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

Dutch regulator clamps down on AML while self-exclusions hit 100k

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The Dutch Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) gambling regulator has cautioned the market that “there is still room for improvement’ regarding adherence to anti-money laundering duties.

After an investigation into three unnamed licensed gaming companies, the KSA determined that all three had violated the terms of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Prevention) Act (Wwft).

Under the Wwft, licensed gaming firms – which hold Dutch licences under the October 2021 KOA Act regulatory regime – are required to monitor player transactions and report unusual transactions to the country’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

After assessing documents such as player files, internal documents on Wwft policy and risk assessments, it seems that the KSA was not satisfied that the three companies in question were meeting these requirements.

The regulator signed off its latest statement with a warning – it has cautioned over licence holders in the Dutch marketplace that subsequent inspections reveal further failures to adhere to AML standards, more severe sanctions like penalties or fines may be imposed.

Dutch gambling feels the pressure
The KSA’s revelation comes amid rising political pressure on the country’s betting and gaming industry, which has grown exponentially since re-regulation in October 2021 under the aforementioned KOA Act.

An initial marketplace of 10 licence holders has since grown to more than 30, and KSA reprimands and at times penalisation of operators for breaching conditions around AML, player protection or advertising are not uncommon.

Advertising in particular has become a contentious issue, with a total ban on sponsorships coming into play in July this year, following on from a ban on the use of ‘role models’ in advertising in 2023.

Many policymakers were concerned that a ‘bombardment’ of advertising in the years after market launch was having negative societal impacts. Figures from the national self-exclusion register, CRUKS, may have partly contributed to this view.

The latest figures, as revealed by CasinoNieuws.nl, show that more than 100,000 people have now self-excluded from the Dutch market. This includes a rising number of people opting for long-term self-exclusion instead of the shortest possible period possible, six months.

Though political pressure on the Dutch market may have temporarily paused ahead of the general election scheduled in October, politicians seem firmly committed to overseeing regulatory reforms, with a particular focus on preventing consumers aged-24 and under from compulsive gambling.

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GambleAware closure labelled ‘a tragedy’ ahead of levy implementation

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The Statutory Levy has been described as causing an ‘exodus of talent’ from the UK’s gambling harm treatment and prevention sector, following news of GambleAware’s closure.

GambleAware stated that as a result of the statutory levy it will undergo a “managed closure” by the end of March 2026. The charity had been acting as the commissioner of gambling harm treatment programmes since its foundation in 2002.

Jordan Lea, Founder of DealMeOut, reacted to the news on LinkedIn, describing GambleAware as the most recognisable, and respected brands to the population, and holds vast, specialised expertise in research, evaluation and commissioning.

He added: “It is an aberration that the implementation of the Statutory levy is causing so many job losses, creating an exodus of talent from our sector.”

What is the statutory levy?

Following changes made by the government, operators in the UK are now required to contribute to a statutory levy to support research, education and treatment (RET), with contributions determined by companies’ gross gambling yield.

As a result, the NHS will now take over from third sector organisations, such as GambleAware, as the main administrator of the treatment and prevention of gambling harms.

Up to £100m per year is expected to be raised by the new levy. 20% of which will go to the Research Commissioner, UK Research and Innovation, to research to establish a bespoke Research Programme on Gambling, as well as the UK Gambling Commission, to direct further research in line with licensing objectives.

The Prevention Commissioner, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), will receive 30% of the levy funding. OHID will develop a comprehensive approach to prevention and early intervention.

Meanwhile, 50% of the levy funding will go to the Treatment Commissioner, NHS England and relevant bodies in Scotland and Wales, who will commission treatment and support services in collaboration with the third sector.

Andy Boucher, Chair of trustees, GambleAware, commented: “The introduction of the new statutory levy and the appointment of the three new commissioners for gambling harms research, prevention and treatment means that, as expected, the work historically delivered by GambleAware will now transition to the UK government and new commissioners across England, Scotland and Wales.

