UK Gambling Harms Research Centre to assess efficacy of regulations 

Gambling Commission admits faults but backs credibility of Young People and Gambling Survey

France adds new obligations to sign off gambling ad campaigns 

Full-house for France iCasino debate as UKGC pledges to lead fight against black market

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Jake Pollard
Last week’s ICE2025 conference in Barcelona drew a packed audience to the First Gaming in France Briefing, debating outstanding affairs on iCasino regulation, taxes and politics.

Diane Mullenex, partner at the law firm Pinsent Masons, opened the event by saying that the “landscape of regulation in France is very challenging” but that she also believed that “the market should and will open” eventually.

The political uncertainty that has dogged France since last summer will impact proceedings, but what will ultimately “drive the [regulatory] opening [will be] a balance between needing more money and curbing an illegal market” that is one of the largest in Europe, she added.

Nicolas Béraud: Betclic & AFJEL
Nicolas Béraud, CEO of the French online market leader Betclic and President of AFJEL, the iGaming trade body in France, said one of the key factors impacting operators is that they are subjected to GGR and VAT taxes that come to more than 60%, but they cannot make up ..

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Player taxes on Brazil Bets make a distinction on licensed & unlicensed winnings

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Guidelines on Personal Income Tax (IRPF) have been updated for Brazilian citizens to register prizes and winnings from online gambling and sports betting activities.

Receita Federal, the Federal Revenue Service of Brazil, has updated articles of its “General Coordination of Taxation” to include new provisions for consumers to declare profits/winnings generated from online gambling.

An update to the IRPF guidelines was required to address ambiguities in current legislation and align broader efforts to regulate and standardise taxes on gambling-related income in Brazil, following the launch of the Bets market on 1 January 2025.

Mandated by Law No. 14,790/2023, the legislative framework of the Bets regime requires a 15% tax to be imposed on player prizes/winnings exceeding the threshold of BRL 2,824 (approximately €530). The tax on player prizes was enforced by President Lula da Silva in the final revision of the bill prior to its federal sign-off.

New IRPF guidelines state that tax c..

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Another lawsuit accuses DraftKings of misleading promos, predatory VIP

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DraftKings is facing another class-action lawsuit in New York district court over allegations of deceitful and unethical promotions and advertising.

In a filing with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Clara De Leon and Eric W. Mirsberger Jr. assert that the Boston-based operator has been “deceiving New Yorkers and misleading them” into betting larger sums and more frequently.

The lawsuit takes issues with DraftKings’ use of language such as “risk-free bet” or “no sweat bet.” The plaintiffs allege that while those promotions falsely promise new users that they will get free money which they can wager without risk, DraftKings increases users’ propensity to gamble by refunding such wagers via bonus bets rather than real money.

Alleging that DraftKings uses these promotions to entice “gambling-naive customers” like the plaintiffs in question, the suit added that the company does not clearly communicate that those signing up for “no sweat” promotions were at ri..

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Lawmaker in New Jersey wants to ban online sports betting ads

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New Jersey Assemblyman Brian Bergen has introduced a piece of legislation that proposes changes to the state law regarding sports betting advertisements.

Bergen has introduced Bill A5207, which aims to ban the “posting, distributing, broadcasting, or disseminating” of any online ad related to sports betting. It proposes an immediate ban of online sports betting ads and also bans marketing shared via any web-based platform on a mobile device.

“I just think it’s become totally ridiculous,” Bergen told New Jersey 101.5 earlier this week. “The advertising has been like a runaway train and it needs to be reeled in.”

Under Bill A5207, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) is responsible for ensuring that companies comply with the ban on online sports betting ads.

Bergen has filed a bill to ban online betting ads with the goal to protect young audiences.

“Our children don’t need to see these things in a glorified way that entices them to become lifelong gambling addicts,” ..

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Serbia orders compliance sweep on local gambling venues

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Municipalities and administrative districts across Serbia have been instructed to enforce new laws and standards for gambling venues and franchises.

This directive follows the fast-tracking of new “protective amendments” approved by parliament under the Law on Games of Chance of the Republic of Serbia (2011).

Authorities in Serbia’s 29 districts and 190 municipalities have been tasked with reviewing and verifying the licenses and customer protection measures of local arcades, betting shops, and bingo halls.

