European Gaming News
Practicing my free speech: Feminism
Even though this article might not make the headlines because the truth is always kept hidden or some might not share due their “polite behaviour in society”, I am going to share my thoughts on the current wave that is sweeping the world and the gambling industry.
I have been thinking a lot before engaging into the topic, however if we keep silent and just share Press Releases and Latest News, what’s the role of journalism.
Growing up in a former communist region (about which some of you just know in theory) makes me raise this awareness about these frightening times towards we are heading.
The dual-systems theory of patriarchy and capitalism which was a common form of socialist feminism in the 1970s and ‘80s was viewed as a failed project by many in the 1990s and beyond. In any event, the fall of Communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe probably had a negative effect on the popularity of socialist feminism.
It is clear that if you switch on the TV, listen to the radio, read printed newspapers and surely if you browse online media, you will find the word sexism and feminism everywhere. There is no denying that with these public allegation and mainstream media helping the movement we are heading towards the theory Marx developed in 1844.
Most of you will argue about these facts, stating the the Western society is free and will never relate to Marxism, however the statements of the UK Gambling Commission Chief Executive, Sarah Harrison, and the statements of the representatives of Clarion Gaming Events are exactly related to this theory.
Marxism has always been at the forefront of the cause of women’s emancipation and the Bolsheviks always took the question of revolutionary work among women workers very seriously. Lenin, in particular, attached an enormous importance to this question, especially in the period of the revolutionary upsurge from 1912-14, and during the First World War. It was at this time that International Women’s Day (8th March) began to be celebrated with mass workers’ demonstrations. It is not an accident that the February (March, according to the new calendar) revolution arose from disturbances around Women’s Day, when women demonstrated against the War and the high cost of living.
Don’t get me wrong, this has nothing to do with sexism from my side, just pointing out the fact the ideology of these “Wonder Womens” is clearly a sign that the spirit of Marx is living today and it’s made it’s way into all industries.
Just by reading that the British Gambling Commission (GC) issued a demand to halt the promotion of sexism in the Gambling industry, referencing to this week’s ICE Totally Gaming event, the regulator emphasized that it could boycott unless there is some change in this attitude make you raise your eyebrow and ask what is the real role of Ms. Harrison?
It’s funny how she tries to reshape the adult entertainment industry while modern society is drinking themselves unconscious daily, parading their naked derriere and showing of their breasts in public after having a few rounds. And I am not talking about males here, it’s all these women trying to get attention and being cool.
Guess the women in the picture are all part of some promoter group which was contract by a company of the gambling industry. That’s class for you! Why not start educating about self esteem in society among women if you want to create a movement. Rather than commenting on marketing techniques and promoters.
This is clearly some grand plan which will make the world better and it’s really catching the public and may industries. It’s happening in all industries. Check the article about Sexism in eSports or just consider what is happening in the auto industry where the subjects of the new rule have made a statement that their activity should not be scrapped because they don’t see it as a sexist or exploitative job.
How are the “ladies” in the picture above “classier” than the one pictured below, who are used for brand or sport promotion? Guess promoter girls are being mistreated and forced to do such appearances. It’s funny how the activists of the feminism movement around the world like to dress sexy on dates and go out partying in semi naked clothes or are they going in out in their jammies a slipers?
Do you really think that the male category is going to races or watching live broadcast because they want to see the promoter girls? I bet if there were male promoters the female audience whoul be chatting about them all they long during their friendly girl talk.
Most of the female audience of sports are following athletes or racers for their looks.(eg. Beckham, Ronaldo, Hamilton…) Guess FIFA should ban famous players to do underwear commercials because it’s sexist….
If your IQ is high enough to understand or at least if you have an out of the box thinking, you will come to the conclusion that scrapping stereotype behavior should not be combated by rules. It should be encouraged by the genuine role models of society via education.
Back to the gambling industry and the clear statements that will abolish sexism in the industry….
Bringing to notice some previous editions of the event, the Chief of the UK Gambling Commission spoke about the “scantily clad” women who were featured on stands to promote certain gambling products and services. Referring to her own visit to the show last year, the authority figure said, this is a “significant stain on the industry’s reputation” and it lead her to speak with the senior figures from across the gambling sector about implementing a change to this.
Taking a look at the situation of the UK’s gambling industry, which is currently being bombarded with irrational changes, we can already declare that the Gambling Commission has started this boycott based on skirt length of promoter girls and just goes with the flow to somehow keep the industry on a feminist leash.
The photo and some of the promoters was subject to outrage by BBC and Chief Sarah Harrison who earlier this week, told BBC’s Radio 4 about her dismay at seeing a gender disparity at the show, with some women on exhibition stalls doing promotional work in revealing clothing.
“The men were wearing smart suits and women were being asked to wear not much more than swimsuits. That’s totally unacceptable; it’s not reflective of the modern economy,” she said.
“This isn’t about political correctness. It’s about good regulation and good governance, because businesses that have a more diverse workforce are more likely to make better decisions. And that’s critical from a regulator’s point of view.”
I ask you about how is this different than seeing the minds that shape the youth in society doing promotional skits for different brands? See picture below with Katy Perry showing that she is a fan of West Ham United.
Another statement which has irritated me as an business owner and entrepreneur was the statement issued by the organizer of the event. Given the fact that all these companies attending and exhibiting at the event are already obeying thousands of rules and paying heavy money for their participation, they have to commit to promoting their brand names via personalized agendas or pens (which are usually thrown away by delegates anyway) without having any instant presence of their brands in the eyes of attending delegates.
The European Casino Association (ECA) and Clarion Gaming, which organises the event, have backed the UKGC, issuing an open letter urging exhibitors to take note of the warning before the event opens tomorrow.
According to The Guardian, the letter said: “In the spirit of the 21st century, when both women and men play strategic and decision-making roles in businesses, we encourage all exhibitors to mindfully represent support staff promoting their products at the show in a non-offensive and non-stereotyping way.”
The questions here is are women not allowed to take part in decision-making roles in the gambling industry? Having the experience of organizing events and discussing marketing plans, 90% of the decision makers which I’ve discussed and gave the green light were women. There is nothing wrong with and the statement makers should consider the fact that all the promoters and their outfit are mostly picked by female event planners and event managers of the exhibiting companies.
Do you really think that “male” businessmen are attending these event for the promo girls? I think that we have passed this point a couple of years ago and the ones that do attend for such entertainment are just plain old horny anyway. Let’s not take the male mindset evolution into the stereotype thinking which you are claiming to avoid.
It’s really funny how just 8 – 9 names have become the leaders of a movement which is backed by their egos and is just shared by fellow industry colleagues (from both genders) just to be associated with the leading company.
As I’ve wrote in the article introduction, I don’t expect anybody to share my view upon the situation, but just think about how such a reshape is taking back open mindedness to a level in which you are inhibited to wear clothing that has been the subject of regulation.
The subject will be a main discuss on “The Morning Show” with Hawkie which is streamed Monday morning on iGamingRadio.com
Make sure you add your comments on our social media channels and look forward to receiving you backlash!
Source: European Gaming News
European Gaming News
Could the Gambling Commission ban wagering requirements?
Wagering requirements; whether you love them or hate them, with the Gambling Review well underway, there’s never been a better time to debate if they still have a place in modern gambling and whether the upcoming review will ban them once and for all. But first, let’s look at their development and why they are a contentious issue in the industry.
What are wagering requirements?
Wagering requirements are a common term and condition attached to a bonus that prevents players from taking a promotion and withdrawing it immediately. They are applied differently by each gambling brand. Some, like PlayOJO, Paddy Power, MrQ and Betfair, have revolutionised the casino scene by offering no wagering bonuses. In contrast, others take the predatory route and list bonuses with up to 100x requirements (the average is around 30x).
The requirement is the amount a player must wager at the casino before any winnings made with a bonus are valid for withdrawal. In the case of a £100 bonus, a 30x requirement would mean a player must wager a total of 100×30=£3,000 before they could withdraw any winnings. Most players would easily decimate their winnings before fulfilling the condition and, as most bonuses expire within 7-14 days, may well be forced to play for periods, or at times, they otherwise might not.
