Compliance Updates
Texas House Passes Bill to Abolish Texas Lottery Commission
The Texas House has approved legislation to abolish the Texas Lottery Commission and reform lottery operations after multiple scandals have rocked the agency.
Authored by State Sen. Bob Hall (R-Edgewood), Senate Bill 3070 abolishes the commission that has overseen the lottery since shortly after its founding in 1991, moving operations to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
As originally written, the bill would also limit ticket sales per transaction, require age verification at the point of sale, push the agency into a two year probationary period and provide for greater oversight of the lottery—oversight that has been either intentionally or unintentionally lacking.
In January, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made an impromptu visit to a lottery ticket reseller responsible for selling millions of tickets online. During the course of his visit, he was denied access to the area where ticket printing was taking place.
The bill, as originally written, would allow the lieutenant governor, Speaker of the House, attorney general, and governor the ability to act as inspectors of lottery operations.
At the eleventh hour, State Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth) offered a 58-page amendment to the measure that removed this and other critical parts of the bill. It was this amended bill that was, according to Geren, drafted with the lottery vendors, colloquially called stakeholders, that ultimately passed the House.
Among other changes, the Geren amendment changed vendor and employee retention.
While it was argued that the current employees would provide for a smoother transition from the TLC to TDLR, this would include members of the staff who were complicit in the extra legislative expansion of gambling in the state of Texas, and covering for the lottery’s multiple sins.
The Geren amendment, passed under the watchful eye of IGT’s lobbyist and former chief of staff to Gov. Greg Abbott, Luis Sanez, also guarantees that the state lottery contract will remain with its current vendor, IGT. According to a lawsuit filed in Houston, the company played a critical role in an international gambling syndicate’s rigging of the April 2023 $95 million jackpot.
According to testimony given to the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee, representatives from IGT were onsite for hours during the ticket printing at a location that conducted no retail business, which is against state rules. This is the same location where children were filmed printing tickets.
Geren, a longtime proponent of expanding gambling in Texas, failed to pass a bill last session that would have allowed casino gambling in the state. This session, the lottery, and its corrupt operation took all the oxygen out of the room.
State Rep. Brent Money (R-Greenville) offered an amendment to Geren’s amendment that would have abolished the lottery and not just the commission. Money’s amendment failed by a vote of 71-58.
Geren’s amendment was ultimately adopted in a vote of 91-44.
The legislation passed in a vote of 110-29.
Now, the bill requires one more vote in the House before going back to the Senate for either approval or to be reconciled in a conference committee.
If the bill is not reconciled, the lottery may be abolished, or a special session could be forced to save the corruption-plagued institution.
The post Texas House Passes Bill to Abolish Texas Lottery Commission appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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The Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) has imposed a penalty on three gambling influencers. These influencers are Stiefunspeelt, Turcos and Buurtwachtt. The penalty is a follow-up to previously announced steps by the KSA to take stricter action against influencers. Because influencers often appeal to a young and therefore vulnerable target group, it is crucial to combat this content.
Influencers Stiefunspeelt, Turcos, and Buurtwachtt posted videos on their social media platforms featuring gambling with illegal providers. They also actively promoted gambling by encouraging their followers to also gamble with these illegal providers. The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KSA) has previously explicitly reminded all three influencers that creating videos promoting illegal gambling is prohibited. Therefore, the KSA imposed a penalty on all three influencers. This requires them to remove existing content within 48 hours and prohibits them from creating new advertisements for illegal providers. If they do so, the influencer who committed the violation will receive a penalty of €25,000 per violation, with a maximum of €75,000.
The KSA continues to closely monitor these types of violations and emphasizes that young people must be protected from this type of content about illegal gambling.
The post Dutch Gambling Authority Imposes Penalty on Three Gambling Influencers appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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DigiPlus Interactive has filed its license applications with the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board (WCGRB) in South Africa. This move advances DigiPlus’ entry into one of the most promising regulated online gaming markets globally.
DigiPlus has applied for three operator licenses in South Africa: a National Manufacturer License, a Bookmaker License and a Bookmaker Premises License. The WCGRB is regarded as the preferred jurisdiction for international operators like DigiPlus due to its transparent regulatory processes and digital readiness.
“The filing of our online gaming license in South Africa marks another milestone in DigiPlus’ global growth journey, as we bring our proven track record of innovation, responsible gaming, and player protection, together with our strength in localizing games for diverse markets, to one of Africa’s most dynamic economies,” said DigiPlus Chairman Eusebio Tanco.
This milestone shortly follows DigiPlus’ launch in Brazil on September 22 with its first international brand GamePlus.
The post DigiPlus Applies for South Africa License appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Digitain strengthens its regulated presence in Europe by obtaining Belgium’s E Category License.
Digitain, the leading iGaming solutions provider, has announced that it has been officially licensed to operate in Belgium, marking a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing European expansion. This achievement highlights Digitain’s commitment to compliance, innovation, and delivering trusted solutions to its global partners.
Belgium is a highly regulated jurisdiction with strict standards to ensure fair play and responsible gaming. Securing this license further strengthens Digitain’s reputation as a reliable and compliant technology provider, enabling it to offer its award-winning solutions fully aligned with local regulations.
Digitain remains committed to expanding its regulated market presence, fostering partner success, and upholding the highest standards of compliance and data protection.
The post Digitain Expands into Belgium with Regulatory License Approval appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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