Compliance Updates

UKGC: Games warning for online operators

Published

5 years ago

January 20, 2020

Online gambling operators are being reminded to check that their games meet transparency and safety standards expected by the Gambling Commission.

The reminder follows discovery that six operators were offering products providing ‘feature buy-in’ facilities on slots style games. This facility gave consumers the option of staking significant amounts of money to access the bonus feature without playing the initial stages of the game. One game was charging more than £3,000 to enter the bonus feature.

The Commission’s remote gambling and software technical standards contain the following requirements:

RTS requirement 3A: An explanation of the applicable rules must be easily available to the customer before they commit to gamble. The content including artwork and text must be accurate, and sufficient to explain all of the applicable rules and how to participate. All reasonable steps must be taken to ensure that the content is understandable.
RTS requirement 14A: Gambling products must not actively encourage customers to chase their losses, increase their stake or increase the amount they have decided to gamble, or continue to gamble after they have indicated that they wish to stop.

All six operators contacted regarding use of the ‘feature buy in’ element have now removed it from their sites.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Chief Compliance Officer of the Year award

Rush Street Interactive’s Laura McAllister Cox Named Chief Compliance Officer of the Year at Vixio Global Regulatory Awards

Published

2 hours ago

December 5, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

rush-street-interactive’s-laura-mcallister-cox-named-chief-compliance-officer-of-the-year-at-vixio-global-regulatory-awards

Rush Street Interactive, Inc. is proud to announce that Laura McAllister Cox, RSI’s Chief Compliance Officer, has been awarded the highly coveted Chief Compliance Officer of the Year award at the prestigious Vixio Global Regulatory Awards in London. This recognition celebrates Laura’s exceptional leadership, her instrumental role in navigating the ever-evolving regulatory landscape, and her unwavering commitment to fostering a culture of compliance and responsible gaming at RSI.

The Chief Compliance Officer of the Year award highlights compliance leaders who go beyond the call of duty, leading their departments through the complexities of regulatory change while significantly elevating compliance standards across their organizations. Laura’s nomination reflects her steadfast dedication to these principles and her unmatched contributions to the gaming industry.

“Laura McAllister Cox exemplifies the qualities of a transformative compliance leader,” said Richard Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer of Rush Street Interactive. “Her vision, expertise, and unwavering commitment to regulatory excellence have not only positioned RSI as a pioneer in responsible gaming practices but also ensured that RSI consistently sets the industry standard for compliance and innovation. This award is a testament to her extraordinary impact on our company and the broader gaming landscape.”

Laura’s achievements include leading RSI to become the first U.S. operator to receive the Responsible Gaming Council’s RG Check Accreditation, an honor that underscores the company’s dedication to the safety and well-being of its customers while fostering a sustainable gaming environment. Under her guidance, RSI has also achieved market-leading profitability and strategic expansion into new jurisdictions, all while navigating complex regulatory frameworks with precision.

As Chief Compliance Officer of publicly traded Rush Street Interactive, Laura oversees the company’s compliance strategy across a range of critical areas, including regulatory, licensing, anti-money laundering, technical compliance, and responsible gaming. Her leadership has been instrumental in building RSI’s compliance department into a world-class operation with specialized subject matter experts across these domains.

Beyond her achievements at RSI, Laura is widely regarded as one of the most respected voices in the global gaming industry. Her distinguished career spans nearly four decades and includes serving as President of the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) from 2017 to 2018, as well as legal and compliance leadership roles at esteemed organizations such as Rush Street Gaming, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, and Gaming Partners International Corporation. Her expertise in gaming law and corporate compliance has solidified her reputation as a trusted authority in the field.

Laura’s ability to identify and cultivate exceptional talent, foster collaborative relationships with regulators, and implement forward-thinking compliance strategies has made her an unparalleled leader in the gaming industry. Her initiatives, such as yearly team summits and ongoing training programs, ensure RSI’s compliance team remains agile and equipped to address the ever-changing regulatory landscape.

“I am deeply honored to be named the Chief Compliance Officer of the Year,” said Laura McAllister Cox. “This recognition is a reflection of the incredible work of my team and RSI’s unwavering commitment to compliance excellence and responsible gaming. At RSI, we strive to lead by example and set the standard for innovation, integrity, and collaboration in the gaming industry. I am grateful to be part of a company that values these principles and to work alongside such talented professionals every day.”

The Vixio Global Regulatory Awards celebrate achievements and innovation in compliance and responsible gaming across the global gambling industry.

Compliance Updates

Vixio Announces Winners for the 2024 Global Regulatory Awards

Published

6 hours ago

December 5, 2024

George Miller

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

Vixio, a leading provider of regulatory intelligence solutions, unveiled its 2024 Global Regulatory Awards (GRAs) winners last night during an event in London.

More than 300 industry leaders, regulatory experts, and esteemed professionals of the global gambling industry attended the prestigious event. The independently judged GRAs recognise and celebrate the achievements of individuals, teams, and organisations in the gambling industry who have excelled in compliance, corporate social responsibility, and safer gambling.