Why do wagering requirements exist?
In the early days of online casinos, bonus hunting among players became widely popular. It led to forums where players shared information on where and how to profit from the best welcome bonuses, earning money from the available offers available and never playing at a site again.
As casinos began to notice players taking bonuses and withdrawing without using them fairly, they combatted the practice with wagering requirements and other terms, such as the ability to withdraw a bonus and any winnings made if an account was suspect of this activity.
However, with no limits or official licensing rules to regulate wagering requirements at that time, things soon got out of hand as operators set high limits that were and still are unattainable to most players. Additionally, in many cases, the terms and conditions were not clearly displayed or explained, leading to the confiscation of bonuses and winnings without players understanding how or why they’d fallen foul of the casino’s rules.
Wagering requirements under fire with UKGC
By 2014, and following a flood of player complaints, the Gambling Commission weighed in, creating the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act which prescribed operators were to advertise their bonus terms and conditions clearly and explain them to players. This led to some reducing their requirements to more feasible levels. However, not all operators followed suit, hence why we’re still discussing wagering requirements today.
More recently, in February 2022, the UKGC set its sights on reforming wagering requirements again, issuing new guidance regarding fair and transparent terms and practices, which acknowledged that wagering requirements could lead to excessive play, not in line with social responsibility rules for operators.
The new guidance rules cited that licensees used potentially unfair terms, with examples including:
- “terms that allow licensees to confiscate customers’ un-staked deposits
- terms regarding treatment of customers’ funds where a licensee believes there has been illegal, irregular or fraudulent play
- promotions for online games that have terms entitling a licensee to void real money winnings if a customer inadvertently breaks staking rules
- terms that unfairly permit licensees to reduce potential winnings on open bets.”
It also stated that the Commission was aware of:
- “terms and conditions that are difficult to understand
- welcome bonus offers and wagering requirements which may encourage excessive play.”
While the guidance did not contain rules for abolishing or limiting wagering requirements, they instructed licensees to review their terms and conditions to ensure they fit consumer protection laws and that; “The LCCP requires rewards and bonuses to be constructed in a way that is socially responsible. Although it is common practice to attach terms and conditions to bonus offers, the Commission does not expect conditions, such as wagering requirements, to encourage excessive play.”
Will wagering requirements be banned?
With the Gambling Review white paper currently overdue and keenly expected by all industry stakeholders, many wonder if it will cover wagering requirements or, more specifically, exclude them from casino practice. The Gambling Review aims to update the 2005 Gambling Act, fit for the modern age, and wagering requirements would undoubtedly slot into the remit of what’s being discussed, which includes greater player protections and affordability checks.
While it’s clear that some big-name operators and affiliates like No Wagering are pioneering the way in bringing zero wagering bonuses to players, many sites have not followed suit. This is despite clear evidence that players favour fairer bonuses (PlayOJO is one of 39 brands operated by the same parent company, it is the only one with zero requirements, and it’s the most successful of all, according to the company).
Realistically, we’re not sure that the new gambling regulations will ban wagering requirements completely (as we covered earlier, they do exist for a reason), but it certainly wouldn’t be beyond the imagination for there to be a maximum cap applied in the view that excessive requirements equate to excessive play.
What’s next for operators and bonuses if wagering requirements are banned?
Bonuses are one of the most important factors for players in picking between casino sites, and they make players feel lucky to score something for free straight off the bat (even if the wagering requirements mean this is not really the case).
If wagering requirements are banned, operators unwilling to offer bonuses without wagering requirements will have to return to the drawing board and reimagine rewards, especially welcome offers. Alternatively, they could begin competing based on other USPs, such as focusing more on the casino product to pull in the punters by offering unique games, making space for indie developers, having instant withdrawals, or gamified loyalty benefits and better loyalty clubs.
