iGaming Ontario self-exclusion tool ‘intuitive’ for operators and players

Ontario’s new centralized self-exclusion tool is designed to be an “intuitive” way for both operators and players to regulate users’ gambling habits, said Integrity Compliance 360’s (IC360) President Eric Frank.

iGaming Ontario (iGO) announced at the start of August that it had selected a joint bid from IC360 and fellow technology specialist IXUP to develop the new province-wide system for Ontario’s gaming market.

iGO says the self-exclusion tool will be the first of its kind in a North American market. Ontario players over the age of 19 will be able to sign up for the program, which will then block them from using all of their online gaming accounts with regulated operators in the province.

Speaking on the Gaming News Canada show, hosted by Steve McAllister, after the announcement of the multi-year contract, Frank gave some more details on what the tool will look to accomplish.

“We had three fundamental factors we wanted to meet in our system and what we built and the first was to..

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GambleAware sounds alarm on household exposure to problem gambling   

GambleAware has raised concerns that up to 1.65 million children are growing up in households where an adult is experiencing gambling problems.

The figure is estimated based on new YouGov data from the “Annual GB Treatment and Support Survey 2023,” commissioned by GambleAware.

The survey continues YouGov’s research on behalf of GambleAware, conducted since 2019, to explore the usage of, and reported demand for, advice, support, and treatment among those who gamble and those affected by another’s gambling.

GambleAware considers the survey’s research and insights critical for its organisation to identify gaps and needs within all forms of treatment support services for those experiencing gambling harms and to examine wider impacts.

Of particular significance, YouGov’s 2023 survey provides “first-of-its-kind data” on the legacy harms of gambling among those who have suffered from problem gambling.

Legacy harms are detailed as a key research area, as the survey reports that 7% of the ..

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Exploring the links between neurodiversity and harmful gambling

A group of experts concluded that there is a pressing need to conduct joint screening at all points of interaction around harmful gambling and neurodiversity, during a webinar hosted by the Gambling Lived Experience Network (GLEN). International studies have found that in groups of individuals screening positive for gambling disorder, a quarter or more also…

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AGLC expands access to GameSense responsible gambling support

Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC) has expanded its responsible gambling support network with a new GameSense Info Line phone service.

Launched on Aug. 19, the phone line extends the reach of its GameSense responsible gambling program by complementing in-person and online offerings. GameSense aims to connect, inform and support gamblers with the aim of protecting players.

GameSense advisors are already located in casinos and racing entertainment centres across the province, providing information on games and odds as well as tools, resources and tips on how to manage gambling and keep players safe. AGLC also offers a self-exclusion program.

“AGLC places a tremendous amount of importance on responsible gambling,” stressed CEO Kandice Machado. “This past year, GameSense has grown exponentially around the province, with the brand being added at the homes of the Oilers, Flames, Elks, Stampeders and both Edmonton and Calgary CEBL teams.

“In adding the GameSense Info Line, AGLC is p..

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Province of Buenos Aires swoops in to protect minors against gambling

The Argentinian province of Buenos Aires has launched a new campaign to prevent gambling ads from reaching minors.

As first reported by SBC Noticias, the campaign with the slogan “Placing a bet doesn’t pay off” will be visible across all communication platforms currently popular among youths, especially social media as most high school students are “spending at least five hours a day in front of their cell phones”.

In an interview with local radio station AM 750, Julieta Calmels, Undersecretary of Mental Health, Problematic Consumption and Violence for the province of Buenos Aires, commented: “We are articulating actions to expose a problem that is widespread: the large number of hours that we are exposed to, and above all young people, to screens and games with betting.

“We believe that it is time to take care, prevention measures. Measures are being taken in the two chambers of the legislature. At the same time, this campaign proposes that it does not give the question of bettin..

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KSA orders F1 to remove Stake.com branding from Dutch GP

Ahead of the Dutch F1 Grand Prix this Sunday (25 August), Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands Gambling Authority has ordered organiser Formula One to remove all advertising promoting Stake.com.

KSA commands F1 to remove all advertising related to Stake.com, due to the online casino and sports betting brand having no licence to operate in the Netherlands. As such the presence of Stake.com, will infringe on the advertising laws of the Netherlands Remote Gambling Act (KOA).