“We have advocated for the introduction of a statutory system for many years and are proud of our contribution to its implementation. Alongside this, we are also proud of the impact GambleAware’s prevention and treatment activity has had in supporting tens of thousands of people over the years, through our national campaigns and our commissioned partners, including the National Gambling Support Network.

“Our main priority continues to be keeping people safe from gambling harm and to ensure stability and continuity for our beneficiaries as the new commissioners take over. The GambleAware website and critical prevention resources continue to provide accessible support for all.”

Building on current progress

Whilst Boucher welcomed the new era, he urged NHS England, OHID, UK Research and Innovation, and the appropriate bodies in Scotland and Wales to ‘build upon the current system’s achievements and insights to ensure learnings are carried forward’.

Reacting to the news, the Minister for Gambling Baroness Twycross, who is being charged with leading this new approach to addressing gambling harms, praised the work of GambleAware, and the wider third sector, and promised that the new levy will build on the work of such organisations.

She said: “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.”

A crucial junction

GambleAware highlighted the importance of its work in May, revealing that it had witnessed a 50% increase in self-referrals to regional support providers since April 2023.

The figures from the charity revealed that over 110,000 people had accessed some level of support from its National Gambling Support Network (NGSN) since its foundation in April 2023. Brief interventions, typically a short conversation on how to reduce the risk of gambling harm saw a 93% increase.

As a result, this underlines the importance of a smooth transition to the stewardship of gambling harm treatment by the NHS to ensure that those in need get the necessary help.

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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/

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GambleAware to close by March 2026 

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GambleAware has announced that it has begun the process to manage its planned closure by 31 March 2026, due to the UK health ecosystem transitioning to a new statutory framework to combat gambling-related harms.

The decision was formally confirmed by Andy Boucher, Chair of Trustees, who stated that the charity had fulfilled its duties in preparing the UK’s gambling support network to transition to a new public health-led system, managed by NHS commissioners across England, Scotland and Wales.

“The introduction of the new statutory levy and the appointment of the three new commissioners for gambling harms research, prevention and treatment means that, as expected, the work historically delivered by GambleAware will now transition to the UK government,” Boucher said.

“We have advocated for this statutory system for many years and are proud of our contribution to its implementation.”

Since 2017, GambleAware has played a central role in building a harm-reduction system through its commissioning of prevention, treatment and support services, including the National Gambling Support Network (NGSN).

At the close of 2023, DCMS chose the NHS as the lead commissioner for gambling harm services, overseeing the statutory levy under a new framework developed in partnership with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) as commission of treatment support.

The decision was made to ensure that the statutory levy and the wider gambling harms support network would operate independently of influence from the gambling sector — a long-standing criticism directed at GambleAware throughout its existence, and one which the charity consistently refuted.

According to Boucher, GambleAware’s programmes have supported tens of thousands of people annually, while national prevention campaigns have provided tools and advice to millions.

While preparing to close, GambleAware will continue to honour its commissioning agreements through to April 2026 to ensure continuity of services and stability for beneficiaries.

“Our main priority continues to be keeping people safe from gambling harm. The GambleAware website and critical prevention resources will remain available to ensure support remains accessible throughout the transition,” Boucher noted.

“Since 2017, GambleAware has championed the development of a statutory, public health-led system to address gambling harm. We welcome this new era in which gambling harms are recognised alongside other public health issues and are funded through a statutory levy.

GambleAware’s closure was acknowledged by Baroness Twycross, Minister for Gambling, who paid tribute to its legacy of expanding dedicated gambling harm support services within UK communities

“GambleAware and others across the third sector, including the National Gambling Support Network, have worked with tireless commitment over the years. As the new statutory gambling levy system comes into effect, managing a smooth and stable transition is an absolute priority.”

Twycross reiterated that the government would ensure continuity and seek to expand efforts to treat and reduce gambling harms under the new statutory system, which will be funded through a mandatory levy on gambling operators.

