This Week in Gambling

Two video lottery terminal (VLT) users have cleared a hurdle in their legal fight against Canada’s Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) over practices that they claimed are deceptive, dangerous and illegal. The legal battle dates back to 20017, when lead plaintiff Douglas Babstock and Fred Small filed a lawsuit accusing ALC of designing its VLT line of games to be deceptive. In the lawsuit, Babstock said the machines—which he started using in the late 1990s—“gradually sucked away his money” and took over his life. To have the lawsuit certified, the group’s lawyers dug deep into the past and found a more…

The Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling launched its campaign soon after Sheldon Adelson pledged to “spend whatever it takes” to stop online gambling in November 2013. One of CSIG’s first moves was to create a memorable video, which among its many claims, warns that terrorists could use online gambling websites for nefarious purposes. Recently, these brazen protestations were further debunked, when a report by a Congressional task force on terror financing made no mention that online gambling could be used by terrorist organizations to launder money and fund plots. Nor did the task force recommend the passage of a federal…

This week, regulations governing fantasy sports contests in the State of Maryland went into effect.  The regulations, implemented pursuant to a 2012 law exempting fantasy sports from the State’s gambling prohibition, vest the Office of the Comptroller with authority to enforce various consumer protection rules aimed at establishing basic rules to ensure fairness in the Maryland fantasy sports industry. What are the key components of the Maryland fantasy sports regulations? The Maryland fantasy sports regulatory scheme provides the Office of the Comptroller with broad regulatory authority over fantasy sports operators, including mandates for, at a minimum, the following: Prohibitions against…

Tarzan takes center stage, hosting the stunning game, with Jane, Archimedes and a number of his jungle friends featured on the reels. The Tarzan online slot also contains a bunch of thrilling features and distinctive sounds, including Tarzan’s famous yell. Microgaming says that “…Tarzan takes the player deep into the tropical jungle, where the lush canopy provides a visual treat in this breathtaking 40-line slot. A beautifully rendered backdrop of shimmering waterfalls and blue skies brings the spirit of Tarzan to a new medium.”   Naturally, Tarzan hosts his own online slot. And, as Microgaming states, Tarzan also “…celebrates player…

We take an upclose look at the new Frogger Get Hoppin’ from Konami! The trend in casino skill games continues with the latest edition of Frogger, due to hit casino floors in 2017. Konami says that Frogger: Get Hoppin’ was one fo the “top skill-based concepts” when it was debuted at the Global Gaming Expo late in 2016. Konami were the original developers of the Frogger game, and the casino skill game version “…combines piano-style button melodies with the iconic road and river crossing course in a 15-second race to increasing scores and cash prizes.” Frogger: Get Hoppin’ a 3-level…

Some powerful folks in the American casino world are betting on Donald Trump fast-forwarding the push toward legalized sports gambling in this country. In his year-end conference call with reporters, Geoff Freeman, president of the pro-casino American Gaming Association (AGA) trade group, said Trump’s firsthand business experience within the gaming industry bodes well for a repeal of a federal law barring sports betting in most states. “With regards to sports betting, I think that we are entering a perfect storm,’’ Freeman said. Freeman cited interest among television broadcasters and individual team owners in repealing the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports…