Anjouan Gambling regulator hits back at illegal operators and black market claims

SMF wants gambling harm implemented into national health policies

British betting firms “considering all options” to prevent Financial Risk Assessments

Google proposes PlayStore changes to settle India RMG antitrust 

iGamingExpert0158 views

Google seeks to apply a policy change to allow the distribution of all ‘permissible real-money games (RMGs) on PlayStore for Indian consumers. The changes aims to address competition concerns to ensure equal access for developers in the RMG category.

A policy revision has been submitted to the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in response to an ongoing antitrust claim made by Winzo Games. A developer of skill and RMG titles, Winzo alleges that Google’s current policies unfairly deny market access to its games, but allow PlayStore to promote and distribute apps for fantasy sports and rummy verticals.

Reviewing Winzo’s complaint the CCI is examining whether Google rules set by its ‘pilot programme’ are unfairly restrictive to other RMG developers who have been denied a distribution channel on Android systems.

“Distribution on Google Play is essential for app developers to reach a large audience,” the CCI noted on preliminary findings. “The exclusion of certain RMG apps could result in a denial of market access.”

Playstore has distributed fantasy sports and rummy games since 2022, as they are qualified under Indian law as ‘skill games’. Last year, Google expanded RMG categories under a new ‘pilot porgamme’ for the markets of Brazil, India and Mexico, a decision taken with a view of forthcoming regulatory changes.

However due to a lack of regulatory clarity, Google paused the ‘pilot programme’, choosing to review PlayStore policies on an individual market basis.

In response, Google confirmed that it was willing to review the structure of its pilot programme for India. New policies would see Google accept “all real-money games deemed legal under Indian jurisprudence”.

Eligibility for the Playstore distribution would be granted on the condition of developers securing third-party certification from a recognised industry body, such as AIGF, EGF or FIFS, confirming the game qualifies as a “permissible game of skill.”

Google cites that “The RMG Policy Update ensures that any alleged advantage previously conferred to DFS and rummy apps is eliminated, and the competitive field is levelled.”

For India, Google is prepared to update its Developer Distribution Agreement (DDA) and Developer Programme Policies (DPP) to reflect the new terms. Developers would be required to meet compliance standards not only under Indian law, but also Google’s own platform rules.

Alongside the store update, Google has also proposed revisions to its advertising policies, which currently permit ads only for DFS and rummy games. The new ad policy would similarly apply to all certified RMGs, provided advertisers demonstrate legal standing and obtain third-party validation.

“Google will allow all RMGs… that constitute games of skill to be advertised in India,” the company added. “Any alleged concerns of restrictions imposed on non-DFS or Rummy RMG apps can or will no longer persist in relation to the Ads Policy.”

The CCI is reviewing whether Google’s conduct may have violated Section 4 of India’s Competition Act, which prohibits abuse of dominant market position. Its preliminary view raised concerns about “selective onboarding,” prolonged restrictions on distribution, and “potentially discriminatory enforcement” of Google’s advertising policies.

A final ruling is pending, but if the proposals are accepted, Google would be required to implement the new Play Store framework within 120 days and its ad policy overhaul within 150 days of the CCI’s approval.

“These commitments ensure inclusive access to Google Play and Google Ads for all compliant RMGs,” Google concluded, “eliminating any alleged competitive disadvantages.”

India is one of the largest mobile gaming markets globally, with over 600 million smartphone users and a rapidly expanding real-money gaming ecosystem. However, the space remains tightly contested and frequently litigated, with legal definitions of “skill” vs “chance” under constant scrutiny in state and federal courts.

Google’s proposed policy shift reflects both legal pressure and strategic recalibration, as it seeks to navigate an increasingly regulated and politically sensitive digital ecosystem. The outcome of this CCI case could have broader implications for how global platforms manage legal compliance and content governance in emerging markets.

“We welcome fair competition and are committed to working constructively with regulators to improve developer access and consumer choice,” Google noted.

