iGamingExpert

GambleAware closure labelled ‘a tragedy’ ahead of levy implementation

iGamingExpert0175 views

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.

…………….

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

Peru gambling sector unites against Dina’s punitive tax 

iGamingExpert0178 views

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.

………………………….

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

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

iGamingExpert0176 views

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.

Read more

Nigeria set for domestic collision on gambling overhaul 

iGamingExpert0178 views

There have been significant objections raised in Nigeria as the central gaming bill passes its third reading and approaches completion.

The Federation of State Gaming Regulators (FSGRN) has vehemently objected to the bill and shared concerns over its progress, as the regulatory framework for the sector edges closer to change.

The Central Gaming Bill is looking to shift the current oversight of the National Lottery Act, which has been deemed unconstitutional. It would mean the building of a federal framework.

However, opposition to the bill from the FSGRN has highlighted that the bill would be a significant constitutional overreach, as well as a threat to destabilising the federal structure in Nigeria.

Warnings from the FSGRN underline that it could intrude on constitutional provisions and have a profoundly negative impact on the country’s gambling framework.

The bill would see the formation of a commission that would oversee the country’s gambling sector and governance of the industry.

Central to the incentives of the bill is to strangle illicit operations and boost efficiency within the licensing process.

The shift comes as the Nigerian gambling industry rides a wave of momentum in terms of engagement and traffic.

Driven by youth and fintech tapping into the gambling industry, it was recently predicted that Nigeria’s iGaming sector is set to grow by 16% and hit NGN $500m in revenue by the end of the year.

The Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority emphasised that this has been significantly accelerated by the growth of mobile tech in the country.

The body’s CEO, Bashir Abiola-Are, praised fintech such as mobile wallets and QR-codes that have increased the efficiency in the way players access the betting industry.

A growth in internet penetration has also had a widely positive impact on engagement with the gambling sector, as the report revealed more than a doubling of the internet users in the country.

Key operators in the country, such as Betway, NairaBET, Bet9ja, 22Bet, and 1xBet, have all seen positive growth through fintech collaborations, utilising mobile wallets to elevate the user experience for gambling.

Read more

UKGC won’t make any changes to VIP and HVC schemes for now

iGamingExpert0195 views

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has published the results of an updated exercise which looks at the ongoing impact of policy change related to VIP or High Value Customer (HVC) schemes.

In a blog post, the UKGC’s Head of Evidence Assurance and Evaluation, David Taylor, detailed that such VIP and HVC schemes were “no more commonplace” in 2024 than they were in 2021 after the regulatory change, which changed how an operator can make a customer a VIP so that they wouldn’t be used to exploit gamblers.

Operators can only make customers VIPs now once they have checked that their spending is affordable and sustainable as part of their leisure spend; assessed if there is evidence of gambling-related harm or heightened risk linked to vulnerability; make sure they have up to date identity, occupation and source of funds evidence; and continue to verify information provided and conduct ongoing gambling harm checks on each individual.

Individuals at operators are also made personally accountable for the scheme’s management via a senior executive who holds a personal management licence.

In response to the High Value Customer and VIP Scheme Monitoring Report‘s publication, Taylor noted that the report, based on 2024 data, followed a similar process to the report from 2021, so the results can be considered comparable.

However, it was added that the new report “benefits from the addition of further questions and a consideration of whether HVC or ’VIP’ schemes are referenced in Commission casework”.

Land-based casinos

Alongside the fact that the schemes are no more commonplace than they were previously, the number of people in such schemes has remained consistent, with every HVC scheme having a senior executive appointed to oversee operations as well.

The report also found that HVC schemes were “less often assessed as being a contributory factor in issues under investigation within Commission casework”.

The UKGC calculated the proportion of gross gambling yield which is produced by HVC schemes in the sample as being around 3%.

Yet, there was a significant difference between operators and sectors, with land-based casinos having “a greater reliance on scheme members as a proportion of GGY”.

The Commission did acknowledge that staff supervision and interventions can help provide gambling harm support when necessary, and that the vast majority of customers in high-end casinos are high-net-worth individuals based overseas.

Taylor stated: “This factor, in particular, may have led to the difference in GGY proportions compared to other sectors and it’s worth noting that this finding isn’t accompanied with any allegations of consumer harm, but it is something that can be factored into the Commission’s assessment work.”

