Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment

Mark Rosa has been appointed as senior vice president and chief information officer of Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment to oversee strategic business decisions related to technology across all MGE properties.

Announcing the newest member of its executive leadership team via the strategic promotion, Mohegan is aiming to further sustain and enhance the brand’s growth and development throughout the United States and internationally.

“As we continue on this path of strategic development, it has been our mission to build the best executive team in the industry.

“With igaming and mobile technology driving the casino industry today, Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment is honoured to welcome Mark Rosa into the fold where he will manage the increased use of cutting-edge technology that will better position the MGE enterprise for growth and expansion in the coming years.” – Mario Kontomerkos, CEO of Mohegan.

NetGaming

Natalya Ovchinnikova has joined creative casino games studio NetGaming as head of product, bringing almost a decade of industry experience including management spells at companies such as NetEnt and Yggdrasil.

Further strengthening the firm’s senior management team, Ovchinnikova will be charged with overseeing the production process for NetGaming’s slot portfolio, with the company planning to release a mixture of branded and original content every month throughout 2020.

“We are absolutely delighted to have Natalya on board. With a fantastic track-record of achieving consistent results, her extensive and successful industry experience speaks for itself. I am pleased to be working with Natalya again.” – Pallavi Deshmukh, CEO at NetGaming.

National Council on Problem Gambling

Joel Simon has been welcomed on-board by the National Council on Problem Gambling in the role of communications manager where he will implement the organisation’s external communications, including public awareness and outreach efforts.

Prior to joining the NCPG, Joel served as the marketing and communications coordinator at National Integrated Health Associates in Washington DC. He has also contributed to writing and designing projects for various national and international nonprofits.

“NCPG is thrilled to have Joel join our team. He brings valuable skills in digital media and project management. We look forward to deploying his expertise to increase public awareness about problem gambling and help NCPG grow,” – Keith Whyte, executive director of NCPG.

Aruze Gaming

Aruza Gaming America has confirmed the appointment of Simon Burgess to the role of senior vice president of finance and accounting, leading all core finance and accounting functions, including the development of a longer-term financial strategy.

Burgess brings in excess of 25 years of progressive financial planning and analysis, operations, business process improvement, marketing, and business development experience within the gaming and lottery industry to Aruze.

“We are excited to bring Simon on board in this new role. We anticipate his implementation of strategy to ensure we achieve and exceed our operational and strategic objectives in being a market leader.

“Simon has a tremendous wealth of knowledge about the gaming industry as a whole, and brings a distinctly technology-driven focus.” – Rob Ziems, president and global chief legal officer of Aruze.

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Although the NCPG has worked with tribal gaming entities for several years, the Tribal Advisory Council has been created “to increase awareness and respect for Native cultures as they relate to all facets of gambling so that these cultural practices can help other Native and non-Native communities”. 

In addition, expertise and momentum for NCPG’s culturally specific work will be provided by the Tribal Advisory Council, “while recognising the importance of Native American history and sovereignty in consultation with Native American leaders and experts”. 

Several executives from across the tribal gaming industry have been named as founding members of the NCPG Tribal Advisory Council, including: 

• Raquel Buari, J.D., Executive Vice President, Four Winds Casinos 
• Jacob Coin, Executive Advisor, San Manuel Tribal Council, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians 
• Shannon Dictson, Mescalero Responsible Gaming Program & President, Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico 
• Anika Howard, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and CEO of Wondr Nation 
• Maria Lopez, Executive Director, Pascua Yaqui Tribal Gaming Office 
• Matthew Morgan, Chair, Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association 
• Ray Pineault, J.D., President and CEO, Mohegan 
• James Siva, Chair, California Nations Indian Gaming Association 

“Our work with tribes is based on a deep respect for Tribal sovereignty and our core values of neutrality, collaboration, respect and credibility,” commented Keith Whyte, Executive Director of NCPG.

“We have a responsibility to listen and learn, as well as the opportunity to share our knowledge as we seek to reduce the social costs of gambling addiction and improve health and wellness in all communities.

“The relationships and partnerships we have forged over the years are the strong foundation for this exciting new project.” 

To help facilitate the Tribal Advisory Council’s work, NCPG has formed a partnership with Valerie Spicer and Sheila Morago of the Trilogy Group, a Native American-owned and operated organisation with over 50 years of combined experience in governmental affairs, business, economic development and tribal gaming.  

Valerie Spicer, Founding Partner and CEO of Trilogy Group, noted: “We applaud the formation of the NCPG’s Tribal Advisory Council and look forward to supporting stronger connection with the Tribes. 

