Compliance Updates

Germany: First esports tournaments and leagues qualify for simplified visa application process

Published

5 years ago

June 11, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The German Esports Federation (eSport-Bund Deutschland, ESBD) and game – the German Games Industry Association have jointly announced the first esports tournaments and leagues for which professional esports players from third countries will be able to take advantage of a new, simplified visa application process. Competitions that have qualified under the German Ordinance on the Employment of Foreigners (Beschäftigungsverordnung) include international leagues such as the League of Legends European Championship organised by Riot Games and 99Damage Liga from Freaks 4U Gaming as well as tournaments like the Intel Extreme Masters Cologne from ESL Gaming. Esports titles such as ‘Clash of Clans’, ‘Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’, ‘Dota 2’, ‘League of Legends’ and ‘Warcraft III: Reforged’ fall under the umbrella of these qualifications. In practice, the new process enables professional esports players from third countries to obtain a visa for these competitions under facilitated conditions, thereby placing them on equal footing with other occupational groups.

To take advantage of the simplified visa application process, esports players must meet certain requirements as defined by the federal government in the Ordinance on the Employment of Foreigners: they must be at least 16 years old, demonstrate a minimum salary level and present confirmation of their professional activity. game and the ESBD have agreed on a procedure to define the ‘substantial national and international significance’ of competitions and to verify applicants’ ‘professional practice’. The ESBD has made available an application portal and, for individual cases, an email address to all interested organisers and players.

‘Today Germany is already a location for many high-level esports competitions,’ says Felix Falk, Managing Director of game. ‘The newly facilitated visa issuing procedures for professional esports players will benefit the country’s long-term development in this arena. game and the ESBD have campaigned collaboratively for this political success. Now it’s important that promoters and esports players take advantage of the new opportunity.’

‘The esports visa represents an important easing of restrictions for professional esports in Germany,’ emphasises ESBD president Daniel Luther. ‘The burdensome previous process will now be a thing of the past. We’re thrilled that organised esports is advocating jointly for an improved policy framework.’

The second round of the process for inclusion in the list of qualified gaming operations will begin in October. Organisers seeking to register leagues and tournaments are encouraged to submit the necessary documents for verification. Leagues and tournaments which have already qualified must obtain renewed confirmation of their substantial national and international significance. The process takes place semi-annually.

The complete list of qualified tournaments and leagues:

• 99Damage Liga, Freaks 4U Gaming

• ESL One Germany, ESL Gaming

• ESL Meisterschaft, ESL Gaming

• Intel Extreme Master Cologne, ESL Gaming

• League of Legends European Championship, Riot Games

• League of Legends Prime League Pro Division, Riot Games

An extensive FAQ on the awarding of visas for esports players and organisers of esports competitions can be found at www.game.de/esport/esport-visum or at https://esportbund.de/esport/visa/

Compliance Updates

REEVO Secures Greek Licence for Games and Aggregation Platform

Published

11 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

reevo-secures-greek-licence-for-games-and-aggregation-platform

REEVO has announced that it has officially secured regulatory approval in Greece, marking a major milestone in the company’s continued expansion across Europe’s regulated iGaming markets.

The licence, issued by the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP), grants REEVO a Manufacturer Suitability Licence (Category A1), enabling the company to supply its REEVO in-house games and aggregation platform to licensed operators within the Greek market.

The approval also includes the company’s registration in the EEEP Registry of Manufacturers, reinforcing REEVO’s position as a trusted and compliant technology provider within one of Europe’s most established regulated jurisdictions.f

“This licence represents an important step forward for REEVO. Greece is a key regulated market in Europe, and being approved for both our proprietary games and aggregation platform allows us to deliver the complete REEVO experience to operators and players across the country,” said Karl Grech, Head of Business Development at REEVO.

The Greek licence further strengthens REEVO’s growing footprint across regulated jurisdictions, as the company continues to deliver premium gaming content, advanced aggregation technology and fully compliant solutions to operators worldwide.

The post REEVO Secures Greek Licence for Games and Aggregation Platform appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Compliance Updates

GeoComply Launches Unified Identity Platform for Brazil

Published

1 day ago

March 9, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

geocomply-launches-unified-identity-platform-for-brazil

GeoComply has launched a unified identity platform for Brazil, bringing KYC verification, anti-fraud intelligence, and geolocation compliance together in a single value package designed specifically for the country’s regulated iGaming market.

“Brazil is one of the most complex and fast-moving regulated markets in the world, and operators there are dealing with challenges that off-the-shelf solutions simply aren’t built for. We’ve taken the same approach that has delivered industry-leading pass rates across more than 30 jurisdictions—custom-built, locally tuned, obsessively optimized—and applied it to Brazil. The result is a single platform that solves KYC, fraud, and compliance together, so operators can focus on growth instead of managing vendor sprawl,” said Kip Levin, CEO of GeoComply.

