Compliance Updates
Special Interview: A Conversation with Tom Farrell, CMO of ClearStake
Affordability is currently the word on everyone’s lips. Operators continue to face a ‘sustainability conundrum’ – they must fulfil their regulatory obligations and commitments to player protection, while ensuring their business remains profitable. For many, affordability can spell disaster, with up to 90% of customers lost when asked to prove they have the money they are wanting to spend. However, using Open Banking to carry out these financial checks as quickly as possible may be the answer to boosting retention and retaining otherwise lost revenues.
The DCMS recently published a public consultation on the UK gambling White Paper, while the Gambling Commission launched its own on financial risk checks, bringing their importance of affordability to the top of the agenda – but operators must now strike the balance between minimising harm and maximising revenue. Affordability checks that take too long risk sending customers to competitors, or worse, the black market.
One of the key remedies to the high level of churn experienced in the past is making sure financial risk checks can be carried out quickly and with as little friction as possible, so that customers can complete them with as much ease as approving a payment while online shopping. Operators have to reach a decision quickly because the longer players wait, the more likely it is they will go elsewhere while they’re waiting.
Of course, there are some people who under no circumstances will share financial data with someone like a gambling operator. There’s also a group of people who won’t share data because they know they are gambling beyond their means. This is of course the system working as it should and that’s a good thing. But there’s a third group of people for whom it’s too much effort. They’re asked to provide bank statements, at which point they go to a competitor, as the hoops they have to jump through are not worth it.
For a customer using Open Bank technology, such as ClearStake, what used to involve downloading and printing bank statements and a wait while the operator reviews the data, now takes just 30 seconds and a few clicks. A decision is recommended to the operator immediately and theoretically, the whole process can take less than a minute. Players click a link, and they are taken to a super slick and simple process where they press a couple of buttons and the relevant financial data is shared securely. They are always in control of their data and they can revoke permission at any time.
Our software categorises every transaction and we can calculate whatever the operator wants to see. It could be disposable income, net gambling spend, total income, or current balance on the account. Our software can also evaluate the rate of change so operators can see accelerating gambling spend or consistently declining savings and work out if the player’s gambling activity is still within the safe bounds of their current financial position.
Without responsible gaming and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) checks, gambling risks being over-regulated out of existence as the product will become unprofitable. To answer the sustainability conundrum many operators face, we need to find a middle ground. Sustainability means not letting people spend beyond their means. It means letting people have a bet if they can afford to, while not taking more money than they can spend.
Over the last two or three years, the Gambling Commission got strict on affordability checks. They asked operators how they know someone could afford to lose ‘x’ amount. The White Paper effectively agreed with the Gambling Commission and has clarified that if someone is losing £2,000 in the space of three months or £1,000 in one month, operators should be confident about the player’s financial situation. The headline was that affordability and EDD checks should be taking place.
This discussion around affordability is not only limited to the UK, and we are seeing lawmakers and regulators in several other countries considering measures in this area.
The industry therefore needs to be proactive as the problem will never go away if it keeps allowing people to bet money they don’t have. In the public mind, gambling will have the same fate as cigarettes which are currently being regulated out of existence.
Celebrities will no longer be able to appear in gambling ads on TV, radio and online, following a decision voted on Wednesday in a public meeting of the National Audiovisual Council of Romania (CAN). The provision is part of a series of amendments that passed the Code of Broadcasting Regulation, the NAC’s secondary legislation.
“It is forbidden to broadcast advertising for gambling featuring public, cultural, scientific, sports or other personalities who, due to their online notoriety, may encourage participation in such games,” says the new Article 110, paragraph 7 of the newly voted Audiovisual Code.
The new provision will become mandatory in a few months, more precisely 90 days after the Audiovisual Code enters into force.
Several amendments were submitted by institutions or gambling companies in an attempt to stop this provision.
Among the challengers were Winbet, which asked the CNA to allow stars to be used at least in “social responsibility” campaigns. So did the Romanian Football Federation, which proposed that personalities should be allowed to appear in awareness or social responsibility campaigns.
Kaizergaming, the Federation of Gambling Organisers and the Romanian Bureau of Transmedia Audit asked for the deletion of the article.
All amendments were unanimously rejected.
The post Romania Bans Celebrities from Gambling Ads appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
AGCO
AGCO Fines Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto $350,000 for Serious Regulatory Violations Linked to Impromptu After-Party on Gaming Floor
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued monetary penalties totaling $350,000 against Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto for multiple violations of provincial gaming standards. The penalties follow an impromptu after-party that was permitted to take place in the pre-dawn hours directly on the casino’s gaming floor.