Outlook

In his closing comments, Taylor noted that while the intended impact of the VIP and HVC scheme changes is being accomplished, it’s important to remember that the exercise was “reasonably modest in scope”.

“Limitations are detailed in the report and include details about the sample of operators and how this is intended to provide a relatively high-level overview of the policy’s effectiveness. It’s also worth noting that the impact of this policy is also influenced by other changes to regulatory requirements on topics such as customer interaction, for example.”

Taylor concluded that, for now, no additional changes will be made to VIP and HVC schemes, but the UKGC is still ready to step in when required.

“Although evaluation exercises like this will never be able to give total assurance, it does provide an indication that the regulatory objectives have been delivered and further changes are not currently required.

“Where operators fail to meet requirements, we will continue to take action.”

Read more

Japan initiates new ‘strategy of enforcement’ to tackle unlicensed casinos

iGamingExpert0140 views

From 1 September, the National Police Agency of Japan (NPA) will initiate its new ‘strategy of enforcement’ against unlicensed online casinos.
The campaign runs parallel to new laws implemented by the Diet (Parliament) to combat the exposure of unlicensed gambling, as the promotion of offshore gambling platforms will become a criminal offence.
Yet despite imposing harsher penalties, concerns remain that the police and government are criminalising the wrong parties in the fight against illegal gambling. Japan’s legal stance on online casinos has long been unyielding.

Set by Japan’s Penal Code, all forms of gambling outside state-regulated industries—such as horse racing and pachinko are illegal. But in recent years, offshore operators have exploited digital loopholes and linguistic accessibility to capture millions of Japanese consumers.

The government’s legislative response, passed in June, is Japan’s most sweeping to date: outlawing not only the operation and use of unlicensed gambling sites, but also the advertising, promotion, and referral to such platforms through any online medium.

The updated law criminalises a wide array of previously unregulated activity. Influencer endorsements, affiliate websites, ranking lists, banner ads, smartphone apps, and even user-generated content are now deemed illegal if they direct traffic to gambling websites not licensed within Japan.

Media platforms are being put on notice, with ISPs and app stores expected to comply with takedown requests. To bolster its reach, Japan has appealed to foreign regulators including those in Malta, Curaçao, the Isle of Man, and the Philippines—to block access to Japanese users or remove Japanese-language support from gambling services.

The NPA’s language is unambiguous. “The use of online casinos—regardless of server location—constitutes a criminal act under Japanese law,” it declared. The Ministry of Justice, meanwhile, frames the reform as a matter of national sovereignty in the digital age: a pushback against “vice markets” that prey on the social and financial vulnerabilities of Japanese citizens.

日本国内では、オンラインカジノに接続して賭博を行うことは犯罪です。また、日本国内にいる人を賭博に誘引する行為は、海外からでも違法です。絶対にやめましょう。#警察庁 #オンラインカジノ #アフィリエイト #ボーナスコード #暗号資産　 https://t.co/lBVcp2rz9J pic.twitter.com/GVupAO4IiV
— 警察庁 (@NPA_KOHO) May 13, 2025

Fighting a Trillion-Yen habit

The government’s newfound urgency is rooted in sheer scale. A 2024 survey conducted by the National Police Agency revealed that approximately 3.37 million people in Japan—nearly 3.4% of the population have used offshore casino websites at least once, with an estimated 1.97 million active users.

The average annual wager per user sits at a striking ¥630,000 (approx. €3,900), placing the total volume of illegal online gambling at around ¥1.24 trillion (approx. €7.7 billion). This figure dwarfs the legal betting markets, and has led lawmakers to view offshore gambling not just as a moral concern, but a fiscal one.

The picture darkens further when viewed through a social lens. Nearly 40% of users surveyed did not realise that gambling on offshore casino websites was illegal in Japan. Among regular gamblers, 46% reported having incurred debt, with many borrowing money or using high-interest consumer credit to finance their bets. As the financial consequences spill over into family life, public institutions are under mounting pressure to respond. But the state’s answer has not been to offer support—it has been to punish.

Enforcement has surged. In the first half of 2025 alone, Japanese police made 279 arrests tied to online gambling, more than double the tally for the whole of 2024. And while much of the law’s language appears directed at operators and facilitators, the overwhelming majority of those arrested were individual consumers. The scale of enforcement, critics argue, is not only unprecedented but strategically misdirected.

