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Compliance Updates

UK Government launches review to ensure gambling laws are fit for digital age

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The Culture Secretary has launched a major and wide-ranging review of gambling laws to ensure they are fit for the digital age as committed to in the manifesto.

Online restrictions, marketing and the powers of the Gambling Commission will be looked at as part of a call for evidence, to examine in detail how gambling has changed over the past 15 years.

Protections for online gamblers like stake and spend limits, advertising and promotional offers and whether extra protections for young adults are needed will all be explored.

The findings will be used to inform any changes to the Gambling Act 2005 to ensure customer protection is at the heart of the regulations, while giving those that gamble safely the freedom to do so.

The review will also look at evidence on the action customers can take where they feel operators have breached social responsibility requirements, such as intervening to protect customers showing clear signs of problematic play, and how to ensure children and young people are kept safe from gambling-related harm.

The Government recognises the need to balance the enjoyment people get from gambling with the right regulatory framework and protections.

It has also been announced today that the minimum age for playing the National Lottery will be raised from 16 to 18 from October 2021.

Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden, said:
“Whilst millions gamble responsibly, the Gambling Act is an analogue law in a digital age. From an era of having a flutter in a high street bookmaker, casino, racecourse or seaside pier, the industry has evolved at breakneck speed.

“This comprehensive review will ensure we are tackling problem gambling in all its forms to protect children and vulnerable people. It will also help those who enjoy placing a bet to do so safely.

“This builds upon our clear track record of introducing tough measures to protect people from the risk of gambling harm – banning the use of credit cards, launching tighter age verification checks and cutting the maximum stake on fixed odds betting terminals.”

Minister for Sport, Tourism and Heritage Nigel Huddleston said:
“We’re committed to protecting young people from gambling related harm which is why we are raising the minimum age for the National Lottery. Patterns of play have changed since its inception, with a shift towards online games, and this change will help make sure the National Lottery, although already low-risk, is not a gateway to problem gambling.”

It follows a range of measures recently introduced by the Government to protect consumers from the risk of gambling-related harm. These include cutting the maximum stake on fixed odds betting terminals, bringing in tighter age and identity checks for online gambling, banning gambling using credit cards and expanding national specialist support through the NHS Long Term Plan.

In September the Government launched a call for evidence to explore young people’s experiences of loot boxes in video games. This will provide a clearer picture of the size of the loot box market in the UK and fully examine any evidence of harms or links to problem gambling.

The review of the Gambling Act 2005 will also consider the Gambling Commission’s powers and resources to ensure it can keep pace with the licensed sector and tackle the black market.

In October the Gambling Commission introduced new rules on VIP schemes, and has called for evidence around how to ensure operators identify and intervene where people are at risk of harm, including through carrying out affordability checks. The Commission will also soon set out new rules on safer game design for online slots and withdrawing winnings.

Alongside the launch of the review, the Government is announcing its decision to raise the minimum age to play the National Lottery from 16 to 18, to protect young people from gambling related harm.

Since it began in 1994 the National Lottery’s games portfolio has changed significantly and there has been a growing trend towards online play and instant win games like scratchcards. Following a consultation, from October 2021 it will be illegal to sell all National Lottery products to under 18s.

The Government is working with the Gambling Commission and Camelot to roll out the new age limit across the National Lottery products as quickly as possible and to ensure that it is in place by October. Under current plans, online sales to 16 and 17 year olds will stop in April 2021.

Source: gov.uk

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Allwyn

UK High Court Rejects Legal Challenges Relating to the National Lottery Licence

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On 17 April 2026, the UK High Court rejected in full the claims brought by The New Lottery Company Limited (TNLC) and Northern & Shell PLC (N&S) against the Gambling Commission in relation to the award of the Fourth National Lottery Licence.

In summary, the claims alleged that the Gambling Commission had wrongly awarded the Fourth National Lottery Licence to Allwyn, and that instead, TNLC should have won the competition. The claims also alleged that the Gambling Commission and Allwyn had entered into impermissible modifications to the Licence arrangements following the competition.

The lengthy trial of the claims took place in the High Court before Mrs Justice Joanna Smith between 9 October and 2 December 2025, with an additional day on 13 January 2026.

The High Court has now ruled in favour of the Gambling Commission on all of the claims, rejecting the allegations which had been made.

This is an important judgment for the future of The National Lottery. This judgment makes clear that the Gambling Commission ran a fair and robust competition to award the Fourth National Lottery Licence, and that none of the contested changes to the Licence, in the course of its implementation, were substantial or contrary to the relevant procurement regulations.

The judgment gives resounding support to Good Causes by enabling Allwyn, with oversight from the Commission, to continue with their plans of investment in The National Lottery without further distraction.

The National Lottery is one of the world’s largest lotteries and since launching in 1994, National Lottery players have collectively raised more than £52 billion for more than 670,000 Good Causes across the UK, transforming lives and contributing to the arts, sport, heritage and communities.

The post UK High Court Rejects Legal Challenges Relating to the National Lottery Licence appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Compliance Updates

GLI Welcomes Around 300 Regulators to its 26th Annual Regulators Roundtable

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Approximately 300 regulators from 16 countries attended the 26th annual Regulators Roundtable presented by Gaming Laboratories International (GLI). The event was hosted April 15-16 at the Palms Las Vegas.

