Storting guarantees DNS blocking powers to Lottstift

Lottstift, Norway’s Gambling Authority, has been granted ‘direct powers’ to order DNS and IP blocking of websites infringing on the laws of Norway’s Gambling Act.

The mandate was approved by the Storting (Parliament) on March 19, as a majority of MPs backed market protections sought by Lottstift against unlicensed operators.

The approval sees Lottstift secure DNS and IP blocking rights as a guaranteed measure to protect Norway’s Gambling Act, currently under revision.

In 2022, the Storting ordered the government to consolidate Norway’s fragmented regulatory framework for gambling. Laws for gambling had been deemed inconsistent due to the market being governed by the three separate mandates of the 1995 Lottery Act, the 1992 Gambling Act, and the 1927 Totalisator Act.

As such, the Storting instructed Norwegian authorities to adopt a new Gambling Act, merging and amending the laws of the three preceding Acts – a regulatory project overseen by the Ministry of Culture and Equality.

As ..

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iGO seeks proposals for a centralised self-exclusion solution

iGaming Ontario has launched a proposal period for a centralised self-exclusion solution for igaming in the Canadian province.

Initially announced in November last year, the iGO is seeking a partner to set up the service to help players stop or take a break from gambling, with the application open until April 24.

Through a multi-year agreement, the successful bidder must integrate their system seamlessly with all igaming operators in Ontario, including the OLG.

The system must also offer easy access to create and manage a self-exclusion profile for anyone 19 years or older, as well as implement KYC, ID verification, registration, renewal and reinstatement processes which are intuitive, simple and offer supporting information.

Companies who wish to take part in the bidding process can do so by visiting iGO’s procurement page on MERX.

Earlier this year, iGO noted that the Ontario igaming market concluded 2023 with new highs in wagers made, revenue and active accounts since its laun..

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SBC Summit Rio: there’s room for all kinds of AI tech developments

Technological developments are a core focus of any organisation amid a constant jockeying for position, with the possibilities offered by artificial intelligence currently capturing much attention.

This formed a central focus at the recent SBC Summit Rio, where a quintet of experts delved into how the tech could shape the future of the industry, why such models can improve responsible gambling protocols, the importance of correctly utilising data and much more.

“The thing with AI is that it has so many uses that we cannot even start to grasp exactly how we can use it,” began Hugo Llanos, Regional Director of the Americas at Altenar.

“I’m sure that everyone here has a different view and a different way of doing it. It’s all about the data and it’s all about how you use that data.”

To illustrate this point, Llanos cites customer engagement and segmentation, user experience and risk management as critical areas that can be heightened via the usage of AI, with excitement stressed at h..

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Operators need to use AI to identify problem gamblers according to industry specialist

Operators need to be more proactive in identifying problem gambling and also use AI tools to aid the process according to industry specialist Jonathan Michaels.

As part of Problem Gambling Awareness Month the principle of Michaels Strategies joined SBC Americas Editor Jessica Welman on an episode of iGaming Daily to discuss his latest LinkedIn article, titled ‘The problem with problem gambling’.

You can listen to the episode here:

Challenges of identifying a problem gambler

Michaels spent some time discussing the difficulty that the industry has identifying problem gamblers and the need to be proactive in identifying problem behavior as it happens rather than in retrospect.

“The issue that exists is there’s no standards on what markers of harm and identification are. There’s no standard on what actually works to help ensure players wager responsibly.”

He believes that the challenge for operators and regulators going forward is to understand what tools will actually work in preven..

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Garden State launches new problem gambling awareness campaign

New Jersey is launching a new public awareness campaign on problem gambling.

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has announced the creation of a responsible gaming public awareness campaign amid Problem Gambling Awareness Month. The campaign is released in partnership with marketing agency Marketsmith behind a $300,000 budget.

It will focus on online marketing and extends through Super Bowl LIX in 2025. It will be prominent during major sporting events, including the Olympics and NBA playoffs.

“As we learn more and more about the effects of problem gambling, especially following the legalization of sports wagering, we have an obligation to provide resources and support to the public on responsible gaming,” said Platkin. “This work starts with ensuring awareness of the many tools available to assist individuals who struggle with gambling, including comprehensive prevention strategies and treatment and recovery services.”

The campaign will inform bettors in New Jersey about responsib..

