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EGBA Urges France to Regulate Online Casino

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The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) expressed its concern about the findings of a new study into the size of France’s black market for online gambling. The study, commissioned by the national gambling authority l’Autorité Nationale des Jeux, estimates France’s black market for online gambling to be worth up to €1.5 billion annually in gross gaming revenue (GGR), equivalent to nearly half France’s regulated online gambling revenue. This suggests that France has one of the EU’s largest online gambling black markets and, to address the problem, EGBA calls on the French authorities to end the country’s ban on online casino games.

Although France is one of Europe’s significant gambling markets, it is one of just two EU countries which has a ban on online casino games, creating a black market with all its inherent risks. The new study, conducted by PwC, found that websites offering online casino games are major contributors to the country’s online black market and, along with slots, account for up to 50% of France’s black market website traffic. While there is clearly demand in France for these games, these websites operate outside of French laws and many of them threaten the safety of French players, who have no legal recourse or minimum protections, such as self-exclusion, when they use them.

The study found that around 3 million French players use black market websites at least once a month. Even more concerning, the study also established that high risk players account for 79% of the GGR generated by these players in the black market, meaning vulnerable players can be exposed to unsafe, unregulated websites which offer them no safer gambling protections.

To safeguard these players and foster a safe gambling environment for all, EGBA urged the French authorities to reassess the country’s existing ban on online casino games, and, consistent with the already established French regulation of online sports betting, take the necessary steps to ensure there is a safe and regulated environment also for the country’s online casino players. Such a regulatory framework should be based on a multi-licensing model, where several operators can obtain business-to-customer licenses, as this has long been proven to be the most effective method to reduce black markets in online gambling.

“The scale of France’s online black market is alarming, and we believe it is one of the EU’s largest online gambling black markets, alongside Germany and Italy. The country’s prohibition of online casino is clearly a big part of the problem. Given the popularity of online casino, and the need to protect consumers from the risks of the black market, it is imperative that the French authorities urgently reassess their current ban on online casino games. The ban is counterproductive and fails consumers. By regulating online casino games through a multi-licensing model, France would better protect its consumers, regain more control over its online gambling market, and secure vital tax revenues. The best way to tackle a black market is to establish a competitive regulated market alternative. The time to act is now,” Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA, said.

Compliance Updates

IGA Board of Directors Convenes at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego

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The Indian Gaming Association (IGA) Board of Directors convened at the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego in conjunction with the 2026 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention, marking a critical gathering of tribal leadership focused on governance, financial stewardship, and the protection of tribal sovereignty.

During the annual Board Meeting, the IGA Board formally approved the FY2025 independent audit report, reaffirming the organization’s strong financial position and continued commitment to transparency and accountability to its member tribes.

In addition to approving the audit, the Board adopted a formal resolution opposing the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) efforts to regulate so-called “event contracts,” including sports-related prediction markets. The resolution underscores IGA’s position that these activities constitute gambling and fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of tribal and state governments.

“Today, our Board took decisive action to protect what generations before us fought to build. These so-called prediction markets are an attempt to bypass tribal authority and recast gambling as a financial product. We will not allow that. We will stand united to defend tribal sovereignty and the integrity of Indian gaming,” said David Z. Bean, Chairman of the Indian Gaming Association.

With more than 350 exhibitors and thousands of attendees gathered in San Diego, the 2026 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention continues to showcase the strength, resilience, and unity of tribal gaming.

The post IGA Board of Directors Convenes at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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Compliance Updates

EGBA Urges EC to Tackle Rising Online Fraud in Gambling Sector

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The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has provided evidence to the European Commission’s recent call for evidence on its upcoming EU Action Plan on Fighting Online Fraud – an initiative to reduce online fraud across different economic sectors in the EU through strengthened coordination and cross-border cooperation. The submission urges coordinated EU action to tackle fraudulent gambling sites and apps that exploit the reputation of legitimate operators.

Supported by documented evidence, the submission highlights how fraudsters systematically impersonate licensed gambling operators to deceive consumers across Europe. The evidence includes examples of fraudulent websites using domain names that mimic or closely resemble legitimate operators, illegal gambling apps distributed through Google Play and Apple App Store, phishing campaigns impersonating licensed brands and social media advertising that drives users towards real-money apps, based outside of the EU, that are disguised as games.

