European Union
EU DIGITAL EDUCATION ACTION PLAN SHOULD EMBRACE VIDEO GAMES TO BOOST DIGITAL LITERACY AND HELP FILL THE DIGITAL SKILLS GAP IN EUROPE
In advance of next week’s publication of the European Commission’s updated Digital Education Action Plan, ISFE presents the results of the Games in Schools project. The project includes the new teachers’ handbook, a resource created for teachers, in collaboration with European Schoolnet (the network of 34 Ministries of Education). Games in Schools is designed to provide teachers with training on how to use commercial video games as pedagogical support in the classroom to support student engagement and the development of digital competences, boost digital literacy and help fill the digital skills gap in Europe. More than 4,200 teachers from all over Europe took part.
ISFE CEO Simon Little said: “There is a wealth of evidence that the use of video games in the classroom boosts important 21st century skills: teamwork, communication, problem solving, critical thinking, analytical skills and much more. Video games are central to today’s society, and the European Commission should use the Digital Education Action Plan to encourage all national governments to embrace the opportunity for digital growth and employment in Europe that they represent and to follow the Polish Government’s example by adding them to the school curriculum. Europe’s video games industry is worth €21.6bn and it has grown 55% over the past five years. Europe’s educators need to catch up and prepare our young people for the jobs of the future.”
The European Commission cites the Action Plan as a key instrument in the COVID-19 recovery process. A recent Ipsos MORI study commissioned by ISFE found that one in five parents agreed that video games had helped with their children’s education and schooling and a high proportion of parents agreed that playing video games had a positive impact on mental health during lockdown. Video games were a valuable tool for people to stay connected with friends and family online, for education, fitness and entertainment during the worst of the pandemic.
European Schoolnet Executive Director Marc Durando said: “The pandemic has shone a light on the importance of supporting teachers to use digital tools in a pedagogically effective way. Video games have the potential to not only engage students in learning but to also turn them from passive consumers of digital media to creators and developers that shape the digital media of tomorrow. The Games in Schools project has provided teachers with training and guidance on how to achieve this shift through pedagogically grounded learning activities which make use of video games in the classroom.’’
The results of Games in Schools, which successfully reached more than 4,200 teachers across Europe in 2019, and the new teachers’ handbook are presented on 29 September at a free online event, “Learning by Playing”, kindly supported by Sabine Verheyen, Chair of the European Parliament’s Culture and Education Committee with a keynote speech by Antoaneta Angelova-Krasteva, Director for Innovation, International Cooperation & Sport, DG EAC, European Commission.
Compliance Updates
EGBA Welcomes European Parliament’s Approval Of New EU Anti-Money Laundering Framework
The EU’s new anti-money laundering package aims to create a more consistent regulatory framework and will benefit online gambling operators by standardising AML rules and reporting requirements across member states.
Brussels, 24 April 2024 – The European Parliament has approved the EU’s new anti-money laundering (AML) package at its plenary sitting today, marking a significant milestone towards a new EU framework for combatting financial crime. The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), representing Europe’s leading online gambling operators, welcomes the Parliament’s approval of the new AML package and believes the incoming rule changes will strengthen the EU’s approach to tackling money laundering.
The new package will contain:
- A single rulebook regulation – with provisions on conducting due diligence on customers, transparency of beneficial owners and the use of crypto-assets.
- The 6th Anti-Money Laundering Directive – containing national provisions on supervision and national AML authorities, as well as on the access of authorities to necessary and reliable information, e.g. beneficial ownership registers.
- The establishment of the European Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) – which have supervisory and investigative powers to ensure compliance with AML requirements, operating in conjunction with national AML authorities.
EGBA believes the new rules will benefit Europe’s online gambling operators by ensuring a consistent regulatory approach across EU member states. Another important feature, under the competence of AMLA, will be the creation of a harmonised reporting format for Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs). This will ensure that Europe’s online gambling operators encounter the same STR requirements across all EU member states, thereby setting clear and consistent expectations that will reduce administrative burdens and costs.
To assist online gambling operators in complying with the EU’s new AML rules, EGBA has developed industry-specific guidelines on anti-money laundering which apply a risk-based approach and include practical measures that operators can take – on customer and business risk assessments, customer due diligence processes, suspicious transaction reporting, and record keeping. EGBA members already apply the guidelines and submit annual reports to EGBA that summarise their progress in implementing its measures. The guidelines are also open to all operators based in the EU and EGBA encourages operators to sign up to them.
The AML package now awaits formal adoption by the Council of the EU, expected in May, before being published in the EU’s Official Journal.
“We welcome the European Parliament’s approval of the new anti-money laundering package. The new framework will set high standards and ensure greater consistency in the application of AML rules across the EU. Online gambling operators, especially those operating in multiple countries, will benefit from a single rulebook and harmonised reporting requirements that will unravel national complexities. We will look to review our industry guidelines on AML to ensure their alignment with the new EU rules. By signing up to the guidelines, operators can already prepare themselves for the incoming changes in the EU rules and join our members in their efforts to proactively and positively contribute to the EU’s fight against money laundering.” – Dr. Ekaterina Hartmann, Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, EGBA.