The decision is significant since Stake recently became the title sponsor of the Sauber Motorsports team, now known as the ‘Stake F1 Team.’ As a result, Stake.com’s branding must be removed from the team’s cars and any other materials for the race in Zandvoort this weekend.

In the Netherlands, gambling legislation prohibits any betting or gaming company from offering games of chance without a license or promoting such activities.

The KSA emphasised that companies like Stake.com must implement measures, such a..

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KSA orders F1 and Sauber not to advertise Stake at Dutch Grand Prix

Kansspelautoriteit, the Dutch gaming authority, has ordered Formula 1 and the Sauber racing team not to advertise Stake during races at Zandvoort this week, including the Dutch Grand Prix, as the gambling provider is not licensed in the country.

The Sauber F1 team competes at most international races as ‘Stake F1 Team’ as the gambling provider is the team’s main sponsor. However, Stake doesn’t hold a KSA licence and therefore is not allowed to offer or advertise gambling in the Netherlands.

The KSA noted that legislation states that gambling can’t be offered, advertised or promoted by an operator in the Netherlands without a licence.

As such, operators without a licence must “take measures to prevent participation” in the Netherlands, such as applying geoblocking, to stop Dutch players from being able to reach their website.

Despite geoblocking measures taken by Stake, the KSA “still sees participation by Dutch players” and therefore finds it “undesirable that illegal gambling is..

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BGC: Gambling leads all UK industries on age-verification checks

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has announced that its members have achieved record compliance rates in age verification checks, according to an independent audit.

The trade body for UK gambling was provided with independent data by Serve Legal, which reported that members had secured a 91.4% age verification pass rate across thousands of annual checks.

Serve Legal is recognised as the leading auditor of ID verification, age-approval, and compliance testing services for businesses and authorities in the UK and Ireland.

Of particular note, UK casinos achieved a near-perfect pass rate of 98%. Overall, the BGC states that members have garnered a 30% compliance increase across the audit volume since 2009, when Serve Legal began working with the regulated betting and gaming sector.

The results of the audit underline BGC members’ zero-tolerance approach to engaging with underage audiences.

The BGC emphasised that its members are now leading other UK sectors in age verification comp..

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Flutter Entertainment opens Global Capability Centre in India

Flutter Entertainment has expanded its global footprint with the opening of a new Global Capability Centre in Hyderabad, India, following a $3.5m investment.

Located at RMZ Spire in Knowledge City, the centre spans over 80,000 square feet across three floors and will host more than 700 employees across data engineering, game integrity services, HR operations, procurement, safety and security and customer operations.

Flutter is also hiring positions in data analytics and engineering roles to increase its headcount to 900 by 2024 and targets 40% women in leadership positions in this office by 2026.

Teams at the Global Capability Centre will utilise Flutter Edge to support the company’s global operations across brands such as Paddy Power, Sisal, Sky Betting & Gaming, PokerStars, Sportsbet and Betfair, among others.

Ashish Sinha, Managing Director of Flutter Entertainment India, commented: “We are excited to expand our facility in Hyderabad as we continue to strengthen our presence in ..

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Montenegro to review tax charge on player winnings as gambling remains ruptured

Montenegro’s gambling sector faces likely fiscal changes as the Ministry of Finance endorses a 15% tax charged on customer winnings.

The government of Montenegro has received proposals to amend articles of the Personal Income Tax and the Law on Games of Chance to apply the tax charge sought by the Ministry of Finance.

The proposal carries the “dual goals of increasing budget revenues and addressing the growing issue of gambling addiction, particularly among young people.”

Submitting its amendments, the Ministry emphasised that tax charges on gambling income had been “unjustifiably excluded from the tax system in the previous period.”

The Ministry endorsed a 15% tax charge on customer winnings as part of the Montenegrin government’s ‘Work Programme for 2024,’ which carries the wider mandate to adopt a new Law on Games of Chance.

Taking office in October 2023, Prime Minister Milojko Spajić ordered ministers and departments to submit proposals on gambling protections, focusing on pro..

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