Two researchers from City University of Hong Kong published an article on influences of organized crime in Macau gaming, concluding that the region has come a long way to reduce the influence of triad figures in the past ten years. The authors attribute this improvement to increased government regulation and an import of Las Vegas casino operators, but they also note that triads have adapted their approaches to business, remaining a fixture in the junket market.
Gambling in the workplace can interfere with employee productivity, and a policy setting limits on gambling activities may be warranted. Workplace rules should include restrictions on gambling. A workplace gambling policy should also recognize that employees may suffer from a gambling disorder and may need professional help. As the scientific community continues to draw parallels between alcohol/drug addictions and gambling addictions, it is inevitable that these issues will arise in employment litigation.
This all might not be revealing relative to what can be found in news clippings and other sources, but what's most interesting about this article is the access to a set of characters that these two authors were able to interview.
Here's the list of their interviewees:
- Former VIP-room contractor—triad society undisclosed
- VIP-room contractor—senior member of Wo Shing Wo triad
- VIP-room contractor—senior member of 14K triad
- Senior member of Wo Shing Wo triad
- Senior Member of Wo Shing Wo triad
- Senior officer of 14K triad
- Officer of 14K triad
- Member of 14K triad
- Senior member of Sun Yee On triad
- Member of Shui Fong triad
- Former casino employee
- Professional gambler
- Chinese official x3
- Senior police officer x2
Each interview lasted from 90-120 minutes, and the authors did their due diligence in ensuring that the appropriate themes were extracted from the information. The access to info from a criminal group reminds me of the work done by Sudhir Venkatesh and Steven Levitt on the economics of the drug selling finance, made famous by Freakonomics.
The article can be found in the British Journal of Criminology, and is worth the read for anyone interested in Macau gaming or money laundering: http://bjc.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/02/08/bjc.azw014.abstract
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Wagering and gaming:
- Wagering policy
Billing issues:
Account and tax documentation FAQs:
Other:
- 2Frequently asked questions
Policy
Palace casino biloxi slot machines. Zynga poker join friends table. It is a violation of this policy to wager in games in the Second Life® environment operated on Linden Lab servers if such games:
- Rely on chance or random number generation to determine a winner,
- OR
- Rely on the outcome of real-life organized sporting events,
Gambling Policy United States
AND provide a payout in
- Linden Dollars (L$)
- OR
- Any real-world currency or thing of value.
This includes (but is not limited to), for example, Casino Games such as:
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This policy also includes sports books or sports betting, including the placing of bets on actual sporting events against a book-maker or through a betting exchange.
Linden Lab will actively enforce this policy. If we discover gambling activities that violate the policy, we will remove all related objects from the inworld environment, may suspend or terminate the accounts of residents involved without refund or payment, and may report any relevant details, including user information, to authorities and financial institutions.
Note: See also Second Life Skill Gaming Policy |
Frequently asked questions
Is all simulated gambling in Second Life is illegal?
This policy is not designed to provide you with legal advice regarding the legality of specific gambling activities in your jurisdiction. It is not a substitute for legal advice, either. Rather, to ensure that Residents comply with generally applicable laws, which do not permit wagering on games of chance or sports betting, and to comply with the rules of credit card associations, Second Life's policy is to prohibit inworld gambling activities.
Have I broken the law by gambling in Second Life?
It always has been a basic tenet of Second Life that all Residents are legally responsible for their own activities and for complying with the laws of the local jurisdiction in which they reside. If you are violating our policy, or if you are otherwise concerned that you may be engaging in illegal gambling, you should stop.
What does 'wagering' mean according to this policy?
The term 'wagering' applies to any covered game or activity (i.e. game of chance, sports betting) in which a user contributes Linden dollars (or real-world money or things of value), whether into a pot, at a table game, at a house game, for purchase of a card (such as Bingo), or in any way risks Linden dollars based on whether an event may or may not occur, such as whether a team will win a sporting event, or whether Barack Obama will win the Democratic primary.
Is this a blanket ban?
The ban applies to all games of chance, wagering, or sports betting, where Linden dollars or their equivalents are collected and paid out. The list of games in the policy are only examples. The policy applies to objects and games whether or not they are in a building that you may call an inworld 'casino.'
Does the policy apply to all games based on real-life sports activities?
The policy prohibits Sports Books or Sports Betting, including the placement or acceptance of bets on actual sporting events (or other real-world events) against a book-maker or through a betting exchange. However, the policy does not prohibit 'fantasy sports' leagues if the rules and operation of those games comply with all applicable laws.
Does this policy apply to 'skill contests?'
This policy only applies to wagering games that involve an element of chance. This includes, for instance, any game involving random number generation, simulated dice, cards, poker, lotteries, bingo, or any other 'chance' game. Games of pure intellectual or physical skill, such as puzzles or other skill contests, may not fall under this definition.
Gambling Policy
If your game or contest does not meet the above criteria, it is not restricted under this policy, but other applicable laws and local practice may apply, and you are expected to conduct your activities in Second Life in a legal way.
Please note that this policy does not give you guidance on what your legal obligations are — as noted above, that is your responsibility to determine.
Are legal promotional sweepstakes permitted?
If you are conducting a genuine promotional sweepstakes, that complies with all applicable laws, and can demonstrate that compliance, that activity will likely be permitted.
What if no Linden dollars or other 'consideration' are accepted or paid out?
If entry is truly 'free' (as with a promotional sweepstakes), and the game's operator requires no 'consideration' or payment from other players or entrants, then that activity will likely be permitted, assuming compliance with all other applicable laws.
If the 'payout' involves objects that are more akin to novelty objects that cannot readily be converted into Linden dollars, real-world currency or value, then that activity will likely be permitted.
How will you enforce this measure? How can you detect these games?
Our staff will review, investigate and respond to appropriate notices. When we discover objects or games within Second Life that meet the policy's definition, we will remove them from Second Life. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account, and repeat offenders will be suspended or terminated.
What will the consequences be for those who continue to play or operate games that fall under this policy?
Any Resident who violates the policy or our Terms of Service more than once will be suspended, and may be terminated. Linden Lab will also comply with validly issued subpoenas in connection with law enforcement investigations and legal actions.
I live somewhere where online gambling is not illegal. Does this policy apply to me?
This policy applies to all users of Second Life. However, it isn't intended to necessarily describe what is or isn't legal for any particular resident or in any particular place. Rather, it describes what Linden Lab believes is must do in order to maintain an atmosphere in which all applicable laws are respected, as well as U.S. credit card association and other relevant rules and guidelines.
Will this take effect immediately? Will there be reimbursement involved for virtual casino owners?
- It will take effect immediately.
- Second Life Residents are responsible for their own behavior and compliance with the policy.
- There will be no reimbursement if Linden Lab removes objects or activities that violate this policy.
These FAQs are intended to be helpful to you. They supplement but do not alter or amend the policy itself or our Terms of Service. Delta casino burnaby restaurants downtown. We reserve the right to revisit this policy and any other of our policies.