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Open Banking Can Change the Game in the Post-Credit-Card-Ban UK Gambling Industry
The consequences of the upcoming ban on credit card gambling in the UK might bring more financial harm to the i-gaming industry and inconvenience to responsible players than good to problem gamblers who constitute roughly 1% of 24 million adults who gamble in Britain. Fortunately, the situation opens the window of opportunity for open-banking payments – even more convenient than cards and e-wallets and not as controversial.
The official rationale of the new restriction imposed by the Gambling Commission (UKGC) might create an erroneous impression that most players in the UK are addicted to gambling and place bets using credit cards. In reality, according to the UKGC’s data, only around 800,000 people in Britain use credit cards for gambling, and just about 22% of those who do are problem gamblers. In other words, the newly introduced regulation, meant to protect less than 180,000 adults from getting into debt by making it just slightly more complicated, will push the remaining 620,000 responsible players, who gamble on credit cards just for convenience and simplicity, towards alternatives.
As e-wallets are very well known and broadly used among players, one could conclude that e-wallet providers are the grand winners here. An increase in the demand could be a good reason for them to raise prices. But the UKGC must know very well that wallet apps can be easily used as proxies for credit card gambling, and thus further restrictions might be a matter of time. But there is a way for all – gaming companies, gamblers, and the regulator – to achieve their goals without causing harm to other parties in the ecosystem. This can be done through open banking.
Open banking enables initiating direct wire transfers between players and gaming companies without the need for the former to leave the latter’s website and fill a transfer order form. The transactions are bank secure as the authentication process is, in fact, on the bank. It’s quick, easy, and does not require any third-party apps. The payee gets a notification on the transaction status in real time, so credits or virtual tokens can be added to a user account instantly, which means no interference with the overall gambling experience. Furthermore, this approach does not allow the player to spend more money than they have on their bank account, so it mitigates the risk of getting into debt. On top of that, pay-outs are easier and cheaper to handle as they take only as much time and cost as a regular Bacs BACS transfer (plus a small technical processing fee). I believe this might be a perfect solution for responsible gamblers who appreciate the simplicity of credit card payments as well as for i-gaming companies willing to enhance their overall user experience.
Problem gambling needs to be addressed, and people who suffer from gambling addiction as well as their families should be, surely, receiving appropriate support. Although, I don’t think the ban on credit card gambling could, in any way, be the form of support such people need. For the UK’s gambling industry and over 10.5 million online players, smooth open-banking payments can be a way to have a cake and eat it.
Straal is an international provider of payment, optimization and fraud prevention solutions for future-minded businesses. The company offers a comprehensive suite of products that make accepting digital payments easier, as well as more effective and secure. Straal enables accepting one-off and recurring payments carried out by customers with credit and debit cards of all major organizations, initiating transactions via open banking APIs, ordering SEPA Direct Debit cycles and more. Thanks to Straal, customers can pay in currencies of their choice (over 150 options), using their preferred desktop and mobile platforms, while merchants can effectively maximise their transaction approval rate and mitigate risk. Founded in 2017, the company is headquartered in Warsaw, Poland. www.straal.com
In a move towards modernising India’s lottery sector, the state of Goa has introduced an entirely online lottery platform, sanctioned by the Directorate of Small Savings and Lotteries. This initiative, known as Great Goa Games, aims to bring transparency and convenience to an industry that has long grappled with allegations of mismanagement and fraud.
Ticket sales commenced Monday, with the inaugural draw set for Sunday. Rhiti Group, led by founder Arun Pandey, was granted the license to operate and market the platform. “Our mission is to democratize opportunities through technology,” Pandey stated, emphasizing the secure and user-friendly nature of the app-based system.
Goa government official Narayan Gad lauded the move as a step forward for the Indian lottery sector. “With our online lottery streamlining processes through technology, we are setting a new standard in the lottery industry,” Gad remarked. “The technology-based product will enhance transparency and ensure improved monitoring and regulation of operations.”
This development follows new rules governing online lotteries, introduced by the Goa directorate in February 2023. Currently, 13 states in India, including Goa, allow lottery games, though others have banned them due to concerns over gambling addiction and operational irregularities.
The post Goa Introduces an Entirely Online Lottery Platform appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Catena Media’s board of directors announced the appointment of Stephen Taylor-Matthews as non-executive director and the departure of Øystein Engebretsen from the board of directors.
Based in London, Stephen Taylor-Matthews is a tech entrepreneur, executive advisor and investor with over two decades of experience in online gaming, sports betting and data analytics.
He is the founder of Polynate, an AI-first company delivering next-generation sports engagement solutions, and has worked at Underdog Fantasy, GoatGaming and Betgenius in previous roles.
Stephen Taylor-Matthews commented: “Catena Media is in a transformation phase and I’m excited to be joining the board at this juncture and to contributing my industry expertise and insight.”
The appointment coincides with the departure from the board of Øystein Engebretsen, who has served as non-executive director since September 2018.
Erik Flinck, Chairman of the Board of Directors, said: “Øystein has made a valuable and important contribution to Catena Media for more than six years. I warmly thank him for his efforts and wish him well in his current and future ventures. At the same time, I am delighted to welcome Stephen Taylor-Matthews to the board. His experience and expertise will be a valuable asset for Catena Media as we move forward.”
Stephen Taylor-Matthews’ appointment will become effective once all necessary filings are made with the Malta Business Registry, and his term will run up until the end of the next annual general meeting, in accordance with the Maltese Companies Act and Catena Media’s articles of association.
The post Catena Media Announces Board Changes appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
CT Interactive is going to showcase its innovative gaming solutions at BEGE, which will take place on November 27-28, 2024, at the Inter Expo Center in Sofia, Bulgaria. The company will present at stand 3.15А its top-notch slot catalogue featuring cutting-edge mechanics and engaging gameplay designed to appeal to various players.
Silvia Hristova, CT Interactive’s CPSO, stated: “We are excited to participate in BEGE, a central event for the gaming industry in Europe. This year, CT Interactive is showcasing a selection of games tailored to meet the evolving needs of our partners and engage players with innovative and localised content. BEGE offers a unique opportunity to connect with industry leaders, strengthen our relationships, and explore new growth opportunities in this dynamic region.
“We look forward to sharing our latest advancements and demonstrating our commitment to creating high-quality gaming experiences.”
The CT Interactive team at the expo will include Lachezar Petrov (CEO), Monika Zlateva (CCO), Silvia Hristova (CPSO), Antonio Donov (HBD EMEA & Asia), Kiril Kirilov (AM).
BEGE brings together manufacturers, online operators, affiliates, payment service providers and media professionals. This year’s exhibition will feature numerous companies from the gaming industry, showcasing their latest products, services and groundbreaking solutions.
The post CT Interactive to Showcase Innovative Gaming Solutions at BEGE 2024 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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