Compliance Updates

Pinnacle re-launches in Sweden as fully licensed operator

Published

4 years ago

June 16, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Pinnacle has re-opened its Swedish site after a two-year absence in which it applied for a licence under the new regulatory regime.

The company received approval from the Swedish regulator in December 2019 but has waited for the right moment to launch. When Swedish football, the Allsvenskan, was given the green light to start this weekend, Pinnacle decided to open its doors once more with a full array of markets in time for the new season.

Pinnacle will offer a wide-range of sports and eSports betting in Sweden, covering all major sports and including Allsvenskan Women. Pinnacle is already a market leader in eSports betting and with Sweden being one of the biggest eSports markets in the world, there is significant room for growth. Before leaving the market in 2018 Pinnacle saw consistent double-digit annual growth in eSports betting in Sweden.

Pinnacle will bring its well-known high-volume, low-margin model to Swedes betting online. With an average margin of just 3.7% compared to an industry average of 7.2%, Pinnacle offers some of the best value and fairest pricing available. The company operates a responsible, fair and transparent model for customers, which is evidenced by the fact that the business has been granted a licence to operate in Sweden, which has one of the most stringent regulatory regimes globally.

Paris Smith, CEO of Pinnacle, said: ”This re-launch is a proud moment as Sweden is a key market for us, with many loyal customers having used Pinnacle over many years. The Swedish regulator is one of the most respected in the world and we are proud to meet the incredibly high standards they require to be recognised as a licensed operator. We believe that satisfying the requirements in Sweden means we can do it anywhere.

”We left the market on good terms and are returning as a fully licensed, regulated operator. We fully embrace the Swedish regulations and wanted to do things in the right way. Having done so, we now see this as an opportunity to contribute to a serious gaming environment in Sweden long-term and to be a key part in the development of the market.”

Pinnacle believes the long-term economic impact of a well-regulated online betting regime in Sweden could be notable, with a significant increase in the volume of bets in the coming years.

Australia

ACMA Blocks More Illegal Gambling Websites

Published

2 days ago

May 24, 2024

Niji Narayan

acma-blocks-more-illegal-gambling-websites

Reading Time: < 1 minute

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has requested the Australian internet service providers (ISPs) to block more illegal gambling websites, after investigations found these services to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

The latest sites blocked include Jogi Casino, Dundee Slots, Lucky Hunter, Lucky Wins, Lukki Casino, Spin Fever, Clubhouse Casino and Winport Casino.

Website blocking is one of a range of enforcement options to protect Australians against illegal gambling services. This action can be taken if a service is:

providing prohibited interactive gambling services to customers in Australia (such as online casinos, online slot machines and services that allow in-play online sports betting)
providing an unlicensed regulated interactive gambling service to customers in Australia (such as online betting services that don’t have a valid Australian licence)
publishing ads for prohibited interactive gambling services or unlicensed regulated interactive gambling services in Australia.

Since the ACMA made its first blocking request in November 2019, 975 illegal gambling and affiliate websites have been blocked. Over 220 illegal services have also pulled out of the Australian market since the ACMA started enforcing illegal offshore gambling rules.

The post ACMA Blocks More Illegal Gambling Websites appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Compliance Updates

Swedish BOS rejects the proposal “A new ban on gambling on credit”

Published

2 days ago

May 24, 2024

George Miller

swedish-bos-rejects-the-proposal-“a-new-ban-on-gambling-on-credit”

Reading Time: < 1 minute

The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) submits its statement to the Ministry of Finance on the memorandum “A new ban on gambling on credit”, in which a ban on credit cards for gambling is proposed.

BOS rejects the proposal. This is justified by Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General of the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling, among other things through the proposal’s negative consequences on channelization.

If the government nevertheless goes ahead with the proposal, BOS proposes that the obligation not to mediate payments for gambling purposes be imposed on those issuing credit cards rather than on gambling operators. In this way, it will be prohibited for credit card issuers, under the supervision of the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Finansinspektionen), to mediate payments via credit cards for all gambling companies, including illegal and/or unlicensed gambling companies. Almost half of the Swedish online casino market is unlicensed and/or illegal due to heavy restrictions of the licensed market.

In the name of consumer protection Sweden should not add new restrictions on consumers that still place their bets on the legal gambling market. That is the main reason for us to turn this suggestion down. Should the government want to proceed with a credit card prohibition on gambling, we suggest that such restriction is directed not towards gambling operators but credit card issuers, since the latter are also serving the half of the market that is illegal and unlicensed, says Gustaf Hoffstedt.

The post Swedish BOS rejects the proposal “A new ban on gambling on credit” appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Compliance Updates

DGOJ Begins Work to Create Central Data Registry

Published

3 days ago

May 23, 2024

Niji Narayan

dgoj-begins-work-to-create-central-data-registry

Reading Time: < 1 minute

The Spanish gambling regulator DGOJ has initiated work on data administration policies and practices for the creation of a common centralised registry of gambling data. The registry would compile customer data from all Spanish-licensed gambling operators to provide a holistic view of activity.

DGOJ director general Mikel Arana has taken input from the Sectoral Commission, the General Assembly’s advisory body for policy and federal and directives. Initial discussions are focusing on improving data integration across public administrations and integrating the data into a comprehensive report on gaming activity.

Arana said: “The establishment of a centralised data registry will enhance the transparency and accountability of gambling operations in Spain. It will provide a robust framework for monitoring and ensuring compliance with the highest standards of responsible gaming.”

The General Assembly ordered the creation of a central registry over a year ago through the Decree on Responsible Gambling Environments. It will allow the DGOJ to monitor gambling licensees’ activities and customer engagement. Operators will have to establish risk profiles for customers aged under 25.

The next stage will involve consultations with stakeholders, including operators. The DGOJ aims to finalise an implementation plan by the end of the year. The registry would come into effect in early 2025. The remaining know-your-customer measures of the decree will be introduced in 2025.

The post DGOJ Begins Work to Create Central Data Registry appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.