“This work acknowledges the significance of Tribal Gaming in the gambling sector, the impacts of Tribal gaming on communities, and ways we can support finding balance in helping people heal from gambling-related harm respectfully amid the complexity.”

As part of efforts to provide culturally specific education, Tribal Advisory Council members will take part in two sessions at the NCPG’s National Conference on Gambling Addiction and Responsible Gambling 2024, taking place on July 17-19 in San Diego, California.

These sessions are ‘Truth and Rehabilitation: Recognising and Addressing Historical Trauma in Tribal Communities Through Rehabilitation’ and ‘Perspectives and Advancements in Tribal Responsible Gaming’, which are both taking place on July 18.

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This financial support is given to programs dedicated to advancing problem gambling prevention, with an emphasis placed on prevention innovation, collaboration, amplification and community impact

The first grant, supporting prevention innovation, is handed to the Alabama Council on Compulsive Gambling Prevention and the ‘It’s More Than Just a Game’ scheme. This will deliver gambling prevention education to middle school students across the state.

Elsewhere, the Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado, in partnership with the Denver Justice High School and the Denver Art Society, will look to drive awareness and education to high school students.

Under the Agility Grant’s Prevention Amplification division, the AdCare Educational Institute of Maine, alongside the New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center, will produce a graphic novel about youth gambling prevention as part of a Youth Gambling Prevention Graphic Medicine project.

In addition, the LCADA Way will launch the Lorain County Problem Gambling Prevention Initiative to raise awareness about the risks associated with gambling and emphasise positive decision-making skills.

The final recipient is the Maryland Council on Problem Gambling, which will launch the Culturally Infused Problem Gambling Prevention for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumers program.

“Through Agility Grant funding, we aim to foster dynamic and responsive problem gambling prevention programs, helping to ensure that communities across the country are equipped to address this critical need with flexibility and innovation,” said Keith Whyte, NCPG Executive Director. 

“Each recipient receiving support this round displayed exemplary commitment to cultural competence, tailoring their approaches with sensitivity to the diverse needs of the populations they serve.”

The Agility Grant program is in part made possible by a multimillion-dollar, multi-year commitment from the National Football League, with additional support from FanDuel, to NCPG as part of the League’s public awareness program designed to educate fans to engage in sports betting responsibly

This will award more than $1m dollars over three years to establish and expand problem gambling prevention efforts across the country

Agility Grants are awarded through two funding rounds each year. The spring 2024 funding round will be open for applications from January 17 to February 28, 2024, with awards announced in early April 2024.

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This has firstly seen Christopher Hebert, Director of the Gaming Division at the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, succeed Stacy Shaw, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at the Oregon Lottery, as Chair. 

With an over 18 year stint as an Assistant Attorney General under his belt, Herbert is credited with creating the Problem Gambling Resource Services in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Health.

This brings awareness about problem gambling and the free treatment services available for all Bayou State residents.

“The National Council on Problem Gambling is unrivalled in its efforts to mitigate gambling-related harm in our country,” Hebert said. 

“I am humbled by the opportunity to serve as advisory board Chair for an organisation at the forefront of protecting our citizens.”

Furthermore, it has also been confirmed that Martin Lycka, Senior Vice President of American Regulatory Affairs & Responsible Gambling at Entain, will assume the Vice Chair position.

“The National Council on Problem Gambling is widely recognised as a nationwide leader in problem gambling awareness, education and advocacy,” said Martin Lycka.

“I have been very supportive of their work for years as a member of their advisory board, and as such, it is an honour to be appointed their Vice Chair.”

The NCPG advisory board currently counts 12 experts and leaders in the fields of problem and responsible gambling.

“We are incredibly pleased to have Christopher and Martin leading the NCPG advisory board,” added Keith Whyte, NCPG Executive Director. 

“They have both been highly engaged leaders in our field for years, and we are excited to utilise their talents and expertise in a new way. 

“I look forward to working closely with the full advisory board to advance the organisation’s mission and our ambitious goals for the future.”

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In the position, Costello will be charged with overseeing the planning, implementation, and evaluation of NCPG programs; supporting strategic planning efforts through consistent monitoring; and serving as a spokesperson for national problem gambling efforts.

This latest addition, said the NCPG, aligns with capacity-building initiatives as outlined in the $6.2m grant from the National Football League Foundation, which looks to drive problem gambling and responsible gambling awareness, services, and advocacy nationwide.

“Jaime has had an exceptional career in problem gambling prevention and education. Her public health-centric mindset and organisational leadership skills make her ideally qualified for this position,” noted Keith Whyte, NCPG Executive Director. 

“We look forward to the growth of NCPG programs under Jaime’s unique combination of energy, thought leadership and experience.”

