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

Greece opens tender for cybersecurity partner for gambling market

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The Hellenic Gambling Supervision and Control Commission (EEEP) has launched a tender which will aim to appoint a ”specialist legal and technical partner” to strengthen player monitoring on Greece’s online gambling market.

The directive forms part of the government’s broader strategy to enhance oversight of the online gambling sector by improving player identification, anti-money laundering (AML) safeguards and cybersecurity commands.

The tender seeks to find a partner that will help redesign and strengthen the framework that oversees the secure identification of players using Electronic Player Accounts (EPAs).

A new technical framework is required to enhance Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures to ensure licensed operators maintain robust protections against fraud, financial crime and underage gambling.

According to the tender documents, the EEEP is seeking assistance with “the design and improvement of the framework for the secure identification of gambling players”, combined wi..

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Kenya’s new gambling regime: dissecting the implications for operators

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Kenya’s Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) has officially gazetted a new set of regulatory laws for operators under the newly formed regime.

We are analysing the new landscape in Kenya as the six regulations came into effect on 30th June and became binding for all gaming operations after a three-day notice period, with the GRA confirming that it has commenced the first licensing cycle since inception.

The six new laws encompass details around licensing, conduct of gambling operators, National Lottery 2026, advertising, the gambling appeals tribunal, and rules facing foreign operators.

Additionally, the regulator has included a transitional 60-day window within which licences issued under the now-repealed acts remain valid, albeit only for sixty days from GRA’s original date of assuming office (30th June 2026), within which time the holders of such licences must apply for the appropriate licence under the new act.

John Mutua, CEO of the Association of Gaming Operators Kenya (AG..

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Why the Gambling Commission is failing to alleviate FRA black market anxiety

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The Gambling Commission’s calls for calm over the impact of Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs) on the growth of the black market seem to be falling on deaf ears, as sources have emphasised to iGaming Expert that industry trepidation is only escalating.

Despite the best efforts of the GC, warnings continue to ring loudly over a lack of clarity when it comes to the implementation of FRAs.

An industry source told iGaming Expert that the move represents a ‘huge windfall’ for the illegal market, as concerns over an exodus to the black market refuse to go away for players who ‘believe they should be able to spend their money the way they want to’.

They added that the government is simply ‘doubling down’ on the stresses placed on the regulated sector by supporting FRAs after previously implementing a significant tax hike on the online gambling sector in November.

Anger from within the industry has been encapsulated by the Betting and Gaming Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Grainne Hurst,..

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Gambling Commission looks to calm operator fears with measured approach to FRA implementation 

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A day that much of the industry had been awaiting with trepidation is set to arrive today, as the Gambling Commission confirms plans for the implementation of Financial Risk Assessments.

The first stage of implementation will see FRAs implemented by the largest operators, where there is high spend of multiple thousands of pounds over a 24-hour period. For most, this means £5,000 net deposits in a rolling 24-hour period, with it being predicted that only 0.5% of customers will hit these thresholds.

Once fully implemented in due course, Financial Risk Assessments will be applied to customers aged 25 years or older with net deposits exceeding £1,000 in a rolling 24-hour period or £3,000 over a rolling 90-day period; for those under 25, these thresholds will be reduced to £750 in a rolling 24 hours or £2,000 in a rolling 90-day period.

Furthermore, the GC has also underpinned that although the White Paper was put forward during a previous government, it has the full backing of the late..

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Landmark EGBA player safety initiative comes to fruition

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It’s been a long time coming for the introduction of an EU-wide international player protection standard, and thanks to collaborative efforts spearheaded by the European Betting and Gaming Association (EGBA), the publication of a full set of guidelines is now set in stone.

Earlier in the week, the final version of the European Standard on markers of harm in gambling (EN 18144) was released by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN).

Although voluntary, the document is being treated by EGBA and its members as a necessary baseline for gambling operators across Europe to build their player protection frameworks around.

The guidelines identify a total of nine core markers revolving around player behaviour that gambling providers can use to inform their safer play policies and intervene when a risk pattern is detected.

According to the document, tracking should prioritise shifts in stake volume and frequency, speed/intensity of play, deposit frequency and size, withdrawals, pl..

