Safe Bet Show: Brandt Iden, VP of Government Affairs, Fanatics Betting & Gaming

In depth: Is it time for Canadian gaming to ban credit cards?

Greece opens tender for cybersecurity partner for gambling market

Swedish research highlights positive impact of technology and regulation as problem gambling drops to 1.3%

iGamingExpert081 views

Stakeholders of the Swedish gambling industry are being urged to align on more evidence-led approaches to problem gambling, as new analysis highlights the complexity of risk profiles shaping player behaviour. Coordination across regulators, operators and public health bodies is seen as critical to defending Sweden’s stable problem gambling rates against emerging and existing liabilities.

The findings draw on a report commissioned by BOS, Sweden’s Online Gambling Trade Association, led by economist Ola Nevander of Makrologik.

Covering 25 years of data, Nevander’s research titled “The Development of Problem Gambling in Sweden” provides a long-term view of the development of problem gambling in Sweden, while challenging assumptions about the impact of market expansion, regulatory change and rising accessibility on addiction rates.

On prevalence, the report finds that problem gambling in Sweden has declined and stabilised over the past two decades, despite the liberalisation of the mar..

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GambleAware closes: a legacy of innovation undone by political naivety

A.J. Koehn059 views

For UK gambling, Wednesday 1 April 2026 will be the most transformative and impactful date for all stakeholders. It is also one which will likely overshadow another hugely significant moment for the industry which occurred today.

Tomorrow, HM Treasury activates the increase in Remote Gaming Duty (RGD) from 21% to 40%. The hike is widely seen as the most consequential outcome of decades of regulatory changes brought by the Gambling Act review.

Today, another generational change occurred. As of today (31 March), GambleAware has ceased operations entirely, bringing to an end its 20-year existence.

Since 2018, GambleAware has served as the chief commissioning charity for the treatment, prevention and research of gambling harms.

April 2026… Grim times for everyone

From 1 April, operators will be forced to navigate the ice-thin margins of the “40% era”. The financial burden this will have on operators large and small has been widely discussed, and budget cutbacks are widely anticipated..

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DraftKings and FanDuel face ‘addictive product’ lawsuit in Massachusetts

SBC Americas056 views

The Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) is backing a new lawsuit filed in Massachusetts against DraftKings and FanDuel that alleges the gaming giants have created an addictive product for their users.

Bay State resident Daniel Arroyo’s filing in Suffolk County Superior Court takes issue with the promotion and design of DraftKings and FanDuel’s online wagering apps.

Arroyo alleges that FanDuel and DraftKings “exploit users’ vulnerabilities through constant accessibility on smartphones, turning a simple tap into an unlimited gateway for compulsive betting.” The suit also takes issue with DraftKings and FanDuel’s VIP programs, their deployment of “risk-free” bets and their delivery of promotional content.

The suit was filed by the same group of attorneys who were involved in a landmark California lawsuit against Meta and YouTube that found the companies liable for designing platforms that attract young people and include features that foster addictive behavior.

Suit claims operato..

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Policymakers move to tighten SG rules as NZ bill heads to third reading

A.J. Koehn048 views

Community calls in New Zealand led by an opposition MP to ensure that comprehensive player safety measures are included in the country’s new gambling bill were addressed during today’s reading.

Lemauga Lydia Sosene, a Labour politician and the party’s spokesperson, has become a key figure in campaigning for community returns to be prominently featured in New Zealand’s online gambling legislation.

Sosene, together with the community groups she represented, achieved success on that front late last year when the government agreed to include a mandatory 4% levy on online casino profits to be invested back into the public – with a following revision whether that rate should be put up.

Now, the Labour MP seems to have scored another win as her campaigning to ensure that sufficient steps are taken to minimise gambling harm appears to have contributed to the New Zealand government giving this extra attention in the upcoming bill, which passed the second-to-last-parliamentary stage today.

T..

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BetMGM emerges as latest US operator to ban credit card funding

SBC Americas056 views

BetMGM is the latest gambling operator to confirm it will prevent its customers from using credit cards to fund player accounts for online wagering.

During a regulatory hearing in Pennsylvania this week concerning several issues, including its recent fine in the state, the MGM Resorts and Entain joint venture disclosed that it will soon stop allowing credit card usage across digital sports wagering and online casino gaming.

BetMGM will begin phasing out credit cards in markets where it is licensed to operate from March 31. The new policy will prohibit the use of existing credit cards linked to player accounts for funding, as well as prevent the linking of new credit cards to accounts.

SBC Americas reached out to BetMGM for comment on the new policy.

BetMGM joins competitors with a ban on credit cards

BetMGM will join other online gaming giants in the U.S. in prohibiting the use of credit cards for gambling.

Last August, DraftKings stopped accepting credit card deposits for its s..

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BC unveils upgraded 24/7 provincewide gambling support system

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TheBritish Columbia government announced on Wednesday that it is revamping the way it provides gambling support to residents.

Effective April 1, B.C. will upgrade its Gambling Support BC program with what it describes as a new integrated, provincewide service-delivery model, intended to provide people with faster and easier access to resources no matter where in the province they live.

Delivered through a partnership with Telus Health, the updated service will combine the existing 24/7 Gambling Support Line and clinical counselling services into one coordinated system.

“The evolving nature of the gaming industry, such as the growth of online gambling, means we need to change the way gambling supports are provided,” said B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Nina Krieger in a news release issued on March 25. “The new service-delivery model will make accessing supports easier and more responsive for British Columbians in the moments when they need it most.”

Immediatel..

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EGBA brings Brussels’ attention to rampant offshore gambling

A.J. Koehn053 views

Europe’s gambling sector is actively participating in the European Commission’s (EC) action to take down online fraud across the continent.

At the start of the year, the EC began the development of an action plan that would unlock a stronger cross-border collaboration between member states in the fight against online organised crime.

To construct a comprehensive strategy, the EC invited interested parties to submit feedback and best practices of countering fraud schemes, which also includes gambling stakeholders that have been pushing back against the black market for years.

As a representative of that sector, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) responded to the EC’s call for feedback by highlighting the dangers of illegal gambling providers preying on unsuspecting players by posing as licensed operators.

To back its claim, EGBA’s supporting evidence included examples of websites using domain names that closely resemble those of legitimate operators, abusing the rep..

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BetMGM emerges as latest operator to impose ban on credit card funding

SBC Americas047 views

BetMGM is the latest gambling operator to prevent its customers from using credit cards to fund player accounts for online wagering.

The MGM Resorts and Entain joint venture plans to no longer allow its customers to use credit cards to fund their accounts for online sports wagering and online casino gaming.

BetMGM will impose a credit card ban in markets where it is licensed to operate starting March 31. The nationwide ban on credit card funding will be deployed on a roll-out basis.

The new policy from BetMGM will prohibit the use of existing credit cards linked to player accounts for funding, as well as prevent the linking of new credit cards to accounts.

BetMGM first disclosed its plans to ban credit card funding during a regulatory hearing in Pennsylvania concerning several issues, including recent violations by the operator.

SBC Americas reached out to BetMGM for comment on the new policy.

BetMGM joins competitors with a ban on credit cards

BetMGM is adding to recent credit ..

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Illegal Gambling Prevention Summit 2026 highlights losses to the black market and some solutions

Steve Hoare078 views

Deal Me Out’s Illegal Gambling Prevention Summit highlighted the extent of the black market in the UK, the causes and interrogated some of the potential solutions. The impact on racing: The opening panel of racing enthusiasts and professionals presented a grim picture. Consultant Simon French concluded that racing needs “a complete reset”. He said it…

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