Compliance Updates
UK Gambling Operators Face £100M Tax in Harm Reduction Push
Gambling operators in the UK face a tax of as much as 1.1% of profits on some types of games as the government seeks £100 million ($126 million) a year to invest in harm reduction and research.
The planned statutory levy on all licensed operators will range from 0.1% to 1.1% of the gross gambling yield, depending on the sector and nature of the gambling, according to a statement Wednesday from the UK’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
The UK has over the last few years introduced stricter regulation of gambling, including requiring operators to reduce the intensity of online games, carry out financial vulnerability checks of players and provide customers with better control over the types of marketing they receive. Many of the measures were announced under a Conservative government, which lost to the Labour Party in July’s General Election.
The government will review the charge within five years of its introduction, with the first formal review expected by 2030, according to the statement.
UK gambling stocks soared last month after UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ budget did not include much-speculated tax hikes on the sector.
The statutory levy is a separate initiative, proposed under the Conservative government in a 2023 white paper on gambling reform.
The announcement was welcomed by anti-gambling campaigner Matt Zarb-Cousin, who said that he was “really pleased” that it is being introduced. “It will totally transform the research, prevention and treatment of gambling harm,” Zarb-Cousin said.
The four biggest gambling operators – Entain Plc, Flutter Entertainment Plc, William Hill-owner Evoke Plc and Bet365 – previously pledged to pay 1% of their gross gambling yield to an industry-funded charity GambleAware in anticipation of the levy.
In the year ending in March, the charity said it received donations of £49.5 million, £46.6 million of which came from the top four operators.
“This represents a significant step towards protecting people from gambling harm. The levy is also a crucial step towards ensuring continued support through a statutory system and is something we have been calling for since 2017,” GambleAware CEO Zoë Osmond said of the plans in a statement.
The Betting and Gaming Council, which lobbies for the industry, said that it supports plans for the levy outlined in last year’s proposal.
“Ministers must not lose sight of the fact the vast majority of the 22.5 million people who enjoy a bet each month, on the lottery, in bookmakers, casinos, bingo halls and online do so safely,” Betting and Gaming Council Chief Executive Officer Grainne Hurst said in a statement.
The post UK Gambling Operators Face £100M Tax in Harm Reduction Push appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Three people were arrested in relation to allegations of match fixing on a boxing fight.
A 54-year-old woman, a 33-year-old man and a 23-year-old man were arrested in Birmingham as part of an investigation led by the Gambling Commission and supported by West Midlands Police.
The 54-year-old and the 33-year-old were arrested in Kings Norton, while the 23-year-old was arrested in Longbridge.
All three are alleged to have committed the offences under section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005.
The investigation was launched following reports of suspicious betting activity linked to a boxing match held last year.
The post UKGC: Three Arrested on Suspicion of Cheating Offences appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The Minns Government has moved to ban gambling advertising on public transport in NSW.
The prohibition applies to Transport owned and controlled assets, including internal and external advertising on trains, metro, buses, light rail, train stations and ferry terminals.
Transport operates one of the largest portfolios of advertising assets across Australia. This includes 798 advertising boards at Sydney train stations, 49 road facing digital billboards, adverts on up to 3711 urban buses, 76 trams and across the Tangara train fleet.
The ban extends to all casino, lottery and online betting advertising.
The NSW Government will now work with multiple advertising contract holders to implement the required changes over the next 12 months.
Transport’s advertising suppliers must ensure that all advertising material complies with all applicable laws, accepted industry standards and codes of conduct established by the advertising industry for example, the Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) Advertiser Code of Ethics and AANA Code of Ethics Practice Note.
There are also additional rules that apply to Transport’s contract holders. These include a ban on political advertising on all assets, which applies equally to all political parties.
Where assets are not owned by Transport (e.g. bus stops, retail outlets or nearby private property), the NSW Government will work with the relevant entitles to see how their advertising can align with the gambling advertising ban.
