Compliance Updates

UKGC Imposes £780,000 Fine on Buzz Group

Published

4 years ago

December 17, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Buzz Group, which operates buzzbingo.com, has been fined £780,000 by the UK Gambling Commission for failures relating to social responsibility and anti-money laundering procedures.

Buzz Group also received a formal warning for the failures which occurred between October 2019 and December 2020.

Social responsibility failures included: financial triggers not sufficiently identifying at-risk players as they were set too high. One customer was able to deposit £22,400 in five days without the operator conducting a meaningful interaction within that period.

Systems not sufficiently identifying at-risk players. Two customers won large amounts of money gambling, yet the operator failed to consider the increased risk of gambling harm to those customers despite the customers displaying high levels of spend.

Not carrying out effective customer interactions with customers who gambled aggressively over short periods of time. One customer deposited and lost £12,400 during a six-day period but the operator’s only record of a customer interaction simply stated customer was ‘coping well in COVID-19’once a decision to interact with a customer had been made staff did not always sufficiently follow the requirement of the operator’s own customer interaction procedure to check the customer was comfortable with their gambling levels, if they felt in control, and then discuss responsible gambling tools and support resources.

Anti-money laundering failures included: triggers prompting source of funds (SOF) checks being over reliant on open source or anecdotal information such as staff relying heavily on assurances provided verbally by customers during interactions.

In one instance the operator placed reliance on a large customer win as the SOF for the customer’s future gambling spend without considering that it might not be recycled winnings and that it may be the proceeds of crime

Multiple alerts needed to be activated before a customer AML interaction took place. One customer was able to hit nine financial alerts before their account was suspended pending an AML interaction. The operator keeping insufficient records of AML interactions with customers and it was often not clear what had been discussed during those interactions.

The case against Buzz Group Ltd, like other recent enforcement action, was the result of planned compliance activity.

Helen Venn, Commission Executive Director, said: “As a regulator we expect all operators to effectively implement policies and procedures which make gambling safe and crime-free. Every single gambling business should be aware that we do check that these are in place and are being adhered to. If they are not, we will take action.”

Compliance Updates

KSA Files Over 4600 Reports Targeting Illegal Gambling Ads on Meta Platforms

Published

2 days ago

May 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

ksa-files-over-4600-reports-targeting-illegal-gambling-ads-on-meta-platforms

In April, the Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) has filed over 4600 reports with Meta regarding illegal advertisements. Combating illegal gambling offerings is one of the KSA’s priorities. Special attention is paid by the KSA to the marketing practices of the gambling companies, which frequently advertise on social media such as Facebook and Instagram. Therefore, the KSA monitors the volume of illegal advertisements.

Illegal practices

Illegal gambling providers place many advertisements on social media. In doing so, they use names and logos of well-known Dutch athletes and major brands to enhance their credibility. It is often difficult for consumers to determine whether a gambling provider holds a license. To protect consumers, the KSA therefore makes a strong effort to combat online advertising by illegal providers. The KSA does this, among other measures, by filing reports with major media companies more frequently.

Cooperation in alliance

To tackle illegal providers on social media, the KSA works closely with various companies and organisations. During a recent meeting of the alliance, current knowledge, trends and insights were shared. Advertising on social media was a key topic, as these platforms reach a large number of people.

The working group also discussed how companies can protect their trademarks and held a brainstorming session on what else is needed to tackle illegal providers on social media. The KSA will use the outcomes of the meeting in the coming period to take even better action.

Frustrating infrastructure

In the Netherlands, online gambling is only permitted with licensed providers. The KSA’s approach to illegal offerings ranges from imposing fines to disrupting the infrastructure used by illegal providers. The online world, and social media in particular, plays a major role within this infrastructure.

The post KSA Files Over 4600 Reports Targeting Illegal Gambling Ads on Meta Platforms appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Alberta

Gaming Corps wins conditional Alberta iGaming supplier licence

Published

3 days ago

May 13, 2026

Wladimir P.

gaming-corps-wins-conditional-alberta-igaming-supplier-licence

Gaming Corps has secured a conditional iGaming supplier licence from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC), clearing the company to manufacture and supply gaming software in the province ahead of Alberta’s regulated market launch on 13 July 2026.

The licence was granted through Gaming Corps’ subsidiary, Gaming Corps Malta Ltd. The company said the approval positions it to enter Alberta’s regulated iGaming market from day one.

Alex Lorimer, COO at Gaming Corps said: “Securing our Alberta licence marks another important step in Gaming Corps’ regulated market expansion strategy. Canada continues to represent a key growth region for us, and we’re excited to bring our expanding portfolio of games and unique mechanics to operators and players in Alberta.”

Alberta is set to become Canada’s second regulated open iGaming market after Ontario, with the AGLC overseeing licensing and compliance requirements for operators and suppliers.

The post Gaming Corps wins conditional Alberta iGaming supplier licence appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Brazil

IBJR: Crackdown on Illegal Betting Critical to Success of Desenrola 2.0

Published

3 days ago

May 13, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

ibjr:-crackdown-on-illegal-betting-critical-to-success-of-desenrola-2.0

The Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR) has warned that the effectiveness of the financial protection measures included in Desenrola 2.0 fundamentally depends on a strict crackdown on the illegal betting market.

In 2025, bets placed on licensed platforms accounted for only 0.46% of household consumption in the country — an extremely small share of the average Brazilian family budget — according to data from a study conducted by LCA Consultoria. This reinforces that the main driver of household indebtedness in Brazil continues to be the high cost of credit.

The IBJR emphasized that restricting access to the regulated sector may encourage users to migrate to illegal platforms, which already handle around R$40 billion per year and operate without any oversight or consumer protection mechanisms.

Combating the illegal market is the most urgent step to prevent unlicensed operators — often linked to organized crime — from taking advantage of restriction windows to attract vulnerable consumers. This concern is heightened by the proximity of the FIFA World Cup, a period that naturally increases the volume of sports betting activity, as well as by the potential loss of R$10.8 billion in tax revenue if consumption shifts to the underground market.

IBJR reiterates that real consumer protection and the integrity of Desenrola 2.0 depend on coordinated action between the government and the private sector. The organization advocates for public policies that combine financial education, the strengthening of responsible gaming practices, and a strategic offensive against illegal websites, ensuring that entertainment takes place exclusively within a safe, transparent, and properly regulated ecosystem.

The post IBJR: Crackdown on Illegal Betting Critical to Success of Desenrola 2.0 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.