Australian Gambling Laws - Is Online Gambling Legal In
AU Online Legal Poker 2021 - Top Australian Poker Sites
Top 10 Australian Poker Sites in 2021 : Online Poker Australia
Online poker giants exit Australia as tougher laws loom
888poker Leaves Australian Market, Online Poker Under
Australian Online Casino & Legal Gambling Guide in 2021
Is It Legal To Play Online Poker In Australia? - Lawpath
The complex laws behind online poker in Australia
Australian Pokie Regulations by State and - Online Pokies
australian online poker laws
australian online poker laws - win
TEKK - Tekkorp Digital Acquisition Corp: Who's Who of Gaming Mgmt Teams!
Team has been involved in a substantial number of the digital media, sports, entertainment, leisure and gaming industries’ most significant merger and acquisition transactions, holding key positions at, and transacting with Scientific Games Corp, Inspired Gaming Group, FOX Bets, Ocean Casino Resort, Resorts International Holdings, PokerStars, DraftKings, Mohegan Sun, Caesars Entertainment Corporation, Harrah’s Entertainment,Tropicana Entertainment, Inc., TSG/Sky Betting & Gaming, Facebook, Inc, Wynn Resorts, Dubai World/MGM Resorts Here's all the Bios. These guys are stellar! TEKK closed at $10.30 today. Still cheap! If you don't like to read... you don't like to make money!!!! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matthew Davey — Chief Executive Officer and Director Mr. Davey has over 25 years of experience within the digital media, sports, entertainment, leisure and gaming ecosystems, as well as experience in the public sector. He is an experienced public company executive officer and board member. He has served in executive management positions across the gaming technology arena. Over the course of Mr. Davey’s career, he oversaw more than ten mergers and acquisitions and over $1.2 billion in debt and equity capital raised to support the companies he has led. Most recently, Mr. Davey was Chief Executive Officer of SG Digital, the Digital Division of Scientific Games Corp. (“Scientific Games”) (Nasdaq: SGMS). SG Digital was established following the purchase by Scientific Games of NYX Gaming Group Limited (“NYX”) (formerly TSXV: NYX), where Mr. Davey served as Chief Executive Officer and Director. The NYX acquisition provided Scientific Games with a vehicle to significantly accelerate the scale and breadth of its existing digital gaming business, including the strategic expansion into sports betting. In his capacity as Chief Executive Officer of NYX, Mr. Davey developed and implemented a corporate strategy that generated strong revenue growth. Mr. Davey shaped company strategy to focus on digital gaming supplier platforms and content that provided various gaming operators with the underlying gaming and sports betting systems for their online gaming business. In 2014, Mr. Davey oversaw the initial public offering of NYX, and his experience in the digital media, sports, entertainment, leisure and gaming industries helped NYX recognize momentum as a public company. After the public offering, from 2014 to 2018, Mr. Davey oversaw seven acquisitions which helped establish NYX as one of the fastest growing global B2B real-money digital gaming and sports betting platforms. These acquisitions included: • OpenBet: In 2016, NYX completed the $385 million acquisition of OpenBet. This was one of the more complex and transformative acquisitions that Mr. Davey oversaw at NYX. Through securing co-investments from William Hill (LSE: WMH), Sky Betting & Gaming and The Stars Group (formerly Nasdaq: TSG, TSX: TSGI), Mr. Davey was able to get the acquisition from Vitruvian Partners completed successfully, winning the deal against much larger and well capitalized competitors. By combining two established and proven B2B betting and gaming suppliers, NYX was well positioned to provide customers with exciting player-driven solutions across all major product verticals and distribution channels. This allowed NYX to become the leading B2B omni-channel sportsbook platform in the market and the supplier to over 300 gaming operators globally with an extensive library of desktop and mobile game titles, including more than 700 on NYX platforms and more than 2,000 on the OpenBet platform. • Cryptologic/Chartwell: In 2015, NYX completed the $119 million acquisition of Cryptologic and Chartwell. The acquisition provided NYX with more than 400 titles of additional leading gaming content, a broader customer base, and direct exposure to PokerStars and Intercasino, part of the Gamesys Group (LSE: GYS) — two of the world’s largest online casino offerings. • OnGame: In 2014, NYX completed the distressed acquisition of OnGame, a premier poker content, platform and service provider. This acquisition provided NYX with one of the best poker products in the industry, access to several regulated jurisdictions, and a valuable talent pool that was instrumental in the growth of NYX. The addition of OnGame further established a path for NYX to continue its growth in both European and U.S. markets. These acquisitions, together with meaningful organic growth, increased NYX’s revenue from $24 million in 2014 to $184 million annualized in 2017. During that time, Mr. Davey helped build NYX to have over 200 customers in the global gaming industry and a team of 1,000 employees. Mr. Davey’s success at NYX ultimately led to its sale to Scientific Games for $631 million in 2018. Mr. Davey joined Next Gen Gaming, the predecessor to NYX, in 2000 as the Vice President of Technology, was appointed as Executive Director in 2003 and named Chief Executive Officer in 2005. Prior to that, he was the Senior Consultant for Access Systems, a company that specializes in the provision of back-end software for licensed online casinos. Prior to joining Access, Mr. Davey worked for the Northern Territory Government specializing in matters pertaining to the internet and e-commerce along with roles in the Department of Racing and Gaming. Mr. Davey received a Bachelor of Electrical & Electronic Engineering from Northern Territory University, Australia (also known as Charles Darwin University). Robin Chhabra — President Mr. Chhabra has been at the forefront of corporate acquisition activity within the digital gaming landscape for over a decade. His prior experience includes leading corporate strategy, M&A, and business development at two of the global leaders in the digital gaming industry, The Stars Group (“TSG”) and William Hill, and a leading supplier, Inspired Gaming Group (Nasdaq: INSE). Mr. Chhabra served on the Group Executive Committees of each of these companies. From 2017 to May 2020, Mr. Chhabra served as Chief Corporate Development Officer at TSG and, from 2019 to August 2020, he also served as the Chief Executive Officer of Fox Bet, a leading U.S. online gaming business which is the product of a landmark partnership between TSG and FOX Sports, a transaction which he led. During that period, Mr. Chhabra led several transactions which transformed TSG into the largest publicly listed online gambling operator in the world by both revenue and market capitalization and one of the most diversified from a product and geographic perspective with revenues of over $2.5 billion. Mr. Chhabra’s M&A experience is extensive and covers multiple global geographies across the digital gaming value chain and includes the following: • TSG/Flutter Entertainment Merger: In 2019, Mr. Chhabra led the TSG M&A team that was responsible for TSG’s $12.2 billion merger with Flutter Entertainment (LSE: FLTR). The merger between TSG and Flutter Entertainment is the largest transaction in the digital gaming industry to date. The combination created the largest publicly listed online gaming company with approximately 13 million active customers and leading product offerings, which include sports betting, online casino, fantasy sports and poker. The combined entity includes some of the world’s most iconic digital gaming brands such as Fanduel, Fox Bet, Sky Bet, PaddyPower, Betfair, PokerStars and SportsBet. TSG/Flutter Entertainment is one of the most geographically diverse digital gaming and media companies with leading positions in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Germany and Georgia. • TSG/Sky Betting and Gaming (“SBG”): In 2018, Mr. Chhabra led the acquisition of SBG from CVC Capital Partners and Sky plc, Europe’s largest media company, in a transaction valued at $4.7 billion. At the time of the acquisition SBG was the largest mobile gambling operator in the United Kingdom and one of the fastest growing of the major operators having doubled its online market share in three years. The acquisition of SBG provided TSG with (a) greater revenue diversification, significantly enhanced expertise and exposure to sports betting just ahead of the judicial overturn of The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) by the U.S. Supreme Court, (b) a leading position within the United Kingdom, the world’s largest regulated online gaming market, (c) improved products and technology as a result of the addition of SBG’s innovative casino and sports book offerings and a portfolio of popular mobile apps, and (d) expertise in deeply integrating sports betting with leading sports media companies, positioning TSG to create more engaging content, deliver faster growth and decrease customer acquisition costs. • William Hill (LSE: WMH): At William Hill, from 2010 to 2017, Mr. Chhabra served as Group Director of Strategy and Corporate Development where he led several transactions which contributed to William Hill’s transformation from a land-based gambling operator in the United Kingdom to a leading online-led international business. Mr. Chhabra led William Hill’s entry into the U.S. sports betting and online lottery markets with the acquisition of four businesses, including the simultaneous acquisitions of three U.S. sportsbooks, Cal Neva, American Wagering and Brandywine Bookmaking, in 2011 for an aggregate purchase price of $55 million. These businesses ultimately led William Hill to achieve a leading position in the U.S. sports betting market with a market share of 24% in 2019. Additionally, Mr. Chhabra played a key role in structuring William Hill’s successful joint venture with PlayTech Plc (LSE: PTEC) in 2008. The combined entity created one of the largest online gambling businesses in Europe at the time of its formation and led to William Hill’s buyout of Playtech’s interest for $637 million in 2013. Prior to the transaction, William Hill had struggled in its attempt to establish a strong online gaming platform and a meaningful presence outside the United Kingdom. Mr. Chhabra has also successfully completed four transactions worth over $1.2 billion in Australia, the world’s second largest regulated online gambling market, and various partnerships in Asia. Additionally, he completed several technology and media related transactions, including William Hill’s investment in NYX, where he worked with Mr. Davey on NYX’s transformational acquisition of OpenBet. Prior to working in the gaming sector, Mr. Chhabra was an equities analyst and a management consultant. Mr. Chhabra received a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Eric Matejevich — Chief Financial Officer Mr. Matejevich is a seasoned gaming executive with extensive experience in both the online gaming and traditional casino industries. From February to August 2019, he served as Trustee and Interim-Chief Executive Officer of Ocean Casino Resort (“Ocean”) (formerly Revel Casino, which had a construction cost of $2.4 billion) in Atlantic City, where he successfully led the management team through an ownership change and operational turnaround effort. Over the course of seven months, Mr. Matejevich managed to reduce the property’s weekly cash burn of $1.5 million to an annualized cash flow run rate in excess of $20 million. Prior to Ocean, from 2016 to 2018, Mr. Matejevich served as the Chief Financial Officer of NYX. At NYX, he focused his efforts on integrating the company’s many acquisitions and multiple debt refinancings to simplify its capital structure and provided liquidity for growth initiatives. Additionally, Mr. Matejevich was instrumental to the executive team that sold NYX to Scientific Games for $631 million. Prior to NYX, from 2004 to 2014, Mr. Matejevich was the Chief Financial Officer of Resorts International Holdings and later, from 2011, also the Chief Operating Officer of the Atlantic Club Casino, a property under the Resorts International Holdings umbrella — a Colony Capital (NYSE: CLNY) entity. As Chief Financial Officer, he provided managerial oversight for all finance functions for a six-property casino company with annual gaming revenue exceeding $1.3 billion, 10,000 gaming positions, 7,000 hotel rooms and over 11,000 staff members during his tenure. Mr. Matejevich led the transition effort to integrate a four-casino, $1.3 billion acquisition from Harrah’s Entertainment and Caesars Entertainment (Nasdaq: CZR). As Chief Operating Officer of Atlantic Club, he lobbied for and was successful in obtaining the first internet gaming legislation passed in the United States. The Atlantic Club was the sole New Jersey casino proponent of the legislation. Prior to serving in various gaming positions, Mr. Matejevich was a Vice President of High Yield Research for Merrill Lynch, where he managed the corporate bond research effort for the gaming and leisure sectors and marketed high yield and other debt transactions totaling $4.8 billion. Mr. Matejevich received a Bachelor of Science in Economics from The Wharton School and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from The College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. Our Board of Directors Morris Bailey — Chairman Over the past 10 years, Mr. Bailey has been a leader in turning around Atlantic City, as well as being among the first gaming executives to embrace online gaming and sports betting in the United States. In his efforts, Mr. Bailey partnered with two of the largest digital gaming companies in the world, PokerStars, part of the Stars Group, and DraftKings (Nasdaq: DKNG). In 2010, Mr. Bailey bought Resorts Atlantic City (“Resorts”) and initiated a comprehensive renovation which allowed for the property to be rebranded and repositioned. In 2012, Mr. Bailey signed an agreement with Mohegan Sun to manage the day-to-day operations of the casino. In addition to Mohegan Sun’s operational expertise and ability to reduce costs via economies of scale, Resorts gained access to their robust customer database. Soon thereafter, Mr. Bailey and his team focused on bringing online gaming to the property. In 2015, Resorts established a platform to engage in online gaming by partnering with PokerStars, now part of the $24 billion Flutter Entertainment, PLC (LSE: FLTR), to operate an online poker room in Atlantic City. In 2018, Resorts announced deals with DraftKings and SBTech to open a sportsbook on-property and online. For 2020 year-to-date, Resorts has performed in the top quartile in internet gross gaming revenue in New Jersey. Mr. Bailey’s efforts in New Jersey helped set the framework for expansion of online sports and gaming throughout the United States. In addition to his gaming interests, Mr. Bailey has over 50 years of experience in all facets of real estate development, asset M&A, capital markets and operations and is the founder, Chief Executive Officer and Principal of JEMB Realty, a leading real estate development, investment and management organization. Mr. Bailey has notable investment experience within the energy, finance and telecommunications sectors through investments in the Astoria Energy Plant, Basis Investment Group and Xentris Wireless. Tony Rodio — Director Nominee Mr. Rodio has nearly four decades of experience in the gaming industry. Most recently, Mr. Rodio served as the Chief Executive Officer and director of Caesars Entertainment Corporation (“Caesars”) (Nasdaq: CZR), one of the world’s most diversified casino-entertainment providers and the most geographically diverse U.S. casino-entertainment company, from April 2019 until its acquisition by Eldorado Resorts, Inc. in July 2020. Mr. Rodio led Caesars through its $17.3 billion merger with Eldorado Resorts, one of the largest transactions in the gaming industry to date. Additionally, Mr. Rodio was instrumental to Caesars’ expansion into the digital gaming industry and oversaw the implementation of new digital segments such as its Scientific Games powered retail sportsbook solution that now operates in various states throughout the U.S. From October 2018 to May 2019, Mr. Rodio served as Chief Executive Officer of Affinity Gaming. Prior to Affinity Gaming, he served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Tropicana Entertainment, Inc. (“Tropicana”) for over seven years, where he was responsible for the operation of eight casino properties in seven different jurisdictions. During his time at Tropicana, Mr. Rodio oversaw a period of unprecedented growth at the company, improving overall financial results with net revenue that increased more than 50% driven by both operational improvements and expansion across regional markets. Mr. Rodio led major capital projects, including the complete renovation of Tropicana Atlantic City and Tropicana’s move to land-based operations in Evansville, Indiana. Each of these initiatives, among others, generated substantial value for Tropicana. Ultimately, Mr. Rodio’s efforts at Tropicana led to its sale to Eldorado Resorts in 2018 for $1.85 billion. Prior to Tropicana, Mr. Rodio held a succession of executive positions in Atlantic City for casino brands, including Trump Marina Hotel Casino, Harrah’s Entertainment (predecessor to Caesars), the Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort and Penn National Gaming. He has also served as a director of several professional and charitable organizations, including Atlantic City Alliance, United Way of Atlantic County, the Casino Associations of New Jersey and Indiana, AtlantiCare Charitable Foundation and the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming Hospitality & Tourism. Mr. Rodio brings extensive knowledge of and experience in the gaming industry, operational expertise, and a demonstrated ability to effectively design and implement company strategy. Mr. Rodio received a Bachelor of Science from Rider University and a Master of Business Administration from Monmouth University. Marlon Goldstein — Director Nominee Mr. Goldstein is a licensed attorney with nearly 20 years of experience in the gaming space. He joined The Stars Group (Nasdaq: TSG)(TSX: TSGI) in January 2014 as its Executive Vice-President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary until his retirement from the company in July 2020 following the merger of TSG with Flutter Entertainment, PLC (LSE: FLTR). Mr. Goldstein also previously served as the Executive Vice-President, Corporate Development and General Counsel of TSG. Mr. Goldstein was also the senior TSG executive based in the United States and was one of the primary architects of TSG’s strategic vision for its U.S.-facing business. During his tenure, TSG grew from an approximately $500 million market-cap company to an approximately $7 billion market-cap company through a combination of organic growth and strategic mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Goldstein participated in numerous M&A transactions and capital markets offerings at TSG, including several transformational transactions in the digital gaming industry. Notable transactions in which Mr. Goldstein was involved include: • TSG/Flutter Merger: In 2019, TSG merged with Flutter for a $12.2 billion transaction value, the largest transaction in the digital gaming industry to date. • TSG/Fox Bet Partnership: In 2019, TSG entered into a partnership with FOX Sports to create FOX Bet in the U.S., a leading U.S. online gaming business. Wall Street Research estimates an approximate $1.1 billion valuation for Fox Bet post-partnership with The Stars Group. • TSG/Sky Betting & Gaming: In 2018, TSG acquired Sky Betting & Gaming, the largest mobile gambling operator in the United Kingdom at the time, for $4.7 billion. • TSG/CrownBet and William Hill: In 2018, TSG simultaneously acquired CrownBet and William Hill, two Australian operators, for a total of $621 million in a multi-part transaction. • TSG/PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker: In 2014, TSG acquired The Rational Group, which operated PokerStars and Full Tilt and was the world’s largest poker business, for $4.9 billion. Through his ability to legally structure large and complex transactions, Mr. Goldstein was integral to TSG’s vision of becoming a full-service online gaming company. Additionally, he assisted in structuring TSG’s capital markets activity, which generated liquidity for acquisitions and strengthened its balance sheet. Prior to joining TSG, Mr. Goldstein was a principal shareholder in the corporate and securities practice at the international law firm of Greenberg Traurig P.A., where he practiced for almost 13 years. Mr. Goldstein’s practice focused on corporate and securities matters, including mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, and financing transactions. Additionally, Mr. Goldstein was the founder and co-chair of the firm’s Gaming Practice, a multi-disciplinary team of attorneys representing owners, operators and developers of gaming facilities, manufacturers and suppliers of gaming devices, investment banks and lenders in financing transactions, and Indian tribes in the development and financing of gaming facilities. Mr. Goldstein brings experience and insight that we believe will be valuable to a potential initial business combination target business. Mr. Goldstein received a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in accounting from Emory University and a Juris Doctorate with highest honors from the University of Florida, College of Law. Sean Ryan — Director Nominee Mr. Ryan is a digital media and technology operator with extensive global experience in online payments, e-commerce, marketplaces, mobile ad networks, digital games, enterprise collaboration platforms, blockchain, real money gaming and online music. Since 2014, Mr. Ryan has been serving as Vice President of Business Platform Partnerships at Facebook, Inc. (“Facebook”) (Nasdaq: FB), where he leads a more than 500 person global organization that manages the Payments, Commerce, Novi/Blockhain, Workplace and Audience Network businesses. Prior to his current role, Mr. Ryan was hired in 2011 as the Director of Games Partnerships to lead and grow the global Games business at Facebook. While the Director of Games Partnerships, Mr. Ryan focused on re-shaping Facebook’s games and monetization strategies to derive more value for Facebook, its users and its partners, including the addition of a Real Money Gaming offering in regulated markets. Mr. Ryan’s team helped accelerate a major trend in engagement through cross-platform games and therefore the opportunity to increase users through establishing games on multiple platforms. Prior to joining Facebook, Mr. Ryan created the new social and mobile games division at News Corp, an American multinational mass media corporation controlled by Rupert Murdoch. While at News Corp, Mr. Ryan led the acquisition of Making Fun, a San Francisco social-game start-up, that created News Corp’s games publishing division. Before joining News Corp., Mr. Ryan founded multiple digital businesses such as Twofish, Meez, Open Wager and SingShot Media. Mr. Ryan co-founded Twofish in 2009, a virtual goods and services platform that provided developers with data analytics and insights for individual application’s digital economies. Twofish was later sold to online payments provider Live Gamer, where Mr. Ryan served on the board of directors. From 2005 to 2008, Mr. Ryan founded and led Meez.com, a social entertainment service combining avatars, web games and virtual worlds. The white label social casino gaming company Open Wager was spun out of Meez and was later sold to VGW Holdings, Mr. Ryan also co-founded SingShot Media, an online karaoke community, which was sold to Electronic Arts (Nasdaq: EA) and merged into its Sims division. We believe Mr. Ryan’s experience will be valuable to a potential initial business combination target and would provide an expanded perspective on the digital gaming landscape. Mr. Ryan received a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of California, Los Angeles. Tom Roche — Director Nominee Mr. Roche has more than 40 years of experience in the gaming industry as a regulator, advisor and independent auditor. Mr. Roche joined Ernst & Young (“EY”) as a partner in 2003 and opened its Las Vegas office. He was subsequently appointed as the Office Managing Partner and Global Gaming Industry Market Leader. In 2016, Mr. Roche relocated to the EY Hong Kong office to supervise the expansion of the EY Global Gaming Industry practice in the Asia Pacific region. Mr. Roche has been integral to numerous transactions that have shaped the current gaming landscape, including: • Wynn Resorts (Nasdaq: WYNN) initial public offering: Mr. Roche was the lead partner on Wynn Resort’s initial public offering, which raised $450 million in 2002. • Harrah’s Entertainment/Apollo Management Group & Texas Pacific Group: Mr. Roche headed the regulatory advisory services on the buyout of Harrah’s Entertainment, the world’s largest casino company at the time, for $17.1 billion. • Dubai World/MGM Resorts: Mr. Roche headed the regulatory and due diligence advisory services to Dubai World in its approximately $5.1 billion investment in MGM. Dubai World bought 28.4 million MGM shares, or 9.5 percent of the casino operator, for $2.4 billion. It then invested $2.7 billion to acquire a 50% stake in MGM’s CityCenter Project, a $7.4 billion 76-acre Las Vegas development of hotels, condos and retail outlets. • MGM Growth Properties (NYSE: MGP) initial public offering: Mr. Roche provided tax and structural transaction services to MGM Resorts in the creation of MGM Growth Properties, a publicly traded REIT engaged in the acquisition, ownership and leasing of large-scale destination entertainment and leisure resorts. MGM Growth Properties raised $1.05 billion in its 2016 initial public offering. Mr. Roche also directed EY advisory services to boards and management teams for profit improvement and technology related initiatives. In addition, Mr. Roche provided advisory support to the American Gaming Association on several research projects, including those specifically related to sports betting, the revocation of The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) and anti-money laundering best practices in the gaming industry. Equally, he has assisted government agencies in numerous international locations with enhancing their regulatory approach to governing the industry especially in the online gambling sector. Prior to joining Ernst & Young, Mr. Roche served as Deloitte’s National Gaming Industry Leader and as the co-head of Andersen’s Gaming Industry Practice in Las Vegas. In 1989, Mr. Roche was appointed by then Governor of the State of Nevada, Robert Miller, to serve as one of three members of the Nevada State Gaming Control Board for a four-year term, where he was directly responsible for the Audit and New Games Lab Divisions. As a board member, he spent a substantial amount of time assisting global jurisdiction regulators enact gaming legislation in the design of their regulatory structure. During his career, Roche has been involved in numerous public and private offerings of equity and debt securities. His background includes providing casino regulatory consulting services to casino licensees and to federal and state agencies including the National Indian Gaming Commission and the Nevada State Gaming Control Board, and industry associations such as the Nevada Resort Association and the American Gaming Association. We believe Mr. Roche’s highly regarded reputation as a gaming auditor and advisor in the gaming industry will be valuable for us and a potential business combination target. Mr. Roche is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is licensed by the Nevada State Board of Accountancy and Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Southern California.
