Compliance Updates
MGCB Sends Cease-and-Desist Letters to Three Online Gaming Companies
As part of its continued, relentless efforts to halt illegal gaming operations in the state of Michigan, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has recently sent cease-and-desist letters to three online gaming companies — two in the US and one overseas — after investigations revealed the entities are offering online gaming in Michigan without licenses to do so legally.
PredictionStrike Inc., in Bay Shore, New York; Sweepstakes Limited (Stake.us), in Limassol, Cyprus; and VGW LuckyLand, Inc. (VGW) in San Francisco, California — whose parent company is VGW Holdings Ltd., a global technology online social gaming company headquartered in Australia — were each sent cease-and-desist letters on Oct. 19, Nov. 2, and Dec. 5, 2023, respectively.
“Gambling regulations are in place for a reason, and illegal gambling operations are not welcome in Michigan. We do not want businesses who skirt the law having access to Michigan citizens and leaving them vulnerable because they are playing on unregulated sites that leave them with no recourse, and that siphon funds away from communities because they are not paying taxes like a regulated, legal gambling establishment would,” MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams said.
The companies’ violations include:
- Offering internet gaming and internet sports betting in Michigan without being licensed in the state as an internet gaming operator and a sports betting operator (PredictionStrike).
- Promoting an unlicensed online lottery and/or raffle for customers that buy its products through its internet website (Stake.us).
- Conducting illegal gambling by offering an internet game in which a player wagers something of monetary value for the opportunity to win something of monetary value (VGW).
Due to their unregulated and unlicensed online gaming offerings, PredictionStrike, Stake.us, and VGW are in violation of the following Michigan gaming laws, including:
- Lawful Internet Gaming Act, which states that internet gaming may only be offered by a licensed internet gaming operator, and the Lawful Sports Betting Act, which states that internet sports betting may only be offered by a licensed sports betting operator or its licensed sports betting platform provider. Only casinos that are currently licensed under the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act and federally authorized tribal casinos within Michigan can apply for an internet gaming operator license or a sports betting operator license.
- Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act, which prohibits a party from conducting a gambling operation without a license issued by the MGCB. A party who operates an unlicensed gambling operation is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years or a fine of up to $100,000, or both.
- Michigan Penal Code, which broadly prohibits any form of unauthorized gambling involving consideration, prize, and chance. For example, accepting money, or anything of value, with the understanding that money, or anything of value, will be paid to any person based on the outcome of an uncertain event is prohibited.
PredictionStrike Inc., Sweepstakes Limited (Stake.us), and VGW LuckyLand, Inc. (VGW) have each taken steps to prevent Michigan residents from gambling on their websites.
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Digitain strengthens its regulated presence in Europe by obtaining Belgium’s E Category License.
Digitain, the leading iGaming solutions provider, has announced that it has been officially licensed to operate in Belgium, marking a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing European expansion. This achievement highlights Digitain’s commitment to compliance, innovation, and delivering trusted solutions to its global partners.
Belgium is a highly regulated jurisdiction with strict standards to ensure fair play and responsible gaming. Securing this license further strengthens Digitain’s reputation as a reliable and compliant technology provider, enabling it to offer its award-winning solutions fully aligned with local regulations.
Digitain remains committed to expanding its regulated market presence, fostering partner success, and upholding the highest standards of compliance and data protection.
The post Digitain Expands into Belgium with Regulatory License Approval appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Compliance Updates
Spelinspektionen Develops New Risk Assessment for Money Laundering in the Swedish Gambling Market
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Spelinspektionen, the Swedish Gambling Authority, has developed a new risk assessment for money laundering in the Swedish gambling market.
In this risk assessment, which replaces previous assessments, the various approaches that enable licensees to be exploited for money laundering, referred to as threats, have been updated to better reflect the current situation. The vulnerabilities of the gaming forms, i.e. circumstances that are assessed to be able to affect the possibility of a threat occurring, have also been revised.
The method for assessing risk has also been revised to harmonise the Swedish Gambling Authority’s risk assessment with the national risk assessment produced by the Coordination Function for Measures Against Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing and the supranational risk assessment published by the European Commission.
The Swedish Gambling Authority has previously assessed that there is a low risk of land-based commercial casino gaming being used for money laundering. The authority’s regulations have therefore exempted the gaming form from the application of the money laundering regulations and a number of provisions in the Gambling Act. In the Swedish Gambling Authority’s new revised risk assessment, the risk of the gaming form being used for money laundering is no longer assessed as low. As a result, the Swedish Gambling Authority has initiated regulatory work to review the exemptions from the requirement to apply the money laundering regulations and register players and agents. Interested parties will have the opportunity to submit comments on the regulatory changes in a forthcoming consultation.
The post Spelinspektionen Develops New Risk Assessment for Money Laundering in the Swedish Gambling Market appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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The NSW Government has amended the Casino Control Regulation to extend the term of The Star’s manager Nick Weeks, who will continue to have oversight of casino operations until at least 31 March 2026.
The government extended Mr Weeks’ term at the request of the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) after the NICC declined to lift the suspension of The Star’s licence.
Mr Weeks will continue to hold the licence for The Star over the next six-month period, allowing the casino to operate gaming facilities while its licence remains suspended.
The NICC first appointed Mr Weeks to the role of manager in October 2022, when The Star’s casino licence was suspended following the first Bell Review.
NICC Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford said there was still too much uncertainty surrounding The Star to consider reinstating its casino licence at this time.
“The NICC considers it appropriate to continue with the current arrangement so it can better assess the effectiveness of important remediation work and await the outcomes of other pressing financial matters concerning The Star,” Mr Crawford said.
“The NICC understands the many challenges The Star is facing and is closely monitoring The Star’s progress as it works to prove it is capable of regaining its casino licence.”
The post NICC extends The Star manager’s term for six months appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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