Moreover, it would present a fantastic opportunity for remote operators to move away from the tired system of matched deposit bonuses towards more exciting and fresher ideas like promo wheel spins, mystery gifts on first deposits, prize draws and so on. With brands including PlayOJO, Paddy Power, MrQ and Betfair already doing this, operators do not lack a blueprint to success, just the gumption to embrace a new model.
Bulgaria
Betway Bulgaria officially launches, offers live and bet-builder options
Another company has officially launched its activities in the growing niche of online betting in Bulgaria. But here we are not just talking about another operator licensed by national institutions, but about a leading brand worldwide. Betway is one of the largest bookmakers in Europe and globally, and the fact that it already offers its services in Bulgaria speaks positively about the development of the gambling business in the country.
Indications of an increase in the size of the industry appeared last year, when several operators received a permit to operate under Bulgarian jurisdiction. It is unlikely that this process will end with the official launch of betway bulgaria, rather the brand entering the country can be perceived by international operators as a positive assessment of the market in Bulgaria. What can we find at Betway besides the obvious – increased competition and of course more choice for consumers?
What do we find in the sports section?
Sports betting – this is the leading sector of the company, which started operations in 2006. The brand is associated with a number of teams in Europe such as Tottenham, Atletico Madrid, Leicester, Alaves, Belenenses, Werder, etc. Of course, the top championships in Europe are present in the latest betting platform, but that’s not all. Betway offers the opportunity to make predictions at less popular UEFA championships. The fans of the Bulgarian championship have options too. All matches of the First League are present in the bookmaker’s menu, and are offered with dozens of choices for each of them.
Real-time bets and long-term combinations
Live bets are a big thrill for many players. This option is present at Betway, and this also applies to the mobile version, of course. It is not difficult to detect current events – they come first when loading the platform. And with them the bookmaker really comes up with interesting offers, some of which are rare on the Bulgarian market. The outcome of the bets become clear in literally seconds if the next goal market or one of the performance options is selected.
In addition, the company accepts predictions with a much longer horizon. It is now standard to bet on who will be the champion in England, Spain, Italy or Germany. However, there are also specific markets and selections for certain teams – will Barcelona take the trophy this season, will Liverpool reach the final in at least one of the tournaments in which it participates, etc. And if users don’t find what they’re looking for in these offers, they can always turn to the betting menu. The bet-builder is still limited to one match, from which we can choose two or more selections until the desired odds are formed. This is the most appropriate way to optimize the bet according to personal preferences and therefore it is increasingly preferred by the players.
Betway’s first steps on the Bulgarian market are impressive. And this is just the beginning, we can expect even more in the near future.
European Gaming News
EveryMatrix inks RGS Matrix agreement with Wild Boars
EveryMatrix announces the second RGS Matrix partnership with Wild Boars, newly launched gaming studio that aims to bring creative storytelling and a fresh feel to the gaming industry.
Launched in 2019 as EveryMatrix sixth standalone solution, RGS Matrix enables gaming development teams to distribute, manage, and report upon a proprietary game product portfolio.
This ‘out of the box’ remote gaming server was built on an open architecture and caters for outstanding player experience, consistent deployment, and quicker content integration.
Mathias Larsson, Managing Director of RGS Matrix, says: “This is our second RGS Matrix agreement and it brings me a lot of joy to know that our solution starts gaining momentum in the market. Our remote gaming server aims to help the new generation of game builders by providing all the means to create, design, distribute and manage games.
“The team of Wild Boars is experienced, skilled and highly creative. I am looking forward to seeing their games live and appreciated by players in many countries.”
Oleksandr Yermolaiev, Managing Director of Wild Boars, comments: “We truly believe that choosing a right partner is crucial for success. For us, RGS Matrix and its remarkable team is just that partner. We are excited to use EveryMatrix solution, focus on what we do best and bring our innovative games to a wide range of operators, territories and players. RGS Matrix is dashing ahead and we are happy to join the ride.”
RGS Matrix powers slots and table games, and is currently certified for Malta, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, Spain, Denmark, Romania, and Colombia, with many jurisdictions to come in the upcoming years.
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