Regulatory Newsletter (14-27 April)
Exclusive for Gambling.Re
Insights from Kentucky Senator Thayer on the state’s sports betting bill & its potential impact
Australian Minister for Communications acknowledges community concerns about online gambling and promotes responsible gambling
Europe
The UK government has released a white paper proposing major reforms to the country's gambling industry
The UK Gambling Commission has announced progress on its new gambling participation survey
Svenska Spel has made three recommendations to combat match fixing in Sweden, including signing the convention against it
Betfair has been fined $388,270 by Swedish regulator Spelinspektionen for offering betting markets on events featuring young players
Finnish report finds half of online gamblers use games outside the state monopoly system, recommends licensing system
Finnish police investigate a gambling operator for illegal marketing efforts, including targeting minors with text messages
Denmark's Spillemyndigheden is accepting comments on new requirements for ID inspections to prevent problem gambling and casino crime
France's national gambling regulator, ANJ, has sanctioned seven French online sports betting operators for exceeding the player return rate ceiling
German police and anti-corruption officers have raided the offices of online sportsbook Tipster.de on suspicion of illegal gambling
The number of people self-excluding from gambling in Ukraine rose dramatically, with 245 new entries in just the first four months of 2023
Dutch Cabinet plans to ban most ads for online gambling services from July 1, except for targeted ads for legal and non-addictive users
Netherlands' KSA implements six-month gambling stop and reflection period to prevent impulsive unsubscriptions through the Cruks register
BetEnt has been fined €400,000 by Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), for breaching advertising regulations
Malta's underground lottery network reportedly launders €30m annually, threatening further international sanctions
Spain has recognized poker players, chess, billiards, and card players as professional sportsmen to tax their winnings
20 operators in Spain received sanctions and fines for contract breaches, with 7 losing their licenses
Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs has launched a grant scheme to support research on problem gambling harms and addiction, with a €1.6m fund
The Supervisory Authority for Regulated Activities (STFHZ) in Hungary has fined an individual HUF 30m for organising an unlicensed real estate lottery
North America
The Vermont Senate finance committee has approved an amended version of a sports betting bill, which would be regulated by the Department of Liquor and Lottery
Lawmakers in North Carolina are discussing expanding gambling in the state to include video lottery terminals and full casinos outside of Native American tribal land
NJ Attorney General and DGE director introduce new standards for gambling ads and more accessible self-exclusion measures
AB380, aimed at increasing transparency in Nevada's online poker scene, failed to progress in the state's legislative process
Two bills are being considered to legalize sports betting in Texas, but Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says they lack support to pass
The Maryland Sports Wagering Application Review Commission has granted licenses to two more businesses for sports betting, bringing the total number of awarded licenses to 31
NJ fights appeal by Atlantic County on local taxes from the Atlantic City gaming industry
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has issued fines totaling $51,760 to three iGaming operators for offering unapproved and uncertified slots
Ontario's AGCO proposes a ban on athletes in sports betting ads to prevent minors from being targeted
South America
Chile’s Chamber of Deputies has approved a bill to prohibit agreements between sports clubs and betting operators in an effort to combat match-fixing and protect minors from exposure to gambling
Pressure in Brazilian Congress grows as government proposes new taxation on sports betting
Australia
The Australian government will introduce legislation to parliament later this year to ban online gambling with credit cards, following a parliamentary committee inquiry that recommended the move
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has fined sports gambling companies Ladbrokes and Neds, both owned by Entain, for accepting 78 illegal in-play bets on the LIV golf tournament
Australia's National Rugby League eyes US sportsbooks to offset potential loss of profits due to tighter gaming regulations
The gambling industry in Australia is split over whether to ban or restrict match-day jersey sponsorship following the move by some of the world's biggest sports clubs
NSW Treasurer willing to reconsider casino tax as The Star announces job cuts
Other
The government of Ghana plans to impose a 10% tax on all winnings from sports betting and lotteries
Madhya Pradesh state in India is set to enact a new Gambling Act, with adequate provisions against online gambling, says Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
The International Cricket Council lifts restrictions on betting sponsorships in bilaterals, effective April
Yahoo has acquired Wagr, a peer-to-peer sports betting app that emphasizes community and social engagement, marking a significant step towards the next generation of Yahoo Sports' gaming portfolio
B2B iGaming developer RubyPlay has received a license from the Romanian regulator to offer its portfolio to Romania's regulated online market
Brazilian fintech, GamersBank, launches a 100% digital bank designed for iGaming players, offering payment solutions and financial services