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Irish Politician Philip McGuigan Calls for Urgent Action on Gambling Harm Treatment

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Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan, Chair of The All Party Group on Reducing Harm Related to Gambling, has called for urgent government action following the publication of a report presenting the findings from the 2024 Gambling Prevalence Survey, commissioned by Department for Communities, which reveals alarming levels of gambling-related harm in the north.

Speaking in the Assembly, McGuigan said what is perhaps most alarming from the survey’s findings, is the low number of people seeking help. Only 1% of those who gamble reported accessing support or information from gambling or mental health services.

He said: “The Minister of Health must act without delay to commission dedicated gambling treatment services. With existing addiction services already under pressure, additional funding is essential. The findings of this survey point to a serious gap in provision for addiction treatment in the north. The need is clearly there, but people aren’t getting the help they need.”

According to the “Prevalence of Gambling in Northern Ireland 2024” report, 3% of the population are experiencing severe gambling-related harms, while a further 10% are considered low or moderate risk gamblers. Shockingly, approximately one in seven adults who gambled in the past year admitted to betting more than they could afford to lose. Additionally, one in eight reported needing to gamble increasing amounts to achieve the same level of excitement, and nearly one in 12 said gambling had caused health problems such as stress and anxiety.

McGuigan said: “These figures are deeply concerning and underscore the serious social and public health implications of gambling addiction. This isn’t just about individuals losing money; it’s about broken families, damaged relationships, and communities struggling with the fallout of gambling harms.”

The survey also found that 10% of people affected by gambling had experienced the breakdown of a close relationship due to someone’s gambling, highlighting the wider ripple effects of the issue.

To address the funding gap, McGuigan is also calling on the Minister for Communities to bring forward the promised levy on land-based gambling operators without delay.

“Calling the Minister for Communities to introduce a levy is a fair and necessary step. The industry profiting from gambling must contribute to the prevention and treatment of gambling harm,” he said.

McGuigan also criticised the British Government for excluding Northern Ireland from the proceeds of the statutory levy on gambling operators introduced in Britain on 6 April. This levy is intended to fund research, prevention and treatment of gambling-related harm.

“Online gambling operators licensed by Britain’s Gambling Commission are freely advertising and profiting here in the North. Yet, our population is completely excluded from the financial benefits of the statutory gambling levy on these operators. That is unacceptable. Executive Ministers must demand that the North receives its fair share of this funding,” McGuigan said.

The survey further revealed that 66% of respondents believe there are too many gambling advertisements, and 71% support a watershed for gambling ads on TV and radio.

McGuigan is now urging the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy MP, to use her powers to implement tighter advertising restrictions, including a TV and radio watershed to limit exposure to gambling content during peak viewing times.

“The public clearly wants action. The evidence is there. We must act now to protect individuals and families from the devastating consequences of gambling addiction,” he said.

The post Irish Politician Philip McGuigan Calls for Urgent Action on Gambling Harm Treatment appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Compliance Updates

CT Interactive grows its certified portfolio in Romania

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CT Interactive is strengthening its presence in Romania’s regulated iGaming market by certifying 20 new games, bringing its total portfolio in the country to 101 titles. This is a significant achievement in the company’s European growth strategy.

Among the new certified releases are fan favorites such as Lucky Clover 10, the latest addition to the beloved Clover series featuring vintage-inspired graphics and nostalgic design elements, and 20 Mega Star, a classic fruit-themed slot that combines familiar gameplay with modern visuals to keep players engaged. Both titles have already proven their success across multiple international markets with strong player engagement.

Additionally, CT Interactive is launching its new Buy Bonus product line in the Romanian market. This exciting lineup includes Doctor Winstein Buy Bonus, Duck of Luck Buy Bonus, Fruits & Sweets Buy Bonus, Nanook the White Ghost Buy Bonus, and Hyper Cuber Buy Bonus — all offering thrilling bonus features and enhanced gameplay tailored to local player preferences.