This is the latest in a suite of reforms introduced by the Minns Labor Government to reduce gambling harm. The reforms include:
• reducing the statewide gaming machine entitlement cap in June 2023
• banning political donations from clubs with electronic gaming machines on 1 July 2023
• reducing the cash input limit on new gaming machines from $5000 to $500 on 1 July 2023
• banning all external gambling signage in venues on 1 September 2023
• banning the placement of any signage or advertising relating to gaming machines either on, or visible from an ATM or EFTPOS terminal with cash withdrawal facilities and introduced Responsible Gambling Officers for venues with more than 20 machine entitlements, on 1 July 2024
• requiring Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) or EFTPOS terminals that allow cash withdrawals to be placed at least 5m from the entry to a gaming room and not be visible from any machine or entry to a gaming room, from 1 January 2025
• established an Independent Panel to conduct a trial of cashless gaming in pubs and clubs throughout 2024
• committing $100 million to harm minimisation – investing in research, treatment, services and reform.
Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said: “Gambling advertising has been a common sight on our public transport for a couple of years now, and I’m pleased our Government is taking action to remove it. Parents are rightly worried about the impact it has on their kids, so its not something that we think that needs to be on our transport network.
“With over 3500 buses, close to 800 advertising assets at train stations, as well as advertising on light rail and trains, Transport’s advertising contracts are vast. Because of the scale it will take some time to implement this change, but we will be working closely with our contract partners over the next 12 months to get this done.”
Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said: “Removing gambling advertising from public transport is another demonstration of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to reducing gambling harm in NSW.
“This move will reduce the public’s exposure to gambling advertising and builds on the suite of reforms the government has introduced over the past 20 months to reduce harmful impacts of gambling.”
The post NSW: Minns Government Moves to Ban Gambling Advertising from Trains appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Soft2Bet, a leading iGaming provider and operator, has acquired a General Licence for other games by the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) in Spain. This licence authorises Soft2Bet to offer casino products in the Spanish market, reinforcing the company’s commitment to providing a safe, secure and fully compliant online gaming environment that meets the highest standards of responsible gaming.
This regulatory milestone allows Soft2Bet to expand its portfolio and deliver tailored casino gamification experiences to Spanish players. By focusing on localised content and innovative features, Soft2Bet continues to align with Spain’s evolving market landscape and player preferences.
Operating across multiple markets, Soft2Bet provides highly customisable solutions powered by its proprietary Motivational Engineering Gaming Application (MEGA). The company’s flexible approach combines off-the-shelf solutions with bespoke options, ensuring the right level of customisation to meet the diverse needs of its partners.
Leveraging its extensive B2C experience, Soft2Bet has successfully developed and operated multiple brands, such as CampoBet, Betinia, Don.ro across various highly competitive markets. This has served as a strong proof of concept, delivering high-performance results, increased retention and strong acquisition rates.
David Yatom Hay, General Counsel of Soft2Bet, said: “Securing this licence in Spain marks a significant step in our ongoing expansion and reinforces our commitment to compliance and responsible gaming. Our rapid growth and dedication to industry standards enable us to provide exceptional gaming experiences tailored to the needs of Spanish players and market alike.”
The post Soft2Bet Secures General Licence for Other Games in Spain appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
Golden Nugget Atlantic City6 days agoGolden Nugget Atlantic City Announces Re-opening of Sportsbook with New, Innovative Technology and Expanded Betting Markets
-
Asia7 days ago
NRT Technology Appoints Tecnet Asia as its Official Distributor in the Philippines
-
Central Europe7 days ago
IGT Modernizes Central Lottery System for LOTTO Thüringen in Germany via Seven-Year Contract Extension
-
bet3657 days ago
INCENTIVE GAMES LAUNCHES CRASH GAME WITH BET365 IN BRAZIL
-
Latest News7 days ago
Prepare to be Amazed in Mythical Legends Carnival, a Mythic Video Slot!
-
Baltics7 days ago
iDenfy and 7bet team up to stop multi-accounting with AI-powered ID verification
-
Latest News7 days ago
Evoplay hits the road with Europe Transit Snowdrift
-
Asia7 days ago
MGM China Announces Salary Increment for 99% Team Members in March
