Compliance Updates
New ESRI Research Commissioned by the GRAI Suggests Gambling Offers Lure People to Bet More, Particularly People at Risk of Problem Gambling
A new study commissioned by the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) /Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and undertaken by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) shows that betting and gambling companies offering special offers or inducements encourages people to gamble more than they would otherwise, even when the odds offered are “bad”.
Special offers or inducements, such as free bets and moneyback guarantees are regularly used by gambling companies in their marketing campaigns. The study found that vulnerable people such as those at higher risk of becoming problem gamblers, were most at risk of gambling more, and losing more, as a result of being offered inducements.
In a controlled experiment run with a sample of 622 men under 40, participants, were given money to place up to six realistic bets on the Euro 2024 football tournament.
Half of the participants were randomly selected and shown offers of free bets and moneyback guarantees on some bets. which caused these participants to spend over 10% more than those who were not given inducements. The inducements also reduced the number of participants opting not to bet by nearly half. Even inducement bets that were designed as “bad”, showing odds far below market rates, were undertaken by participants in this group, who were three times more likely to spend money on “bad” bets.
These findings illustrate the harm inducements cause, particularly to those who are susceptible to gambling harm.
Under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, the legislation which underpins the work of the GRAI, inducements or encouragement to gamble further will soon be an offence and licensed operators will no longer be allowed to offer free bets which are targeted at individuals and specific groups. Multiple European countries have also begun to regulate inducements.
Participants were surveyed after the study on their knowledge and understanding of inducements. Even amongst regular betters, most did not know that there were restrictions on free bets and that they would not receive their stake back if they won a free bet.
Paul Quinn, Chairperson of the GRAI, said: “I very much welcome this research from the ESRI examining the impact of inducements to gamble on gambling behaviours. Having a clear evidence base is critically important to the GRAI as we commence our work in regulating the gambling industry. This latest research will help inform that work and in educating the public on this matter.
“This study clearly indicates the damaging effect of certain practices around inducements. It underlines the importance of the provisions of the Gambling Regulation Act in limiting a person’s exposure to inducements to gamble. We look forward to working with Minister O’Callaghan in addressing the issue as we implement the new regulations.”
Anne Marie Caulfield, CEO of the GRAI, said: “The ESRI’s findings confirm that not only is the general public not aware of the dangers associated with inducements to bet, but also that the impact of these inducements go beyond simple marketing by betting companies.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that gambling operators do not encourage excessive or compulsive gambling behaviour, and that we protect vulnerable people in our society, such as children and young people and those more likely to experience gambling harm.
“The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 sets out obligations for licensees in the way in which inducements can be offered, including a ban on targeted inducements, and the findings of this study affirm these measures.”
Diarmaid Ó Ceallaigh, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Behavioural Research Unit, ESRI, said: “Our findings imply that gambling offers aren’t merely marketing tools, but pose a real risk of financial harm, particularly among vulnerable groups.
“The results support the case for stricter regulation of gambling offers in Ireland, following steps already taken in other European countries, such as banning sign-up bonuses, restricting offers to at-risk individuals, and capping their value.”
The post New ESRI Research Commissioned by the GRAI Suggests Gambling Offers Lure People to Bet More, Particularly People at Risk of Problem Gambling appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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The Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) has conducted research into the risk analyses that online gambling providers must conduct regarding their sports betting offerings. The study examined the implementation of the identification, analysis and evaluation of risks to the integrity of the relevant matches at four providers. Based on this risk analysis, providers must identify and mitigate match-fixing risks.
Following reports to the Sports Betting Intelligence Unit (SBIU), an investigation has been launched into a possible match-fixing. By examining the providers’ risk analyses, it will become clear whether providers have their analyses properly in place and are adequately assessing, assessing and ultimately mitigating the risks. While the KSA sees room for improvement in areas such as the specification of certain risks, the measures taken and the implementation of the reporting obligation, it is generally positive about the implementation of the providers’ risk analyses. This represents an upward trend compared to a year ago. The KSA continues to randomly audit risk analyses.
Source: kansspelautoriteit.nl
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The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) announced a new comprehensive pledge establishing standards for responsible influencer marketing across Europe’s gambling sector, reinforcing its commitment to promote best practices in responsible advertising and consumer protection throughout the EU.
The Pledge on Responsible Influencer Marketing in Online Gambling was developed in collaboration with the European Advertising Standards Alliance (EASA) and is the first industry-wide set of influencer marketing standards in Europe’s gambling sector. It represents a significant step forward in addressing the fast-paced evolution of online marketing, particularly the growing use of influencers in the gambling industry.
