Connect with us
Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 (25-26 March)
iagr-confirms-new-board-members iagr-confirms-new-board-members

Compliance Updates

IAGR confirms new Board members

Published

on

Reading Time: < 1 minute

 

The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) has announced the appointment of four new trustees to its Board, each bringing unique expertise and leadership to strengthen IAGR’s global regulatory efforts:

  • Anders Dorph, Danish Gambling Authority (Europe)
  • Peter Kesitilwe Emolemo, Gambling Authority of Botswana (Africa)
  • Kevin Mullally, General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (Asia/Oceania)
  • Louis Rogacki, New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (North America)

IAGR President Ben Haden said, ‘I’m delighted to welcome our four new trustees to the IAGR Board. Their diverse expertise and leadership across different jurisdictions will bring fresh perspectives to our work, further strengthening our global approach to gaming regulation.

‘I look forward to collaborating with Peter, Louis, Kevin and Anders as we continue to foster innovation and drive forward effective, responsible regulation for the benefit of the global gaming community.

‘We also extend a big thank you to Trude Høgseth Felde and Mabutho Zwane for their dedicated service as they complete their terms on the Board, and I’m pleased to announce that Jason Lane will continue for another term as a Trustee.’

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

As a leading forum for gaming regulators worldwide, IAGR enables members to meet, share information, discuss legislative developments, exchange views and learn best practices in gaming regulation.

In recent news, IAGR has also confirmed that its 2025 annual conference will be held in Toronto, Canada, from 20 to 23 October 2025, with registrations opening in early 2025.

The post IAGR confirms new Board members appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Compliance Updates

MGA Marks Safer Gambling Week by Hosting Focus Group on Addressing Problem Gambling

Published

on

mga-marks-safer-gambling-week-by-hosting-focus-group-on-addressing-problem-gambling
Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

As part of Safer Gambling Week, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has launched the first in a series of focus groups aimed at addressing problem gambling and its effects on Maltese communities.

Bringing together key stakeholders such as Caritas Malta, Aġenzija Sedqa, the OASI Foundation and the Responsible Gaming Foundation, the session explored a self-assessment tool that the Authority is currently developing, grounded in recent research and industry trends.

The self-assessment tool, which will be available both in English and in Maltese, will guide individuals through a set of questions to help them identify whether gambling is causing harm in their lives. Based on the user’s responses, the tool will provide personalised recommendations and direct them to appropriate support services.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

With invaluable input from organisations experienced in supporting individuals affected by problem gambling, the tool will undergo further refinement to maximise its effectiveness and relevance.

Clinical Chair at Aġenzija Sedqa, Anna Maria Vella, hailed the focus group as a “welcome initiative” which brought together a multidisciplinary team of experts.

“Working together and not in silos is always beneficial. We learn from each other to be more effective.”

Louis Bellizzi, Secretary of Caritas’ Foundation for Victims of Usury, said: “The MGA is in a unique position to coordinate the national effort to help alleviate the scourge of gambling addictions.”

In recent years, the Authority has taken significant steps to promote safer gambling practices, ranging from regular supervisory reviews on responsible gambling to enforcing stricter regulations.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

The MGA closely monitors operators’ implementation of behavioural monitoring systems, self-exclusion systems and responsible marketing practices.

With a focus on high-risk areas, the Authority is refining its supervisory approach to be more dynamic and data-driven, ensuring responsible gambling practices are maintained and continuously improved to protect players effectively.

The MGA’s efforts align closely with the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA)’s initiative to establish a unified European standard for identifying markers of harm. The MGA is actively engaged in this initiative, working closely with fellow regulators and industry experts to create a comprehensive standard aimed at early identification of behaviours indicative of problem gambling.

The Authority’s proactive involvement in such initiatives underscores its dedication to fostering a responsible and transparent gaming sector, both locally and across Europe.

The post MGA Marks Safer Gambling Week by Hosting Focus Group on Addressing Problem Gambling appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)
Continue Reading

Balkan's

Serbia’s ZLF Urges Total Ban on Gambling Ads

Published

on

serbia’s-zlf-urges-total-ban-on-gambling-ads
Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

Serbia’s Zeleno-Levi Front (ZLF/Green-Left Front), a local green political party, is advocating for a total ban on gambling ads in the country. According to its representatives, banning all ads would be the most surefire way to protect the public from gambling harm.