The topics covered were as diverse as the attendees and included artificial intelligence, asset protection, cashless gaming, cyber resilience, digital responsible gaming interventions, geolocation, lottery modernization, patron protection, prediction markets, risk analysis, and sports betting.

Sports performance psychologist and author of Life as Sport Dr. Jonathan Fader delivered the keynote address. He spoke about how proven sport-performance psychology applies to the realities of today’s workplace, including high expectations, constant change, and pressure to perform.

In addition to the presentations and breakout sessions, GLI hosted an Innovation Tech Hub, which featured live demonstrations from Bulletproof, EPIC Global Solutions, Evive, GLI University, Kobetron, KOIN, and Marker Trax.

“We are grateful to the approximately 300 regulators from across North America and around the world who came to Las Vegas to learn more about what’s next and what’s on the horizon in gaming technology. It is important for regulators to stay as far ahead of technologies and issues as possible, and that is the purpose of the Regulators Roundtable, and we are honored to present the conference,” said GLI President & CEO, James Maida.

GLI announced the next Regulators Roundtable will take place April 7-8, 2027, at the Palms Las Vegas.

The post GLI Welcomes Around 300 Regulators to its 26th Annual Regulators Roundtable appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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Aviator LLC

Aviator Studio Brazil wins two consecutive instances in São Paulo appeal court against SPRIBE injunction

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  • Another attempt by SPRIBE to mislead the industry fails as two consecutive instances reject requested injunction
  • Decision allows Aviator Brasil to continue operating while the court examines the broader AVIATOR trademark dispute

 Aviator Studio Brazil has secured two consecutive court decisions in São Paulo, Brazil, rejecting attempts by SPRIBE to impose an injunction on its operations.

The rulings, delivered by the São Paulo Court of Appeals (2nd Reserved Chamber of Business Law) on 16 April, were in favour of the defendants overall. The court rejected the injunction request against the group, allowing Aviator Studio Brazil to continue operating in the market with partners such as Foggo Entertainment (Blaze) while the broader trademark dispute is examined through the normal judicial process.

Contextualising Separate Proceedings

This victory in the group proceedings follows an announcement by SPRIBE on 15 April regarding a separate matter involving NSX Betnacional. Aviator LLC clarified that neither the company nor the operator were aware of those specific proceedings initially. As soon as that separate matter became known, Aviator Studio Brazil immediately took action to assume responsibility for defending the legitimate use of the brand, providing NSX Betnacional with all legal support required.

Key Court Findings

The Court of Appeals based its decision on the following key findings:

  • Lack of likelihood of success on the merits: While SPRIBE claims exclusive ownership of the “AVIATOR” trademark, the court found substantial controversy regarding the validity of those rights both domestically and internationally.
  • Absence of irreparable harm: The court determined there is no imminent or irreparable harm that would justify immediate intervention.
  • Valid licensing: The court emphasised that Aviator Studio Brazil has been commercially operating under the “AVIATOR” mark based on a licence from Aviator LLC, the regularity and effects of which shall be examined during the proceedings.

Protecting the AVIATOR Ecosystem

Aviator Studio Brazil joined the proceedings and supported its operator partners, including Foggo Entertainment (Blaze) by fulfilling all indemnity and defence obligations under its Software Licence Agreement.

The company has affirmed that it stands fully behind its partners, taking responsibility to defend, indemnify, and hold them harmless in relation to the use of the AVIATOR brand and product. This reinforces the company’s long-term commitment to protecting its partners and the integrity of the AVIATOR ecosystem.

In relation to the NSX Betnacional matter, Aviator LLC confirmed that neither it nor Betnacional were aware of the proceedings initially.

As soon as the matter became known, Aviator Studio Brazil immediately took action to support its partner Betnacional and assume responsibility for defending the legitimate use of the AVIATOR brand.

International Context

Aviator LLC stated that these outcomes reinforce its long-standing position that attempts to secure early-stage injunctions are not reflective of the merits of the case. This follows earlier proceedings in the United Kingdom High Court, where an interim injunction obtained by SPRIBE was clarified as a narrow procedural step with no bearing on ownership or the final outcome of the dispute.

With no findings made against Aviator LLC’s underlying rights in Brazil and courts declining to grant urgent relief, the company continues its operations while remaining confident in its legal position as proceedings progress across multiple jurisdictions.

Commenting on the decision, George Pruidze, CEO at Aviator Studio, said: “Following two consecutive victories in both the trial court and appeal courts in São Paulo, it is clear there is no basis for the urgent measures sought by SPRIBE. Aviator Studio Brazil continues to operate lawfully under licence, and we remain fully committed to supporting our partners and defending the AVIATOR brand wherever necessary.

“As similar actions by SPRIBE continue to trigger proceedings in Brazil, including the ongoing matter involving Betnacional, we will continue to stand behind our partners and ensure the legitimate use of the AVIATOR brand is protected. We are confident that the same facts and legal position will continue to prevail as these cases progress.”

The post Aviator Studio Brazil wins two consecutive instances in São Paulo appeal court against SPRIBE injunction appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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