“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.”

The news marks a significant turning point in UK gambling policy, with the statutory levy replacing the previous voluntary funding model and establishing a more centralised public health approach to tackling gambling harms.

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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/

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Peru gambling sector unites against Dina’s punitive tax 

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Gambling Licences in Peru are ready to demand a repeal of President Boluarte 1% revenue tax, deemed as an unconstitutional measure, SBC Noticias’ Lucia Gando writes for iGaming Expert.

Tensions are high in Peru, as licensed gambling operators say they are united in their demand for the government to repeal the 1% Selective Consumption Tax (ISC) on wagers — a levy they describe as unconstitutional, anti-competitive and financially unsustainable.

Introduced in February 2024 under Legislative Decree 1644, the tax was pushed through by President Dina Boluarte’s administration as a means to underpin Peru’s newly regulated online gambling framework. The ISC applies a flat 1% charge on the total value of all bets placed including those made using promotional bonuses — regardless of an operator’s licensing status.

For operators holding Peruvian licences, the tax has become a threat to business, as international platforms can offset the tax by passing it onto consumers, domestic firms must absorb the cost directly, eroding margins and distorting competition.

Dina punishes Good Actors…

Industry insiders describe the tax as a blunt instrument that fails to account for the commercial realities of licensed operators. Promotional bonuses a core acquisition and retention tool are now being taxed as though they represent actual turnover.

“Taxing a bonus like real money is the equivalent of charging someone for a prize before they’ve even won,” said one executive involved in the legal campaign to overturn the measure.

Constitutional expert Carlos Fonseca Sarmiento, CEO of Gaming Law Peru, has gone further —branding the tax “openly unconstitutional.” He argues that Decree 1644 breaches Peru’s constitutional principles of equality, legal clarity, and non-confiscatory taxation. Crucially, the decree fails to clearly define the taxable event, making it vulnerable to legal challenge.

MINCETUR has no powers

While the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) has defended the ISC as a necessary fiscal tool projecting annual revenues of up to 284 million soles – critics accuse the government of undermining its own regulatory ambitions.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR), tasked with formalising the gambling sector, has seen its work destabilised. Industry voices say the MEF is working at cross-purposes with MINCETUR, penalising compliant businesses while doing little to police unlicensed operators.

“Every step MINCETUR takes to bring order, the MEF seems determined to dismantle,” said Fonseca.

The tension reached new heights last month when Congress voted to amend the tax — excluding promotional wagers and applying the levy only to cash-based bets. The move was welcomed by the industry, but swiftly vetoed by President Boluarte, who warned of a 95% drop in ISC revenues if the changes were passed.

Settlement in Congress

That veto has only hardened the industry’s resolve. Domestic operators are now preparing coordinated legal and constitutional challenges to strike down the tax in its current form. Many are also calling on Congress to override the presidential veto — a move that would require a qualified majority but could signal a decisive policy shift.

Meanwhile, questions remain over whether SUNAT — Peru’s tax authority — has the capacity to enforce the tax across unregulated or foreign platforms, many of which operate beyond its reach. As it stands, critics say compliant firms are being punished for playing by the rules.

All eyes now turn to the upcoming national gambling policy conference in Lima, where the industry is expected to present a united front. With market sustainability, regulatory integrity, and foreign investment on the line, pressure is mounting on the government to rethink its fiscal strategy — or risk watching the sector slip back into the shadows.

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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/

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GamCare opens tender to evaluate effectiveness of Women’s Pathway Programme

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GamCare seeks a qualified partner to evaluate the work and strategic progress of its “Women’s Pathway Programme” (WP Programme).

The gambling harms intervention, treatment and support charity has initiated a tender to review the WP Programme’s effectiveness with regards to breaking barriers that “prevent women from seeking help for gambling harms” and to provide further guidance on the programme’s development and strategic planning.

