Compliance Updates

Euroconsumers calls Nintendo to solve its “Joy-Con Drift” probl

Published

5 years ago

October 7, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The new version of the Nintendo “Switch” console, the Switch OLED, expected on October 8th 2021, shows an unsolved technical problem with its controllers – an issue commonly called “Joy-Con Drift” – that prevents players from playing the game properly. Nintendo is quite aware of this flaw. Yet it still plans to roll out the new Switch with the old problem. Euroconsumers calls Nintendo to account.

“Joy-Con Drift”

The flaw in the controllers manifests itself after a couple of months, falsely reading input from the controller stick, as if the user has their thumb pressed down on the controller, causing the game character to move without the player even touching the device. This prevents the player from playing the game as intended. This issue is not new: it was already denounced extensively by users of the current Nintendo Switch, IFixit and multiple consumer organisations.

Nintendo’s inaction

This flaw has previously been raised with Nintendo. Firstly in January 2020, Test Achats/Test Aankoop, Euroconsumers’ Belgian national organization, sent a letter of formal notice to Nintendo Europe GmbH calling on the company to repair all the defective products free of charge and to publicly communicate about the defect.

In January 2021, BEUC, the European umbrella group for 46 independent consumer organisations, launched an external alert to the CPC network about a widespread infringement with Union dimension of EU consumer law, related to the premature obsolescence of the Nintendo Switch.

On top of this EU action, two class actions have been launched in the US, and a Canadian firm has filed an application to begin a class action.

Nevertheless, Nintendo has taken no actions to remedy the flaw or alert consumers. It even issues a new Switch OLED with the exact same Joy-Con design, with the exact same inescapable defect. Meanwhile Nintendo keeps on putting a great deal of emphasis on the quality and versatility of the Joy-Con in its advertisements t.

This early obsolescence is not only unfair and harmful to consumers, but also affects the environment, creating a pile of unnecessary and extremely polluting electronic waste.

Euroconsumers’ call on Nintendo

In a letter Euroconsumers has confronted Nintendo with the above, asking them to:

Adequately inform consumers of the existence of the “Joy-Con Drift” and its impact on the expected lifespan of the Nintendo controllers on the packaging of the product.
Fully respect provisions on the legal product guarantee, without imposing any burden of proof on consumers or charging them with any costs to repair or replace their Switch controllers.
Provide clear contact details at Nintendo for consumers to report and resolve Joy-Con problems, and for Euroconsumers and its national organisations to address problems to that regard.
Resolve the technical “Joy-Con Drift” flaw and ensure a more sustainable version of the controllers. Euroconsumers, and its national organizations stand ready to deploy decades of technical and testing experience to support finding solutions.

Euroconsumers is available and willing to launch a dialogue with Nintendo in order to establish the best way to satisfy the above requests.

“Nintendo has a duty to its customers to provide functioning devices,” said Marco Scialdone, Head of Litigation and Academic Outreach at Euroconsumers. “To knowingly continue selling these game consoles when they are defective is a breach of EU consumer law. We expect Nintendo to do the right thing and work with us to find a solution for consumers.”

“While on one hand Nintendo pretends to commit to the green transition and serve consumers, its continued distribution of faulty electronic devices shows it’s true lack of genuine commitment,” said Els Bruggeman, Head of Policy and Enforcement at Euroconsumers. “Early obsolescence results in more electronic waste, which is particularly difficult to dispose of. This shows a regrettable lack of respect for both the environment and consumers.”

BETER

BETER wins Illinois approval to distribute Setka Cup betting content

Published

3 hours ago

June 2, 2026

Wladimir P.

beter-wins-illinois-approval-to-distribute-setka-cup-betting-content

BETER has received approval from the Illinois Gaming Board to add its exclusive Setka Cup table tennis product to the state’s Sports Wagering catalog, expanding its regulated US footprint into Illinois.

The approval allows licensed Illinois operators to offer Setka Cup content, including live data and live streams, according to the company. BETER said the content is already available to Illinois bettors via bet365, and that additional operator launches are planned.

Illinois is the eighth US state where BETER’s exclusive content is available, the company said, following Florida, New Jersey, Colorado, Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, and North Carolina.

Gal Ehrlich, CEO of BETER, said: “Entering Illinois is another significant step in our US expansion and reinforces BETER’s position as a leading provider of fast-betting content in the world’s most exciting sports wagering market.

“Demand for high-velocity, 24/7 content continues to accelerate across the US, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of that shift. With eight states now under our belt, we have clear momentum and a long-term vision that goes well beyond individual state launches.”