September 15 will see SBC organise a groundbreaking charity football event in Lisbon. Make sure you get the chance to see some of the most legendary names in football by securing your ticket today at https://www.legendscharitygame.com/

Read more

Tipico maintains low levels of gambling harm in 2024 ESG report

Steve Hoare0192 views

Tipico has placed problem gambling and player protection at the forefront of its 2024 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report, published this week.

According to the figures, the company kept turnover from potentially problematic gambling behaviour below 1.5% for the full year. This figure includes activity from customers who would later self-exclude or be excluded before protective interventions were triggered.

Tipico says maintaining the share below this metric reflects the effectiveness of its early detection systems and is a ‘central focus’ in its broader responsible gambling strategy.

Axel Hefer, CEO of Tipico, stated: “This ESG report reflects our commitment to long-term value creation for all stakeholders, and it shows that growth and responsibility go hand in hand at Tipico. We are very proud of the progress we’ve made in 2024 – the year of the UEFA Euro.”

Meanwhile, the company launched its first nationwide responsible gambling television campaign in 2024, which reached more than four million viewers via sports broadcasts and online platforms.

The campaign formed part of a broader approach that includes continued funding for research, access to treatment programmes, as well as external evaluations of the company’s player protection practices.

SG – a vital ingredient
While problem gambling continues to attract attention across Europe, Tipico’s report positions harm prevention and data-driven intervention as essential components of its operating model.

The group’s focus on problem gambling prevention comes amid a wider debate about player protection in Germany. Operators, represented by the DWSV trade body, argue that the best way to protect players is by preventing them from exposure to the black market, but the GGL regulator believes that licensed firms need to take more responsibility.

“Our ESG strategy is about building a sustainable, forward-looking organisation that puts people first and sets consumer protection, integrity and our people at the core of all our operations,” added Christian Wurzinger, Tipico’s CFO.

“Our achievements in responsible gaming and the ongoing development of our teams are a strong testament to this commitment.”

Elsewhere in the report, the company outlined developments in employee training and environmental sustainability. Tipico delivered over 15,000 hours of training in 2024, with an emphasis on leadership and career development across its workforce.

The company also stated it is on track to meet its target of carbon neutrality by 2030. In 2024, it reduced Scope 2 CO₂e emissions by 41% year-on-year and introduced office-wide recycling initiatives. These changes contributed to the company achieving ISO 14001 environmental certification in 2025.

Global push for safety
Tipico isn’t the only gambling operator to see the importance of sustainability in gambling, particularly amid widespread public and political concerns across various European markets

Back In February 2021, Swedish firm Kindred (now owned by French firm FDJ United) launched a sustainability campaign titled ‘Journey to Zero’ to eliminate harmful gambling revenue. It looked to reduce the share of gross winnings revenue generated from high‑risk players to 0%.

Kindred has gradually made progress toward its aim, and by the third quarter of 2023, revenue from high‑risk players had reduced to 3.1%, up from around 3.3% in Q3 2023, with an improvement rate of 87.4% in customer behaviour after interventions

Other markets like the UK, meanwhile, continue to see extensive charity initiatives, now funded by a mandatory statutory levy paid by licenced UK operators, a requirement of the 2005 Gambling Act review White Paper.

A recent development saw training from the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM) deliver strong results in helping Health and Social Care practitioners spot and respond to gambling and gaming harms in young people, according to an evaluation by Rocket Science.

The report found that after completing the training, practitioners were 72% better at identifying harmful behaviours. Their knowledge of gaming and gambling risks jumped from 14.8% to 95.1%.

Confidence levels also rose sharply, with a 91.9% increase in their ability to talk to young people about these issues, and a 92.8% improvement in providing support and guidance.

September 15 will see SBC organise a ground breaking charity football event in Lisbon. Make sure you get the chance to see some of the most legendary names in football by securing your ticket today at https://www.legendscharitygame.com/

Read more

Erdogan’s top lieutenant questions Turkey’s fight on illegal gambling 

Steve Hoare0163 views

Turkish authorities praised progress on campaigns and initiatives to tackle social harms and improve public health at the annual meeting of the High Council for Combatting Addiction.

