Compliance Updates
EGBA: Finland’s New Gambling Legislation: A Step Forward, With Room For Improvement
Finland’s proposed change to its online gambling legislation marks a significant milestone in European gambling regulation. Finland is the last EU country with a monopoly system for online gambling, and its shift towards a multi-licensing approach is a positive change. It finally brings it into line with the rest of the EU countries who all already have some form of licensing framework for online gambling.
Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of European Gaming and Betting Association, said: “At EGBA, we support the newly proposed legislation, which we’ve advocated for years. Experience shows that a monopoly doesn’t work in the online world, and consumers are best served and protected in a well-regulated but competitive environment, where safety tools such as deposit limits and self-exclusion are made available to players.”
While Finland’s proposal is heading in the right direction, some areas require some fine-tuning to ensure the new licensing framework achieves its goal of ensuring Finns play with locally licensed websites.
Maarten Haijer said: “For starters, the proposed marketing restrictions, especially the ban on affiliate marketing and social media advertising, might backfire. These channels play a key role in guiding consumers to licensed, regulated platforms. Without them, players will drift to black market websites that don’t follow Finnish regulations or prioritise consumer safety.
“Also, the proposed blanket ban on bonuses is concerning. While we support setting boundaries on bonusing, a complete prohibition will simply make any newly licensed operators less competitive against unlicensed ones. This risks pushing players towards unregulated sites, undermining the very consumer protections the legislation aims to establish and strengthen.”
He added: “In our response to the government’s recent consultation, EGBA suggests two key improvements: Bring affiliates into the regulatory framework and allow social media advertising under clear rules. Both are valuable tools for channelling players towards licensed operators. By implementing clear guidelines, such as mandatory safer gambling messages, Finland can harness the power of these marketing channels while maintaining high standards of consumer protection.
“Instead of banning bonuses outright, implement guidelines for their responsible use. For instance, a nuanced approach could involve prohibiting bonuses for players showing signs of problematic behaviour, or setting clear rules on when and how bonuses can be offered. This strategy would allow operators to compete more effectively with unlicensed sites who will undoubtedly use bonuses to try to entice Finnish players away from regulated websites.
“These changes would better align Finland’s approach with the successful models seen across the EU, striking a balance between market competitiveness and robust consumer protection.
“Transitioning to a licensed market is no small feat, but it’s one that ultimately benefits everyone involved. At EGBA we are ready to share our expertise and support Finland in creating a well-regulated, competitive, and safe online gambling market.
“Finland stands at a pivotal moment in the history of its gambling regulation. By crafting a successful online gambling framework, Finland, like its neighbours Denmark and Sweden, can successfully transition from its monopoly to a well-functioning licensing system. Denmark’s transition to multi−licensing in 2012 led to a significant improvement in online channelisation, reaching well over 90 per cent. Sweden has seen similar improvements.
“Addressing the concerns about marketing restrictions and bonus regulations is crucial to ensure the new legislation achieves its objectives, safeguarding Finnish consumers while fostering a healthy, well-regulated online gambling environment.”
The post EGBA: Finland’s New Gambling Legislation: A Step Forward, With Room For Improvement appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The Indian Gaming Association (IGA) Board of Directors convened at the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego in conjunction with the 2026 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention, marking a critical gathering of tribal leadership focused on governance, financial stewardship, and the protection of tribal sovereignty.
During the annual Board Meeting, the IGA Board formally approved the FY2025 independent audit report, reaffirming the organization’s strong financial position and continued commitment to transparency and accountability to its member tribes.
In addition to approving the audit, the Board adopted a formal resolution opposing the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) efforts to regulate so-called “event contracts,” including sports-related prediction markets. The resolution underscores IGA’s position that these activities constitute gambling and fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of tribal and state governments.
“Today, our Board took decisive action to protect what generations before us fought to build. These so-called prediction markets are an attempt to bypass tribal authority and recast gambling as a financial product. We will not allow that. We will stand united to defend tribal sovereignty and the integrity of Indian gaming,” said David Z. Bean, Chairman of the Indian Gaming Association.
With more than 350 exhibitors and thousands of attendees gathered in San Diego, the 2026 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention continues to showcase the strength, resilience, and unity of tribal gaming.
The post IGA Board of Directors Convenes at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has provided evidence to the European Commission’s recent call for evidence on its upcoming EU Action Plan on Fighting Online Fraud – an initiative to reduce online fraud across different economic sectors in the EU through strengthened coordination and cross-border cooperation. The submission urges coordinated EU action to tackle fraudulent gambling sites and apps that exploit the reputation of legitimate operators.
