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Compliance Updates

DGOJ Holds Conference on Prevention of Money Laundering

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The Spanish gaming regulator (DGOJ), in collaboration with the Public Treasury and the Executive Service of the Commission for the Prevention of Money Laundering and Monetary Offences (Sepblac), has held the first Sectoral Conference on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing with online gaming operators.

The meeting, which took place at the headquarters of the DGOJ on February 6, brought together representatives of authorised online gaming operators and regulatory and supervisory bodies to address current challenges in the prevention of money laundering, related to the area of regulatory compliance and the main risks of the activity.

The meeting was inaugurated by Mr. Mikel Arana, Director General of Gaming Regulation, together with Ms. Irene Sánchez Pérez, advisory member of the Public Treasury.

Arana then moderated the various presentations in which leading experts from Sepblac, the Financial Intelligence Unit and the Supervisory Authority for the Prevention of Money Laundering and the Public Treasury analysed the latest regulatory developments and sanctions at European and international level, presented the main findings in inspections of operators and spoke about the role of financial intelligence in the prevention and detection of risky operations, among other topics.

This was followed by a round table discussion, attended by experts such as Alberto Navarro, deputy assistant director of inspection at the DGOJ, and representatives of Sepblac and the Public Treasury, where the questions and doubts raised by online gaming operators were resolved.

The post DGOJ Holds Conference on Prevention of Money Laundering appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Compliance Updates

Intralot informs the investment community about the withdrawal of the Maryland contract award Augu

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Intralot S.A. informs the investment community that the Maryland State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (USA), despite an initially favorable recommendation, has ultimately rejected the bid submitted by its subsidiary, Intralot, Inc., for the award of a contract for a new Central Lottery Monitoring and Control System in the State. The rejection was based on the alleged failure to meet the minimum required percentage of subcontracting to local subcontractors.

This decision comes as a great surprise, especially considering that Intralot, Inc. had allocated a significantly higher percentage of the project to local subcontractors than the minimum required.

Moreover, the company had provided the Commission with very detailed clarifications, and the Commission was fully aware of the identity and role of these subcontractors. In fact, the Commission innitially ruled that all participants in the bidding process complied with the requirements of the relevant RFP — something the Commission itself acknowledges.

The Company reserves all its legal rights and intends to pursue every legal remedy available to protect the interests of its shareholders. The bid submitted by Intralot, Inc. is technically sound and by far the most financially advantageous, significantly outperforming the second-best offer. Should it not be accepted, the State of Maryland stands to lose a substantial financial benefit.

The post Intralot informs the investment community about the withdrawal of the Maryland contract award Augu appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Aquisitions/Mergers

DIA and Christchurch Casino Reach Settlement in Anti-Money Laundering Proceedings

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The New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs has reported that a settlement has been reached in the civil proceedings against Christchurch Casinos Limited for alleged breaches of its obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009.

As part of the settlement, Christchurch Casino has admitted all seven causes of action in DIA’s amended statement of claim and has agreed to join DIA in recommending that the High Court impose a penalty of $5.06m on Christchurch Casino.

Between May 2023 and September 2024, DIA conducted an investigation into Christchurch Casino’s AML/CFT compliance, and found that it had breached a number of its obligations under the Act.

DIA found that Christchurch Casino had failed to establish, implement and maintain a compliant AML/CFT compliance programme, adequately monitor accounts, conduct compliant enhanced customer due diligence, terminate existing business relationships when required and keep records as required by the Act. These failures spanned between December 2018 and December 2023.

“This agreement is a significant and positive outcome. It’s encouraging to achieve our intended result without the time and expense of court proceedings” said Serge Sablyak, Director of AML/CFT Group.

“While the regulatory breaches were serious, we acknowledge Christchurch Casino’s decision to admit to the breaches and take responsibility for what were substantial failings.”

“We’re proud that our work has strengthened the integrity of New Zealand’s financial system and has helped build public confidence in the prevention of money laundering and terrorism financing.”

