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Compliance Updates

CEOs of Major European iGaming Companies Call for High-quality Regulation to Protect Players and Markets

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In a joint letter, the CEOs from EGBA’s member operators—bet365, Betsson, Entain, Evoke, FDJ United, Flutter, LeoVegas and Superbet—showcased their ongoing investments in safer gambling and contributions to European society, while calling for smart, stable and evidence-based regulation that supports the long-term sustainability of regulated gambling in Europe.

The letter is featured in EGBA’s recently published Sustainability Report 2025.

“As CEOs of Europe’s leading gaming and betting companies serving 38 million customer accounts across 21 countries, our principle is simple: safe players are sustainable players. We see every day how effective regulation can deliver safe environments for our players. But the long-term sustainability of our sector depends on a balanced regulatory approach that supports player protection, compliance, and competitiveness. Today, that balance is at risk.

Our responsibility and contribution

We’re pleased to contribute to this year’s EGBA Sustainability Report, which reflects our shared commitment to continue to build a thriving and responsible sector in Europe. As this report shows, our companies are significantly raising industry standards to generate economic and social benefits through responsible operations and promoting safer play.

Encouraging our players to play positively isn’t just the right thing to do, it makes good business sense and reflects our commitment to contribute positively to European society. In 2024, our companies paid €3.8 billion in taxes to help fund public services, sustaining 62,000 jobs, and developing player support tools, now used voluntarily by 34% of players, and sent a record 100 million messages to our players to promote safer play.

Our efforts are backed by dedicated teams working to support our customers every day, with 89% of our employees completing dedicated safer gambling training. We also invested €735 million in the success of European sports last year, from grassroots to professional competitions.

The black market challenge

Yet while we continue to invest significantly in responsible play and compliance, unregulated, untaxed black market operators, based outside Europe, are thriving across the continent. These operators target vulnerable players with unlimited access and significant bonuses, offer no customer protections or support for struggling players, and don’t contribute to public finances or European sports. They operate entirely beyond regulatory oversight, avoiding all costs and obligations, and face few repercussions.

And their appeal only grows when well-intentioned regulation becomes too restrictive. In the Netherlands, new spending caps introduced in 2024 prompted a surge in black market activity. Within just months, unregulated sites were matching the revenue of the country’s regulated market. In the UK, an estimated £2.7 billion is staked annually on black market websites, costing taxpayers £335 million in lost taxes.

The path forward

The answer to this growing problem is not deregulation but smarter, more balanced regulation. We call for coordinated action:

Policymakers should prioritise regulation that is evidence-based and behaviourally informed to channel players toward the safer, regulated environment – not away from it.

Regulators should strengthen enforcement against black market operators based outside Europe who undermine the well-developed safety nets established in Europe.

Industry stakeholders should promote and work only with operators licensed and regulated in Europe.

Our commitment to sustainability

Despite these challenges, Europe is well positioned to lead the world in sustainable gambling. Our companies have shown that commercial success and social responsibility go hand in hand. We’ll continue to invest in messaging, training, research, and innovative tools that improve player protection and raise industry standards.

But we cannot do this alone. We need a stable, long-term vision for regulated markets – one built on evidence, consultation, and collaboration, rather than measures that end up putting players in harm’s way. Otherwise, Europe risks undermining its safe, regulated gambling environment that has been diligently built over many years. The black market isn’t just a business challenge for us – when regulation drives players away from the regulated market, everyone loses, especially vulnerable players.

Europe has a clear choice: either let regulated markets continue to lose ground to unregulated operators who undermine consumer protection and offer nothing positive to our society, or work together to protect players and support responsible operators who invest billions every year in Europe’s future.

We believe in the path of cooperation and are committed to building it further.”

The post CEOs of Major European iGaming Companies Call for High-quality Regulation to Protect Players and Markets appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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VGCCC: Footy Legends Team Up to Champion Limit Setting

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Aussie Rules football legend Sam Docherty and rugby league superstar Cameron Munster are teaming up for Gambling Harm Awareness Week to encourage people to set limits before they bet.

Both footballers use practical tools when they gamble and are sharing their advice with others, particularly males aged 18–34 who are the biggest users of wagering and sports gambling products.

“I’m committed to raising awareness and encouraging safer gambling habits. I know from experience the highs and lows that can come with gambling. Now, I want to focus on supporting change so that gambling harm can be minimised.

“In the last few years, I have grown immensely as a person and by setting limits, I’ve had the occasional gamble but have been able to focus on what matters most,” Munster said.

Sam Docherty said: “I’ve had my struggles with gambling in the past and now I set a weekly deposit limit. I’ve found it really helps keep my gambling activity in check. People struggling with gambling harm can feel stuck and alone because of feelings like shame and guilt – and I want them to know that it’s okay to seek help.

“It’s important that people, especially young guys, think about their actions before they place a bet. I wouldn’t take to the field without warming up and making sure my body was match fit. Setting a limit is the same. It will help protect you.

Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) CEO, Suzy Neilan said safety should be front of mind as the state’s sporting calendar ramps up.

“There is always a spike in wagering and sports gambling at this time of year, which is why it’s crucial we reach people that are statistically at greater risk of experiencing gambling harm.