The platform is designed to make trust-versus-risk decisions clear from the first interaction—helping operators welcome legitimate players quickly while acting decisively against fraud.

Best-in-Class Pass Rates, Made Easy

At the core of the Brazil launch is a managed, local KYC waterfall delivered through one endpoint. Instead of stitching together fragmented vendor integrations and inconsistent onboarding flows, operators gain access to leading Brazilian data sources through a continuously optimized identity infrastructure.

Players experience a streamlined registration journey with docless flows that leverage CPF validation, while operators achieve stronger pass rates without increasing operational complexity or manual review queues.

This same identity framework has delivered pass rates above 95% across U.S. states and above 90% in the UK, demonstrating a repeatable model for improving conversion in regulated markets.

“As we grow internationally, we know we can trust GeoComply to deliver excellent results and show up as a strategic partner that is focused on our success. Their team’s expertise and dedication to getting it right have helped us achieve high pass rates and an excellent player experience in Brazil and Argentina, all while giving the entire team at Betano peace of mind that we are meeting evolving regulatory standards,” said George Moschetas, Director of Product at Kaizen Gaming, the parent company of Betano.

Fraud Intelligence That Extends Beyond Registration

What differentiates GeoComply from standalone KYC vendors is what happens after verification. The platform applies real-time device, location, and behavioral intelligence throughout the player lifecycle—helping operators detect deepfakes, local mule rings, and account takeover attempts without disrupting legitimate users.

Machine learning models trained specifically for Brazil analyze device manipulation, high-risk location activity, and cross-account linkages in real time—while supporting AML compliance requirements through continuous monitoring.

One Platform. One Partner.

Rather than layering separate KYC vendors, fraud tools, and geolocation providers, operators gain a unified identity infrastructure and a single operational partner.

GeoComply manages vendor relationships, waterfall optimization, regulatory alignment, and continuous model tuning—supported by a dedicated Fraud and Risk team that works alongside operators as threats evolve. The platform delivers up to 99.7% geolocation pass rates and 99.999% uptime reliability in regulated environments.

The post GeoComply Launches Unified Identity Platform for Brazil appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

BHA

BHA Appoints Brant Dunshea as its Chief Executive Officer

Published

1 day ago

March 9, 2026

Wladimir P.

bha-appoints-brant-dunshea-as-its-chief-executive-officer

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has confirmed the permanent appointment of Brant Dunshea as its Chief Executive Officer.

Brant has been leading the BHA in an acting capacity since December 2024 following the departure of Julie Harrington.

He has held several senior positions at British racing’s governing and regulatory body since joining the organisation in March 2015, most recently as Chief Regulatory Officer prior to being appointed acting CEO.

The BHA board has also approved the appointment of David Jones as Interim Chair. This follows the resignation of Lord Charles Allen on Tuesday 3 March.

David assumes the role for a second time, having previously filled the position between Joe Saumarez Smith stepping down in January 2025 and Lord Allen formally joining the BHA in September of the same year.

He was appointed to the BHA Board in January 2021 as Senior Independent Director, with extensive experience of British racing and the regulation of the sport, including as a BHA steward for more than a decade.

Steps will now be taken to recruit a permanent BHA Chair.

David Jones, Interim Chair of the BHA, said: “While it is clearly regrettable that agreement could not be reached around governance reform, the sport’s leaders have recognised the need for change. I do believe this is possible, and we must all work to achieve it, in the interests of the sport and the livelihoods that depend on our industry.

“The process to recruit a permanent chair will commence shortly. My hope is that this can be achieved as quickly as possible.

“The BHA will continue to lead British racing with energy and integrity, and I am delighted that the Board has agreed to appoint Brant as the CEO.

“He has proven he is a dynamic and hugely respected leader, and I look forward to working closely with Brant, the Executive and the hard-working, dedicated team at the BHA during a significant year for the sport.”

Brant Dunshea, Chief Executive Officer of the BHA, said: “I am delighted to be appointed Chief Executive Officer of the BHA.

“It is no secret that the sport has experienced a challenging period as it faces up to the process of change at a governance level, but I want to be clear that this has not stopped the BHA and the industry making important progress to safeguard the long-term health of British racing.

“The past year has seen growth in racecourse attendances, the success of the Axe The Racing Tax campaign, major initiatives to ensure more horses are raced and retained on our shores and continued improvements in horse and human welfare.

“I know that the incredible team at the BHA shares my deep passion for our sport and is committed to securing a brighter and more sustainable future for our people and horses.

“It is a huge privilege to be given this opportunity to lead such a knowledgeable and dedicated team at a time of great opportunity for British racing.”

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