Each week, CasinoBeats breaks down the numbers behind some of the industry’s most interesting stories. Keep reading to discover two bumper charity donations, further calls to heighten European protection and the CMA clearing Inspired Entertainment’s $120m acquisition of the Gaming Technology Group of Novomatic UK.

12

The European Gaming and Betting Association has again reiterated the need to introduce new rules to better protect the continent’s 12 million online gamblers.

This comes as the new EU term begins, with much policy attention already having been given to the importance of making Europe’s digital economy work better for consumers and businesses.

Coming in the aftermath of a new European Parliament study that was presented earlier this month, the EGBA has called on the EU to:

  • Create a safer online gambling environment across member states.
  • Promote better alignment of national gambling policies, which it believes could occur through MEPs encouraging the incoming Commission to reinstate the expert group of national gambling authorities.

The authority is striving to see the introduction of stronger and more uniform consumer protection rules and enhanced regulatory cooperation, which it states would be a “win-win-win”.

200,000

The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers and Gaming Laboratories International have strengthened their charitable initiatives through a $200,000 donation to the Dr Robert Hunter International Problem Gambling Center.

Done through their joint Lasting Impact Philanthropic Initiative, first unveiled earlier this year, the first gift from which went to to the Howard R Hughes College of Engineering building fund at the University of Nevada with a $500,000 contribution.

The gift, committed over the next two years, has been made to highlight the importance of Responsible Gaming Education Week 2019, taking place this week.

Organised by the American Gaming Association, it marks a national push for responsible gaming education, training and awareness that includes participation from many industry stakeholders.

30

Caesars Entertainment is lauding the 30th anniversary of its responsible gaming efforts, which has seen the firm make a significant donation to a number of charitable organisations countrywide and further afield.

In recognition of establishing its first responsible gaming standards 30 years ago, with a program that has subsequently trained in excess of 4,000 individuals, Caesars is also pledging a further $1m donation.

The Las Vegas headquartered firm is to give the sum to the National Center for Responsible Gaming and other third-party institutions in the US and elsewhere, to help further advance and shape the future of responsible gaming.

Caesars has highlighted a number of landmark moments during its first 30 years of responsible gambling beginning with the implementation of ‘Project 21,’ an education program designed to deter underage gambling and service of alcoholic beverages to minors.

In 1995 Caesars, in collaboration with AT&T and the National Council on Problem Gambling, established the industry’s first national toll-free helpline for gamblers who might need assistance, as well as debuting a nationwide self-exclusion and self-restriction program in four years later.

120

The Competition and Markets Authority has cleared Inspired Entertainment’s $120m acquisition of the Gaming Technology Group (NTG) of Novomatic UK.

This comes after the non-ministerial government department announced it was investigating the proposed transaction in July, citing that it was to judge whether creating the enlarged organisation would result in a significant lessening of competition within the UK market.

Inspired announced that a definitive agreement was in place on June 11, with the CMA’s approval representing a critical requirement to complete the transaction.

Following this announcement, the company expects to complete the NTG acquisition around October 1, 2019, subject to the satisfaction of the remaining customary closing conditions.

NTG comprises Gamestec Leisure, Playnation, Astra Games, Bell-Fruit Group, Harlequin Gaming and Innov8 Gaming, with Inspired stressing that it expects to achieve between $12.3m to $13.3m of synergies through shared costs and increased scale.