Compliance Updates

EGBA on Finland’s Missed Opportunity For Overdue Gambling Reform

Published

4 years ago

December 21, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Finnish government’s proposal to introduce payment blockings for online gambling has been approved by the country’s parliament but, with its introduction, policymakers have missed an opportunity for meaningful and overdue gambling reform in the country.

On 14 December, Finland’s parliament approved an amended version of a government proposal to introduce blocking measures for payment service providers (PSP) with the aim of restricting Finns from accessing non-Finnish gambling websites. The government justifies the PSP blockings on consumer protection grounds, but critics argue it will restrict consumer freedoms and choice.

Today, Finland is the only EU member state which still has an exclusive online gambling monopoly model, but its monopoly has come under increasing public scrutiny in recent years and increasing pressure from the demand of the country’s gamblers for more online consumer choice. The government’s proposed PSP blockings, part of a group of amendments to the country’s Lottery Act, seeks to address this by blocking Finns’ payments to and from non-Finnish gambling websites.

This week, a majority in the country’s parliament agreed on an amendment to block only those payment transactions from Finnish gamblers to non-Finnish gambling websites and not vice versa. This was after parliamentarians had raised several concerns about the proposals,[1] including concern that blocking players winnings would be unconstitutional. Following the parliament’s approval, the amended Lottery Act will now come into force from 1January 2022 and the new payment blockings will be introduced at the start of 2023.

Experience from other countries shows that PSP and other blockings do not significantly affect consumer demand and, with its introduction, EGBA believes that policymakers have missed an opportunity for meaningful and overdue gambling reform in Finland. At the same time, EGBA welcomes the growing discussion both in the country’s parliament and in wider society about the future of Finland’s gambling policy. EGBA members are established, licensed, and regulated in most EU member states and would welcome the opportunity to apply for a license, be regulated, and pay taxes in Finland – but are still prevented from doing so by the country’s current gambling laws.

“The introduction of PSP blockings is an implicit admission that many of Finland’s gamblers prefer to bet on other websites rather than that of the state-run monopoly. There are many reasons why they do so: the availability of better betting odds, and better diversity and expertise in the products offered, are to name a few. In the online world, consumers vote with their feet and that is why we will continue to encourage the government to rethink, rather than reinforce, the country’s online gambling monopoly model and advocate for the benefits of establishing a well-regulated, multi-licensing model for online gambling in Finland.” – Maarten Haijer.

BetterGambling

BetterGambling Exclusive Report: 800+ UK Casino Operators Face Closure as 2026 Regulations Trigger Industry Apocalypse

Published

3 days ago

October 9, 2025

Niji Narayan

bettergambling-exclusive-report:-800+-uk-casino-operators-face-closure-as-2026-regulations-trigger-industry-apocalypse

Reading Time: 2 minutes

BetterGambling, the UK’s independent gambling industry think tank, released its comprehensive Market Intelligence Report, indicating over 800 casino operators will be forced out of the UK market by 2027, the largest industry slump in British gambling history.

The study, authored by BetterGambling’s stable of former casino bosses and regulatory experts, projects a precipitous 30-40% drop in authorised operators as the 2026 regulatory landscape renders continued operation economically non-viable for the low-to-midsized players.

“We are witnessing the greatest scale of change since the Gambling Act 2005. Our analysis proves that this is not just market consolidation – it’s a structural realignment of an industry that today supports 2,262 licensed operators as of March 2024,” said Diana Tunsu, Reviewer at BetterGambling.

Key findings from the BetterGambling report include:

• 680-900 operators anticipated to exit the market by the end of 2027 (30-40% of the current market)

• New casino launches will drop by 60-70% relative to 2024 levels

• White-label operations will see a 45-55% closure rate as a result of shifts in platform economics

• Stand-alone casinos will see 40-50% market consolidation as a result of compliance barriers

• Total first-year compliance investment of £800,000-2.8 million per operator.

The Compliance Investment Reality

BetterGambling’s in-depth analysis of operators reveals the true cash investment required for 2026 compliance. The regulatory fee alone will remove £100 million from the industry annually, and technology infrastructure upgrades will cost individual operators between £500,000 and £2 million.