Do You Have to Pay Taxes on Slot Machine Winnings?
We all love to read stories about big wins and imagine ourselves in the shoes of those winners. But, have you ever thought about what happens at that very moment after successfully beating the slot machine? Usually, the slot machine locks up and, in most cases, you hear the music and see the flashing lights on top of the machine. But one of the first questions every player asks is whether they have to pay taxes on casino winnings? Well, you’re about to find out!
Taxes on Slot Machine Winnings in USA
In the USA, when a lucky player hits a jackpot, there’s the option of receiving the winnings in cash or check. In case it’s a large sum, it’s usually paid by check. However, the IRS only obliges the casinos to report winnings that are larger than $1,200. Of course, all winners are obliged to show a proper identification— a valid ID or passport. When the casino checks for your identification they also look at your age to make sure you are officially and legally old enough to play. As the minimum legal age for gambling varies from state to state, be sure to check it out before you decide to play.
Do I Have to Report All Winnings?
All gambling winnings received from slot machines are subject to federal taxes, and both cash and non-cash winnings (like a car or a vacation) are fully taxable. Apart from slot machines, the same applies to winnings from lottery, bingo, keno, poker or other games of chance. So, if the amount won on a slot machine is higher than $1200, the casino is required to report it. In other words, all your gambling winnings have to be reported on your tax return as "other income" on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8.
Slot Machine Winnings in W-2G Form
In case it happens to you and you snag that big win (which we hope one day you will), it’s useful to know that casino or other payer must give you a W-2G Form, listing your name, address and Social Security number. So, if the winnings are reported through a W-2G Form, federal taxes will be withheld at a rate of 25%. If, however, you didn’t provide your Social Security number (or your Tax Identification Number), in that case the withholding will be 28%. Either way, a copy of your Form W-2G should be issued, showing the amount you won alongside the amount of tax withheld. One copy needs to go to the IRS, as well. Aside from slot winnings, Form W-2G is issued to winners of the following types of gambling activities like:
bingo (for players who win $1,200 or more),
keno (for at least $1,500 worth wins)
poker tournament players (for the $5,000 win or more).
a horse track (if the winnings are 300x your bet)
However, not all gambling winnings are subject to IRS Form W2-G. For instance, W2-G forms are not required for winnings from table games like blackjack, baccarat, and roulette, whatever the amount. You’d still have to report your winnings to the IRS, it’s just you won’t need to do it through W-2G Form.
Are My Slot Losses Deductible?
The good news is that you can deduct your slot losses (line 28 of Schedule A, Form 1040), while the bad news is gambling losses are deductible only up to the amount of your wins. In other words, you can use your losses to compensate for your winnings. So, let’s say you won $200 on one bet, but you lost $400 on one or a few others, you can only deduct the first $200 of losses. Meaning if you didn’t win anything for a year, you won’t be able to deduct any of your gambling losses. In order to prove your losses, you need to keep good records and have suitable documents. So, whenever you lose, keep those losing tickets, cancelled checks and credit slips. Your documentation must include the amount you won or lost, a date and time, type of wager, type of your gambling activity, name of each casino/address of each casino you visited and the location of their gambling business. You may as well list the people who were with you.
Do State and Local Taxes Apply Separately?
Yes, you are required to pay your state or local taxes on your gambling winnings. In case you travel to another state, and snag some huge winning combo there, that other state would want to tax your winnings too. But don’t worry, you won't be taxed twice, as the state where you reside needs to give you a tax credit for the taxes you pay to that other state. Keep in mind though that some states like Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Ohio don't allow gambling losses.
Online Slot Taxes
Whether you usually spin the reels of your favourite casino games in land-based casinos in the US, overseas casinos, or online casinos, all income for the citizens of the US is taxable. As a US citizen, you are required to send Form W2G for all winnings from a slot machine (not reduced by the wager) that equals to or is more than $1,200.
Taxes on Slot Machine Winnings in UK
As a resident of the United Kingdom, your gambling winnings won’t be taxed. Unlike the USA mentioned above, you’ll be allowed to keep whatever it is that you have won and earned in Britain, even in case you are a poker pro. Then again, you won’t be able to deduct any losses you might collect. It doesn’t really matter if you win £5 or £5 million playing online slots, your winnings will be tax-free as long as you reside anywhere in the UK, be that in England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland.
Taxes on Slot Machine Winnings in Canada
If you are a recreational player who lives in Canada, we have good news for you. When it comes to gambling, you don't have to pay taxes as your winnings are totally tax free. According to laws in Canada, gambling activities don’t fall under the category of constant source of income, therefore your winnings will not be taxed. Canadians don't even pay taxes on their lottery winnings. The only exception here are professional gamblers who make a living from betting and are, therefore, obliged to pay taxes. Keep in mind though, this is the current situation - laws in Canada change frequently, which may also include tax laws.
Taxes on Slot Machine Winnings in Australia
In case you reside in Australia and like to visit casinos from time to time, you’ll be happy to find out that your winnings in Australia will not taxed and here are 3 core reasons for that:
Gambling is not treated a profession (it's treated as a hobby)
The government doesn’t see profits from gambling activities as income, but as a result of good luck
The Australian government taxes casino operators and lottery organisers instead.
Of course, taxation varies from state to state.
Taxes on Slot Machine Winnings in New Zealand
Unlike in Australia, where even professional players can claim they are recreational, in New Zealand slot machine winnings (and any other winnings from casino games) are considered taxable income, in case the player has little income from other resources. But, apart from professional gambling, it is very unusual for winnings to be taxed in New Zealand. Most often, gambling is considered recreational and not income, so players can enjoy their gameplay as they do not have to pay taxes on their winnings.
Jackpot City Casino 50 free chances on MEGA DIAMOND (no deposit bonus)
Jackpot City Casino Free Play Bonus Get 50 Free Spins on MEGA DIAMOND slot now! Register account with Jackpot City Casino and enjoy a no deposit bonus. Next, get a 400% up to $1600 welcome bonus. No bonus codes needed! >>Claim Free Bonus Here<<
Jackpot City Mobile App
Just log in to your account like you do on desktop when you want to play on mobile. There’s no need to download an app. Real money mobile gambling is protected using the same SSL data encryption technology that makes the main online casino safe and secure. The game selection is still large on mobile, and several of the big progressive jackpots that help the casino live up to its name are available to play on Android and iOS. Most slots, table games and some mobile video poker games are also included. These can all be found in the lobby when visiting the site from your mobile or tablet. The graphics effortlessly adapt to your mobile screen regardless of make or model. We tried playing on iPhone 7s, Samsung Galaxy s10 and Huawei p30 without any issues. The navigation menu on the bottom of the screen is great for easy access to games, chat functions and live support.Compatible devices
Jackpot City Bonus Offers
All new players can take advantage of the eye-catching $1,600 sign up bonus offered at Jackpot City. The 50x wagering requirement is high, but on the plus side only the bonus, not your deposit, is considered in determining the playthrough. Once the required wagering is complete, the deposit, bonus, and any winnings are all yours to keep. The players getting the most out of this deal are by far the slots players, as all slots contribute 100% to the wagering requirements. Jackpot City is known to update its bonuses regularly, so make sure you check out the casino site for the most up-to-date information. If you’re an avid player you can take advantage of the midweekly and weekend match bonuses that Jackpot City give out. These promotions are based on how much and how often you gamble, so they’re custom made to suit each player. You can also find other prize-packed promotions at Jackpot City, where you can win anything from exotic holidays to 5-star cruises and cool gadgets. >>Claim Free Bonus Here<<
VIP Program
How to join the VIP program
As soon as you join Jackpot City you’re rewarded with 2,500 loyalty points and added as a bronze-level member of the VIP program. You earn one loyalty point for every €/£/$1 you bet on the site and this is how you increase your points. Just remember that only cash wagers contribute towards the loyalty points- bonus credits don’t. You can use the points to claim bonuses, free spins, free credits and wagering cash as you play. You’re also free to use your loyalty points in Jackpot City’s sister casinos Spin Palace, Ruby Fortune and Mummy’s Gold Casino.
What benefits do you get?
As a member of the VIP program you’ll get access to exclusive bonuses, free spins, a personal VIP host who’s available 24/7, free spins, and many other benefits. You can see all the details in the table below, including how many points you need to reach each level. The default bonuses could be higher for the first levels of the program, but Jackpot City’s VIP program is great as it gives all players a chance to enter, and you get other excellent bonuses and daily specials. To be able to stay as a VIP, and to reach the higher levels, you have to continue betting on the site. You also have to keep the minimum loyalty points required to stay within your points bracket, and if you don’t have enough points by the end of the month, you’ll go down a level.
Best Games at Jackpot City
Jackpot City casino has over 630 casino games, including more than 430 slots to choose from. The casino even offers regional and country-specific games such as Australian pokies and UK style pub fruit machines. You can enjoy over 70 different table games, and Jackpot City has an exceptional selection of 34 blackjack games with many varieties such as multiplayer or European blackjack. Of course there’s baccarat, poker, roulette, and many more for you to play. They’re all listed in the table below, and you’ll also find the most played games at Jackpot City. Your latest games and your most played are automatically saved in the casino lobby, so you’re able to play in an instant. With such a wide range of games it’s easy for both new and seasoned players to find a game to suit their level and preference. >>Claim Free Bonus Here<<
Live Dealer Games
The live dealer games at Jackpot City casino are powered by multiple award-winning Evolution Gaming. You can easily interact with the friendly live dealers via HD video streaming, or you can chat with other players around the table using the live chat function. The sound quality is crisp and without any unnecessary background noise, and the 3D animations are well-defined and clear. Evolution Gaming’s live dealers are true professionals who make sure there’s a nice atmosphere around the table while the game is in play. When playing live roulette and baccarat you can enjoy an immersive and dynamic feeling with the use of multiple cameras, one for the live dealer and three, or more, just around the wheel/table. If you like to multitask you can play multiple live games at the same time by clicking the +tables button. The live casino is fully optimised for mobile play and the live mobile games are supported by all iPhone and iPad devices, as well as most Android phones and tablets.
