Compliance Updates
SIS awarded ESIC Gold Standards accreditation for Competitive Gaming offering
Endorsement marks out supplier as only esports betting events provider to officially meet new integrity measures
SIS (Sports Information Services), the leading multi-channel supplier of 24/7 live betting services, has been awarded the Esports Integrity Commission’s (ESIC) Gold Standards, the highest possible accreditation from the industry association.
The award sees SIS become the first esports betting events supplier to meet ESIC’s stringent new criteria, created to set unmatched levels of integrity and safety in the esports betting industry, for its Competitive Gaming portfolio (Esoccer, Ebasketball and CS:GO).
The purpose of the ESIC Gold Standard is to build on its existing principles by setting out a list of standards for tournament organisers, ensuring that events are run to the highest level of integrity and safety for the benefit of all stakeholders.
With stringent integrity measures in place, SIS Competitive Gaming follows best practice outlined by ESIC in addition to strict operational measures in place to ensure that each event is fair.
Each SIS Competitive Gaming head-to-head match, all of which take place from within SIS’ UK-based self-contained studios, is streamed live with experienced casters providing live in-game commentary. The streams take place through a secure platform that is exclusive to licensed operator sites where the age of the audience has been verified and is not available on open streaming services, meaning there is less danger of toxic messaging of the sort that is often carried on unlicensed sites.
All events are overseen by a dedicated ESIC-trained integrity referee and have a real-time link to SIS’ expert trading team, which closely monitors betting activity. Rigorous gamer competitiveness and predictability tracking measures are in place, through supremacy and volatility reporting, with all events taking place in a jurisdiction with well-respected legal and employment rights.
The new ESIC Gold Standards have been created to elevate transparency and impartiality, and required SIS to meet a number of rigorous requirements across the board, including:
- No communication devices allowed anywhere in the gaming studios
- Minimum of three employed personnel (independent from gamers) watching every event
- Controlled fixed game settings to ensure fair and competitive play
- Employees are fully background checked for criminal records, with references taken
- Ensure all gamers are of sufficient skills and expertise to compete against other pro gamers.
- ESIC anti-corruption code to be signed by all staff and gamers
SIS continues to work with ESIC to evolve the Gold Standards to improve Integrity and the visibility of clear tangible rules and standards by which tournament organisers should run events.
Adam Conway, Head of Esports & Competitive Gaming at SIS, said: “We are extremely proud to have received this new accreditation, which shines a light on the very high integrity and safety standards we have always put at the core of our Competitive Gaming offering.
“Our operator partners and their customers appreciate our high levels of integrity, such as visible referees invigilating every game, making us the only esports betting events supplier to do so.”
Ian Smith, Commissioner at Esports Integrity Commission, said: “ESIC’s new Gold Standards set heightened levels of integrity and safety in the Esports industry for the benefit of all stakeholders, and through ongoing assessment of SIS’ Competitive Gaming operations, which meet all the key integrity requirements, we are delighted to award SIS with ESIC’s Gold Standards, our highest possible accreditation”.
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The French National Gaming Authority (ANJ) has issued a strict warning against prediction markets. Regulators firmly classify these digital platforms as illegal gambling operations.
The success of prediction market platforms is growing, particularly since the 2024 US presidential election. By offering users the opportunity to bet on predictions of political, sporting or geopolitical events, these sites handle billions of dollars. In France, these sites are not authorized and are considered illegal gambling sites.
This is why the main operators, at the request of the French National Gaming Authority (ANJ), have implemented geoblocking, thus preventing any gambling from France (except via VPN).
Because these prediction sites exhibit several addictive characteristics similar to those observed in online gambling, but amplified by the absence of the protection mechanisms that exist in the legal gambling market, the ANJ urges users to exercise caution.
Prediction markets exhibit several addictive characteristics, amplified by the fact that no protection is offered, unlike legal gambling sites: platforms are open 24/7, there are no built-in betting limits beyond the amounts wagered, no time limits, no identity checks to verify age, etc. The combination of visibility, accessibility and virality inherent to this type of platform generates a significant addictive loop.
Beyond the risks of addiction, other risks related to market or public opinion manipulation can incite harmful acts. Indeed, as soon as an actor can bet on an event and influence its probability, the market creates a financial incentive to provoke or accelerate negative outcomes such as performance sabotage in sports or violent actions in geopolitics.
In France , the ANJ (National Gaming Authority) determined as early as November 2024 that the services offered by Polymarket were likely to be considered unauthorised gambling. It therefore contacted the Panamanian-based operator, which implemented a geoblocking system preventing any gambling from taking place in France. Kalshi has also implemented a similar system.
