Compliance Updates

BAGO Welcomes Positive Developments in Young People’s Gambling Behaviour, But Calls for Stricter Controls

Published

1 year ago

September 26, 2024

bago-welcomes-positive-developments-in-young-people’s-gambling-behaviour,-but-calls-for-stricter-controls

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BAGO, the Belgian federation of private gambling operators, is pleased with the latest figures from the Flemish Expertise Centre for Alcohol and other Drugs on the gambling behaviour of young people. In 2023, 12.4% of young people reported having bet on sports at some point, which is a slight decrease compared to the previous year (12.5%). For casino games, we can see a similar slight decrease to 5.3% in 2023 who had ever played (5.5% in 2022).

These figures show a clear stabilisation and even a decrease in the number of young people under 18 who participate in gambling for some games, despite the fact that the survey took place before the introduction of stricter rules on advertising and the increase in the minimum age. BAGO has always advocated an increase in the minimum age to 21 and strongly supports measures to better protect young people.

Despite the ban on gambling for under-18s that has been in place for years – which has been extended to 21 since 1 September – the participation of young people in certain games of chance is still too high. Because recognised providers apply strict age checks and have invested heavily in player protection in recent years, minors mainly gamble on illegal websites or via physical products from the National Lottery. Recent figures, published in L’Echo , show that 60% of the Belgian gambling market consists of unlicensed providers. BAGO therefore advocates stricter controls to ensure that young people under the legal minimum age do not have access to games of chance.

BAGO emphasises that the Gaming Commission must be sufficiently effective to tackle the illegal gambling circuit effectively. In this circuit, minors can still gamble, without any form of protection and there is no age limit. In addition, BAGO finds it illogical that the increase in the minimum age to 21 years does not apply to all National Lottery products and therefore calls for equal protection for young people. In addition to control and equal treatment, prevention is an essential part of keeping young people away from gambling.

The post BAGO Welcomes Positive Developments in Young People’s Gambling Behaviour, But Calls for Stricter Controls appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Regulating the Game Global Awards: First-Ever Winners Announced

Published

4 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Wladimir P.

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Regulating the Game has declared the winners of the first RTG Global Awards, honoring exceptional leadership, stewardship, and excellence in gambling policy and regulation, safer gambling practices, compliance, technology, and community results.

The Awards were created to recognize the people, groups, and innovations that significantly contribute to integrity, public trust, and sustainable progress in the sector. After substantial worldwide involvement in the first year, victors have now been chosen in all six categories by an impartial judging panel made up of senior leaders with knowledge across industry, law, integrity, governance, and safer gambling.

The 2026 RTG Global Award winners are:

• Leadership Voice — Danny Munk, Wests Illawarra
• Safer Gambling Champion — Gamble Alert
• Compliance Excellence — Dominic Monti, Wests Illawarra
• RegTech Solution of the Year — Cherry Hub
• Community Impact Initiative — Nathan Reeves, Unibet
• Emerging Leader — Michael Simone, Bankstown Sports

The award winners showcase the diversity of leadership throughout the sector, from individuals steering the industry with vision and intent to those promoting excellence in compliance, innovation, responsible gambling, and community engagement.

RTG Founder and Principal at Vanguard Overwatch, Paul Newson, said the inaugural winners had set a strong benchmark for future years: “The inaugural RTG Global Awards were established to recognise substance, integrity and measurable contribution across the sector. This year’s winners represent the calibre of leadership, innovation and commitment required to strengthen regulatory practice, improve industry capability and deliver better outcomes for communities.”

“What distinguishes these recipients is not simply professional achievement, but their contribution to lifting standards, advancing safer gambling, strengthening compliance and demonstrating leadership in areas that matter to public confidence and sector credibility.”

The quality of this year’s nominations resulted in a very competitive field, with finalists chosen from an exceptional group of candidates in every category. Being shortlisted was already a noteworthy accomplishment, showcasing the quality of work, leadership, and contributions made by the finalists, while the eventual winners came from an incredibly competitive group.

The winners were selected following an independent assessment process led by a judging panel comprising:
• Don Hammond, Chief Executive Officer, Leagues Clubs Australia
• Jamie Nettleton, Former President, International Masters of Gaming Law and Partner, Addisons
• Khalid Ali, Chief Executive Officer, International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA)
• Tracy Parker, Senior Vice-President – Accreditation, Advisory and Insights, Responsible Gambling Council (Canada)

The RTG Global Awards form part of the broader Regulating the Game program, which brings together regulators, industry leaders, compliance professionals and innovators to examine critical issues, advance policy dialogue and strengthen sector capability.

The post Regulating the Game Global Awards: First-Ever Winners Announced appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Commodity Futures Trading Commission

Smarkets Files for CFTC License to Enter U.S. Prediction Markets

Published

4 hours ago

March 11, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

smarkets-files-for-cftc-license-to-enter-us.-prediction-markets

Smarkets, one of the UK’s leading prediction markets, has filed for a license with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), marking its formal entry into the U.S. prediction markets space. Built on nearly two decades of technology development and approximately $50 billion in lifetime trading volume, the company is bringing a genuinely different model to America – one where prices are set by participants, not the house.

The filing opens two parallel regulatory tracks: a federal route through the CFTC for its core exchange platform, and state-by-state sportsbook licensing for its SBK product.

Founded in 2008 and now the number two prediction market in the UK, Smarkets owns its full technology stack end-to-end, including its matching engine, market-making capability, payments and data settlement systems. The company processes approximately $3 billion in annual traded volume and is profitable. Unlike traditional sportsbooks, which build margins of around 10+ percent into every price, Smarkets operates as a financial exchange with prices being determined in an open marketplace.

“The U.S. market is currently in a race against time to figure out how to regulate the predictions market. For the last nearly two decades, we’ve built Smarkets slow and steady, ensuring we built an exchange platform that did not cut corners and operated with transparency, putting the power into the hands of traders rather than the house. We believe now is the time to enter the U.S. market and bring the learnings that have made us successful in the UK, working with regulators, not around them,” said Jason Trost, founder and CEO.

Smarkets is backed by Susquehanna, one of the world’s largest quantitative trading firms, which led a $30M Series B. Previous investors include Passion Capital and DTCP.

The post Smarkets Files for CFTC License to Enter U.S. Prediction Markets appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Compliance Updates

REEVO Secures Greek Licence for Games and Aggregation Platform

Published

1 day ago

March 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

reevo-secures-greek-licence-for-games-and-aggregation-platform

REEVO has announced that it has officially secured regulatory approval in Greece, marking a major milestone in the company’s continued expansion across Europe’s regulated iGaming markets.

The licence, issued by the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP), grants REEVO a Manufacturer Suitability Licence (Category A1), enabling the company to supply its REEVO in-house games and aggregation platform to licensed operators within the Greek market.

The approval also includes the company’s registration in the EEEP Registry of Manufacturers, reinforcing REEVO’s position as a trusted and compliant technology provider within one of Europe’s most established regulated jurisdictions.f

“This licence represents an important step forward for REEVO. Greece is a key regulated market in Europe, and being approved for both our proprietary games and aggregation platform allows us to deliver the complete REEVO experience to operators and players across the country,” said Karl Grech, Head of Business Development at REEVO.

The Greek licence further strengthens REEVO’s growing footprint across regulated jurisdictions, as the company continues to deliver premium gaming content, advanced aggregation technology and fully compliant solutions to operators worldwide.

The post REEVO Secures Greek Licence for Games and Aggregation Platform appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.