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Compliance Updates

Ireland Embraces GRAI: Transforming the Landscape of Online Betting

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The Minister for Justice, Mr Jim O’Callaghan T.D. has signed the order to commence parts of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 to enable the Authority to become operational and the order to establish Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, on a statutory basis.

Minister O’Callaghan has also approved the appointment of the seven members of this new, independent Authority, who will be appointed and commence their roles with effect from tomorrow, 5 March, 2025. They will be the members of the Authority which is responsible for regulating and licencing all gambling providers in the State and which has wide ranging powers to regulate both in-person and online gambling, gaming and most lotteries.

Mr. Paul Quinn has been appointed as chair of the Authority and the other newly appointed members are as follows:

• Ms. Celine Craig

• Ms. Marion Kelly

• Ms. Rita Purcell

• Mr. David Hickson

• Mr. Michael McGrath

• Dr. Colin O’Driscoll

Minister O’Callaghan said:“Today marks a new era for the regulation of gambling in the Irish State.

“The establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland is a further step towards replacing Ireland’s outdated gambling laws with a streamlined and simplified licensing framework, which will reflect the nature of modern gambling and take into account the harms associated with problem gambling, providing safeguards to protect people from those harms, especially children.

“It is designed to meet the challenges of gambling responsibly in 21st century Ireland, providing clarity for operators and for consumers and taking a responsible approach to balancing the freedom to gamble with the safeguards to protect people from falling prey to addiction.

“I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of my predecessor, Minister Helen McEntee and Minister James Browne, in the development of this legislation.”

Minister O’Callaghan added: “I warmly congratulate Mr. Paul Quinn on his appointment as Chair of the new Authority and each of the newly appointed Authority members and wish them well in their new roles.

“The newly appointed members will now join CEO Anne-Marie Caulfield and her staff in commencing the Authority’s operations and legislative powers, on a phased basis. I understand that this includes, as a priority, work on progressing the licensing process, with a view to inviting applications for some licence types within the coming year.”

In accordance with the provisions of section 17 of the 2024 Act, appointments to the Authority will be for an initial period of three or four years. All members of the Authority may be reappointed for a second four-year term.

Speaking this morning, Minister Browne stated: “Minister O’Callaghan’s actions today mark the culmination of much hard work and dedication by Minister McEntee, Ms. Caulfield, Minister O’Callaghan and myself, supported by a core team of Authority staff and Departmental officials.

“I am pleased and encouraged at this Government’s commitment to continuing the phased commencement of the Authority’s operations and legislative powers as a priority.”

Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, T.D., commented: “I welcome today’s development as an important step towards ensuring that the harms associated with gambling are minimised. I look forward to the Department of Health working with the Gambling Regulatory Authority on initiatives to promote and progress this important goal.”

Welcoming the establishment of the Authority and the appointment of its members, the CEO of the GRAI Anne-Marie Caulfield said: ‘I greatly welcome the appointment of the seven-member Authority and the establishment of Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann. I would like to thank the Ministers, Oireachtas members, the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and Department of Justice officials for their work in bringing about our establishment.

“I look forward to fulfilling our mandate and delivering a safe, well-regulated and transparent sector, with consumer protection at its core.”

The post Ireland Embraces GRAI: Transforming the Landscape of Online Betting appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Asia

Thailand Postpones Parliamentary Debate on Casino Bill

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14 hours ago

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April 10, 2025

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A parliamentary debate on Thailand’s Entertainment Complex Bill that had been planned to take place on Wednesday has been postponed until the next session amid rising anti-casino sentiment and concerns the bill is being rushed through.

Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra confirmed that the government would instead focus in the meantime on more pressing matters such as the aftermath of the recent earthquake and how to deal with the impact of the US tariffs.

Passage of the Entertainment Complex Bill has been coming under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks with anti-gambling advocates stating protests and a group of senators voicing their opposition to the speed with which the bill was seemingly making its way through parliament.

That’s despite the addition of a clause requiring locals to hold at least THB50 million (US$1.5 million) in their bank accounts to gain entry to Thailand’s legal casinos – a clause experts say would essentially force international operators to ditch their Thailand casino bids.

The post Thailand Postpones Parliamentary Debate on Casino Bill appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Compliance Updates

UKGC Issues License to Incentive Games

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14 hours ago

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April 10, 2025

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Incentive Games has announced that it has been awarded a UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licence on 27 March 2025. This allows the company to bring its innovative suite of real money games to UK-licensed operators.

The UKGC is recognised as one of the most stringent and respected regulatory authorities within the global gaming industry. This achievement underscores Incentive Games’ unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest standards of compliance, service quality and operational integrity. Obtaining this licence, which requires excellence in areas such as security and responsible gambling, provides access to one of the key regulated igaming markets.

Ahmed Baker, chief commercial officer at Incentive Games, said: “Securing our UK Gambling Commission licence is a major milestone for Incentive Games. It reinforces our dedication to meeting the highest regulatory standards while continuing to develop world-class products for our partners.

“The UK is a critical market for us and we’re thrilled to introduce our industry-leading real money games to UK operators and players. This achievement marks a pivotal step forward in our growth strategy.”

 

 

 

The post UKGC Issues License to Incentive Games appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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BETER

BETER Makes U.S. Debut with vendor registration in New Jersey

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15 hours ago

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April 10, 2025

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BETER, the award-winning provider of fast betting content, data, and live streaming, has obtained vendor registration from the Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), the regulatory authority in the U.S. state of New Jersey.

This marks BETER’s first regulatory approval in the United States, enabling the company to deliver its real-time data and live streams to licensed operators in New Jersey—empowering them to offer players non-stop, fast-paced betting experiences.

The first product approved by the New Jersey DGE is BETER’s flagship Setka Cup table tennis tournaments, which are already live on the New Jersey domain of tier-one sportsbook bet365, also operating in multiple U.S. states.

BETER arranges over 11,000 Setka Cup matches per month across over 16 arenas worldwide, offering  30+ betting markets per event. All contests are monitored 24/7 by BETER’s in-house integrity team, which is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of fair play and transparency.

In total, the provider organizes more than 46,000 fast betting events monthly across esports and sports disciplines. Its portfolio features ESportsBattle tournaments, which include popular titles such as eFootball, eBasketball, and eHockey, alongside classic sports like basketball, tennis, and table tennis. Additional disciplines are scheduled for release later in 2025.

BETER also provides an Esports Odds Feed which delivers market-leading odds for more than 450 tournaments globally with 40,000+ pre-match and live events each year. Odds are calculated using official data and are compiled by a team of expert traders.

Gal Ehrlich, CEO of BETER, said: “This is a milestone moment for the BETER team, as we see tremendous potential for our fast betting products and solutions in New Jersey and across the U.S.

“We’ve already built a strong reputation as a go-to provider in key markets from Latin America to Europe, and that trust has been instrumental in securing the approvals needed for our U.S. launch.

“Setka Cup has cultivated a loyal following worldwide, and we’re thrilled to introduce it to bettors in New Jersey—and in other U.S. states where we plan to go live in the coming months.”

Valeriia Tarchynska, Chief Legal Officer at BETER, added: “Securing our first U.S. approval marks a significant legal and operational achievement for BETER. Our legal team, in close collaboration with our trusted partner, the law firm Blank Rome, worked tirelessly with the New Jersey DGE to bring this to life.

“But we are not stopping there. We are accelerating efforts to certify our ESportsBattle product for the New Jersey market, while actively pursuing licenses in all U.S. states where gambling is permitted—the key ones, as of today, being Colorado, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.”

The post BETER Makes U.S. Debut with vendor registration in New Jersey appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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