Germany, Belgium, Romania, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Poland, Greece, Cyprus, Ukraine and Portugal have blocked access to Polymarket, believing that the platform offers gambling services without having the required license.
In the US, Polymarket was authorised by the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) to offer betting to US residents in November 2025. The offering had been limited previously since 2022. The Nevada Gaming Control Board has just sued Polymarket, arguing that its prediction markets constitute illegal gambling and should be subject to blocking measures.
In Australia, the local regulator blacklisted Polymarket on August 14, 2025.
In Colombia, in September 2025, the regulator asked internet service providers to block Polymarket.
The post French National Gaming Authority Issues Strict Warning Against Prediction Markets appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Bagley-Keene Act
California Gambling Control Commission Issues Critical Guidance on Stakeholder Communications and Ex Parte Rules
The California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC) has released a comprehensive new guide for stakeholders, outlining essential best practices for contacting the Commission and strictly warning against the legal pitfalls of “ex parte” communications.
As part of its ongoing commitment to transparency and its 2026 Strategic Plan, the Commission aims to streamline interactions while ensuring that all regulatory decisions are made on a complete, fair, and public record.
Navigating the Commission: Who to Contact
To ensure inquiries are handled efficiently, the Commission has identified key points of contact for various industry matters:
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Licensing & Approvals: For general licensing matters, stakeholders should contact Brian Gilleland, Deputy Director of the Licensing Division, at
[email protected]. -
Regulations & Legislation: Inquiries regarding laws or pending regulations should be directed to Nicole Learned, Deputy Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, at
[email protected]. -
Evidentiary Hearings: For GCA hearing matters, contact the Presiding Officer noted in your hearing notice, or Administrative Hearings Coordinator Pam Mathauser at
[email protected]. -
Executive Leadership: All other high-level matters should be sent to Executive Director Lisa Wardall at
[email protected].
The Danger of “Ex Parte” Communications
A central focus of the new guidance is the strict prohibition of ex parte communications—any communication regarding the merits of a pending application or request made without proper notice to all involved parties.
To comply with state rules, stakeholders must include Commission staff, Bureau staff, and the Applicant (or their designated agent) on all correspondence.
Crucial Warning: Stakeholders are strictly forbidden from sending communications of any kind directly to Commissioners regarding applications or pending decisions.
Why Compliance is Mandatory
The Commission warns that ex parte violations are not merely procedural errors; they pose a direct threat to the integrity of the gambling industry’s governance. Decisions made on incomplete or “private” information can lead to:
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Application Denial: The Commissioners have the authority to deny an application or approval solely based on a prohibited communication.
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Legal Reversals: Violations may breach the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, potentially allowing opposing parties to overturn a decision that was previously taken in your favor.
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Governance Risk: Transparency ensures that all parties—including the Bureau of Gambling Control—have access to the same record of information before a vote is cast.
“Transparency is a core tenet of good governance,” the Commission stated in the guidance. “Ex parte rules guarantee that all matters taken up by the Commission are conducted in a fair and transparent manner.”
The post California Gambling Control Commission Issues Critical Guidance on Stakeholder Communications and Ex Parte Rules appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Compliance Updates
BGC Response to Government Plans to Stop Premier League Clubs Accepting Sponsorship from Gambling Operators Not Holding a UK Licence
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) strongly supports government plans to ban Premier League clubs from accepting sponsorships from gambling operators lacking a UK licence.
A Betting and Gaming Council Spokesperson said: “The Betting and Gaming Council welcomes the Government’s plan to act to stop Premier League clubs accepting sponsorship from gambling operators that do not hold a UK licence.
“Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is right that gambling companies without a UK licence should be banned from sponsoring Premier League clubs and should go further to prevent these harmful illegal companies from sponsoring any sport in the UK.
“At a time when the regulated sector is facing significantly higher taxation and ever tighter regulation while reducing advertising spend, it is more important than ever that firm action is taken against the growing harmful black market.
“Licensed members of the Betting and Gaming Council are regulated in Britain and follow strict rules on consumer protection, safer gambling and robust financial safeguards. Whereas, the illegal, harmful black market operators do not. They undermine player protections, avoid taxes, ignore safer gambling standards and put consumers at serious risk.
“We support action that protects fans, upholds standards and keeps customers safe within the regulated market.”
The post BGC Response to Government Plans to Stop Premier League Clubs Accepting Sponsorship from Gambling Operators Not Holding a UK Licence appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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