Compliance Updates
Secretary Haaland Announces Appointments to National Indian Gaming Commission
																								
												
												
											
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today announced the proposed appointments of Sharon Avery (pictured, left) and Jeannie Hovland (pictured, right) as Associate Commissioners to the National Indian Gaming Commission.
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act established the three-person National Indian Gaming Commission in 1988 to support and promote tribal economic development, self-sufficiency and strong tribal governments through the operation of gaming on Indian lands. The National Indian Gaming Commission’s Chair is appointed by the President and its two Associate Commissioners are appointed by the Secretary of the Interior. All National Indian Gaming Commission members serve three-year terms.
“The Biden-Harris administration is committed to ensuring that tribes have the resources they need to exercise their tribal sovereignty and support their communities,” Haaland said. “Not only does gaming support tribal economies, but the funding it generates also helps to support the vital services that tribal nations provide to their citizens; from language preservation to healthcare. Today’s appointments to the National Indian Gaming Commission will help ensure we continue to provide resources and support for an industry that remains one of the most significant sources of economic development in Indian Country.”
Avery is an enrolled member of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan. She currently serves as an Associate General Counsel for the National Indian Gaming Commission’s Office of General Counsel. In this role she has gained familiarity with the agency’s structure and the important role the agency plays within the tribal gaming industry. Prior to joining the National Indian Gaming Commission, Avery worked in the legal department of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan for ten years. She graduated from Michigan State University College of Law with a Juris Doctor degree and a certificate from the Indigenous Law and Policy Center.
Hovland is an enrolled member of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota and currently serves as Vice Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Since joining the National Indian Gaming Commission, she has worked collaboratively to consult with tribes for the promulgation of regulations and to coordinate the agency’s regulatory responsibilities with tribal regulatory authorities. Prior to joining the National Indian Gaming Commission, Hovland served as Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Native American Affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services and held roles at the Interior Department as well as in the office of South Dakota Senator John Thune.
Appointments to the National Indian Gaming Commission can be finalized following a required 30-day public comment period. Information on how to comment and full biographies of the appointees can be found in the accompanying Federal Register notice.
Compliance Updates
Million Games Secures Swedish Licence Ahead of ICE Barcelona 2026
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Million Games has been officially approved by the Swedish Gaming Authority (Spelinspektionen) for a licence to provide commercial online games in Sweden. The milestone marks a major step in the company’s strategic expansion into regulated markets — perfectly timed ahead of Million Games’ appearance at ICE Barcelona 2026.
“This achievement represents more than compliance — it’s a milestone that defines our direction as a company,” said Thomas Nimstad, CEO of Million Games. “Sweden is our home market, and obtaining this licence reinforces our commitment to quality, responsibility and innovation. The timing couldn’t be better as we prepare to showcase our growing portfolio at ICE in Barcelona.”
A licence that opens doors
With the Swedish licence now secured, Million Games is ready to begin the next phase — certifying individual game titles and forming partnerships with Swedish operators and aggregators. The company’s expanding portfolio includes feature-rich video slots, table games, multiplayer formats and instant-win experiences developed in-house and through its Million Stars partner programme.
Million Games will continue aligning its products and internal processes with the highest regulatory standards, ensuring full compliance with Spelinspektionen’s technical requirements and player protection framework.
ICE Barcelona 2026 – a showcase of innovation
As one of the industry’s largest global exhibitions, ICE Barcelona 2026 offers the perfect platform for Million Games to present its vision for regulated market growth. Visitors will find the team at Stand 2C72, where upcoming game releases, partner collaborations and future roadmap highlights will be unveiled.
“Gaining the Swedish licence before ICE is the ideal timing,” Nimstad adds. “It allows us to meet potential partners face-to-face, demonstrate our compliance-ready portfolio, and strengthen Million Games’ position as a trusted, creative studio in regulated markets.”
The post Million Games Secures Swedish Licence Ahead of ICE Barcelona 2026 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Belgian gaming regulator
Belgian Regulator Supports New Law for Tougher Player Protection and Increased Oversight
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The Belgian gaming regulator Kansspelcommissie (KSC) has issued an endorsement of a proposed legislative bill aimed at strengthening player protection and enhancing regulatory oversight over gambling in Belgium.
The draft legislation’s key provisions include a proposed weekly deposit cap of €200 ($232.85) per gambling platform, a prohibition on gambling with credit, restrictions on the number of betting licences issued to newsagents and an extension of the national gambling self-exclusion register to include bars. The bill also proposes limits on the number of slot machines permitted in bar settings.
The bill also seeks to address the regulator’s concerns about its own operational capability and staff shortages. It proposes that the regulator must have at least 10 full-time members of staff, and it would also increase the maximum number of police officers that can be seconded to the commission be from four to eight.
While the KSC has broadly endorsed the bill’s objectives, it has recommended a phased rollout for certain measures, particularly the expansion of the exclusion system, which is expected to be fully implemented by May 2026. The commission also expressed some reservations about a total ban on credit card gambling.
The post Belgian Regulator Supports New Law for Tougher Player Protection and Increased Oversight appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
AUSTRAC
AUSTRAC Cracks Down on Cryptolink for Late Reporting
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AUSTRAC has issued Cryptolink an infringement notice of $56,340 and accepted a court-enforceable undertaking that addresses the company’s AML/CTF deficiencies.
The action follows AUSTRAC’s Crypto Taskforce identifying late reporting of large cash transactions and weaknesses in the company’s money laundering and terrorism financing risk assessments.
AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas said the package of infringement notices and the enforceable undertaking is designed to ensure useable intelligence does not slip through the cracks.
“The infringement notice addresses previous non-compliance around reporting and the enforceable undertaking seeks assurance that Cryptolink has improved its risk assessments and strengthened its AML/CTF controls,” Mr Thomas said.
“Crypto ATMs are one of the highest risk money laundering channels in Australia at the moment. They are being exploited by criminals to launder money and move scam proceeds. This is not conjecture. It’s what our Crypto Taskforce observed and has been backed up by the work of our law enforcement partners.”
As part of the enforceable undertaking, Cryptolink must engage third party reviewers to:
• validate whether the business has reported all required threshold transactions to AUSTRAC
• assess whether the business has implemented effective controls for large cash transactions
• review Cryptolink’s money laundering and terrorism financing risk assessment to ensure it is fit-for-purpose.
Cryptolink has fully cooperated with AUSTRAC and paid the infringement notice in full. Payment of an AUSTRAC infringement notice is not an admission of liability.
The enforcement action comes after intensive engagement with crypto ATM operators since late 2024.
Working in partnership with law enforcement, AUSTRAC’s Crypto Taskforce estimated that 85% of transactions made by the 90 most prolific crypto ATM users were the proceeds of scams and money mule activity.
“Scams are one of the biggest drivers of suspicious activity and criminals have been using crypto ATMs to move and cash out stolen funds,” said Mr Thomas.
A recently released Australian Institute of Criminology report found more than 40% of cybercrime victims are revictimised, often within months.
“With this in mind we want people to be cautious of making transactions to any wallet they don’t control and thinking twice in circumstances where someone asks you to deposit money into a crypto ATM.”
The second stage of the Crypto Taskforce is focussed on high-risk operations.
“Criminals don’t care how they hurt people, they care about making money,” said Mr Thomas.
“We want to work with the digital currency exchanges to harden the sector against exploitation but if operators don’t take this seriously, we will take action.”
The post AUSTRAC Cracks Down on Cryptolink for Late Reporting appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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