Not everyone can be a Wynn-er
Wynn Las Vegas, one of the subsidiaries of Wynn Resorts, has agreed to forfeit $130m as part of an investigation into unlicensed money transfers. The allegations from the US Attorney’s Office claim that the company used unregistered money transmitters to transfer funds into the casino from foreign gamblers and avoid any financial regulations.
In addition, it’s believed that Wynn Las Vegas allowed proxy gambling and other suspicious activity. As Wynn Las Vegas admitted to the allegations and agreed to forfeit the $130m, it will avoid any criminal proceedings.
Say ohayo to Osaka IR in 2030
The new casino resort, Osaka IR by MGM Resorts Japan, is expected to begin construction within the month. The last stage of the $10bn development plans requires the planning site to be officially handed over by the City of Osaka.
As part of this, MGM Resorts has forfeited its right to withdraw from the project for the next two years, or it would have to pay compensation. If the construction manages to stick to its schedule, then Osaka IR is projected to open in 2030.
AU survey respondents give the OK for gambling ads
According to a recent survey conducted in Australia by Freshwater Strategy, the majority of Australians don’t want an outright ban on gambling. Out of the respondents, 56% would rather have targeted, moderate restrictions placed on marketing, rather than the 37% who voted for a total ban.
This follows a recent open letter addressed to the Australian Prime Minister, which was penned by 60 high-profile individuals, urging for a complete ban on gambling advertisements. Another Australian Financial Review (AFR) Freshwater Poll found that 70% of voters would just prefer that gambling ads were less frequent.
Playtech plays strong with RSI launch
Playtech has partnered with Rush Street Interactive (RSI), meaning that its iGaming content will be available in key markets such as New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ontario and Mexico. Notably, Playtech has several live studios in New Jersey, Michigan and Pennsylvania, which means that players on BetRivers will be able to play titles created and streamed from their own states.
North America isn’t the only continent that will be affected by the partnership, as RSI and Playtech also plan to offer the latter’s slots, table games and live dealer games in Latin America through the RushBet brand.
Ohio and Maryland announce big responsible gambling updates
First of all, Maryland has reached its $100m milestone for contributions made to the state’s education fund. Since 2021, Maryland’s sports wagering program has contributed to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund, which supports public education schemes in the state.
Secondly, Ohio has just introduced a new Gambling Telehealth Network (OGTN) to provide free mental health support to residents suffering from gambling-related harm. Not everyone lives in an area with accessible gambling counsellors, so the telehealth scheme aims to bridge the gap and provide a safety net for people struggling with gambling and mental health.
