Australian Gambling News Compilation December 2021

The online casino gambling industry has grown in popularity and influence across the globe. There are a plethora of casino games that players can enjoy. As technology advances, there are various casinos news players must be aware of. For this reason, it is only for them to be kept abreast of the latest development in online gambling industry news.

 

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$60M to Australian Politicians by Gambling Stakeholders

An investigation into political payments carried out by ABC News shows that gambling stakeholders contributed over $59.2 million (AU$80 million) in politics-related activities. Based on the Australian Electoral Commission Transparency Register, it was discovered that about $60.5 million (AU$81.77 million) was attributed to different stakeholders in the casino industry. Also, all disclosed payments by donors linked to these entities were validated. The data analysis gambling news today also showed that in Australia, gambling and politics are intertwined. In terms of ranking nations by gambling per capita, no country is higher than Australia. While no reasons have been made for this political donation, there is a great dependence of the industry in regulation and has significantly invested in politicians, the rule-makers. Between 2018 to 2019, half of the money Australian gamblers lost ($18.5 billion) was ascribed to pokie venues, most of which feature a plethora of Electronic Gaming Machines.

During this period alone, several gambling businesses contributed about $10.7 million (AU$14.46 million) to political activities. The highest-ranking organizations were Tabcorp, Crown, and the Star. They contributed $2.92 million (AU$3.95 million), $2.41 million (AU$3.25 million), and $1.31 million (AU$1.77 million) respectively. However, the industry’s contributions were more than doubled by hotels, clubs, and pubs, which contributed $26.6 million (AU$35.95 million) to political activities.

Aristocrat to Buy Playtech in $ 3.7: Large Scale Gaming Deal

Australian slot machine provider and gaming tech business, Aristocrat Leisure is growing in influence worldwide as a result of a $3.7 billion takeover of the largest supplier of gaming software, Playtech. This proposal was announced to the ASX and this deal values ??Playtech around $ 5 billion. This deal seems like a possible one and Playtech has already urged its stakeholders to support this takeover. What is known about Playtech? This is a top developer of content and software for the best paying online casino and online pokies industry. Its operation is spread across 24 countries, with over 7000 employees and 170 licenses across the globe.

What is the position of Aristocrat in the gaming market? Aristocrat has established itself as Australia’s top game development company, with a market capitalization that is around $ 30 million. This company prides itself on being a global games powerhouse. It has acquired gaming licenses in about 300 gaming jurisdictions and currently operates in over 90 countries. As the biggest Australian slot machine manufacturer, Aristocrat has provided a wide variety of digital businesses, including Plarium, which has gathered over $ 500 million views in revenue.

What is expected from the deal? For Aristocrat, this will make a significant contribution to its burgeoning $ 94 billion online gaming market. It is set to become a major player in the industry. This procurement has consequences for this burgeoning $ 94 billion online real-money gaming market, with Aristocrat set to become a major player.

Thousands Australia Gambling Websites Faced Blocking

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has urged Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block more offshore casino sites that do not comply with Australian laws. ISPs within the country have been ordered to carry this out since 2019. They have banned over 320 gambling sites since then. There were several rounds of bans carried out by ACMA in 2020. However, this latest request affects some casino sites, including Spin Bit, Fight Club, Kim Vegas, Queenspins, and YOJU Casino. The ACMA made this decision owing to several complaints about the services they provide. The site operators have been found to breach the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. Since the first blocking was done by the ACMA in November 2019, 324 gambling websites, operating illegally, have been blocked. However, this number has increased significantly over the past year. Besides this, 147 illegal services have also been banned from the market. The ACMA possesses a list of legal wagering services and casino sites. Users can verify the legitimacy of their preferred gambling site by checking for any certificate of licensing.

Star Entertainment’s Illegal Activities Triggered the Decline on The Stock Market

There has been a significant decline experienced by shares in Stars Entertainment due to various allegations that suggest that it supported illegal activities within its casino for several years. A report which was released exposed the organization for suspected organized crime, money laundering, and fraud. Crown Resorts, its main rival, was affected by similar allegations back in 2019, according to BBC gambling news. It was also reported by the television program, 60 minutes that the firm’s management was already warned to make several appropriate adjustments to its anti-money-laundering rules. It was stated, according to this report, that from 2014 – 2021, this organization attracted high rollers, who were suggested to be connected to criminal activities. The same allegations were made two years ago about Crown Resorts and this initiated different reactions and investigations that would impact this firm massively. New South Wales gaming authority declared Crown Resorts to be unfit to run its casino within Sydney in the wake of an investigation that proved that it had supported money laundering. The eventual ruling stopped the company from acquiring a license of operation for its newly-built $ 1.6 billion (AU $ 2.2 billion) casino.

