Compliance Updates
Football Season Kicks Off: Arizona Department of Gaming Warns of Gambling Scams and Highlights Consumer Protection Tools
September is Responsible Gaming Education Month, and the Department is reminding fans to play it safe with tools like Check Your Bet, self-exclusion, and the 1-800-NEXT-STEP helpline.
With the football season underway, the Arizona Department of Gaming (“the Department”) is warning Arizonans about the growing risks of unlicensed online casinos and sportsbooks. September also marks Responsible Gaming Education Month, making this an important time to remind fans that if you choose to play, play it safe by choosing a regulated operator.
Regulated gaming offers important consumer protections, helping ensure fair play, data security, accountability, and a safer overall experience. The Department has seen an increase in consumer complaints about unlicensed gambling operations in recent months, a trend expected to intensify as football season kicks off and the busiest event wagering period of the year begins. Common issues include unfair or misleading terms, difficulty withdrawing winnings, and accounts being frozen without explanation, often after a withdrawal request.
“Responsible Gaming Education Month is the perfect time to remind Arizonans that while legal, regulated gaming options are available to all Arizonans ages 21+, there are also deceptive operators eager to take advantage of fans during football season,” said Jackie Johnson, Director of the Arizona Department of Gaming. “Unregulated platforms lack responsible gaming safeguards, age verification, and offer no consumer protections, which puts Arizonans at risk. That’s why the Department is promoting resources to give every Arizonan the tools they need to make informed choices and play responsibly.”
To help protect Arizonans, the Department has launched a new Responsible Gaming website and is spotlighting three key resources this month:
- Check Your Bet– If you choose to participate in gaming, opting for legal, regulated operators is the best way to protect yourself. Playing responsibly means knowing your operator is licensed and that you meet Arizona’s legal gaming age of 21+. This online resource helps Arizonans confirm they’re using a legal site, which helps protect against fraud, identity theft, and other risks.
- Self-Exclusion Program– A free, confidential program that allows people to voluntarily limit their access to Arizona’s regulated gaming. The statewide self-exclusion program was established in 2004 for casinos and expanded in 2021 to include retail sportsbooks, event wagering platforms, and fantasy sports platforms. More than 550 Arizonans enrolled in the last fiscal year, and over 11,000 have chosen this option since the program began.
- 1-800-NEXT-STEP – A confidential, 24/7 helpline for anyone seeking support right now, whether for themselves or someone they care about. The helpline connects Arizonans with caring professionals who can provide immediate assistance, low and no-cost treatment referrals, and financial counseling.
These resources, along with more tips and tools, are available at the Department’s new webpage: gaming.az.gov/ResponsibleGaming.
Top 5 Signs of an Unlicensed Gambling Site
The Department urges Arizonans to be cautious and watch for these warning signs that a site or app may be fraudulent or unlicensed:
- No Responsible Gaming Protections – Licensed operators are required to provide responsible gaming tools, including age verification to ensure no one under the age of 21 can play, deposit limits, time limits, self-exclusion options, and access to the 1-800-NEXT-STEP helpline. If you don’t see these tools, it’s a red flag.
- Too-Good-to-Be-True Offers – Promises of “guaranteed wins,” oversized bonuses, or “risk-free” bets are common scam tactics.
- Trouble Getting Paid and No Dispute Resolution – Unregulated sites often delay or deny withdrawals, with little to no process for resolving disputes.
- Unusual Payment Methods – Sites that only accept cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or gift cards instead of secure, standard payment options are a major warning sign.
- Copycat Branding or Poor Site Quality – Some fraudulent sites impersonate legitimate Arizona casinos or sportsbooks, using misspellings, broken links, or look-alike names to trick players into downloading their app or visiting their site.
“Licensed operators in Arizona are required to provide responsible gaming safeguards. When people play on unregulated sites, those protections are missing and people are more vulnerable,” said Elise Mikkelson, Director of the Division of Problem Gambling. “That’s why Arizona’s helpline exists: to ensure every Arizonan has access to the support they need. With more than 11,000 Arizonans choosing to enroll in the state’s self-exclusion program since it began, it’s clear that no one is alone in taking steps to protect themselves. And if you or someone you know is struggling, help is always available.”
