Compliance Updates

VIXIO GamblingCompliance announces 2020 Global Regulatory Awards shortlist

Published

5 years ago

October 1, 2020

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

VIXIO GamblingCompliance announces 2020 Global Regulatory Awards shortlist

Today, VIXIO GamblingCompliance unveiled the shortlist for their Global Regulatory Awards (GRA). Now in their fourth year, the VIXIO GRAs recognise and celebrate the achievements of individuals, teams and businesses who have excelled in the field of compliance, corporate social responsibility and responsible gambling over the course of the year.

This year’s shortlist showcases a host of progressive businesses, all who have demonstrated their ability to adapt to an increasingly complex regulatory environment, to innovate, and embrace safer gambling.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Mike Woolfrey, CEO, VIXIO, said “This year has been one of the most competitive years yet, with the judges having to consider hundreds of entries to shortlist finalists across 18 categories. Every year the standard gets higher as the industry moves to an ever-greater culture of compliance. Our judging process is extremely rigorous and the awards are hotly contested, so being shortlisted is a highly significant achievement. Whilst this year we are disappointed we won’t be able to host our black-tie gala dinner, we are looking forward to announcing the winners at our virtual event, which everyone can join to celebrate the industry’s achievements”.

Robert Chvatal, CEO, SAZKA Group, said: “Congratulations to all those shortlisted. The operational excellence, innovation and commitment to drive up standards demonstrated by those shortlisted is a really positive sign for the future of the industry. We are delighted to be partnering with VIXIO GamblingCompliance on these hugely important awards and we look forward to seeing who emerges as winners on 29 October”

Due to on-going safety concerns around COVID-19, this year’s presentation of the 2020 VIXIO Global Regulatory Award winners will take place via an online live stream, broadcast globally on 29, October at 16:00 GMT. To find out more, including how to register, go to: gamblingcomplianceawards.com

Award for Commitment to Compliance by An Affiliate Company

AskGamblers
Better Collective
Bojoko
Gambling.com Group
iBet Directory
Little Star Media

Award for Outstanding Individual Contribution to Responsible Gambling

Amina Norgosanow, Videslots
David Caruana, Kindred Group
Jon Duffy, Genting Casino UK
Stefania Colombo, IGT

Best Regulatory Lawyer or Law Firm of the Year

CMS
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Herzog Fox & Neeman
Mishcon de Reya Betting & Gaming Group
Pinsent Masons LLP
Tommaso di Chio, Kambi
WH Partners

Best Regulatory Lawyer or Law Firm of the Year

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Paul Hasting LLP

Chief Compliance Officer of the Year

Jon Duffy, Genting Casinos UK
Ori Monheit, Skywind Group
Sissel Weitzhandler, Play’n GO
Yurri Shevchuk, Parimatch

Chief Executive Officer of the Year

David Briggs, GeoComply
Giovanni Garrisi, Stanleybet Group
Phil Horne, Scientific Games UK
Sergey Portnov, Parimatch

Compliance Innovator or Innovation of the Year

BetConstruct
Gamalyze, Mindway AI
Genesis Global Limited
Location Validator App, GeoGuard
GiG Comply
Stoiximan / Betano Group

Compliance Officer of the Year

Adam Torres, San Manuel Tribal Gaming Commission
Emma O’Neil, Sky Betting & Gaming
Ewout Wierda, VideoSlots
Jennifer Aguiar, DraftKings
Keith Caruana, Play’n GO
Mark Halstead, iSoftBet

Compliance Outstanding Achievement Award

iSoftBet
Kindred Group
Paysafe Group
Skywind Group

Award for Commitment to Compliance by An Affiliate Company

IGT Compliance Team
iSoftBet Compliance Team
NOVOMATIC AG Compliance Team
Paysafe Group Compliance Team
People’s Postcode Lottery Compliance Team
Play’n GO Compliance Team
Playtech Compliance Team
Sky Betting and Gaming Compliance Team

Head of AML/MLRO or AML Team of the Year

Anti-Fraud Legal and Compliance Team, Estoril Sol Digital
AML Team, Genting Casinos UK
Group Compliance Team, Paysafe Group
Jonathan Galea, VideoSlots

Head of Regulatory Affairs/Government Relations

Jon Duffy, Genting Casinos UK
Kimberley Broad, Microgaming
Lindsay Slader, GeoComply
Malcolm Fleming, People’s Postcode Lottery
Martin Lycka, GVC Group
Pablo Espuela, Luckia Games
Sabine Stoppel, NOVOMATIC AG

In-House Counsel/Legal Team of the Year

Andrei Andronic, Playson
GVC Group Legal Team
Nicole Metzgar-Schall, Sportradar
NOVOMATIC AG Legal Team
Riva Richard, Pollard Banknote Limited
Skywind Group Legal Team
William Hill Group Legal Team

In-House Counsel/Legal Team of the Year

ECOMMPAY
Passport Technology
Paysafe Group
LexisNexis Risk Solutions
Trustly
Worldpay

RegTech Provider of the Year

GeoComply
IDnow
iovation
SBTech
Trulioo
w2 Global Data

Responsible Approach to Advertising Award

32 Red / Kindred Group
Catena Media
NetBet Enterprises
Stoiximan / Betano Group
William Hill

Rising Star Award

Denisa Bialá, Play’n GO
Erica Okerberg, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Esther Scheepers, Kindred Group
Hayley Doherty, Sky Betting & Gaming
Joonas Karhu, Bojoko
Melissa Shuba, BMM Testlabs
Zlatan Omerspahić, Nsoft

Compliance Lifetime Achievement Special Award

To be announced

Carey Theil

Greyhound Advocates Applaud Oregon Governor Tina Kotek for Signing Historic Internet Betting Ban on Greyhound Races

Published

5 hours ago

May 12, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

greyhound-advocates-applaud-oregon-governor-tina-kotek-for-signing-historic-internet-betting-ban-on-greyhound-races

The largest greyhound protection group in the world thanked Oregon Governor Tina Kotek for signing a bill to outlaw the processing of internet bets on dog races, calling the new law a landmark victory for greyhound advocates.