Inspections will assess whether venues are compliant with mandatory age verification measures to enforce the prohibition of minors from participating in gambling activities.

Further requirements mandate that venues prominently display warnings about gambling addiction to customers through posters and notices, which must also provide information about certified treatment facilities.

Local authorities must ensure that venues comply with new regulations on food and beverages, whic..

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NOGA ends Eric Konings interim assignment as ‘strategic reorientation’ ends

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Eric Konings has announced his forthcoming departure as Interim Director of NOGA, the Netherlands Online Gambling Association.

Writing on LinkedIn, Konings confirmed that he would be leaving the Dutch trade body during the first quarter of 2025.

The decision comes as NOGA’s board has progressed with its ‘strategic reorientation’, during which it will announce leadership changes and a new strategy to better promote and represent the interests of online gambling in the Netherlands.

Last summer, Konings was announced as Interim Director of NOGA, following the departure of Peter-Paul de Goeij, who ended his six-year tenure as Managing Director of the trade body.

During the transition period, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands Gambling Authority, announced a raft of new regulatory protections, including new deposit limits of €700 for player accounts over the age of 25, and a €300 deposit threshold for players under the age of 24.

KSA imposed further licensing duties on customer ..

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Responsible Gambling Council scores partnership with NFL to educate student-athletes

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The Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) and the NFL are teaming up to provide responsible gaming resources to student-athletes across Canada.

The RGC announced on Thursday a partnership with the NFL to develop and offer a comprehensive RG training program tailored to college-level athletes. The program, which will launch later this year, will have a pilot phase that provides RG resources to eight Canadian universities and colleges. During the 2025-26 academic year, the program will expand to 30 institutions using insights and feedback from this year’s training program.

“Student-athletes face unique pressures from academics, athletics and the accessibility of sports betting, making them vulnerable to risky gambling behaviours,” said new RGC CEO Sarah McCarthy, who officially replaced Shelley White this month. “Our partnership with the NFL is a crucial step in supporting this group by providing the education and tools needed to make informed decisions.”

The NFL and RGC will also work t..

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VC firm launches BettorWatch to provide tech solutions for RG

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Discerning Capital is leveraging its expertise in gambling and technology to launch a venture designed to support responsible gaming.

The Las Vegas-based venture capital firm has announced the launch of BettorWatch, Inc. a technology solutions provider for RG efforts for some of the largest gambling brands in America. BettorWatch will collaborate with operators to identify and develop solutions that will help brands and their players combat problem gambling. BettorWatch will bolster its RG efforts with the looming acquisition of iProtekt, Inc., which offers unique tools.

“We are thrilled to be a part of BettorWatch and further our shared mission of creating a safer and more sustainable gaming industry,” said iProtekt founder and CEO Bryan Price. “By combining iProtekt’s best-in-class responsible gaming tools with BettorWatch’s strategic vision and industry expertise, we are poised to make a significant impact on how the industry approaches problem gaming prevention and intervention.”..

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Suppliers highlight rampant spread of counterfeit games as Evolution licence review rumbles on

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Leading iGaming suppliers have raised the issue of copycat games in conversations with the Player Protection Hub following Evolution Gaming’s pre-Christmas revelation that the Gambling Commission is reviewing its licence. Speaking to SBC Leaders before Christmas, Evolution Gaming Head of Investor Relations Carl Linton said that battling “unauthorised use” of its services and “infringements of…

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ROGA launches RG certification programme for US operators

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The Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA) is launching a certification program that will allow operators to continue adhering to responsible gaming standards.

ROGA has announced the launch of a Request for Proposal (RFP) process aimed at developing a certification program for online operators that want to ensure their players are offered protection from gambling-related harm. It also aims to keep gaming recreational.

The RPG process will provide operators with a comprehensive framework for RG by providing standards for employee training, self-exclusive and corporate policies.

“This step marks a significant milestone in our mission to build an organization that provides valuable resources to promote responsible gaming,” said ROGA Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Shatley. “I’m excited by the release of this RFP as it demonstrates our commitment to offer operators in this growing industry a program that assesses policies and responsible gaming support mechanisms, exclusion protoc..

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