This Week in Gambling

iGaming Business – The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has highlighted the need for guidance in the app industry to protect consumers following a recent sweep of more than 350 app games in the Google Play and Apple App Stores. The ACCC discovered in its sweep that many ‘free’ games that appeal to children were not accompanied with ‘adequate disclosure’ about costs associated with app-based games. In addition, the ACCC found that less than 20% of children’s ‘free’ game apps across both platforms included information about how to restrict devices to prevent inadvertent in-app purchases. The sweep also highlighted the…

Australian gambling laws were adjusted during the Gillard administration to include warnings on video poker machines about the dangers of over indulgence in the activity. With the Abbott government now in power it has decided to overturn pre-commitment laws brought in by the Labor government only one year ago. The mandatory technology in the ACT, where punters have to select how much they were prepared to lose before the start of play will not be implemented. Another restriction on gamblers included a nationwide prohibition on withdrawing more than $250 at automated teller machines in gambling areas other than those in…

Philly.com – The Atlantic Club Casino Hotel, which hopes to sell itself at a bankruptcy court auction this month, has laid out its assets and liabilities for the court. The casino formerly known as the Atlantic City Hilton listed assets, excluding real property, of $17.1 million and liabilities of $16.8 million. The casino would not estimate the worth of its real property when asked by The Associated Press. It listed the value in the filing as “unknown.” A deal to sell the Atlantic Club to the parent company of the PokerStars website fell through this year, and the casino was…

iGaming Business – The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has released its first corporate social responsibility (CSR) report, which it said will serve as a ‘baseline measure’ of its efforts in various areas of social responsibility in the Canadian province of Ontario. The new report will replace various other methods OLG previously used to report social responsibility, which included a number of different progress and metric reports. OLG will use the new report to address responsible and problem gambling, earning and retaining customers’ trust, supporting staff in communities, strengthening communities, and reducing its overall impact on the environment. “Each…

Las Vegas Review Journal – If his gaming analyst job doesn’t work out, Brian McGill could try winning a seat in the Main Event at the World Series of Poker. At least the Internet version. In late November, McGill, who follows publicly traded casino companies and slot machine manufacturers for financial services company Janney Montgomery Scott, sampled the new East Coast Internet gaming opportunities in Delaware and New Jersey. With a home base in New York City, McGill could cross state lines and check out the action. He found mixed results in both markets. New Jersey had sign-up issues in…

iGaming Business – Online poker operator PokerStars has announced the addition of the Heads-Up No Limit Hold’em (NLHE) and Pot Limit Omaha Zoom (PLO) cash games to its offering. According to the Pokersoftware.com website, Zoom is a fast-fold game that, in its heads-up format, whenever a hand is folded or otherwise ended, brings the player to a new table to face any opposition. Although players can hit and run, they cannot be selective about whom they play, meaning they could be placed against any opposition. Games are available in regular and cap formats for both NLHE and PLO. Blinds range…