Compliance Updates
The Danish Gambling Authority Has Had 79 Illegal Gambling Sites Blocked
On 22 August 2024, the court in Frederiksberg ruled in favour of the Danish Gambling Authority to have 79 websites blocked that offered illegal gambling to Danes.
Among the blocked websites are sites that are particularly aimed at children and young people.
Every year, the Danish Gambling Authority blocks websites that offer gambling products and services to Danes without a licence. The blocks are an important part of the Danish Gambling Authority’s work to protect the players and at the same time ensure a fair and legal gambling market in Denmark.
In 2024, the Danish Gambling Authority has blocked the access to a total of 162 illegal websites that offer gambling to Danes. This is the highest number of blocks in a year so far. Since 2012, a total of 438 websites have been blocked so that they cannot be accessed via a Danish telecommunications provider.
The decision to block websites is made by the courts, and the Danish Gambling Authority has been in court twice this year to have illegal gambling sites blocked. In February, 83 pages were blocked.
The Danish Gambling Authority’s option to block access to the illegal sites is done via a so-called DNS block. This means that the connection between the player and the gambling provider’s website is blocked by the player’s telecommunications provider. If the user tries to access a blocked website, they are greeted by a page stating that the site is illegal and blocked by the Danish Gambling Authority.
“We know that some players will try to bypass the DNS blocks. Therefore, it is very important to us that the information you come across is clear and makes the players aware that they are trying to access a site without a licence. These sites do not have the same level of consumer protection and it can be very risky for a player to use them,” Anders Dorph, Director of the Danish Gambling Authority, said.
Sites without a licence from the Danish Gambling Authority do not necessarily meet the same requirements as sites with a licence, and therefore players do not get the same consumer protection and security on the illegal sites.
It is, for example, impossible to play on a site with a licence if you are under 18 or if you are registered with ROFUS (Register of Voluntarily Excluded Players).
The blocked sites offer different types of gambling such as online casino, online betting and skin betting.
In the latest block, three of the 79 sites contained a new type of skin betting. Here, players can, among other things, use “Robux” as stakes as well as win Robux which is the virtual currency in the computer game Roblox.
“We pay particular attention to this new type of site. Roblox is a game that is very popular among children and young people under the age of 18. Our children should not be introduced to gambling when they play video games, so I am very pleased that we have blocked access to these sites,” said Anders Dorph.
When the Danish Gambling Authority assesses that a website offers gambling illegally without a licence, the Danish Gambling Authority asks the gambling provider to stop the illegal offering. If they do not stop the offer, the telecommunications providers are asked to block their customers’ access to the websites. If this does not happen, the Danish Gambling Authority will proceed with the case and ask the district court to order the Danish telecommunications providers to block the websites.
In the past, only telecommunications providers with membership of the Teleindustrien have been involved in the Danish Gambling Authority’s blocking processes.
In this round of blocking, however, three telecommunications providers who are not members of the Teleindustrien have also blocked access to the illegal sites.
All three telecommunications providers have blocked access to websites with illegal gambling offerings that were part of this blocking process as well as websites covered by previous rulings.
“We are very happy that three more telecommunications providers have closed access. This ensures that even more players are protected from being able to access the illegal sites,” said Anders Dorph.
The post The Danish Gambling Authority Has Had 79 Illegal Gambling Sites Blocked appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
WA.Technology, the award-winning B2B solutions provider, is excited to announce its entry into the rapidly expanding Peruvian gaming market after receiving the necessary certifications from the country’s gambling regulator, Ministerio de Comercio Exterior y Turismo (MINCETUR).
Already recognised as the most sought-after B2B solutions provider for LatAm, the award-winning provider is now bringing its iGaming expertise to operators across Peru, having already partnered with the majority of the continent’s biggest brands.
In total, WA.Technology offers its LatAm partners a full spectrum of iGaming solutions via its WA.Platform, WA.Sports, WA.Casino, WA.Fantasy, WA.Affiliates and WA.Lottery verticals.
With WA.Technology boasting multiple regional offices across the continent, the provider has now stated a firm commitment to ensuring that its Peru operator partners will be given the best of its technology to gain local market share.
These include its latest lottery platform, with players able to access more than 70 of the world’s biggest lottery formats, Highly popular Lottery games from the USA will also be available, such as Powerball and Megamillions, reaching in excess of $1bn.
