Compliance Updates
EGBA Welcomes Progress on Irish Gambling Regulations
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has welcomed the Irish government’s proposals to establish a regulatory authority and a national self-exclusion register for gambling.
On October 21, Ireland’s Minister of State for Law Reform, Youth Justice and Immigration, James Browne TD, published the General Scheme of the Gambling Regulation Bill which aims to modernise and reform the regulation of gambling, including online gambling in Ireland.
The proposals will now be submitted for drafting to the country’s Office of Parliamentary Counsel and will also be referred to the Oireachtas Justice Committee for pre-legislative scrutiny, with the accompanying legislative process expected to take at least 12 months to finalise.
EGBA welcomed the publication of the proposals and the progress made in establishing dedicated regulations for online gambling in the country, but expressed concerns about recent media reports that the Irish Government may introduce a blanket ban on free bets.
EGBA said that such a ban could nudge gamblers who regularly use free bets, or bonuses, to seek these with the many gambling websites, including those in the black market, which operate outside of the scope of Irish gambling regulation.
“We welcome the Irish government’s publication of the General Scheme of the Gambling Regulation Bill. This is an important milestone, and it provides companies, including our own members, with some certainty as to the direction of travel of the legislation. The EGBA looks forward to engaging with Minister Browne and his team to share our experiences from other European jurisdictions. With Ireland one of the two remaining countries in Europe which has no dedicated regulation of online gambling, this is an important opportunity to shape an Irish online gambling market which is well-regulated, meets the consumers’ needs and expectations, and sets a high level of consumer protection,” Maarten Haijer, Secretary-General of EGBA, said.
Fennica Gaming has announced that it has been granted a gaming supplier license in Ontario, Canada. This milestone marks a significant step in the company’s expansion strategy, allowing it to offer its cutting-edge gaming experiences to gaming operators in one of North America’s most dynamic regulated markets.
The supplier license, granted by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), enables Fennica Gaming to introduce its portfolio of entertaining and high-quality games to gaming operators across the province. This registration empowers Ontarian operators, whether online or land-based, to access the omnichannel offerings developed in the Nordics.
“We are thrilled to receive our B2B supplier license in Ontario and to offer our advanced gaming solutions to operators in the region. After a thorough application process, we can now proudly and prominently display our registration and achievement. We have followed the market in North America for a long time and Ontario is an excellent example of market that is well organized. It represents an exciting market with immense potential, and we are committed to delivering secure, entertaining, and trustworthy gaming experiences tailored to local preferences,” Timo Kiiskinen, Managing Director of Fennica Gaming, said.
Fennica Gaming’s Nordic gaming experience and heritage as an omni-channel gaming operator through its parent company Veikkaus offers a broad range of entertainment for Ontarian operators with a player-first attitude. This registration supports Fennica Gaming’s commitment to a sustainable industry, enabling operation in compliance with Ontario’s local regulatory framework.
The post Fennica Gaming Granted Supplier License for Ontario Market appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has taken decisive action against five offshore online casinos, sending cease-and-desist letters for violating state gaming laws. These websites offer a variety of casino games, such as slots, poker, blackjack, Keno, bingo, and game show games, in addition to sports betting.
The following unlicensed operators are now under scrutiny following the MGCB’s action:
BetWhale Casino, Curaçao
Black Lotus Casino, owned by TD Investments Ltd., Belize
Coins Game Casino, Curaçao
Love2play Casino, Curaçao and Costa Rica
Orion Stars 777 Players, Sichuan Province, China
“These illegal platforms not only violate Michigan’s gaming regulations but also put consumers at risk by offering unreliable withdrawal options and lacking essential consumer protections. Our top priority is safeguarding Michigan residents by ensuring that all online gaming activities are conducted legally and safely. These operators must stop their activities or face additional legal consequences,” MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams said.
Investigations into these illegal activities have revealed that the operators are in violation of multiple Michigan state laws.
Despite offering various payment options like Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, and cryptocurrencies (e.g., Bitcoin and Ethereum), these illegal operators impose strict withdrawal conditions, often requiring players to wager their initial deposits multiple times before they can access their winnings.
The MGCB has given these operators 14 days from the date of receipt of the cease-and-desist letters to halt their illegal activities.
The post MGCB Continues Crackdown on Unlicensed Online Casinos appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Romania continues to attempt to counter problem gambling among its population in a new draft bill that has been sent for consideration to the country’s lawmakers.
The bill proposes that Romanians will be banned from spending more than 10% of their previous monthly income on gambling and betting.
Banks and financial institutions where players have individual accounts would be responsible for setting the spending limitations, and could be liable for fines up to 1% of their actual turnover should they fail to enforce the potential new rules.
Casino operators and other gambling premises would be responsible for enforcing the spending limit in physical buildings, although it is certainly not clear how that would operate in practicality.
It is also suggested that the ANAF (Agenția Națională de Administrare Fiscală) – Romania’s National Agency for Fiscal Administration, would be ordered to provide a platform that would allow licensed operators to query a player’s balance to check on the 10% limit.
Gambling operators would then have to report in real-time player spending in order that nobody would be able to game the system, simply by hopping quickly between establishments.
Failure to comply with these undertakings would result in a fine to the operator of between RON 200,000 and 500,000 (between $43,000 and $108,000) for a first offence. Meanwhile a second offence would also see the cancellation of the operator’s licence.
Romania has been trying hard in recent years to combat problem gambling within its boundaries. In October last year, it banned gambling venues in small towns and villages with populations of less than 15,000 people.
The post Romania to Limit Gambling Spending to 10% of Monthly Income appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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