A headline project, the WP Programme was established in 2024 as a three-year mandate to help GamCare provide dedicated pathways for women in local communities to seek help from gambling harms, whether individually suffering or impacted by someone else’s behaviour.

GamCare views Women’s Pathways as an essential component to improving the support of the National Gambling Helpline and further enhancing treatment support services, resources and staff training.

As cited: “Fundamental to our approach is understanding the role that building women’s self-confidence/self-esteem, destigmatising gambling harm and improving health literacy plays in enabling women to access the services and support that they need.”

The impact evaluation will assess the effectiveness of the WPP in empowering women and reducing both individual and systemic barriers to help-seeking. Core evaluation questions will include:

How the programme enhances women’s confidence and decision-making regarding gambling harm.
The extent to which the programme has reduced stigma as a barrier to support.
The impact on help-seeking behaviour and accessibility of support services.
Milestones in women’s empowerment and destigmatisation during the funding cycle.
Recommendations for future development and scaling.

The scope of work will require the successful evaluator to develop a comprehensive evaluation plan outlining methodology, data collection tools and delivery timelines.

Evaluators will be responsible for analysing the findings and producing both interim and final impact evaluation reports. Findings will be presented to GamCare’s internal team and key stakeholders to inform ongoing strategic planning.

Tender submissions must include a cover letter detailing the applicant’s experience in conducting impact evaluations, particularly within the charity sector and on themes of women’s empowerment and/or destigmatisation.

Proposals should outline the intended methodology, plans for data collection and analysis, a realistic timeline for delivery, and the qualifications of the team.

The evaluation has a total budget of £80,000 inclusive of VAT and expenses. The contract will cover the period from April 2025 to June 2027, coinciding with the delivery and conclusion of the WPP.

Tender submissions are due by 8 August 2025. Shortlisted applicants will be notified the week commencing 11 August, with interviews (if applicable) scheduled for the week of 25 August 2025. The successful evaluator will be appointed between 8 and 19 September 2025.

Further details on the tender and submission process can be accessed via the following contact: Laura Burke – laura.burke@gamcare.org.uk. A full tender brief is available at: https://www.gamcare.org.uk/news-and-jobs/invitations-to-tender/

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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/

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UKGC to address data concerns after stats regulator critiques flagship survey of gambling habits

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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has issued a response to the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) following its review of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB), outlining a timetable for addressing any outstanding recommendations.

Within its response, the UKGC said that most of the recommendations will be addressed in October this year, which is when the second annual GSGB report is scheduled to be published.

GSGB reflections and OSR recommendations

Reflecting on the past year since the first official GSGB statistics were published, the Commission noted that the GSGB hub on its website had 5,271 user visits and includes a variety of outputs from the statistics, including a series of supplementary tables and two deep-dive reports.

Nearly 50 users downloaded the first GSGB raw data, published in the UK Data Service in February 2025, with the data being included in several externally published studies.

Back in May, OSR published its review of the GSGB from Professor Patrick Sturgis of the London School of Economics, outlining seven recommendations for the UKGC to act on. These recommendations were:

Research to better understand the relationship between the survey topic and the propensity of gamblers to respond to survey invitations

Undertake additional research to understand the role of socially desirable responding as the driver of the difference in gambling estimates between in-person and self-completion surveys.

Undertake a randomised experiment to evaluate the effect of the updated list of gambling activities on estimates of gambling prevalence and harm.

Take steps to assess the extent of potential bias in the subset of questions administered to online respondents only.

Continue to monitor best practice in the area of household selection of adults in push-to-web surveys.

Research the prevalence of gambling and gambling harm in groups that are excluded from the GSGB because they are not included in the sampling frame.

Seek opportunities to benchmark the estimates from the GSGB against a contemporaneous face-to-face interview survey in the future.

UKGC’s progress so far

Publishing its response to the OSR recommendations, the UKGC stated it has completed the following:

Updated the GSGB hub’s survey improvements page with information about experimental research commissioning – April 2025.

