Compliance Updates

France’s ANJ Flags Concerns Over Licensees’ Player Protection Strategies

Published

5 years ago

April 21, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

L’Autorité nationale des Jeux (ANJ) has approved or suggested improvements to player protection plans licensees were ordered to submit as part of the French gambling regulator’s increased focus on social responsibility.

The regulator examined action plans from all operators active in the country, including the two former monopolies, La Française des Jeux (FDJ) and Pari-Mutuel Urbain (PMU).

As well as approving 96 plans, the ANJ said it may make decisions later on some land-based casinos which may only open at a later date because of restrictions related to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

There was no indication that any plan was rejected outright.

The ANJ said it prioritised four main issues: prohibiting minors from gambling, allowing for self-exclusion and other checks, identifying and supporting potential problem gamblers and having a general policy that focused on protecting these groups.

Examining the plan of FDJ, the regulator approved the plan with no further conditions. It said the lottery operator “reflects the operator’s desire to meet” the French government’s objectives regarding protecting minors and problem players.

“It is distinguished in particular by the setting up of an ambitious program aimed at guaranteeing the ban on gambling by minors on all game types, innovative prevention initiatives, diversified and adapted to the profiles of players, and the existence of an advanced player identification and support system for pathological gamblers,” the regulator said.

For PMU, however, it raised some concerns and thus added further conditions.

“Further progress is expected from the operator to fully achieve the objective of preventing excessive or pathological gambling,” ANJ said.

In particular, it said tools and resources for problem gamblers were not easily available, while identification of problem gamblers and training of employees were also not up to standard.

While the ANJ approved this plan, it told the operator it must improve these areas. This included providing technical specifications of its system to recognise problem gamblers, taking the effort to strengthen its training system and ensuring the accessibility of RG tools.

Andrew Rhodes

Andrew Rhodes to Step Down as CEO of UK Gambling Commission

Published

16 hours ago

February 11, 2026

Wladimir P.

andrew-rhodes-to-step-down-as-ceo-of-uk-gambling-commission

The UK Gambling Commission has announced that Andrew Rhodes has decided to leave the Commission on 30 April 2026, to take up a new role, which will be announced in due course.

Andrew has provided outstanding leadership of the Commission for almost five years and has overseen a transformation of the Commission and how it regulates the gambling Industry.

Andrew has led the work required from the Commission to implement the Gambling Act Review, with a strong focus on consumer safeguards. This has included the introduction of financial vulnerability checks, reducing the intensity of online games, and banning potentially harmful marketing offers. He has also overseen the introduction of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain, now one of the largest surveys of gambling behaviour in the world.

Amongst his other achievements, Andrew oversaw the successful implementation of the Fourth National Lottery licence and transformed the Commission’s approach to regulation through more robust and outcome-focused strategies.

He said: “It has been a privilege to lead the Gambling Commission through such an important period of change. I am proud of the progress we have made to strengthen regulation, improve consumer protections, and ensure gambling is safer and fairer. I leave with confidence in the organisation, its people, and the work still to come.”

Charles Counsell, Interim Chair of the Gambling Commission, said: “Andrew has provided outstanding leadership for nearly five years and leaves a strong legacy. He has led the Commission through major reform, strengthened our regulatory approach, and ensured consumer protection has remained at the heart of our work. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Andrew for his dedication and wish him every success in the future.”

The Commission will shortly begin the process of recruiting a Chief Executive for an interim period. Deputy Chief Executive Sarah Gardner will step up as Acting Chief Executive to cover the areas of work that Andrew will step back from during this transitional period.

The post Andrew Rhodes to Step Down as CEO of UK Gambling Commission appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Colombia

Playson expands LatAm presence with Colombian market entry

Published

16 hours ago

February 11, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

playson-expands-latam-presence-with-colombian-market-entry

Supplier goes live in Colombia with Tier-1 operator strengthening LatAm expansion strategy

Playson, the accomplished digital entertainment supplier, has officially entered the regulated Colombian iGaming market after securing full certification from Coljuegos, the country’s gambling regulator, and launching with leading operator Rush Street Interactive (RSI).

The milestone marks a significant step in Playson’s Latin American growth strategy, with Colombia becoming the latest regulated jurisdiction to welcome the supplier’s certified platform and portfolio. Going live with Rush Street Interactive – a Tier-1 operator with a strong footprint across the Americas – underlines Playson’s focus on expanding alongside established, trusted partners in key regulated markets.

Colombia is recognised as one of the most mature and demanding regulatory environments in LatAm, requiring suppliers to meet strict technical, security and reporting standards. Playson’s successful certification process confirms the robustness of its cloud-based infrastructure, designed to ensure low latency, stability and seamless performance for players across the region.

With the game suite now live, Colombian players gain access to a selection of Playson’s top-performing titles, known for their engaging mechanics, polished visuals and proven performance in regulated markets worldwide.

The launch further reinforces Playson’s commitment to regulated market expansion across LatAm, with Colombia joining a growing list of jurisdictions where the supplier has successfully deployed its technology.

Cristhian Zito, Head of LATAM at Playson, said: “Entering the Colombian market is an important milestone for Playson, and doing so alongside Tier-1 operator of the region makes it even more meaningful. Colombia is a highly respected regulated market, and completing the certification process reflects months of focused work to meet its stringent requirements.

“Partnering with the RSI allows us to introduce our content with confidence and sets a strong foundation for long-term growth in the region.”

The post Playson expands LatAm presence with Colombian market entry appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

AGLC

Continent 8 set to back Alberta’s iGaming operators and suppliers

Published

2 days ago

February 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

continent-8-set-to-back-alberta’s-igaming-operators-and-suppliers

Continent 8 Technologies, a premier provider of advanced managed IT solutions tailored for the worldwide iGaming and online sports betting sector, announces its official launch in Alberta, Canada. This growth comes after the province unveiled its competitive iGaming regulatory framework and the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) issued comprehensive hosting and security requirements, representing another important milestone in Continent 8’s enduring dedication to the North American market.

With established operations in Ontario – where the company effectively introduced its Public Cloud solution in Toronto in direct response to the province’s launch of its iGaming market in 2022 – Continent 8 brings to Alberta the same level of regulatory insight, technical expertise, and customer-focused innovation that has positioned it as a reliable partner throughout Canada.

Alberta’s iGaming regulations outline specific hosting and data management responsibilities for suppliers and operators. For instance, every data centre utilized by licensees must obtain AGLC approval, which includes data residency, cross-border transfers, and encryption key management.

The province requires fully operational disaster recovery infrastructure and unalterable, encrypted backups, along with stringent conditions for quarterly testing and offsite storage—fields where Continent 8’s expertise offers instant benefits.

Besides hosting requirements, Alberta implements some of the most thorough security standards in the nation, such as mandatory MFA, compliance with SOC 2 and ISO 27001, yearly penetration testing, and extensive log retention mandates.

“Our heritage means we understand the rigorous regulatory expectations, and the operational challenges operators and suppliers face when entering new markets,” said Michael Tobin, CEO and Founder of Continent 8 Technologies. “Alberta’s standards are comprehensive, particularly around disaster recovery, backups, and security. We have built our solutions so customers can meet these requirements confidently from day one. We are excited to support customers as Alberta opens its market and continues Canada’s growth story.”

The post Continent 8 set to back Alberta’s iGaming operators and suppliers appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.