Casino News Roundup: The Latest From The Casino & Gambling Industry

A man was arrested in Indonesia, for selling his 11-month-old son on Facebook for approximately $1,450 to fund online gambling and buy mobile phones. The child was safely recovered and returned to his mother who was unaware of the sale and had left home for work. 

The transaction involved a couple desperate for a child after years of trying to conceive. After learning of the sale upon her return to Jakarta, mother reported her husband to the police, resulting in his arrest, along with the couple who bought her son. She chose not to pursue charges against the couple.

The Indonesian Child Protection Commission has reported an alarming rise in complaints related to child exploitation and trafficking, with babies being sold for sums between $2,500 and $4,500.  

Experts call for improved support for struggling families and education on legal adoption processes. Ni Luh Maitra Agastya, from the University of Indonesia, emphasizes the urgent need for government interventions, including better reproductive health care and enhanced law enforcement.

The operator of BC.Game, BlockDance, has been reprimanded by the Dutch regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), for offering illegal online casino gaming. 

The KSA has given BlockDance four weeks to stop operations in the Netherlands or face a fine of €280,000 per week, up to a maximum of €840,000. A recent inspection revealed that the BC.Game site was accessible to Dutch players despite earlier access blocks. 

The KSA noted, "No technical measures were taken on the sites to prevent participation from the Netherlands." 

The Arkansas Supreme Court upholds the wording of a ballot measure that could revoke the license for a planned casino in Pope County, rejecting claims that it was misleading to voters. 

The ruling allows the measure to stay on the ballot, where voters can decide whether to revoke the license granted to Cherokee Nation Entertainment. 

The proposed amendment would also require future casino licenses to be voted on by local residents. 

A key figure in the pro-amendment campaign stated, "Issue 2 keeps casinos from being forced on communities that vote against them." 

Recent research from UNiDAYS has revealed a significant increase in gaming expenditure among Gen Z students in the UK, with monthly spending rising by 21%. On average, UK Gen Z students now spend £48.00 per month on gaming, with 90% engaging in mobile games. 

Popular genres include party games and action-adventure titles.

At the same time, discussions around increased taxation on online gambling are gaining momentum. 

The Social Market Foundation (SMF) has proposed a hike in the Remote Gaming Duty from 21% to 42%, a move that could potentially generate an additional £900 million for the UK government. 

This proposal comes amid rumours of a tax increase in the upcoming budget. While critics argue that such a move could negatively impact the industry, supporters like former casino entrepreneur Derek Webb emphasize the importance of tighter regulations to address gambling-related harm.

Rank Group has announced impressive growth in the UK casino sector, with a 12% increase in net gaming revenue (NGR), reaching £197.4 million for the first quarter ending September 30, 2024. 

Grosvenor saw a significant NGR boost of 13%, totalling £95.3 million. 

CEO John O’Reilly stated, "We have continued to build on the momentum that we have generated over the past year and a half." 

Evoke CEO Per Widerström highlights online gaming as a "clear growth engine" following a successful Q3, with online revenue up 11% across key markets. 

The company reported overall group revenue of £417 million, a 3% increase year-on-year. While retail revenues dipped due to market challenges, the firm is optimistic for the future, having initiated new measures to improve performance.