GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 49 - April 2021

QUOTABLES Q U O T A B L E S “This landmark decision is a victory for states’ rights; for clear reading of federal statutes, and for the gaming industry and its customers. Uncertainty surrounding the ambit of theWireAct has been a cloud over the internet gaming industry since 2018. Today’s decisionwill hopefully put to rest the question of whether federal lawprohibits states from licensing internet gamingwithin their borders and compactingwith each other to allowsuch gaming on an interstate basis.” —Jeff Ifrah, council for IDEA Growth, an association of operators, payment processors and other companies related to online gambling, in January following a U.S. federal appeals court ruling that the Wire Act applies only to sports betting. “Our ambition is that 0%of our shareof revenue shouldcome from harmful gambling,whichwehaveworked towards for several years . . .We constantly strive tobecome evenbetter at identifyingplayers that exhibit riskygamblingbehavior andguide themback tohealthier gamblinghabits. Wewant gambling tobe simple andenjoyable for everyone.” —Henrik Tjärnström, Kindred’s chief executive, after the Unibet and 32Red operator unveiled that 4.3% of its gross winnings revenue in Q4 2020 came from at-risk gamblers. “The soundings we’ve taken and the ongoing conversations we are having with exhibitors of all sizes across both events have shown continued and significant uncertainty about the year ahead. Exhibitors have expressed a desire to put the experiences of the last 12months behind themand instead focus their collective energy and creativity intomaking the 2022 editions intomemorable in-person celebrations.” —Stuart Hunter, Managing Director at Clarion Gaming, after it was announced in January that ICE London and iGB Affiliate London would not be held again until February 2022. “It’s unclear whether gambling causes negative outcomes, or whether already vulnerable people are disproportionately targeted by bookmakers, for example, through advertising and locating betting shops in impoverished neighborhoods. Either of these relationships is worrying and could have implications for public health policies.” —Dr. Naomi Muggleton from Oxford’s Department of Social Policy and Intervention, regarding her study about problem gambling earlier this year. G P W A t i m e s . o r g 10