News

Several sections of the media and parliament have made it one of their new year resolutions to give the UK gambling industry a good kicking. Already in the first few weeks of 2020 the use of credit cards, streaming of football matches, use of age verification databases and VIP schemes have been the subject of attack.

The profile of Macau’s baccarat market has changed greatly in the last few years, to the extent that the VIP and mass market tables are now contributing an almost equal share of the revenues.

The UK Labour party has published its manifesto for the 2019 General Election. It contains a paragraph on what a Labour government will do on gambling. “A Labour government will curb gambling advertising in sports and introduce a new Gambling Act fit for the digital age, establishing gambling limits, a levy for problem gambling funding and mechanisms for consumer compensations.” Several of these measures are already underway in some form or have been previously stated by various MPs. One element which could be a concern for operators is the mention of “mechanisms for consumer compensations”. There is little detail as to how or for what consumers might be able to claim compensation.

The global lottery sector had a GGY of US$ 138 billion in 2018 and was led by Asia, which commanded a 41% share of the market. By 2022 GBGC forecasts that global lottery GGY will surpass US$ 150 billion. Asia will still be the market leader but its share will have dropped to 39%. North and South America will both have increased their respective shares. The Americas combined share will increase from 29% in 2018 to 31% in 2022. Read more about the world’s lottery markets in GBGC's Global Gambling Report.  

Shares in the UK-listed gambling companies took a sharp dive on Monday 4 November 2019 after the release of a report on harm-related gambling from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG).

The EU is to explore the creation of a new central authority to crack down on money laundering activity, according to the Financial Times.