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Youth gambling stable in latest UKGC report

iGamingExpertNovember 21, 2025098 views

Gambling exposure among young people in the UK is increasing, but the percentage of those experiencing problem gambling is “statistically stable” in comparison to the previous year.

This is the opinion of the UK Gambling Commission’s (UKGC) Director of Research and Policy, Tim Miller, in response to the Young People and Gambling Report 2025, the annual study that examines the full scope of young people’s gambling exposure, including games that aren’t restricted to over-18s.

He added that the data supports the UKGC’s efforts to continue strengthening protections for young people against gambling harm, as operators in the UK market must have robust protections in place to prevent children from accessing age-restricted products.

The vast majority of gambling activities that young people spend money on are legal or not age-restricted, such as arcade gaming machines, as well as bets and games with friends and family.

Strengthening understanding

“Each year this report further strengthens understanding of the relationship between young people and gambling,” stated Miller.

“We have seen an increase in participation in gambling – 27% in 2024 compared to 30% in 2025. The research shows that it is not children being encouraged or allowed to gamble underage driving this increase – it is the increased participation in gambling that is either legal or does not require regulation, such as private betting between friends.

“Even with that increased participation, the percentage of those scoring four or more on the youth-adapted problem gambling screen has not increased but has moved from 1.5% last year to 1.2% this year, which is classed as statistically stable.

“Where it relates to regulated forms of gambling, we use the data to continuously keep under review and, where needed, strengthen the suite of protections for young people that we require gambling companies to have in place.”

Produced by Ipsos, the research was conducted in schools with pupils completing an online self-completion survey. In total, 3,666 11 to 17-year-olds attending academies, maintained and independent schools in England, Scotland and Wales took part in this year’s survey.

Increased participation

The UKGC said that the key findings from the survey showed that over the last 12 months, 49% of 11 to 17-year-olds have experienced gambling, while 30% of 11 to 17-year-olds are spending their own money on gambling.

In addition, 1.2% of those surveyed are scoring four or more on the youth-adapted problem gambling screen (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition – Multiple Response Juvenile), down slightly from 1.5% in 2024.

Of those surveyed, the percentage of young people scoring a two or three on the screening and therefore experiencing ‘at-risk’ gambling was 2.2%, up slightly from 1.9% the previous year. 27% scored zero or one and therefore weren’t experiencing ‘problems’ with their gambling.

The survey also stated that:

Arcade gaming machines, such as penny pusher or claw grab machines, were played by 21%, 14% placed a bet for money between friends or family, while 5% played cards with friends or family for money.

23% spent their own money on regulated forms of gambling in the past 12 months, including playing arcade gaming machines. With arcade machines removed, this figure drops to 6%, which the UKGC says is stable compared to 2024.

78% who gambled with their own money in the last year did so because they find it ‘fun’.

Young people are more likely to see gambling-related advertisements weekly online, rather than offline, with 49% responding that they saw adverts through social media and 47% saying via apps. Of the people who saw content on social media, 31% said influencers had advertised gambling-related content.

Boys were more likely to see gambling-related advertisements than girls across platforms, including YouTube (53% boys, 31% girls) and at sports events (57% boys, 37% girls).

29% had seen family members they live with gamble. Of which, 7% said it caused arguments or tension at home, while 9% said it helped to pay for things at home.

The UKGC is also broadening its research into early gambling experiences and gateway products, exploring the gambling-like activities – such as loot boxes, social gaming, prize draws – that children, young people and young adults may first encounter and how these experiences could shape their future engagement with gambling.

Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner issues formal caution to Unibet

iGamingExpertNovember 21, 2025092 views

The Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner has issued a formal caution to Unibet in response to a £10m fine issued by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) for anti-money laundering and social responsibility failings.

Platinum Gaming Limited, which holds a dual licence for the UK and Gibraltar, received the original penalty from the UKGC in October, as well as a warning and it will be subject to a third-party audit to ensure that AML and safer gambling policies, procedures and controls are being implemented effectively.

Gibraltar’s regulator is issuing a formal caution to Unibet as the case highlights “fitness and propriety” concerns for the operator, in addition to impacting the “reputation of Gibraltar”.

However, the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner will not be imposing a financial penalty on the operator for the following reasons:

Historical nature of the failings in 2023 – case completed by UKGC in October 2025, after 21 months from the date of the relevant site visit.