“The economics are straightforward. Operators with GGY below £3 million per year are faced with a stark choice: spend significantly on compliance or consider strategic options including withdrawing from the market,” explained Diana Tunsu.

For more detailed analysis of the impact on different forms of casinos, see our in-depth UK Casino Reviews section.

White-Label Market Transformation

White-label casino businesses are recognized as being severely tested in this report, with 45-55% predicted to merge or close down. Of the estimated 350-450 current white-label businesses, BetterGambling predicts 200-300 will survive past 2027.

“White-label operators have a complex equation,” said the BetterGambling research team.

“They must navigate through the same compliance for independent operators when handling revenue-sharing arrangements with platform providers.”

The post BetterGambling Exclusive Report: 800+ UK Casino Operators Face Closure as 2026 Regulations Trigger Industry Apocalypse appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Compliance Updates

UKGC Introduces New Deposit Limit Rules

Published

3 days ago

October 9, 2025

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is going to implement new deposit limit rules to help customers manage their spending.

Operators are currently required to offer tools so customers can easily set personal budgets for gambling at registration or when they first deposit money into their gambling account. To increase consumer empowerment the Commission is amending the rules to provide further consistency and clarity for customers when setting financial limits. These changes focus on how these limits are defined and communicated to customers.

From 30 June 2026 all online operators must provide customers with the opportunity to set a “deposit limit” which is based solely on the amount a customer pays into their account over a set duration. To avoid confusion, only this form of limit may be called a “deposit limit”.

In addition, gambling businesses will also be able to offer different limits, such as loss limits or limits where withdrawals are also taken into account.

The improvements to the rules are coming into effect in stages, and a key milestone is the set of previously announced changes which will come into effect on 31 October 2025 and require all gambling businesses to:

• prompt their customers to set a financial limit before they make their first deposit and make it easy for them to review and alter their limit

• remind consumers every six months to review their account and transaction information to help customers maintain control of their gambling spend

• offer financial limits using free text at an account level to help customers set meaningful limits

• provide financial limit setting facilities via a link on the homepage and deposit pages which are clearly visible and accessible, with the number of clicks to reach these facilities minimalised

• action all customer requests to decrease a financial limit immediately.

Helen Rhodes, Commission Director of Major Policy Projects, said: “Our work will help empower consumers to have greater awareness and control over their gambling. These further changes will also bring consistency and clarity for those consumers choosing to set deposit limits, while still supporting gambling businesses to offer customer choice for different forms of limits.”

The post UKGC Introduces New Deposit Limit Rules appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Compliance Updates

MGA Introduces Self-Assessment Tool to Help Individuals Assess Gambling Habits

Published

3 days ago

October 9, 2025

Niji Narayan

mga-introduces-self-assessment-tool-to-help-individuals-assess-gambling-habits

Reading Time: < 1 minute

As part of its ongoing commitment to player protection, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has announced the launch of an online Self-Assessment Tool, available in both English and Maltese, designed to help individuals reflect on their gambling habits and behaviour.

Developed in close collaboration with several key local organisations – namely Sedqa, Caritas Malta, the OASI Foundation and the Responsible Gaming Foundation – the tool is completely anonymous, free to use and accessible to all.

Rooted in the Problem Gambling Severity Index – a widely recognised, evidence-based screening tool – the questionnaire comprises nine straightforward questions. These aim to assess the extent of an individual’s gambling behaviour while also considering broader social and environmental influences.

The tool encourages self-reflection in an accessible way, helping players consider whether they may benefit from reaching out for professional guidance. Should a user’s results indicate the need for further support, they will be directed to one of the participating organisations, each of which serves as a trusted point of contact for advice and care. Information is also available on safer gambling tools, such as setting limits or using global bet-blocking tools.

This initiative represents a collaborative, people-first approach to player protection, working alongside local entities in Malta and Gozo to ensure that anyone experiencing gambling-related harm is not only informed but also supported.

The MGA encourages players to use the tool regularly as a way to monitor changes in their gambling behaviour over time and stay mindful of any change that may occur.

The post MGA Introduces Self-Assessment Tool to Help Individuals Assess Gambling Habits appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.