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Compliance Updates

Breaking News: New £2 maximum stake for under 25s playing online slots in the UK

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  • Stake limits for online slot games introduced for the first time in September in landmark moment for regulation of online gambling
  • Maximum £2 stake for 18 to 24-year-olds for online slot games to be introduced
  • £5 limit for adults aged 25 and over brings stakes in-line with casinos

Easily accessible online slot games are one of the most addictive forms of gambling, and can be associated with large losses, long sessions, and binge play. Unlike land-based gaming machines, such as in casinos, they have no statutory stake limits.

To counter the increased risk of significant harm and life-changing losses from online slot games, the Government will introduce a £5 stake limit for adults aged 25 and over.

Responding to evidence, a lower level stake limit for young adults aged 18-24 years old will be set at £2 per spin. This age group has the highest average problem gambling score of any group, as well as lower disposable income, ongoing neurological development impacting risk perception and common life stage factors like managing money for the first time. The evidence also points to a stronger link between gambling related harm and suicide among young adults.

The decision follows a 10-week consultation period in which the majority of respondents agreed with the gambling white paper proposal to introduce statutory limits for online slot games to help reduce the risk of gambling harm. Consultation responses included views from industry, academics, treatment providers and individuals.

Gambling Minister Stuart Andrew said: “Although millions of people gamble safely every single day, the evidence shows that there is a significantly higher problem gambling rate for online slot games.

We also know that young adults can be more vulnerable when it comes to gambling related harms, which is why we committed to addressing both of these issues in our white paper.

The growing popularity of online gambling is clear to see, so this announcement will level the playing field with the land-based sector and is the next step in a host of measures being introduced this year that will protect people from gambling harms.”

Evidence from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows that young adults can be particularly vulnerable to gambling related harm, with under 25s having the highest average problem gambling score of any age group.

NHS survey figures also show that there is a problem gambling rate of 8.7 per cent for online gambling on slots, casino or bingo games, one of the highest rates across gambling activities.

CEO of GambleAware Zoë Osmond said: “We welcome the Government’s announcement to introduce lower online stake limits for under 25s as an important mechanism to protect young people. Our research shows a concerning trend with this age group experiencing an increase in harm arising from gambling and online slots are very high-risk products.

As we continue our work to tackle this growing public health issue, we will collaborate with the Government and others across the gambling harms sector to ensure there are no missed opportunities when it comes to the introduction of robust preventative measures, including new regulations such as these.”

The limits will come into force in September this year, following secondary legislation. There will be a six week transition period for operators to become compliant with the general £5 stake limit rules, followed by a further six weeks for the development of any necessary technical solutions to ensure operators are fully compliant with the lower stake limit of £2 for young adults aged 18-24.

Although most people gamble without issue, the restrictions introduced today are just some of the proposals set out in the Government’s white paper to modernise the gambling sector and make it fit for the digital age.

This includes the introduction of a statutory levy for research, prevention and treatment, as well as financial risk checks designed to prevent catastrophic, life-changing losses. The Gambling Commission and the Government continue to listen to concerns from campaigners, the wider public, and both the gambling and horse racing industries as part of the consultation process on these checks. The Gambling Commission continues to refine its approach on the design to achieve the right balance between protections and freedoms.

As well as introducing measures to protect people from gambling related harm, the white paper package contains proposals that will support the land-based gambling industry to thrive. The industry supports thousands of jobs across the country and the Government has been clear it does not want to harm its success.

Responses to the wider white paper measures will be published soon.

Anastasia Rimskaya

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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