DIA and Christchurch Casino have recommended to the High Court that the matter now proceed to a penalty hearing for the Court to determine the appropriate penalty to be imposed on Christchurch Casino.

Christchurch Casino is not alleged to have been directly involved in money laundering or the financing of terrorism.

The post DIA and Christchurch Casino Reach Settlement in Anti-Money Laundering Proceedings appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Compliance Updates

SPRIBE WINS UK COURT INJUNCTION AGAINST AVIATOR LLC TO PROTECT SPRIBE’S ICONIC AVIATOR CRASH GAME

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In a key ruling, on 1 August 2025 the UK High Court granted SPRIBE an interim injunction preventing a Georgian company, Aviator LLC, from launching or marketing its copycat crash game in the UK. The order was granted to protect SPRIBE’s award-winning Aviator game.

Speaking today, SPRIBE’s founder, David Natroshvili, said: “I am pleased that the highly respected UK Court supports our position and has granted an injunction preventing Aviator LLC from launching and promoting its copycat game. SPRIBE created the Aviator crash game in 2018 and is the sole owner of the game globally. We will continue to take all necessary steps globally to protect SPRIBE, our partners and players from any third parties who seek to undermine or infringe our rights.”

Granting of UK High Court injunction
SPRIBE obtained a UK gambling licence for its Aviator game in December 2020 and has been very successful in the UK market. A Georgian company, Aviator LLC, recently stated its intent to release a copycat game in the UK, also branded Aviator, and has engaged in promotional communications targeted at SPRIBE’s UK customers.
This copycat game is not authorised by SPRIBE. It blatantly infringes the copyright works which SPRIBE owns in its game and seeks to misappropriate the goodwill which SPRIBE has created in its Aviator brand. To prevent the clear risk of reputational and financial damage from any unlawful action by Aviator LLC, SPRIBE has sought, and now won, an interim injunction preventing Aviator LLC from launching or marketing its copycat game in the UK.

Throughout these proceedings and elsewhere, Aviator LLC has provided conflicting and contradictory evidence.  At the hearing Aviator LLC sought to evade responsibility for this matter, including attempting to misdirect the UK Court by obscuring its role through the creation of a shifting network of licensing entities, denying previously stated plans to enter the UK market and refusing to provide key evidence. This led to Aviator LLC’s conduct being described by the Court as ‘childlike’ and ‘petulant’.

Further information relating to bad faith actions by Aviator LLC
This activity by Aviator LLC forms part of a continuing chain of bad faith actions by Georgian businessman Temur Ugulava, who is behind Aviator LLC and a series of connected companies, aimed at exploiting the commercial success and international reputation of SPRIBE’s brand.

Unfounded and opportunistic claims were launched in the Georgian courts last year by Aviator LLC, seeking to expropriate – for the territory of Georgia only – the Aviator branding and logo used by SPRIBE. The flawed Georgian ruling followed an unusually rapid and procedurally flawed legal process in a jurisdiction where concerns around judicial independence and transparency have been widely documented.

SPRIBE continues firmly to reject these claims brought by Aviator LLC, which related solely to the use of a specific logo and branding in Georgia and did not concern ownership of the Aviator game itself. SPRIBE’s trademarks remain valid and protected outside of Georgia, including in the EU and UK.

SPRIBE is aware that Aviator LLC and companies affiliated to it (such as Aviator Studio Group or AviGroup) have directly contacted SPRIBE customers, falsely claiming to be the owner of the intellectual property rights in the branding of SPRIBE’s Aviator game, whilst at the same time promoting their own copycat version of it. These claims are bogus. The Aviator game, including its features, branding and intellectual property, are entirely created and owned by SPRIBE. SPRIBE will continue to take all necessary steps to defend its rights against any third parties who seek to undermine or infringe them.

Aviator LLC has also sought to use the flawed ruling in Georgia to launch spurious proceedings elsewhere. Such claims are without merit and will be vigorously defended.

The post SPRIBE WINS UK COURT INJUNCTION AGAINST AVIATOR LLC TO PROTECT SPRIBE’S ICONIC AVIATOR CRASH GAME appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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