Compliance Updates
Dutch Gambling Regulator Supports Removal of Gambling Machines from Family Arcades
Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has ruled that Dutch arcades can no longer run machines based on games of chance in a move to preserve and protect the family environments of arcade venues.
The KSA compliance was sponsored by the Family Entertainment Centers Nederland (FEC Nederland) of the Netherlands arcade trade body, which wrote to representatives to accept the KSA’s system removal action plan.
The KSA claimed in its ruling that the general make-up of venues has changed dramatically, with games of chance machines in entertainment centres frequently serving as the first point of contact for underage gambling interactions.
Powered by WPeMatico
American Gaming Association
AGA, ECA and BGC Sign MOU
The American Gaming Association (AGA), European Casino Association (ECA), and the Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that marks the beginning of a collaboration grounded in shared industry values and priorities. The MOU formalizes a commitment among the three associations to address key issues facing the global gaming industry including illegal gambling, responsible gaming, innovation, and security.
“This new partnership is a significant step forward in our collective efforts to advance the legal gaming industry and protect consumers around the globe. By sharing our unique resources, we will expand our fight against illegal gambling to new fronts, work together to strengthen responsible gaming, and innovate around business best practices,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller.
“By fostering dialogue and cooperation across borders, the AGA, ECA, and BGC are taking a proactive approach to safeguarding the integrity of the legal gaming industry and ensuring its continued growth and success,” Miller added.
The MOU will create a platform for undertaking joint research projects and bringing each organization’s staff and members together to share expertise.
“The European Casino Association stands united with the AGA and BGC in its commitment to addressing the key issues facing all gaming industry stakeholders. The ECA fully backs this initiative and supports the ongoing efforts to rigorously combat illegality within our industry, continuously strengthen player protections and security, and ensure the creation of an environment that fosters innovation and growth within the gaming community. On behalf of the ECA, I look forward to participating in the forthcoming law enforcement roundtable and to sharing the benefits of these learnings with our members,” said Erwin van Lambaart, Chairman of the European Casino Association.
Betting and Gaming Council CEO Grainne Hurst said: “This partnership marks a new chapter in our shared vision to build a world-class, trusted and sustainable betting and gaming industry. BGC members are rightly proud of their reputation as global leaders, and they know the power of collaboration. Working together with the AGA and ECA, I am confident our shared knowledge and expertise will be vital to bolstering safer gambling standards while tackling the threat of the growing and unsafe unregulated gambling black market in the UK.”
The first initiative under this MOU will be a law enforcement roundtable focused on combating illegal gambling. Scheduled for January 2025, this roundtable will bring together industry leaders, law enforcement officials, and regulators to discuss the impact of illegal gambling on legal operators, consumer safety, and the global financial system. The session will also explore strategies for enhancing cross-jurisdictional communication and developing actionable solutions to address these challenges.
Compliance Updates
How payments can drive iGaming operators’ growth as they navigate an evolving regulatory landscape
With iGaming regulation changing in multiple European and Latin American markets, Paysafe’s Rory Howard considers the invaluable role of payments
By Rory Howard, GM of iGaming for EMEA, Paysafe
After enacting new gambling legislation at end-2023, Brazil is expected to launch its iGaming market on January 1st. With 215m people, Latin America’s most populated country is almost certain to rapidly become a major global jurisdiction. Annual gaming revenue is forecast to grow to $4.9bn within five years, according to Vixio.
While the new Brazilian market offers an important opportunity for operators, licensing includes significant regulations to negotiate, including around payments. With other markets also enacting or considering more robust iGaming regulation, the operators that successfully navigate this new space can make change pay.
From Sao Paulo to Sweden via the UK
In April, Brazil published an Ordinance on operators’ payment requirements, preventing players from depositing using credit cards, cash, cheques, pay slips, bank slips and cryptocurrencies. Withdrawals of winnings will only be possible via electronic transfer between the operator and the player’s bank account, which must be a financial institution authorized by the Brazilian Central Bank.
Such restrictions, especially around credit cards, are part of a broader global trend to promote responsible gambling. In neighbouring Argentina, the Buenos Aires legislature is currently considering a bill to ban credit cards and social assistance debit cards for online betting in the capital region’s regulated market.
Over in the UK, operators have not been able to offer credit card deposits since the Gambling Commission restricted this in April 2020. More recently, the UK government’s Gambling Act Review white paper, which was released in April 2023, has resulted in more robust know your customer (KYC) checks for operators, including on affordability. From August all UK bettors depositing a net £500 needed to be checked, lowered to net deposits of £125 from February.