A significant financial penalty has already been imposed.

Systems and controls related to the Gibraltar regulatory regime have been improved and are now considered satisfactory, pending a third-party review.

The regulator said: “Licence holders which are dual licensed are reminded that they are expected to comply with the AML/CFT/CFP regime not only in Gibraltar but also in other relevant jurisdictions in which they operate.

“Any Gibraltar licence holder which is subject to a regulatory sanction in another jurisdiction for AML/CFT/CPF breaches can expect the circumstances of that case to be reviewed by the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner and the possibility of a public statement being made as to findings.

“Further enforcement action on the part of the Gambling Commissioner cannot be ruled out where it is justified by the circumstances. The fact that a formal caution has been issued will be taken into consideration if other matters come to light in the future.”

iGaming Expert has reached out to FDJ United for comment on the formal caution issued to Unibet by the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner.

UKGC penalty

In its report, the UKGC illustrated major faults in Unibet’s customer interaction systems, including failing to spot and act on clear harm markers.

Customers lost thousands of pounds in a few hours or days of registration, players breached loss limits repeatedly and consumers showed binge gambling patterns without appropriate intervention.

One customer exceeded their loss limit of £2,500 within 16 minutes of registering and another lost £5,000 within 24 hours.

AML failures were also highlighted, including gaps in risk assessment, which resulted in customers who previously had their accounts closed by the licensee before 2023 being able to open new accounts and gamble.

It was also deemed that there was a lack of clarity in the company’s AML policy around due diligence thresholds and customer reviews failing to include potential high-risk factors.

This is the second time Platinum Gaming has been subject to a fine by the UKGC for AML and social responsibility failures, as the operator received a £2.9m penalty by the commission in 2023.

AML and safer gambling ‘a top priority’

In response to the UKGC penalty, an FDJ United spokesperson told iGaming Expert last month that AML and safer gambling are “a top priority” to its senior leadership and that the independent review will show that necessary steps are being taken.

“Platinum Gaming Ltd, the operator of Unibet in the UK and an entity of FDJ UNITED (at the time under the management of Kindred Group), acknowledges the UKGC’s finding that legacy monitoring technology was not sufficiently effective at the time of the review (i.e. from January 2023 to May 2024),” said the spokesperson.

“As a result of the findings by the UKGC, Platinum Gaming has implemented new software solutions and risk management frameworks across anti-money laundering and safer gambling, providing a detailed knowledge of customer risk, allowing for near real-time automated alerts and customer interventions.”

The spokesperson added: “FDJ UNITED remains committed to the highest compliance standards and player protection policies. As part of this, the Group will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of and improve its processes and tools to meet these standards.

“Senior leadership have safer gambling and anti-money laundering as a top priority in operational discussions, as well as a priority in the Group’s strategic agenda. FDJ UNITED will continue to work closely with the UKGC on this matter and remain confident that the external review will show necessary steps have been taken.”

GambleAware places spotlight on ADHD gambling support

iGamingExpertNovember 21, 2025092 views

New research from GambleAware has shown that neurodivergent people may be more at risk of experiencing gambling harms as they use gambling as a coping mechanism.

As such, new resources are now available to improve gambling harm support for neurodivergent people, which utilises research, lived experience insights and expert guidance.

Six key principles have also been identified that gambling support and treatment for neurodivergent people should be based on.

Complex link between neurodivergence and gambling

Neurodivergence describes how people experience and process the world and is commonly associated with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia. It affects communication, learning, sensory experiences and problem-solving. Around 15% of the UK population is estimated to be neurodivergent.

GambleAware noted that new research has shown neurodivergent people may gamble “to manage social isolation, as a coping mechanism, or because of increased impulsivity, hyperfocus, and a preference for rules, order and routine”.

The charity also said that neurodivergent people frequently come across obstacles when trying to access gambling support, such as being unaware that support is available, as well as stigma and fear of judgement when looking for help.

With that, six key principles have been outlined that gambling support and treatment for neurodivergent people should be based upon to provide the best possible service:

Understanding and adapting to the diversity of communication needs that neurodivergent people have.

Ensuring clarity and simplicity in communications with neurodivergent people.

