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Spain begins tests of cross-operator deposit limits on gaming accounts 

Rombet calls on regulator to prioritise transparency and deep institutional reform

iGamingExpert093 views

Turbulence in the Romanian gambling market has escalated following the arrest of the regulator’s Deputy General Director over allegations of bribery.

Dan Ghita, Chairman, Rombet, described the latest developments as ‘deeply concerning’ as he spoke to iGaming Expert ahead of his appearance on the ‘Generational Bet: Romania’s Reckoning on Gambling Regulation’ panel at the SBC Summit in Lisbon.

What’s your reaction to reports of the ONJN’s Deputy General Director allegedly taking bribes from companies to accelerate regulatory processes?

Any allegation of corruption involving public officials is deeply concerning because it undermines confidence in the institutions responsible for regulating an important economic sector. We must respect the legal process and see the final conclusions .

From an industry perspective, the key issue goes beyond any individual case. Romania needs regulatory institutions that are independent, transparent and accountable. Businesses that comply with the law..

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Study urges regulators to mandate gambling data portability to improve player protection

Steve Hoare0121 views

Gambling regulators should require licensed operators to provide customers with standardised, machine-readable data exports to give consumers a complete picture of their gambling spend across multiple operators, according to new Australian research. Researchers argue that giving consumers cross-operator visibility of their gambling activity would create the foundation for a new generation of personalised player protection…

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Massachusetts regulator cites operators for alleged betting violations

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The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) held a public meeting on Tuesday to discuss several alleged noncompliance matters involving four sports betting operators.

The MGC’s open meeting allowed commissioners of the regulator to discuss noncompliance matters tied to retail and online wagering and next steps in addressing the issues. Commissioners can take three actions during public meetings when addressing noncompliance matters.

The regulator can set an issue for future discussion amongst commissioners, refer the matter to its Investigations and Enforcement Bureau (IEB), or levy a penalty. The MGC did not levy penalties against the operators but set the issues to either be referred to the IEB or discussed at a later date by the commission.

The alleged violations were tied to these four Category 1 or Category 3 operators:

BetMGM

Caesars Sportsbook

MGM Springfield

PENN Sports Interactive, the owner and operator of theScore Bet

BetMGM cited for two alleged violations

BetMGM’s ..

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UK gambling regulator commits to publishing FRA evidence in Autumn

Steve Hoare0104 views

Sarah Gardner, Acting Chief Executive (CEO) of the Gambling Commission, has committed to releasing the full dataset, evidence and methodology behind the decision to implement Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs) sometime this Autumn. The confirmation came as part of an official response to a series of questions raised by the cross-party Culture, Media and Sport Committee earlier in July,…

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Hard Rock Bet bans credit cards as trend gains another operator

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Hard Rock Bet is the latest online gambling operator continuing the trend of blocking the use of credit cards for sports betting and casino gaming.

A representative for the Seminole-owned brand told SBC Americas that Hard Rock Bet no longer accepts credit card deposits for its U.S. sportsbook and online casino.

“The move reflects a broader industry shift toward promoting responsible gaming and encouraging the use of alternative payment methods, such as debit cards, bank transfers, and digital wallets,” said a spokesperson.

SBC Americas contacted Hard Rock Bet seeking clarity on exactly when the operator stopped accepting credit cards.

Indirect credit card use also banned

Hard Rock Bet continues to accept a range of payment methods for deposits, including:

Various types of debit cards

Online bank transfers

PayPal

Venmo

However, as well as the direct use of credit cards for depositing and withdrawing, a note on the Hard Rock Bet website states that linked credit cards may not b..

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Illinois includes gambling disorder in efforts to tackle substance abuse

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Illinois is changing state law to ensure that treating and preventing gambling disorders will be included in its approach to substance abuse and addiction.

Among numerous bills signed by Gov. JB Pritzkeron July 24, Senate Bill 2749 alters the state Substance Use Disorder Act effective immediately to better align Illinois’ approach to gambling disorders with its broader public health strategy.

“Substance use and gambling disorders, as defined in this Act, constitute a serious public health problem,” reads an introduction to the bill.

“It is imperative that a comprehensive and coordinated strategy be developed … Through local prevention, early intervention, treatment, and other recovery support services, this strategy should empower those struggling with substance use and gambling disorders (and, when appropriate, the families of those persons) to lead healthy lives.”

The bill adds that gambling disorder “shares similarities with drug abuse, as both activate reward systems in the br..

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Adult Gaming Centres set to feel the wrath of Burnham’s new economic outlook 

iGamingExpert096 views

Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs) are set to feel the wrath of a new political agenda in the UK, as Andy Burnham has confirmed his support for the hospitality sector through a 20% cut in business rates, which will be funded by higher taxes on AGCs.

Just four days into his premiership, Burnham is already embarking on sweeping change, and he emphasised his belief that ‘can’t see all businesses as the same’.

Announcing the policy, he specifically picked out AGCs as causing social harm, grouping them in with vape shops as a specific element of the high street that offers very little to the community.

It remains unclear exactly what this tax will look like; however, as Manchester Mayor, Burnham lent his weight to campaigns led by local council members to halt the number of new AGCs opening and grant councils greater powers over planning permission.

Burnham could well be about to toe the line of the Social Market Foundation (SMF), which proposed a doubling of the Machine Games Duty on Cate..

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SBC Summit to examine what effective player protection looks like in practice

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As expectations around player safety continue to evolve, operators face increasing pressure to detect signs of gambling-related harm earlier and implement more effective interventions. Against this backdrop, the Player Protection Symposium at SBC Summit will examine the tools, policies, and partnerships needed to strengthen player protection efforts.

Taking place on Wednesday, September 30, the symposium will bring together regulators, operators, responsible gambling specialists, and technology providers to examine how the industry can shift from a compliance-focused mindset to a more preventative and player-centric approach.

Through a series of expert-led discussions, the symposium will focus on three key areas of player protection: balancing regulatory objectives with efforts to combat the black market, the role operators play in safeguarding players, and the growing role of technology in identifying and supporting at-risk players.

“Gambling harm prevention is a challenge shared b..

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UK gambling penalties to move to government’s bank account

A.J. Koehn0119 views

A Gambling Commission consultation on where betting companies’ fines should go has drawn a sharp line between operators on one side and charitable organisations on other.

Between February-April 2026, the regulator consulted on whether regulatory settlements should be paid into the government’s Consolidated Fund. The Commission ultimately decided that money from enforcement actions should head to the fund, which is the UK government’s account with the Bank of England.

A total of 28 responses were given to the consultation. Gaming businesses and “a trade association”, presumably the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), “agreed strongly” with the Commission’s proposal that operator financial penalties be paid into the fund.

As it stands, gambling firms’ financial penalties do not need to go into the fund. The Commission found that charity and third sector organisations, members of the public, and those affected by gambling harm were strongly in favour of this remaining case.

Instead, cha..

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