Compliance Updates
Sightline Selects GeoComply for Identity and Geolocation Compliance Services
![sightline-selects-geocomply-for-identity-and-geolocation-compliance-services](https://recentslotreleases.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/134919-sightline-selects-geocomply-for-identity-and-geolocation-compliance-services.jpg)
Leading fintech company Sightline has entered into an exclusive partnership with compliance and anti-fraud technology solutions leader GeoComply to bolster the security and efficiency of digital transactions within the regulated gaming industry.
Sightline will integrate GeoComply’s cutting-edge IDComply identity verification solution as well as GeoComply’s compliance-grade geolocation tools across its comprehensive suite of digital payment solutions for land-based casinos and online gaming operators.
GeoComply developed IDComply in direct response to the growing demand for an integrated solution that addresses the expanding compliance needs of the digital gaming industry. Sightline will leverage identity verification and geolocation checks at strategic points during the customer journey to validate that digital transactions comply with the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and adhere to Office of Foreign Asset Controls (OFAC) sanctions detection and blocking requirements. The partnership will also strengthen Know Your Customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) protocols to reduce fraud such as account takeovers.
The implementation of IDComply and GeoComply Core within Sightline’s offerings is scheduled to occur over the coming months.
“Digital payments continue to proliferate in the regulated gaming industry, and it is essential to have solutions that safely, securely, and swiftly validate customers’ identities. Implementing these tools across Sightline’s payment solutions will significantly decrease the time it takes to validate an identity and they will bolster compliance with the evolving regulations that govern digital financial transactions. Our vision is to create an omnichannel customer experience where patrons can seamlessly enroll, fund, and play their game of choice in under 180 seconds, putting gaming more in line with payments technologies in areas like retail and ecommerce,” Rose Zwirn, SVP of Business Development at Sightline, said.
“Our companies have a long history of collaboration and we’re excited to be working together to implement our GeoComply Core and IDComply solutions for Sightline’s customers. Our goal is to provide digital trust in every online transaction while opening the funnel for legitimate players and stop fraudsters from entering the digital gaming ecosystem. Working with best-in-class partners like Sightline gets us closer to that goal,” Sam Basile, VP of Business Development at GeoComply, said.
Digital wallets and transactions are becoming more common within the gaming industry, and Sightline is an indispensable and innovative partner to operators across the gaming ecosystem. Sightline will use IDComply to swiftly authenticate customer identities during signup across its platforms, simplifying cashless wagering accounts and online Play+ registrations. This move aims to address identity verification challenges, especially in areas like Nevada that require government IDs for account setup. IDComply is expected to accelerate this process, enhancing safety and user experience by reducing friction.
GeoComply’s advanced geolocation technology helps ensure regulatory compliance and is a strategic asset for gaming enterprises aiming to navigate the complex landscape of digital transactions securely and lawfully. With more than 10 billion transactions processed annually and installed on over 400 million devices worldwide, GeoComply empowers gaming enterprises to meet their compliance needs while providing a secure, trustworthy platform for their customers.
Furthermore, both Sightline and GeoComply have offices located at the Harry Reid Research and Technology Park in Las Vegas, symbolizing their joint commitment to advancing technology and compliance solutions within the gaming industry.
Compliance Updates
The Danish Gambling Authority Has Had 79 Illegal Gambling Sites Blocked
![the-danish-gambling-authority-has-had-79-illegal-gambling-sites-blocked](https://recentslotreleases.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/139587-the-danish-gambling-authority-has-had-79-illegal-gambling-sites-blocked.jpg)
On 22 August 2024, the court in Frederiksberg ruled in favour of the Danish Gambling Authority to have 79 websites blocked that offered illegal gambling to Danes.
Among the blocked websites are sites that are particularly aimed at children and young people.
Every year, the Danish Gambling Authority blocks websites that offer gambling products and services to Danes without a licence. The blocks are an important part of the Danish Gambling Authority’s work to protect the players and at the same time ensure a fair and legal gambling market in Denmark.
In 2024, the Danish Gambling Authority has blocked the access to a total of 162 illegal websites that offer gambling to Danes. This is the highest number of blocks in a year so far. Since 2012, a total of 438 websites have been blocked so that they cannot be accessed via a Danish telecommunications provider.
The decision to block websites is made by the courts, and the Danish Gambling Authority has been in court twice this year to have illegal gambling sites blocked. In February, 83 pages were blocked.
The Danish Gambling Authority’s option to block access to the illegal sites is done via a so-called DNS block. This means that the connection between the player and the gambling provider’s website is blocked by the player’s telecommunications provider. If the user tries to access a blocked website, they are greeted by a page stating that the site is illegal and blocked by the Danish Gambling Authority.
