Latest news with #BenLambert
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Newport News considers major changes to city charter
Newport News' Charter Review Committee is considering several changes to City Council, which could drastically change how city elections are conducted. The main item being considered during the committee's June 12 meeting was the idea of making City Council races partisan, which would create a partisan primary for City Council candidates. State law prohibits party designations in local elections from appearing on ballots. However, it does not prevent the city from creating a partisan primary to ensure the two final candidates that appear on the ballot are implied to be from different parties. 'We have, as it is in Newport News and other cities without partisan elections, large numbers of candidates from one ideological or partisan faction who run for office and split the vote amongst themselves,' committee member Ben Lambert said during the meeting. 'This spoiler effect has been a problem for Newport News elections for a long time.' The committee delayed the vote on whether to recommend the change to City Council to June 26, according to co-chairs Cathy Williams and Lee Vreeland. They also shot down a proposed recommendation that would shift the power to remove department heads from the city manager to the mayor. 'I feel it's overreach for City Council to be involved in that,' Williams said during the June 12 meeting. At its May 22 meeting, the committee approved a recommendation that City Council appoint school board members appointed rather than elected, and a recommendation to make the mayor a full-time position, limited to two terms. Additionally, the questions of considering ranked choice voting came up during last month's meeting. However, the committee opted not to recommend ranked choice voting. Williams declined to comment on the group's discussions surrounding potential charter changes. The committee has been working through these revisions since September, according to Williams, and has received community feedback on several of the proposed changes. The idea of appointed school board members received letters of support, along with while a full-time mayor received pushback. Feedback on ranked choice voting has also been divided. The committee will submit its final report to the city clerk on June 30, who will then provide it to City Council for review. Devlin Epding, 757-510-4037,
Edinburgh Reporter
12-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
How Safe Are UK Casinos? A Look at Regulation and Security
UK casinos have always had a unique place in entertainment. From the dazzling lights that line London casino floors to the original theme formats online, this game provides fun and excitement like no other. But in between all the glitz and glam, there is one question that players want to know: Are UK casinos really safe? This article discusses how efficiently UK gambling is regulated and the steps to take to shield players. Photo by Ben Lambert on Unsplash The Rise of Digital Gaming and Bitcoin Casinos There have been significant changes witnessed in the gambling industry of late. Online casinos have come with new opportunities and now it is a time for the bitcoin casino UK. Players can make deposits in the form of digital assets, place their bets and also withdraw their winning in the form of cryptocurrencies like bitcoins or any other electronic money. These provide better services; nevertheless, are they really that secure? It is quite astonishing that a lot of Bitcoin casinos that operate within the United Kingdom adhere to very strict regulatory standards. For them to offer their services to residents of the UK, these companies must obtain a license from one of the top regulatory bodies worldwide – The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). A licensed operator should ensure that they operate fairly, keep clients' money safe, and maintain a high level of transparency in all business activities, among other requirements. On top of this, this specific kind of technology, referred to as blockchain, utilized by bitcoin casinos, increases its users' data security by providing links that can be easily traced and left untouched. This does not mean every crypto casino can be relied upon because when regulated by UKGC, they are equally safe, just like any other normal platform. The Role of the UK Gambling Commission Critical to UK casino safety lies the UK Gambling Commission as the law and regulation enforcer. This ensures that all casinos – online-only operations or brick-and-mortar establishments – go through strict criteria. This license guarantees the safety and security of players as the UKGC mandates that casinos conduct identity verification checks, create responsible gambling policies, and secure the privacy of user data. They also hold games that they audit, so there is fairness. If a casino is found to not comply with those standards, it could face stiff fines – or have its license revoked altogether. For instance, in 2020, numerous operators were penalized millions of pounds – for not looking after vulnerable customers. Such actions are sending a clear message: Player safety comes first. Player Protections and Fair Play An additional level of protection is provided by the numerous player safety systems it offers. All casinos licensed in the UK are required to provide tools for users to gamble in a responsible manner. These can include deposit limits and time-outs and self-exclusion through schemes such as GAMSTOP. Moreover, third party firms like eCOGRA inspect the majority of games to guarantee that their results are random. Equitability in games is not just a marketing slogan — it's a necessity. Payout percentages (RTP) can be seen by players and are easily verified for fair play. And disputes can be escalated to independent resolution services when necessary, providing players with an added safety net. Data and Financial Security The safety that can be found with UK casinos doesn't stop with fair play—it extends to your private and financial details, too. These platforms are licensed, and your data is safe thanks to strong encryption, which is of the same order as that used by banks. Whether you're swiping your debit card or paying with cryptocurrency, the platform guarantees that your personal information is secure from cybercriminals. Another regular feature is two-factor authentication (2FA), which is particularly popular with mobile casinos. It's an extra step to logging in, but it means that even if your password is stolen, your account is kept secure. Play Smart, Play Safe So, how safe are UK casinos? The answer is very safe, provided only that you patronize licensed and regulated operators. The UK is home to some of the strictest gambling regulations in the globe, and for players, that's a good thing. Whether pulling the lever on a slot machine at a brick-and-mortar casino or applying your strategies at a bitcoin casino, feel assured that solid security systems are in place to protect you. Like this: Like Related