Chaired by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz at the Presidential Complex, authorities detailed progress in implementing 88 of 91 directives proposed in 2019 by the Ministry of the Interior and public health organisation YEŞİLAY (Green Crescent).

The session highlighted Turkey’s strengthened multi-institutional efforts across a broad range of addiction-related challenges to map drug prevention, smoking cessation, alcohol control, and digital safety.

Ministries presented data-backed updates on ongoing work: expanded rehabilitation facilities, increased cessation clinics, educational programmes in schools, and reinforced customs surveillance to combat narcotics smuggling.

For a government that has been grappling with economic strain and political unrest, the High Council offered a moment of policy coherence.

The Erdogan administration has been focused on addiction prevention for some time, and the issue has received structured, multi-agency attention.

Under Yılmaz’s stewardship, ministries have aligned prevention, enforcement, and education efforts with an eye toward long-term social stability.

But beneath the polished progress report lay a conspicuous omission: virtual gambling (“sanal bahis”), a fast-expanding sector that the government has done little to contain.

Yılmaz, who is viewed as President Erdoğan’s strict taskmaster having overseen policing, addiction programs, economic reform agendas, and development planning. He conceded that the government has no meaningful picture of gambling addiction in Turkey, despite its growing social and economic toll.

The reason for this blind spot is political as much as institutional. Illicit online gambling thrives in the gaps between financial technology, enforcement apathy, and political convenience. While law enforcement has made strides in dismantling drug networks, gambling remains a topic few in Ankara are willing to broach with urgency.

The AK government has called on federal police and intelligence agencies to draw up a national action plan. But few believe such a plan will reach the top of the government’s priority list. The issue, long aired by Ali Babacan, a former AK Party minister turned opposition leader, implicates individuals and networks with ties to Erdoğan’s inner circle.

Doubts persist about whether the ruling party has the political appetite to pursue a crackdown that might expose uncomfortable affiliations — or worse, unseat sources of informal revenue.

The unease deepened with the recent arrest of Ahmed Faruk Karslı, CEO of Istanbul-based fintech app Papara in May – a business once regarded as “Turkey’s Fintech Unicorn”.

Karslı was detained by Police Intelligence on charges of corruption, following revelations that Papara facilitated over 26,000 accounts for illegal betting transactions, worth a staggering ₺12.9bn (around €340m).

The scandal underscores not only the scope of Turkey’s underground betting economy, but also the digital financial architecture that enables it.

The government’s silence on Papara, beyond routine legal proceedings has raised eyebrows. As fintech expands and mobile payments surge, regulators seem reluctant to confront the platforms that blur the line between convenience and criminality.

The timing is awkward. President Erdoğan’s approval ratings are at their lowest in years, following a wave of political arrests in Istanbul this May.

In response, long fragmented opposition parties have found new momentum to attack Erdoğan’s regime, yet will not form a majority in Parliament to trigger a snap election, as was assumed following protests and strikes in May.

Erdoğan’s conservative image has long rested on moral authority: anti-drug, pro-family, socially traditional. Yet gambling, especially when enabled by financial actors with AK Party links, threatens to puncture that narrative.

If Yılmaz’s remarks were intended as a warning shot, they may also be a signal of internal rifts within the administration—between technocrats who see the policy gap and party loyalists unwilling to fill it.

Yılmaz posed a simple question at the council’s close: “Should we impose safeguards against gambling as we have for other digital threats?”

It is a question few in Turkey’s ruling elite have dared ask. But if the government wishes to retain control of the national narrative on addiction, the time for political caution may be over.

Online gambling is not just a vice; it is a systemic risk—one that straddles public health, criminal finance, and political integrity. Leaving it unaddressed may not only jeopardize social stability. It may also cost the government its last claims to moral leadership.