“We know that some players will try to bypass the DNS blocks. Therefore, it is very important to us that the information you come across is clear and makes the players aware that they are trying to access a site without a licence. These sites do not have the same level of consumer protection and it can be very risky for a player to use them,” Anders Dorph, Director of the Danish Gambling Authority, said.
Sites without a licence from the Danish Gambling Authority do not necessarily meet the same requirements as sites with a licence, and therefore players do not get the same consumer protection and security on the illegal sites.
It is, for example, impossible to play on a site with a licence if you are under 18 or if you are registered with ROFUS (Register of Voluntarily Excluded Players).
The blocked sites offer different types of gambling such as online casino, online betting and skin betting.
In the latest block, three of the 79 sites contained a new type of skin betting. Here, players can, among other things, use “Robux” as stakes as well as win Robux which is the virtual currency in the computer game Roblox.
“We pay particular attention to this new type of site. Roblox is a game that is very popular among children and young people under the age of 18. Our children should not be introduced to gambling when they play video games, so I am very pleased that we have blocked access to these sites,” said Anders Dorph.
When the Danish Gambling Authority assesses that a website offers gambling illegally without a licence, the Danish Gambling Authority asks the gambling provider to stop the illegal offering. If they do not stop the offer, the telecommunications providers are asked to block their customers’ access to the websites. If this does not happen, the Danish Gambling Authority will proceed with the case and ask the district court to order the Danish telecommunications providers to block the websites.
In the past, only telecommunications providers with membership of the Teleindustrien have been involved in the Danish Gambling Authority’s blocking processes.
In this round of blocking, however, three telecommunications providers who are not members of the Teleindustrien have also blocked access to the illegal sites.
All three telecommunications providers have blocked access to websites with illegal gambling offerings that were part of this blocking process as well as websites covered by previous rulings.
“We are very happy that three more telecommunications providers have closed access. This ensures that even more players are protected from being able to access the illegal sites,” said Anders Dorph.
The post The Danish Gambling Authority Has Had 79 Illegal Gambling Sites Blocked appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Colorado
Esports suppliers must lead from the front – PandaScore’s Colorado licence
![esports-suppliers-must-lead-from-the-front-–-pandascore’s-colorado-licence](https://recentslotreleases.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/139558-esports-suppliers-must-lead-from-the-front-pandascores-colorado-licence.png)
Esports betting in the United States is a yet to be fully tapped, and with more regulatory progress the total market and opportunity in esports continues to grow.
It’s why at PandaScore, we recently acquired our first license in the lucrative American market, in the esports-friendly state of Colorado. The move is a strong signal of our ambition in the US, but it also sets out our methodology for solving the uncertainty problem that US esports betting currently suffers from.
Supplier licensing should lead the way
The unknowns about what markets and lines can be offered are a key piece of the puzzle in many jurisdictions. Uncertainty around the legislation means operators are tentative to jump in with both feet. At PandaScore, we’re helping operators navigate US esports betting regulation on a state-by-state basis, so they can make business led decisions in markets with right balance of stability and opportunity.
Except for a few states, esports betting regulation is relatively new: there’s not a great deal of precedent to work from, and its quickly evolving nature means there’s likely more work to be done in the future. We plan to be at the forefront of making sure that esports betting works for the whole ecosystem: operators, suppliers, regulators and the betting public.
The regulatory framework across the country may be shifting at different paces, but almost all states are going in one direction: expansion.
Esports suppliers have a duty to show operators the way and give them the tools, knowledge and expertise to make the right decision. We don’t believe in going all guns blazing, but entering markets with some certainty around esports in a considered fashion.
We can be more confident that those specific markets are built for esports, with Colorado being PandaScore’s first step for several reasons.
Why Colorado
When deciding which market to enter, we consulted heavily with our customers and whittled it down to states that had the right mix of commercial opportunity, solid regulatory environment and straightforwardness in licensing.
Since regulating esports, Colorado has had a friendly framework for esports. The catalogue for regular betting includes a wide range of esports titles based on approved games and tournaments by the publisher or regulator – which follows some similarities to how traditional sports betting is structured.
The process itself was simple and clear, with clear terms and commercials that promote investment, entrepreneurship and innovation – all key ingredients for growing new markets and ambitious organisations to build new audiences.
Colorado is the natural next step in PandaScore’s service-minded, client-first approach. There’s already a generation of bettors who are seeking out esports betting products, esports suppliers need to be the source of knowledge and expertise that helps guide and amplify the esports ambitions of their clients.
Service-minded approach, client-led growth
We bring operators into the licensing conversation from the outset, exploring the licenses most valuable to them and then leveraging our lean, efficient operating model to get it done.