Supported by documented evidence, the submission highlights how fraudsters systematically impersonate licensed gambling operators to deceive consumers across Europe. The evidence includes examples of fraudulent websites using domain names that mimic or closely resemble legitimate operators, illegal gambling apps distributed through Google Play and Apple App Store, phishing campaigns impersonating licensed brands and social media advertising that drives users towards real-money apps, based outside of the EU, that are disguised as games.
These types of fraud expose players to risks of identity theft, financial loss and unsafe gambling environments where well-established safeguards offered by regulated operators, like self-exclusion, do not exist. EGBA members report that across Europe fraudulent domains and applications frequently reappear shortly after takedown, creating ongoing consumer exposure despite continuous monitoring, takedown notifications and repeated enforcement actions.
Illegal operators now capture an estimated 27% (worth approximately €18 billion) of Europe’s total online gambling market gross gaming revenue in 2025. The submission addresses the risks posed by offshore operators, based outside the EU, who deliberately increase consumer risk by falsely claiming to hold gambling licenses granted by countries in the EU, misrepresenting their regulatory status and disguising gambling products as games. These fraud patterns are closely linked to the rapid expansion of unregulated illegal platforms in Europe that threaten both consumers and legitimate operators.
The Commission’s Action Plan on Fighting Online Fraud is planned for adoption in the second quarter of 2026.
Dr Ekaterina Hartmann, Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs at EGBA, said: “The evidence we’ve gathered shows how fraudsters are systematically exploiting the trust consumers place in the licensed gambling environment, putting European consumers at risk and allowing the illegal online gambling market to grow. From fake websites and fraudulent apps to phishing campaigns and social media scams, these threats reappear as quickly as they’re taken down. Fragmented national approaches to these types of fraud are not enough – we need coordinated EU-level action to ensure consumers and legitimate operators aren’t left fighting an uphill battle against fraud.”
The post EGBA Urges EC to Tackle Rising Online Fraud in Gambling Sector appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (Board) at its public monthly meeting approved a consent agreement presented by the Board’s Office of Enforcement Counsel (OEC) resulting in a $100,000 fine to BetMGM.
In its approval of the consent agreement, the Board agreed that BetMGM failed to have sufficient procedures to prevent fraudulent behavior on its BetMGM and Borgata wagering platforms. This includes insufficient Know-Your-Customer (KYC) protocols that allows for the creation, access and use of multiple accounts by individuals using personal identifying information of other individuals and the funding of those accounts using stolen or fraudulently obtained payment devices.
The consent agreement identified four individual fraud rings that:
1. operated for approximately 25 months until January 2024 with 1567 accounts created using personal identifying information of other individuals and $229,580 of combined wagering;
2. operated for approximately 34 months until November 2024 with 34 accounts created using personal identifying information of other individuals and over $14,598 of combined wagering;
3. operated for approximately 29 months until November 2023 with 119 accounts created using personal identifying information of other individuals and $895,092 of combined wagering
4. operated for approximately 19 months until December 2023 with 304 accounts created using personal identifying information of other individuals and $867,910 of combined wagering.
The Board also took actions to place 16 individuals on its various Involuntary Exclusion Lists. Placement on an Involuntary Exclusion List prohibits individuals from either gaming in a casino in Pennsylvania, via an online betting site regulated by the Board, or at a Video Gaming Terminal (VGT) location.
The actions by the Board include placement of four adults on the Involuntary Casino Exclusion list for leaving minors unattended at a casino property while they gambled:
• A male patron who left an 11-year-old in a vehicle in the parking lot at Hollywood Casino York for 52 minutes while he gambled at slot machines and table games;
• A male patron who left a 5-year-old in a vehicle in the parking lot at Rivers Casino Philadelphia for 17 minutes while he gambled at table games and the sportsbook;
• A male patron who left a 9-year-old in the parking lot at Rivers Casino Philadelphia for 1 hour 7 minutes while he gambled at table games and the sportsbook; and,
• A male patron who left two minors, ages 7 and 12, in a vehicle in the parking lot at Parx Casino for 32 minutes while he gambled at slot machines.
Actions such as these to deny statewide gambling privileges serve as a reminder that adults are prohibited from leaving minors unattended in the parking lot or garage, a hotel, or other venues at a casino since it creates a potentially unsafe and dangerous environment for the children. To complement the efforts by casinos to mitigate this issue, the Board created an awareness campaign, “Don’t Gamble with Kids” (DontGamblewithKids.org).
In addition to the four adults listed above, 12 others were placed on either or both of the Involuntary Casino Exclusion and Involuntary Interactive Exclusion Lists for various actions.
These matters, presented by the Board’s Office of Chief Counsel and the OEC, raise the number of individuals now on the Board’s various Involuntary Exclusion Lists to 1515.
The post PA Gaming Control Board Imposes $100,000 Fine on BetMGM appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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