Jaw-dropping stories in gambling include a slot machine crime gang, a million AUD coverup and an operator losing its MGA licence. (Image from Kat Wilcox pexels.com))
It’s time for a news round-up of some of the most interesting stories in the world of gambling. Sometimes it’s fun to take a step back from slots and partnership news and look at some of the more jaw-dropping stories the global casino scene has out there.
In today’s Sunday news we bring you the story of a 50m AUD coverup by the ever-questionable Star Casino down under. Plus, a 400k USD slot machine gang that ripped off land-based gambling arcades in the US state nicknamed the ‘Sucker State’. However, to begin with, I want to highlight that the Malta Gaming Authority means business when it comes to enforcing its iGaming licensing rules.
MGA Cancels Operator Licence for Multiple Breaches
Europe’s most trusted iGaming licensing agency Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has banned an online casino operator that uses the EveryMatrix gambling platform. Breaches came to light after the operator DGV Entertainment Group Limited failed to submit reasons to the MGA as to why the authority should not revoke its current licence. The company failed to respond.
Within the ban, the MGA requested the operator cease all online gambling operations and stop accepting new members to its online casino AurumPalace Casino. On top of this, there is an outstanding fee of 36,301.07 Euros owed to the MGA. Of course, the operator must also remove any reference to the MGA from its website. Last week, the MGA suspended the Field of Fortune operator’s licence for failure to pay fees, and there are numerous other reports of the MGA handing out fines directly on the MGA news page.
DGV Entertainment Group Limited is a Maltese company operating under the Malta Business Registry Number C 90487 and is owned by two Russian citizens resident in Andorra. It is quite a young company operating AurumPalace Casino in English, German, and Finnish languages.
Four US Citizens Arrested After 400k USD Slot Machine Rip-Offs
We love a crime story, although it is shame it happens. This particular piece of news caught my eye because the winners of a 400k USD slot machine crime wave by four individuals found a way to rip off land-based slots in the state of Illinois. Ironically enough, the other standout feature of this story is that the state’s nickname is the ‘Sucker State’.
There is nothing fancy to the way the four-man gang managed to rip off gambling machines. No tricks to inside trade secrets. It is a simple case of burglary. They broke into a number of land-based venues hosting video poker and gambling machines, smashed them open and relieved each one of the cash. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out the gambling arcades don’t empty the cash from the machines and so the gang seized the moment.
Kwame Raoul, Illinois Attorney General: The Attorney General is bringing 41 Counts of Burglary against one member of the gang in particular. Just a single felony count has a maximum punishment of 14 years, so he’s looking at quite some time locked away, and there were a number of other felonies such as theft and money laundering on top of this.
Australia’s Star Casino 55 AUD China Deception
An Australian Casino, long under fire for its questionable management and breach of domestic gambling as well as financial rules, is once again under the spotlight. Amongst a long list of unethical practices, the latest saga is a 55 AUD deception.
Most Chinese businessmen coming to the Aussie land-based venue appear to use Union Pay. However, the financial firm does not allow gambling transactions. According to a mainstream report in The Canberra Times, the casino would bypass the Union Pay ban on gambling transactions by passing them off as hotel expenses. This meant the Chinese were able to use their Union Pay debit cards.
Although in Queensland players can use debit cards to place bets in casinos, it is the ethics of the casino getting around a financial firm’s rules that come into question. After a deeper look into the deception, the issue that seemed only an ethical one is now blowing up and could result in the casino being in breach of anti-money laundering regulations.
Italian Mafia Connections: On top of a barrage of rules breached in an investigation by Aussie gambling authorities, there is also talk of allowing a member of the Italian mafia to gamble at the Star Casino’s Queensland casinos. Furthermore, the casino is also in breach of rules in place to prevent problem gambling from receiving gambling ads and casino bonus promotions—what a mess!
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