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Christine Howlett Appointed as New Commissioner of NSW Independent Casino Commission

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The NSW Government has appointed experienced public administrator Christine Howlett as a new Commissioner of the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) for a four-year term following a competitive recruitment process.

Ms Howlett fills the vacancy created by the departure of Craig Sahlin who served as a NICC Commissioner since 2022 and was a Board Member of the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) between 2016 and 2022.

The NICC is the independent statutory regulator of NSW’s two casinos, set up in 2022 to provide increased regulatory oversight of casino operations.

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Ms Howlett joins the NICC with substantial executive leadership experience in public administration, corporate governance, regulation and stakeholder engagement.

From 2021 she served as Deputy Special Manager, independently overseeing Crown Melbourne’s remediation program following the findings of the Finkelstein Royal Commission, including reforms to prevent gambling harm and money laundering.

Ms Howlett has also held senior roles with Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission, the NSW Department of Family and Community Services, Victoria’s Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants and the National Crime Authority.

Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said: “An exhaustive selection process was undertaken to fill the NICC Commissioner role in accordance with legislative requirements, including the establishment of a selection panel and engagement of an independent probity adviser.

“Christine Howlett brings a wide range of skills and expertise to the NICC, with highly relevant experience in independently overseeing Crown Melbourne’s remediation program.

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“She joins the NICC at a critical time with the regulator currently monitoring The Star casino’s ongoing remediation work following the Bell Two Inquiry.

“I would like to thank Craig Sahlin for his outstanding contribution to both the NICC and ILGA over the past eight years.

“His demonstrated expertise has significantly contributed to strengthening the government’s regulatory framework and public confidence and trust in the work of both the NICC and ILGA.”

NICC Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford said: “The NICC is pleased to welcome Christine Howlett to the role and is looking forward to utilising her experience to advance the NICC’s strategic priorities.

“Christine’s skills will be valuable to help the NICC expand its surveillance and data collection abilities to better monitor financial crime risks and compliance.

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“Christine’s expertise in building internal capacity will assist the NICC to maintain effective regulatory supervision past the remediation and suitability phases, and into longer-term sustainability.

“We thank Craig Sahlin for his exceptional work with the NICC and ILGA over the past eight years. His dedication was instrumental in advancing the NICC’s mission and his efforts have contributed to the achievement of significant milestones.”

The post Christine Howlett Appointed as New Commissioner of NSW Independent Casino Commission appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Australia

NSW Government Launches New Gambling Awareness Campaign

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The NSW Government has launched a new GambleAware campaign, Safer Gambling, Stronger Communities, aimed at preventing and reducing gambling harm in Aboriginal communities across the state.

Using culturally meaningful animations created by young filmmakers at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, the campaign encourages Aboriginal people to reflect on their gambling and make safer choices.

Office of Responsible Gambling (ORG) Director Alison Parkinson said the campaign, which will run until June across traditional media and digital platforms, directs viewers to the GambleAware website where they can access further information and support services.

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“We know that gambling harm disproportionately affects Aboriginal communities, which is why this campaign is so important,” Ms Parkinson said.

“It speaks directly to First Nations people in a way that is culturally relevant and meaningful.”

The initiative is backed by the Hospitality and Racing Group’s new Aboriginal Stakeholder Strategy which partners with Aboriginal communities to deliver culturally responsive programmes and policies.

Ms Parkinson said it is vital Aboriginal communities have access to the right support, with important messages delivered directly to them.

“By empowering First Nations communities with knowledge and resources, we can help break the cycle of gambling harm and advance closing the gap towards a safer, healthier future for generations to come,” Ms Parkinson said.

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ORG has allocated $100,000 from the Responsible Gambling Fund to support the initiative.

The post NSW Government Launches New Gambling Awareness Campaign appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Australia

WATERHOUSE VC SECURES OPTION IN MAINCARD, THE “SHOPIFY OF ONLINE BETTING”

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Waterhouse VC, an investment fund specialising in the technology layer of the global gambling industry, has secured an option in Maincard, a “Shopify of Online Betting” platform targeting the launch of fully customisable licensed online betting sites in under 30 minutes.

Maincard targets the $1 trillion iGaming market by replacing months of development work, cumbersome licensing and complex integrations with a subscription-style workflow. Crypto-native founders, influencers and digital communities can spin up branded betting sites, monetise their audiences and retain full upside ownership from day one.

“iGaming still suffers from high startup costs and significant technical and regulatory friction,” said Tom Waterhouse, Chief Investment Officer of Waterhouse VC. “We’re seeing strong potential in platforms that can streamline development, similar to how Shopify revolutionised e-commerce. The sector is ripe for innovation that allows new entrants to focus on player acquisition and retention rather than backend development.”

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“Waterhouse VC’s deep domain knowledge and network will accelerate our go-to-market,” said Valerii Makovetskii, Founder and CEO of Maincard. “We’ve developed strong technical foundations with our crypto-friendly payments gateway already powering third-party casinos. The next step is to make launching a betting site as easy as launching an online storefront.”

The investment aligns with Waterhouse VC’s approach of identifying promising B2B technology companies serving the wagering industry and negotiating options to acquire stakes in these businesses.

Maincard platform vision:

  •     Launch in <30 minutes — drag-and-drop, no code required
  •     End-to-end compliance — licensing, KYC/AML, fraud, payments, customer support and marketing handled by Maincard
  •     15,000+ casino games & 1,000+ sportsbook markets out of the box

Maincard is currently raising USD $3M to scale its sales team and launch multiple brands from the waiting list by the end of Q3 2025.

The post WATERHOUSE VC SECURES OPTION IN MAINCARD, THE “SHOPIFY OF ONLINE BETTING” appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Martin Pakula Named Chair of Crown Melbourne

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Crown Resorts has announced that The Hon. Martin Pakula will join the Board of Crown Melbourne, effective May 1, 2025, and will succeed Mr. Ian Silk, as Chair, from July 1, 2025.

As Chair, Mr. Silk has successfully led Crown Melbourne through a period of unprecedented remediation and transformation during the past two and a half years. Mr. Silk’s strong leadership through the organisation’s operational and cultural transformation, saw Crown Melbourne regain its licence from the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission. To ensure a seamless transition Mr Silk will remain in his role until 1 July 2025.

As incoming Chair, Mr. Pakula brings a wealth of experience to the position, having previously served as Attorney-General, and Minister for Tourism, Sport, and Major Events in the Victorian government. He currently serves as Chair of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.

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Crown Resorts CEO, Mr. David Tsai, said: “Martin’s appointment comes at an exciting time as Crown continues to focus on innovation and growth. I look forward to Crown benefiting from Martin’s extensive industry and leadership experience. I would like to express my sincere thanks to Ian for his exceptional leadership and the pivotal role he played in overseeing Crown Melbourne’s extensive transformation.”

Mr. Silk said: “It has been an honour to serve as Chair. I am extremely proud of what we have achieved over the past two and a half years, and I want to thank everyone at Crown Melbourne for their dedication and hard work. I’m confident Crown Melbourne will continue to thrive with Martin’s leadership.”

Mr. Pakula said: “I am delighted to accept the role of Chair at Crown Melbourne and to play a role in its exciting future. Crown is an iconic business that is a critical part of Victoria’s economy, tourism and entertainment industry.”

The post Martin Pakula Named Chair of Crown Melbourne appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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