Compliance Updates
EGBA on Finland’s Missed Opportunity For Overdue Gambling Reform
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.
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The Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) has announced that it has officially begun accepting applications for sports betting license.
The Commission made the announcement following the unanimous approval of a resolution drafted Tuesday that approved the licensing process. The resolution passed after Gov. Mike Kehoe’s office reviewed it.
The licensing period opens roughly six months after Missouri voters narrowly approved a constitutional amendment legalizing sports betting. The measure passed by less than half a percentage point, with a margin of less than 7500 votes.
According to the amendment, the state’s sports betting sector has to be ready to launch by Dec. 1, 2025. Operators will pay a 10% wagering tax, which will mostly go toward funding education programs throughout the state.
The delay in setting up the licensing system was largely due to the new Secretary of State Denny Hoskins. Hoskins publicly opposed sports betting when he was in the Missouri state legislature. In February, he denied the Commission’s attempt to accelerate the process.
Regulators and sportsbook operators hoped the sector would be up and running in time for the NFL season’s start in September. That won’t happen now, as licensing rules don’t take effect until Aug. 30, leaving insufficient time.
Missouri license applications have two deadlines. The deadline for the two proposed “untethered” sportsbook licenses, known as Direct Mobile Licenses, is July 15. The companies that applied will have a hearing on Aug. 13, and the successful applicants will be announced on Aug. 15.
The other retail and mobile licenses have a longer application window until Sept. 12. Although licensing rules don’t officially take effect until the end of August, the Commission opened applications at this stage to give applicants time to prepare their paperwork.
All 13 of the state’s casinos and excursion gambling boats may apply for licenses to offer sports betting, and all six of Missouri’s pro sports teams will be allowed to host retail sports betting outlets at or near their stadiums.
Prior to the opening of license applications, the MLB team St. Louis Cardinals partnered with sportsbook bet365 to become the team’s official sports betting partner. The collaboration grants the operator access to a sports wagering license when the market opens at the end of the year.
The post Missouri Officially Begins Accepting Applications for Sports Betting Licenses appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
A streamer has accepted a fine of DKK 10,000 for using Twitch to distribute games to game providers without a license to offer games in Denmark.
Twitch is a platform where users share live content, such as gaming, unboxing and gambling.
The streamer has in several cases advertised game providers without a Danish license through his Twitch channels.
The Danish Gambling Authority discovered the violation in 2023 and reported the streamer to the police.
The police have assessed that the streamer has violated the law, and the streamer has been fined DKK 10,000, which was the amount recommended by the Danish Gambling Authority.
This is the second time that the Danish Gambling Authority has reported a streamer for distributing illegal games and has been successful in the case.
Source: spillemyndigheden.dk
The post Spillemyndigheden: Streamer fined DKK 10,000 for illegally distributing games appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has contacted more than a dozen traditional and digital media platforms, calling on them to stop promoting unregulated online gambling and sports betting sites like Bodog to Ontario residents.
Operated by Il Nido Inc., Bodog is an offshore operator actively targeting Ontarians by advertising on popular traditional and digital media platforms. Despite blocking players in Quebec and Nova Scotia from accessing their unregulated gambling and sports betting sites, Bodog continues to allow Ontarians to access these sites while advertising heavily on traditional and digital media platforms targeting Ontarians.
Under the Gaming Control Act, 1992, Bodog and other online gambling sites are required to register with the AGCO and sign an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario in order to operate in Ontario. Ontario’s regulated igaming framework requires operators to meet comprehensive requirements related to game integrity, player protection, anti-money laundering and information privacy. Bodog’s efforts to direct Ontarians to unregulated gambling undermine player protection and other safeguards which exist in the regulated market, as well as fair market principles.
By airing ads for Bodog and other unregulated operators, legitimate media platforms are providing a veneer of legitimacy to unregulated and high-risk sites and creating confusion for Ontarians. The AGCO is therefore calling on these platforms to take a stand against the promotion of unregulated online gambling sites and remove the ads. By doing so, broadcasters and digital media companies will help reduce the risks these sites pose to Ontarians and support the long-term sustainability of Ontario’s regulated igaming market – all key objectives of the AGCO.
The AGCO will continue to work with its partners – both in Ontario and internationally – to combat these unregulated sites and protect the public.
“The AGCO is committed to protecting Ontario players and ensuring they have the safest experience by playing on regulated igaming sites. By refusing to carry advertising from unregulated and high-risk operators like Bodog, media organizations can exemplify social responsibility and play an important role in protecting Ontarians and supporting Ontario’s regulated market.” – Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, AGCO.
The post AGCO calls on media platforms to step up the fight against unregulated online gambling sites appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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