Read more

NBA star Arenas indicted for involvement in alleged illegal poker games

SBC Americas0142 views

Three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas is embroiled in controversy related to allegations of operating an illegal gambling business involving poker games collecting a rake.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, Arenas and five other defendants were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly holding high-stakes poker games at a mansion Arenas owned in Los Angeles. Arenas, drafted out of Arizona by the Golden State Warriors in 2001, is charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, one count of operating an illegal gambling business and making false statements to federal investigators. The other defendants in the case range between the ages of 27 and 53, with one being a suspected member of an Israeli crime group.

Arenas allegedly rented out the mansion to host the high-stakes poker games. He allegedly collected rent from the co-conspirators who staged and hosted the games.

Arenas allegedly hosts illegal Pot Limit Omaha..

Read more

GAMSTOP says problem gambling awareness is high

Steve Hoare0172 views

GAMSTOP has highlighted that people in the UK have a generally high knowledge of problem gambling tools at their disposal.

This was noted in the self-exclusion scheme’s latest report on registration activity, which showed more than 600,000 registrations and around 525,000 active self-exclusions from online gambling in the UK. In total, this constituted a growth of 100,000 registrants over the last 11 months.

“Such unprecedented growth in registrations indicates a widespread need for self-exclusion and highlights the crucial role of the gambling harm prevention, education, treatment and support sector,” GAMSTOP wrote on social media.

“We are proud to have formed strong, collaborative relationships with a wide range of organisations to help ensure that we provide signposting to a robust network of support to our service users.”

GAMSTOP further reminded that it will soon start only using active exclusions as a metric as outdated user account information will gradually be archived starting 25 October.

That way, people whose minimum exclusion period expired more than seven years ago will have their personal data stored separately from more fresh data. In comparison, active exclusions will serve as a more accurate representation of problem gambling in the UK, with the current figures of over half a million representing 1% of the adult population.

Generally considered to have one of the best responsible gambling frameworks in Europe, the UK is currently gearing up to implement even more policies to make play safer.

Back in 2023, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) – based on recommendations from the Gambling Act Review White Paper – announced the NHS as the sole commissioner of an annual £100m Research, Education, and Treatment (RET) levy funding, paid by UK operators.

Developed in conjunction with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) to serve as treatment support commissioner, the levy will ensure that the entire UK problem gambling support network will be operated outside of any influence from the gambling sector.

GambleAware, a charity that served as the previous commissioner of voluntary RET donations, has announced that it will close down by March 2026.

September 15 will see SBC organise a ground breaking charity football event in Lisbon. Make sure you get the chance to see some of the most legendary names in football by securing your ticket today at https://www.legendscharitygame.com/

Read more

iGaming Daily: Gambling support threatened by suit that could silence 1-800-GAMBLER

Steve Hoare0154 views

In this episode of iGaming Daily, brought to you by Optimove, Jessica Welman and Charlie Horner, delve into the legal battle surrounding the National US Gambling Support Hotline, 1-800-GAMBLER. At stake is the continued operation of a lifeline for countless Americans struggling with gambling addiction. Managed by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), the…

Read more

Government warned about threat to gambling harm support network after GambleAware closure

iGamingExpert0186 views

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has told iGaming Expert that the UK Government’s move to a statutory levy “must not mean handing control to a narrow group of anti-gambling campaigners or creating a publicly funded cottage industry driven by ideology rather than evidence”.

Representing the regulated UK betting and gaming industry, the standards body’s statement comes in response to GambleAware announcing last week that it would undergo a “managed closure” by the end of March next year as a result of the new levy system.

The BGC highlighted the work achieved by GambleAware in providing gambling harm support, before reminding the UK Government that it is important to make sure funding is still made available to services who can offer help to those that need it the most.

A BGC spokesperson said: “GambleAware has played a central role in funding and commissioning independent research, education and treatment for more than two decades, underpinned by the voluntary contributions of the betting and gaming industry.

“This long-standing commitment, unmatched by other sectors, has helped establish and fund services that support thousands of people every year.

“While we campaigned for and support the Government’s decision to move to mandatory contributions, this must not mean handing control to a narrow group of anti-gambling campaigners or creating a publicly funded cottage industry driven by ideology rather than evidence.

