

Compliance Updates
EGBA: Finland’s New Gambling Legislation: A Step Forward, With Room For Improvement
Finland’s proposed change to its online gambling legislation marks a significant milestone in European gambling regulation. Finland is the last EU country with a monopoly system for online gambling, and its shift towards a multi-licensing approach is a positive change. It finally brings it into line with the rest of the EU countries who all already have some form of licensing framework for online gambling.
Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of European Gaming and Betting Association, said: “At EGBA, we support the newly proposed legislation, which we’ve advocated for years. Experience shows that a monopoly doesn’t work in the online world, and consumers are best served and protected in a well-regulated but competitive environment, where safety tools such as deposit limits and self-exclusion are made available to players.”
While Finland’s proposal is heading in the right direction, some areas require some fine-tuning to ensure the new licensing framework achieves its goal of ensuring Finns play with locally licensed websites.
Maarten Haijer said: “For starters, the proposed marketing restrictions, especially the ban on affiliate marketing and social media advertising, might backfire. These channels play a key role in guiding consumers to licensed, regulated platforms. Without them, players will drift to black market websites that don’t follow Finnish regulations or prioritise consumer safety.
“Also, the proposed blanket ban on bonuses is concerning. While we support setting boundaries on bonusing, a complete prohibition will simply make any newly licensed operators less competitive against unlicensed ones. This risks pushing players towards unregulated sites, undermining the very consumer protections the legislation aims to establish and strengthen.”
He added: “In our response to the government’s recent consultation, EGBA suggests two key improvements: Bring affiliates into the regulatory framework and allow social media advertising under clear rules. Both are valuable tools for channelling players towards licensed operators. By implementing clear guidelines, such as mandatory safer gambling messages, Finland can harness the power of these marketing channels while maintaining high standards of consumer protection.
“Instead of banning bonuses outright, implement guidelines for their responsible use. For instance, a nuanced approach could involve prohibiting bonuses for players showing signs of problematic behaviour, or setting clear rules on when and how bonuses can be offered. This strategy would allow operators to compete more effectively with unlicensed sites who will undoubtedly use bonuses to try to entice Finnish players away from regulated websites.
“These changes would better align Finland’s approach with the successful models seen across the EU, striking a balance between market competitiveness and robust consumer protection.
“Transitioning to a licensed market is no small feat, but it’s one that ultimately benefits everyone involved. At EGBA we are ready to share our expertise and support Finland in creating a well-regulated, competitive, and safe online gambling market.
“Finland stands at a pivotal moment in the history of its gambling regulation. By crafting a successful online gambling framework, Finland, like its neighbours Denmark and Sweden, can successfully transition from its monopoly to a well-functioning licensing system. Denmark’s transition to multi−licensing in 2012 led to a significant improvement in online channelisation, reaching well over 90 per cent. Sweden has seen similar improvements.
“Addressing the concerns about marketing restrictions and bonus regulations is crucial to ensure the new legislation achieves its objectives, safeguarding Finnish consumers while fostering a healthy, well-regulated online gambling environment.”
The post EGBA: Finland’s New Gambling Legislation: A Step Forward, With Room For Improvement appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Compliance Updates
KSA Imposes Penalty Payment Order on Influencer Leftlanepapi

The Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) has imposed a first penalty payment order on YouTube influencer LeftlanePapi for promoting illegal gambling.
The YouTube channel LeftlanePapi showed videos with live streams of online gambling from illegal providers. The illegal providers were also actively advertised, by encouraging viewers to also play there. The KSA issued a warning to the influencer. Because the content in question was not removed after the warning and new streams were made, the KSA imposed a penalty. Existing content must be removed and no new advertising may be made. If this does happen, the influencer will receive a penalty of €25,000 per violation, with a maximum of €75,000.
With its new approach, the KSA opts for a two-track policy. After establishing a violation, influencers receive a message that they must stop their activities within 48 hours and that illegal content must be removed. If the influencer does not do so, the KSA approaches the social media platform so that the harmful content is removed in any case. The influencer is given a penalty under penalty of a fine, as was also the case with Leftlanepapi. The KSA has now warned several influencers.
The post KSA Imposes Penalty Payment Order on Influencer Leftlanepapi appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Compliance Updates
ANJ Appoints Pauline Hot as its Director General

French gambling regulator ANJ has appointed Pauline Hot as its new Director General.
A former student of the École normale supérieure and the École nationale d’administration (Hannah Arendt class), Pauline Hot has been an auditor and then a master of requests at the Council of State since 2020. There, she served as rapporteur to the 6th chamber of the litigation section and to the administration section. She has held the position of Deputy Director General of the ANJ since January 2025.
The post ANJ Appoints Pauline Hot as its Director General appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Ahmed Baker Chief Commercial Officer at Incentive Games
INCENTIVE GAMES SECURES MICHIGAN GAMING LICENSE

Incentive Games, a leading B2B games provider, is proud to announce that it has been awarded a Provisional Michigan gaming licence by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB), effective today. This achievement allows the company to bring its innovative suite of Real-Money Games to operators and players across the state.
The Michigan licence represents Incentive Games’ first foray into the North American regulated market. This comes shortly after the launch of Incentive Studios, the company’s dedicated Real-Money Gaming division, which is set to drive its ambitious growth in this sector. The licence underscores the company’s unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest standards of compliance, security, and operational integrity. Obtaining this licence, which requires excellence in areas such as robust security protocols and comprehensive responsible gaming measures, provides access to one of the most dynamic iGaming markets in the United States.
Ahmed Baker, Chief Commercial Officer at Incentive Games, said, “Securing our Michigan licence marks an exciting new chapter for Incentive Games. It’s a testament to our unwavering commitment to meeting the highest regulatory standards and unlocks a significant opportunity for us in a critical North American growth market. This will allow Incentive Games to forge new partnerships and bring our highly engaging Real-Money Games directly to players in Michigan. We’re very grateful to the MGCB for this achievement, which is a pivotal step in our global expansion strategy as we continue to deliver world-class products and build strong partnerships in the region.”
The post INCENTIVE GAMES SECURES MICHIGAN GAMING LICENSE appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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