“This is about safety. Setting a limit is like putting on a seatbelt as soon as you get in the car. Limits can reduce the likelihood of you experiencing gambling harm.”

Victorians spend more than $7 billion a year on gambling, including approximately $2.5 billion on wagering and sports betting products.

Gambling Harm Awareness Week is an annual event that encourages people to understand the risks of gambling. The 2025 campaign “Set before you bet” focuses on how setting limits can reduce someone’s risk of experiencing gambling harm. Protective behaviours that can be used include:

• Gamble no more than 2% of take home pay.

• Gamble no more than once a week.

• Gamble on no more than 2 different products.

“Sam and Cameron have unique experiences with gambling, and I commend them for implementing their own strategies, including setting limits when they gamble.

“What’s more, it’s great that these role models are now sharing their lessons and advice with other young men who are the cohort most at risk from experiencing gambling harm from sports betting,” Ms Neilan said.

The VGCCC has released findings from the annual Community Attitudes Survey, which asked more than 3000 Victorians about their views on gambling. The survey shows that most Victorians overwhelmingly agree gambling is addictive and can damage families and communities.

“With the widespread popularity of sports betting, it is so important for people to understand our Gambling Harm Awareness Week message and set limits before they bet,” Ms Neilan said.

“Gambling is a personal choice, and it’s vital that people are equipped with the knowledge and practical tools to manage their activity and participate safely.

‘The gambling industry must act with integrity, comply with their licence conditions and Code of Conduct obligations, and care for their customers who may be showing signs of gambling harm.”

The post VGCCC: Footy Legends Team Up to Champion Limit Setting appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Compliance Updates

Kansspelautoriteit Sees Increasing Risk Analyses of Sports Betting

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The Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) has conducted research into the risk analyses that online gambling providers must conduct regarding their sports betting offerings. The study examined the implementation of the identification, analysis and evaluation of risks to the integrity of the relevant matches at four providers. Based on this risk analysis, providers must identify and mitigate match-fixing risks.

Following reports to the Sports Betting Intelligence Unit (SBIU), an investigation has been launched into a possible match-fixing. By examining the providers’ risk analyses, it will become clear whether providers have their analyses properly in place and are adequately assessing, assessing and ultimately mitigating the risks. While the KSA sees room for improvement in areas such as the specification of certain risks, the measures taken and the implementation of the reporting obligation, it is generally positive about the implementation of the providers’ risk analyses. This represents an upward trend compared to a year ago. The KSA continues to randomly audit risk analyses.

Source: kansspelautoriteit.nl

The post Kansspelautoriteit Sees Increasing Risk Analyses of Sports Betting appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Compliance Updates

EGBA Launches Pledge on Responsible Influencer Marketing

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The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) announced a new comprehensive pledge establishing standards for responsible influencer marketing across Europe’s gambling sector, reinforcing its commitment to promote best practices in responsible advertising and consumer protection throughout the EU.

The Pledge on Responsible Influencer Marketing in Online Gambling was developed in collaboration with the European Advertising Standards Alliance (EASA) and is the first industry-wide set of influencer marketing standards in Europe’s gambling sector. It represents a significant step forward in addressing the fast-paced evolution of online marketing, particularly the growing use of influencers in the gambling industry.

Building on EGBA’s pioneering Code of Conduct on responsible advertising for online gambling (EGBA Code), the pledge sets out additional standards for all influencer marketing content produced on behalf of EGBA members.

A Comprehensive Framework for Responsible Influencer Marketing

The pledge establishes three core pillars designed to ensure the highest standards of consumer protection:

• Enhanced Advertising Standards: The pledge introduces rules and guidelines on enhanced transparency and age-gating mechanisms to prevent minors from accessing influencer marketing content for online gambling. It builds on the EGBA Code’s prohibition of gambling marketing content appealing to minors by introducing content moderation requirements and audience demographic checks.

• Influencer Selection Criteria: EGBA members commit to working exclusively with influencers who have been screened for responsible marketing conduct and who abide by all applicable advertising standards and legislation. EGBA members encourage the use of training programmes to ensure the influencers they work with remain on top of the latest regulatory and self-regulatory developments for advertising.

• Independent Monitoring and Compliance: EGBA members commit to regularly monitor their influencer marketing content by independent entities, and to promptly remove any content that is non-compliant with the pledge.

The pledge applies to all forms of influencer content, including live streams, stories, posts, videos and any digital content formats.

“As the online advertising landscape continues to evolve, we’re proud to lead the industry with the first comprehensive standards for influencer marketing in Europe’s gambling sector. This pledge demonstrates our members’ commitment to responsible advertising and willingness to go beyond regulatory requirements to ensure the highest standards of transparency and minor protection in their influencer partnerships,” said Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA.

EGBA members represent leading online gambling operators who are licensed and regulated within the EU. The association has been at the forefront of establishing responsible advertising standards across the industry, with the EGBA Code serving as the first pan-European framework for responsible advertising in Europe’s online gambling sector.

The new influencer marketing pledge will be implemented through EGBA members’ marketing practices, with active engagement with influencers to promote awareness of these enhanced standards.

The post EGBA Launches Pledge on Responsible Influencer Marketing appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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