The New South Wales (NSW) government has allowed more gaming firms to participate in the cashless gaming trial. Four Australian B2B gaming suppliers will take part in the next round of trials which will cover a total of 4,500 electronic gaming machines throughout the state.

Expanded Trial to Include 28 Locations

Aristocrat Leisure, Light & Wonder, eBet, and International Game Technology will all get involved in the next set of trials which is expected to commence in early 2024. The expanded test will be conducted on 4,500 pokie machines across 28 locations (20 clubs and eight hotels) in NSW. 

The four firms are all members of the Gaming Technologies Association (GTA), the peak representative body for gaming machine technology suppliers in Australia.

GTA CEO Jinesh Patel said they are committed to working with the government and helping with efforts to ensure a fair and balanced path for gaming technology in Australia. According to the trade body, the trial will take into account key factors, such as infrastructure and technology costs concerning stringent cybersecurity requirements and the impacts on hotel and club employees.

Clubs Showing Strong Interest in Participating in the Trial

The cashless gaming trial is overseen by a panel of 16 industry representatives led by former NSW Liquor, Gaming, and Racing Commissioner Michael Foggo.

Foggo said they’ve seen a “large number” of applications for the trial, indicating that the industry is “serious” about reducing gambling harm and money laundering linked to electronic gaming machines.

The Macau government has changed its stance on the issue of gaming promoters, otherwise known as “junkets” granting credit to gamblers. It now wants the practice banned under proposed changes to a Bill on casino concessionaire- and junket-issued credit for gambling.

Junkets to be Banned from Issuing Credit to Gamblers 

In the original Bill, only casino concessionaires and licensed junkets would be allowed to issue credit, with junkets required to secure a formal contract for that purpose with their casino partner. The legislation is currently under review by a standing committee of the Macau Legislative Assembly after passing the legislature’s first reading in May this year.

The head of the committee, Chan Chak Mo, told the media following a recent closed-door meeting of the committee that the government is now proposing to prohibit junkets from loaning money for gambling purposes. 

New Rules Could Take Effect in Mid-2024

Under new changes to the draft Bill, only casino concessionaires would be permitted to issue credit to gamblers. However, Mr. Chan made it clear that junket operators would still be allowed to assist in bringing customers to casinos and earn commission for their services. 

Committee deliberations on the proposals will extend to February 2024, with the Bill expected to take effect four months after being approved into law.

Amid the ongoing debate on the proposed gambling tax increase in Sweden, the country’s gambling regulator Spelinspektionenis staying neutral on the matter. However, the agency noted that the tax hike could have an impact on the regulated market’s channelization rate.

Under the new changes, Sweden’s gambling tax rate will be set at 22% of gross gambling revenue (GGR), up from the existing 18%. Proponents say the tax increase is appropriate as the gambling market has already “stabilized” since its re-regulation in 2019. 

With the new measure, the government is aiming to raise an additional SEK540 million (€45 million) in tax revenue. The proposal will be up for deliberation at the Swedish parliament, Riksdag, in the Spring of 2024. If approved, the tax increase will be implemented on July 1 next year.

Spelinspektionen Submits Feedback to Proposed Tax Hike

While maintaining that it holds “no significant opinion” on the proposed tax changes, Spelinspektionen highlighted the recent decline in GGR among licensed operators who are paying gambling tax. Latest figures from the regulator show that Swedish gambling providers (both land-based and online) experienced a 1% drop in revenue to SEK6.7 billion, which could indicate a shrinking tax base.

Submitting its response to the proposed tax hike, Spelinspektionen also stated that the measure could present a challenge to the government’s goal of maintaining a 90% channelization rate for the regulated market.

South Korea’s newest integrated resort, the Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort, remains committed to launching its foreigner-only casino in the first quarter of 2024. The resort’s president, Chen Si, is optimistic they will be able to comply with all relevant gaming requirements by March next year.

Casino Launch Delayed Due to Requirements

Mohegan Inspire, owned and operated by the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, opened its non-gaming facilities on November 30, including its 1,275-room hotel and 15,000-seat Inspire Arena. 

The property will still go through a series of inspections and evaluations before it can launch its casino, as per the rules of South Korea’s Tourism Promotion Act. In particular, Mohegan Inspire must first obtain a five-star rating for its hotel before it can apply for a gaming license, Mr. Si stated.

The management is confident everything will be smooth sailing, with the casino, which will offer 150 table games and 700 machines, on track to open in the first quarter of next year. The initial facilities, including the hotel and casino, are part of Phase 1a of the development which is expected to be fully completed in the second quarter of 2024.

Providing further details, Mr. Si said Phase 1b would focus on promoting the Mohegan cultural heritage in South Korea and the rest of the world. According to Mr. Si, discussions are ongoing with various business partners and potential investors on the Phase 1b development which will likely commence in early 2025.

What started as an ordinary day at the gaming tables at Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh turned into a memorable one for five players after their game triggered a huge $905,000 bad beat jackpot, allowing each of them to walk away with at least $45,000. 

Quad Aces vs. Royal Flush Triggers $904K Bad Beat Jackpot

The $905,000 bad beat jackpot was hit on November 28 at Rivers Casino Pittsburgh after Scott Thompson lost his quad aces to the royal flush of Brent Enos. Being the loser in that hand, Thompson took home the largest slice of the jackpot, worth $362,000. Enos received $271,000, while the three others who were at the same table with Thompson and Enos were each awarded $45,000. 

It looks like Rivers Casino Pittsburgh is slowly becoming a “national bad beat jackpot hotspot”, something that the venue welcomes with open arms. The venue currently holds the record for awarding the biggest bad beat jackpot in the US which was worth $1.2 million. It was hit in August 2022, with the “loser” taking home nearly $500,000.

The world record for the largest bad beat jackpot was set at Playground Poker Club in Quebec, Canada just this year. A poker bad beat jackpot worth an astonishing CAD $2,590,185 (approximately $1.9 million) was hit on August 9, with the loser of the hand receiving CAD $984,270.