Software Providers
Microgaming, one of the world’s most awarded software providers, powers the casino games at Jackpot City. They are well known for creating the latest developments in online casino technology and won the EGR Awards 2019 for their ‘constant innovation with very high-quality software’. The company is held in high regard for safety, being well respected for continuously building new safety measures to keep the casinos and players safe. You can download the user-friendly software for full access to all of the games. Downloading and setting up your account should take just a few minutes. The downloadable version also offers plenty of options for customizing speed, audio, and more. An alternative is to play in no-download mode, which has fewer games but offers flexibility in that you can use any browser to play. >>Claim Free Bonus Here<<
Safety & Fair Play
Jackpot City is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority, EU regulated and eCOGRA certified. These credentials confirm that the casino is safe and secure, takes care of its players and complies with laws and regulations. Your gaming is protected using the same SSL data encryption technology that makes the main online casino safe and secure. This means that no third party can access any information you’ve shared with the casino. The eCOGRA certification proves that the casino offers players fair gaming opportunities. Jackpot City always ensures a fair chance of winning through the use of a random number generator. The most recent eCOGRA report noted that the payouts on all casino games averaged 96%.
Deposit & Withdrawal Options
Banking at Jackpot City Casino is safe, secure, and super-fast. Most withdrawals at Jackpot City casino are processed within 24-48 hours, which is outstanding and makes the casino one of the fastest amongst its competitors. The minimum deposit and withdrawal are $10, and there’s no maximum withdrawal limit. From testing the casino, speaking with our players and looking at the previously mentioned eCOGRA report, it’s clear that the casino has improved from a few years ago, when it received some negative feedback regarding payout times. The casino is paying out on time, and you now have more withdrawal options than ever to choose from.
Customer Support at Jackpot City Casino
Jackpot City’s average response time for emails is 48 hours, which is good for any issues that are not time-sensitive. You can talk to the customer service reps in several languages, all listed below, 24/7. If you call you will first have to go through the standard steps of getting to the right department, which can take a few minutes. When we spoke to the reps they were all very friendly, and they managed to solve our issues right away. That’s definitely a plus in our book. The live chat is quick and hassle-free. You only have to confirm your account and then they can help you out with your issues.
Conclusion
If you love playing slot games you should definitely check out Jackpot City. There are over 430 excellent titles to choose from and a very generous welcome bonus to get you started playing. With licenses and credentials from MGA and eCogra you know this is a safe and secure casino to play at. You also have more than 100 other casino games to play, including live dealer games from Evolution Gaming. And of course, the best progressive jackpots – it’s called Jackpot City for a reason. >>Claim Free Bonus Here<<
Joe Fortune Casino $10 free bonus code no deposit required
Joe Fortune Casino Free Spins & Welcome Bonus Open your account with Joe Fortune Casino and receive a $10 Free Chip gift as a no deposit bonus! In addition, get a 200% up to $1000 on the first deposit. In total, new players to Joe Fortune can claim up to $5,000 free chips. Without a doubt, this is the best online casino in Australia. >>Claim Free Bonus Now<<
Joe Fortune Casino Review
Online casino branding can be repetitive. I think it is safe to say that we are running out of creative ways to package table games and slots, although I will give credit to the marketing departments of these operators for giving it a good try. These days I seem to be regularly reviewing sites with VIP Vegas themes or with some sort of animal on the home page (who knew there were so many lucky animals out there?!). Every once in a while, I come across a new casino that is a bit of a headscratcher…like Joe Fortune. At first, I assumed there was someone with a unique name that was willing to be the front man for this casino like Chris Moneymaker and PokerStars. As it turns out, this is just a fictional character designed to be an online casino magnate. OK then…whatever floats your boat I guess. I did manage to wrap my head around this type of branding to complete a detailed review of what really matters, the casino itself.
About Joe Fortune Casino
Joe Fortune is new to the online casino scene, having opened in 2016. A quick peek into the background of the casino reveals that it is owned by Haydock Sports Limited, and operated by a sister company Betting Partners. This spider web of businesses gets a little more complicated, but the quick and dirty on the corporate background is that Haydock is also listed as the owner of Bodog88, which traces back to Bovada, Bodog.eu and Slots.lv. The bottom line – Joe Fortune is backed by one of the largest online gambling conglomerates in the world. Joe Fortune is licensed by the jurisdiction of Curacao. Curacao is one of the more popular places for online casino operators to acquire a license as their licensing board isn’t exactly the most strict when it comes to oversight. This isn’t really an issue when it comes to Joe Fortune because, with the backing of a company like Bodog, players can rest assured that their balances are going to be safe. >>Claim Free Bonus Now<<
Who Can Play at Joe Fortune Casino
This is where it gets fascinating. Typically when I write a casino review, this section is dedicated to me listing a whole bunch of countries that are restricted from playing at the casino being reviewed. In the case of Joe Fortune, it is easier for me to tell you the countries that ARE allowed to play at their site. Ok, are you ready? Here’s who can play:
Australia.
Just Australia.
Yes, you read that right. Joe Fortune is reserved only for Australian gamblers. I will admit that this one confuses me a bit. The gaming laws in Australia make it illegal for offshore operators from accepting play from its residents. It’s clear that Joe Fortune is a foreign entity, so they could theoretically take action from anywhere. I actually like the position they have taken here – perhaps by ring-fencing the casino to only allow Australians will help them at some point when applying for licenses in that country. At any rate, until something changes, unless you live in Australia, you are given permission to skip to my next review.
Joe Fortune Casino Software Suppliers
It’s a shame that players from all over the world can’t play at Joe Fortune because they have amassed some of the best casino software out there to offer at this casino. When you create an account at Joe Fortune, you are greeted by titles from Microgaming, Real Time Gaming (Bodog owns a standalone license of these games), Rival Gaming and iSoftBet. Bringing together the best of all these vendors means that players at Joe Fortune are going to be able to see many different looking games, which enhances the full casino experience. No one is ever going to complain about too much content at an online casino, that’s for sure! The games at Joe Fortune are designed for browser-based play, which means that players are not required to download software to their own machines. Also, the games (for the most part) are mobile-friendly, giving players the ability to get in some action at their favorite pokies (Australian for slots) while they are on the go!
The Good Stuff
So. Many. Slots. If you are a fan of the pokies, then you are going to love playing at Joe Fortune. It’s pretty clear right from the homepage that slot machines are where they are focusing a significant amount of their attention, and we say Bring It On! The casino features the best slots from Microgaming, Rival, and RTG, including the detailed iSlots games that Rival have recently released. These “storyboard” games feature ongoing character development and excellent second screen games.
Jackpot Games
You will also find many of the slot machine games have progressive jackpots, giving players a chance to walk away a huge winner if their spin of the reels is the lucky one! I will never question a casino that has a ton of progressives, especially one that promotes their winners; no one like to see a huge jackpot that it seems no one ever wins. Some of the current jackpot slots titles include:
Money Magic
Major Moolah
Major Millions
Shopping Spree
Food Fight
Lots A Loot 5 Reel
Mega Moolah
King Cashalot
Fruit Fiesta 5 Reel
Cash Splash 5 Reel
Strike Gold
One Million Reels BC
Joe Fortune Casino The Bad Stuff
YOU CAN’T PLAY THERE! Joe Fortune casino is as much of a tease as a stripper on your lap; as close as you think you can get, there is still no touching. All jokes aside, I love basically everything this casino has to offer, but the bottom line is unless I move to Australia, or am diligent with a VPN and a friend’s address in Sydney, I am stuck looking at the goods from the outside. Now, I am not saying you should invest in VPN software and give it a try yourself, I am just saying that it can be done…
Weak Ongoing Promotions
I am stunned by the choices that the Joe Fortune marketing department have made with regards to their ongoing promotions. The Bodog brand was built on aspirational marketing; they would run contests that would reward players with items and trips usually reserved for the fortunate few. This style of marketing has not transferred over to the Joe Fortune brand, deciding instead to focus on more standard deposit bonuses. Even then, there isn’t much creativity on their promotions page – I am hopeful that this will change shortly. >>Claim Free Bonus Now<<
Joe Fortune Casino Game Selection
I noted earlier that when a casino operator is using multiple software vendors at the same time, the benefit goes directly to you, the player. This is for sure the case with Joe Fortune, where you will find a full suite of games that rivals the largest and best casinos around the globe and on the Internet. Pokies (Slots) I could write an entire review page just on the slots selection at Joe Fortune casino. I wouldn’t say that I am the world’s biggest slots player, but when I do play, there are certain brands and titles that I tend to gravitate towards, most of which I see in the Joe Fortune lobby. I stopped counting when I got to 300 different titles, and you can find all the games right there in their lobby. You can use their search tool to find your favorite game, or just filter by the newest games, the jackpot games or the most popular slots on their site. Table Games Now here is my bread and butter where online casinos are concerned. For this reviewer, the quality of the table games is what makes or breaks a casino. It is 2020; there is no reason for an operator to be providing games that are slow or feature shitty graphics. Thankfully, Joe Fortune has chosen software partners who have excellent game quality and design, so I could easily see myself playing at their tables for hours! These guys go all out for their blackjack players as there are almost a dozen different variants available, including all the popular European and American versions of the game. Video Poker For fans of video poker, I have some good news. The fact that Joe Fortune uses more than one software provider means that the options for video poker players like myself are excellent. Those of you who have read any of my reviews of Rival Gaming or RTG operators will know that those two software providers don’t have a ton of video poker variants; at Joe Fortune, they lean more or Microgaming and iSoftBet for these games. Live Dealer Surprisingly, at this time there are no live dealer games available at Joe Fortune. Given the increase in popularity of these games by players and the success this organization has with Live Dealer games on their other brands, I can only assume that there will be an announcement coming that Joe Fortune will be adding Live Dealer options shortly.
Joe Fortune Casino Welcome Bonus
Joe Fortune offers its new players up to $5,000 in Welcome Bonus dollars, which is an excellent aggressive promotion to try to convince you to make your first deposit. What I like the most about this promotion is the way it is administered. As opposed to making a huge offer to players on only the first deposit, this welcome bonus is split over the first 9 despots you make. Here’s how it works:
200% bonus up to $1,000 on the first deposit
100% bonus on the next 8 deposits to a maximum of $500 per deposit
This type of promotion is effective because $500 is a reasonable amount of money at the high end to expect someone to deposit in a casino. Other online casinos have promotions that are offered up to deposits of $1,000 and higher; there aren’t too many people making those types of transactions. >>Claim Free Bonus Now<<
Anything and everything that you feel might not need its own thread! For example, a screenshot of your recent MTT score, a bad beat story, a picture of your live 1/2 chip stack after a heater or royal flush, noob friendly questions, etc. Mainly up to user discretion. Be respectful and kind to one another! If you're new, welcome! Check out the FAQ section if you're looking for a great place to start! This thread will be refreshed every 23 hours to accommodate different time zones being able to participate.
The Australian casino was found to have violated the ban on admitting minors!
The regulator fined the Australian casino 63.7 thousand Australian dollars for admitting three underage customers to the gambling hall and allowing them to play slot machines. Australia’s The Star casino came under sanctions by the national gambling regulator in New South Wales after surveillance cameras at the institution caught a 12-year-old girl playing video poker in a slot machine in one of three incidents involving minors. casino administration. By law, allow players to play from the age of 18 after checking the documents that confirm their identity. The girl’s mother allowed her to enter the game room and held the entrance doors to the room so that the security service would not interfere with her play. The minor spent 17 minutes playing the game, during which she made 20 bets inonline poker. The security of the institution discovered a violation when the mother and the girl had left the hall. Another incident occurred with a 16-year-old girl who was led through a VIP entrance by a man with a club membership in the casino. The guards did not check the identity of the offender, and she unhindered entered the gambling hall. She was served alcoholic drinks at the bar, and at the entrance the club was asked to show the passport. The document was fake, and the photo did not match the reality. https://preview.redd.it/bogoxif10rh51.png?width=1087&format=png&auto=webp&s=ddfa2ed130baee8af14a1c3d3fe55993b6116838 In the third precedent, the 17-year-old was in the gambling hall for more than three hours. Observation videos show that the teenager crossed paths with the casino staff at least 15 times, playing more than 40 rounds of roulette, over 20 poker hands and drinking a few alcoholic beverages. In 2019, 30 similar cases were recorded, each of which the casino reported to the regulator independently. The Star — the second largest casino in Australia. The first is called the Crown in Melbourne. The establishment is owned by Star Entertainment Group, a public Australian gaming company. The resort has been operating for over 25 years. It houses gambling zones, a hotel complex with 300 rooms, more than 15 bars and restaurants.