Providing support in ways that promote the autonomy and independence of clients with neurodivergence.

Providing support in an environment that considers the sensory needs of people with neurodivergence, such as reducing the risks of overstimulation.

Promoting the use of self-directed approaches, such as self-help tools and informal support, such as peer networks.

Making sure staff are trained in neurodiversity awareness and different communication methods.

“The new report highlights the complex link between neurodivergence and gambling,” commented Anna Hargrave, CEO of GambleAware.

“Characteristics of neurodivergence like impulsivity, hyperfocus, social difficulties, and a need for stimulation drive gambling behaviour and increase harms, while stigma, shame, and lack of tailored support further isolate neurodivergent people and make it harder for them to seek help.”

Tailored neurodivergent support

In response, new resources have been developed by IFF Research and Ara Recovery for All, based on GambleAware-funded research that was produced in partnership with University of Bristol academics.

The research aimed to see if neurodivergent people face an increased risk of experiencing gambling harms, identify the key drivers for gambling harms among neurodivergent people, analyse formal and informal gambling support barriers, as well as establish support, treatment, communication and engagement best practices and principles.

Commissioned by the charity, the new resources aim to help therapists and practitioners with tailored gambling harm support for neurodivergent people, including training materials, toolkits, and case studies, each designed to build confidence, reduce barriers and promote inclusive, effective support.

Hargrave added: “The resources we have produced are designed to support therapists and practitioners working with clients who experience both gambling harms and neurodivergence.

“They address a critical evidence gap in understanding how gambling harms affect neurodivergent people and how treatment can be tailored most effectively to ensure it is as effective as possible.”

UK operators hit GGY highs despite new online slots limits

iGamingExpertNovember 21, 2025085 views

Online slots limits implemented in the UK iGaming market earlier this year are having minimal impact on underlying financial figures and engagement for the vertical.

Data released by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has shown online slots gross gambling yield for the market’s second quarter of 2025 (July to September) to be £746.5m, up 9% year-over-year (Q2 2024: £686.1m).

The number of spins also rose by 4% YoY to 24.4 billion (Q2 2024: 23.5 billion), while the average monthly active accounts fell by 0.4% to 4.4 million per month (Q2 2024: 4.4 million).

Despite it being the second quarter in which the maximum stake limit for online slots had been implemented – £5 limit for adults from 9 April, £2 limit for 18 to 24 year olds from 21 May – GGY and the number of spins figures continued on an upward trajectory, recording new highs.

The number of spins per session has fallen to 130 (Q2 2024: 141), while GGY per session has declined to £3.96 (Q2 2024: £4.11), but the total number of sessions has increased by 13% to 188 million (166 million).

Online slots sessions lasting over an hour have dropped by 15% YoY as well to 8.6 million (Q2 2024: 10.1 million), with the average session lasting 16 minutes (Q2 2024: 17 minutes) and approximately 5% of all sessions exceeding one hour (Q2 2024: 6%).

Overall, this data could be interpreted to say that online slots limits have little to no impact on GGY and the number of spins for operators as more people are playing, but ultimately, players are spending less time and money playing online slots.

However, the UKGC did note that several operators “refined their session length methodology during the previous year, which will impact year-on-year comparisons on the number of sessions, sessions over one hour and average session length metrics”.

Across other verticals in Q2, the commission stated that:

Online total GGY was £1.42bn, up 8% YoY. The overall number of total bets and spins increased 3% YoY, to 26.1 billion. The average monthly active accounts decreased 7% to 12 million.

Real event betting GGY increased by 12% YoY to £508m. The number of bets decreased 3%. The average monthly active accounts decreased by 14%.

Betting premises GGY decreased by 5% to £508m. The number of total bets and spins decreased by 2% to 3.1 billion.

New minister addresses ADR shortcomings in Curaçao

iGamingExpertNovember 21, 20250102 views

With the Curacao gambling sector only just falling into his remit, the country’s Minister of Justice, Shalten Hato, is already making significant updates to the LoK regime in the country.

Hato has taken major steps to fix the Alternative Dispute Resolution process, which had been criticised as having potentially ‘industry-centric bias to the management of complaints, baked into the system’.

During a previous analysis, iGaming Expert had identified that there were potential shortcomings in the ADR resolution policy, however, Hato’s latest reforms have blocked the potential “territorial ringfencing of ADR approval”.