Hosted a webinar to launch experimental research implementing recommendations 1-3 from Professor Sturgis’ report – April 2025.

Provide a GSGB feedback channel for users – June 2025.

Created and published a user engagement strategy outlining how it will interact and understand the needs of users – July 2025.

Develop and implement a GSGB communications strategy – July 2025.

In terms of recommendations that are ongoing, the Commission stated that it will continue:

Updating the improvements page with the latest developments.

Incorporate user feedback to ensure the survey remains relevant.

Offer user feedback on contributions that can or can’t be addressed via GSGB.

Review and broaden the stakeholder engagement network where possible.

Build on partnerships with other official statistics producers.

Inform users on GSGB page updates in a timely and transparent manner.

Commission’s schedule ahead

As for what still needs to be completed, the UKGC has scheduled to:

Publish research governance framework – July 2025.

Receive feedback from the GSGB statistics user group on other information they would find useful regarding usage of statistics – July 2025.

Feedback from users on GSGB content they want to see published and how they would like to access data – July 2025.

Publish a report from experimental research – August 2025.

Show how GSGB links to evidence roadmaps – September 2025.

Provide additional quality assurance information in the GSGB technical report to combine UKGC and National Centre for Social Research processes – October 2025.

Publish information on how GSGB data is validated against other data sources within the technical report – October 2025.

Add links to guidance on using GSGB data from GSGB statistical landing pages and technical report – October 2025.

Tailor outputs to different users and potentially provide notes to editors when appropriate – October 2025.

Bring two GSGB technical support sections together – why the survey may underreport (people with lived experience may not respond) and why it may overreport (gambling focused) – into the same section – October 2025.

Potentially update guidance after experimental research based on Professor Sturgis’s recommendations and share with the statistics user group – October 2025.

Update materials relating to GSGB consistency and comparability with other related statistics after experimental research to implement Recommendations 1-3 from Professor Sturgis’s report is completed – October 2025.

Expand Power Bi dashboard, offering more granular data, cross-tab potential and smaller geographical area data – October 2025.

Bring hyperlinks from Excel contents page to tables and data tables – October 2025.

Investigate adding Digital Object Identifier (DOI) for publications to track how GSGB is being used and/or published – October 2025.

Publish communication on how GSGB data fits within the broader gambling data landscape and how data is integrated with other sources – December 2025.

Benchmark GSGB data against Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) – December 2025.

Benchmark GSGB data against the 2024 Health Survey for England – March 2026.

Additional questions have also been incorporated into the GSGB, including questions on consumer trust in gambling, unlicensed gambling and if respondents have registered with GamStop, while the question set about bingo has been expanded to understand the locations where bingo is being played in person.

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Uzbekistan toughens gambling violations ahead of regime change

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The government of Uzbekistan has applied new ‘gambling violations’ to the Penal Code, in preparation for the launch of a new gambling regime on 9 October 2025.

The penalties have been drafted by the National Agency for Perspective Projects (NAPP) who since 2024 have led the coordination efforts to launch the new Uzbek Law on the “Organization and Conduct of Gambling, Lotteries, and Betting Activities“.

Reforms to the Penal Code are needed to prosecute penalties and sanctions against “resident organizers of illegal online games, lotteries, and betting activities, as well as to foreign legal entities that illegally offer such services to Uzbek citizens.”

New laws introduce sweeping penalties on both domestic and foreign entities in which the government has authorised penalties to be matched to the Uzbek Base Calculation Unit (BRV).

Foreign companies found to be offering gambling services to Uzbek citizens without a local licence will face headline fines of 25,000 BRV , equivalent to €753,000.

In the most extreme cases, new laws will allow authorities to confiscate income gained from illegal gambling, with businesses blocked from Uzbek banks, internet access and services offered by financial institutions.

The same penalties will apply to any illegal establishment found operating physical casinos, betting shops, or mobile gambling terminals inside Uzbekistan.