My Personal Market Research & Statistics in 2020: Countries That Gamble the Most
The gaming sphere is so different and immense that it is divided into many structures and substructures. For example, games can be divided according to their type, capabilities, gambling, devices, technology, etc. But what is more remarkable is the appearance of statistics in games, when you can see and understand many nuances with your own eyes. So, let's talk about gambling research and statistics in 2020. Throughout its existence, gambling has been constantly subjected to various pressures from the law, states, and opponents of this activity. And the first step is to talk about the most important thing in the gaming industry, namely, legality. There are several countries where gambling is allowed. This business is closely monitored by special authorities, subjecting the gambling activities of companies to various frameworks and rules. On the one hand, some laws can be very depressing, but compliance with them allows companies to legally and transparently offer their content to the consumer - and as a result of legality and licensing, the company ensures safety for the user and gains trust from him. There are also countries and their areas where games are partially allowed or have more severe rules. https://preview.redd.it/k3c15lhb7eb51.jpg?width=625&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c5d00e3ca7c045288c9f4332079ec208a496814d The main countries where you can gamble are:
Australia;
The United States;
Canada;
New Zealand;
The UK;
China (Macau).
But it is highly recommended to check the legality of gambling for money in your area, the rules and laws change quite often. Often online casinos have a separate page where you can check this. https://preview.redd.it/bwky69rc7eb51.jpg?width=433&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=11ab101087def28200b4ed2c4e31aa6992b395fe The most popular gambling games in the world are casino games (mainly slot machines and roulette), sports betting (mainly horse racing), and poker. It's also easy to see the big difference between playing ages between the United States and the UK. In the first country, young people play more, as in the second, those who are over 55 years old. This may be due to many factors, at least mentality and freedom of choice. Note that the world's most famous gambling capital Macau wins in terms of income per visitor, and the biggest losers are in Australia. Australia More than 6.8 million Australians are considered to be players who play in the country - this is approximately 39% of the total population. Australian people love to play, most of them love to gamble on portable devices that they can take with them, such as a mobile phone or tablet. 78% of players are able-bodied adults 18 years of age or older, and the average playing age is 34. Women and men play equally in the same amount, that is, 50/50, although earlier women players were 4% less than men. Australians play pokies mostly for fun, and some older people play to train their thinking and improve their brain function. Residents are not against betting and consider them very useful for the economy and development of the country. USA As you know, the most common place for gambling in the United States is Las Vegas, but do not forget about Atlantic City and the water casinos, which are legalized in Louisiana and Illinois. Online betting is available for almost all states. Almost 65% of the entire adult population of the country, one way or another, play games, mainly on their smartphones. More than $ 80 billion is the total value of the gambling industry in the country. Most of the people who play are mostly in the 18 to 30 years old area. 15% of all residents of the country play at least once a week. Mostly preferences are for online casinos, but many players love old school and play in land-based casinos. Americans love big win and impressive jackpots, especially progressive ones, which can easily reach up to $ 20 million. https://preview.redd.it/rscu153i7eb51.jpg?width=607&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=876f3cac692bfc81e7d94dee194fa0b24d9e6bcf UK In the United Kingdom, more than 46% of the country's population gamble and at least several times a month. Players prefer different strategies for their pastime and use handheld devices, but there are also a large proportion of those who still prefer a computer for their gaming sessions. The older generation plays more in the country. These are able-bodied adults who are 55 years old and older. Most likely this is due to a large amount of free time and the possession of significant finances, which can be easily used in online casinos. Players prefer online casinos 10 times more than in other countries, but there are still more than 250 land-based casinos in the country. To a large extent, the British know how to play to win significant sums. They use the strategy of maximum possible bets on the same game regularly. Canada More than half of the Canadian population gamble and their percentage is growing every year along with the development of online casinos and the availability of gaming content. The biggest number of residents of the country prefer casual games, they quickly learn how to play in various slots, which also increases the number of new players at lightning speed. Also, Canadians like to use different tips for choosing a game or strategy, for example, such as the one here https://freeslotshub.com/offline-slots/ 78% of the country's online gamblers are male, and the average age hovers 35 and a half, although almost a decade ago, he was with the index 45 years. The legal age for gambling in Canada varies from province to province, some from 18 and others from 19. The average annual spending per average Canadian on betting is over $ 17 billion, and every year the figure is growing by about 5%. Other Countries that Gamble Various forms of the gambling industry are legal and regulated in many places: in the countries of the European Union, Asia, and countries around the Caribbean, but they have much stronger control and rules from the state.
44% of Singaporeans aged 18 and overplay.
Almost every 9th German player.
More than 31.5 million visitors to Macau per year.
Spain registers about 3.9 million new players every year.
Japanese gamblers spend over $ 31 billion in casinos annually.
https://preview.redd.it/47fdp0te7eb51.jpg?width=436&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5452d58b2a724e846772b57458aa9019b3c530f2 World statistics easily show that approximately 26% of the world's population regularly gamble and more than 17% of them play online. The gambling industry is growing and thriving, over time the income of companies that are involved in the gaming industry will grow at lightning speed. To some extent, the development of technologies provokes this growth, because experienced players have simple and convenient access to gaming content, and new ones have the opportunity to try content for free without any risk of losing real money.
How to play multi-player poker on iPhone, Android or any web browser There’s a whole wide world of opportunities in the virtual realm. While you’re sitting at home, exacerbating the indentations on your sofa cushions, you could be doing a whole lot more than staring blankly at the television. Sure, Tiger King enraptured us all for a brief moment, but there’s only so much binge-Marat honing enjoyment to be had from Netflix. At some point, the need for social interaction takes over, and it’s at that moment that I hope the following words of wisdom will provide you solace, and some much needed brainwave activity. I’m talking about learning a new way to play games with your friends. Not just any game, but the most stimulating card game on the planet – poker. It’s a game that encompasses every facet of focal intensity and interactivity. In essence, the more you pay attention, the more you can win, and if you’re playing at the right places, you could be winning some real money. Even playing for fun awards bragging rights to the winner, and I can assure you, it feels good to be king or queen of the roost. The remainder of this informational text assumes that you already have the necessary knowledge to play poker. If not, or if you’d like to sharpen your existing skills, the following links should help you out. Otherwise (or afterwards), please continue reading below. Play Multiplayer Poker with Friends & Others Now on to the real reason you’re here. I’m going to start with a brief commentary on what you can expect from the experience. If you want to skip this and get straight to the games section, click here or scroll on a bit further. How it Works: Thanks to vast technological breakthroughs over the last decade, playing poker on an app, or on a desktop or laptop computer, is largely similar to playing in a real-life setting. The only difference is, of course, that your friends aren’t really seated across the table from you. Instead, they are viewing the same virtual poker table on the screen of their own chosen device. Fairness: The cards are randomly shuffled and dealt by a random number generator, or RNG. The RNG ensures that the cards are randomized just as well as a physical deck shuffled by a mechanical shuffling machine, setting the scene for an utterly unpredictable game. Yes, it is possible for a programmer to create an app with a ‘stacked-deck’, so to speak, but rest assured, all of the platforms listed on this website are RNG-certified for fairness. Game Play: Each player views their own cards, just as they would in a real life setting. A variety of game play options are available at the tap of a mouse or finger, including all playing and betting options (Fold, Check, Bet, and Raise). It’s all pretty self-explanatory once you get seated at a table. So long as you are familiar with the rules of the game you’re playing, you should have no problems progressing through a hand. Interaction: Communicating with your opponents during an online multiplayer poker game is always an option; although how you do it will be determined by the app/website you choose to play on. Some are far more advanced than others. On the lowest level, you’ll have to type your conversation in a chat box. At the higher end of the scale, you may have microphone audio, or even video chat capabilities. Just remember that the greater the communication quality, the greater quality device you may need to play on. Real Money: Most players are content to play poker with friends for fun, using play-money chips, but not everyone. If you want to play for real money, your options will be more limited. First of all, you must live in a country like Canada, where online gambling is not prohibited by law. Second, you must choose a real money pppoker app. The detailed list of poker apps below will designate, among other things, whether real-money is an option or not. Multi-Player Poker Apps The following is just the beginning of what will soon become an exhaustive list of multi-player poker sites and mobile apps. I intend to add more on a daily basis (Mon-Fri), so bear with me and check back often for updates. Each of the items below comes with a personal review. I’d like to say that they are unbiased, but that may not be the right term for this. It might be more appropriate to say that they are honest. If I feel one is superior to another, I’m going to say so, and I’ll tell you why I came to that conclusion, because each player’s favoritism for a particular site or app will and should be based on their own personal circumstance. Some of you want real-money apps. Some are looking for iPhone or iPad compatibility. Maybe you want to play high-end video-enabled poker tables. That’s what these reviews, and the categorical check-lists for each, are meant to provide – a quick and easy confirmation of whether each item will meet your needs and desires. So, without further ado, here they are, in no particular order except the order in which I test and review them. Disclaimer: I touched on this already, but please – please! – if you intend to play real money multiplayer poker, make sure that you aren’t breaking any laws by doing so. It all depends on where you live. Canadian online gambling laws are very different from US laws, Australian laws, European laws, etc. Know the laws where you live and abide by them. I take no responsibility for your actions beyond this point. Table of Contents Use the following table to jump to a specific poker platform, or continue scrolling. If one of the platforms listed in this table is not linked, I have not yet reviewed it, but I intend to. Feel free to check it out on your own, or come back soon for updates. Frankly, it’s the online poker operator I know the most about. I’ve been playing here for years. It’s been in operation since 2002, but in those days, the company was known as Pacific Poker. Now, 888 is among the largest internet poker operators in the entire world, and one of the few brands approved to operate in the limited number of US states where iGaming is legal – a fact that speaks volumes to their integrity.Players can enjoy 888Poker from virtually any device. PC, Mac and Linux computers; iOS, Android, and Windows smartphones and tablets; if you can access the internet with it, you can play 888Poker on it. Android and iOS apps are available, and the browser platform is built in HTML5 for omni-optimization. You’ll find 888poker.com is geared primarily towards real money play. They accept Visa, MasterCard, Interac Online, InstaDebit, and other convenient ways to move money in and out of an account. There is a play money version at 888Poker.net, but this review is primarily for the real-money edition. What I like most is the simplicity. They offer a lot of variety, but not so much that the lobby becomes convoluted. Cash games on offer include Texas Holdem, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, and 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo. A full schedule of multi-table tournaments is available with major weekly and monthly guarantees, and the SNG menu is constantly bustling. 888Poker also offers its signature SNAP and BLAST Poker games, for those looking for a bit more flare. As a real-money poker experience, you can expect a lot of promotions to bulk up your bankroll, starting with a free no-deposit bonus when you register a new account. Other promos are always available thereafter, with regular deposit bonuses and cash back awards topping the list.
