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“Standing still was not the responsible choice,” Nally said when the market launched. “Albertans were already gambling. What we’re putting in place is a regulated market that will put player safety and player responsibility first.”
“At the end of the day, this is not about revenue. This is about channelization,” Nally added. “How much of that black market can we channelize into the legal, regulated market?”
According to Nally, approximately 70% of online gambling in Alberta occurred through unregulated operators prior to the July 13 launch, with the remaining 30% flowing through Play Alberta, the province’s sole legal platform at the time.
What is Velvet Gems?
Two Illinois men accused of ripping cash boxes and ATMs from gaming venues have been arrested amid a statewide wave of burglaries targeting video gambling machines.
Reese A. Heckman, 34, of Decatur, and Travis R. Ziemer, 28, of Macon, face charges in a series of break-ins targeting gaming parlors, bars, and other businesses across Central Illinois, according to court documents reported by the Herald & Review.
The methods allegedly used by the duo mirror those employed by organized crews in a wave of burglaries targeting gaming establishments across the state, particularly in the Chicago suburbs.
What is Velvet Gems?
Casino operators looking for the next generation of players face an unusual problem. Their prospective customers have grown up in a digital world built around simplicity, speed and instant gratification, yet much of the betting and gaming experience still speaks a very different language.
Sports betting can confront the newcomer with unfamiliar odds, markets and terminology, while the event itself may take minutes or hours to produce a result. Traditional casino games, meanwhile, can feel far removed from the endless stream of short-form, constantly changing content that dominates TikTok, Instagram Reels and other social platforms.
It was an encounter with that disconnect during the 2022 FIFA World Cup that ultimately set entrepreneur George Yashin on the path to founding Swipe Games.