The US non-profit organisation lauds Costello as an “experienced addiction and public health professional” that boasts almost fifteen years of experience in the problem gambling field.

She joins the NCPG after serving as Bureau Director of Prevention and Training at the New York Council on Problem Gambling. 

In the role, she was involved in the development and growth of problem gambling resource centres which look to ensure that professionals, individuals, families and communities have access to prevention and support services throughout the state. 

“I am thrilled to join the NCPG team,” said Costello. “NCPG has a unique position in the national conversation around problem gambling and responsible gambling, bringing all sectors together to create long-term change. 

“I am excited to contribute to the organisation’s efforts to modernise the National Problem Gambling Helpline and achieve other milestones outlined in the NFLF grant.”

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This initiative, funded by the National Football League Foundation with additional support from FanDuel, is aiming to support problem gambling prevention program expansion, or fresh development, across the United States.  

Organisations were awarded grants in two different program areas prioritising the core principles of innovation, collaboration and amplification, with it previously said that round one was expected to deliver between $20,000 – $40,000 to between four and six organisations.

Agility Grants for prevention innovation, which seeks to foster and accelerate the development, deployment, research, and evaluation of problem gambling prevention programs, were awarded to a paid of applicants.

Firstly Maryland’s Towson University Foundation will support a new problem gambling prevention program from its Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Abuse prevention centre, with the Oklahoma Association on Problem Gambling and Gaming to expand its ‘I Am Native Dedicated to Natives’ youth project. 

Furthermore, grants for amplification, who look to increase community awareness, response and support on problem gambling, were also issued.

Recipients include Nicasa, a behavioural health non-profit near Chicago that will expand its Teen Problem Gambling Group, as well as Visión y Compromiso, a California based non-profit, that will expand the ‘No Jueuges Tu Vida’ (Don’t Play Your Life) program through problem gambling educational content and training.  

“NCPG is proud to support each Agility Grant awardee as they work within their communities to bring about positive social change. We recognize the creativity and dedication of every applicant,” said Keith Whyte, NCPG Executive Director. 

“We look forward to the opportunity to bring even more support to the problem gambling prevention field later this year with our second grant application cycle.” 

Successful applications have to closely align with NCPG’s vision of improving health and wellness by reducing the personal, social and economic costs of problem gambling. 

The spring 2022 Agility Grant awards serve as the inaugural round of prevention grant funding from the National Council on Problem Gambling. The program will award more than $1m dollars over three years to help non-profit organisations across the country develop and expand problem gambling prevention programming. 

These will be awarded through two funding cycles each year, with it anticipated that round two will become available in either late summer or early autumn 2022.

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This comes ahead of an NFL showpiece that PlayUSA estimates could see bettors wager $1bn across legalised US jurisdictions, a projection that would roughly double that which was made one year earlier.

When the game takes place on Sunday 13 February, sports betting, in some form, will be legal in 30 states and Washington DC, which represent more than 166.9 million people.

Subsequently, the NCPG has also echoed a number of tips from ResponsiblePlay.org, which, among other things, urge individuals to know the games as well as their own plan, not to borrow money to gamble, set a timer to keep track, balance gambling with other activities, treat it as a form of entertainment and not a way to make money, and take breaks.

The national nonprofit organisation, in its second ‘National Survey on Gambling Attitudes and Gambling Experiences,’ reports that problematic play was found to be especially prevalent among two at-risk groups: sports bettors including those who play daily fantasy sports, and younger gamblers (ages 18 to 44).

“The trends we are seeing around sports gambling and problematic play are very concerning,” noted Keith Whyte, executive director of NCPG.

“Too many people still don’t recognise they are exhibiting signs of this addictive behavior and are unaware of the help that is available to them. 

“Every organisation that provides gambling opportunities has a responsibility to develop policies and programs to promote responsible gambling and address problem gambling.”

The Super Bowl will see the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals go head-to-head in California at the Sofi Stadium home of the former, after both franchises secured conference championships last weekend. 

The Bengals’ route to the final saw the side overcome the then favourites Kansas City Chiefs in overtime, and on away soil, 24-27, to reach a first Super Bowl since 1989, just two years after recording the NFL’s worst record.

Elsewhere, the LA Rams progressed over the San Francisco 49ers 20-17, courtesy of registering 13 unanswered points during the final quarter.

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Originally called the Responsible Gambling Holiday Lottery Campaign, the launch of the rebrand comes in response to research which revealed that early childhood gambling experiences, including those with lottery products, increase the risk for developing gambling problems later in life. 