How to Report Suspicious Gambling Activity, Fraud, or Identity Theft:
Arizonans who believe they may have encountered an unlicensed or suspicious gambling site are encouraged to report it directly to the Arizona Department of Gaming. Reports help the Department investigate and take action to protect consumers statewide. If you find a website, app, or business that claims to offer legal gaming in Arizona but does not appear to be licensed or authorized by the Department, follow these steps:
- Document the website URL, app, business name, and any promotional materialsassociated with the platform or operator.
- Report itto ADG at [email protected] and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office Consumer Information and Complaints Unit at (602) 542-5763 or by visiting azag.gov/consumer.
- Cease activity on the platform and monitor financial accounts for unauthorized transactions.
- If you suspect identity theft, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”): for help in English, go to IdentityTheft.gov, and for help in Spanish, go to RobodeIdentidad.gov.
The Department takes complaints about all illegal gambling seriously. Reports can be made anonymously.
The post Football Season Kicks Off: Arizona Department of Gaming Warns of Gambling Scams and Highlights Consumer Protection Tools appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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Vixio, a leading provider of regulatory intelligence solutions, unveiled its 2025 Global Regulatory Awards (GRAs) winners last night during an event in London.
More than 300 industry leaders, regulatory experts, and esteemed professionals of the global gambling industry attended the prestigious event. The independently judged GRAs recognise and celebrate the achievements of individuals, teams, and organisations in the gambling industry who have excelled in compliance, corporate social responsibility, and safer gambling.
The ninth annual awards ceremony recognised winners across 22 categories.
Notable winners on the evening included Playtech, Casino Guru, and Kambi.
Vixio also recognised outstanding individuals, such as Bill Curtis of DraftKings, named Compliance Professional of the Year, Corinne Valletta of Betsson Group, awarded Chief Compliance Officer of the Year, and Wes Himes, who was recognised with the Special Award for Compliance Lifetime Achievement.
“Thank you to everyone who joined us at last night’s Global Regulatory Awards in London,” stated Mike Woolfrey, CEO of Vixio. “This year has seen significant regulatory change across the industry, making the quality of entries even more impressive. Our independent judges did a fantastic job in selecting the winners, who truly represent the highest standards in regulatory compliance. Congratulations to all, and we look forward to welcoming you to the 10th annual Global Regulatory Awards next year!”
Awards were presented by category sponsors: Docaposte, DraftKings, eCOGRA, Gaming Associates and White Bullet.
The award evening was associate-sponsored by: Greentube, San Manuel Tribal Gaming Commission, Scientific Games, and Soft2Bet.
The 2026 Global Regulatory Awards presentation will celebrate the 10th annual GRA event and is set to take place on November 18th, returning to the historic Grand Connaught Rooms in Central London.
The official 2025 winners are as follows:
AML or MLR Professional of the Year
Eleni Panagiotopoulou, SOFTSWISS
Award for Commitment to Compliance by a Supplier
GeoComply
Award for Commitment to Compliance by an Operator
Tipico Games
Chief Compliance Officer of the Year
Corinne Valletta, Betsson Group
Compliance Innovator of the Year
Sharp Vision
Compliance Lifetime Achievement Special Award
Wes Himes
Compliance Professional of the Year
Bill Curtis, DraftKings
Compliance Rising Star Special Award
Medisha Moodley, Games Global
Compliance Team of the Year
Playtech
Head of Regulatory Affairs or Government Relations of the Year
Devon Dalbock, GLI
Legal Team of the Year
Kambi
Marketing Compliance Team of the Year
Catena Media
Outstanding Contribution to Safer Gambling
Casino Guru
Outstanding Contribution to Sports Betting Integrity
ALTENAR
Outstanding Individual Contribution to Safer Gambling
Dr. Michael Auer, Neccton
Payment Service or Solution Provider of the Year
Paysafe
RegTech Provider of the Year
Mindway AI
Regulatory Initiative of the Year
Gambling Regulatory Authority (URHH SK)
Regulatory Law Firm of the Year
Bird & Bird
Regulatory Lawyer or In-House Counsel of the Year
Behnam Dayanim, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Responsible Gambling Service or Solution Provider of the Year
BetBlocker
Testing Service or Solution Provider of the Year
BMM Innovation Group
The post Vixio Announces Winners for the 2025 Global Regulatory Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Betclic has become the first and only French operator to obtain the international RG Check certification, the world’s leading benchmark in player protection.
Betclic Group ranks among the top three global performers out of 170 operators assessed.
This certification recognises Betclic Group’s ongoing ambition to make online gaming a safe, responsible and transparent experience.