Source: EGBA
The post EGBA Welcomes European Parliament’s Approval Of New EU Anti-Money Laundering Framework appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Casino Stream
PlayStar Casino and SGG Media Debut New Casino Livestream Show
PlayStar Casino has teamed up with SGG Media to launch a new United States casino streaming show; one of the first fully-licensed streaming casino shows to reappear on Twitch
PlayStar Casino has made its first foray into the live streaming space with the launch of a new show, Casino Stream, in collaboration with SGG Media.
Casino Stream is one of the first fully-licensed streaming casino shows to reappear on Twitch. The show will see three New Jersey-based streamers take part in a weekly live action casino show, broadcast via Twitch. The hosts will play a range of games available via PlayStar Casino, bringing the excitement of legal casino and slots to be played online to the masses in ‘The Garden State’ all in real time.
Fully PlayStar-branded, the show will see a trio of New Jersey-based influencers immerse themselves in exciting slots and casinos available on the PlayStar website. The show hosts will be allocated a budget for each show, which they can use to play a diverse range of products during the live stream.
“PlayStar Casino is excited to partner with SGG Media in allowing New Jersey casino enthusiasts to watch and play our online slots and games,” the Chief Marketing Officer for PlayStar Gaming Group AB, Jon Bowden, said. “We provide the excitement of live, legal, casino games to be played online by New Jersey residents while a large viewership can view the action in real time.”
This new show marks a new milestone for both PlayStar Casino and SGG Media. Back in October of 2022, live streaming platform Twitch. tv banned all United States gambling sites that aren’t gambling licensed in the United States. This new show will pave the way for future online casino streaming in the United States.
SGG Media launched its legal sports gambling streaming show, Live Drive, on October 1, 2023, to an audience of nearly 25,000 sports fan live viewers on Twitch, YouTube and other streaming platforms. That show was the first United States fully legal and licensed live sports betting streaming program.
“Our Casino Stream show is focused on being completely compliant with all state gambling laws,” the Chief Executive Officer for SGG Media, Troy Paul, said. “PlayStar Casino is a licensed New Jersey casino and we will only allow verified adult gamblers located in New Jersey to play. Our streaming show hosts bring the thrill of live bets and viewing big wins to our huge online audience.”
PlayStar Gaming Group AB (http :// www. PlayStar. com) offers a fully-licensed online casino in the United States. Managed by a team built exclusively from the most experienced talent in the industry across the United States and European Union, PlayStar Casino delivers a ‘casino first’ platform through award-winning slots, table games and promotions.
SGG Media (https :// SGGMedia. com) features 2,000 sports content creator/influencers with a combined social media following of over 60 million sports and gambling fans.
“We create a huge audience for our streaming shows by generating exciting social media posts and videos of electrifying sports and gambling action,” Paul said.
Baltics
Games Factory Talents has teamed up with Nordic Game to bring you Nordic Game Talents.
Looking to take your career to the next level in the games industry? Then, Nordic Game Talents is the place to be! Games Factory Talents has teamed up with Nordic Game to bring you Nordic Game Talents.
From Oct 27-29, the online and interactive event is dedicated to recruitment and career building in the creative & games industry within the Nordic region. The event empowers participants to be part of a bigger community and motivates them to explore new paths in achieving their career goals.
Hiring creative & games studios – Supercell, Funcom, Panzerdog, Tactile Games, Gamecan, Fingersoft, Dazzle Rocks, Redhill Games to name a few from the Nordic region will be participating in the event. These studios will share information on their latest projects, work culture and what it takes to be part of their team. The individual games associations from Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Estonia will share insights through live sessions on the booming games industry in their respective countries. Career development topics pertinent to job seekers like – How to have a successful first interview, Creative Portfolio reviews will also be discussed.
Experienced game industry professionals and individuals beginning their careers from around the world are welcome to join the event. One-to-one interviews with the hiring studios can be scheduled through the event platform. A great opportunity to get to know the studios and network with game professionals from around the world.
Participating in the event
As a job seeker attending Nordic Game Talents, take a few minutes to fill out a simple registration form. After filling the registration form you will receive a link to the online event platform – PINE, to join the event on 27th October. Participants joining Nordic Game Talents will also receive a free-of-charge pass to the Nordic Game Conference.
To view the complete agenda, please click here and to learn more about the event please visit Games Job Fair
About Games Factory Talents
A Helsinki-based talent attraction agency dedicated to the games & creative industry. Our services include direct recruitment, organizing game job fairs and managing a community of game industry professionals through our GameDev Talent Board.
To learn more about Games Factory Talents visit – Games Factory Talents
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