On September 27, 2024, an electronic dance music event attended by thousands of people was hosted in the theatre adjacent to the casino at Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. The event was marked by widespread intoxication, disorderly behavior, and numerous criminal and medical incidents – both inside and outside the venue – including alleged assaults, drug overdoses, and acts of public indecency. Although paid duty officers were present, additional police and emergency services were required to manage the situation.
In the midst of this high-risk environment, casino management approved an unscheduled request by the performing artist to host an after-party on the active gaming floor. The artist and more than 400 guests were permitted onto the gaming floor where the artist was allowed to perform amidst operational table games and gaming machines – without any prior risk assessment or planning.
As a result, security personnel were unable to effectively control the casino floor, including witness reports that an attendee was seen climbing onto slot machines. Failure to maintain appropriate control compromises the security, safety, and integrity of the casino floor. Following the conclusion of the event, the operator failed to promptly report these incidents to the AGCO as required.
Based on the findings of its review, the AGCO’s Registrar has issued an Order of Monetary Penalty (OMP) totaling $350,000 against Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. These penalties address critical failures in their operations, incident reporting, employee training, and the management of disturbances.
A gaming operator served with an OMP has 15 days to appeal the Registrar’s decision to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an adjudicative tribunal that is part of Tribunals Ontario and independent of the AGCO.
“Casino operators have a fundamental duty to control their gaming environment. Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto’s lapses in this incident compromised the safety of patrons and the security and integrity of the gaming floor,” Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of AGCO, said.
The post AGCO Fines Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto $350,000 for Serious Regulatory Violations Linked to Impromptu After-Party on Gaming Floor appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Esportes da Sorte hosted its Match-Fixing Prevention Forum last week at Ceará and Náutico as main sponsor of both clubs. Held in partnership with Sportradar, the initiative is part of a series of in-person workshops, with upcoming sessions planned for Corinthians and Ferroviária.
The project aims to combat illegal practices and reinforce a strong commitment to integrity in sport. Activities were tailored for athletes and members of the technical staff from the men’s and women’s professional teams, as well as the under-20 squads. During the sessions, topics such as the definition of match-fixing, types of fraud, fraudsters’ modus operandi, legal risks, and reputational impacts were covered. Participants were offered practical guidance on how to respond to suspicious approaches.
“This training programme reinforces our commitment to sports integrity and responsible gaming, pillars that guide our actions. We believe education is the best form of prevention, and we want to stand alongside clubs in this joint effort for transparency and the protection of sport,” said Ana Carolina Luna Maçães, Compliance Manager at Esportes Gaming Brasil, the group behind the Esportes da Sorte brand.
“Ceará takes this topic very seriously. The club is an important player in the fight against match-fixing. We act preventively with regular meetings and have a handbook that addresses the topic with our squad. It is our duty to provide these moments of learning for athletes and technical staff. We live in a time when the integrity of sport is being questioned. In this scenario, actions like this are extremely important,” commented Lucas Drubscky, Football Executive at Ceará.
The sessions were led by Felippe Marchetti, Integrity Partnerships Manager at Sportradar, a global sports technology company and recognized authority in sports integrity. In Brazil, Sportradar partners with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and 17 state federations, monitoring more than 10,000 matches per season. The company recently signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement (TCA) with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Sports.
“Raising awareness among athletes and teams is one of the most effective ways to protect competitions from manipulation. These workshops are designed to equip participants with the knowledge and tools to recognize threats and act responsibly. We are proud to support initiatives like this that strengthen the integrity of Brazilian sports,” said Felippe Marchetti.
The post Esportes da Sorte holds forum on “Integrity in Sports” with Ceará and Náutico appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
-
Latest News7 days agoThe Most Popular Gaming Platforms in Germany: Console and Smartphone Attract Ever More Video Game Players
-
Asia7 days ago
FIFA, NBA, UFC and More Sports Events Go Live – Crypto Sportsbook BETY Offers Global Sports Betting Coverage 2025
-
Australia6 days ago
VGCCC: Minors Exposed to Gambling at ALH Venues
-
Balkans7 days ago
SYNOT Partners with Efbet in Bulgaria
-
EveryMatrix Press Releases7 days ago
SlotMatrix unleashes divine riches in Fortuna Gold where gods rule the reels
-
Brazil7 days ago
TG Lab unveils new Brazil office to further cement position as market’s most localised platform
-
Africa7 days ago
pawaTech strengthens its integrity commitment with membership of the International Betting Integrity Association
-
Baltics7 days ago
Estonian start-up vows to revolutionise iGaming customer support with AI