Valeriia Tarchynska, Chief Legal Officer at BETER, added: “Securing approval from the Illinois Gaming Board is a testament to the rigorous regulatory work our team undertakes in every jurisdiction we enter. Each US state has its own framework and requirements, and our commitment to full alignment with those standards is non-negotiable.

“The US remains a strategically vital market for BETER, and we continue to work actively to secure approvals in additional key states. We are building real scale in this market, with much more to come.”

The post BETER wins Illinois approval to distribute Setka Cup betting content appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BETER

BETER expands US footprint with Illinois approval

Published

4 hours ago

June 2, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

beter-expands-us-footprint-with-illinois-approval

BETER, the award-winning provider of live streams, live data, and odds for esports and sports, has expanded its US presence after its exclusive Setka Cup table tennis content was added to the Sports Wagering catalog in the State of Illinois.

The approval was granted by the Illinois Gaming Board, the regulatory and law enforcement agency responsible for overseeing all licensed casino gambling, video gaming, and sports wagering in the state, and it allows BETER to provide licensed operators in Illinois with its Setka Cup content, including live data and live streams, for the first time.

Illinois marks the eighth US state in which BETER’s exclusive content is now available, following successful launches in Florida, New Jersey, Colorado, Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, and North Carolina.

The content is already available for local bettors via bet365, a long-standing partner of BETER, with additional operator launches planned in the near future.

BETER exclusively delivers 24/7 live streaming, real-time data, and hyper-accurate odds for more than 700,000 fast-paced esports and sports events annually to operators worldwide, offering up to 50 markets per event and an average operator margin of 7.5%+.

Its esports portfolio includes the ESportsBattle product featuring eFootball, eBasketball, eHockey, and eTennis. Its sports portfolio features the Setka Cup table tennis content and the BSKT Cup basketball league.

All of BETER’s exclusive content is underpinned by its Integrity team, ensuring strict adherence to fair play standards through 24/7 monitoring and close collaboration with key sports integrity bodies, including IBIA and ESIC, as well as sports federations.

BETER will also exhibit at SBC Summit Americas for the first time at Stand 813 from June 9–11, marking a major milestone in the company’s expansion across the United States.

Gal Ehrlich, CEO of BETER, said: “Entering Illinois is another significant step in our US expansion and reinforces BETER’s position as a leading provider of fast-betting content in the world’s most exciting sports wagering market.

Valeriia Tarchynska, Chief Legal Officer at BETER, added: “Securing approval from the Illinois Gaming Board is a testament to the rigorous regulatory work our team undertakes in every jurisdiction we enter. Each US state has its own framework and requirements, and our commitment to full alignment with those standards is non-negotiable.

The post BETER expands US footprint with Illinois approval appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Compliance Updates

Armenia Launches Sweeping Gambling Payment Reform

Published

5 days ago

May 28, 2026

Wladimir P.

armenia-launches-sweeping-gambling-payment-reform

Armenia accelerated one of the most aggressive gambling regulatory reforms in Eurasia after approving new measures to control digital platforms, advertising, payments and financial supervision across the betting sector. The strategy promoted by the government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan aims to strengthen legal gambling operations, increase fiscal oversight and tighten control over offshore operators in a market that has expanded dramatically over the past decade.

The reform is being driven by the Ministry of Finance of Armenia led in 2026 by Vahe Hovhannisyan, together with the State Revenue Committee headed by Rustam Badasyan. The main political architect behind the changes is MP Hayk Sargsyan from the ruling Civil Contract party.

The core of the reform focuses on payments and financial monitoring. Armenia plans to block transfers to unlicensed gambling operators, strengthen AML/KYC requirements and connect licensed platforms directly to state monitoring systems operating in real time. Armenia is advancing the software operator selection for its centralised gaming monitoring center, following the legal framework established in early 2024 to connect platforms directly to state systems in real time.

The 2026 update focuses on accelerating the public tender for the private operator, rather than the initial creation of the monitoring infrastructure, with the State Revenue Committee (SRC) leading the technological implementation. The fiscal framework is also becoming stricter. Since July 1, 2025, Armenia has applied a 10% turnover tax on gambling operations, while online gaming license costs doubled in April 2025 and are scheduled to continue increasing annually through 2028.

According to official figures cited by lawmakers, Armenia’s gambling turnover reached approximately AMD 6.3 trillion in 2023, equivalent to nearly €14 billion, while online casino deposits climbed to AMD 811 billion during 2024.

The government also tightened gambling advertising restrictions, limiting promotions to luxury hotels, border checkpoints and authorised operator channels. Armenian authorities argue that the new regulatory model is designed to protect legal operators, reinforce financial traceability and modernise state supervision over one of Eurasia’s fastest-growing digital industries.

The post Armenia Launches Sweeping Gambling Payment Reform appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.