Compliance Updates
BAGO Welcomes Positive Developments in Young People’s Gambling Behaviour, But Calls for Stricter Controls
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.
Compliance Updates
Czech Financial Administration Prevent Tax Evasion in Gambling Sector Amounting to CZK 540M
The Czech Financial Administration has successfully prevented tax evasion in the gambling sector amounting to CZK 540m.
Through a specialized financial department, authorities identified discrepancies in financial flows within casinos and gambling operators for the years 2021 and 2022. The findings were made public in a press release.
The tax evasion was uncovered through a detailed analysis of gaming data, which revealed unusual player behaviour and suspicious financial transactions. During an inspection of a gambling operator, the authorities detected irregularities that led to an additional tax assessment of CZK 340m. The audit further uncovered errors in the reporting of fees and commissions, resulting in an extra tax obligation of CZK 200m.
“Gambling is a highly regulated sector with significant tax revenues, which is why it is crucial for us to systematically minimize opportunities for illegal practices. This achievement demonstrates that our efforts have a tangible impact on market fairness and tax collection,” Otakar Sladkovský, Director of the Specialized Tax Office, said.
Although gambling tax is a relatively smaller contributor to the state’s overall tax revenues, it remains an important source of income. Last year, gambling taxes generated CZK 20.6 billion, reflecting a 12.5% increase compared to the previous year. Of this amount, CZK 14.2 billion was allocated to the state budget, while the remaining funds were distributed among municipal budgets. In total, tax revenues for the previous year, excluding compulsory insurance premiums, amounted to CZK 1.42 trillion.
The post Czech Financial Administration Prevent Tax Evasion in Gambling Sector Amounting to CZK 540M appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has issued a cease-and-desist order to BetNow.eu Sportsbook, Casino, and Racebook (BetNow), an offshore online casino operating illegally within the state. The site offers a range of casino games, including slots, poker, and live dealer options such as blackjack, roulette, and craps, as well as betting services for sports events and horse races.
“This unlicensed operator not only violates Michigan law, but also exposes consumers to significant risks. Our job is to protect Michigan residents by ensuring that all online gambling is conducted legally and responsibly,” MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams said.
BetNow offers numerous payment options for player deposits, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Zelle, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Tether, Bitcoin Cash, CashMG, and bank transfers. However, players must wager their entire initial deposit before becoming eligible to withdraw any winnings.
The MGCB’s investigation found that BetNow is in violation of several key state laws, including:
• Lawful Internet Gaming Act: Only licensed operators are permitted to offer internet gaming. Only Michigan-licensed casinos and federally authorized tribal casinos can apply for a gaming license under state law.
• Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act: Operating an unlicensed gambling business is a felony in Michigan, carrying penalties of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, or both.
• Michigan Penal Code: Gambling, which involves payment based on the outcome of an uncertain event, is prohibited under state law. Accepting money with the understanding it will be paid based on a game of chance is illegal.
The post MGCB Issues Cease-and-Desist Order to BetNow appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
The National Council of Games of Chance and Luck in Colombia has issued Agreement 802 of 2025, through which operators are authorized to use random number generators complementary to the use of raffles and to broadcast the draws over the internet.
“We are working to modernize the entire industry, and that means implementing new technologies. With this Agreement, our goal is that, based on number generators, lottery operators can carry out more draws per year. This means not only an increase in sales, but also in transfers for health,” Marco Emilio Hincapié, president of Coljuegos, said.
Random number generators are systems that allow numbers to be chosen at random. These programs work through computer algorithms that create statistically independent results without following specific patterns that lead to them being predictable.
“From now on, lottery operators will have the possibility of continuing to use the ballot boxes and, at the same time, create more draws in which random number generators are used,” said the president.
“In addition, they will be able to broadcast the draws through their websites, social media and traditional media such as television. This will provide greater transparency in the draws and more guarantees for bettors,” he added.
This new regulation is part of the strategy to transform and optimize the operation of games of chance and luck with computer security and transparency standards.
The post Colombian Lottery Operators Get Permission to Use Random Number Generators appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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