We’ve proven we’re serious about the US market, and that we can get a license efficiently, so if an operator desires a specific jurisdiction, we base our decisions on the revenue potential, give them a clear, no-spin picture of the market, and put in the hard work of licensing to provide our services in the US.
Player age verification as a mandatory service
A huge part of that no-spin picture is addressing the concern and risk around player age verification in esports. Compliance is paramount for suppliers and operators alike, so knowing the requirements from state to state is essential.
PandaScore has been offering player age verification for years and is well established on this front thanks to years of servicing jurisdictions like Australia and Sweden. We already have an API that clients use for peace of mind, and are beefing it up as a standalone service intended to support regulators and governing bodies to ensure compliance, confidence and growth.
Suppliers need to lead from the front for US esports betting to succeed. It’s not just about having the best product – they need to be an expert on relevant regulation, genuinely serve the expansion interests of clients and be a truly safe pair of hands that actively supports and serves operators, bettors and regulators alike.
Author: Oliver Niner, Head of Sales at PandaScore.
Compliance Updates
Google Updates Gambling Ad Policy for Germany
![google-updates-gambling-ad-policy-for-germany](https://recentslotreleases.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/139550-google-updates-gambling-ad-policy-for-germany.jpg)
Google has announced significant changes to its Gambling and games policy specifically for the German market. The update, set to take effect on September 25, 2024, introduces stricter requirements for gambling operators and brokers seeking to advertise on Google’s platforms in Germany. This policy revision aims to align Google’s advertising practices with German regulations and ensure compliance with local gambling laws.
According to the announcement, which came exactly one month before the implementation date, only gambling operators and brokers licensed by the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) will be eligible to apply for advertising certification for gambling products outlined in Google’s Gambling and games policy. The GGL, which translates to the Joint Gambling Authority of the German Federal States, is the central regulatory body overseeing gambling activities in Germany.
This policy update represents a significant shift in Google’s approach to gambling advertisements in the German market. Previously, a broader range of gambling-related services could potentially advertise on Google’s platforms. However, with the new policy, applications from advertisers of online gambling services who do not meet the GGL licensing criteria will no longer be accepted. This change extends to services offering gambling aggregation, such as websites that link to multiple offers from different operators on their landing pages.
The implications of this policy update are far-reaching for the online gambling industry in Germany. Existing certifications for services that do not meet the new criteria will be revoked on the policy’s effective date, September 25, 2024. This revocation will prevent these services from running gambling ads targeted at the German market through Google’s advertising platforms.
To understand the full impact of this policy change, it’s essential to delve into the technical aspects of Google’s advertising ecosystem. Google Ads, the primary platform for advertisers to reach Google’s vast user base, operates on a complex system of policies and certifications. The Gambling and games policy is a crucial component of this system, designed to ensure that gambling-related advertisements comply with local laws and regulations.
The certification process for gambling advertisers on Google involves several steps. Advertisers must first ensure they meet the eligibility requirements for their specific country or region. With the new policy update, this eligibility in Germany will be directly tied to GGL licensing. Once eligibility is confirmed, advertisers must complete an application process, which includes providing detailed information about their gambling operations and licenses.
Google’s policy update reflects the evolving regulatory landscape of online gambling in Germany. The country has implemented stricter controls on online gambling in recent years, culminating in the establishment of the GGL as a centralised regulatory authority. This move towards centralised regulation aims to create a more consistent and controlled environment for online gambling across all German states.
The policy change also highlights the challenges faced by multinational technology companies in navigating diverse regulatory environments across different countries. Google, as a global platform, must balance its business interests with compliance with local laws and regulations. This often results in country-specific policy updates, as seen in this case for Germany.
For gambling operators and advertisers, the policy update necessitates a reevaluation of their digital marketing strategies in the German market. Those without GGL licensing will need to explore alternative advertising channels or pursue licensing if they wish to continue advertising on Google’s platforms. This could potentially lead to a shift in the competitive landscape of online gambling advertising in Germany.
It’s worth noting that Google’s policy update aligns with broader trends in digital advertising regulation, particularly in sensitive sectors like gambling. Regulatory bodies and technology platforms are increasingly focused on ensuring that online advertisements for gambling services are responsible and comply with local laws.
The timing of this announcement, coming exactly 30 days before the implementation date, provides a window for affected advertisers to adjust their strategies. However, given the complexity of obtaining gambling licenses, this timeline may pose challenges for operators not already in the process of securing GGL licensing.
Google’s policy update also raises questions about the future of gambling advertising on other digital platforms. As major tech companies often follow similar regulatory trends, it’s possible that other advertising platforms may implement comparable policies in the German market or other jurisdictions with strict gambling regulations.
From a technical standpoint, the implementation of this policy will likely involve updates to Google’s ad review systems.
The post Google Updates Gambling Ad Policy for Germany appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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