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European Gaming Congress 2024

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UK Gambling Commission announces package of changes which make online games safer by design

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The Gambling Commission has announced a package of strict measures which will strengthen the protections and controls for those who gamble through online slots games – including the introduction of limits on spin speeds, and the permanent ban on features that speed up play or celebrate losses as wins.

Following a consultation with the public and players, the gambling industry and other stakeholders, operators will need to implement tough new player protection measures which will make online casino games less intensive, safer by design and hand players more control over their gambling.

The Commission has focused on online slots because of its features which increase the intensity of play and the corresponding risks to players. Slot games have by far the highest average losses per player of online gambling products1.

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The new rules include the outright ban of four key features of online slots games:

Features that speed up play or give the illusion of control over the outcome
Slot spin speeds faster than 2.5 seconds
Auto-play – which can lead to players losing track of their play, and;
Sounds or imagery which give the illusion of a win when the return is in fact equal to, or below, a stake
Other changes include:

Operators must clearly display to the player their total losses or wins and time played during any online slots session.
Alongside the changes for online slots the Commission has also introduced a permanent ban on reverse withdrawals for all online gambling – this function previously allowed consumers to re-gamble money they had previously requested to withdraw.
The enhanced protections that have been announced today will need to be fully implemented by online operators by 31 October 2021.

Since the publication of the Commission’s consultation in July 2020, further research has shown that using an auto-play feature has been linked to some players losing track of play, making it difficult for some to stop playing and in some cases gambling on other activities simultaneously.

Evidence shows that reverse withdrawal functions present a risk to players because of the temptation to continue gambling. In addition, the slot features being removed or more closely controlled have been associated with increased intensity of play, loss of player control, or binge play.

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Neil McArthur, Gambling Commission chief executive, said: “To make online games safer we are introducing a ban on features that speed up play, or give the illusion of control over the outcome. We are also introducing a ban on auto-play, losses disguised as wins, and slot spin speeds faster than 2.5 seconds. The evidence shows that these features increase the risk of harm to customers.

“This is another important step in making gambling safer and where the evidence shows that there are other opportunities to do that we are determined to take them.”

Minister for Sports, Tourism and Heritage Nigel Huddleston said: “Today’s steps will help curb the intensity of online gambling, introducing greater protections that will reduce the risk of gambling related harm.

“I welcome the Gambling Commission’s tough measures as we continue our comprehensive review of gambling laws to make sure they’re fit for the digital age.”

The new rules are part of the Commission’s comprehensive programme to make gambling fairer and safer which has also seen the introduction of strengthened protections around online age and ID verification, improved customer interaction practices, and the banning of gambling on credit cards.

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The announcement of the further consumer protection rules for online games and the design of those games follow the Commission’s announcement on 30 September that it was implementing new rules to stamp out irresponsible ‘VIP customer’ practices. Those rules came into force on 31 October 2020. A consultation on customer interaction was also launched last in November with the outcome expected later this year.

Readers can access the Commission’s online games design and reverse withdrawals response for more details.

1 Our Covid data shows the average spend per slots player is £67 per month, compared with £36 for casino products and £45 for real event betting.

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Aristocrat Gaming

Record Progressive Jackpot at Over $2 Million and Climbing Up for Grabs at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood

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A record progressive jackpot of more than $2 million continues to climb on a $1 million Dragon Link slot machine by Aristocrat Gaming. The huge jackpot is up for grabs at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood.

The $1 denomination Dragon Link slot is a single-site progressive (SSP) and is located in the high-limit slots area of the Hollywood casino, famous through the world for its iconic Guitar Hotel. The slot machine’s progressive jackpot increases independently from other Dragon Link slots at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood and elsewhere.

The jackpot is climbing by an average of $7,000 per day and is on track to become one of the largest slot machine payouts in Seminole Gaming history and the largest Dragon Link jackpot ever awarded. Players at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood have a chance to be a part of jackpot history.

“It’s exciting to witness the Dragon Link jackpot grow to an unprecedented amount. The game has been a favorite since its release, and with this amazing prize now up for grabs, our players have the potential for a huge win,” said David Hoenemeyer, Chief Operating Officer of Seminole Gaming.

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“We are incredibly proud of the fanfare Dragon Link has amassed over the years, and this historic milestone reinforces player excitement for the brand. The Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood team have been incredible partners and huge supporters of our $1 million Dragon Link offering. We can’t wait to be a part of the celebration of this record-breaking jackpot,” said Kurt Gissane, Chief Revenue Officer for Aristocrat Gaming.

Since its debut at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood in June 2021, Dragon Link has consistently drawn in players with its exciting high-denomination offering, which includes a $25 minimum bet and a $2,500 max bet. The casino-resort was the first in the world to feature the $1 million Dragon Link progressive, and today, it remains one of the most popular high-limit slot games available.

