Compliance Updates
EGBA: Finland’s New Gambling Legislation: A Step Forward, With Room For Improvement
Finland’s proposed change to its online gambling legislation marks a significant milestone in European gambling regulation. Finland is the last EU country with a monopoly system for online gambling, and its shift towards a multi-licensing approach is a positive change. It finally brings it into line with the rest of the EU countries who all already have some form of licensing framework for online gambling.
Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of European Gaming and Betting Association, said: “At EGBA, we support the newly proposed legislation, which we’ve advocated for years. Experience shows that a monopoly doesn’t work in the online world, and consumers are best served and protected in a well-regulated but competitive environment, where safety tools such as deposit limits and self-exclusion are made available to players.”
While Finland’s proposal is heading in the right direction, some areas require some fine-tuning to ensure the new licensing framework achieves its goal of ensuring Finns play with locally licensed websites.
Maarten Haijer said: “For starters, the proposed marketing restrictions, especially the ban on affiliate marketing and social media advertising, might backfire. These channels play a key role in guiding consumers to licensed, regulated platforms. Without them, players will drift to black market websites that don’t follow Finnish regulations or prioritise consumer safety.
“Also, the proposed blanket ban on bonuses is concerning. While we support setting boundaries on bonusing, a complete prohibition will simply make any newly licensed operators less competitive against unlicensed ones. This risks pushing players towards unregulated sites, undermining the very consumer protections the legislation aims to establish and strengthen.”
He added: “In our response to the government’s recent consultation, EGBA suggests two key improvements: Bring affiliates into the regulatory framework and allow social media advertising under clear rules. Both are valuable tools for channelling players towards licensed operators. By implementing clear guidelines, such as mandatory safer gambling messages, Finland can harness the power of these marketing channels while maintaining high standards of consumer protection.
“Instead of banning bonuses outright, implement guidelines for their responsible use. For instance, a nuanced approach could involve prohibiting bonuses for players showing signs of problematic behaviour, or setting clear rules on when and how bonuses can be offered. This strategy would allow operators to compete more effectively with unlicensed sites who will undoubtedly use bonuses to try to entice Finnish players away from regulated websites.
“These changes would better align Finland’s approach with the successful models seen across the EU, striking a balance between market competitiveness and robust consumer protection.
“Transitioning to a licensed market is no small feat, but it’s one that ultimately benefits everyone involved. At EGBA we are ready to share our expertise and support Finland in creating a well-regulated, competitive, and safe online gambling market.
“Finland stands at a pivotal moment in the history of its gambling regulation. By crafting a successful online gambling framework, Finland, like its neighbours Denmark and Sweden, can successfully transition from its monopoly to a well-functioning licensing system. Denmark’s transition to multi−licensing in 2012 led to a significant improvement in online channelisation, reaching well over 90 per cent. Sweden has seen similar improvements.
“Addressing the concerns about marketing restrictions and bonus regulations is crucial to ensure the new legislation achieves its objectives, safeguarding Finnish consumers while fostering a healthy, well-regulated online gambling environment.”
The post EGBA: Finland’s New Gambling Legislation: A Step Forward, With Room For Improvement appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Standards body the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has represented the regulated betting and gaming sector at a shadow DCMS roundtable held on Tuesday.
The roundtable, titled: Future of the Gambling Industry in the United Kingdom, drew industry leaders together to explore key issues including responsible gambling, regulatory developments and the future of the sector.
CEO Grainne Hurst represented the BGC at the summit, hosted by Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Stuart Andrew MP and Shadow Minister for Gambling Louie French MP inside the House of Common’s Shadow Cabinet Room.
BGC CEO Grainne Hurst said: “It was fantastic to sit down alongside our members and other stakeholders from across our diverse sector to thrash out the challenges and opportunities facing the sector today with the shadow DCMS team.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have Stuart Andrew and Louie French, two dedicated MPs who understand this industry, and are keen to ensure the Opposition are completely across the key pressures facing our members, their millions of customers, and thousands of employees.
“Collaboration is key for the BGC, and we welcome this positive engagement with the shadow DCMS team.”
The roundtable also focussed on balancing economic growth with consumer protections and social responsibility.
Following welcome remarks, the summit heard industry’s perspectives on current challenges and future opportunities plus ways in which the Opposition can support future policy.
Grainne attended alongside representatives from BGC members, Flutter, Entain, Evoke, bet365, Bally’s, The Rank Group, Star Sports and the Hippodrome Casino, plus the UK Tote Group, National Lottery, BACTA and the Gambling Business Group.
