Compliance Updates
Taichi Tech Limited Fined £170,000 for Unfair Terms and Conditions
An online gambling business has been fined £170,000 by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) for regulatory failures including the use of unfair terms and conditions.
Taichi Tech Limited – trading as Fafabet – will also have to undergo a third-party audit to ensure it is effectively implementing its anti-money laundering and safer gambling policies, procedures and controls.
A Commission investigation revealed Taichi Tech Limited had stated that: “Fafabet have the right at their own discretion to close accounts or forfeit winnings” within their bonus terms for new casino promotions.
The Gambling Commission’s investigation concluded that Taichi Tech Limited breached the fair and open licensing condition by including a discretionary term allowing the operator to close customer accounts or forfeit winnings without clear justification. Such terms lack transparency and may lead to unfair outcomes for consumers.
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA) is the general consumer protection legislation, and it is explicitly referenced within the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) that gambling companies must follow. The LCCP requires licensees to ensure that their terms and practices are fair, clear, and do not breach consumer protection law. Operators must therefore have regard to the CRA as part of their overall compliance obligations under the LCCP.
The investigation also found failures relating to anti-money laundering and social responsibility breaches.
Examples included:
• some customers were able to gamble large sums within a short period of time, despite the operator holding limited customer information
• in certain cases, individuals exhibiting potential markers of harm — such as high-velocity spending over short periods — received insufficient customer interaction from the operator
• where safer gambling emails were sent but not acknowledged by the customer and concerning behaviour continued, there was no further follow-up or intervention by the operator.
John Pierce, Director of Enforcement and Intelligence at the Gambling Commission, said: “We expect all operators — regardless of their size or customer base — to comply with consumer protection legislation and ensure their terms and conditions meet regulatory standards.
“Licensed operators must ensure their terms are clear, fair, and transparent, so customers fully understand what to expect.”
He added that the Commission’s assessment identified deficiencies in the operator’s social responsibility and anti-money laundering controls, including failures to effectively manage risk and implement adequate consumer protection measures.
The operator has acknowledged that it previously fell short of the standards expected by the Commission and has since taken steps to address these shortcomings. As part of the regulatory outcome, the operator is required to commission an independent third-party audit to provide assurance of ongoing compliance with all relevant regulatory requirements.
The post Taichi Tech Limited Fined £170,000 for Unfair Terms and Conditions appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Betsson Group, a leading global online gaming operator, has strengthened its commitment to quality, sustainability and responsible business practices through the achievement of three ISO certifications and two independent assessments in Italy. These were awarded to Azzurri Ltd, the Group’s locally licensed entity, by Bureau Veritas – a leader in testing, inspection and certification – following extensive audits of the Group’s Italian operations.
With a presence in over 25 markets and a strong focus on regulatory compliance, ESG and customer experience, Betsson Group continues to embed responsible practices across all areas of its business.
The following internationally recognised standards were awarded:
• ISO 9001 – Quality Management: Recognises effective quality management systems that consistently deliver services meeting customer and regulatory requirements.
• ISO 14001 – Environmental Management: Focuses on reducing environmental impact through responsible resource use and environmental stewardship.
• ISO 26000 – Social Responsibility: Reflects a commitment to ethical behaviour, transparency and contributing to sustainable development.
• ISO 30415 – Human Capital: Diversity and Inclusion: Validates inclusive workplace practices that respect human rights and promote equal opportunities.
• ISO 50001 – Energy Management: Acknowledges systematic efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce consumption across operations.
“These certifications reflect our Group-wide commitment to operating responsibly, ethically and sustainably. While the audit was conducted for our Italian operations, the values underpinning these standards – from quality and environmental care to diversity and social responsibility – are deeply embedded across Betsson Group,” said Corinne Valletta, General Counsel at Betsson Group.
“Thanks to Betsson’s strong culture and drive towards operational excellence, continuous improvement and commitment towards ESG, the certification process was fairly straightforward. Kudos to the whole team for their commitment and strong knowledge across all disciplines. Their proactive approach to implementing best practices across multiple disciplines is commendable and aligns with the highest international standards,” said Peter Cain, Country Manager at Bureau Veritas Malta.
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The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is continuing its efforts to combat unregulated gambling and protect the public. As part of these efforts, the AGCO took steps this week to revoke the lottery seller registrations of a number of retailers in the GTA that were found to be offering unapproved electronic gambling machines under the Prime Slot brand.
The AGCO regulates all gambling in the province of Ontario to ensure gambling products and gaming sites are held to high standards of game integrity, player safety, and the protection of minors and vulnerable individuals.
Over the past decade, unregulated gaming machines have increasingly proliferated across North America. While they largely rely on chance like traditional slot machines, manufacturers have claimed they are games of skill and have installed terminals in convenience stores and other locations where gaming machines would otherwise be prohibited.
The AGCO will continue to take every action within its authority to protect the public against the risks that these unregulated machines pose – particularly in locations easily accessible to children and youth.
A registered lottery seller served with a Notice of Proposed Order to revoke their registration has the right to appeal the AGCO’s action within 15 days to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an adjudicative tribunal that is part of Tribunals Ontario and independent of the AGCO.
“Unapproved gambling machines have no business being in convenience stores or other locations, particularly those that are available to children and youth. ” – Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, AGCO
Background:
Under Section 10(b) of the Gaming Control Act, the Registrar shall refuse to register an applicant as a supplier or to renew the registration of an applicant as a supplier if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the applicant will not act as a supplier in accordance with law, or with integrity, honesty, or in the public interest.
Under Section 12 of the Gaming Control Act, the Registrar may propose to suspend or to revoke a registration for any reason that would disentitle the registrant to registration or renewal of registration under section 10 if the registrant were an applicant.
The post AGCO takes action to remove unapproved gambling machines from Ontario convenience stores appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Asia
Think Tank Advocata Questions Independence and Integrity of Proposed Gaming Regulator in Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan policy think tank has questioned the independence and integrity of the country’s proposed new regulatory body as the government rushes to put the agency in place ahead of next month’s launch of Melco Resorts & Entertainment’s City of Dreams Sri Lanka.
Sudaraka Ariyaratne, Research Consultant at Advocata Institute, said to media that while establishing a regulator was vital to the industry’s long-term future, the planned Gambling Regulatory Authority appears to lack the independence needed to provide proper oversight.
Ariyaratne said: “If you look at the theory of regulation, it is very clear that the regulator has to be an independent body which gives credibility. That is not the case with this Gambling Authority Bill.
“I think the government is trying to push this bill through in a rush because Melco is coming next month. We think Melco would’ve wanted a regulator in place. When it comes to these big names in the gaming industry, the integrity of the market is a big consideration, given the image of the industry, as a whole. They need to sustain a good reputation so that they can attract good customers to whom integrity is important.”
Ariyaratne, who stressed that his think tank supports the idea of a legal, regulated gambling industry, added that the Gambling Regulatory Authority in its current form risks being a proxy for the nation’s Finance Minister.
“Even if it’s not a proper regulator, as long as it gives the perception of integrity, that’s what [operators] are looking for, to engender market confidence,” he said.
“The danger with this bill is that it won’t even give a perception of integrity, if the Minister of Finance can basically do whatever he or she wants.”
Ariyaratne added that Sri Lanka would be better served to withdraw its current bill and resubmit a more comprehensive version.
The post Think Tank Advocata Questions Independence and Integrity of Proposed Gaming Regulator in Sri Lanka appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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