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Compliance Updates

EGBA Urges France to Regulate Online Casino

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The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) expressed its concern about the findings of a new study into the size of France’s black market for online gambling. The study, commissioned by the national gambling authority l’Autorité Nationale des Jeux, estimates France’s black market for online gambling to be worth up to €1.5 billion annually in gross gaming revenue (GGR), equivalent to nearly half France’s regulated online gambling revenue. This suggests that France has one of the EU’s largest online gambling black markets and, to address the problem, EGBA calls on the French authorities to end the country’s ban on online casino games.

Although France is one of Europe’s significant gambling markets, it is one of just two EU countries which has a ban on online casino games, creating a black market with all its inherent risks. The new study, conducted by PwC, found that websites offering online casino games are major contributors to the country’s online black market and, along with slots, account for up to 50% of France’s black market website traffic. While there is clearly demand in France for these games, these websites operate outside of French laws and many of them threaten the safety of French players, who have no legal recourse or minimum protections, such as self-exclusion, when they use them.

The study found that around 3 million French players use black market websites at least once a month. Even more concerning, the study also established that high risk players account for 79% of the GGR generated by these players in the black market, meaning vulnerable players can be exposed to unsafe, unregulated websites which offer them no safer gambling protections.

To safeguard these players and foster a safe gambling environment for all, EGBA urged the French authorities to reassess the country’s existing ban on online casino games, and, consistent with the already established French regulation of online sports betting, take the necessary steps to ensure there is a safe and regulated environment also for the country’s online casino players. Such a regulatory framework should be based on a multi-licensing model, where several operators can obtain business-to-customer licenses, as this has long been proven to be the most effective method to reduce black markets in online gambling.

“The scale of France’s online black market is alarming, and we believe it is one of the EU’s largest online gambling black markets, alongside Germany and Italy. The country’s prohibition of online casino is clearly a big part of the problem. Given the popularity of online casino, and the need to protect consumers from the risks of the black market, it is imperative that the French authorities urgently reassess their current ban on online casino games. The ban is counterproductive and fails consumers. By regulating online casino games through a multi-licensing model, France would better protect its consumers, regain more control over its online gambling market, and secure vital tax revenues. The best way to tackle a black market is to establish a competitive regulated market alternative. The time to act is now,” Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA, said.

Anastasia Rimskaya

Aviatrix receives certifications in Brazil

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The award-winning crash game Aviatrix has received certification for Brazil’s online gaming market, ensuring full compliance in the market.

Aviatrix has been granted full Federal Certification to offer its games via licensed operators in the country. Meanwhile, Aviatrix has also acquired a dedicated certification for the state of Paraná.

This means Brazilian players can now enjoy the most innovative crash game on the market –  one that has already gained a loyal following across Latin America.

Anastasia Rimskaya, Chief Account Officer at Aviatrix, said: “This is a huge milestone for Aviatrix. Brazil is one of the most exciting, newly-regulated markets in the world. There is massive demand for high-quality content, and that’s why we know Aviatrix is going to thrive. We’re looking forward to bringing the game to the country via some world-class partners. Get ready for takeoff.”

Aviatrix has been rapidly expanding in Latin America over recent months, including in Peru and Colombia.

The company was also named ‘Rising Star in Casino’ at last year’s SBC Awards Latinoamérica.

The post Aviatrix receives certifications in Brazil appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Readen Holding Corp Finalises Acquisition of Morrich Lottery Limited

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Readen Holding Corporation, a venture capital specialising in Fintech, Digital Payments and E-commerce, has announced the successful signing of the final agreement to acquire an 80% controlling stake in Morrich Lottery Limited, a fully licensed lottery operator in Nigeria. This milestone marks RHCO’s official entry into the African gaming market — one of the fastest-growing and most promising sectors globally.

With the closing of this acquisition, RHCO now holds active licenses in Nigeria for lottery, sportsbook and casino operations, unlocking access to an estimated $2.5 billion gaming market projected to grow over 9% annually through 2030. This move positions RHCO to become a major international force in regulated gaming, entertainment and fintech infrastructure.

Ridzky Berg, CEO of RHCO, said: “This is more than an acquisition — it’s a strategic launchpad into one of the most dynamic gaming markets in the world. Nigeria’s youthful population, expanding internet access, and growing appetite for digital gaming make this a prime market. With our proven fintech backbone and seasoned leadership, we’re ready to set a new standard for integrated, secure, and user-friendly gaming platforms across the region.”

The post Readen Holding Corp Finalises Acquisition of Morrich Lottery Limited appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Compliance Updates

Swedish Regulator Imposes Fine of SEK12M on Videoslots

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The Swedish gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen, has fined Videoslots SEK12m (£937,016) for failing to help customers better manage their gambling behaviour when it had reason to do so.

The regulator said that the company did not take sufficiently effective measures to intervene on excessive gaming and “did not act promptly enough.”

The fine, along with a formal warning, comes after a Spelinspektionen investigation into Videoslots’ customer activity in spring last year. The regulator found that the company breached its duty of care obligations.

Twelve customers’ gaming behaviour was analysed, with the regulator concluding that their gambling patterns, deposit behaviours and “significant losses” were among the “multiple indicators” that the customers engaged in excessive gaming.

A number of the 12 customers returned to Videoslots’ platform to play “multiple times” during the day or play “continuously for many hours.”

The regulator said all of the customers had “very high deposit limits.” Three had limits of SEK1m (£78,164), one had a limit of SEK4.5m (£351,912) and another player’s limit was SEK300m (£23.5m).

All customers deposited “large amounts” during the review period, Spelinspektionen said, including one who deposited SEK1.8m (£140,785) and another who deposited SEK1.3m (£101,721).

“Several customers exhibited a deposit pattern where withdrawn amounts were deposited again shortly after being withdrawn,” the regulator said.

“For several customers, there were also a large number of deposits in a short period. Some customers regularly made multiple deposits per gambling day… and one customer had days with up to 28 deposits.”

“In light of the above, Spelinspektionen assesses that all the customers have engaged in excessive gambling during the review period,” the regulator concluded.

“The company has pointed out that individual indicators, on their own, may not necessarily be signs of excessive gambling. According to Spelinspektionen, all the above-mentioned indicators are signs of excessive gambling, and the overall assessment of all indicators forms the basis for the conclusion.”

The post Swedish Regulator Imposes Fine of SEK12M on Videoslots appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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