Sportsbet Has Been Fined $135,000 For Illegal Gambling Ads

Sportsbet has been slapped with a huge fine after it was discovered that it had gone against gambling advertising rules. This betting firm was required to give an answer to these allegations that it issued “prohibited” ads to its customers at a Sydney court. This firm was allegedly running this program for 5 months. Sportsbet was also hit with a fine for providing a ‘confusing functionality of the unsubscribe option’ and several customers could not find it easy to change their subscription preferences. Besides these, it was revealed that it used its social media accounts to issue ‘prohibited gambling advertisements referring to Treasure Punt’. This is a breach under the Betting and Racing Act 1998 to “publish a gambling advertisement that offers any inducement to take part, or take part frequently, in any gambling activity, including an inducement to open a betting account”. It is also against the law to offer gambling ads to customers, particularly when they made it clear that they wish not to be contacted. Sportsbet was eventually fined $135,000 for these breaches.

$1,000 Prize Pools for Australian Players Offers Intertops Poker

Intertops Poker has gained recognition for its online poker and casino gaming options. Its operator presents players with top-quality promotions and incentives to offer players a plethora of gaming options for poker and slot gaming. Several weeks ago, this brand focused on its Australian Ripper poker tournament. In most cases, this competition often offers a $500 prize pool, but the site decided to increase this and players can vie for double the prize money! The Ripper Poker Tournament presents Australian poker players with an opportunity to earn more than a typical cash prize. Participants were given a starting stack that sums up to $2,500 and blinds that would increase every 10 minutes. Online poker gamblers could acquire a rebuy for just $10, alongside add-ons for this same price. The add-on comprises 5,000 chips, while a rebuy consists of 2,000 chips. To sign up, players were required to click on the tournament selection and choose any one of the daily options. These tournaments are available within an app. These events represent some of the Australian Tournament series hosted on this website.

According to the manager of the Intertops Poker Room, “Let’s face it, it’s not uncommon for poker players to be grinding all night long. But just so they don’t always have to lose sleep to play poker, we schedule two tournament series at times more convenient for Australian players.”

Star Entertainment Confirms Asset Sales to Stay Afloat During COVID-19 Pandemic

It has been a tough year for casino companies and they have struggled to stay afloat due to the COVID-19 pandemic issue. There were calls for closure, social distancing, among others, all of which contribute to the limited services provided. For Star Entertainment, it was really tough. This firm recently disclosed that it has returned to profit. However, it had to let go of some assets to get back on its feet. Early trading for Star experienced a negative impact by this hiatus owing to the pandemic. Other factors that also contributed to this were the operating restrictions as soon as the Queensland venue opened back up. In June, the Star Sydney closed and has remained shut down. Besides this, properties were also shut down in Queensland during this period. However, this only lasted for free days.

The Chairman of Star Entertainment, John O’ Neill commented by stating, “The Group continued executing its strategy well in the context of the extraordinary COVID-19 related challenges. The fundamental earnings prospects for The Star’s domestic business remain attractive. They are underpinned by valuable long-term licenses in compelling locations and the transformation of our properties into globally competitive entertainment destinations is nearing completion”. He further affirmed that this firm is devoted to getting back on its fit and taking several actions that would place much focus on recovery after COVID-19.

The Star Entertainment Group Limited Cancels Crown Resorts Limited Takeover Offer

Star Entertainment Group has reportedly withdrawn its offer to acquire rival casino Crown Resorts Limited due to several uncertainties that relate to the safety of the target’s gambling license. It was reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the non-binding proposition that was initially logged was meant to have a buyer hand 2.68 of its shares over to investors of Crown Resorts for every stake it received. It was also revealed that this scheme involved a clause that would have allowed these backers to sell as much as 25% of their shareholding at an individual stock price a bit higher than $9.84. It was also reported that this partnership was intended to create Australia’s biggest casino operator, with six properties in four different states. Star Entertainment is constructing a building on 23 acres of land. This combined entity would be worth about $8.8 billion, which could have seen Resort regain its license from the New South Wales Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority. Crown Resort was accused of facilitating money laundering. However, Star Entertainment has refuted any form of amalgamation with Crown Resort. According to Star Entertainment, “To date, The Star Entertainment Group Limited has had limited engagement with Crown Resorts Limited on its proposal. Also, issues raised at Victoria’s royal commission into Crown Melbourne have the potential to materially impact the value of Crown Resorts Limited including whether it retains the license to operate its Melbourne casino or the conditions under which its license is retained.”

