Compliance Updates

SG:CERTIFIED APPOINTS MARIS CATANIA AS SAFER GAMBLING SENIOR CONSULTANT

Published

2 years ago

January 30, 2023

Reading Time: 2 minutes

SG:certified the gambling industry’s most comprehensive platform for helping operators with safer gambling, compliance and sustainability practices, today announced Maris Catania has been appointed Safer Gambling Senior Consultant of SG:certified effective immediately.

Catania is a gambling industry veteran and brings significant insight to the role, with more than fourteen years of game integrity and safer gambling experience. She joins from Kindred, where she most recently served as Head of Responsible Gaming and Research. In addition, Catania has been doing a PhD focusing on consumer protection, markers of harm, and responsible gambling, under the guidance of the leading distinguished professor Mark Griffiths.

Catania will be instrumental in leading and developing the most up-to-date and effective content for SG:certified on safer gambling issues. This will include training, assessments, recommendations of best practices, benchmarking and research digests. In addition to supporting clients with their safer gambling needs using the SG:certified platform.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Commenting on the appointment, Laura Da Silva, CEO of SG:certified said: “I have admired Maris and how passionate she is about safer gambling for many years, so I am delighted that she is joining us as a Safer Gambling Senior Consultant. With her expertise and knowledge of the industry I believe we can really make further positive change on the industry.”

“I’m really excited to join such an experienced yet still passionate team. SG:certified’s company ethos is to do well and make a great social impact, which is something I always try to live by in my personal life. So, this company was a natural fit for me. I can’t wait to get started and help other companies get the benefits of the platform and build out safer gambling processes resulting in the implementation of better SG strategies.” said Catania.

The SG:certified platform uses a proven process to help companies achieve its safer gambling, ESG certification and/or sustainability goals with ease while focusing on overall impact along the way. SG:certified believes the time for companies to make change by operating well is now and they want to help make that happen.

Catania’s arrival is the latest addition to SG:certified following the appointment of Svend Aage Kirk as a Partner late last year.

Blitzcrown

Blitzcrown Secures GLI Certification for Three Crash Games in Brazil

Published

15 hours ago

April 3, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

blitzcrown-secures-gli-certification-for-three-crash-games-in-brazil

Breaking New Ground in Brazil: Blitzcrown’s Crash Games Now GLI Certified

Blitzcrown, MVG’s pioneering games studio, has secured Brazilian Certification as well as GLI-19 Certification from GLI(Gaming Laboratories International) for its industry-changing three Crash titles. This landmark achievement marks a significant milestone in the company’s expansion into Brazil’s thriving online gaming market, positioning Blitzcrown at the forefront of the region’s rapidly evolving iGaming landscape.

The license comes at an important time for Brazil’s gaming sector, following the launch of the new licensing regime that started on January 1, 2025. The regulatory framework, signed into law in December 2023, has transformed the industry’s prospects.

The certification encompasses 3 innovative crash games: Crash, Fast Crash, and Twin Crash. This strategic milestone establishes Blitzcrown as the premier provider of certified Crash games in the Brazilian market, demonstrating the company’s unwavering commitment to regulatory excellence and gaming integrity. With the GLI-19 and Brazil certification process successfully concluded in March, Blitzcrown has solidified its position as an industry pioneer in this dynamic and emerging market.

Crash games are a recent addition to the global iGaming market, featuring the dynamic evolution of real-time multipliers and immediate reward structures. Blitzcrown has stood out by establishing groundbreaking game mechanisms that offer different and exciting gameplay experiences. Standard Crash provides players with a standard multiplier-based gaming experience, and Fast Crash is optimized for users seeking quick, intense multiplier experiences. The Twin Crash is an original format allowing players to place simultaneous bets on two separate multipliers.

Building on this momentum, Blitzcrown has announced plans to expand its certified portfolio with two additional versions of its innovative Plinko games, demonstrating the company’s strategic commitment to market expansion. This forward-looking initiative underscores Blitzcrown’s dedication to continuous innovation and sustainable growth in the regulated gaming markets.