The impact of Dragon Link on the gaming landscape has been immense, cementing its status as a player favorite. While Aristocrat Gaming continues to push boundaries with innovative offerings, the latest jackpot at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood represents a new milestone in gaming entertainment.

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Chris Chapman

Xpoint Appoints Chris Chapman as CTO and Rahul Agrawal as VP of Engineering

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Xpoint has announced two key appointments as it strengthens its leadership team.

Chris Chapman has been promoted to Chief Technology Officer and Rahul Agrawal has joined as VP of Engineering.

Chapman previously served as VP of Engineering at Xpoint and has been pivotal in leading the company’s engineering efforts, advancing its geolocation technology and ensuring the platform’s reliability and scalability. Prior to joining Xpoint, he held senior leadership positions at companies such as Sourcepoint, Integral Ad Science and Amino Payments, which he founded. In his new role, he will focus on driving innovation and ensuring that Xpoint remains at the forefront of geolocation and compliance solutions in the iGaming sector.

Agrawal brings over 25 years of experience in technology leadership, most recently serving as VP of Technology at PointsBet, where he advanced the development of the sportsbook and casino platform, built a global engineering team and integrated multiple technology partners, including geolocation providers.

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His extensive background also includes being CTO at FaceOff and senior technology roles at Jump Ramp Games and High 5 Games. He will lead the Xpoint engineering team, focusing on operational excellence and the continued development of the supplier’s geolocation technology.

Manu Gambhir, CEO of Xpoint, said: “We are excited to promote Chris to CTO and welcome Rahul as our VP of Engineering.

“Chris has been an integral part of Xpoint’s success and his promotion to CTO is a natural progression as we continue to evolve. Rahul’s extensive experience in building and scaling technology platforms will complement Chris’s leadership and together, their expertise will drive the next phase of innovation for Xpoint as we continue to lead the geolocation and compliance space in the iGaming industry.”

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9 Aspects to Look For in a Top iGaming Payment Provider

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There are hundreds of iGaming payment providers out there. Which one will meet your demands? Many businesses ask this question. Not many get the right answer.

With the global online gaming market expected to reach $127 billion by 2027, getting the right iGaming payment services is paramount. Simply put, the better provider you have, the more customers you can serve, the faster payments will be, and the higher your income you will have.

Yet, choosing the right provider can be challenging, especially with the unique needs of high-risk industries like iGaming. In this piece, we will go through a nine-point checklist. These steps ensure you enter a pool of top iGaming payment providers.

So, buckle up.

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1. Verify If an iGaming Software Provider is High-Risk Friendly

iGaming is a high-risk industry. That means higher fees and more scrutiny. Choose a provider specialising in high-risk sectors to avoid disruptions and reduce transaction rejections.

Keep note: Not all payment providers are willing to work with high-risk industries, leading to potential delays or increased fees.

The right iGaming payment provider must have these aspects to be truly high-risk friendly:

  1. Have no volume restrictions
  2. Understand the industry to the bone
  3. Provide a dedicated account manager with expert knowledge of the sector
  4. Support licenses in different jurisdictions

 

2. Check How Long It Takes for an iGaming Payment Provider to Open a Business Account

Now, you narrowed down the list of best payment providers for iGaming. The next important question to ask:

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 How long will it take to open a business account?

In most cases, when you need to open a business account, you can expect two challenges:

  1. Lengthy approval process.
  2. A lot of documents to provide.

 

Many banks does not understand industries like iGaming. That is why they ask tons of unrelated questions and require documents you don’t simply have. As a result, getting a business account can take weeks or months.

A good provider opens a business account for you in several weeks. A great iGaming software solutions provider opens a business account in about 48 hours.

https://account.paydo.com/en/auth/business/sign-up

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3. Make Sure an iGaming Payment Provider Has SWIFT In Their Arsenal

For international transactions, SWIFT is a must. This scheme allows for faster, more secure iGaming transactions. It reduces delays and ensures smooth processing of player deposits and withdrawals.

Without SWIFT, iGaming operators risk slower processing times and dissatisfied players. Yet, the rule of thumb dictates that the more payment schemes you have access to the better.

 

4. Does iGaming Payment Provider Offer Multiple Currencies?

This should be your next question. Even if an iGaming payment provider is high-risk friendly, opens a business account fast, and is connected to SWIFT, this does not mean you get many currencies to work with. You still need to pay contractors in their local currency.

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Also, setting up a multicurrency account can come at a significant cost. Banks and EMIs impose additional charges for each extra currency you might need.

 

5. Check If an iGaming Payment Provider Offers Merchant Services

If you have a website accepting payments, you need a good checkout.

