Compliance Updates
MGA: Updates Relating to the “New Recognition Notice Certificate” and “Recognition Notice Certificate Annual Maintenance” Applications
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has notified all prospective and current holders of a Recognition Notice Certificate (RN Certificate) that the guidance pages for the following applications have been updated:
New Recognition Notice Application; and,
Recognition Notice Annual Maintenance Applications.
The Applications Page has been updated to reflect the documentation that is required to be submitted via the Licensee Portal to apply for a new RN Certificate. Particular attention is to be paid to the details which are to be covered in the “Legal Opinion” section.
The Compliance Page now reflects the documentation that is gathered annually when the RN Certificate maintenance application is reviewed by the MGA. The RN Certificate holder has to submit a “Recognition Notice Annual Maintenance” application via the “Online Services” dropdown in the Licensee Portal on an annual basis, prior to the anniversary of the RN Certificate. The application should be submitted at least two months prior to the anniversary.
Should there be any changes made to the licence/s issued by the foreign jurisdiction, the addition of new foreign licence/s, or pertinent changes to company details, RN Certificate holders will now be required to submit a new application found within the “Online Services” dropdown: “Changes to Recognition Notice Certificate” application. This application must be submitted whenever there are updates to the details previously provided to the Authority. This includes adding new foreign licences, modifying existing foreign licences in the current RN Certificate, and updating company details, directors, or domains.
RN Certificate holders should ensure that the information held on record is accurate and representative of the RN Certificate holder’s operations at all times, and not just at Annual Maintenance stage.
The changes to the application requirements for both new RN Certificates, as well as the Annual Maintenance of the RN Certificate, will come into force as of 1 July 2024, although applications submitted in line with the revised guidelines before this date will also be accepted.
The post MGA: Updates Relating to the “New Recognition Notice Certificate” and “Recognition Notice Certificate Annual Maintenance” Applications appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Bagley-Keene Act
California Gambling Control Commission Issues Critical Guidance on Stakeholder Communications and Ex Parte Rules
The California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC) has released a comprehensive new guide for stakeholders, outlining essential best practices for contacting the Commission and strictly warning against the legal pitfalls of “ex parte” communications.
As part of its ongoing commitment to transparency and its 2026 Strategic Plan, the Commission aims to streamline interactions while ensuring that all regulatory decisions are made on a complete, fair, and public record.
Navigating the Commission: Who to Contact
To ensure inquiries are handled efficiently, the Commission has identified key points of contact for various industry matters:
-
Licensing & Approvals: For general licensing matters, stakeholders should contact Brian Gilleland, Deputy Director of the Licensing Division, at
[email protected]. -
Regulations & Legislation: Inquiries regarding laws or pending regulations should be directed to Nicole Learned, Deputy Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, at
[email protected]. -
Evidentiary Hearings: For GCA hearing matters, contact the Presiding Officer noted in your hearing notice, or Administrative Hearings Coordinator Pam Mathauser at
[email protected]. -
Executive Leadership: All other high-level matters should be sent to Executive Director Lisa Wardall at
[email protected].
The Danger of “Ex Parte” Communications
A central focus of the new guidance is the strict prohibition of ex parte communications—any communication regarding the merits of a pending application or request made without proper notice to all involved parties.
To comply with state rules, stakeholders must include Commission staff, Bureau staff, and the Applicant (or their designated agent) on all correspondence.
Crucial Warning: Stakeholders are strictly forbidden from sending communications of any kind directly to Commissioners regarding applications or pending decisions.
Why Compliance is Mandatory
The Commission warns that ex parte violations are not merely procedural errors; they pose a direct threat to the integrity of the gambling industry’s governance. Decisions made on incomplete or “private” information can lead to:
-
Application Denial: The Commissioners have the authority to deny an application or approval solely based on a prohibited communication.
-
Legal Reversals: Violations may breach the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, potentially allowing opposing parties to overturn a decision that was previously taken in your favor.
-
Governance Risk: Transparency ensures that all parties—including the Bureau of Gambling Control—have access to the same record of information before a vote is cast.
