Latest Gambling News: Foreigners Ordered Out Of Myanmar Scam Hub, and more

Catch up on six of the stories our gambling compliance analysts have covered lately, and stay up-to-date on the latest news.

Foreigners Ordered Out Of Myanmar Scam Hub

Foreign operators and staff in Shwe Kokko, one of Myanmar’s most notorious hubs for cyber-scamming, online gambling and human trafficking, have been ordered by the local militia to leave by September 20.

The Karen Border Guard Force (BGF)-controlled Shwe Kokko administration on August 13 said all foreign-operated and foreign-staffed businesses in the Shwe Kokko town area, including the ethnic Chinese-controlled Yatai New City, must shut down, Eleven Media Group reported on Thursday (September 5).

The removal of suspected cyber-scammers, and their often enslaved workers, follows years of complaints from Myanmar’s ruling junta, which does not control the area, and foreign governments and organisations concerned about human rights abuses and regional destabilisation.

The BGF has both profited from and cracked down on cyber-scamming operations in its territory, and it was not immediately clear why the militia issued the latest notice.

Departing operators and staff must register with the authorities, pay a fee of 40,000 baht ($1,200) and board buses for the city of Myawaddy, according to the announcement, while holdouts will be reported to local and foreign police as appropriate.

Myawaddy in May issued its own directive to online operations, ordering foreign employees out by October 31 this year. It was not clear what those removed from Shwe Kokko are required to do upon arrival in Myawaddy.

Pressure from Beijing has resulted in the removal of significant numbers of Chinese nationals working in the sector, but cyber-scamming operations have also been disrupted this year by rival militia incursions.

Kambi, Genius Sports Deny Reports Of Potential Merger

Several reports published early Wednesday (September 4) that claimed that Genius Sports Ltd. had approached Kambi with a buyout offer to expand its managed trading offering have been quickly denied by both companies.

“While Kambi tends not to comment on rumor and speculation, I can confirm that Kambi is not engaged in any such discussions,” Anders Strom, Kambi’s chairman of the board, said in a statement.

Genius Sports was also quick to address the speculation, with CEO Mark Locke stating: “To prevent any further speculation, we can confirm that we are not involved in any discussions of this nature with Kambi.”

Locke described the reports as “unfounded and ill-informed rumors”.

California Cardrooms Urge Veto Of Tribal Lawsuit Bill

The California Gaming Association (GGA), a state-wide trade association for cardrooms, expressed its disappointment Wednesday (September 4) with the passage of Senate Bill 549 granting legal standing to tribes to sue cardrooms over the games they offer.

The Senate voted 32-2 on the last day of the session on Saturday (August 31) to pass the bill known as the Tribal National Nations Access to Justice Act, sending it to Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom for his signature or veto.

“We urge the governor to veto SB 549, which bypasses state regulators and harms communities across the state," the CGA said in a statement emailed to Vixio GamblingCompliance.

If signed by Newsom, tribes will have an opportunity for one consolidated lawsuit against all California cardrooms and third-party proposition player services regarding how they offer traditionally house-banked games such as blackjack and baccarat.

"We are disappointed that this legislation was rushed through at the last minute, bypassing any Senate committee hearing or transparency,” the CGA said. “This unfair bill, strongly opposed by public employee unions, firefighters, cities, and cardrooms, is a disservice to our communities harming jobs and resident services.”

Boyd To Partner With Tribe On Virginia Casino

Boyd Gaming confirmed Wednesday (September 4) that it has partnered with the Pamunkey Indian Tribe to build the tribe’s casino project in Norfolk, Virginia.

“The Pamunkey Indian Tribe has been working to develop a casino resort in Norfolk for the last several years,” the Las Vegas-based gaming company said in a statement.

“Boyd Gaming has started the process required to help the tribe bring its vision to fruition, in a way that will deliver meaningful benefits” for the tribe, the city and Virginia.

“We do not have any further comment at this time,” the company said.

According to public radio station WHRO, Boyd will own the majority interest in Golden Eagle Consulting, the company created to develop the casinos with the Pamunkey. The tribe will also take a 20 percent stake in Golden Eagle.

Boyd is expected to step in and handle the financing, development and operators of the tribe’s planned $500m casino. WHRO reported the revised development agreement includes an updated timeline listing a construction completion date of September 2027.

The tribe needs to open a temporary location at the Norfolk location by November 2025 or it will not be eligible for its state gaming license and the voter referendum authorizing the project will be invalid, forcing the city to request the General Assembly pass a bill to allow another voter referendum.

Indiana’s Top Gaming Regulator Steps Down

Greg Small, executive director of the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC), will step down on September 20, Republican Governor Eric Holcomb announced Wednesday (September 4).

Holcomb named IGC general counsel Dennis Mullen to lead the agency in an acting capacity. Mullen, who has been with the agency since 2015, will assume the role of acting executive director on September 23 and will continue as general counsel.

"Greg's knowledge and expertise has been invaluable in leading the Indiana Gaming Commission effectively and efficiently," Holcomb said in a statement.

Small was appointed as executive director of the IGC in September 2021 replacing Sara Gonso Tait, who spent a decade with the agency and six years as its executive director.

Holcomb’s term ends in January. The governor’s office did not release a timeline for choosing a permanent executive director for the gaming commission.

New Jersey Fines Bet365 $33,000 For Sports-Betting Violations

Bet365 has agreed to a $33,000 penalty in New Jersey for accepting wagers on prohibited sporting events and events after the outcomes were known, the state’s Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) has announced.

The two-page order found the problems occurred between February 3, 2022 and January 23, 2023, but the DGE did not offer any examples of the regulatory violations committed by bet365.

Bet365’s latest fine comes about a month after state gaming regulators ordered the company to pay out $519,323 to New Jersey residents after an audit found the sports-betting operator revised odds to already concluded bets that were placed with “obvious error,” without prior regulatory approval.

DGE regulations do not allow operators to revise or void any wager without prior permission.

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