Compliance Updates
Vixio Announces Winners for the 2024 Global Regulatory Awards
Vixio, a leading provider of regulatory intelligence solutions, unveiled its 2024 Global Regulatory Awards (GRAs) winners last night during an event in London.
More than 300 industry leaders, regulatory experts, and esteemed professionals of the global gambling industry attended the prestigious event. The independently judged GRAs recognise and celebrate the achievements of individuals, teams, and organisations in the gambling industry who have excelled in compliance, corporate social responsibility, and safer gambling.
The eighth annual awards ceremony recognised winners across 20 categories. Notable winners on the evening included Betsson Group, Mindway AI, and Paysafe, each winning two awards. Vixio also recognised outstanding individuals, such as Jessica Feil of OpenBet, named Compliance Professional of the Year, and Laura McAllister Cox of Rush Street Interactive, awarded Chief Compliance Officer of the Year. “A big thank you to everyone who attended last night’s Global Regulatory Awards event in London. Vixio has been proud to host independently judged awards for the last eight years. Our selection process ensures that each winner is the best in class and has displayed clear dedication to trustworthy gambling and regulatory compliance, so huge congratulations to all the winners.” stated Mike Woolfrey, CEO of Vixio.
Docaposte, Draft Kings, eCOGRA, Gaming Associates, Scientific Games, and charity partner Ygam were among the sponsors for this year’s Global Regulatory Awards. The 2025 Global Regulatory Awards presentation will take place on November 19th, returning to the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London.
The official 2024 winners are as follows:
AML or MLR Professional of the Year – Brian Doran, Metropolitan Gaming
Award for Commitment to Compliance by an Operator – Betsson Group
Chief Compliance Officer of the Year – Laura McAllister Cox, Rush Street Interactive
Compliance Innovator of the Year – Mindway AI
Compliance Professional of the Year – Jessica Feil, OpenBet
Compliance Lifetime Achievement Special Award – David Rebuck
Compliance Rising Star Special Award – Jamie Delaney, Apricot
Compliance Team of the Year – Betsson Group
Head of Regulatory Affairs or Government Relations of the Year – Martin Lycka, Entain
Legal Team of the Year – Paysafe
Outstanding Contribution to Safer Gambling – Flutter Entertainment
Outstanding Contribution to Sports Betting Integrity – Entain
Outstanding Individual Contribution to Safer Gambling – Paul Buck, EPIC Global Solutions
Payment Service or Solution Provider of the Year – Paysafe
RegTech Provider of the Year – Mindway AI
Regulatory Initiative of the Year – National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program, idPair
Regulatory Law Firm of the Year – Bird & Bird
Regulatory Lawyer or In-House Counsel of the Year – Sue Dawson, Light & Wonder
Responsible Gambling Service or Solution Provider of the Year – BetBuddy by Playtech
Testing Service or Solution Provider of the Year – BMM Testlabs
The post Vixio Announces Winners for the 2024 Global Regulatory Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
American online gambling
New Analysis Shows Majority of Online Gambling Operators Targeting U.S. Players are Unlicensed
According to Blask’s latest analysis of the U.S. iGaming landscape, 290 out of 362 operators active in the American online gambling ecosystem (approximately 80%) are offshore platforms operating outside domestic regulatory frameworks. The data highlights a structural reality of the U.S. market: while regulation has expanded significantly over the past decade, offshore operators still dominate the competitive landscape in terms of brand presence.
This dominance is not limited to the number of operators. It also translates into a substantial share of total market value. Blask estimates that the total U.S. online gambling market reached approximately $79.8B in Competitive Earning Baseline (CEB) in 2025. Of that total, only around $25.2B was captured by licensed domestic operators, while the majority flowed to offshore platforms.
In other words, roughly three quarters of the U.S. market value remains outside the regulated ecosystem, despite more than a decade of state-by-state legalization.