The latest changes from Hato all but eradicate these fears, and close potential loopholes in the ADR process. Hato has banned ADR providers from having any affiliate or B2B involvement with operators.

Additionally, ADR officials are also prohibited from offering any B2B services to Curacao operators, with independent lawyers being required for the process. In order to fully ensure the process is neutral and bias does not plague the system, conflicts of interests are banned, and the CGA has the ability to remove bodies at any time.

One of the key fears was the necessity for the ADR lawyer to have a background in Curacao, a territory that is so ingrained in the gambling sector, leading to trepidation that links to the industry would be unavoidable, whichever lawyer was selected.

Nonetheless, the updated text from Hato underlines that official ADR entities solely need to meet the CGA certification criteria, with nothing in the policy now leading to them having local incorporation or Curacao residence.

Furthermore, so long as they are willing to undergo CGA due diligence, the process is now seemingly expanded to international lawyers, in a significant shift for the framework’s ADR policy.

Also of importance is the 90-day window that has now been implemented to ensure ADR cases are dealt with in a timely manner. This marks a milestone in how Curacao deals with ADR cases, with a timeline not having previously been established.

Hato has clearly elevated the focus on consumer protection as Curacao enters a new era of gaming regulation with the implementation of the LoK.

Significant for both parties is the finality of ADR resolution: once an ADR process concludes, the dispute cannot be transferred to another ADR provider. This adds procedural certainty and prevents “ADR shopping”.

However, ADR rulings are only binding on operators, not on players. This may create a situation where operators must accept every ADR outcome, however, players remain free to reject an unfavourable ruling and pursue the matter through other legal or regulatory avenues.

As a result, operators may be cautious, recognising that a determined player can effectively “walk away” from an ADR outcome and escalate through courts or alternative frameworks, even though Curaçao prohibits re-opening ADR with a second provider.

The initial steps from Hato will only serve to increase his embracing by many in the industry, after the CGA’s supervision was switched from the Finance to the Justice department following controversy surrounding Curacao’s Finance Minister, Javier Silvania, who has since resigned.

One of the key allegations levelled against Silvania related to the process of the issuing of “provisional” online gambling licences, with allegations that several had been granted prior to the Lok being enacted, which led to questioning of their legitimacy.

Even amid the political tensions, the CGA issued assurances that the process to appoint new members of the board is underway, and the implementation of the Lok remains on course and uninterrupted.

The CGA’s Aideen Shortt stated: “Supervision and governance within the CGA continue uninterrupted. The Authority remains fully functional and independent, continuing to implement and enforce Curaçao’s new regulatory framework under the LOK.

“Despite sensationalist headlines and fake-news articles, there is no delay or deviation in the rollout of the LOK, and no disruption to the CGA’s licensing or compliance programmes.”

Hato is a much less polarising figure and has seemingly sought to take a tougher approach to money laundering in the country, publicly emphasising that there has been an increase in prosecutions for the crime.

During a recent Parliamentary meeting, he outlined statistics that revealed that 26 individuals had been prosecuted for money laundering. Furthermore, he also detailed that money laundering cases linked to drug trafficking had risen last year – as he sought to showcase a tougher stance against illicit money.

Videoslots’ UKGC sanction highlights open-loop payment concerns

iGamingExpertNovember 21, 2025083 views

Significant risks associated with the use of pre-paid digital vouchers have been laid bare in the UK Gambling Commission’s latest action.

The UK regulator has ordered Videoslots Limited, the operator of videoslots.co.uk, mrvegas.com and megariches.com, to pay £650,000 after an investigation revealed anti-money laundering and social responsibility failures.

The case cited a customer who was able to fund their account in excess of £75,000 using digital pre-payment vouchers, before transferring the proceeds of their gambling activity to four different bank accounts.

Despite the presence of these high-risk factors, the customer’s automated AML risk score did not trigger the threshold for the operator to request source of funds information promptly, ‘leading to unacceptable delays in an account review taking place’.

John Pierce, Commission Director of Enforcement, explained: “Open-loop payment systems are high risk in nature because they could enable anonymous deposits and make it harder to trace funds.

“In this case, the licensee failed to implement timely customer interactions and did not conduct enhanced customer due diligence until the customer had reached significant spend thresholds – such failings are unacceptable.”