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ECA calls for cross-border police action as EU black market approaches €100bn

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The European Casino Association (ECA) has become the latest organisation to call for stronger cross-border enforcement against illegal online gambling after revealing that the black market targeting EU consumers reached an estimated €91.6bn (£78.3bn) in 2025.

The figure is up around 14% year-on-year and was presented for the first time during a high-level roundtable in the European Parliament.

It replaces the previous 2024 estimate of €80bn that had originally been used in the meeting’s title and means illegal operators deprived EU member states of an estimated €22.9bn in tax revenue during 2025.

Hosted by Member of European Parliament Lukas Mandl, the roundtable brought together representatives from many industry stakeholders including:

The European Commission

The Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA)

Eurojust

The Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group on Europol (JSPG)

National gambling regulators

ECA: over 6,000 black market operators active

The ECA report estimates that mor..

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KSA Chairman: Dutch gambling needs better financial guardianship 

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Michel Groothuizen, Chairman of Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), believes that reforms to Dutch gambling laws must provide a better financial guardianship of the consumer and vulnerable players.

Throughout 2026, the Kamer will continue to review proposals that seek to reorganise the Dutch online gambling market, which is currently regulated under the framework of the 2021 Remote Gambling Act (KOA).

Groothuizen is aware of the challenge of balancing gambling laws and protections with consumer rights.

His latest intervention underlines a central question for Dutch lawmakers: how far should the state go in protecting players from financial harm without removing individual choice?

The question has become more urgent as Claudia van Bruggen, State Secretary for Legal Protection, presses ahead with a major package of gambling reforms. The legislative overhaul, first enacted in 2026, seeks to introduce what the government has described as stronger guaranteed protections for consumers, particular..

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Ohio sportsbooks unlikely to push back on regulator’s proposed credit card ban

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After weeks of contemplation, the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) has officially announced its intention to ban the use of credit cards for sports betting in the state.

The OCCC sent a notice on Tuesday to confirm that it has formally proposed an amendment to state law to remove credit cards as a permissible funding method. It first revealed in May that it was considering the rule change, which must then be submitted to and ratified by each of the Common Sense Initiative and the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review in order to go into effect.

The regulator has opened up a comment period until Friday, July 17, for operators and other stakeholders to have their say on the idea. The OCCC will then hold a public hearing on a yet-to-be-announced date. The OCCC’s next two public meetings are scheduled for July 15 and Aug. 19.

Many Ohio sportsbooks already scrapped credit cards

The Ohio regulator does not seem likely to meet much opposition from its licensed online sportsbooks, giv..

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Swedish court backs regulator over Betsson AML ruling

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A Swedish Administrative Court has backed the gaming regulator’s findings that Betsson committed ‘serious violations of money laundering regulations’.

Spelinspektionen first brought action against Betsson Nordic Ltd, alongside Spooniker Ltd – a then-subsidiary of FDJ United’s Kindred Group – and Snabbare Ltd – a subsidiary of ComeOn Group, for failing to take sufficient customer due diligence measures in May 2025.

The regulator warned all three and handed them fines of SEK 6.5m, SEK 10m and SEK 5.5m, respectively, for actions that took place in 2023.

In each instance, Spelinspektionen investigated the operator’s processes for a select group of customers and found that they had failed to adequately identify the source of income for large deposits that couldn’t be justified by the consumer’s taxable income.

The operators attributed the funds to previous winnings; however, Spelinspektionen said that this could not be accurately verified, as the funds had been removed from the consumer..

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1xBet elevates player protection capabilities with 1xCare

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1xBet has strengthened its player protection and responsible gambling measures following the launch of the 1xCare initiative.

The operator emphasised that 1xCare will focus on enhancing research, education, technology and player well-being within its business under one framework.

1xCare Chair, Simon Westbury, commented: “Responsible gambling is not a slogan; it is a duty. 1xCare was created to support a more informed, transparent, and sustainable gambling ecosystem – one where player protection and well-being are central.”

The new player protection platform will be centred on four pillars, noted 1xBet.

The research hub will support studies on gambling behaviour, addiction risks, and emerging technologies, with transparent public reporting.

Meanwhile, EduCare will promote responsible gambling education, awareness programmes, and ethical standards across operators, sports, and communities.

The TechShield will be focused on advancing responsible gambling technologies, including tool..

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