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New federal legislation seeks to make gambling a public health issue

U.S. Rep Paul Tonko has introduced federal legislation that aims to regulate gambling as a public health issue in line with alcohol, tobacco and opioids.

The New York Democrat says that the SAFE Bet Act will focus on “advertising along with affordability and the AI impact on gambling” and is also supported by advisors from the Northeastern University’s Public Health Advocacy Institute.

“Sports always belonged to the American people, the American family,” said the Public Health Advocacy Institute’s Gambling Policy Adviser Harry Levant. “Sports now belongs to the gambling industry. I would like to think there are people in those leadership positions, and potentially even gambling industry companies, who will say, ‘You know what? This thing has gotten out of control. It needs to be regulated to protect the American public.’”

The SAFE Bet Act is a next-generation version of the Betting on our Future Act that Tonko introduced last year which sought to ban all online and electronic advert..

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Everi Holdings supplies AML solution to Great Canadian Entertainment

Everi Holdings has partnered with Great Canadian Entertainment to supply its anti-money laundering solution to the operator’s properties.

Through the deal, the supplier’s Everi Compliance AML solution will be provided to Great Canadian’s Casino New Brunswick and Casino Nova Scotia properties, joining over 600 gaming properties across North America that use the Everi Compliance AML software.

“We evaluated various AML solutions in our selection process and determined that the Everi Compliance solution best fits our needs,” stated Sukvinder Singh, Chief Compliance Officer at Great Canadian.

“We are looking forward to working with the Everi team to enhance our AML program in our Atlantic properties.”

Everi’s agreement with Great Canadian comes as the supplier undergoes preparations to merge with IGT’s Global Gaming and PlayDigital segments.

The supplier is hopeful that the IGT merger will “create a global leader in gaming equipment, fintech services and casino systems” and a “comprehe..

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ASA rejects complaints over BetMGM marketing

The Advertising Standards Authority has dismissed complaints that challenged whether BetMGM’s TV advert featuring Chris Rock was of strong appeal to those under 18 years old.

Seen on October 4, the advert in question was part of BetMGM’s launch in the UK market, featuring Rock on a golden speed boat with a lion, travelling from the Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas to the River Thames in London, ushering in a “golden era” for sports betting and online casino.

The ASA noted that three complainants challenged whether the ad included an individual who was likely to be of strong appeal to those under 18 years of age, and therefore breached the code.

In response, BetMGM’s UK operating partner LeoVegas noted that an extensive assessment was carried out to select a campaign ambassador who wouldn’t appeal to anyone under 18, including a full risk assessment of Rock’s suitability.

BetMGM believed that because he was 58 years of age and was not a UK-based personality, he was not likely to be k..

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UKGC: ‘Proportionate approach’ needed to evaluate Gambling Act Review impact

The UK Gambling Commission’s Head of Evidence Assurance and Evaluation, David Taylor, has outlined the commission’s “proportionate approach” to evaluating the potential measures of the Gambling Act Review and their effectiveness.

Taylor noted that the UKGC’s involvement in the changes to gambling regulation in the UK does not end once the changes have been implemented, as alongside the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, they will need to monitor and evaluate the measures carefully.

Highlighting proposed changes to UK gambling such as when and how companies interact with customers as well as product content rules in land-based and remote gaming, the UKGC’s evidence head stated that it must be evaluated if the measures are producing the desired effect.

Taylor said: “We need to establish if they are being delivered effectively, understand if they are achieving their intended outcomes and impacts, identify any unintended consequences, and capture learning to inform the implementat..

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MGA: Malta MLROs require deeper training on nuanced AML threats  

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has recognized that, although licensees have a sound understanding of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) regulations, there are still significant gaps that need addressing to maintain a risk-based approach to financial threats.

This observation stems from the completion of a thematic review of Malta’s remote gambling sector by the MGA and the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU).

The purpose of the joint review was to evaluate the AML/CFT regulatory knowledge of licensed businesses, including the application of company policies and procedures by Money Laundering Reporting Officers (MLROs) and other executives of remote-licensed gambling operators.

The review involved 23 compliance examinations and placed particular emphasis on MLROs and employees responsible for AML/CFT compliance.

Interviews with MLROs revealed a solid grasp of essential protections and measures to prevent money laundering, such as ris..

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