In addition, local operators will be able to harness WA.Technology’s latest Fantasy Sports and its US-inspired Pick’Em Play Props offering, which is being rolled out imminently to big-name operators across the continent.
Designed for players to unleash their sporting expertise across Daily Fantasy Sports and Free-to-Play predictor games, both represent a tried and tested acquisition tool for LatAm operators to boost engagement, retention and cross-selling opportunities.
Local partners will also be able to access WA.Technology’s latest WA.Affiliates vertical, designed to transform LatAm operators’ player-focused marketing and customer acquisition strategies.
Featuring affiliate tracking features, performance tracking software, and the option to introduce gamification, WA.Affiliates represents an unparalleled acquisition tool for operators to reach new audiences and drive traffic back to casinos and sportsbooks.
Commenting on the company’s launch in Peru, Axel Antillon, Regional Director LatAm at WA.Technology, said: “Peru represents a significant opportunity for WA.Technology; we are very excited to be embarking on this new journey! The country’s growing appetite for gaming and entertainment-led experiences aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver LatAm’s best gaming products.
“By entering the Peruvian market, we’re able to support local operators in enhancing their player experience, improving operational efficiency, and ultimately, growing their business. We look forward to becoming a trusted partner to the region’s operators as we establish a long-term presence here.”
Since regulations were introduced in October 2023, Peru has been pinpointed as one of LatAm’s major growth markets by industry experts.
Reports project the market to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9% between 2023 and 2031, largely driven by increased digital adoption and growing demand for online entertainment.
MINCETUR, Peru’s regulator, estimates that approximately Sol3.8 billion (€1bn) in bets was placed in 2022, with online gaming and sports betting estimated to produce Sol162m (€40.6m) a year in taxes for the state.
The American Gaming Association (AGA), European Casino Association (ECA), and the Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that marks the beginning of a collaboration grounded in shared industry values and priorities. The MOU formalizes a commitment among the three associations to address key issues facing the global gaming industry including illegal gambling, responsible gaming, innovation, and security.
“This new partnership is a significant step forward in our collective efforts to advance the legal gaming industry and protect consumers around the globe. By sharing our unique resources, we will expand our fight against illegal gambling to new fronts, work together to strengthen responsible gaming, and innovate around business best practices,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller.
“By fostering dialogue and cooperation across borders, the AGA, ECA, and BGC are taking a proactive approach to safeguarding the integrity of the legal gaming industry and ensuring its continued growth and success,” Miller added.
The MOU will create a platform for undertaking joint research projects and bringing each organization’s staff and members together to share expertise.
“The European Casino Association stands united with the AGA and BGC in its commitment to addressing the key issues facing all gaming industry stakeholders. The ECA fully backs this initiative and supports the ongoing efforts to rigorously combat illegality within our industry, continuously strengthen player protections and security, and ensure the creation of an environment that fosters innovation and growth within the gaming community. On behalf of the ECA, I look forward to participating in the forthcoming law enforcement roundtable and to sharing the benefits of these learnings with our members,” said Erwin van Lambaart, Chairman of the European Casino Association.
Betting and Gaming Council CEO Grainne Hurst said: “This partnership marks a new chapter in our shared vision to build a world-class, trusted and sustainable betting and gaming industry. BGC members are rightly proud of their reputation as global leaders, and they know the power of collaboration. Working together with the AGA and ECA, I am confident our shared knowledge and expertise will be vital to bolstering safer gambling standards while tackling the threat of the growing and unsafe unregulated gambling black market in the UK.”
The first initiative under this MOU will be a law enforcement roundtable focused on combating illegal gambling. Scheduled for January 2025, this roundtable will bring together industry leaders, law enforcement officials, and regulators to discuss the impact of illegal gambling on legal operators, consumer safety, and the global financial system. The session will also explore strategies for enhancing cross-jurisdictional communication and developing actionable solutions to address these challenges.
Compliance Updates
How payments can drive iGaming operators’ growth as they navigate an evolving regulatory landscape
With iGaming regulation changing in multiple European and Latin American markets, Paysafe’s Rory Howard considers the invaluable role of payments
By Rory Howard, GM of iGaming for EMEA, Paysafe
After enacting new gambling legislation at end-2023, Brazil is expected to launch its iGaming market on January 1st. With 215m people, Latin America’s most populated country is almost certain to rapidly become a major global jurisdiction. Annual gaming revenue is forecast to grow to $4.9bn within five years, according to Vixio.