BGC members support 109,000 jobs, generate £6.8bn for the economy while raising £4bn in taxes.
They also help fund horseracing to the tune of £350m a year through sponsorship, media rights and the levy, provide £40m for the English Football League and its clubs and millions more for rugby league, darts and snooker.
Each month in Britain around 22.5m adults have a bet and the most recent NHS Health Survey for England estimated that 0.4% of the adult population are problem gamblers.
The post BGC Represents Betting and Gaming Sector at Shadow DCMS Roundtable appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Allwyn UK, operator of The National Lottery, has announced that it has secured the European Lotteries (EL) Responsible Gaming Certification, as well as Level 4 of the World Lottery Association’s (WLA) Responsible Gaming Framework – the highest possible level.
The responsible gaming accreditations from these leading industry bodies help ensure that members of these organisations – like Allwyn and other lottery operators worldwide – operate their licensed lotteries with the highest standards of player protection and safety. They also reflect how successfully a lottery has implemented responsible play into its day-to-day operations.
These industry-standard certifications demonstrate Allwyn’s firm commitment to participant protection – with a continuous programme of work to prevent underage and excessive play from the outset.
Allwyn’s CEO, Andria Vidler, said: “Just over a year on from taking over as The National Lottery operator, we’re delighted to announce that we’ve achieved these important EL and WLA Responsible Gaming Certifications.
“National Lottery games are specially designed to be safe and secure, ensuring they don’t appeal to underage or vulnerable players. However, with over 30 million people routinely playing National Lottery games – raising over £30 million a week for Good Causes in the process – it’s crucial that we continue to do everything we can to prevent underage and excessive play.
“So, it’s great to have this external recognition of what we’ve achieved so far, but we also know that our work in this area is never finished. We plan to continue working hard on our responsible play credentials and driving up our own high standards, keeping National Lottery players at the heart of everything we do.”
The post Allwyn Secures WLA and EL Responsible Gaming Certifications appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Breaking New Ground in Brazil: Blitzcrown’s Crash Games Now GLI Certified
Blitzcrown, MVG’s pioneering games studio, has secured Brazilian Certification as well as GLI-19 Certification from GLI(Gaming Laboratories International) for its industry-changing three Crash titles. This landmark achievement marks a significant milestone in the company’s expansion into Brazil’s thriving online gaming market, positioning Blitzcrown at the forefront of the region’s rapidly evolving iGaming landscape.
The license comes at an important time for Brazil’s gaming sector, following the launch of the new licensing regime that started on January 1, 2025. The regulatory framework, signed into law in December 2023, has transformed the industry’s prospects.
The certification encompasses 3 innovative crash games: Crash, Fast Crash, and Twin Crash. This strategic milestone establishes Blitzcrown as the premier provider of certified Crash games in the Brazilian market, demonstrating the company’s unwavering commitment to regulatory excellence and gaming integrity. With the GLI-19 and Brazil certification process successfully concluded in March, Blitzcrown has solidified its position as an industry pioneer in this dynamic and emerging market.
Crash games are a recent addition to the global iGaming market, featuring the dynamic evolution of real-time multipliers and immediate reward structures. Blitzcrown has stood out by establishing groundbreaking game mechanisms that offer different and exciting gameplay experiences. Standard Crash provides players with a standard multiplier-based gaming experience, and Fast Crash is optimized for users seeking quick, intense multiplier experiences. The Twin Crash is an original format allowing players to place simultaneous bets on two separate multipliers.
Building on this momentum, Blitzcrown has announced plans to expand its certified portfolio with two additional versions of its innovative Plinko games, demonstrating the company’s strategic commitment to market expansion. This forward-looking initiative underscores Blitzcrown’s dedication to continuous innovation and sustainable growth in the regulated gaming markets.
Blitzcrown is MVG’s edge-game studio focused on pushing game ideas beyond their norms through innovative and non-traditional gaming experiences. The studio has been particularly recognized for its groundbreaking approaches in various game categories, including its successful Crash and Plinko series.
George Cho from MVG said: “This GLI certification testifies to Blitzcrown’s unwavering commitment to offering top-quality, fair gaming systems. We are well placed to take advantage of Brazil’s exciting new regulatory environment and the vast growth potential of the online gaming industry.”
The post Blitzcrown Secures GLI Certification for Three Crash Games in Brazil appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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