Blitzcrown is MVG’s edge-game studio focused on pushing game ideas beyond their norms through innovative and non-traditional gaming experiences. The studio has been particularly recognized for its groundbreaking approaches in various game categories, including its successful Crash and Plinko series.

George Cho from MVG said: “This GLI certification testifies to Blitzcrown’s unwavering commitment to offering top-quality, fair gaming systems. We are well placed to take advantage of Brazil’s exciting new regulatory environment and the vast growth potential of the online gaming industry.”

The post Blitzcrown Secures GLI Certification for Three Crash Games in Brazil appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

Compliance Updates

EUROMAT Objects to Croatia’s Decision to Advance its Legislative Process Without Notifying the European Commission

Published

19 hours ago

April 3, 2025

Niji Narayan

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

The European Gambling and Amusement Federation (EUROMAT) has submitted to the European Commission its objection to Croatia’s failure to notify the Croatian Gambling Act (PZ_42) under the TRIS procedure.

Several proposed amendments qualify the Croatian Gambling Act (PZ_42) as a technical regulation under Directive (EU) 2015/1535 warranting formal notification. EUROMAT is concerned that the Croatian Government is proceeding with its legislative process without any notification.

The law includes mandatory player identification for venue entry, a self-exclusion register, advertising restrictions, strict rules on the location of gambling venues, restrictions on days of operation, increased licensing fees and taxation.

Member States must notify any national provisions that restrict market access or the provision of services. Failure to comply with the notification procedure constitutes a breach of EU law, potentially leading to the suspension of the law’s application and the initiation of infringement proceedings. Croatia’s decision not to notify comes despite the country notifying its gambling law in 2014 which resulted in the legislation being withdrawn following scrutiny from the European Commission. Croatia also notified a law in 2023 with substantive impacts for the amusement sector and there are more than 500 examples in the European Commission’s TRIS database of similar notifications from across Europe.

EUROMAT President Jason Frost said: ”If the Commission is serious about strengthening the Internal Market then it has to ensure that Member States respect the law.

“The Commission intervened in 2014 and as a result Croatia had to withdraw its gambling law which underlines how important the notification procedure is. The Commission needs to intervene again but this time to ensure that Croatia actually notifies. Companies need legal certainty to invest and operate in Europe and if the Commission allows Member States to disregard their responsibilities then it sets a very concerning precedent.”

Filip Jelavic, General Sectary of the Croatian Gaming Association, said: “It is inconceivable that any European Member State could be allowed to introduce such far reaching and disruptive legal changes without following the correct procedure. We are calling on the Croatian Government to act responsibly in this case and follow the law.”

The post EUROMAT Objects to Croatia’s Decision to Advance its Legislative Process Without Notifying the European Commission appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Bruce Cassidy

VIP Play Obtains Interim West Virginia iGaming and Sports Wagering Management Service Provider Licenses

Published

20 hours ago

April 3, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

vip-play-obtains-interim-west-virginia-igaming-and-sports-wagering-management-service-provider-licenses

VIP Play Inc. announced the approval of its interim License in West Virginia for both Sports Wagering and iGaming managed services. This follows the recently announced market access partnership between VIP Play and Delaware North’s Wheeling Island Casino.

This milestone marks the company’s initial expansion beyond Tennessee, where it currently operates as a mobile Sports Wagering Operator. The interim License in West Virginia also adds iGaming to the company’s book of business, and allows VIP Play to participate in the rapidly expanding i-Gaming industry. VIP Play expects to begin serving West Virginia customers in the coming months.

Bruce Cassidy, VIP Play CEO & Chairman of the Board, said: “The acquisition of our interim Sports Wagering and i-Gaming License in West Virginia marks a significant milestone in our journey to expand, underscoring our commitment to provide innovative experiences to a wider audience. As we grow our presence, our dedication to excellence stands firm, and we’re excited to play a role in enriching West Virginia’s dynamic gaming community.”

The post VIP Play Obtains Interim West Virginia iGaming and Sports Wagering Management Service Provider Licenses appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.