“Certification in Romania is an important part of our European growth strategy,” said Martin Ivanov, COO of CT Interactive. “This expansion not only strengthens our presence but also enables us to offer a diverse and premium range of content to the regulated Romanian market.”

With these new certifications, CT Interactive continues to be a trusted provider of engaging gaming content, offering Romanian operators a broad range of advanced titles fully aligned with local regulatory standards.

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MDC Issues Commentary as U.S. Gambling Enters “Regulatory Reset” Following $148 Billion Wagered

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Minimum Deposit Casinos (MDC) has issued an expert commentary on what it calls a “regulatory reset” in the U.S. gambling sector, as lawmakers and regulators respond to explosive growth in consumer betting behavior. According to the American Gaming Association, Americans wagered a record $148 billion on sports in 2024. This surge has sparked new scrutiny from both federal and state-level authorities.

Recent legislative efforts in New York, Louisiana, and Montana have targeted sweepstakes-based casinos and skill-based betting formats. Proposed changes include tighter bet size limits, stricter advertising rules, and licensing reforms aimed at reducing player harm and increasing transparency.

“The regulatory environment is catching up with consumer behavior. There’s growing concern over how online gambling is marketed, accessed, and governed. Areas like responsible gaming, ad targeting, and instant deposits are now being looked at much more critically,” said a spokesperson at MDC.

According to the latest figures from the American Gaming Association, U.S. commercial gaming revenue reached $19.44 billion in Q2 2025, marking a 9.8% increase compared to the same period last year. Online casino gaming accounted for $2.6 billion of that total, reflecting a 32.3% year-over-year jump. The numbers underscore continued momentum for digital platforms even as regulations tighten.

MDC’s commentary urges both players and operators to stay ahead of the curve. As laws evolve, demand is rising for licensed platforms that offer low-deposit access, better responsible gambling tools, and full regulatory compliance.

The post MDC Issues Commentary as U.S. Gambling Enters “Regulatory Reset” Following $148 Billion Wagered appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Compliance Updates

Dutch Gambling Regulator to Amend its Remote Gambling Licensing Policy Rules

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The Dutch Gambling Regulator (KSA) is to amend its Remote Gambling Licensing Policy Rules effective January 1, 2026. This amendment is necessary, in part, because the licenses granted in September 2021 expire on October 1, 2026. Licenses have a term of five years. The amended policy rules impose new obligations on all applicants, but primarily provide guidance on the process for applying for a follow-up license by providers already holding a license.

New requirements apply to all license applicants. For example, applications must include a document explaining how providers plan to inform the KSA (Netherlands Authority for the Protection of Gaming) in a timely manner about important changes to their policies and operations. Applicants must also now include an exit plan explaining how they will reduce their gaming offerings once the license expires.

Furthermore, an important addition has been made regarding reliability: if providers have not complied with final or provisionally enforceable court rulings at the time of their application, their reliability is not beyond doubt. This constitutes grounds for refusing a license. Providers must also now submit a Wwft risk analysis with their application.

A separate application procedure applies to applications for a follow-up license by parties already active on the market. In this procedure, various components will be reassessed, including the addiction prevention policy and the recruitment and advertising policy. A new integration test will be conducted for the control database (CDB) component. They must also meet the new conditions that apply to all applications, as mentioned above.

When opening the online market, the legislature deliberately opted to issue permits with a term of (maximum) five years. By using a fixed-term permit, the legislature intended that the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (KSA) would consider supervisory experience gained in each application for a subsequent permit. Providers who have made mistakes in the past five years must explain during the application process how they have learned from previous mistakes and how they intend to prevent recurrence. If the KSA finds this explanation insufficient, the permit may be denied or additional conditions and restrictions may be imposed.

The post Dutch Gambling Regulator to Amend its Remote Gambling Licensing Policy Rules appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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