In addition, the rebrand is said to make it easier for participating lotteries and organisations from around the world to extend the responsible gambling message to other occasions where children receive gifts like birthdays and graduations. 

“The Gift Responsibly Campaign educates communities about lottery tickets, which are the form of gambling with the broadest participation level,” noted Keith White, executive director at NCPG. “It explains why lottery tickets are not appropriate as gifts for children. 

“The retailers who sell lottery products and the adults who buy them learn that early exposure to gambling activities through lottery gifts, such as scratch-off tickets, increases the possibility that children will develop a gambling addiction as they grow older.”

Since 2003, a growing number of lotteries and organisations concerned with problem gambling have joined the campaign’s effort to raise awareness about the risk of underage lottery play during the December holiday season. Instead of giving lottery tickets as gifts to children, adults are encouraged to find other options.  

For the fourth year running, 100 per cent of eligible Canadian and US lotteries, along with various international lotteries and non-lottery organisations, and NCPG members, have joined the campaign to promote responsible gambling. 

Moreover, the campaign is also endorsed by the European Lotteries, North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries and the World Lottery Association.

Jeffrey Derevensky, director of the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors, concluded: “The Gift Responsibly Campaign is a great way to encourage responsible gambling by gifting lottery tickets only to adults. 

“While December is still the campaign’s focus, we believe the rebranding enables its message to resonate throughout the year, a valuable opportunity that lotteries and other organisations may use.”

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The core message, “Stick to Your Game Plan. Always Bet Responsibly,” is designed to encourage people to play responsibly by sticking to a game plan, including setting a budget to know their limits, using licensed, regulated operators, and asking for help if they need it.

Commencing immediately, and continuing throughout the season, fans will see the NFL’s responsible betting initiative roll out across a variety of channels including online, in-stadium, social media and in print. 

Later in the year, it will also begin to run on national and local television, including broadcast partners and NFL owned-and-operated media channels. In addition, the NFL is working with clubs to spread awareness and education at the local level.

“We feel it is critical that the NFL uses the power of our voice to educate and encourage fans who choose to bet to do so in a safe and responsible way,” explained Christopher Halpin, NFL executive vice president, chief strategy and growth officer. 

“We also recognise that responsible betting programs across the country are under-resourced, especially as legalisation spreads nationwide. Collectively, all of us in the sports and betting industries need to learn from international examples and make sure the development of education and support programs matches the state-by-state growth in legalised sports betting.  

“In collaboration with the National Council on Problem Gambling and our commercial partners, the league is fully committed to advancing responsible betting awareness, education, and problem-gambling support.” 

Furthermore, the league will also collaborate with official partners Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings, and FanDuel, to share and support responsible gambling efforts.

This comes alongside a multimillion-dollar, multi-year commitment to significantly expand its long-standing partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling.

It is hoped that this will enable the firm to launch a national grant program to fund enhanced services offered by local and statewide providers, as well as prevention programs, including expansion of youth-facing curricula 

“The National Council on Problem Gambling is pleased to partner with the NFL to shine a light on the importance of responsible betting,” added Keith Whyte, NCPG executive director. 

“With this partnership, we are able to exponentially enhance the NCPG’s ability to provide advocacy, awareness, and assistance on problem gambling. The NFL’s far-reaching initiative demonstrates its strong commitment to being an industry leader in raising awareness. 

“The league’s support of our advocacy efforts will help fund new communications initiatives, such as ResponsiblePlay.org and a PSA about problem gambling, expand gambling prevention services where they are most needed, and modernize our National Problem Gambling Helpline operations with updated capabilities.”

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The Washington DC-based nonprofit has urged consumers to protect themselves against excessive gambling, as well as calling upon lotteries and the media to promote responsible gambling messages.

“There is a lot of consumer and media interest when jackpots for the Mega Millions or Powerball reach eye-popping numbers,” said Keith Whyte, executive director of NCPG. 

“The National Council on Problem Gambling believes these high jackpot occasions present an opportunity to publicise clear responsible gambling messages that help people who choose to gamble make informed decisions about how they play.”

To coincide with its responsible gambling messaging plea, the NCPG, which seeks to minimise the economic and social costs associated with gambling addiction, has outlined five tips that it says consumers should follow.

These are of setting a limit of time and money spent gambling; not gambling to escape feelings of anxiety, stress or depression; knowing where to get help for gambling problems; not gambling with money that is needed to pay bills; and knowing that minors are prohibited from most forms of gambling.

“Lotteries should always include responsible gambling messages, such as the minimum age to play or where those who might engage in problem gambling can seek help,” added Whyte. 

“We think it is very important for the media to amplify those messages, especially when large jackpots create significant consumer interest.”

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