Prohibition over Protection

Despite launching Japan’s first Integrated Resort in Osaka—complete with a multibillion-yen casino floor—the government shows no appetite for legalising online gambling. The prevailing logic in policymaking circles is that to regulate is to legitimise, and that legalisation would only increase exposure and normalise risk-taking behaviours.

Ministries such as Finance, Health, and Internal Affairs view gambling as a regulatory burden, not a potential revenue stream to be managed or monetised. There is no political momentum to reframe gambling policy through a commercial or public health lens.

Unlike neighbouring states, which permits tightly controlled state-run online betting via Singapore Pools, or Hong Kong Jockey Cub (HKJC) type business. Japan has never formally proposed or consulted on launching a national, state-owned online gambling firm. The very idea remains anathema to the country’s legislative culture, which treats gambling not as a taxable utility but as a social hazard.

Yet the policy emphasis on criminality has exposed deeper contradictions. Public messaging around the new law focuses almost exclusively on deterrence. There is no state-backed campaign addressing gambling addiction, nor significant investment in treatment or financial rehabilitation programmes. As a result, critics warn, Japan is tackling a behavioural health issue with a criminal justice toolkit.

The cultural context makes the problem harder to untangle. In Japan, addiction is rarely discussed openly and often perceived as a moral failure rather than a health condition. The social stigma is so strong that few seek help voluntarily. This silence has been mirrored in policy, with addiction support conspicuously absent from the NPA’s rollout plan.

Whether this strategy can succeed remains uncertain. In a globalised digital economy, borders mean little to offshore platforms with Japanese-language support and crypto payment systems. If Japan continues to criminalise behaviour without providing alternatives, it risks not only driving users further underground—but also undermining public trust that cannot be won by enforcement alone.

Read more

Easter bunny and robot DJ adverts land Play’n GO in hot water with ASA

iGamingExpert0192 views

Three adverts with an Easter bunny, a robot DJ and cartoon princesses have landed Play’n GO Malta in hot water with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

Play’n GO has been criticised by the ASA for the adverts, which appeared alongside email inboxes, including those that belonged to children, as their imagery was deemed likely to have a strong appeal to people under 18 years of age.

Two complaints were received by the authority about the casino gaming content provider’s adverts seen beside their own or their child’s email inbox. These complaints challenged whether the ad’s content was likely to be of strong appeal to under-18s. The three banner ads from Play’n GO were seen in April 2025.

Adverts in question

Advert A, seen beside the email inboxes of two children, showed a cartoon Easter bunny in a superhero outfit holding a silver egg in one hand and a basket of eggs in the other with text stating “MYSTERY EGG SURPRISE”, “Easter Eggs” and “EASTER EGGSPEDITION”.

Advert B, shown next to an email inbox, featured a cartoon robot DJ with a purple screen for a face, displaying white pixels, with one arm raised and the other hovering over a turntable. It included text which said: “SPINNING RECORDS INTO THE BEAT”.

Advert C, seen next to a child’s email inbox, included three anime-style, cartoon princesses with text that read “Moon Princess Origins”.

All the ads featured the Play’n GO logo and an 18+ symbol, while the latter two adverts also included the UK Gambling Commission and BeGambleAware.org logos.

Play’n GO’s response

In its response, Play’n GO stated that each advert was for a separate slot title – the Moon Princess series; Spinnin’ Records into the Beat; and a game with an Easter theme – and designed to appeal to players of legal age across various jurisdictions.

While the provider admitted that adverts could be appealing to children, they believed the images were popular with adults and that gameplay “required an adult mindset” and so couldn’t be attractive to children.

The adverts were also run through AdRoll, a programmatic advertising platform, didn’t carry age restrictions, and were identified as related to gambling during the bidding process for advertising space to make sure they were only served to websites that had opted to include such adverts.

Play’n GO mentioned that users who visited their website could be retargeted with their ads on other websites, but a cookie-consent banner on their website meant “tracking or retargeting activities were only undertaken with a user’s consent”.

Despite not being an operator or offering gambling opportunities on its website, visitors are still required to confirm they are of legal gambling age in their respective jurisdictions when visiting the Play’n GO website, according to the ASA report.

The provider viewed this as “an additional safeguard to help ensure that re-targeted ads were subsequently directed towards individuals aged 18 and over in the UK”.

