This week in the GME3, OLG released its annual report with more good news for Ontario gaming, a Cisco privacy survey reveals shifting attitudes and priorities around the issue of privacy, and X introduces a new strategy to combat the spread of bots on the platform. Read the full stories below!
Gambling
Jackpot Year for Ontario Gaming
Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) has released its annual report, covering the results of the 2022-23 fiscal year. If you want to read the whole report (it’s over 100 pages long) you can find it on the OLG website. Otherwise, we’re here to give you the highlights.
Similar to iGO’s quarterly report that we examined last week, results are looking good for registered gaming in Ontario. OLG’s gross proceeds amounted to $669 million from 2022-23, compared to $511 million the previous year (an increase of 31%) The net profit to the province reached a record high of $302 million, which is a 39% increase compared to the previous year.
As a result of this success, OLG managed to allocate $22 million to responsible gambling initiatives, including PlaySmart centres, technology, and staff education and training. They also invested some money into facial recognition systems.
Combined with the fantastic quarterly results reported by iGO, the OLG numbers paint an exciting picture of Ontario’s regulated gambling ecosystem. It makes sense why some are calling Ontario one of the most attractive gaming jurisdictions in North America. Hopefully these positive results will go towards convincing other provinces that a competitive registered gambling industry can be a massive boon.
Media
Gen Z Sees Privacy Clearly
October is clearly a big month for reports. In addition to iGO and OLG, the American tech conglomerate Cisco released its annual Consumer Privacy Survey earlier this week. The survey results imply that younger generations are taking privacy more seriously.
42% of consumers between the ages of 18-24 exercise their Data Subject Access Rights, compared with just 6% for consumers 75 and older. 33% of respondents were classified as “Privacy Actives” – those who care enough about their privacy that they’re willing to take action to protect it. This includes switching companies or providers because of privacy policies.
50% of respondents are looking for the government to enforce stricter privacy regulations and protections. However, public awareness surrounding privacy laws is relatively low, with less than half of respondents being aware of their country’s privacy legislation.
AI is also a relevant issue that is causing more and more people to be concerned about their online privacy. 62% of respondents were concerned about how their personal information is being used in relation to generative AI, with 60% having already lost trust in organizations to use personal data responsibly.
These survey results that privacy is more important than ever in the eyes of consumers. If you need to make sure that your privacy policy is up to date and compliant with the (admittedly confusing) Canadian laws, you should reach out to GME Law’s privacy expert Zack Pearlstein, and he can answer any questions you may have!
Entertainment
Buck or Bot?
X, formerly known as Twitter, is attempting to cut down on bots and other fake accounts by introducing a US $1 annual subscription fee to new accounts being created in New Zealand the the Philippines. The program, called Not a Bot, will not be applied to any existing accounts.
This is only the latest in a long line of changes since Elon Musk bought the platform last year – including significant reductions to the content moderation team. These changes have allowed misinformation to spread quickly on X. This is especially clear in regards to false information circulated around the Russian invasion of Ukraine and, more recently, the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Some people are suspicious of this tactic, worried that it will lead to X becoming a paid service full-time. One of the first changes made to X was revamping the website’s Blue Check verification program to allow anyone to get verified for an $8/month subscription. Musk also alluded to moving the entire platform to a subscription model last month.
However, the X support account has denied the rumours of a profit-based incentive, posting the following:
“This new test was developed to bolster our already successful efforts to reduce spam, manipulation of our platform and bot activity, while balancing platform accessibility with the small fee amount. It is not a profit driver.”
While it’s unclear why these countries ended up being singled out by X, the move toward monetization shows that, at least on paper, the platform is taking the spread of misinformation seriously. We’ll have to wait and see if this method is effective at curbing the spread of bot accounts, or if X is aiming to monetize the platform more generally.
GME Law is Jack Tadman, Zack Pearlstein, Lindsay Anderson, and Will Sarwer-Foner Androsoff. Jack’s practice has focused exclusively on gaming law since he was an articling student in 2010, acting for the usual players in the gaming and quasi-gaming space. Zack joined Jack in September 2022. In addition to collaborating with Jack, and with a keen interest in privacy law, Zack brings a practice focused on issues unique to social media, influencer marketing, and video gaming. Lindsay is the most recent addition to the team, bringing her experience as a negotiator and contracts attorney, specializing in commercial technology, SaaS services, and data privacy.
At our firm, we are enthusiastic about aiding players in the gaming space, including sports leagues, media companies, advertisers, and more. Our specialized knowledge in these industries allows us to provide tailored solutions to our clients’ unique legal needs. Reach out to us HERE or contact Jack directly at jack@gmelawyers.com if you want to learn more!
Check out some of our previous editions of the GME3 HERE and HERE, and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn to be notified of new posts, keep up to date with industry news, and more!