What casino games are popular with players from India?
India! Ever wondered which casino games have high popularity over here? Seems you are passionate about casino games? In India, you can play many casino games widely spread in goa. Don’t take any stress. All casinos in Goa are legal and permitted by government and law. Here we mention the 6 casino games, which are popular with players from India. With that said, let’s get started. Roulette The Roulette is the most popular casino game not only in India but all over the world. Roulette is the French word, which means a little wheel. In this casino game, players have to bet on red or black color, odd or even number, a single number or numbers are high then 18 and low then 18. According to historians, first Roulette played in France during the 18th century. And according to some historians as well, Blaise Pascal (French mathematician, inventor, physicist, and writer) introduced this game in France in the 18th century. In the 19th century, casino lovers widely spread this game in Europe and America. And slowly it becomes one of the most played casino games in western countries, respectively. In 1970, Asian countries like India started offering this game in their casinos. By 2009 there were thousands of casinos offering this game in their respective casinos. Now let’s talk about rules for playing Roulette. After betting on color, particular number, number range, and odd or even number. The dealer will rotate the wheel with the bowl inside them. And after winning, Dealer announced Number and colors. Also, the Dealer's place dolly (a type of marker) on the Roulette table. And the most interesting thing is that when the dealer places a marker on the table then no player can withdraw their bets, change their bets and collect their bets. At last, the dealer removes all losing bets by rake and will determine all payouts remaining outside and inside winning bets. And after finishing all collections of payouts, the marker is removed and collecting betting, changing betting starts once again. Just a piece of advice for you. Using electrical devices like mobile phones, cameras, smartwatch, iPad is strictly prohibited in the casino. The only things which Indian casinos allowed are cigarettes, your drink, money and player chips. Indian Rummy The Indian Rummy is the second most popular casino game not only in India but all over the Indian subcontinent. Indian rummy is most played among all Indian casino games. It is because Indian rummy is a variation of gin rummy and rummy 500 both. If you ever play rummy outside India. Then you can easily spot the difference between original rummy and Indian rummy. Unlike other casino games, in Indian rummy, only 2 to 6 players can participate. As mentioned above, Indian rummy is very similar to the original rummy. The only difference is that you will find several cards dealt. For over 2 players the dealer makes 3 desks, whereas for 2 players the dealer makes 2 desks. Indian rummy is a discard based game, where each player has to pick a card from the open pile on his or her turn. After picking a card from the open pile, now the player has to discard one card from his or her collection to the open pile. As always, the most interesting thing is that. In Indian rummy, you can use the joker card. A joker card can be used as a substitute to form a combination. In India, each card carry’s specific point. Face cards included Jacks’ card, Queen card, King card, and aces carry 10 points. Whereas number cards carry points equal to their face value. And the joker card carries zero points. And the player who scores zero first wins the game. According to Indian Rummy rules, there should be 2 runs. And from 2 runs one should be pure. That means one run should not contain any joker in it. Just a piece of advice for you. Using electrical devices like mobile phones, cameras, smartwatch, iPad is strictly prohibited in the casino. The only things which Indian casinos allowed are cigarettes, your drink, money, and player chips. Fortunately, India rummy is one of the India casino games that you can play online and offline too. Online casino games realm may promote lots of offers for a casino promotion that makes your gambling experience worthwhile. With this casino promotion offer, you can win a lot of cash. But before applying to this casino promotion offer, please read all terms and conditions. Slot machine Another most-played casino game is the slot machine. People call slot machines as the Poker machine in Australian and Canadian English, fruit machines in British English, piggy in Scottish English, the slot in American English. Indian casino game lovers must play this game in their life. This machine creates chances to win for its customers. According to historians, Pitt and Sittman from New York developed the first slot machine in 1891. The slot machine contains 5 drums that hold 50 cards. Back in 1891, the player had to insert a nickel coin. After inserting Nickel coin, a player has to pull the lever. Pulled levers spin drums and cards. In 1891, there was no payout mechanism in the slot machines. And according to a historian, slot machines at that time worked on revolving mechanical reels to determine and display results. And the original machine of 1891 works on 5 reels, which is not only reliable but also it was simple and easy to use. However, nowadays the slot machines work purely on digital. Slot machines are generally programmed to pay out as winning 85% to 95% of the money bet by players. People called this payout the return of player (ROP) or theoretical percentage (TP). However, the theoretical percentage varies from country to country. Just like the theoretical percentage of Nevada is approx 75% and the theoretical percentage of New York is approx 83%. By using computers at the time of software writing, manufacturers set the theoretical percentage of slots machines. Be aware. Many investigations conclude that the dealer of a slot machine uses a digital machine or any fraud and cheating device. These types of dealers can steal your money by any unfair use. Blackjack Our fourth most playing casino game on the list of casino games that are popular in India is Blackjack. Blackjack is an American version of popular games known as Twenty-one. In blackjack players don’t have to compete with each other. They play blackjack with one or more decks of 52 cards. Blackjack is the most played game among all Indian casino games in India. Although blackjack has no specific history. But according to historians, they find the first reference of blackjack in Don Quixote (a Spanish novel) written by Miguel de Cervantes. Many gambling houses in the USA were offered bonus payouts to generate interest in the twenty-one game. Now let’s talk about rules for playing Blackjack. At the time of playing. The dealer has to face five to seven playing positions on a semicircular table. 52 cards decks are shuffled together between one and eight standards. At the starting of each round, up to three players can place their bets in the betting box. That means three players at each position at a table allowing to bet. The player who has to bet on the front of the betting box considers having control over the position. Even the dealer has to consult the controlling player for playing decisions. Any player is independent to control in as many boxes at a single table. However, in the USA rules are a little different from the Indian casino game's rules. In the USA casinos, players are limited to playing over two and less than 4 positions at a table. But according to rules, the player can’t play over one table at the same time and in the same place. Just a piece of advice for you. Using electrical devices like mobile phones, cameras, smartwatch, iPad is strictly prohibited in the casino. The only things which Indian casinos allowed are cigarettes, your drink, money, and player chips. Poker Our fifth most-played casino game on the list of casino games that are popular in India is poker. Poker is another card game in which the player has to bet on cards. Poker games always vary in desk configuration. But often in poker games, the dealer uses a standard 52-card deck. According to historians. Casino lovers introduced this poker game back in the 19th century in the United States Of America. And that time people love this game not only in the US but also in India. At the beginning of 20th-century poker successfully fed their name on the list of best India casino games. In the 1990s, gaming historian David Parlett challenged the notion. Which states that poker is a direct derivative of As- Nas. And finally, in the 1970s, these developments in poker make this game more popular than it is ever. The World Series of Poker started by the casino lovers in the United States makes poker more famous in India as well. Guess what is an interesting thing in poker? In 2013, researchers of Carnegie Mellon University, University of Alberta, and the University of Auckland developed a computer poker player. This computer poker player thinks like a human. You may wonder why they developed a computer poker player? Right? The reason they develop computer poker is to play this game against humans. If you have no human opponent out there, you can still play poker games against this computer program. Online casino games realm may promote lots of offers for a casino promotion that makes your gambling experience worthwhile. With this casino promotion offer, you can win a lot of cash. But before applying to this casino promotion offer, please read all terms and conditions. Baccarat Our sixth most-played casino game on the list of casino games that are popular in India is Baccarat. Baccarat is another comparing card game played between player and banker. Each round of Baccarat has three possibilities. The first player has the highest score, the second possibility is when a banker has the highest score, and the third possibility is when a tied match between player and banker occurs. Some sources claim the first reference of this game in the 19th century. Some source claims that Italian soldiers introduced this game in France during the France-Italian war in the 15th century. During the Napoleon era, people loved this casino game. Before legalization, people play this game in private game rooms. Now let’s talk about the rules of this game. Player rule: In case when the player has an initial 0-5 then they draw a third card. And if a player has an initial total of 6 or 7 then they stand. Banker rule: If the player has only 2 cards, then the banker acts according to the same rule as a player. Final thoughts. To sum it up, all the above casino games are widely popular in Indian casinos. Casino games lovers shared the above games. That’s why here we mentioned all the games, according to their ratings and personal experience. We all know every casino game has its different rules. And who knows sooner or later, we add more variety to this list. If you have anything you’d like to add in this list, then let us know in the comments section below. I hope that you gained additional knowledge by reading this article. https://preview.redd.it/fotyls0ser151.png?width=940&format=png&auto=webp&s=f5f0c28ea8fdbf1c0a5a0301429a99640c5946a1
What casino games are popular with players from India?