These types of fraud expose players to risks of identity theft, financial loss and unsafe gambling environments where well-established safeguards offered by regulated operators, like self-exclusion, do not exist. EGBA members report that across Europe fraudulent domains and applications frequently reappear shortly after takedown, creating ongoing consumer exposure despite continuous monitoring, takedown notifications and repeated enforcement actions.

Illegal operators now capture an estimated 27% (worth approximately €18 billion) of Europe’s total online gambling market gross gaming revenue in 2025. The submission addresses the risks posed by offshore operators, based outside the EU, who deliberately increase consumer risk by falsely claiming to hold gambling licenses granted by countries in the EU, misrepresenting their regulatory status and disguising gambling products as games. These fraud patterns are closely linked to the rapid expansion of unregulated illegal platforms in Europe that threaten both consumers and legitimate operators.

The Commission’s Action Plan on Fighting Online Fraud is planned for adoption in the second quarter of 2026.

Dr Ekaterina Hartmann, Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs at EGBA, said: “The evidence we’ve gathered shows how fraudsters are systematically exploiting the trust consumers place in the licensed gambling environment, putting European consumers at risk and allowing the illegal online gambling market to grow. From fake websites and fraudulent apps to phishing campaigns and social media scams, these threats reappear as quickly as they’re taken down. Fragmented national approaches to these types of fraud are not enough – we need coordinated EU-level action to ensure consumers and legitimate operators aren’t left fighting an uphill battle against fraud.”

The post EGBA Urges EC to Tackle Rising Online Fraud in Gambling Sector appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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PA Gaming Control Board Imposes $100,000 Fine on BetMGM

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The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (Board) at its public monthly meeting approved a consent agreement presented by the Board’s Office of Enforcement Counsel (OEC) resulting in a $100,000 fine to BetMGM.

In its approval of the consent agreement, the Board agreed that BetMGM failed to have sufficient procedures to prevent fraudulent behavior on its BetMGM and Borgata wagering platforms. This includes insufficient Know-Your-Customer (KYC) protocols that allows for the creation, access and use of multiple accounts by individuals using personal identifying information of other individuals and the funding of those accounts using stolen or fraudulently obtained payment devices.

The consent agreement identified four individual fraud rings that:

1. operated for approximately 25 months until January 2024 with 1567 accounts created using personal identifying information of other individuals and $229,580 of combined wagering;

2. operated for approximately 34 months until November 2024 with 34 accounts created using personal identifying information of other individuals and over $14,598 of combined wagering;

3. operated for approximately 29 months until November 2023 with 119 accounts created using personal identifying information of other individuals and $895,092 of combined wagering

4. operated for approximately 19 months until December 2023 with 304 accounts created using personal identifying information of other individuals and $867,910 of combined wagering.

The Board also took actions to place 16 individuals on its various Involuntary Exclusion Lists. Placement on an Involuntary Exclusion List prohibits individuals from either gaming in a casino in Pennsylvania, via an online betting site regulated by the Board, or at a Video Gaming Terminal (VGT) location.

The actions by the Board include placement of four adults on the Involuntary Casino Exclusion list for leaving minors unattended at a casino property while they gambled:

• A male patron who left an 11-year-old in a vehicle in the parking lot at Hollywood Casino York for 52 minutes while he gambled at slot machines and table games;

• A male patron who left a 5-year-old in a vehicle in the parking lot at Rivers Casino Philadelphia for 17 minutes while he gambled at table games and the sportsbook;

• A male patron who left a 9-year-old in the parking lot at Rivers Casino Philadelphia for 1 hour 7 minutes while he gambled at table games and the sportsbook; and,

• A male patron who left two minors, ages 7 and 12, in a vehicle in the parking lot at Parx Casino for 32 minutes while he gambled at slot machines.

Actions such as these to deny statewide gambling privileges serve as a reminder that adults are prohibited from leaving minors unattended in the parking lot or garage, a hotel, or other venues at a casino since it creates a potentially unsafe and dangerous environment for the children. To complement the efforts by casinos to mitigate this issue, the Board created an awareness campaign, “Don’t Gamble with Kids” (DontGamblewithKids.org).

In addition to the four adults listed above, 12 others were placed on either or both of the Involuntary Casino Exclusion and Involuntary Interactive Exclusion Lists for various actions.

These matters, presented by the Board’s Office of Chief Counsel and the OEC, raise the number of individuals now on the Board’s various Involuntary Exclusion Lists to 1515.

The post PA Gaming Control Board Imposes $100,000 Fine on BetMGM appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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