Press Releases
UK’s BGC calls for Online Harms Bill to crackdown on black-market unregulated gambling operators endangering children
Standards body BGC Calls for government to use Online Harms Bill to crackdown on unregulated gambling operators
Analysis conducted for the new standards body, the Betting and Gaming Council which represents UK regulated operators, reveals consumers are exposed to large numbers of unlicensed operators (38%) through search results for key gambling terms on major search engines.
- 4 in 10 search results for key gambling terms on major search engines are unlicensed black-market operators
- Danger that children are accessing illegal websites with no strict ID and age verification measures unlike U.K. licensed operators.
- 27 million visits from UK IP addresses to black—market gambling sites
- Estimated 200,000 people in U.K. have used illegal gambling sites in past 12 months
The BGC calls on the government to ensure that the Online Harms Bill, soon to be introduced in parliament, includes action to crack down on platforms who profit from unregulated, black market gambling operators.
There is a particular danger that children are accessing these websites where there are no strict ID and age verification measures deployed by U.K. licensed operators. New strict age verification procedures introduced in May 2019 for UK licensed operators require full verification of name, age and address before anyone can open an online account or place a bet.
The regulatory Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (formerly RGSB) warned in 2018 that internet service providers, app stores, search engine companies, and other relevant providers should be vigilant to the possibility of third party use of their products to provide illegal gambling to children and young people, and should be proactive in preventing it.
The sizeable proportion of gamblers using unlicensed operators reveals that the size of the active ‘black market’ in the UK today is worth around £1.4bn in stakes.
Web traffic statistics suggest that there are 27 million visits from UK IP addresses. Some unlicensed websites block customers from the U.K. but many of those can be circumvented using VPNs (Virtual Private Networks).
Michael Dugher, Chief Executive of the BGC, said: “Search platforms are promoting black-market gambling operators for profit, putting the British consumers, including children, at risk. None of the UK’s strict licensed safeguards are in place on these illegal sites.
“Regulated bookies and online operators have a strict zero tolerance approach to underage gambling, yet unlicensed operators are free to prey on vulnerable consumers.
“We welcome the Government’s Online Harms Bill. But it also provides the Government with a chance to clamp down on the black-market and help protect punters who want a flutter in a safe environment.”
Compliance
DraftKings renews multi-year geolocation deal with GeoComply
DraftKings has renewed a multi-year agreement with GeoComply to continue providing real-time geolocation and compliance services, the companies said.
The extension comes after DraftKings’ Super App launch, a unified platform approach that lets customers access either sportsbook or sports predictions depending on their location. The press release positions the renewal as supporting scale, fraud controls, geolocation and compliance requirements tied to that rollout.
GeoComply said its geolocation signals are embedded into DraftKings’ internal risk workflows, including step-up authentication and automated decisioning. The vendor said it processes 2.5 billion checks a month across its platform.
Under the extended agreement, the companies said GeoComply will continue to support DraftKings with dedicated forward-deployed engineering support.
“The operators winning this next cycle are treating geolocation intelligence as critical trust infrastructure,” said Kip Levin, CEO of GeoComply. “DraftKings has done that for years. This extension reflects how seriously they take the architecture behind player trust—and it’s what lets them keep moving fast on everything else.”
The post DraftKings renews multi-year geolocation deal with GeoComply appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Brazilian License
Groove Secures Pivotal Brazilian License, Cementing LATAM Expansion
Platform pioneer unlocks one of the world’s most dynamic iGaming markets, offering operators and providers a seamless, compliant gateway to millions of new players.
Groove, the award-winning iGaming aggregation platform, has today announced a monumental leap in its global expansion strategy with the official granting of its license to operate in Brazil.
This landmark regulatory approval marks a decisive moment in Groove’s strategic blueprint for Latin America, a vision further reinforced by the significant strengthening of its established and fully regulated infrastructure in Argentina. Together, these developments create an unrivalled dual-hub strategy, positioning Groove as the definitive gateway to the continent.
This hard-won license provides a fully compliant and powerful conduit for Groove’s partners to engage a market on the cusp of historic growth. For operators, it translates to a frictionless, single-integration pathway for capturing market share in this coveted region. They can now leverage Groove’s robust platform to deploy a fully localised and compliant casino offering at unparalleled speed, complete with curated game portfolios tailored to local preferences, integrated local payment processing, and bespoke marketing tools designed to captivate Latin American players. This eliminates years of complex regulatory legwork, allowing partners to go to market in a matter of weeks, not years.