Play’n GO did note that an adult user “could previously have visited their website and provided consent, and then a child could see the retargeted ad alongside a free, web-based email account because they were using the same device at the same IP address”, describing it as an “acknowledged limitation within programmatic advertising”.

As such, Play’n GO stated the adverts had been appropriately audience-targeted, but acknowledged they had been “inadvertently served alongside a child’s mailbox due to factors beyond their direct control”.

Adroll added that the provider “took measures to deter players under the age of 18 through the age-gate on the website”, and that they didn’t serve ads to try and reach individuals under 18 and believed the ads “were not directed at, or likely to appeal to, those under 18, and had been either a “lookalike” prospecting or retargeting campaign”.

ASA’s assessment

However, in its assessment, the ASA has upheld the complaint against Play’n GO, as it considered all the ads were likely to be of strong appeal to under-18s. The adverts must not appear again in their current form, and Play’n GO Malta has been told not to include imagery that was likely to have a strong appeal to those under 18 in their future ads.

The authority said the Easter bunny in Advert A suggested the Easter bunny was dressed as a superhero taking part in an Easter egg hunt, which is popular amongst children, and there likely to strongly appeal to under 18s.

For Advert B, the ASA made the same case that it was likely to be of strong appeal to under-18s, as the authority stated that a cartoon robot DJ-ing is an activity likely to appeal to young persons.

For Advert C, the ASA noted that the colourful costumes and the anime styling of the cartoon princesses were likely to have a strong appeal to under-18s as well.

“We considered that it would have been acceptable for the ads to appear in a medium where under-18s could, for all intents and purposes, be entirely excluded from the audience,” stated the ASA.

“That would apply in circumstances where those who saw the ads had been robustly age-verified as being 18 or older, such as through marketing lists that had been validated by payment data or credit checking.

“We considered that the targeting measures used by Adroll, which relied on self-declaration of age of users entering the Play’n GO website and retargeting based on that data, as well as prospecting targeting using browsing behaviours, were not sufficiently robust to ensure under-18s were entirely excluded from the audience. We also understood that two of the ads had been served to space alongside the email inboxes of children.

“We therefore considered that Play’n GO Malta had not excluded under-18s from the audience with the highest level of accuracy required for gambling ads, the content of which was likely to appeal strongly to that age group.

“For those reasons, we concluded that the ads were irresponsible and breached the Code.”

Read more

Greece forms Task Force to strangle illegal gambling networks 

iGamingExpert0180 views

The Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) will establish a task force “to combat the scourge” of illegal gambling networks.

The task force will be composed of EEEP units working in coordination with Greece’s national police, judiciary, and financial intelligence unit to dismantle criminal networks and prosecute offenders. Spearheading a “collaborative approach,” the EEEP has called upon broader government agencies and public bodies to engage in joint initiatives.

A deep cooperation is needed as EEEP seeks to understand how illegal gambling networks have used technology to bypass regulatory systems and engage with Greek online consumers.

Particular emphasis will be placed on understanding the operational tactics of illegal networks including their use of social media, encrypted messaging apps, and database marketing and the methods through which they obscure financial flows via layered transactional systems.

New intelligence from this initiative will be shared with government stakeholders to shape new policies and protective measures aimed at fortifying Greece’s regulated online gambling sector.

“Members must take unified legal action in Greece and use their capabilities to address this matter. Some recent actions taken (e.g., with the UK) are being assessed by a working group. To this end, there are legal provisions and a legislative framework that the EEEP may activate when necessary,” the Commission stated.

The Hellas Gambling Law was last revised in 2021, formally empowering the EEEP to introduce a permanent online gambling licensing regime. The framework ended a decade-long “grey market transition” by issuing seven-year licences, taxed at €3 million each, for betting and casino operations. The reform brought regulatory clarity and tax accountability to foreign operators that had previously operated under provisional licences.

To underscore the need for continued vigilance, the EEEP has published its economic update on the Greek gambling market, revealing a Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) of €1.24 billion for the period January to May 2025.

The data continues to illustrate a marked shift in consumer behaviour, with online gambling channels now firmly dominating the market. Of the total GGR, over €528 million was generated from online operators, compared to €456 million from land-based betting shops. This hyper divergence highlights the increasing preference of Greek consumers for digital platforms, particularly in sports betting and online casino gaming.

The EEEP emphasises that the creation of the task force is essential to counter growing concerns over the black market. Unlicensed operators are believed to be exploiting online channels to evade tax obligations and undercut licensed providers.