While the new Brazilian market offers an important opportunity for operators, licensing includes significant regulations to negotiate, including around payments. With other markets also enacting or considering more robust iGaming regulation, the operators that successfully navigate this new space can make change pay.
From Sao Paulo to Sweden via the UK
In April, Brazil published an Ordinance on operators’ payment requirements, preventing players from depositing using credit cards, cash, cheques, pay slips, bank slips and cryptocurrencies. Withdrawals of winnings will only be possible via electronic transfer between the operator and the player’s bank account, which must be a financial institution authorized by the Brazilian Central Bank.
Such restrictions, especially around credit cards, are part of a broader global trend to promote responsible gambling. In neighbouring Argentina, the Buenos Aires legislature is currently considering a bill to ban credit cards and social assistance debit cards for online betting in the capital region’s regulated market.
Over in the UK, operators have not been able to offer credit card deposits since the Gambling Commission restricted this in April 2020. More recently, the UK government’s Gambling Act Review white paper, which was released in April 2023, has resulted in more robust know your customer (KYC) checks for operators, including on affordability. From August all UK bettors depositing a net £500 needed to be checked, lowered to net deposits of £125 from February.
And UK operators are also facing marketing restrictions. From summer 2026, front-of-shirt Premier League football club sponsorships will no longer be an option following the association’s voluntary ban. In addition, the government is currently considering whether bonuses should be tightened, though it appears unlikely that the UK will go as far as Brazil’s complete ban on bonusing and free bets.
The UK isn’t the only European country strengthening its iGaming regulatory framework, with Sweden only allowing operators to offer players a single sign-up bonus following the Scandinavian country’s re-regulation of the market in 2019. More recently, the Swedish gambling regulator has come out in favour of the government’s proposed ban on credit cards for iGaming from April 2025.
Playing and paying it forward
With Sweden’s eastern neighbour, Finland, looking to liberalize its government monopoly with a licensing system for private operators by early 2027, the only constant when it comes to iGaming regulation is change. While regulatory change providers operators with opportunity, they need to have a solid strategy in place.
The global regulatory space is highly complex and diverse, so it’s essential for operators to develop a robust compliance framework that covers all the different legal requirements for each global market. Against the backdrop of the responsible gambling shift, KYC protocols have never needed to be more granular, requiring automation and specialised software for the highest accuracy and efficiency.
Payments are an indispensable element in negotiating the new regulatory landscape. Every market is unique, including when it comes to payments. If a jurisdiction restricts credit cards or other payment methods, operators’ cashiers need to include alternatives such as digital wallets, eCash or even pay-by-bank options to ensure players don’t abandon a brand before they become a customer.
With markets restricting bonuses and other marketing channels like sponsorships, operators need to ensure they are getting payments right. Payments – including quick payouts and deposits and the availability of preferred payment methods – are much more important factors in players’ selection of online sportsbooks than sign-up offers and sports sponsorships, according to Paysafe’s 2024 research.
More broadly, it’s also vital for operators to choose the right payment provider. Partnering with a payments company with global experience and which offers a comprehensive range of its own and third-party payment solutions, including local payment methods (LPMs) like Brazil’s Pix, will enable operators to effortlessly tailor their cashiers to a particular market.
Whether in Brazil, Argentina, the UK, Sweden or Finland, the global iGaming market is diversifying from a regulatory perspective. While the changing space poses significant challenges, it gives savvy operators an opportunity to ensure their brands and cashiers are not only compliant but have a completive edge that will ultimately pay out.
Rory Howard
As General Manager for iGaming in the EMEA region at Paysafe, Rory oversees the company’s online gambling business in the U.K. and continental Europe as well as neighbouring regional markets. He has close to 20 years’ experience in payments and fraud analysis, with a strong focus on the iGaming space. Rory’s previous roles include payment leadership positions at The Rank Group, Racing Stars, Gamesys, and Eyas Gaming.
The post How payments can drive iGaming operators’ growth as they navigate an evolving regulatory landscape appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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