Aristocrat Leisure Limited Demonstrated Decent Financial Performance

Australia’s leading slot machine manufacturer Aristocrat Leisure Limited has reportedly gained $269 million in profit since the end of March as it strives to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. It was reported that the firm revealed that its overall revenue before interest, depreciation, amortization, and tax within these months rose by 6% to approximately $584.7 million. This increases its net profit before amortization up 12% to over $320 million. It was also revealed that this game developer ascribed these improvements to ‘exceptional product performance and customer engagement’, alongside ‘stronger than expected consumer sentiment and economic conditions in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. These results come after the firm agreed to pay out about $31 million to settle lawsuits that relate to its Game Incorporated subordinate. This enterprise from Churchill Downs was sued because it had offered online games of chance that were restricted by local laws. However, the CEO of Aristocrat Leisure, Trevor Croker said that the company has seen an increase in profits owing to ‘above industry-average growth in bookings.’

According to Croker, “These results reflect the fact that we have the right strategy and made the right choices to sustain our investment in outstanding people and product, customers, talent and culture throughout the coronavirus-impacted period. As a result, we have continued to take share and maintained our leadership of key gaming markets and segments while also growing our share in digital games, where we are now a top-five game publisher in tier-one western markets”.

$1 Million Dragon Link Progressive Jackpot by Aristocrat & Seminole Gaming

The Dragon Link Dragon Link™ slot has returned Aristocrat with phenomenal success. Building on this, Seminole Gaming and Aristocrat Gaming™ have attained a landmark with the $1 million Dragon Link progressive jackpot. This Dragon Link $1 million progressive jackpot is exclusively present at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa and Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood. Players will be presented with a chance to hit linked progressive jackpots – starting with $1 million – at these properties. To stand a chance to win this huge jackpot game that is worth $1 million, players can place a wager within the minimum and maximum bet that are set at $25 and $2,500 respectively.

According to the CEO of Seminole Gaming, David Hoenemeyer, “With more than 220+ Dragon Link games currently installed across our Florida Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming properties, we are proud to offer this new High Denomination offering. This is a first of its kind for this game, and we are proud to offer a life-changing $1 million progressive jackpot payable on the spot”.
According to the senior vice president of commercial strategy at Aristocrat Gaming, Jon Hamlin, “As it has been with all Dragon Link games, player reception to the high-denom and mid-denom Dragon Link games has been overwhelmingly positive. Given that incredible player reception, Seminole Gaming approached us with player feedback, and we worked together to turn on the $1 million jackpot functionality in response”.

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Spin Samurai’s AU$1200 Bonus Offers for Australian Players

Spin Samurai Casino, a relatively new online casino, has gathered much attention, thanks to its AU$1,200 welcome bonus offers for its new customers. This also comes with several free spins. For Spin Samurai, this is a tool adopted to attract gamblers to the platform. For players, this is an appealing opportunity to try out games with enhanced winning chances. Besides this, loyal customers also stand a winning chance of earning weekly promotions, pokie spins sign up bonus that could be as high as a 50% deposit bonus up to €100. This Curacao licensed gambling site has made provision for over 3000 casino games, spread across slots, blackjack, video poker, bingo, roulette and best pokies machine to play. To enjoy some of its top games, players must match its minimum deposit, which is set at $5. Players can make deposits or withdrawals through different payment methods such as Neteller, Skrill, Bank Transfer, and more. Spin Casino also works with several top software providers, including Evolution Gaming, Amatic, Playtech, among others.

2350+ Pokie Games Provided by PlayAmo Casino

PlayAmo casino, owned by the gaming company Direx N.V., has provided its players with a wide range of casino games, including over 2,350 pokie games. Some of the pokies that are available on this Curacao-licensed casino site are Thunderstruck II, Halloween Jack, Gonzo’s Quest, among others. Besides these, other casino games include Slots, Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, and Video Poker. PlayAmo presents its players with 100% and 50% bonuses when they make their first and second deposits respectively. This casino site has grown in popularity and has attracted many gamblers to its platform. Some of the providers of its top casino games are Microgaming, NetEnt, Evolution Gaming, Endorphina, Pragmatic Play, among others. It also provides its players with several payment options, including Cryptocurrencies, Debit/Credit cards, Neteller, and many more.

Ainsworth & Aristocrat Leisure Revealed A Selection Of Best Winning Online Pokies

Founded in 1995, Ainsworth has quickly become a leading provider of both the highest payout online casino australia and the best paying pokie machines. The company, which owns the same owner as Aristocrat, has named a selection of the most used and popular slot machines among Australian players.

