Regulations

In the past months, casinos across the US have been easing into reinstated mandates. It started with employees having to wear masks again, then turned into workers forced to undergo weekly testing if not vaccinated, and some even fired staff members who refused to comply. But this week, the well-expected announcement has been made by Harrah’s New Orleans Hotel & Casino. It has become the first casino in America to require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test upon entrance. Other operators in the US are considering vaccine mandates as the Delta variant instills widespread fear

Hundreds of illegal online casinos in Australia have been blocked over the years due to illegal operations. Yet, they keep surfacing, and review sites are being less than helpful in terms of eliminating the criminal and civil offenses caused by them. Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) reaches out to the country’s internet service providers for backup, as illegal online gambling activities continue posing risks to problem players and those who underestimate the importance of a gaming license on casino sites. AMCA representatives instruct consumers to report unlicensed gambling services.

The only thing in the world that’s advancing as fast as technology is vaccine incentives worldwide. First, it was free beer and movie tickets, then massive money prizes for anyone who’s been vaccinated. This week the target is teenagers in Washington DC between the ages of 12 and 17. The prize is irresistible for this age group: hundred-plus dollar Apple AirPods. However, many teens already have these trendy Bluetooth earbuds, and for those, there will be weekly draws for an iPad with headphones and scholarships.

As Nevada’s casinos faced another wave of repetitive mandates, gamblers and right-winged freedom fighters began taking action against the re-imposed regulations. One noteworthy incident was reported earlier this August as Maison Des Champs, 22, scaled a Vegas casino building ropeless. After getting arrested, he decided to dedicate his time and efforts to bring back freedom to Nevada’s gamblers and casino employees. This week, Des Champs organized a protest that had astounding traction despite the media’s lack of coverage. Las Vegas casino fans join in to push for normalcy.

It’s been almost a year since Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, signed the country’s 2020 Gambling Act into law. Since then, operators that wished to run brick-and-mortar casinos, online casinos, betting shops (in-person and online), slot-machine parlors, and online poker games, got a green light to offer their services within the country as long as they met the necessary requirements. Unfortunately, a good portion of operators swept the rules under the rug and carried on with illegal operations. Failure to comply resulted in hundreds of online casinos being blocked.