Businesses that breach anti-money laundering standards or misuse personal data will be fined 15,000 BRV, amounting to around €452,000, while accepting deposits or stakes for unlicensed games can lead to €301,000 in penalties.

Capital Guarantee on Licences
Operators must meet stringent financial thresholds before even applying for a licence. Firms seeking to launch online sportsbooks or casinos will be required to hold a minimum authorised capital of UZS 56.25 billion, roughly €3.9 million, while lottery operators must show capitalisation of at least €1.4 million.

A reserve fund designed to guarantee payout capacity — will also be required: €1.75 million for gambling operators, and just over €945,000 for those in the lottery sector.

NAPP will oversee the launch of the new gambling regime, fulfilling the role of regulatory placeholder as the government will establish a centralised authority to govern gambling activities, licencing, transactions and conduct

In its role, NAPP maintains the legislation and licensing will represent “a pivot away from prohibition and toward regulated oversight, with zero tolerance for grey market actors.”

A Calculated Regime
Since 2019, the liberalisation of Uzbekistan’s gambling market has been a subject of ongoing parliamentary debate. In 2024, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev took decisive action via direct intervention, formally authorising the launch of a regulated gambling regime.

The president tasked NAPP to lead the mandate on the condition that revenues from the sector would be directed toward funding national programmes for sports infrastructure and athlete development.

A key project will see Uzbekistan’s regime built on a centralised system to monitor gambling transactions user accounts, bets and winnings will be recorded via the Unified State Register of Bets and Players (USRBP).

The government-run platform that allows the regulator to monitor financial flows in real time. The system will also enforce monthly wagering limits and store player identities, adding a layer of consumer protection uncommon in emerging markets.

Notably, the law empowers the Uzbek new gambling authority to act as both regulator and enforcer. Sanctions will be determined by the agency’s director following an internal review by its Sanctions Commission. Offending businesses will receive formal notice within three business days and will have 15 days to appeal to either the NAPP’s internal appellate council or to a civil court.

The government notes that 50% of all fines will flow directly into the National Budget, with the remaining half supporting NAPP’s operations. However, payment of fines does not exempt companies from further criminal or administrative consequences.

“This is not a pay-to-play regime,” NAPP has stated to applicants “It’s a compliance-first market that will reward transparency and capital discipline.”

Gambling has long been banned in Uzbekistan outlawed outright in 2007 — with limited exceptions carved out for state-licensed lotteries. The 2025 reforms mark a strategic reversal, positioned less as a liberalisation and more as a state-controlled monetisation of behaviour that has persisted underground for years.

In an official memo, the government justified the shift by pointing to the need to formalise economic activity, strengthen AML controls, and direct revenues to public coffers.

Licensing guidelines are expected in the coming weeks, with the first wave of applications to open before the October launch. As Central Asia’s most populous country embraces legal betting, its success will hinge on whether ambitious tech and regulatory projects can keep consumers safe from a unlicensed operators active in the market

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Massachusetts regulator fines DraftKings $450K for credit card usage

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Massachusetts‘ gaming regulator handed down its verdict on DraftKings after the operator unintentionally allowed customers to deposit with credit card funds and use them to gamble in violation of state law.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) confirmed it has fined the Boston-based operator $450,000 for multiple incidents that occurred in 2023 and 2024.

DraftKings had three separate non-compliance incidents

The Massachusetts statute that legalized online sports betting does not allow operators to accept deposits or wagers via credit card, even if the deposit was made in a state in which credit card deposits are allowed. DraftKings discovered and self-reported violations of this law three separate times, once in May 2023, again in July 2023 and finally in February 2024.

DraftKings believed it had resolved the issue after the first period of incidents, beginning on its go-live date in March 2023 and lasting until May 31. It blamed that initial transgression on an internal misco..

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Ohio Gov. says online casino is bad idea: ‘We have enough gambling’

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Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has long been skeptical of the idea of legalizing online casino. Increasingly, he is setting out his stall as a firm opponent.

