Compliance Updates
Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) and Congressional Leaders Unveil the SAFE Bet Act to Address Sports Betting Risks
Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) at the Northeastern University School of Law has supported Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) last week in introducing the SAFE Bet Act, which addresses the risks associated with legalized gambling.
The SAFE Bet Act is the first federal legislative initiative to address the vast public health implications of mobile sports betting since sports betting was legalized in 2018. When the SAFE Bet Act is enacted, federal standards will be set to create a safer and less addictive betting environment. While still allowing the freedom for those who wish to participate, these standards will include addressing advertising, affordability, and artificial intelligence issues.
PHAI’s President and Northeastern University Distinguished Professor of Law, Richard Daynard, said: “PHAI’s mission is to serve the greater good by seeking big ideas to advance public health and justice. That is why we’re fully dedicated to playing a leading role in work to bring about a comprehensive public health response to the looming crisis presented by the out-of-control gambling industry.”
“The gambling industry is following a playbook developed by the tobacco industry and this is a direct threat to public health. At PHAI, we will work tirelessly to address this threat and protect public health. Supporting the SAFE Bet Act is part of this effort,” Daynard added.
PHAI Executive Director Mark Gottlieb said: “It is my desire to play an important role in national and international efforts to develop and implement a public health approach to regulating the gambling industry and online gambling. At PHAI, we utilize a wide range of resources—including litigation and advocacy—to protect public health. It has become apparent that the gambling industry and its partners act with conscious and reckless disregard for public safety. Collaborating with Congressman Tonko and Senator Blumenthal to create the SAFE Bet Act is one part of how PHAI will bring a public health response to the gambling industry.”
“As the Director of Gambling Policy with the Public Health Advocacy Institute it is my role to develop comprehensive public health strategies and advocacy efforts to address the looming crisis being caused by the unprecedented expansion of the gambling industry and online gambling. The ‘responsible gaming’ model of industry self-regulation is unethical and an abject failure. At PHAI, we will help lead a growing movement to expose the failures of the gambling industry’s responsible gaming model. In doing so, we will develop and help implement a series of comprehensive public health reforms designed to regulate the gambling industry, prevent harm, and protect individuals and families. It is a privilege to support Congressman Tonko and Senator Blumenthal as we work to advance the SAFE Bet Act,” said Dr. Harry Levant, PHAI Director of Gambling Policy.
“Since their inception, sports and sporting events have been a chance for family, friends, and strangers to gather together in celebration of beloved teams and athletes in a great American pastime. But now, every single moment of every sporting event across the globe has become a betting opportunity. That resulted in a frightening rise in gambling disorder, which has in turn enacted a horrific toll on individuals, many of whom have lost their home, job, marriage, and their lives. We have a duty to protect people and their families from suffering the tremendous harm related to gambling addiction. Our SAFE Bet Act gets the job done and gives sports back to the American people,” Congressman Tonko said.
At the press conference, Senator Blumenthal said: “Right now, states have legalized gambling, but they failed to protect citizens against those excesses, abuses, and exploitations. State regulation is faint-hearted and half-baked. That’s why we need a national standard–not to ban gambling–but simply to take back control over an industry that is out of bounds.”
As of July 11, 2025, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) no longer requires Registrar approval for responsible gambling (RG) training programs for casino and lottery employees. This change applies to both the Gaming and Lottery Standards and supports a more flexible, outcomes-based approach.
What’s changing
• Standard 2.5 has been updated to remove the need for Registrar approval of RG training.
• Training must still be mandatory, regularly updated, and based on best practices.
• Employees must understand responsible gambling, their role in player protection, and how to support those showing signs of gambling harm.
What this change means for operators and lottery retailers
• Casino and lottery operators now have more flexibility to design and update RG training.
• Existing PlaySmart training remains valid.
Why this change matters
This change reduces red tape, encourages innovation, and maintains Ontario’s high standards for player protection. This also aligns with AGCO’s outcomes-based regulatory approach and brings greater consistency across gaming sectors, including iGaming.