UKGC guidance classifies all pre-paid payment methods as high-risk due to the ability for these methods to be pre-loaded using cash or, in some cases, cryptoassets.

The commission requires such payment methods to be factored into a customer’s risk profile and appropriate risk-based due diligence to be undertaken.

“Operators must review how open-loop payment systems such as prepaid digital vouchers are managed in a gambling environment because they are high risk and present operational challenges in terms of effective monitoring,” added Pierce.

Commission calls for crypto review

The need to address the rising popularity of crypto payments has been a particular focus for the UKGC’s CEO, Andrew Rhodes, who earlier this month emphasised the “pressure building within the system”.

“The reality is, in some years to come, there will probably be a significant cohort of consumers who use cryptocurrencies because that is what they’re accustomed to. It is a demographic shift that will find they have no place in the legitimate industry because of the currency they use,” stated Rhodes during his CEO briefing.

He added that any changes must be led by government-level discussions, as ‘once you open that door, you cannot close it’.

“The reality is, and this growth in those demographics means, I don’t think governments can ignore that pattern,” said Rhodes.

Not the first infraction

Other failures highlighted by the UKGC investigation included Videoslots’ deposit limit mechanism. Although the operator’s monitoring systems automatically set a monthly deposit, that limit ran across a calendar month and did not include the customer’s initial deposit.

As a result, a customer was able to lose £5,000 in a month despite having a £3,000 monthly deposit limit. Another also lost £7,500 over 18 days despite having a £2,000 monthly deposit limit.

The UKGC also noted that the monitoring systems deployed by Videoslots also did not effectively identify customers who were potentially at risk of gambling harm, citing one customer who did not receive any interaction from the operator despite losing £6,550 over the course of three active days of gambling across a two-month period.

Alongside the financial penalty, Videoslots has received a warning and is also required to undergo a third-party audit to ensure it is implementing its AML and safer gambling policies and procedures.

This is not the first time that Videoslots has been in hot water with the UKGC. In June 2023, the company paid £2m as part of a settlement with the regulator due to similar AML and social responsibility failures.

iGaming Expert has reached out to Videoslots Limited for comment.

Gaming Compliance acquires controversial Yield Sec

iGamingExpertNovember 21, 2025094 views

Gaming Compliance International has moved to significantly elevate the war against the black market through the acquisition of Yield Sec for an undisclosed sum.

As a result of the deal, Yield Sec’s platform, processes and team will be integrated into GCI’s operations. Ismail Vali, Founder and CEO of the black market monitoring platform, will also assume the role of President of GCI.

Matt Holt, CEO of GCI, commented: “We are proud to welcome Ismail Vali and the entire Yield Sec team to GCI. This acquisition accelerates our mission to deliver transparency, integrity, player protection and certainty for regulated jurisdictions worldwide.

“Yield Sec’s innovative platform for effective and efficient disruption will become a cornerstone of our offering, enabling regulators and operators to gain unprecedented awareness and actionable awareness across the total online gaming marketplace.”

According to GCI, Yield Sec’s machine-led monitoring technology, which it says was adapted from military anti-terrorism and counterinsurgency, will become a core pillar of the company’s offering as it seeks to deliver advanced regulatory technology and marketplace transparency to the global gaming industry.

Vali described joining forces with GCI as the “next stage in our mission to defeat black market crime and protect the integrity of regulated gaming”.

“Yield Sec was founded to help regulators and operators see the entire online marketplace – legal and illegal – and act with certainty,” he added.

“GCI strengthens that foundation, expanding our ability to serve clients across commerce, community, and consumers. The purpose remains the same: to secure a sustainable, compliant, and fair marketplace that benefits everyone.”

Yield Sec was founded in 2020 through a collaboration between the marketing agency A Game Above and the player protection company Beanstalk to provide a tool for the industry to monitor and counter black market gambling activity.

Black market trepidation

The deal comes at a time when the global black market is becoming an increasingly prevalent and distressing issue for the regulated iGaming sector.

The Betting and Gaming Council recently estimated that £2.7bn is staked annually on the online black market in the UK, equivalent to 2.1% of the amount staked with regulated operators.

Meanwhile, Andrew Rhodes, the UK Gambling Commission CEO, stated: “We are determined to protect consumers and maintain confidence in the regulated sector by taking robust, evidence-led action.