The ZLF just organised the Games of Chance, Games with the Health of Citizens (Igre na sreću, igre sa zdravljem građana) forum, scrutinising the gaming industry and its negative consequences. During the forum, representatives slammed the government’s recent proposal to limit gambling ads, saying that this wouldn’t be enough.

For context, the government recently proposed a ban on gambling ads featuring prominent celebrities, mirroring similar measures in other regulated markets. For context, Serbian law currently allows professional athletes to advertise betting products, to safer gambling advocates’ dismay.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

The ZLF, however, believes that its total ban would be the most effective way to minimise potential harm. During the forum, National Assembly member Biljana Đorđević noted that the ZLF had submitted a ban proposal in March but regretted that the government had not responded to the proposal or discussed the matter.

Đorđević suggested that Minister of Internal and External Trade Tomislav Momirović has been avoiding the discussion. Momirović, for context, has previously suggested reducing the visibility of gambling ads by prohibiting ads on billboards on busier roads and streets.

Echoing arguments and concerns raised in other regulated markets, Đorđević said that having celebrities promote gambling exposed children to potential danger. Since younger audiences are more easily affected by marketing, this could cause them to associate betting as a normal part of sports.

ZLF MP Marina Mijatović repeated these claims, saying that the government has so far done a bad job at protecting minors from negative exposure to gambling. While Mijatović acknowledged that Serbia cannot prohibit gambling, she noted that the ads do not need to be so eye-catching and appealing.

The post Serbia’s ZLF Urges Total Ban on Gambling Ads appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)
Continue Reading

Cassiano Pereira Junior

GLI Becomes First Laboratory to be Accredited in Maranhão, Brazil

Published

on

gli-becomes-first-laboratory-to-be-accredited-in-maranhao,-brazil

 

Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has become the first laboratory to achieve accreditation in Maranhão, Brazil. The accreditation allows GLI to perform tests and certification for the gambling and lottery industry interested in working with lottery and fixed-odds betting operators in the state of Maranhão.

The milestone is the latest in a series of regulatory achievements for GLI in Brazil. Lottery of the State of Maranhão is the third jurisdiction in Brazil to accredit laboratories, and GLI is accredited in all and the first to be authorized in all.

Cassiano Pereira Junior, president of Maranhão Parcerias (Mapa), highlighted the importance of the partnership between the Maranhão State Lottery (Lotema) and GLI. “Every day we strive to make Lotema even better, providing greater security for its users. The partnership with GLI is a concrete way of achieving this goal, as its certification laboratories play an important role for the gaming and lottery industry, guaranteeing the conformity, security, and integrity of the products and systems used by Lotema,” Cassiano explained.

“We are grateful to the Lottery of the State of Maranhão for granting GLI the laboratory accreditation, becoming the first to be authorized in Maranhão. It is extremely gratifying to see how Lotema empower themselves by trusting the technical compliance process to provide transparency, integrity, and accountability to all the industry stakeholders through the certification process. The laboratory accreditation is the first step for a successful implementation of the certification based on jurisdictional standards, and the reason why we at GLI take this step very seriously and with great priority every time a new jurisdiction opens. We feel responsible for being part of the solution towards a fast and efficient implementation of regulations, thus supporting further local industry development and sustainable growth. We are grateful to Lotema and excited to be part of its thriving industry,” said Karen Sierra-Hughes, Vice President of Latin America, Caribbean, and Spain.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

GLI has been working with regulators, lotteries, and industry stakeholders across the Latin American and Caribbean region for more than 26 years in their efforts toward regulation, sustainable growth, and eradicating illegal gaming. In Brazil, GLI has been side by side with government entities and all industry stakeholders for nearly 20 years, participating in public hearings in the Senate, Chamber of Deputies, and State government level, and in recent years, adding strategic local representation to strengthen their local support.

Continue Reading

Trending