Compliance Updates

WFH could mean your Grand National workplace sweepstake is illegal

Published

4 years ago

April 6, 2022

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Traditional office sweepstake risks falling foul of gambling law if participants enter remotely

Gambling regulation expert provides guidance on how to comply with law when setting up workplace pool

The recent trend towards flexible working means many businesses are at risk of falling foul of gambling legislation, if organising the traditional office Grand National sweepstake, a leading law firm is warning.

With this weekend’s big race at Aintree attracting the interest of not just racing fans but the general public at large, it is typically one of the most popular events for an office sweepstake.

In pre-Covid times there was little risk involved in such a contest, other than perhaps an excess of workplace rivalry, especially given the event’s propensity for surprises and upsets.

However, Poppleston Allen, a leading gambling licensing law firm, says that with the shift towards hybrid working, organisers now need to be more cautious.

“While formal gambling activity is heavily regulated by the Gambling Commission, there is an exception designed to allow the general public to have a bit of fun by taking part in what is officially called a work lottery,” says Richard Bradley, associate solicitor and gambling regulation expert at Poppleston Allen.

“But what many people may not realise is that the rules are very clear in that you can only sell physical tickets and all players must work in the same office – contests running across different office locations of the same company are not allowed.

“Therefore, if the pandemic has led to staff working from other offices or largely working from home, extra care needs to be taken when running a Grand National sweepstake.

“Organisers, whether employers or employees, must make sure they do not sell any tickets via email or over the phone. Any staff member who wants to play must visit the office and buy a physical ticket. If these rules aren’t followed, organisers and players would technically be involved in illegal gambling.”

Bradley says other rules to make sure a workplace sweepstake doesn’t land anyone in hot water with the Gambling Commission include the following:

All players must pay the same amount for a ticket;
Horses must be decided by chance, for example, drawn out of a hat;
No one can make a profit and all stakes must be returned as prizes, though an organiser can deduct administration costs for running the contest;
The sweepstake can only be advertised at the work premises; and
There must be a winner – the prize cannot be rolled over.

Compliance Updates

REEVO Obtains Certification in Portugal

Published

11 hours ago

March 18, 2026

Wladimir P.

REEVO, the fast-growing online game provider, announced that its portfolio of in-house games has officially been certified for the Portuguese market, marking another important milestone in the company’s ongoing expansion across Europe’s regulated iGaming sector.

With certification secured, REEVO games are now approved for licensed operators in Portugal, enabling the company to introduce its innovative slot titles and immersive gameplay experiences to players across the country.

Portugal represents one of Europe’s most respected regulated markets, and the certification underscores REEVO’s commitment to delivering high-quality, compliant gaming content that meets the strict requirements of regulated jurisdictions while maintaining the creativity and performance that define the REEVO brand.

Portuguese operators will now gain access to:

• REEVO’s premium portfolio of in-house slot games

• High-performance, mobile-first gameplay

• Innovative features designed to enhance player engagement

• Fully certified and regulator-approved content

“Achieving certification in Portugal is an exciting milestone for REEVO and an important step in our European growth strategy. We are thrilled to bring our in-house games to Portuguese operators and players, continuing our mission to deliver engaging, high-quality content across regulated markets,” said Karl Grech, Head of Business Development at REEVO.

The post REEVO Obtains Certification in Portugal appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Compliance Updates

UKGC Appoints Sue Young as its Executive Director of Operations

Published

11 hours ago

March 18, 2026

Wladimir P.

ukgc-appoints-sue-young-as-its-executive-director-of-operations

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has appointed Sue Young as its new Executive Director of Operations.

Sue joins the Commission from HMRC where she was Director of Debt Management. She brings extensive leadership experience from across the public sector, including senior roles at the Home Office, including Border Force and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services and the Department of Health and Social Care.

As Executive Director for Operations, Sue will lead a number of the Commission’s operational functions as the regulator continues its work to keep gambling safer, fairer and crime free.

Sarah Gardner, Acting Chief Executive, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Sue to the Gambling Commission. There is a great deal of important work underway across our operational teams, not least our continued focus on tackling the illegal market and delivering strong regulatory outcomes. Sue brings a wealth of operational leadership experience and I’m very much looking forward to working with her.”

Sue Young said: “I’m excited to be joining the Gambling Commission and to be learning about a new sector. The Commission plays an important role in protecting consumers and ensuring gambling is conducted fairly and safely. I’m looking forward to building on the significant work already underway across the organisation.”

The post UKGC Appoints Sue Young as its Executive Director of Operations appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Alex Smith

Fanatics Betting and Gaming Appoints Alex Smith as its Chief Legal Officer

Published

11 hours ago

March 18, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

fanatics-betting-and-gaming-appoints-alex-smith-as-its-chief-legal-officer

Fanatics Betting and Gaming has announced the appointments of Alex Smith to the position of Chief Legal Officer and Sara Tait to Senior Vice President and Head of Legal and Regulated Industries.

Reporting to Fanatics Betting and Gaming CEO Matt King, Smith will be a member of the FBG executive team and lead legal, regulatory, compliance, and government affairs strategy for the company’s rapidly growing sports betting and iGaming division. Smith Joined FBG in 2021 as VP of Legal and Regulatory Compliance and spearheaded the fastest state by state roll out for Fanatics Sportsbook in the history of U.S. sports betting.

“Alex was one of our first hires and he helped build our legal and regulatory apparatus that has allowed us to launch products rapidly in legal sports betting, iCasino and prediction markets. As we continue to grow, Alex is the perfect person to lead our legal and regulatory functions into the future,” said Matt King, CEO of Fanatics Betting and Gaming.

Reporting to Alex Smith, Tait will have wide responsibilities spanning multiple strategic subject matters within FBG, specifically serving as legal counsel to the regulated gaming and markets products. She is responsible for developing and managing FBG’s relationships with federal and state regulators; contributing to government affairs efforts and strategic industry initiatives; furthering FBG’s consumer protection measures; and maintaining licenses and registrations with federal and state oversight bodies.

“Sara is a well-respected former gaming regulator who also has experience in the private sector, making her the ideal choice to lead critical legal and regulatory efforts. The legal and regulatory landscape for sports betting, iCasino and prediction markets are constantly changing and having someone that has been on both sides of the regulatory landscape will be invaluable to us as we continue our growth trajectory,” said Smith.

The post Fanatics Betting and Gaming Appoints Alex Smith as its Chief Legal Officer appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.