India! Ever wondered which casino games have high popularity over here? Seems you are passionate about casino games? In India, you can play many casino games widely spread in goa. Don’t take any stress. All casinos in Goa are legal and permitted by government and law. Here we mention the 6 casino games, which are popular with players from India. With that said, let’s get started. Roulette The Roulette is the most popular casino game not only in India but all over the world. Roulette is the French word, which means a little wheel. In this casino game, players have to bet on red or black color, odd or even number, a single number or numbers are high then 18 and low then 18. According to historians, first Roulette played in France during the 18th century. And according to some historians as well, Blaise Pascal (French mathematician, inventor, physicist, and writer) introduced this game in France in the 18th century. In the 19th century, casino lovers widely spread this game in Europe and America. And slowly it becomes one of the most played casino games in western countries, respectively. In 1970, Asian countries like India started offering this game in their casinos. By 2009 there were thousands of casinos offering this game in their respective casinos. Now let’s talk about rules for playing Roulette. After betting on color, particular number, number range, and odd or even number. The dealer will rotate the wheel with the bowl inside them. And after winning, Dealer announced Number and colors. Also, the Dealer's place dolly (a type of marker) on the Roulette table. And the most interesting thing is that when the dealer places a marker on the table then no player can withdraw their bets, change their bets and collect their bets. At last, the dealer removes all losing bets by rake and will determine all payouts remaining outside and inside winning bets. And after finishing all collections of payouts, the marker is removed and collecting betting, changing betting starts once again. Just a piece of advice for you. Using electrical devices like mobile phones, cameras, smartwatch, iPad is strictly prohibited in the casino. The only things which Indian casinos allowed are cigarettes, your drink, money and player chips. Indian Rummy The Indian Rummy is the second most popular casino game not only in India but all over the Indian subcontinent. Indian rummy is most played among all Indian casino games. It is because Indian rummy is a variation of gin rummy and rummy 500 both. If you ever play rummy outside India. Then you can easily spot the difference between original rummy and Indian rummy. Unlike other casino games, in Indian rummy, only 2 to 6 players can participate. As mentioned above, Indian rummy is very similar to the original rummy. The only difference is that you will find several cards dealt. For over 2 players the dealer makes 3 desks, whereas for 2 players the dealer makes 2 desks. Indian rummy is a discard based game, where each player has to pick a card from the open pile on his or her turn. After picking a card from the open pile, now the player has to discard one card from his or her collection to the open pile. As always, the most interesting thing is that. In Indian rummy, you can use the joker card. A joker card can be used as a substitute to form a combination. In India, each card carry’s specific point. Face cards included Jacks’ card, Queen card, King card and aces carry 10 points. Whereas number cards carry points equal to their face value. And the joker card carries zero points. And the player who scores zero first wins the game. According to Indian Rummy rules, there should be 2 runs. And from 2 runs one should be pure. That means one run should not contain any joker in it. Just a piece of advice for you. Using electrical devices like mobile phones, cameras, smartwatch, iPad is strictly prohibited in the casino. The only things which Indian casinos allowed are cigarettes, your drink, money and player chips. Fortunately, India rummy is one of the India casino games that you can play online and offline too. Online casino games realm may promote lots of offers for a casino promotion that makes your gambling experience worthwhile. With this casino promotion offer, you can win a lot of cash. But before applying to this casino promotion offer, please read all terms and conditions. Slot machine Another most-played casino game is the slot machine. People call slot machines as the Poker machine in Australian and Canadian English, fruit machines in British English, piggy in Scottish English, the slot in American English. Indian casino game lovers must play this game in their life. This machine creates chances to win for its customers. According to historians, Pitt and Sittman from New York developed the first slot machine in 1891. The slot machine contains 5 drums that hold 50 cards. Back in 1891, the player had to insert a nickel coin. After inserting Nickel coin, a player has to pull the lever. Pulled levers spin drums and cards. In 1891, there was no payout mechanism in the slot machines. And according to a historian, slot machines at that time worked on revolving mechanical reels to determine and display results. And the original machine of 1891 works on 5 reels, which is not only reliable but also it was simple and easy to use. However, nowadays the slot machines work purely on digital. Slot machines are generally programmed to pay out as winning 85% to 95% of the money bet by players. People called this payout the return of player (ROP) or theoretical percentage (TP). However, the theoretical percentage varies from country to country. Just like the theoretical percentage of Nevada is approx 75% and the theoretical percentage of New York is approx 83%. By using computers at the time of software writing, manufacturers set the theoretical percentage of slots machines. Be aware. Many investigations conclude that the dealer of a slot machine uses a digital machine or any fraud and cheating device. These types of dealers can steal your money by any unfair use. Blackjack Our fourth most playing casino game on the list of casino games that are popular in India is Blackjack. Blackjack is an American version of popular games known as Twenty-one. In blackjack players don’t have to compete with each other. They play blackjack with one or more decks of 52 cards. Blackjack is the most played game among all Indian casino games in India. Although blackjack has no specific history. But according to historians, they find the first reference of blackjack in Don Quixote (a Spanish novel) written by Miguel de Cervantes. Many gambling houses in the USA were offered bonus payouts to generate interest in the twenty-one game. Now let’s talk about rules for playing Blackjack. At the time of playing. The dealer has to face five to seven playing positions on a semicircular table. 52 cards decks are shuffled together between one and eight standards. At the starting of each round, up to three players can place their bets in the betting box. That means three players at each position at a table allowing to bet. The player who has to bet on the front of the betting box considers having control over the position. Even the dealer has to consult the controlling player for playing decisions. Any player is independent to control in as many boxes at a single table. However, in the USA rules are a little different from the Indian casino game's rules. In the USA casinos, players are limited to playing over two and less than 4 positions at a table. But according to rules, the player can’t play over one table at the same time and in the same place. Just a piece of advice for you. Using electrical devices like mobile phones, cameras, smartwatch, iPad is strictly prohibited in the casino. The only things which Indian casinos allowed are cigarettes, your drink, money and player chips. Poker Our fifth most-played casino game on the list of casino games that are popular in India is poker. Poker is another card game in which the player has to bet on cards. Poker games always vary in desk configuration. But often in poker games, the dealer uses a standard 52-card deck. According to historians. Casino lovers introduced this poker game back in the 19th century in the United States Of America. And that time people love this game not only in the US but also in India. At the beginning of 20th-century poker successfully fed their name on the list of best India casino games. In the 1990s, gaming historian David Parlett challenged the notion. Which states that poker is a direct derivative of As- Nas. And finally, in the 1970s, these developments in poker make this game more popular than it is ever. The World Series of Poker started by the casino lovers in the United States makes poker more famous in India as well. Guess what is an interesting thing in poker? In 2013, researchers of Carnegie Mellon University, University of Alberta, and the University of Auckland developed a computer poker player. This computer poker player thinks like a human. You may wonder why they developed a computer poker player? Right? The reason they develop computer poker is to play this game against humans. If you have no human opponent out there, you can still play poker games against this computer program. Online casino games realm may promote lots of offers for a casino promotion that makes your gambling experience worthwhile. With this casino promotion offer, you can win a lot of cash. But before applying to this casino promotion offer, please read all terms and conditions. Baccarat Our sixth most-played casino game on the list of casino games that are popular in India is Baccarat. Baccarat is another comparing card game played between player and banker. Each round of Baccarat has three possibilities. The first player has the highest score, the second possibility is when a banker has the highest score, and the third possibility is when a tied match between player and banker occurs. Some sources claim the first reference of this game in the 19th century. Some source claims that Italian soldiers introduced this game in France during the France-Italian war in the 15th century. During the Napoleon era, people loved this casino game. Before legalization, people play this game in private game rooms. Now let’s talk about the rules of this game. Player rule: In case when the player has an initial 0-5 then they draw a third card. And if a player has an initial total of 6 or 7 then they stand. Banker rule: If the player has only 2 cards, then the banker acts according to the same rule as a player. Final thoughts. To sum it up, all the above casino games are widely popular in Indian casinos. Casino games lovers shared the above games. That’s why here we mentioned all the games, according to their ratings and personal experience. We all know every casino game has its different rules. And who knows sooner or later, we add more variety to this list. If you have anything you’d like to add in this list, then let us know in the comments section below. I hope that you gained additional knowledge by reading this article. https://preview.redd.it/a2gsyc3ntdw41.png?width=940&format=png&auto=webp&s=d91ad666cd4c976913872d4e773dbb2be67cf13d
I contacted the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation and they told me that they think lootboxes do constitute gambling under Victorian legislation. Full correspondence within.
I'm not going to show my original message (it's quite long, it also includes my name and student-email, but if people really want to read it I can post it in a comment), but I will post below the response I got from the VCGLR. I'll also note that I'd be quite happy to forward the correspondence to news agencies (on condition that my name/e-mail not be mentioned). Anyway, here's the reply I received:
My name is Jarrod Wolfe and I am the Strategic Analyst for the Compliance Division at VCGLR. I have received your correspondence in regards to gambling functionality (loot boxes) being incorporated into games. Your research and suppositions on the matter are correct; what occurs with "loot boxes" does constitute gambling by the definition of the Victorian Legislation. Unfortunately where the complexity arises is in jurisdiction and our powers to investigate. Legislation has not moved as quick as the technology; at both State and Federal level we are not necessarily equipped to determine the legality of these practices in lieu of the fact the entities responsible are overseas. We are currently engaging with interstate and international counter parts to progress wider policy changes and to modernise and inform both Federal and State based legislation. We take on board responses from the community, such as your concerns, to ensure that our actions are reflective of the risks these products pose as well as the community’s expectation. Watching recent Reddit activity certainly indicates the majority of the gaming community is at odds with decisions made by certain companies. The focus of my concerns currently is on the more predatory aspects related to "pay to win". Skins, skins betting and virtual currencies are certainly a peripheral consideration. However, the idea that (genuine) progression in a game could be reliant on the outcome of a random number generator is at odds with responsible gambling and the objectives of our acts. More importantly the normalisation of gambling vernacular and mechanics targeted at vulnerable persons (minors), is not just morally reprehensible, but is also legally questionable. In response to our appraisal or understanding of these matters, it is perhaps unfortunate for these companies that gamers have infiltrated most areas of government; be assured that knowledgeable and interested parties are undertaking a large body of work in relation to issues you noted. And if an avenue of investigation or enforcement is found; then we will most definitely pursue it. Thanks for your detailed enquiry and interest.
I followed up with these questions: What is the legal effect of the responsible entity being based overseas? Does it matter that persons residing in Australia may be making use of those services? What do you think is the biggest barrier to enforcement in relation to this issue currently, and how do you foresee it being overcome? What steps do you think the average citizen/consumer can take towards effecting such change? I also asked if he would mind me sharing the correspondence online. Here is his response:
Thanks for the follow up. Gambling isn’t necessarily “Unauthorised gambling” so there are a lot of variables at play. For perhaps a real world example think of overseas betting agencies. Such as Bet 365 – Australians can and do use this service; yet it is clearly administered and run from the UK. This isn’t illegal. However, if that company set up “shop” in Victoria or started specifically advertising and offering gambling products to Victorians. Then we could investigate and it could be considered a breach of legislation and we would pursue, overseas or not. One of the downfalls is that using overseas based products, Victorian residents do not have us to investigate any complaints or issues they have. Lootbox and “pay to win” set ups are even more nuanced than just being operated from overseas. Imagine if the legislation was read “strictly” and so you and a couple of friends have a poker game in your garage. You play for real money and sometimes other people join and leave. Now this is obviously gambling, however, is it “unauthorised gambling”? The legislation makes clear determination on some products such as Casino games and the like. But I don’t think parliament ever intended for a Compliance Inspector to kick in your garage door and fine you and your buddies for playing ‘texas hold’em’ in your garage. In order for that to happen we would require far more definitive proof and details and identify profits and purpose and a lot of other factors. This would be the steps we would have to take in order to get close to showing that these video game functions are, strictly speaking, Unauthorised… even then, convincing a magistrate in a prosecution would be a whole other nightmare that would probably cost Victorian tax payers way more money than they would be willing to spend. But I am a Strategic Analyst, my job is essentially to look at strategies to bring about changes without the necessity of kicking in garage doors and scaring the hell out of a bunch of students. Hence our interest in “loot boxes”. Enforcement is probably not an option, but we can consider working with other agencies to bring about change in other ways. For instance; if these companies want to include significant elements of gambling in their products then perhaps we should work with “The Australian Classification Board” to ensure than any product that does that and monetises it gets an immediate R rating. I could imagine that this would send ripples through the industry and it would support the objectives of the Gambling Legislation to ensure minors are not encouraged to participate in gambling. As far as affecting change from the consumer perspective. For me, instead of playing certain Star Wars games I was looking forward to, I will be concerting my efforts on collecting EVERY.SINGLE.MOON in Odyssey. Thanks for your interest. Nothing I am saying is secret; we are working on these complex problems and unfortunately solutions are a lot slower than the technology. The more people that know we are looking the better. The VCGLR want to set the example for dealing with these kind of issues; getting correspondence from you (and others) makes it a lot easier to gauge the feelings of Victorians and lets us know there is genuine interest and concern.
TL;DR - the VCGLR considers lootboxes gambling, but if the entities are based overseas they lack the necessary powers of enforcement. I was quite surprised to hear this to be honest, as I thought our system would be more like the American inter-State system (where online gambling bodies are bound by the laws of the State that the person using their services is residing in, rather than by the laws of the State where the gambling body is based). EDIT: I've forwarded the original correspondence e-mail to the BBC, and have forwarded it to Kotaku Australia at their request. I'll update this post with article links if they write stories based on this. EDIT2: Here is the Kotaku article; Power-up Gaming article
What casino games are popular with players from India?
