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Compliance Updates

UKGC publishes interim evaluation on the successful implementation of the ban on gambling with credit cards

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An interim evaluation of the Gambling Commission’s credit card ban indicates the action is popular among consumers and has not resulted in harmful unintended consequences.

The credit card ban was introduced in April 2020 to add another layer of protection for consumers and add friction to the process of gambling with borrowed money. Evidence revealed some gamblers with high levels of debt were using credit cards to gamble.

When monitoring gambling and financial behaviours, the report found:

  • support for the ban among consumers has been largely positive, qualitative data from consumers supports the conclusion that the ban helps people to gamble within their means and retain control
  • the proportion of consumers reporting gambling with other forms of borrowed money has remained stable
  • there has been no increase in reports of illegal money lending related to gambling
  • while consumers are aware of ways to legally bypass the ban, far more people who previously gambled with a credit card now gamble with available (not borrowed) funds than other types of borrowed money
  • bank data showed no observed spike for credit card gamblers in money transfers in the three months after the ban
  • there was no spike in ATM withdrawals from credit cards around the time of the ban.

The report shows a major high street bank has observed the volume and value of gambling transactions with credit cards to the gambling merchant code reduced to a very low level. Continually low-level expenditure to businesses with gambling merchant codes was expected and can be explained by activities outside the scope of the ban such as lotteries and competitions spending.

Additionally, major e-wallet and electronic money providers have blocked gambling transactions if funding originated from credit cards.

Key sources used to inform the report were the Commission’s Online Tracker survey, which collects data quarterly from a nationally representative sample of approximately 2,000 adults aged 18+ in Great Britain, and Consumer Voice research completed by 2CV, which involved an eight-day online programme with 30 respondents.

Next steps: future evaluation activity

Ongoing monitoring of behaviours is important to ensure there is not an increase in harmful forms of funding gambling activity.

NatCen Social Research have been commissioned to conduct a full evaluation of the ban on gambling with credit cards by Greo as part of their programme of work to strengthen evaluation of safer gambling initiatives. This is scheduled for completion in early 2023 and the Commission will use these findings, along with our continued monitoring, to inform future policy development.

Andrew Rhodes, Interim Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission said: “Protecting consumers is at the heart of everything we do, we introduced this policy as part of our multifaceted work to reduce gambling harm.

“The successful implementation of the ban across the industry and the impact on consumer behaviour and financial spend we have monitored so far is an encouraging sign that the ban has reduced consumer reliance on gambling with borrowed money. We look forward to NatCen’s report on the long-term impacts of the ban and how this can inform our future policies.”

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Aviatrix receives certifications in Brazil

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The award-winning crash game Aviatrix has received certification for Brazil’s online gaming market, ensuring full compliance in the market.

Aviatrix has been granted full Federal Certification to offer its games via licensed operators in the country. Meanwhile, Aviatrix has also acquired a dedicated certification for the state of Paraná.

This means Brazilian players can now enjoy the most innovative crash game on the market –  one that has already gained a loyal following across Latin America.

Anastasia Rimskaya, Chief Account Officer at Aviatrix, said: “This is a huge milestone for Aviatrix. Brazil is one of the most exciting, newly-regulated markets in the world. There is massive demand for high-quality content, and that’s why we know Aviatrix is going to thrive. We’re looking forward to bringing the game to the country via some world-class partners. Get ready for takeoff.”

Aviatrix has been rapidly expanding in Latin America over recent months, including in Peru and Colombia.

The company was also named ‘Rising Star in Casino’ at last year’s SBC Awards Latinoamérica.

The post Aviatrix receives certifications in Brazil appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Readen Holding Corp Finalises Acquisition of Morrich Lottery Limited

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Readen Holding Corporation, a venture capital specialising in Fintech, Digital Payments and E-commerce, has announced the successful signing of the final agreement to acquire an 80% controlling stake in Morrich Lottery Limited, a fully licensed lottery operator in Nigeria. This milestone marks RHCO’s official entry into the African gaming market — one of the fastest-growing and most promising sectors globally.

With the closing of this acquisition, RHCO now holds active licenses in Nigeria for lottery, sportsbook and casino operations, unlocking access to an estimated $2.5 billion gaming market projected to grow over 9% annually through 2030. This move positions RHCO to become a major international force in regulated gaming, entertainment and fintech infrastructure.

Ridzky Berg, CEO of RHCO, said: “This is more than an acquisition — it’s a strategic launchpad into one of the most dynamic gaming markets in the world. Nigeria’s youthful population, expanding internet access, and growing appetite for digital gaming make this a prime market. With our proven fintech backbone and seasoned leadership, we’re ready to set a new standard for integrated, secure, and user-friendly gaming platforms across the region.”

The post Readen Holding Corp Finalises Acquisition of Morrich Lottery Limited appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Compliance Updates

Swedish Regulator Imposes Fine of SEK12M on Videoslots

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The Swedish gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen, has fined Videoslots SEK12m (£937,016) for failing to help customers better manage their gambling behaviour when it had reason to do so.

The regulator said that the company did not take sufficiently effective measures to intervene on excessive gaming and “did not act promptly enough.”

The fine, along with a formal warning, comes after a Spelinspektionen investigation into Videoslots’ customer activity in spring last year. The regulator found that the company breached its duty of care obligations.

Twelve customers’ gaming behaviour was analysed, with the regulator concluding that their gambling patterns, deposit behaviours and “significant losses” were among the “multiple indicators” that the customers engaged in excessive gaming.

A number of the 12 customers returned to Videoslots’ platform to play “multiple times” during the day or play “continuously for many hours.”

The regulator said all of the customers had “very high deposit limits.” Three had limits of SEK1m (£78,164), one had a limit of SEK4.5m (£351,912) and another player’s limit was SEK300m (£23.5m).

All customers deposited “large amounts” during the review period, Spelinspektionen said, including one who deposited SEK1.8m (£140,785) and another who deposited SEK1.3m (£101,721).

“Several customers exhibited a deposit pattern where withdrawn amounts were deposited again shortly after being withdrawn,” the regulator said.

“For several customers, there were also a large number of deposits in a short period. Some customers regularly made multiple deposits per gambling day… and one customer had days with up to 28 deposits.”

“In light of the above, Spelinspektionen assesses that all the customers have engaged in excessive gambling during the review period,” the regulator concluded.

“The company has pointed out that individual indicators, on their own, may not necessarily be signs of excessive gambling. According to Spelinspektionen, all the above-mentioned indicators are signs of excessive gambling, and the overall assessment of all indicators forms the basis for the conclusion.”

The post Swedish Regulator Imposes Fine of SEK12M on Videoslots appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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