“Since April 2024, we’ve seen a tenfold increase in our disruption activity, and we intend to continue to work with a wide range of partners to build on this success.”

He added: “The illegal online market is unsafe, unfair and criminal – that is why the Commission has invested heavily in this area in recent years.

“To be even more effective in combating the illegal market,it’s vital that we have both a deep and broad understanding of how it operates, and this insight is a crucial step in building that understanding in a very complex area to research.”

Šimon Vincze: Exploring the effects of illegal gambling on the regulated industry

iGamingExpertNovember 21, 2025094 views

In his latest piece for iGaming Expert, Šimon Vincze, Head of Sustainable & Safer Gambling at CasinoGuru, tackles a controversial subject as he examines what the gambling ecosystem would look like in the absence of the illicit sector.

There has been a new type of discussion centred around the positives, or rather, the legitimacy of illegal gambling. Perhaps controversial for some, but definitely interesting. It is a question of principle, law, and morality as well as cause and effect. One thing is sure: the illegal market keeps us on our toes and forces us to collaborate in tackling it.

It reminds me of my university years when I studied international politics. During a lecture on globalisation, someone asked whether it was possible to attain complete unity. The professor responded with cold confidence that it would only happen if there were a substantial external threat, likely from outer space, naturally, aliens.

Fast forward 15 years, and I am no longer so sure about that. You don’t need to be a superintelligent extraterrestrial to understand that people are easily manipulated. Thankfully, there is no propaganda claiming that illegal gambling is here to save us. Still, you must admit that some effects of its presence push the industry forward.

How would the gambling world look if it were not so easy to play at offshore operators? I find it exciting to think about it, but I dare not draw any conclusions. However, I will most probably not be writing this article, and we would know much less about the gambling experience that is exciting, but safe(r) at the same time.

Measuring the threat

After a brief philosophical warm-up, let’s examine the size of the hydra. As I have heard people refer to it recently, because each time you shut down one illegal channel, two new ones emerge. This is especially true in social media environments that are difficult for authorities to regulate but remain popular among younger generations.

Recent global meta-analyses of over 3500 reports show that nearly 18% of adolescents have gambled in the past 12 months. I believe the actual number of those exposed to gambling or gambling features is considerably higher.

Without considering different age groups, the American Gambling Association stated in their report that 48% of respondents had bet on illegal offers. This was in 2022, while a more recent estimate from Yield Sac claims that offshore gambling accounts for 74% of US gross gambling revenue. Additionally, a recent report in Sweden suggests that channelisation rates for online casinos have fallen to between 72% and 82%.

Casino Guru’s analyses of Google searches for specific casino brands reveal that more than half of these are directed towards illegal operators in the Netherlands. Our data shows a rise in such searches following the introduction of deposit limits in October 2024. Other countries are not performing well either, with around 20% of illegal searches in the United Kingdom and Sweden, and nearly a third in Spain.

theScore handed $105,000 penalty in Ontario for player protection failures

iGamingExpertNovember 11, 2025090 views

Score Media and Gaming (theScore) has been given a CAD $105,000 (approximately €65,000) monetary penalty by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) for failing to meet responsible gambling and player protection standards.

The AGCO has stated that the penalty is due to several alleged violations of the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming.

All registered operators are required by the standards to proactively monitor player behaviour, intervene when risks of gambling-related harm are detected, and ensure employees are properly trained to support player protection.

A regulatory review by the AGCO found that a customer of theScore wagered $2.5m and lost approximately $230,000 over eight months, including approximately $100,000 in the first month.

The Commission stated that this customer showed “frequent, high-stakes play and escalating losses that clearly indicated potential gambling-related harm”, including “repeatedly requested bonuses, displayed loss-chasing behaviour, and showed signs of distress to the operator’s VIP host”.

According to the AGCO, theScore missed opportunities to appropriately intervene and reduce the potential for high-risk play, adding that the operator “relied on the patron’s self-assessments and failed to conduct meaningful responsible gambling due diligence or interventions” despite inaccurate income documentation and warning signs being shown.

“Player protections are a fundamental requirement for any gambling operator looking to conduct business in Ontario,” noted Dr Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of the AGCO.