“Transparency is a core tenet of good governance,” the Commission stated in the guidance. “Ex parte rules guarantee that all matters taken up by the Commission are conducted in a fair and transparent manner.”
The post California Gambling Control Commission Issues Critical Guidance on Stakeholder Communications and Ex Parte Rules appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Compliance Updates
BGC Response to Government Plans to Stop Premier League Clubs Accepting Sponsorship from Gambling Operators Not Holding a UK Licence
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) strongly supports government plans to ban Premier League clubs from accepting sponsorships from gambling operators lacking a UK licence.
A Betting and Gaming Council Spokesperson said: “The Betting and Gaming Council welcomes the Government’s plan to act to stop Premier League clubs accepting sponsorship from gambling operators that do not hold a UK licence.
“Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is right that gambling companies without a UK licence should be banned from sponsoring Premier League clubs and should go further to prevent these harmful illegal companies from sponsoring any sport in the UK.
“At a time when the regulated sector is facing significantly higher taxation and ever tighter regulation while reducing advertising spend, it is more important than ever that firm action is taken against the growing harmful black market.
“Licensed members of the Betting and Gaming Council are regulated in Britain and follow strict rules on consumer protection, safer gambling and robust financial safeguards. Whereas, the illegal, harmful black market operators do not. They undermine player protections, avoid taxes, ignore safer gambling standards and put consumers at serious risk.
“We support action that protects fans, upholds standards and keeps customers safe within the regulated market.”
The post BGC Response to Government Plans to Stop Premier League Clubs Accepting Sponsorship from Gambling Operators Not Holding a UK Licence appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Tabcorp Holdings Limited (Tabcorp) has paid a $158,400 penalty for taking online in-play sports bets, which is illegal in Australia.
An Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) investigation found Tabcorp accepted 426 in-play bets across 32 tennis matches between February 2024 and June 2025.
Online in-play betting, wagers made on a sporting event after it has commenced, is prohibited in Australia under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA).
The online in-play sports bets that were accepted in breach of the IGA were voided by Tabcorp and the bets were refunded.
The ACMA accepted the evidence from Tabcorp that the breaches occurred due to systems and communication issues with its third-party provider.
ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood said this is the third time since 2021 that Tabcorp has breached the in-play betting rules.
“The law is clear and wagering services must have processes in place to prevent illegal in-play bets from being accepted,” Ms Lidgerwood said.
“While we understand that most wagering operators rely on third-party providers to close betting on sporting events, they cannot outsource their legal responsibilities.
“The length of time it took Tabcorp to identify and then fix the problem was concerning and we expect Tabcorp to do better in the future,” Ms Lidgerwood said.
In addition to the financial penalty, Tabcorp has entered into a comprehensive enforceable undertaking requiring the company to undertake a review of its systems and processes relating to the closing of betting on tennis matches and to report regularly to the ACMA.
The post Tabcorp Pays $158,400 Penalty for Taking Illegal In-Play Sports Bets appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
Blueprint Gaming7 days agoBlueprint Gaming unleashes Frankenstein’s Fortune blending dynamic modifiers with multi-path bonus offering
-
Compliance Updates7 days ago
MGA Publishes Results of Thematic Review on Self-exclusion Practices in Online Gaming Sector
-
Latest News5 days ago
GGBET UA hosts Media Game – an open FC Dynamo Kyiv training session with journalists from sports publications
-
Amusnet7 days ago
Amusnet Unveils Casino Engineering and Technology Milestones Achieved in 2025
-
Dan Brown7 days ago
Games Global and Foxium return to the Colosseum in Rome Fight for Gold the Tiger’s Rage™
-
Bragg Gaming Group7 days ago
Bragg Gaming Group Partners with StarGames
-
Asia6 days ago
Books on Wheels: DigiPlus Foundation Brings Mobile Library to Boost Literacy Among Aurora’s Young Learners
-
3 Oaks Gaming7 days ago
3 Oaks Gaming unleashes the power of the wild with 4 Wolf Drums: Hold and Win