Building on EGBA’s pioneering Code of Conduct on responsible advertising for online gambling (EGBA Code), the pledge sets out additional standards for all influencer marketing content produced on behalf of EGBA members.
A Comprehensive Framework for Responsible Influencer Marketing
The pledge establishes three core pillars designed to ensure the highest standards of consumer protection:
• Enhanced Advertising Standards: The pledge introduces rules and guidelines on enhanced transparency and age-gating mechanisms to prevent minors from accessing influencer marketing content for online gambling. It builds on the EGBA Code’s prohibition of gambling marketing content appealing to minors by introducing content moderation requirements and audience demographic checks.
• Influencer Selection Criteria: EGBA members commit to working exclusively with influencers who have been screened for responsible marketing conduct and who abide by all applicable advertising standards and legislation. EGBA members encourage the use of training programmes to ensure the influencers they work with remain on top of the latest regulatory and self-regulatory developments for advertising.
• Independent Monitoring and Compliance: EGBA members commit to regularly monitor their influencer marketing content by independent entities, and to promptly remove any content that is non-compliant with the pledge.
The pledge applies to all forms of influencer content, including live streams, stories, posts, videos and any digital content formats.
“As the online advertising landscape continues to evolve, we’re proud to lead the industry with the first comprehensive standards for influencer marketing in Europe’s gambling sector. This pledge demonstrates our members’ commitment to responsible advertising and willingness to go beyond regulatory requirements to ensure the highest standards of transparency and minor protection in their influencer partnerships,” said Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA.
EGBA members represent leading online gambling operators who are licensed and regulated within the EU. The association has been at the forefront of establishing responsible advertising standards across the industry, with the EGBA Code serving as the first pan-European framework for responsible advertising in Europe’s online gambling sector.
The new influencer marketing pledge will be implemented through EGBA members’ marketing practices, with active engagement with influencers to promote awareness of these enhanced standards.
The post EGBA Launches Pledge on Responsible Influencer Marketing appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Delasport’s groundbreaking sports betting jackpot game, SuperPot, has received full certification from GLI in the UK. With this authorization, SuperPot becomes a one-of-a-kind, dedicated Sportsbook Jackpot solution on the British market.
The news comes just days after the revolutionary solution became certified for Ontario and marked its debut integration there and soon will go live with several brands in the market. SuperPot gives players the chance to predict the outcomes of major sporting fixtures.
Each ticket purchase contributes to a growing jackpot, and the winner is the one with the most correct picks – even without a perfect score. This “Must-Win” mechanic sets the product apart from traditional sportsbook offerings, appealing both to sports bettors seeking new thrills and casino players looking for an accessible entry point into sports wagering.
Advantages for UK Operators
SuperPot introduces an always-awarded must-win mechanic: each round’s pot is paid to the top predictor – players compete against their peers, and the most correct predictions win. This sets it apart from The Tote and free-to-play predictors and broadens appeal beyond horse racing into football, basketball, American football, and ice hockey. UK operators gain an assured strong turnover margin, while players benefit from a guaranteed payout to someone every round.
In addition, licensed operators in the UK, SuperPot represents a new way to grow engagement and extend player lifecycles, while securing stable margins from turnover without added exposure.
“Securing approval in the UK marks a major step forward for us,” said Delasport’s Global Sales Director Reece Calderbank. “SuperPot blends the excitement of jackpots with the passion for sports, offering players an easy-to-understand, highly rewarding experience. It’s designed to stand out in a mature and competitive market and ensure risk-free high margin for Operators.”
Market Outlook
The UK gambling market remains one of the largest and most established worldwide. According to the UK Gambling Commission, the total Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) in iGaming for April 2023–March 2024 reached £6.9 billion, with online Sports betting accounting to £2.4 billion GGY, driven primarily by football and horse racing.
The Tote pools enjoy durable racing liquidity is growing year by year to hundreds of millions and SuperPot gives operators that same mass-appeal mechanic as a paid, must-win product they control and extend it to additional sports and to new segments of players.
Industry research indicates that the UK sports betting market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 11.4% between 2025 and 2030. Meanwhile, quarterly reporting from the Gambling Commission shows continued growth: in Q1 2025, online GGY rose 7% year-on-year to £1.45 billion, with record levels of active accounts and betting activity.
In such a competitive environment, a product like SuperPot has the potential to deliver an incremental ~2% revenue boost for operators who adopt it, further differentiating their sportsbook offering in the UK’s crowded marketplace.
The post SuperPot, the Unique Sports Betting Jackpot, Now Available in the UK appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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