The Gambling Commission is considering a credit card ban for online betting. The regulator’s report into how to make online gambling safer said consumers “should not gamble with money that they do not have”. Betting operators have suggested credit cards are used for between 10% and 20% of deposits online. Before taking action the regulator will explore whether a ban would instead force people to use “payday” loans. Other proposed changes include improving age verification processes, banning operators from providing “free-to-play” games to children and tackling “unacceptable marketing and advertising”. The latest suggestions come after a consultation by the Department…

The American Gaming Association (AGA) has announced the addition of six new companies as board-level members. GVC Holdings PLC, Paddy Power Betfair, Stars Group, BMM Testlabs, Golden Entertainment and Choctaw Casinos and Resorts will all be represented on the AGA board of directors. Confirmation of the new additions comes after the AGA last week entered into a strategic alliance with BMM, under which the latter will share its expertise on gaming and regulatory issues with the AGA and its members. Geoff Freeman, president and chief executive of the AGA, said: “More than ever before, AGA’s diverse membership reflects the broad…

A public hearing on expanded gaming opportunities took place in Connecticut on Thursday, and evidence that the state is a strong candidate to legalize online gambling continues to pile up. Everything from sports betting, to commercial casinos, to online casinos was discussed during the hearing by lawmakers, elected officials, members of the public and representatives from Connecticut’s tribal casinos. Written testimony submitted by Foxwoods Resort Casino not only supported online gaming and sports betting, it called online gaming the “strongest opportunity for the state.” You can read the full testimony here. It’s unequivocal verbal support for online gambling from a…

President Trump’s personal assistant was fired because of his high-rolling online gambling, betting tens of thousands of dollars online at a time, according to a report. John McEntee, who was unceremoniously booted from the White House this week, opened himself up to outside influence by frequently betting large sums of money online, two people familiar with the matter told the Washington Post. McEntee’s gambling was likely not illegal, but there was concern among White House personnel that he could pose a security risk by being vulnerable to blackmail. A background investigation found that McEntee’s gambling habits made him unsuitable for…

The state of Michigan is poised to be the center of attention for online gaming stakeholders in the United States come the start of the 2018 political season. Just before lawmakers concluded business for 2017, the Michigan House Regulatory Reform Committee passed a series of bills that would legalize gambling on the internet within the state. Rep. Brandt Idena, the bills’ sponsor and Chair of the Regulatory Reform Committee, is selling the proposal to fellow lawmakers as a way to generate much needed revenue for the state, while at the same time, allowing citizens to engage in activities that some…

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has released an online gambling FAQ document designed to help people better understand the forthcoming online gaming industry. There’s nothing new or groundbreaking in the two-page document, but one aspect of the law that has been underreported is a prohibition on online casino and online poker at any of the 12 land-based casinos in Pennsylvania. The reason for this ban is protectionist. A false narrative was pushed during the gaming debate in the state that led to not only this strange prohibition, but also the exorbitant tax rate on online slots. The fear was that…