For game studios and content providers, the Brazilian license acts as a direct and streamlined conduit to a vast new audience. Groove offers a managed route to market, taking on the heavy burden of complex regulatory technical standards and certification processes. This allows creators to focus on their core mission of developing world-class entertainment, secure in the knowledge that their content will be efficiently placed in front of a massive, engaged audience through a trusted and fully compliant pipeline.
Rachel Tourgeman, Head of Partnerships at Groove, emphasised the transformative nature of this development. “The green light in Brazil is more than a license; it’s a key that unlocks a kingdom of opportunity for our partners. We’ve built a platform capable of not just entering, but driving in regulated markets.”
Tourgeman put the new license in perspective, saying: “Operators can now immediately tap into Brazil’s immense potential, while providers gain a trusted pipeline to a passionate new player base. This is a definitive moment that accelerates the entire LATAM iGaming ecosystem.”
This strategic expansion is a direct reflection of Groove’s commitment to being the most reliable and agile aggregation partner in the world’s most promising emerging markets. With over 20,000 games available and a raft of over 150 games partners, Groove brings unrivalled choice to the Brazilian market.
Yahale Meltzer, Co-Founder and CEO of Groove, commented, “Our vision has always been to build the bridges that connect great content with passionate players, wherever they are. Securing our Brazilian license and reinforcing our Argentine operations is a testament to our team’s relentless execution and our long-term commitment to LATAM.”
Meltzer concluded: “We are not just following trends; we are actively architecting the future of iGaming in the region, providing a secure, scalable, and sophisticated platform for our partners to grow with us. The door to Latin America is now open, and Groove is the key.”
For further information visit the new web domain at www.groovetech.com
The post Groove Secures Pivotal Brazilian License, Cementing LATAM Expansion appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Latest News
Stephen Crystal Named Ambassador for SiGMA North America 2026 in Mexico City
SCCG Management Founder and CEO Stephen Crystal has been named one of ten industry ambassadors for SiGMA North America 2026, the summit’s inaugural Mexico City edition. The event takes place September 1 to 3 at Centro Banamex and is expected to welcome 4,000 delegates, 1,000 operators, more than 150 speakers, and over 200 exhibitors and sponsors.
The ambassador appointment recognizes leaders working across iGaming in North and Latin America who will support the summit’s positioning as a new regional hub for the industry. Crystal joins a group of C-level executives, founders, and specialists from across the Americas, including Javier Troncoso (InsightPlay.ai), David Fica (Land Vegas Group), Fellipe Fraga (Stellar Gaming), Iliana Maria Pineda Echeverri (Wplay), Fernando Garita (Kabata Group), Juan Pablo Barahona (BETBY), Elizabeth Maya Cano (Cornazar), Gonzalo Perez (Apuesta Total), and Rosa Ochoa (Blue Global Gaming).
“Mexico City is the right location and the right moment for a summit of this scale,” said Stephen Crystal. “Latin America’s gaming markets are maturing rapidly, regulatory frameworks are taking shape across the region, and the companies operating in these markets need a dedicated forum that bridges North and South. SiGMA’s decision to plant its North American flag in Mexico reflects where the industry’s growth trajectory is heading, and SCCG is proud to support that vision as an ambassador.”
Crystal is confirmed on the Day 2 conference agenda for the panel “Regulation and Revenue: Dissecting North America’s State and Provincial Affiliate Ecosystem,” which will examine how affiliate structures are evolving across the region’s regulated markets.
SiGMA North America 2026 marks the group’s first event in Mexico City, following BiS SiGMA South America 2026 in Sao Paulo earlier this year. The two events give the industry two major regional touchpoints in the same calendar year, covering both Spanish-speaking and Portuguese-speaking markets across the Americas. The September calendar also connects to the SiGMA Affiliate Retreat in Cancun (September 4 to 6) and Affiliate World Americas in Cancun (September 7 to 8), creating a full circuit for companies active in performance marketing and business development across the region.
The three-day summit program includes a full conference agenda, expo floor, the SiGMA Pitch North America startup competition, the SiGMA North America Awards, networking dinners, and VIP programming throughout Mexico City.
With more than 33 years of experience in the global gambling industry, SCCG Management works with operators, suppliers, startups, investors, and technology companies across more than 50 jurisdictions. The firm’s advisory and business development practice spans sports betting, iGaming, tribal gaming, payments, emerging technology, media partnerships, and international market expansion.
SiGMA North America 2026 takes place September 1 to 3 at Centro Banamex in Mexico City. Tickets and registration are available at sigma.world.
The post Stephen Crystal Named Ambassador for SiGMA North America 2026 in Mexico City appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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