Justice, asking for investigations into illegal sportsbook operators.
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Brazilian amendments
The case against sports betting in Brazil grows stronger.
Amendment magnet: Having been given 120 days to review the sports-betting legislation as put forward by President Lula’s recent provisional measure, the Brazilian Congress has already notched up more than 240 amendments.
Among the prominent dissenters to the measure as proposed is ex-Brazilian football star Romario, who is now a senator and who has suggested three amendments, including that exotic bets such as odds on yellow cards should be banned.
He also proposed an amendment to halt the advertising of betting operators on football club shirts and to limit TV and radio advertising to between 9pm and 6am.
A further amendment by another senator suggested a blackout period before the market launched for any operator present in the current gray market.
Such a rule was a prominent feature of the market in the Netherlands, which caused problems for a number of market leaders.
Bleeding-heart liberal: There are also amendments that would be more liberal than the proposals to date. One from deputy Newton Cardoso, a supporter of expanded gambling, would reduce the government's proposed 18% tax rate on GGR to 11%. Another from Senator Angelo Colonel would legalize all games of chance.
The government’s plans for an 18% tax on GGR have drawn stern criticism from the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR), which suggested that after taking into account other taxes, the burden would rise to 30%.
Moreover, if taxes on the prizes paid to players are added the effective tax rate could exceed 50%.
Should any of the amendments be accepted, President Lula can then either accept or reject them.
There is then the potential that Congress may let the provisional measure expire without approval.
Aspinall’s disappearing act
Damian Aspinall leaves the board of UK casino operation Aspers.
Asp a stupid question: According to filings with the UK’s Companies House, the Aspers casino business is over two months late in filing its accounts for the year to June 2022 and has seen the scion of the storied Aspinall family resign as a director within the last fortnight.
The Sunday Times reported speculation in financial circles that Aspers has hit debt trouble.
The last figures for the business for the year to June 2021 showed the company had an outstanding £50m loan payable within 12 months.
It is not known whether that debt was repaid.
Revival meeting: Aspers is a 50/50 JV between Aspinall and Crown Resorts in Australia formed in 2005 when it launched its first casino in Newcastle. Openings followed in Northampton, Stratford, East London and finally Milton Keynes in 2013.
Compliance jobs survey
BettingJobs jobs survey shows a near 18% rise in compliance roles.
Paying heed: The number of compliance roles being advertised via specialist betting recruiter BettingJobs increased nearly 18% between H222 and H123. The survey also showed a significant uptick in cryptocurrency operators requiring more compliance roles to be filled.
Meanwhile, in terms of location the advent of the White Paper in the UK has seen the number of compliance roles increase in the first half of 2023 vs. H222.
At the same time, there has been a decline in the number of compliance roles in Malta.
Comply or die: Jennifer Innes, CEO at Betting Jobs, said that when comparing the second half of last year with the first half of 2023, there has been an increase in the number of compliance roles on offer across all levels.
“For example, during the second half of last year we largely were working on and made placements on middle management vacancies,” she added.
“By comparison to the first half of this year, it can be noted that there has been a return of more senior and C-level compliance roles and more junior compliance positions.”
G’day cobber
The Australian gambling authority complains about Curaçao licensees.
Ripper: The Australian Communications and Media Authority has issued a warning to the Curaçao authorities over more than 90 online sites that offer gambling to Australians contrary to Australian law.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, ACMA has also met with officials from Curaçao to express its concerns about sites that clearly target Australians with imagery and welcomes, such as one site that uses the term ‘G’day cobber’ at the top.
The paper noted that Australian-owned Stake.com is among those that use a Curaçao license via a sub-license from master license holder Antillephone.
A flat pitch: The paper reported the increasing frustration at the lack of action on the part of the Curaçao authorities, citing a letter to finance minister Javier Silvania complaining that the operators and master license holders have yet to take any action despite having been contacted.
The paper also reported on a meeting between ACMA officials and Curaçao’s gambling authority representatives, where the latter confirmed that “contraventions by operators in other jurisdictions” would be taken into account when assessing suitability for licenses under the new regime.
Curaçao government representatives told ACMA officials they would forward the list of the contravening operators to the relevant master license holder.
Australia notebook
Under age: The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission has set out plans to ban betting on all under-19 sports competitions and any betting on the performance of individual players who are under-18 in junior and senior sports.
In letters sent to the bodies controlling all major sports and to sports-betting providers, the Commission said it has “determined that permitting betting on minors is contrary to the public interest and poses potential integrity and gambling-related harm concerns”.
The new rules also include a ban on exotic bet types, including offering bets on outcomes such as first goal of the game, most disposals or first player to take a wicket, where individual players are minors.
Bets can still be made on team outcomes in senior sports when minors may be playing.
Minor problem: Commission chair Fran Thorn said: “The idea that it is okay to bet on minors just doesn’t stand up. We think minors deserve to be protected.”
“If sports controlling bodies and betting providers do not comply with this decision we will take action, which may include revoking our approval of sports controlling bodies and prosecuting betting providers."
US notebook
North Carolina: The speaker of the House Tim Moore told local media that there is no language in the consensus budget right now that would authorize up to four new casinos in the state. This is contrary to previous comments from Sen. Phil Berger who had suggested measures to further legalize gambling might have been included in the agreement.
Moore said any casino legislation would need formal support from the House GOP caucus to advance.
Maryland: The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency has approved amendments to proposed regulations on casino gaming, sports betting and VLTs, including a measure that will prohibit ads that suggest guaranteed or risk-free outcomes.
It has also approved rules that will require retail gaming facilities to include “conspicuous and readable” messaging about the state’s self-exclusion program.
New York: The New York State Gaming Commission has rejected a request to change proposed rules to allow pick ’em-style player games such as PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy. A proposed rule will make explicit that contests shall not be based on prop betting or contests that have the effect of mimicking prop betting.
The Commission said it essentially deems those contests sports betting.
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European notebook
Greece: The Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) has launched a consultation, open until September 15, on various issues such as player harm, single player accounts and casino operations. The new regulations include forcing venues to hold financial security reserves and be more explicit with their opening hours.
A new self-exclusion register, maintained by the EEEP, has also been floated in which the punter chooses the length of their own ban.
Greece’s regulated market went into operation in 2011.
Bulgaria: Bulgaria has told operators to ban self-excluded employees from casinos and gaming halls. The country’s National Revenue Agency (NRA), which oversees gambling, said operators who breach the rule face fines of up to $11,200.
Bulgarian law forbids individuals who are on the register from entering gambling premises, and the government was moved to comment on employers hiring self-excluded individuals following an inquiry.
Malta: The Malta Gaming Authority has suspended SFJL Holdings operator’s license after the regulators flagged that the company didn’t notify the authorities of significant changes within the business.
Asian notebook
India: The Goods and Services Tax Council confirmed it will implement a new 28% tax on the total value of chips purchased, deposits made or bets placed for casinos, online gaming and horseracing as of October 1.
The tax will apply to the initial purchase amount and not on winnings. The Council rejected calls by the casino states of Goa and Sikkim to apply the tax to GGR.
The Council did agree to review the tax six months after it is officially implemented.
Philippines: The chairman of the Philippine Senate Committee on Finance said a total ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators would create an income shortfall. According to GGRAsia, Senator Francis Escudero said “if we close them down, we may have to increase taxes”.
PAGCOR said last week that all POGOs and their service providers must reapply for licenses by September 17 under a new regulatory regime that includes higher taxes and licensing fees.
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