India! Ever wondered which casino games have high popularity over here? Seems you are passionate about casino games? In India, you can play many casino games widely spread in goa. Don’t take any stress. All casinos in Goa are legal and permitted by government and law. Here we mention the 6 casino games, which are popular with players from India. With that said, let’s get started. Roulette The Roulette is the most popular casino game not only in India but all over the world. Roulette is the French word, which means a little wheel. In this casino game, players have to bet on red or black color, odd or even number, a single number or numbers are high then 18 and low then 18. According to historians, first Roulette played in France during the 18th century. And according to some historians as well, Blaise Pascal (French mathematician, inventor, physicist, and writer) introduced this game in France in the 18th century. In the 19th century, casino lovers widely spread this game in Europe and America. And slowly it becomes one of the most played casino games in western countries, respectively. In 1970, Asian countries like India started offering this game in their casinos. By 2009 there were thousands of casinos offering this game in their respective casinos. Now let’s talk about rules for playing Roulette. After betting on color, particular number, number range, and odd or even number. The dealer will rotate the wheel with the bowl inside them. And after winning, Dealer announced Number and colors. Also, the Dealer's place dolly (a type of marker) on the Roulette table. And the most interesting thing is that when the dealer places a marker on the table then no player can withdraw their bets, change their bets and collect their bets. At last, the dealer removes all losing bets by rake and will determine all payouts remaining outside and inside winning bets. And after finishing all collections of payouts, the marker is removed and collecting betting, changing betting starts once again. Just a piece of advice for you. Using electrical devices like mobile phones, cameras, smartwatch, iPad is strictly prohibited in the casino. The only things which Indian casinos allowed are cigarettes, your drink, money and player chips. Indian Rummy The Indian Rummy is the second most popular casino game not only in India but all over the Indian subcontinent. Indian rummy is most played among all Indian casino games. It is because Indian rummy is a variation of gin rummy and rummy 500 both. If you ever play rummy outside India. Then you can easily spot the difference between original rummy and Indian rummy. Unlike other casino games, in Indian rummy, only 2 to 6 players can participate. As mentioned above, Indian rummy is very similar to the original rummy. The only difference is that you will find several cards dealt. For over 2 players the dealer makes 3 desks, whereas for 2 players the dealer makes 2 desks. Indian rummy is a discard based game, where each player has to pick a card from the open pile on his or her turn. After picking a card from the open pile, now the player has to discard one card from his or her collection to the open pile. As always, the most interesting thing is that. In Indian rummy, you can use the joker card. A joker card can be used as a substitute to form a combination. In India, each card carry’s specific point. Face cards included Jacks’ card, Queen card, King card and aces carry 10 points. Whereas number cards carry points equal to their face value. And the joker card carries zero points. And the player who scores zero first wins the game. According to Indian Rummy rules, there should be 2 runs. And from 2 runs one should be pure. That means one run should not contain any joker in it. Just a piece of advice for you. Using electrical devices like mobile phones, cameras, smartwatch, iPad is strictly prohibited in the casino. The only things which Indian casinos allowed are cigarettes, your drink, money and player chips. Fortunately, India rummy is one of the India casino games that you can play online and offline too. Online casino games realm may promote lots of offers for a casino promotion that makes your gambling experience worthwhile. With this casino promotion offer, you can win a lot of cash. But before applying to this casino promotion offer, please read all terms and conditions. Slot machine Another most-played casino game is the slot machine. People call slot machines as the Poker machine in Australian and Canadian English, fruit machines in British English, piggy in Scottish English, the slot in American English. Indian casino game lovers must play this game in their life. This machine creates chances to win for its customers. According to historians, Pitt and Sittman from New York developed the first slot machine in 1891. The slot machine contains 5 drums that hold 50 cards. Back in 1891, the player had to insert a nickel coin. After inserting Nickel coin, a player has to pull the lever. Pulled levers spin drums and cards. In 1891, there was no payout mechanism in the slot machines. And according to a historian, slot machines at that time worked on revolving mechanical reels to determine and display results. And the original machine of 1891 works on 5 reels, which is not only reliable but also it was simple and easy to use. However, nowadays the slot machines work purely on digital. Slot machines are generally programmed to pay out as winning 85% to 95% of the money bet by players. People called this payout the return of player (ROP) or theoretical percentage (TP). However, the theoretical percentage varies from country to country. Just like the theoretical percentage of Nevada is approx 75% and the theoretical percentage of New York is approx 83%. By using computers at the time of software writing, manufacturers set the theoretical percentage of slots machines. Be aware. Many investigations conclude that the dealer of a slot machine uses a digital machine or any fraud and cheating device. These types of dealers can steal your money by any unfair use. Blackjack Our fourth most playing casino game on the list of casino games that are popular in India is Blackjack. Blackjack is an American version of popular games known as Twenty-one. In blackjack players don’t have to compete with each other. They play blackjack with one or more decks of 52 cards. Blackjack is the most played game among all Indian casino games in India. Although blackjack has no specific history. But according to historians, they find the first reference of blackjack in Don Quixote (a Spanish novel) written by Miguel de Cervantes. Many gambling houses in the USA were offered bonus payouts to generate interest in the twenty-one game. Now let’s talk about rules for playing Blackjack. At the time of playing. The dealer has to face five to seven playing positions on a semicircular table. 52 cards decks are shuffled together between one and eight standards. At the starting of each round, up to three players can place their bets in the betting box. That means three players at each position at a table allowing to bet. The player who has to bet on the front of the betting box considers having control over the position. Even the dealer has to consult the controlling player for playing decisions. Any player is independent to control in as many boxes at a single table. However, in the USA rules are a little different from the Indian casino game's rules. In the USA casinos, players are limited to playing over two and less than 4 positions at a table. But according to rules, the player can’t play over one table at the same time and in the same place. Just a piece of advice for you. Using electrical devices like mobile phones, cameras, smartwatch, iPad is strictly prohibited in the casino. The only things which Indian casinos allowed are cigarettes, your drink, money and player chips. Poker Our fifth most-played casino game on the list of casino games that are popular in India is poker. Poker is another card game in which the player has to bet on cards. Poker games always vary in desk configuration. But often in poker games, the dealer uses a standard 52-card deck. According to historians. Casino lovers introduced this poker game back in the 19th century in the United States Of America. And that time people love this game not only in the US but also in India. At the beginning of 20th-century poker successfully fed their name on the list of best India casino games. In the 1990s, gaming historian David Parlett challenged the notion. Which states that poker is a direct derivative of As- Nas. And finally, in the 1970s, these developments in poker make this game more popular than it is ever. The World Series of Poker started by the casino lovers in the United States makes poker more famous in India as well. Guess what is an interesting thing in poker? In 2013, researchers of Carnegie Mellon University, University of Alberta, and the University of Auckland developed a computer poker player. This computer poker player thinks like a human. You may wonder why they developed a computer poker player? Right? The reason they develop computer poker is to play this game against humans. If you have no human opponent out there, you can still play poker games against this computer program. Online casino games realm may promote lots of offers for a casino promotion that makes your gambling experience worthwhile. With this casino promotion offer, you can win a lot of cash. But before applying to this casino promotion offer, please read all terms and conditions. Baccarat Our sixth most-played casino game on the list of casino games that are popular in India is Baccarat. Baccarat is another comparing card game played between player and banker. Each round of Baccarat has three possibilities. The first player has the highest score, the second possibility is when a banker has the highest score, and the third possibility is when a tied match between player and banker occurs. Some sources claim the first reference of this game in the 19th century. Some source claims that Italian soldiers introduced this game in France during the France-Italian war in the 15th century. During the Napoleon era, people loved this casino game. Before legalization, people play this game in private game rooms. Now let’s talk about the rules of this game. Player rule: In case when the player has an initial 0-5 then they draw a third card. And if a player has an initial total of 6 or 7 then they stand. Banker rule: If the player has only 2 cards, then the banker acts according to the same rule as a player. Final thoughts. To sum it up, all the above casino games are widely popular in Indian casinos. Casino games lovers shared the above games. That’s why here we mentioned all the games, according to their ratings and personal experience. We all know every casino game has its different rules. And who knows sooner or later, we add more variety to this list. If you have anything you’d like to add in this list, then let us know in the comments section below. I hope that you gained additional knowledge by reading this article. https://preview.redd.it/0q1qzli5cfr41.png?width=940&format=png&auto=webp&s=f7431fb239c6a69dea6de92e105a155c4aed196a
The Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 makes it an offence for some companies to market their online gambling services within Australia, however this law has often been circumvented by operators of poker sites and there are in fact large numbers of Australian poker players who freely access and play all manner of different poker games online.. With this in mind we would strongly advise anyone Online Poker is one of the most popular games at Australian casinos. But operating online poker sites in Australia is illegal. It is illegal to provide an online casino to Australian players or provide gambling games for real money. Examples of these games are roulette, baccarat, video poker, blackjack and craps. Basically, it sets restrictions on online gambling and iGaming, such as casino gambling, by targeting online poker providers. In summary the Act makes it illegal for domestic and foreign companies without an Australian licence from marketing or providing online poker to Australians. Online poker providers have begun pulling out of the Australian market. Credit: scyther5 Soon to pass Parliament, the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill is best known for closing loopholes that One of the reasons behind Australian legislation to try to ban international online casinos and poker sites from catering to Aussies is the fear of little oversight or transparency. In recent years, the Australian government has tightened laws around gambling, particularly online gambling through the introduction of the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill in 2016.While these changes help to protect players from unlicensed online casinos, they have caused some confusion amongst Australian players about what casino games they can still legally enjoy online. The Australian poker landscape has changed dramatically over the last couple of years. Online poker has been a heavily debated subject ever since the Australian Commonwealth Parliament passed the Interactive Gambling Act in 2001. This legislation has forbidden online gambling operators to promote and offer gambling services to Australian residents. 888poker has pulled out of the Australian market in anticipation of an imminent change in the country’s gambling laws. An amendment to the 2001 Interactive Gambling Act will shortly clarify that Online Poker Laws In Australia. Australians have enjoyed poker online since the boom of the early 2000s. But strictly speaking, Australia is in a legal 'grey area' when it comes to Internet gambling. Under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 Aussies have been prohibited from playing online at sites based in Australia. No such rules prohibit them Compare the poker machine regulations in the various Australian States and Territories. We list the minimum return to player, max bets, win limits, cheque rules and more. OnlinePokies.com - Your Online Guide to Pokies & Poker Machine Information
As a celebration of Daniel Negreanu's time with PokerStars, we showcase 10 of the greatest poker hands he has played on PokerStars shows.Subscribe here to ou... TOP 4 MOST ICONIC POKER FIGHTS OF ALL TIME!Help us to 100K Subscribers - http://goo.gl/BvsafoWebsite: http://pokergo.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/PokerGO... Four Corners takes you inside the world of online scamming, as reporter Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop meets teenagers running romance scams out of internet cafes i... Poker is a game of extreme variance. Professional poker players can go stretches without winning or placing at a level that earns any cash. The wins, however... YouTube Search How our search tool can help you find content you'll love Recommended videos How we recommend content we think you'll want to watch News and information How we provide context for ... What do you know about Australia? Which country has the longest fence in the world? How about the 2nd largest Greek population? Three times more sheep than p... Help us to 100K Subscribers - http://goo.gl/BvsafoIf you are reading this, comment... Watch other Videos: Bluffs Gone Wrong - https://youtu.be/ffawyLHW4fY ... TOP 6 MOST CRAZY POKER HANDS OF ALL TIME!Help us to 200K Subscribers - http://goo.gl/BvsafoIf you are reading this, comment which one was your favourite poke... YouTube live streaming allows you to reach your community in real time. Discover how to go live on YouTube from webcam, mobile, and encoder streaming. Here we will discuss 7 things non boaters do that annoy boaters. If I missed some let me know in the comments heck if your a non boater let me know in the c...