The eighth annual awards ceremony recognised winners across 20 categories. Notable winners on the evening included Betsson Group, Mindway AI, and Paysafe, each winning two awards. Vixio also recognised outstanding individuals, such as Jessica Feil of OpenBet, named Compliance Professional of the Year, and Laura McAllister Cox of Rush Street Interactive, awarded Chief Compliance Officer of the Year. “A big thank you to everyone who attended last night’s Global Regulatory Awards event in London. Vixio has been proud to host independently judged awards for the last eight years. Our selection process ensures that each winner is the best in class and has displayed clear dedication to trustworthy gambling and regulatory compliance, so huge congratulations to all the winners.” stated Mike Woolfrey, CEO of Vixio.

Docaposte, Draft Kings, eCOGRA, Gaming Associates, Scientific Games, and charity partner Ygam were among the sponsors for this year’s Global Regulatory Awards. The 2025 Global Regulatory Awards presentation will take place on November 19th, returning to the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London.

The official 2024 winners are as follows:

AML or MLR Professional of the Year – Brian Doran, Metropolitan Gaming

Award for Commitment to Compliance by an Operator – Betsson Group

Chief Compliance Officer of the Year – Laura McAllister Cox, Rush Street Interactive

Compliance Innovator of the Year – Mindway AI

Compliance Professional of the Year – Jessica Feil, OpenBet

Compliance Lifetime Achievement Special Award – David Rebuck

Compliance Rising Star Special Award – Jamie Delaney, Apricot

Compliance Team of the Year – Betsson Group

Head of Regulatory Affairs or Government Relations of the Year – Martin Lycka, Entain

Legal Team of the Year – Paysafe

Outstanding Contribution to Safer Gambling – Flutter Entertainment

Outstanding Contribution to Sports Betting Integrity – Entain

Outstanding Individual Contribution to Safer Gambling – Paul Buck, EPIC Global Solutions

Payment Service or Solution Provider of the Year – Paysafe

RegTech Provider of the Year – Mindway AI

Regulatory Initiative of the Year – National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program, idPair

Regulatory Law Firm of the Year – Bird & Bird

Regulatory Lawyer or In-House Counsel of the Year – Sue Dawson, Light & Wonder

Responsible Gambling Service or Solution Provider of the Year – BetBuddy by Playtech

Testing Service or Solution Provider of the Year – BMM Testlabs

The post Vixio Announces Winners for the 2024 Global Regulatory Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Compliance Updates

MGA Publishes Skills Gap Report, Unveiling Insights into Workforce Trends and Industry Challenges

Published

6 hours ago

December 5, 2024

Niji Narayan

mga-publishes-skills-gap-report,-unveiling-insights-into-workforce-trends-and-industry-challenges

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has released its latest report analysing the skills gap in the online gaming industry, based on surveys conducted between 2020 and 2024. The findings, reflecting data from 2019 to 2023, provide valuable insights into workforce trends, challenges, and opportunities across MGA-licensed activities in Malta.

Key Findings from the Report

Positive Labour Market Dynamics

75.8% of surveyed respondents rated Malta positively in areas such as labour market trends, skills availability, and training opportunities when compared to other jurisdictions.

Vacancy Trends in 2023

At the end of 2023, 74.9% of job vacancies had been open for less than three months.

There were 92.5 vacancies per 1000 employees in MGA-licensed activities, with a total of 885 open positions reported by online gaming companies in Malta.

Vacancy Breakdown by Level

79.2% of open positions were at the operational level.

18.8% were at middle management, while top management roles accounted for 2.0% of total vacancies.

Roles in Demand

Marketing roles (including customer care) represented 21.1% of vacancies, while technology-related positions made up 16.8%.

Top Barriers to Recruitment

The most common reasons for unfilled vacancies over the reporting period were:

Lack of work experience.

Competition from other firms.

Insufficient qualifications.

Recruitment Trends in 2023

84.9% of surveyed firms hired personnel from other companies within the industry.

Only 25.8% recruited directly from university graduates, underscoring the need for better alignment between educational programmes and industry needs.

Addressing Skills Gaps

71.7% of firms implemented in-house training or mentoring programmes to address skill shortages.

55.4% intensified employee retention efforts as a strategy to close skills gaps.

MGA CEO, Charles Mizzi, commented on the report’s findings:

“As Malta’s gaming industry evolves, it is essential to adapt and strengthen the foundations that support its success.”

“The Skills Gap Report reveals important insights into the challenges and opportunities ahead, particularly the need for targeted skills development and stronger partnerships between educational institutions and industry. By addressing these priorities, we can ensure sustainable growth and maintain Malta’s leadership in the global gaming ecosystem.”

The post MGA Publishes Skills Gap Report, Unveiling Insights into Workforce Trends and Industry Challenges appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.