Compliance Updates

NEW LEADERSHIP TAKES THE HELM AT IAGR

Published

2 years ago

October 19, 2023

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) has announced leadership changes following its annual congress in Botswana. With a strong commitment to advancing gaming regulation across the globe, IAGR welcomes the appointment of new President, Ben Haden, taking over from Dr. Jason Lane and Vice President, Caroline Kongwa.

Ben Haden brings a wealth of experience to the role. Ben is currently a Director at the Gambling Commission in the United Kingdom and has served as trustee for IAGR for five years, with the last two being Vice President, delivering two very successful annual conferences.

In tandem with this appointment, Caroline Kongwa assumes the position of Vice President, solidifying her continued commitment to IAGR’s mission. Caroline is the Chief Strategic Adviser of the National Gambling Board in South Africa.

“During my two years of tenure, I’m determined to build on Jason’s great work while President,” says Ben Haden. “It’s a challenging but exciting time to be in gambling regulation. We’ll be looking to encourage greater collaboration and the sharing of best practices across jurisdictions and partners, fostering a stronger sense of our community.

“IAGR would like to extend its sincere thanks to outgoing President Jason Lane for his two years of outstanding leadership. We’re very pleased that Jason will continue to be actively involved in IAGR, serving as an IAGR Board Trustee.”

These announcements were made during the culmination of IAGR’s annual conference held in Gaborone, Botswana, where regulators from around the world came together to discuss key industry issues and best practices.

Looking ahead, IAGR is excited to reveal that its next annual conference will be held in the historic city of Rome, Italy, from 21 to 24 October 2024. This event promises to be a pivotal gathering for industry professionals, providing an invaluable platform for dialogue, collaboration, and innovation. The conference will be a partnership event, co-hosted by IAGR and the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL).

“I’m excited about the opportunity to play a part in shaping IAGR’s 2024 conference in Rome and curating a program that matches the outstanding event we experienced here in Botswana,” says Vice President Caroline Kongwa.

Ticket sales for IAGR2024 will open in early 2024.

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Bagley-Keene Act

California Gambling Control Commission Issues Critical Guidance on Stakeholder Communications and Ex Parte Rules

Published

4 hours ago

February 25, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

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:

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:

Application Denial: The Commissioners have the authority to deny an application or approval solely based on a prohibited communication.
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.
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

Published

7 hours ago

February 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

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.

Australia

Tabcorp Pays $158,400 Penalty for Taking Illegal In-Play Sports Bets

Published

7 hours ago

February 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

tabcorp-pays-$158,400-penalty-for-taking-illegal-in-play-sports-bets

Tabcorp Holdings Limited (Tabcorp) has paid a $158,400 penalty for taking online in-play sports bets, which is illegal in Australia.

An Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) investigation found Tabcorp accepted 426 in-play bets across 32 tennis matches between February 2024 and June 2025.

Online in-play betting, wagers made on a sporting event after it has commenced, is prohibited in Australia under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA).

The online in-play sports bets that were accepted in breach of the IGA were voided by Tabcorp and the bets were refunded.

The ACMA accepted the evidence from Tabcorp that the breaches occurred due to systems and communication issues with its third-party provider.

ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood said this is the third time since 2021 that Tabcorp has breached the in-play betting rules.

“The law is clear and wagering services must have processes in place to prevent illegal in-play bets from being accepted,” Ms Lidgerwood said.

“While we understand that most wagering operators rely on third-party providers to close betting on sporting events, they cannot outsource their legal responsibilities.

“The length of time it took Tabcorp to identify and then fix the problem was concerning and we expect Tabcorp to do better in the future,” Ms Lidgerwood said.

In addition to the financial penalty, Tabcorp has entered into a comprehensive enforceable undertaking requiring the company to undertake a review of its systems and processes relating to the closing of betting on tennis matches and to report regularly to the ACMA.

The post Tabcorp Pays $158,400 Penalty for Taking Illegal In-Play Sports Bets appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.