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European Gaming Congress 2024

Compliance Updates

UKGC Issues Stricter Consumer Protection Rules for Lockdown

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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has published more stringent rules for online operators for protecting customers during lock down. The new set of rules come after new evidence has surfaced that show some gamblers maybe at greater risk of harm during lockdown. The new guidelines deal with the need for affordability checks, prevention of reverse withdrawals and restrictions on bonus offers.

The Commission had collected data through the gambling industry and also through YouGov surveys. The data show that during lockdown gambling participation is down overall. This reflects the closure of land based venues and the cancellation of sporting events, with only a small number of people starting to gamble for the first time.

Gambling Commission chief executive Neil McArthur said: “Operators must use the data they hold to protect their customers and now, more than ever, it’s vital that online operators really know their customers by monitoring how long they are playing for and understanding how financial uncertainty is impacting them and what they can afford to gamble with.  To ensure operators do that, we are strengthening our guidance and expect operators to take account of that to prevent bonus offers or inducements being offered to customers who are showing any sign of harm‘’

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Work was already underway to address many of these issues but this means we will now accelerate this work due to the unique situation that many consumers will find themselves in during lockdown.

‘’We will continue to monitor and publish the data that we are collecting and we will take further measures if required. We are monitoring online operators closely and if we see irresponsible behaviour we will step in immediately, suspending licences if we need to.”

Minister for Sports, Tourism and Heritage Nigel Huddleston said:”It is vital that people are protected from the threat of gambling related harm and I welcome these latest steps from the Gambling Commission.We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will not hesitate to take further action if required.”

The data also shows that in terms of time spent gambling, while overall session length has decreased, there has been an increase in the number of sessions that are played for over an hour.

The Commission has reviewed its current guidance in light of the risks that some players may be experiencing harm while in lockdown, and online operators must now take account of the Commission’s additional guidance, which makes clear they should:

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  • Prevent reverse withdrawal options for customers until further notice
  • Cease to offer bonuses or promotions to all customers who are displaying indicators of harm
  • Interact with customers who have been playing for an hour in a single session of play
  • Review thresholds and triggers for new customers to reflect the operator’s lack of knowledge of that individual’s play and spend patterns
  • Conduct affordability assessments for individuals picked up by existing or new thresholds and triggers which indicate consumers experiencing harm – limiting or blocking further play until those checks have been concluded and supporting evidence obtained, and;
  • Implement processes that ensure the continual monitoring of their customer base – identifying patterns of play, spend or behaviours have changed in recent weeks.
  • Online operators will be expected to make changes to act on this guidance as soon as possible. The Commission will bring forward plans to consult on whether further targeted player protection measures are required on a permanent basis.
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Compliance Updates

LiveG24 receives license to provide Live Games in Greece

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LiveG24 Ltd., a leading provider of live casino gaming solutions, is thrilled to announce that it has been officially licensed to offer its live games to the Greek market. This license, issued by the Hellenic Gaming Commission, allows LiveG24 to provide its premium live gaming services to all concessionaires holding valid Greek gaming licenses.

The certification marks a significant milestone for LiveG24 as it continues to expand its footprint in regulated markets across Europe. With this approval, Greek operators can now integrate LiveG24’s state-of-the-art live gaming suite, which includes a wide range of live dealer games such as Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, and other popular casino titles.

“We are incredibly proud to have achieved this new license from the Hellenic Gaming Commission,” said Angelo De Gobbi, COO of LiveG24 Ltd. “This approval is a testament to the quality and integrity of our live gaming solutions. We are excited to bring our immersive live gaming experience to Greek players and look forward to establishing strong partnerships with local operators.”

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LiveG24 is renowned for its high-quality live streaming technology, professional dealers, and engaging user experience. The company’s live games are broadcasted in real-time from sophisticated studios in Malta, ensuring players enjoy a seamless and authentic casino atmosphere from the comfort of their own homes.

Greek operators can now leverage LiveG24’s innovative features and flexible integration options to enhance their gaming portfolios and provide their customers with a superior live gaming experience. The certification underscores LiveG24’s commitment to compliance and excellence in the regulated gaming industry.

The post LiveG24 receives license to provide Live Games in Greece appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Compliance Updates

ThrillTech Acquires B2B Licences in Romania, Sweden, and Malta

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ThrillTech, the disruptive B2B company specialising in providing versatile jackpot and drop technology for operators, platform providers and game studios, has reached a significant milestone by acquiring B2B licences for operations in Sweden, Romania, and Malta.

ThrillTech’s appeal has rapidly achieved success with its “jackpots across everything” solution putting the operator in charge, with versatile implementations possible across all product verticals and trackable events, such as jackpots on deposits, withdrawals and many more. These increase revenue, engagement and retention opportunities for operators via enhanced player appeal.

Offering control and flexibility, via the new licenses, ThrillTech’s solution continues to gain pace and is now available to new and existing customers within a growing number of regulated markets.

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Peter Mareš, CTO, expressed his enthusiasm about this achievement, stating, “We’ve been fortunate that our customers realise the value of the products we offer, which has translated into significant interest. The expansion of the markets we can now service marks an important milestone for our young company. We’re excited to offer our monetization and engagement technology to operators within these new jurisdictions.”

ThrillTech is committed to continuing to be the leading independent provider of jackpot and drop technology for operators worldwide. Mareš added, “We are continuously developing key features and improvements to enhance our clients’ positions and support their growth. We continuously focus on performance and scalability which lies at the heart of our value proposition, positioning us to actively shape the upcoming phase of the iGaming industry.”

As part of its global corporate strategy, ThrillTech plans to expand into additional jurisdictions and focus on product portfolio diversification.

The post ThrillTech Acquires B2B Licences in Romania, Sweden, and Malta appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Australia

ACMA Blocks More Illegal Offshore Gambling Websites

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The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has requested that Australian internet service providers (ISPs) to block more illegal offshore gambling websites, after investigations found these services to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

The latest sites blocked include A Big Candy, Jackpoty and John Vegas Casino.

Website blocking is one of a range of enforcement options to protect Australians against illegal online gambling. Since the ACMA made its first blocking request in November 2019, 995 illegal gambling and affiliate websites have been blocked.

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Over 220 illegal services have also pulled out of the Australian market since the ACMA started enforcing new illegal offshore gambling rules in 2017.

The post ACMA Blocks More Illegal Offshore Gambling Websites appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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