RG Check certification is an international audit that evaluates gambling operators’ commitment to responsible gaming. It covers more than 200 criteria, notably including prevention strategy, training, governance and responsible communication.
Recognised for its high level of requirements, RG Check currently assesses nearly 170 gambling operators around the world.
With a score of 89.44/100, Betclic Group achieved the third-best global performance and became the first French operator to receive the label.
Betclic stands out in several key areas:
96/100 for “Responsible Gaming Policy, Strategy, and Culture”, demonstrating a coherent approach fully integrated into the company’s strategy.
93/100 for “Employee Training”, highlighting continuous training for teams on best practices for player protection.
97/100 for “Marketing Communications”, ensuring ethical practices and the protection of vulnerable audiences.
90/100 for “Account and Payment Management”, confirming reliable and secure procedures.
Sarah McCarthy, CEO of the RG Council, said: “Betclic’s successful RG Check accreditation demonstrates their dedication to player protection and responsible gambling practices. This achievement shows what’s possible when operators prioritize evidence-based safeguards and commit to meeting rigorous standards. We’re proud to recognize their efforts in advancing safer gambling on betclic.fr and setting a strong example for the industry,”
Betclic Protect: A Pioneering and Differentiating Programme
The certification, valid for three years, rewards a collective commitment to making online gaming a safe and responsible experience, based on human support, technology and transparency.
This result stems from significant human and financial investments, embodied in “Betclic Protect”, a pioneering player-protection programme that includes:
• Raising awareness among all players through broad public campaigns.
• Providing moderation tools enabling players to stay in control.
• Detecting risky behaviours using a model combining 60 behavourial indicators.
• Supporting players in difficulty through personalised assistance.
More than 100 specialists at Betclic are dedicated exclusively to responsible gaming.
Betclic Group’s management also requires 100% of employees to be trained annually on responsible gaming specifics, demonstrating the company’s full commitment to this issue.
Nicolas Béraud, founder and CEO of Betclic Group, said: “Becoming the first French operator certified by RG Check is a collective source of pride. It crowns years of investment in player protection and confirms that responsibility and innovation can strengthen one another. This certification also highlights that our ‘Betclic Protect’ program is among the most robust in the world, enabling us to offer a safer gaming experience to our 5 million customers.”
This certification comes as Betclic launches its annual “Responsible Gaming Week” from 17 to 20 November 2025, during which employees across Betclic Group’s five offices (France, Poland, Portugal, Ivory Coast, Malta) will be trained on prevention and awareness topics through workshops and conferences.
The post Betclic Becomes the First French Operator to Earn RG Check Certification appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
PRONET GAMING BECOMES FIRST B2B OPERATOR TO ESTABLISH SCBPO ACCREDITED OPERATION IN THE PHILIPPINES VIA CLAYMORE SOLUTIONS
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Omni-channel turnkey provider Pronet Gaming is the first internationally-licensed B2B company in the gaming sector to establish an SCBPO-accredited operation in the Philippines via Claymore Solutions.
Claymore Solutions is accredited by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) as a Special Class BPO (SCPBO), which authorises them to provide employer of record & serviced office space to internationally licenced gaming operators enabling them to establish operations in the Philippines without taking bets or payments.
Pronet Gaming will now build out IT and Trading teams in Manila, further strengthening its operational presence and technical capabilities in the region.
Pronet Gaming CEO Alex Leese said: “Establishing an SCBPO-accredited presence in the Philippines is a milestone that aligns perfectly with our long-term strategy of expanding our footprint in Asia, in a fully compliant way. We’re happy to have made this possible through the collaboration and support of our trusted partner, Claymore Solutions.”
Paul Fox, Chairman and Co-Founder of Claymore Solutions, said: “We’re honoured to be working with Pronet Gaming, providing EoR and serviced office space solutions for their operations which underlines the quality of local staff and further boosts the Filipino economy.”
PAGCOR Chairman Al Tengco commented: “We’re delighted to have B2B operators such as Pronet Gaming establish their Trading and IT operations here through Claymore Solutions. I hope that more companies follow given the wealth of readily available Filipino talent in this sector.”
Claymore will announce additional client partnerships in the near future.
The post PRONET GAMING BECOMES FIRST B2B OPERATOR TO ESTABLISH SCBPO ACCREDITED OPERATION IN THE PHILIPPINES VIA CLAYMORE SOLUTIONS appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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