The post AGCO Updates Responsible Gambling Training Standards for Gaming and Lottery appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
2025 Gaming in Spain Conference once again brought together key stakeholders in Spain’s regulated iGaming industry.
If you were there, thank you for attending – also on behalf of our co-hosts Xavi Muñoz and ECIJA Law Firm!
Willem van Oort, Founder of Gaming in Spain, commented: “We are extremely pleased to have organized another successful Gaming in Spain Conference. All major stakeholders in Spain’s regulated online gambling market were present, as well as several experts from Brazil and other Latin American countries who highlighted the opportunities offered by these transatlantic markets. We almost can’t wait to see everyone again next year!”
In case you missed the event, full video recordings of key sessions are included below.
Mikel Arana, Director General, DGOJ: “Algorithms, advertising & deposit limits: Outlines and obligations”
The post VIDEO | Spanish, Brazilian regulator speak at 2025 Gaming in Spain Conference appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Compliance Updates
Ratification of the 2026 Betting Framework for LA FRANÇAISE DES JEUX, Incorporating Excessive Gambling Mitigation Strategies
Each year, the National Gaming Authority approves the gaming and betting programme for the coming year for operators holding exclusive rights (FDJ and PMU). This approval, where applicable, specifies the conditions for implementing the gaming programme. This is one of the manifestations of the Authority’s close monitoring of operators holding exclusive rights to ensure that they comply with their enhanced obligations, particularly with regard to the prevention of excessive gambling.
First, data from the Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI) communicated by LA FRANÇAISE DES JEUX shows that, for the first time since 2020, the proportion of both excessive and problem gamblers is increasing in 2024 compared to 2023 for all activity under the operator’s exclusive rights, whereas these proportions remained stable between 2020 and 2023.
Furthermore, LA FRANÇAISE DES JEUX has indicated that it wishes to “ensure the attractiveness of the lottery and sports betting offering at points of sale by 2026 through product range promotion, innovation and digitalization”. The operator is thus proposing an intensification of its commercial offering, through dynamic promotion of all its game ranges, a strong innovation strategy and the use of incentive design techniques.
Taking these elements into account, in its decision of July 3, 2025 the ANJ decided to approve the programme for the 2026 games, subject to several strict conditions.
Generally speaking, and given the ambiguity of these messages, the company LA FRANÇAISE DES JEUX must refrain from accompanying the marketing of its new games with promotional messages offering incentives relating to the probability of winning associated with the game offered compared to other games that it markets (statements such as: “more than x chance(s) out of x of winning”, “Best chance of winning €X”) as well as the “minimum winnings” that may be won.
With regard to online games, the company must strive to limit the share of gross gaming revenue generated by excessive and problem players, across all ranges, all segments of the offer and all games offered online. With regard more specifically to the range of online games with successive draws, online scratch cards available from the physical distribution network at 3 euros and more, and that of “Web Exclusive” games, it must reduce this share substantially; in particular, the company must withdraw or modify games with the most excessive level of play.
With regard to draw games, the digital extension of the “Amigo” game is not authorised and the freeze on the range of successive draw games implemented in 2025 is maintained in 2026. The company LA FRANÇAISE DES JEUX must continue to reduce the share of gross gaming revenue (GGR) of the “Bingo Live” game generated by excessive players and take new measures to substantially reduce the risks of the Amigo game in the physical distribution network.
With regard to scratch cards offered in physical distribution networks and online, the freeze on the number of launches of new €3 games or relaunches of already authorised games is maintained at three in 2026. The number of launches of new €5 games or relaunches of already authorised games is limited to two in 2026. The number of scratch cards marketed in 2026 in physical distribution networks and, where applicable, available online based on a unit stake of €5 does not exceed nine.
Concerning games sold exclusively online, the ANJ is requesting a reduction in their total number, which particularly concerns the ranges of games at €2, €3 and €5.
The post Ratification of the 2026 Betting Framework for LA FRANÇAISE DES JEUX, Incorporating Excessive Gambling Mitigation Strategies appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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