“This is the biggest victory for American greyhound advocates since Florida outlawed dog racing in 2018. The walls are closing in on the final remnants of this cruel industry,” said GREY2K USA Executive Director Carey Theil.

Internet wagers on dog races can only be legally processed in two states, Oregon and North Dakota. More than $155 million was gambled on dog racing in 2024 through these Advance Deposit Wagering platforms, with Oregon processing 57% of all internet greyhound bets nationwide. House Bill 3020 phases out the processing of greyhound bets by July 1, 2027. It also ends remote gambling on dog races in Oregon, known as simulcasting.

Greyhound racing is a dying industry, and only continues to exist at two tracks in West Virginia. Florida voters outlawed the activity in 2018 by a vote of 69% to 31%, closing twelve operational racetracks. A bill to prohibit gambling on dog racing nationwide was introduced in the 118th Congress. The bipartisan Greyhound Protection Act earned the support of 80 cosponsors and more than 250 humane groups, anti-gambling organizations, and local animal shelters.

Since 2022, greyhound simulcasting has been outlawed in the seven states of Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Oregon. When all of these laws take effect, gambling on greyhound racing will only be legal in fourteen states.

All mainstream animal protection groups oppose dog racing due to animal welfare concerns. At the final two tracks in West Virginia, state records indicate that 487 greyhounds were injured in 2024 including 162 dogs that suffered broken bones and thirteen greyhounds that died. Thousands of dogs also endure lives of confinement at West Virginia tracks, kept in cages barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around for long hours each day.

Formed in February of 2001, GREY2K USA is the largest greyhound protection organization in the US with more than 300,000 supporters. As a non-profit 501(c)4 organization, the group works to pass stronger greyhound protection laws and end the cruelty of dog racing on both national and international levels. GREY2K USA also promotes the rescue and adoption of greyhounds across the globe.

The post Greyhound Advocates Applaud Oregon Governor Tina Kotek for Signing Historic Internet Betting Ban on Greyhound Races appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

Compliance Updates

UK Gambling Commission Publishes Further Data on the Gambling Industry in Great Britain

Published

6 hours ago

May 12, 2025

Niji Narayan

uk-gambling-commission-publishes-further-data-on-the-gambling-industry-in-great-britain

Reading Time: < 1 minute

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has published further data on the gambling industry in Great Britain.

This data, sourced from operators, reflects the period between March 2020 and March 2025, inclusive, and covers online and in-person gambling covering Licensed Betting Operators (LBOs) found on Britain’s high streets.

This release compares Quarter 4 (Q4) of financial year 2024 to 2025, with Q4 of 2023 to 2024, looking at how the market has changed in comparative periods over a year.

The latest operator data shows:

• online total Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) in Q4 (January to March) was £1.45 billion, an increase of 7% from Q4 the previous year. The overall number of total bets and/or spins increased 5% Year-on-Year (YoY), to 25.2 billion, whilst the average monthly active accounts in the quarter increased 2%, to 13.5 million.

• real event betting GGY increased by 5% YoY to £596 million. The number of bets decreased 1%, while the average monthly active accounts in Q4 decreased 2%.

• slots GGY increased 11% to £689 million YoY. The number of spins increased 6% to 23.4 billion while the average monthly active accounts in Q4 increased 6% to 4.5 million per month.

• the number of online slots sessions lasting longer than an hour increased by 5% YoY to 10.1 million. The average session length stayed consistent at 17 minutes. Approximately 6% of all sessions lasted more than one hour, the same as the Q4 the previous year.

• LBO GGY decreased by 3% to £554 million in Q4 2024 to 2025, compared to the same quarter last year. The number of total bets and spins decreased by 5% to 3.1 billion.

The post UK Gambling Commission Publishes Further Data on the Gambling Industry in Great Britain appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Compliance Updates

Darts Player Andy Jenkins Gets 11-year Ban for Match-fixing

Published

6 hours ago

May 12, 2025

Niji Narayan

darts-player-andy-jenkins-gets-11-year-ban-for-match-fixing

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Former World Championship semi-finalist Andy Jenkins has been handed an 11-year ban and £17580 fine for match-fixing.

Following a hearing before the DRA Disciplinary Committee Jenkins was found guilty of fixing 12 matches between 22 February 2022 and 5 July 2023 and passing information relating to this to bettors.

Jenkins also admitted using his own account to place 88 bets on matches between 17 March 2022 and 4 May 2023, breaching a DRA rule preventing any player from betting on any darts event.

The UK Gambling Commission’s Sports Betting Intelligence Unit (SBIU) supported the investigation by facilitating information gathered in the course of its enquiries.

Full details of Jenkins’ failures can be found on the DRA website.

John Pierce, Commission Director of Enforcement, said: “This case sends a strong and unequivocal message to all sportspeople – if you fix matches, you are likely to be caught and face serious consequences.

“Betting customers in Britain deserve confidence that the markets they engage with are fair and free from corruption.

“Our Sports Betting Intelligence Unit will continue to work closely with partners such as the Darts Regulation Authority to identify and prevent match-fixing.”

The post Darts Player Andy Jenkins Gets 11-year Ban for Match-fixing appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.