Compliance Updates
ECA Announces its Security and Safety Workshop to be held during the Global Table Games & Game Protection Conference

The European Casino Association (ECA) is going to conduct its 2024 Security and Safety Working Group meeting in conjunction with the Global Table Games & Game Protection Conference (GTGC/GGPC) at the Hippodrome Casino in London from November 18-20, 2024.
This collaboration marks a significant expansion of the ECA’s annual Security and Safety Working Group meeting, now encompassing a broader range of crucial industry topics.
The Global Table Games & Game Protection Conference (GTGC/GGPC) will address a wide array of subjects vital to the European casino industry, including:
• Security and Safety
• Safer Gambling Practices
• Customer Experience Enhancement
• Game Protection Strategies
• Technological Advancements in Casino Operations
Guido Berghmans, ECA Board Member, Working Group Leader, and Director of Casino 2000 Luxembourg, stated: “We are pleased to integrate our ECA Security and Safety Workshop with this conference. The GTGC/GGPC Euro provides our members with a valuable opportunity to engage with security experts and gain insights into the latest developments in game protection and secure casino operations.”
The GTGC/GGPC, organised by game protection expert Richard Marcus, is making its European debut following three successful years in Las Vegas. The event will feature a distinguished lineup of speakers, including:
• Simon Thomas, ECA Board Member and Executive Chairman of the Hippodrome Casino
• Ted Whiting, Corporate VP of Surveillance and Asset Protection for MGM Resorts International
• Mike Matranga, former Secret Service agent and founder of M6 Global Defense Group
• Richard Noble, COO at Crown UK
• Michael Boettcher, industry veteran and President of Storm International
• Last but not least, conference organiser Richard Marcus.
Marcus is considered to have been the most significant professional casino cheat of all time. He turned the tables to become a casino game protection consultant and trainer with clients worldwide. Marcus began his career as a blackjack dealer in Las Vegas and later became infamous for his ingenious cheating methods. He has dedicated his expertise to helping casinos worldwide improve their security measures and game protection strategies. Richard Marcus speaks French and German, enhancing his ability to communicate with a diverse European audience.
The conference will address current security risks in casinos and the methods to detect and prevent fraud and manipulation at gaming tables and slot machines. Key topics include AI in surveillance, facial recognition technology, and cybersecurity. Additionally, the conference will cover other relevant subjects, making it appealing not only to security managers but also to all executives in European casino companies. This event offers an excellent opportunity to exchange knowledge and network with industry peers.
Guido Berghmans added: “This collaboration between the ECA and GTGC/GGPC underscores our commitment to advancing security and safety standards in the European casino industry. We encourage all our members to attend and recommend that European land-based casino operations consider sending their key employees to participate in this conference. It presents a unique learning and networking opportunity that merits serious consideration.”
As part of this collaborative effort, on November 20, the managers of ECA member casinos responsible for security and safety will convene with experts and relevant consultants at their annual Security and Safety Working Group meeting to exchange experiences from the past year and discuss improved casino security practices.
The post ECA Announces its Security and Safety Workshop to be held during the Global Table Games & Game Protection Conference appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Anne Marie Caulfield
GRAI Publishes 2025-2027 Strategy Statement

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The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has published its Statement of Strategy for 2025 to 2027, setting out its strategic priorities over the next three years as it establishes a robust regulatory and licensing regime for the gambling sector and delivers on its public protection mandate.
Established on a statutory basis in March 2025, the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 sets out the framework and legislative basis for the GRAI which will operate as an independent, self-financing regulator under the remit of the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
Minister Jim O’Callaghan TD, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration launched the new Strategy alongside Mr Paul Quinn, Chair of the Authority, and Anne Marie Caulfield, CEO of the GRAI.
The Statement of Strategy sets out the GRAI’s priorities over the next three years with particular focus on six functional areas with related strategic goals reflecting the GRAI’s legislative mandate:
• Licensing
• Monitoring and Compliance
• Enforcement
• Consumer Protection and Awareness
• People, Organisation, and Governance
• Digital First
Each goal is supported by objectives and deliverables which will guide the GRAI’s progress through to 2027.
Jim O’Callaghan TD, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs Migration, said: “I commend the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland on the publication of its first Statement of Strategy, which is an important milestone for the Authority, the gambling sector in Ireland and for the wider public.
“This strategy is not just about regulation; it is about educating the public, protecting those vulnerable to gambling harm, and ensuring that the industry operates to the highest standards of integrity and social responsibility. As Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration I am committed to supporting the Authority in delivering on its mandate.”
Paul Quinn, Chairperson of the GRAI, said: “As a newly established independent regulator, we have been entrusted with a vital public mandate: to ensure that gambling in Ireland is conducted in a safe, fair, and transparent manner, with the interests of individuals, families, and the wider community at its heart.
“Our work is grounded in the principles of prevention, protection, and evidence-based regulation. This Statement of Strategy sets out the roadmap to delivering a modern, fair, and trusted regulatory regime that reflects the constantly evolving nature of gambling and the expectations of the Irish public.
“Establishing the new licensing arrangements, compliance management, and enforcement functions during the term of this Strategy is central to reducing the likelihood of gambling harms and will underpin a well-regulated gambling market in Ireland.”
Anne Marie Caulfield, CEO of the GRAI, said: “The Statement of Strategy outlines the vision, mission, and values of the Regulator through to 2027. Each goal within the Strategy outlines a thorough approach to our main functions, from building a robust licensing regime that will ensure operators are consistently adhering to standards to supporting research and educational initiatives that enhance our capabilities as a Regulator.
“The GRAI’s Statement of Strategy 2025 – 2027 has been approved by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and we look forward to achieving our strategic goals together.”
The post GRAI Publishes 2025-2027 Strategy Statement appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Africa
NLGRB Intensifies Nationwide Crackdown on Illegal Gaming Operations

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The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board Uganda (NLGRB) intensified its nationwide crackdown on illegal gaming operations, seizing over 80 unauthorised gaming machines in Mbarara and Ibanda cities under its operation name “Mashine Haramu.”
According to the NLGRB Operations Manager, Mr. Steven Tabaruka, more than 6000 illegal gaming machines have so far been impounded across Uganda as part of the ongoing enforcement operation.
The operation targets unregulated gaming operators, suppliers, and manufacturers that exploit unsuspecting Ugandans and undermine the integrity of the industry.
Mr. Tabaruka said that the Board’s goal is to protect Ugandans by eliminating illegal gaming activities and promoting responsible gaming. He encouraged individuals in the gaming business to reach out to the NLGRB offices in Mbarara or the head office in Kampala to regularise their operations.
The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board continues to urge the public to report suspicious or illegal gaming activities as part of efforts to ensure a safe and regulated gaming environment for all.
The post NLGRB Intensifies Nationwide Crackdown on Illegal Gaming Operations appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
ACMA
ACMA Blocks More Illegal Online Gambling Sites

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The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has requested the Australian internet service providers (ISPs) to block more illegal online gambling sites, after investigations found these services to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
The latest sites blocked include Crown Gold, Maxispin Casino, Rain.gg, Didibet, LuckyBet, Malina Casino and Spins of Glory.
Website blocking is one of a range of enforcement options to protect Australians against illegal online gambling. Since the ACMA made its first blocking request in November 2019, 1338 illegal gambling and affiliate websites have been blocked. Around 220 illegal services have also pulled out of the Australian market since the ACMA started enforcing new illegal online gambling rules in 2017.
The post ACMA Blocks More Illegal Online Gambling Sites appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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