“When operators fail to uphold these critical safer gambling standards, they not only betray the trust of their players but also undermine the integrity of Ontario’s regulated igaming market.”

The AGCO added that theScore has the right to appeal its decision to the Licence Appeal Tribunal, which is an adjudicative tribunal independent of the AGCO and part of Tribunals Ontario.

iGaming Expert has reached out to theScore for a comment on this penalty from the AGCO.

Sweden limits slot machines in restaurants ahead of major 2026 changes

iGamingExpertNovember 11, 2025083 views

Swedish leisure and hospitality businesses have been advised of new licensing obligations governing the operation of slot machines in public venues, which see limitations on their hosting of slot machines based on annual turnover.

Under the new rules, restaurants will only be permitted to host slot machines if their annual food and beverage turnover exceeds SEK 1m (€100,000 including VAT), with one additional machine allowed for every extra SEK 250,000 in verified turnover. However, slot machine revenue must never exceed the restaurant’s dining turnover, a safeguard designed to reduce over-reliance on gaming income.

The reform follows Spelinspektionen, Sweden Gambling Inspectorate decision to end the former rules (LIFS 2018:9) applied by the Swedish Lottery Authority on casino gambling and slot machine games.

The intervention sees venue rules switched to a “modernised framework” – titled: “Regulations and General Advice on Slot Machine Gaming.”

Adopted from 1 December 2025, the new framework introduces clearer operational conditions for licensees servicing värdeautomater (slot machines) in hospitality and leisure venues, as defined under Chapter 5, Section 1 of the Gambling Act (2018:1138).

Further requirements demand that machines remain in full view of staff and under active supervision. They must be located within the licensed serving area, disconnected outside licensed serving hours, and cannot be positioned near ATMs or obscured spaces.

Similar provisions apply to bingo halls, where slot machines may only operate during bingo sessions and up to one hour before and after play, always under staff supervision.

Operators are also instructed to improve player-facing information, providing clear contact details, licence information, game fees, and references to responsible gambling resources such as Stödlinjen. Staff acting as spelombud (gaming attendants) must be trained in the Gambling Act, responsible gambling protocols, and player protection procedures.

Spelinspektionen’s Director General Camilla Rosenberg said the reforms promote “greater alignment between land-based and online gaming environments” and reflect the regulator’s ongoing efforts to modernise gambling oversight.

“These changes clarify the responsibilities of licensees and venues, ensuring slot gaming takes place in safe, supervised, and socially responsible environments,” the Inspectorate stated.

SIFS 2025:1 will come into force on 1 December 2025, formally repealing the LIFS 2018:9 framework and marking the first step in what regulators describe as “a complete renewal of Sweden’s gambling supervision entering 2026.

Prelude to sweeping 2026 reforms

In the closing months of 2025, Spelinspektionen has warned all Swedish licensees to prepare for a transformative 2026, during which several significant changes will reshape the country’s gambling governance.

Next year will bring modifications to the Gambling Act, tightening definitions of illegal gambling engagements and activities to strengthen enforcement against unlicensed operators. The government has moved to expand the scope of the Gambling Act to explicitly target illegal offshore companies operating in or accessible from Sweden.

The Ministry of Finance has endorsed a memorandum proposing the removal of the “directional criterion” from the Gambling Act — a long-standing provision that excluded games not specifically aimed at the Swedish market from domestic law. Its removal will allow authorities to pursue operators simply for allowing Swedish players to participate, regardless of geographic targeting.

Governance of Sweden’s gambling market will also be reinforced through new enforcement powers and a penalty framework granted to Spelinspektionen, giving the Inspectorate broader authority to issue sanctions, revoke licences, and increase penalties for non-compliance and conduct.

Of significance, Sweden will become the first EU nation to implement a complete ban on gambling with credit. Scheduled from 1 April 2026, all licensed operators will be prohibited from processing payments funded by credit cards, overdrafts, personal loans, or buy-now-pay-later services. The reform, championed by the government as a consumer-protection measure, aims to curb gambling-related indebtedness and strengthen responsible gambling safeguards.

The implementation of these measures will now fall under the leadership of Acting Director General Johan Röhr, who succeeded Camilla Rosenberg as head of Spelinspektionen on 1 November 2025, signaling a new phase in the Inspectorate’s direction and governance.