The governor spoke to local media this week about the legislative push for online gambling expansion in the state.

“I’m not for it,” he said frankly, as first reported by Cleveland.com. “Basically, to put a casino in everybody’s hands, 24/7, I think is probably not a great idea. And I think it will cause more pain and suffering in regards to addiction as far as gambling addiction.”

Ohio currently has two online casino bills in play, one in the Senate and another in the House of Representatives, although neither SB 197 nor HB 198 has made any progress beyond being introduced and discussed in committee. DeWine has used that language about putting “a casino in everybody’s hands” before, and it surfaced again in almost identical form at a hearing for Rep. Brian Stewart’s HB 298 on June 3.

As it does in most states considering online casin..

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UKGC seeks fair spotlight on commercial restrictions

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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) will review how commercial restrictions are used by licensed operators on UK betting accounts.

Announced by CEO Andrew Rhodes, the Commission emphasised that the regulator does not intend to intervene in how licensees manage their commercial liabilities.

Source: UKGC
However, he said that the UKGC requires improved insight into how commercial restrictions are applied, to ensure the gambling market remains fair and transparent to consumers.

“The practice of bookmakers placing commercial restrictions on customers has long been a source of contention between impacted consumers and gambling operators,” Rhodes explained.

The Gambling Act Review’s White Paper presented no changes on the matter of commercial restrictions, as the UKGC maintains that “operators are entitled to act in their commercial interests and manage liabilities.”

However, in its effort to better understand current market dynamics, in early 2025 the UKGC issued a data request to major online betting firms, covering almost 15 million customer accounts.

As anticipated, the data showed that the application of stake or wagering limits were the most common application by operators, imposed on 2.68% of active accounts and 62.17% of restricted accounts.

The Commission noted that 643,779 customer accounts had been restricted in some form, representing 4.31% of the total active accounts surveyed. This figure includes a range of restrictions, with some accounts subject to multiple types of limitations.

Further measures included account closures, which affected 2.23% of active accounts and accounted for over half of all restricted accounts. In some cases, operators imposed a 0.00 stake factor — effectively blocking any bets from being placed, impacting 0.83% of accounts. More targeted restrictions, such as limiting bets on specific markets like horse racing, were rare and applied to just 0.25% of customers.

On the severity of stake factor restrictions, the data highlighted notable variation. A small proportion of stake-factored customers — just over 6% — were limited to between 90% and 100% of the standard maximum stake. Another 7.5% fell into the 50–89% range, while the largest shares were in the mid to severe brackets: 29.43% were limited to between 10% and 49%, and 36.22% faced reductions to between 1% and 9%.

Strikingly, 22.41% of restricted accounts were limited to stakes of less than 1%, rendering those accounts practically inoperable. These disparities show that while the term ‘stake factoring’ applies broadly, its impact on customers can range from marginal to exclusionary.

Further consultations with operators are needed, as the UKGC seeks to assess market fairness, restore consumer trust, and prevent practices that may push consumers towards black market operators.

Rhodes noted: “We do need to understand the role that commercial restrictions may be playing in pushing customers to illegal gambling operators and driving customer behaviours such as ‘multi-accounting’, which undermine wider controls designed to prevent crime, protect consumers, and identify integrity threats.”

On the matter of commercial restrictions, the UKGC stated that further engagement is needed between regulatory policy teams and industry stakeholders. It will continue to assess how these practices impact its statutory objectives of ensuring fair gambling, crime prevention, and consumer protection.

As yet, the UKGC has not presented the technical remit for a consumer ombudsman for UK gambling, as proposed by the White Paper’s reform of the Gambling Act. The ombudsman is expected to provide binding determinations on disputes between operators and customers.

By contrast, in jurisdictions such as France and Spain, sports betting licensees are not permitted to impose stake restrictions on individual customers, a mandate overseen by Consumer Affairs agencies.

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