“What matters is that funding remains independent, ringfenced and focused on delivering real outcomes for those at risk of harm.”

Industry concerns

Many in the gambling industry have raised concerns about the funding of services once the switch to the statutory levy takes place.

Deal Me Out has written to the Government asking for services to be treated fairly, while GAMSTOP Group highlighted the vital work GambleAware has done and stated that it believes this will continue under the statutory levy, adding that player welfare must be the focal point of all work.

GambleAware’s CEO Zoë Osmond has called on the levy’s Research, Prevention and Treatment Commissioners – the UK Research and Innovation, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, as well as NHS England and relevant bodies in Scotland and Wales – to build on the charity’s work.

Dan Waugh, Partner at Regulus Partners, believes the funding system is not living up to its billing and is creating more uncertainty for gambling harm treatment providers. BetBlocker Founder and Trustee, Duncan Garvie, added that service providers must be protected during the statutory levy transition period

Some of these statements were also echoed by the BGC, calling for any decisions that will be made to be based on facts.

The standards body said: “Industry contributions have totalled over £170m since 2020 alone, supporting NHS clinics, third-sector providers, and national education programmes. BGC members remain unequivocally committed to safer gambling, and to a robust, independent, and evidence-led system.

“The transition to a statutory levy must protect existing expertise, maintain service continuity, and ensure that decisions are based on data, not dogma.”

UK Gov wants ‘smooth and stable transition’

In response to GambleAware’s closure, the UK Government’s Minister for Gambling, Baroness Twycross, praised the charity’s work and the wider third sector, adding that the levy will build on their work and that a smooth transition to the new system is a priority.

“GambleAware and others across the third sector, including the National Gambling Support Network, have worked with tireless commitment over the years to commission and deliver effective services for people experiencing gambling-related harm,” noted Twycross.

“As the new statutory gambling levy system comes into effect, managing a smooth and stable transition is an absolute priority, and we are taking significant steps to maintain service provision. The new levy system will build on the successes of the current system to improve and expand efforts to further understand, tackle and treat harmful gambling.

“I want to thank GambleAware and all their staff for their efforts to support those in need across our country.”

Read more

Dutch party promises more gambling control if elected

Steve Hoare0159 views

As an election approaches in the Netherlands, gambling is shaping up to be a major talking point for winning the electorate over.

Parties are already putting out their election plans ahead of the October vote, with one of them being centre-right VVD.

Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius/VVD
Led by Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, the party has embedded a promise into its manifesto to increase the powers of Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) – the Dutch gambling authority.

By doing so, the VVD hopes to achieve a more effective approach towards reducing rates of online gambling harm, as well as stricter control over the market and better results when combatting illegal iGaming providers.

Cited by Casinonieuws.nl, the manifesto read: “Online gambling: We are reforming the Remote Gambling Act to combat gambling addiction.

“We give the Gaming Authority more powers to supervise online gambling providers and take enforcement action.

“In consultation with other European member states, there must also be a creative approach to combat illegal gambling companies that is in line with the approach to criminal networks.”

The above falls in line not only with common European interests against the black market, but also with a number of other developments relating to online gambling in the Netherlands.

Legal Protections Secretary Teun Struycken is currently spearheading a list of Remote Gambling Act 2021 (KOA) reforms that already foresee the gambling regulator becoming equipped with more powers. VVD now promises to expedite this process.

The party’s focus on gambling is most likely driven by continuous warnings from the sector that the black market has now reached a concerning size which threatens Dutch consumers.

At the most recent Gaming in Holland conference, Arjan Blok, CEO of the Dutch state lottery, stated that 25% of customers are engaging with unlicensed operators, leading to a loss of €1.3bn.

VVD has clearly heard these concerns. Its manifesto to tackle the black market carries proper weight due to the party’s size. It was one of the four-party coalition governments that fell apart earlier this year, which led to new elections being scheduled for 29 October.

September 15 will see SBC organise a ground breaking charity football event in Lisbon. Make sure you get the chance to see some of the most legendary names in football by securing your ticket today at https://www.legendscharitygame.com/

Read more