The persistence of offshore dominance is closely tied to the fragmented structure of U.S. gambling regulation. Several of the country’s largest markets still operate without any online gambling legalization, while many regulated states allow sports betting but not online casinos — creating structural gaps that offshore platforms continue to fill.
States that offer full online gambling regulation, including both sports betting and casino, show significantly lower offshore penetration. Markets such as New Jersey and Michigan capture roughly three quarters of their online gambling value domestically, demonstrating that comprehensive regulation can meaningfully increase channelization. However, no U.S. jurisdiction has fully eliminated offshore activity.
The post New Analysis Shows Majority of Online Gambling Operators Targeting U.S. Players are Unlicensed appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Baltics
Expanse Studios Secures Certification for Estonia and Latvia Markets
Expanse Studios, a subsidiary of Meridian Holdings, announced that it has received certification enabling the commercial deployment of its content across Estonia and Latvia.
Gaming Associates, a UKAS-accredited testing laboratory (accreditation number 9263), certified Candy’s Bonanza and Leprechaun’s Wish as compliant with the technical standards established by Baltic regulatory authorities. This certification allows the games to be deployed on licensed gaming platforms operating within these jurisdictions.
The Baltic certifications advance Expanse Studios’ systematic expansion across regulated European markets where formal certification processes create entry barriers for B2B content providers. Estonia and Latvia operate structured regulatory frameworks requiring independent technical verification before content deployment on licensed platforms.
Regulatory certification processes in European markets typically require 8-12 months and substantial compliance investment, creating competitive advantages for studios maintaining multi-jurisdictional certification capabilities.
“This certification gives us a solid foundation for further growth in this part of Europe. The approvals in the Baltics allow operators to go live more quickly, and they reflect the way we approach regulated markets. We focus on building compliant, reliable distribution capabilities that create real long-term value,” said Damjan Stamenkovic, CEO of Expanse Studios.
The post Expanse Studios Secures Certification for Estonia and Latvia Markets appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Compliance Updates
NCPG Strongly Endorses Introduction of Bipartisan POINTS Act
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) endorsed the introduction of the bipartisan Providing Opportunities for Individuals In Need of Treatment & Support (POINTS) Act, led by Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN), Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA), and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA). The POINTS Act is the first bipartisan legislation introduced in Congress in 15 years to address problem gambling among the general population.
The legislation would create the first dedicated federal funding stream to support prevention, screening, intervention, and treatment services for individuals at risk of or experiencing gambling addiction. If passed, the POINTS Act would reallocate one-third of the existing federal excise tax on sports wagers (0.25% of handle), generating an estimated $100 million annually without raising or creating new taxes. Federal excise tax revenue from sports wagering exceeded $150 million in FY2024 and reached an estimated $300 million in FY 2025.
“Gambling addiction can quietly devastate families. The financial damage and emotional strain often build over time and affect far more than the person placing the bet. I’ve seen how those consequences can impact loved ones and communities. As access to sports betting and online gambling grows, we have a responsibility to confront the addiction that can follow. The POINTS Act directs existing federal gaming revenue toward prevention, treatment, and recovery programs to help people get back on their feet,” said Rep. Erin Houchin.
“As sports betting and online gambling continue to expand across the country, we have a responsibility to ensure people struggling with addiction are not left behind. Gambling addiction can devastate individuals and families, yet too many communities still lack the resources needed to provide prevention, treatment, and recovery support. The POINTS Act helps close that gap by investing existing gambling excise tax revenue into programs that expand care, raise awareness, and connect people to the help they need,” said Rep. Andrea Salinas.
“The POINTS Act recognizes that gambling addiction is a public health issue requiring a coordinated national response. States and tribes need stable federal support to expand access to prevention, treatment, and recovery services. This legislation provides a responsible and sustainable funding mechanism to meet that need,” said Heather L. Maurer, Executive Director of NCPG.
The post NCPG Strongly Endorses Introduction of Bipartisan POINTS Act appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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