  • Lightning Link. This best pokies to play features four different culture-, animal- and branded-themed titles. These include Magic Pearl, Happy Lantern, Sahara Gold, and High Stakes. Players can wager by betting 10 coins per line. High-rollers can also wager as high as $50 per spin. With similar gameplay, the online pokies that payout feature 5 reels and 50 paylines. Landing 3 scatters triggers free spins rounds.
  • More Chilli. Aristocrat’s More Chilli pokies jackpot is characterized by medium volatility, 5 reels, and 25 paylines. It has an RTP of 95%, a gamble feature, and a bet limit of 0.01 to 60. The wild is represented by a Sombrero Man symbol. This can form a paying combination by replacing every other symbol except the scatter, which is represented by a Money Bag. Landing 3 or more scatters will trigger the bonus round in the high payout pokies.
  • Indian Dreaming. Aristocrat’s Indian Dreaming is characterized by 5 reels and 243 ways to win. Some of its symbols include Teepee, Tambourine, Tomahawks, among others. A Dream Catcher represents scatters and 3 or more of a kind can trigger free spins rounds. Landing 3, 4, or 5 scatters wins you 10, 15, or 20 free spins. Its maximum payout is 9000 coins. Before playing, it is important to study the best online pokies Australia reviews in order to understand all the functions and bonuses, and also not to make mistakes.
  • Gold Dollars. Ainsworth Gold Dollars is characterized as one of the highest paying online pokies, with 5 reels and 25 paylines. A small symbol with “Free games” written on it is the scatter symbol. Landing 3 or more scatters will trigger free spins rounds. This rewards you with 8 free spins in the best paying pokies. The Golden Cash feature is triggered by landing 6 or more Diamond icons to win 3 respins.
  • Jungle Monkeys.  Ainsworth Jungle Monkey is one of the best payout online pokies Australia. It features 5 reels, 100 paylines, and an RTP of 94.14%. Collecting 5 Bananas, Coconut, Parrots, and Mango wins you up to 10,000 coins, 20,000 coins, 30,000 coins, and 100,000 coins respectively. A big payout of 1,000,000 coins can be achieved by landing 5 Barrel scatters in the best paying pokie machines Australia. Landing 3 or more scatters can trigger free spins. 8, 12, and 20 free spins are won by collecting 3, 4, or 5 scatters respectively.
  • Golden Ox. Ainsworth’s Golden Ox is an Asian-themed slot that features 5 reels, 25 paylines. The Green scatters can trigger the free spins by landing 3 or more of a kind in the best paying online pokies. A Red Fortune Charm represents the wild. When you land 5 or more Ox symbols on different reels, you trigger the Golden Cash feature. A fixed jackpot of 30,000 credits is won by landing all 15 Ox symbols. It is worth studying online pokies review to understand the features and capabilities of the game.

International Game Technology Revenue Up 21% in Q3

International Game Technology (IGT) has reported its income to be more than doubled. Also, revenue has increased by 21% for the third quarter. Based on the financial condition and result, the Board has reinstated a quarterly cash dividend. This organization hopes to boost its 2021 outlook. The operating income for the third quarter was up by 144% from previous years to $212 million. The net income experienced – in contrast to the net loss of the previous which was $129 million – was $101 million. This was powered by a higher operating profit and a significant decline in foreign exchange losses. The net income per share that results from running operations was set at $0.31, in contrast to a $0.75 loss experienced. Five analysts, as revealed by Thomson Reuters, expected the firm to make a profit per share of $0.30, for the quarter. These estimates remove special items from the consideration. Consolidated revenue was reported to be around $984 million, which has increased by 21% from the previous year. Analysts only predicted $981.09 million in revenue, on average. Global Lottery revenue rose by approximately 14% to $652 million. Global Gaming revenue, from $216 million was $289 million, up from $216 million, last year. The company is reportedly expecting an operating income that can be worth as much as $900 million, which is revised from previous guidance that was worth about $800 million.

Exclusive License for Microgaming Tarzan Online Pokies

It was disclosed by Microgaming that it reached an exclusive agreement with Rice Burroughs for the rights to manufacture Tarzan online pokies. This news came after the Legend of Tarzan movie was released. This procurement is a significant coup for Microgaming, particularly after the dissolution of the agreement it struck with Warner Bros. for Dark Knight Rises and Dark Knight. The gaming giant has also secured licensed best pokie machine to win in Australia games for Game of Thrones, Battlestar, Jurassic Park, Hellboy, Hitman, Tomb Raider, Playboy, Terminator 2, among others. According to Microgaming Chief Executive Officer, Roger Raatgever, fans could hold their breath for new Tarzan pokies games to be available on the internet.

He said, “Tarzan is recognized the world over, so we’re excited to be launching a slot hosted by this timeless character. Our highly talented games team relish working with a new brand, to build a game that celebrates and embraces it.” Raatgever continued, “Having seen the game in prototype, I can honestly say the online slot will not disappoint Tarzan fans; operators and their players can look forward to the game’s release this winter.”

President of Edgar Rice Burroughs, James Sullos said, “We could not be more pleased to license Tarzan™ and his friends to such a quality company as Microgaming.” He continued, “Their extensive experience in developing online slot games assures us they will build a game that will attract many fans and players to the game from around the globe.”