What constitutes a “good” checkout?

In most cases, the number of chargebacks, holds, rolling reserves, as well as payment methods available. Besides, you want a checkout that can be easily integrated.

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6. What About Mass Payouts?

Every iGaming operator knows how hard it can be to send multiple payments to several customers. When you don’t have mass payments with your iGaming provider, every payment must be made one by one. Without saying, it will take a lot of your time and nerve.

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7. Confirm Whether an iGaming Payment Provider Have Virtual and Physical Cards

Virtual and physical cards allow flexibility for both business payments and player withdrawals. They can be used for payouts, ad spending, or corporate expenses. Besides, having a personalised plastic card speaks volumes about your brand.

 

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8. Compliance With Global and Local Regulations

After going through the arsenal of services of a chosen best iGaming payment provider, the next logical step is to look at compliance. You must be sure a selected provider has the legal right to provide certain services and operate in partnership destinations.

To illustrate, as an iGaming payment provider, one should have at least these:

  1. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
  2. Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC).

 

As an add-on, a good iGaming payment provider should have an Authorised Electronic Money Institution (UAB) license. This one allows the platform to issue electronic money and offer related financial services within the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA).

 

9. Double-Check the Security Measures an iGaming Payment Provider Implements

For top iGaming payment providers these security measures are non-negotiable:

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  • Built-in anti-fraud.
  • PCI-DSS Level 1 compliance.
  • 3D-Secure (3DS) technology.
  • Anti-money laundering (AML) protocols.
  • Automated KYC.

 

PayDo—All Payment Solutions in One Place

While all roads lead to Rome, all aforementioned aspects lead to platforms like PayDo.

PayDo is a payment ecosystem. It made sure all the aspects we talked about were covered. Namely, the platform is:

 

1. High-risk friendly:

    1. No volume restrictions.
    2. No hidden fees
    3. No minimal commitments
    4. No minimal balances
    5. No nonsense requirements
    6. All iGaming licenses (Curacao included).
    7. In-depth understanding of high-risk industries.
    8. Curacao and other licenses supported
    9. A dedicated account manager with extensive experience in iGaming
    10. Momentary payouts
    11. Scheduled payments
    12. 140+ destinations

 

2. Business account opening:

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    1. Takes about 48 hours.
    2. Completely remote.
    3. Requires a standard package of documents.
    4. Onboarding is as quick as verification.

 

3. Nine payment schemes: 

    1. SEPA
    2. SEPA instant
    3. Fedwire
    4. Target 2
    5. FasterPayments
    6. Chaps
    7. BACS
    8. Kronos2

 

4. Multicurrency:

    1. Dedicated IBAN with 35+ currencies and 150 countries.
    2. Personal account with 12+ currencies.
    3. No extra charges for currencies.

 

5. Checkout:

    1. Zero chargebacks
    2. No holds or rolling reserve
    3. Easy API integration
    4. 350+ payment methods
    5. Localization
    6. Instant settlements
    7. Conversion rate > 98%
    8. Unlimited websites

 

6. Mass Payouts:

    1. Automatic payouts without any manual inputs.
    2. Customers receive their funds without fees.

 

7. Virtual and Physical Cards:

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    1. Offer employees personalized cards.
    2. Improve corporate expense management.
    3. No limit on issuance.

 

8. Compliance and Security:

1.Licensed by:

      1. FCA.
      2. FINTRAC
      3. UAB.

 

2.Security measures:

      1. Built-in anti-fraud.
      2. PCI-DSS Level 1 compliance.
      3. 3D-Secure (3DS) technology.
      4. Anti-money laundering (AML) protocols.
      5. Automated KYC.
      6. Encryption.
      7. Safeguarding.

 

 

Besides, recently PayDo was nominated for the Payment Innovation of the Year award at a

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reputable iGaming-focused SBC 2024 convention.

 

Finally, PayDo have become a SWIFT Direct Participant. Now the platform can send and receive messages directly through the SWIFT network without intermediary banks.

For PayDo clients, it means faster transaction speed and fewer delays.

 

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Conclusion

When choosing a payment provider for iGaming, check these aspects:

  1. High-risk friendly;
  2. Business account opening;
  3. SWIFT availability;
  4. Multiple currencies;
  5. Merchant services;
  6. Mass payouts;
  7. Virtual and physical cards;
  8. Compliance;
  9. Security measures.

 

The list is that long because top iGaming payment providers like PayDo work hard to develop a solution that will stand out in a competitive market. With PayDo, you get the services of 8-9 payment providers in one place and under one contract.

Don’t hesitate to open an account right now. We are ready when you are!

The post 9 Aspects to Look For in a Top iGaming Payment Provider appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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