And UK operators are also facing marketing restrictions. From summer 2026, front-of-shirt Premier League football club sponsorships will no longer be an option following the association’s voluntary ban. In addition, the government is currently considering whether bonuses should be tightened, though it appears unlikely that the UK will go as far as Brazil’s complete ban on bonusing and free bets.
The UK isn’t the only European country strengthening its iGaming regulatory framework, with Sweden only allowing operators to offer players a single sign-up bonus following the Scandinavian country’s re-regulation of the market in 2019. More recently, the Swedish gambling regulator has come out in favour of the government’s proposed ban on credit cards for iGaming from April 2025.
Playing and paying it forward
With Sweden’s eastern neighbour, Finland, looking to liberalize its government monopoly with a licensing system for private operators by early 2027, the only constant when it comes to iGaming regulation is change. While regulatory change providers operators with opportunity, they need to have a solid strategy in place.
The global regulatory space is highly complex and diverse, so it’s essential for operators to develop a robust compliance framework that covers all the different legal requirements for each global market. Against the backdrop of the responsible gambling shift, KYC protocols have never needed to be more granular, requiring automation and specialised software for the highest accuracy and efficiency.
Payments are an indispensable element in negotiating the new regulatory landscape. Every market is unique, including when it comes to payments. If a jurisdiction restricts credit cards or other payment methods, operators’ cashiers need to include alternatives such as digital wallets, eCash or even pay-by-bank options to ensure players don’t abandon a brand before they become a customer.
With markets restricting bonuses and other marketing channels like sponsorships, operators need to ensure they are getting payments right. Payments – including quick payouts and deposits and the availability of preferred payment methods – are much more important factors in players’ selection of online sportsbooks than sign-up offers and sports sponsorships, according to Paysafe’s 2024 research.
More broadly, it’s also vital for operators to choose the right payment provider. Partnering with a payments company with global experience and which offers a comprehensive range of its own and third-party payment solutions, including local payment methods (LPMs) like Brazil’s Pix, will enable operators to effortlessly tailor their cashiers to a particular market.
Whether in Brazil, Argentina, the UK, Sweden or Finland, the global iGaming market is diversifying from a regulatory perspective. While the changing space poses significant challenges, it gives savvy operators an opportunity to ensure their brands and cashiers are not only compliant but have a completive edge that will ultimately pay out.
Rory Howard
As General Manager for iGaming in the EMEA region at Paysafe, Rory oversees the company’s online gambling business in the U.K. and continental Europe as well as neighbouring regional markets. He has close to 20 years’ experience in payments and fraud analysis, with a strong focus on the iGaming space. Rory’s previous roles include payment leadership positions at The Rank Group, Racing Stars, Gamesys, and Eyas Gaming.
The post How payments can drive iGaming operators’ growth as they navigate an evolving regulatory landscape appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Compliance Updates
BetConstruct Acquires New Romanian Licence for Casino and Fixed-Odds Betting Activities
BetConstruct is eager to announce that the company has acquired the prestigious Romanian Remote Gambling B2C Licence.
This licence, granted by ONJN (Romania National Gambling Office), enables BetConstruct to cater to Romanian users within the full scope of regulatory compliance, ensuring safe and secure gaming experiences.
Betconstruct’s team notes that this achievement marks the culmination of a rigorous and comprehensive process to meet the stringent regulatory standards set by Romanian authorities.
It underscores the company’s unwavering commitment to adhering to the highest industry standards, providing their Romanian customers with secure, dependable, and enjoyable gaming services. As BetConstruct celebrates this milestone, the company remains dedicated to promoting responsible gaming and is eager to expand into new markets in the future.
Obtaining the Romanian Remote Gambling B2C Licence is evidence of BetConsturct’s adherence to upholding responsible gaming policies and demonstrates how the company ensures that users can enjoy secure gaming experiences with the company’s innovative products and services.
The post BetConstruct Acquires New Romanian Licence for Casino and Fixed-Odds Betting Activities appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
Asia5 days ago
AFC signs MoU with IBIA to strengthen fight against match-fixing
-
Latest News5 days ago
TaDa Gaming Explores an Underwater World of Wins in Poseidon
-
Balkans5 days ago
EEGS 2024 Welcomes Oddin.gg as Silver Sponsor!
-
Ace Per Head4 days ago
MGCB Issues Cease-and-Desist Letters to Ace23 and Ace Per Head for Illegal Gambling Activities
-
AIEJA4 days ago
EveryMatrix gains AIEJA Mexico gaming Association membership
-
Latest News5 days ago
7777 gaming signs strategic agreement with R. Franco Digital, expanding reach in Spain and Latin America
-
Conferences in Europe5 days ago
ELA Games Concludes a Successful SBC Summit
-
Latest News5 days ago
PG Soft releases Anime-Inspired Oishi Delights