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Gambling

This Month

Laurence Escalante built Virtual Gaming Worlds into a multibillion-dollar business.

Laurence Escalante’s VGW bulks up exec ranks as casinos bristle

Virtual Gaming Worlds was one of the early beneficiaries of a US legislative loophole in states where gambling is otherwise banned. It’s now under attack.

  • Primrose Riordan and Zoe Samios
Crown Melbourne has been affected by new restrictions that have driven away some of the company’s high-rolling gamblers.

Blackstone builds Crown Resorts debt bomb as casino profits slide

The private equity giant says it’s comfortable with the big loan it took to buy the casino operator, despite the interest bill and an earnings crunch.

  • Updated
  • Zoe Samios and Amelia McGuire
Peter V’landys is not a fan of “nanny state ideology”.

V’landys slams gambling probe, claims NRL betting is least damaging

Peter V’landys doubled down on past claims racing and sports betting are less harmful than lotteries and slammed all 31 recommendations of the parliamentary inquiry.

  • Ronald Mizen

October

Gambling lobbying reveals risk to our democracy

Readers’ letters on gambling advertising reform, Australia’s role in the Pacific, nuclear energy and politicians receiving perks from Qantas.

Better days: Jon Adgemis (left) with Guy Grossi outside the Clifton Hotel at Melbourne’s Kew Junction.

Celebrated chef Guy Grossi distances himself from Jon Adgemis

His company could join other parties that the Public Hospitality Group boss once worked with that have already walked away.

  • Primrose Riordan
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Anthony Albanese and Peter V’landys inside the NRL chairman’s suite at the first State of Origin game last year..

NRL, AFL personally lobbied Anthony Albanese against gambling ad ban

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NRL chairman Peter V’landys have been singing from the same songbook when it comes to gambling advertising. New details suggest why.

  • Ronald Mizen
Busby’s at Oxford House in Sydney. It is one of the Public Hospitality Group venues that has gone into receivership.

Jon Adgemis says funds moved from pub group was at lenders’ behest

The administrator of a collapsed portion of the pubs and hotels empire had alleged $9 million was transferred over a year as the company began to collapse.

  • Primrose Riordan
Busby’s at Oxford House in Sydney. It is one of the Public Hospitality Group venues that has gone into receivership.

Jon Adgemis allegedly transferred funds out of collapsing pubs group

The high-flying businessman built a hotel empire. But part of the company collapsed, with administrators presenting the initial findings of what went wrong.

  • Primrose Riordan

September

Aristocrat has won a preliminary injunction against its poker machine rival.

Aristocrat wins dragon game injunction against Caledonia-backed rival

The ruling prevents Light & Wonder from selling, leasing, or making money from its game Dragon Train in the US.

  • Zoe Samios
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese opposes a total ban on online gambling advertising.

‘Show some courage’: Pressure on Albanese over gambling ad ban

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says gambling, not advertising, is the biggest issue to be dealt with, and reiterated his opposition to a total ad ban.

  • Ronald Mizen
Laurence Escalante built Virtual Gaming Worlds into a multibillion-dollar business. But competition and regulatory pressures are mounting.

Online casino mogul gets into lotteries as profits surge

Revenues at Virtual Gaming Worlds, which pioneered the use of a loophole to offer casino-like games with cash prizes in the US, has soared above $6 billion, accounts show.

  • Updated
  • Primrose Riordan
The federal government should establish a national mandatory pre-commitment system across all online gambling.

It’s time Australia put the guardrails on its gambling habit

The public is ready for gambling reform, if only politicians were brave enough to take it up.

  • Aruna Sathanapally
Nate Silver at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens on July 24.

This poker pro wants to teach you how to be a better gambler

Nate Silver’s account of the gaming industry can be read as a useful manual for aspiring card sharps and professional sports gamblers, but it doubles as an indictment.

  • Max Chafkin
Tabcorp ads appear on on-field signs at The Gabba in Brisbane.

Gambling advertising ban on jerseys and stadium signs back in play

The government had planned a separate process, but discussions have restarted after bookies supported the idea.

  • Ronald Mizen, Zoe Samios and Sam Buckingham-Jones

August

the fin ron mizen

Inside the billion-dollar battle to ban gambling ads

This week on The Fin podcast, Ronald Mizen and Sam Buckingham-Jones on what the government is likely to do and whether it will be enough.

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Laurence Escalante built Virtual Gaming Worlds into a multibillion-dollar business. But competition and regulatory pressures are mounting.

Billionaire Laurence Escalante’s gaming empire under attack

Virtual Gaming Worlds is facing increasing competition and regulatory pressures in the United States, its main market.

  • Primrose Riordan and Zoe Samios
Tabcorp ads appear in the second half of games at Brisbane’s The Gabba.

Coalition holds trump card in gambling debate

If the government wants to limit sports betting ads, the Coalition is the only realistic source of support.

  • Phillip Coorey
As it turns out the AFL wasn’t concerned about protecting its profits but all this time they were concerned that our children’s ability to participate in Saturday sport.

We’ve heard TV stations and footy codes prophesise doom before

The gambling lobby has a well-thumbed playbook developed from earlier health warnings and advertising restrictions on tobacco and alcohol.

  • Martin Thomas
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland during question time this week.

Rowland wins some, loses more in gambling advertising debate

Pointless non-disclosure agreements, an agitated backbench – miscalculations have marred long-overdue reform to wagering advertising rules.

  • Ronald Mizen and Sam Buckingham-Jones
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during Question Time on Wednesday.

Gambling ad ban MPs to go over Rowland’s head and lobby PM direct

The direct approach over the head of the communications minister illustrates growing frustration in Labor ranks over the party’s position on gambling advertising.

  • Ronald Mizen and Sam Buckingham-Jones

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/gambling-5xm