Compliance Updates
UK Gambling Commission Considers Banning VIP Schemes
The UK Gambling Commission is considering whether to ban VIP schemes after collecting data from betting firms, including one that took 83% of all deposits from 2% of its customers.
The much-criticised membership programmes reward gamblers who habitually lose large sums of money with perks such as free bets, cashback on losing wagers or football tickets. The award of VIP status has been cited as a factor in seven out of 10 regulatory penalties issued to companies by the commission for failures to prevent problem gambling.
A Gambling Commission spokesman said it was already taking action to address poor practice linked to VIP programmes but was prepared to go further.
The regulator said: “Operators must improve their interaction with VIPs and we have challenged the industry to make faster progress to improve how they manage their customers. We have also taken robust action against operators who fail to protect consumers and we will be even tougher if behaviour does not change.”
The commission collected data on VIP schemes from nine companies that have been granted anonymity but are understood to be among the UK’s largest and best known. In one case, an operator told the commission that while only 2% of its customers are VIPs, they account for 83% of deposits made on the site.
“This report shows how completely reliant the industry is on people with gambling problems and that they are profiteering from them. As the Gambling Commission has itself suggested these practices should be banned to protect problem gamblers and stop the transfer of money from vulnerable addicted gamblers directly into the pockets of the online gambling industry,” Labour MP Carolyn Harris, who chairs a cross-party parliamentary group on gambling, said.
Compliance Updates
Czech Financial Administration Prevent Tax Evasion in Gambling Sector Amounting to CZK 540M
The Czech Financial Administration has successfully prevented tax evasion in the gambling sector amounting to CZK 540m.
Through a specialized financial department, authorities identified discrepancies in financial flows within casinos and gambling operators for the years 2021 and 2022. The findings were made public in a press release.
The tax evasion was uncovered through a detailed analysis of gaming data, which revealed unusual player behaviour and suspicious financial transactions. During an inspection of a gambling operator, the authorities detected irregularities that led to an additional tax assessment of CZK 340m. The audit further uncovered errors in the reporting of fees and commissions, resulting in an extra tax obligation of CZK 200m.
“Gambling is a highly regulated sector with significant tax revenues, which is why it is crucial for us to systematically minimize opportunities for illegal practices. This achievement demonstrates that our efforts have a tangible impact on market fairness and tax collection,” Otakar Sladkovský, Director of the Specialized Tax Office, said.
Although gambling tax is a relatively smaller contributor to the state’s overall tax revenues, it remains an important source of income. Last year, gambling taxes generated CZK 20.6 billion, reflecting a 12.5% increase compared to the previous year. Of this amount, CZK 14.2 billion was allocated to the state budget, while the remaining funds were distributed among municipal budgets. In total, tax revenues for the previous year, excluding compulsory insurance premiums, amounted to CZK 1.42 trillion.
The post Czech Financial Administration Prevent Tax Evasion in Gambling Sector Amounting to CZK 540M appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has issued a cease-and-desist order to BetNow.eu Sportsbook, Casino, and Racebook (BetNow), an offshore online casino operating illegally within the state. The site offers a range of casino games, including slots, poker, and live dealer options such as blackjack, roulette, and craps, as well as betting services for sports events and horse races.
“This unlicensed operator not only violates Michigan law, but also exposes consumers to significant risks. Our job is to protect Michigan residents by ensuring that all online gambling is conducted legally and responsibly,” MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams said.
BetNow offers numerous payment options for player deposits, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Zelle, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Tether, Bitcoin Cash, CashMG, and bank transfers. However, players must wager their entire initial deposit before becoming eligible to withdraw any winnings.
The MGCB’s investigation found that BetNow is in violation of several key state laws, including:
• Lawful Internet Gaming Act: Only licensed operators are permitted to offer internet gaming. Only Michigan-licensed casinos and federally authorized tribal casinos can apply for a gaming license under state law.
• Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act: Operating an unlicensed gambling business is a felony in Michigan, carrying penalties of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, or both.
• Michigan Penal Code: Gambling, which involves payment based on the outcome of an uncertain event, is prohibited under state law. Accepting money with the understanding it will be paid based on a game of chance is illegal.
The post MGCB Issues Cease-and-Desist Order to BetNow appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
The National Council of Games of Chance and Luck in Colombia has issued Agreement 802 of 2025, through which operators are authorized to use random number generators complementary to the use of raffles and to broadcast the draws over the internet.
“We are working to modernize the entire industry, and that means implementing new technologies. With this Agreement, our goal is that, based on number generators, lottery operators can carry out more draws per year. This means not only an increase in sales, but also in transfers for health,” Marco Emilio Hincapié, president of Coljuegos, said.
Random number generators are systems that allow numbers to be chosen at random. These programs work through computer algorithms that create statistically independent results without following specific patterns that lead to them being predictable.
“From now on, lottery operators will have the possibility of continuing to use the ballot boxes and, at the same time, create more draws in which random number generators are used,” said the president.
“In addition, they will be able to broadcast the draws through their websites, social media and traditional media such as television. This will provide greater transparency in the draws and more guarantees for bettors,” he added.
This new regulation is part of the strategy to transform and optimize the operation of games of chance and luck with computer security and transparency standards.
The post Colombian Lottery Operators Get Permission to Use Random Number Generators appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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