These trends, the Commission warns, pose a direct threat to state revenues and the integrity of the regulated market. Launching the task force and reinforcing its data capabilities, the EEEP aims to restore public trust, protect consumers, and ensure that gambling tax contributions from licensed operators remain robust.

Read more

California hones in on sweepstakes as Senate passes ban

iGamingExpert0193 views

All eyes were on California yesterday, as legislation seeking to prohibit sweepstakes progressed to the Golden State’s Senate Appropriations Committee.

Bill AB831 was unanimously passed by the Senate Committee on Public Safety, mounting pressure on the sweepstakes sector.

Making the case against sweepstakes, San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson emphasised that he believes there is a threat from sweepstakes towards the younger generation.

“In today’s digital age, increased access to online gambling and virtual betting, coupled with the lack of strong age verification safeguards, puts our youth at serious risk of developing crippling gambling addiction,” testified Anderson.

“Legal gaming operators such as the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation comply with the numerous laws and regulations that are designed to ensure consumer protections and confidence and confidence in the gaming market.”

Anderson also shot down suggestions from ACLU Action California, as the group lobbied against the legislation. The County District Attorney dismissed claims that the legislation is looking to take aim at players, stating that “it is not interested in that.”

He continued: “We’re not seeking to penalise the player. Provisions in this bill are only intended to penalise the companies, often offshore, which are the source of this illegal gambling, who are operating these dual currency model games illegally in the state.”

The ACLU joined the SPGA and SBLA in leading the charge against the bill.

The SPGA said it “is proud to stand alongside the ACLU, the Association of National Advertisers and other partners in voicing concerns about AB 831.

“This diverse coalition, including civil liberties advocates, leading businesses and industry groups, reflects a shared belief that the bill, as written, could have unintended consequences for lawful promotional practices without offering clear consumer protections.”

The SGLA has also underpinned its belief that the consequences of a far-reaching ban would have significant consequences. The group stated it would stifle innovation and undermine lawful business models, and reduce customer access.

Bill sponsor Assemblyman Avelino Valencia also provided further details on where the bill will focus its action. Valencia detailed plans to amend the bill to ensure “things like payment processors, financial institutions, geolocation providers, media affiliates and also individuals” wouldn’t feel the wrath of the bill.

Read more

Tighter regulations loom for the Philippines

iGamingExpert0175 views

The environment for gambling in the Philippines could be about to become more hostile as the Central Bank is eyeing tighter restrictions for players in the country.

A draft circular set out by the bank is aiming to limit the amount of money players could deposit on gambling websites and see the introduction of a 24-hour cool off period following heavy usage.

The Bangko Sentral Pilipinas’ (BSP) issued circular places an elevated focus on the payment providers when it comes to ensuring player protection is effective in the country.

When it comes to Online Gambling Payment Service Limitations, the regulator has underlined that PSPs must facilitate the implementation of the new measures.

BSP said: “It is imperative to ensure that digital payment services of payment service providers are not misused for activities that are socially harmful and detrimental to financial health.

“These regulations establish standards and expectations for PSPs in the provision of online gambling payment services as well as set the enhanced know-your-customer measures to uphold applicable legal prohibitions on access to and participation in online gambling.”

There was also an emphasis on the importance of collaboration between the payment sector and operators when it comes to onboarding and player protection.

The circular described the PSPs and OPSs concerned as needing to “have prudent acceptance criteria and procedures for the onboarding and monitoring of online gambling operators”.

“The said criteria and procedures must incorporate the following: a. PSPs and OPSs concerned shall ensure that they engage or partner with OGO that are licensed/authorised by or registered with the appropriate government agency duly empowered by law or its charter to license or authorise entities or business to engage in such activities.”

Signposting must also be adequate when it comes to ensuring the players can see where the safer gambling toolbox is available.

Feedback on the circular remains welcome until the 25th July, as the country continues to evolve into a new era for its gaming framework.

PAGCOR backing regulation

PAGCOR recently pushed its support behind stricter regulations in the Philippines but opposed a prohibition on online gaming.

Speaking on DZMM Teleradyo, the regulator’s Chair and CEO, Alejandro Tengco, asserted that “regulation is key” to strengthening his country’s gaming market. PAGCOR’s current [stance] is not a total ban, but stricter regulation,” he said.

Tengco endorsed measures proposed by Sherwin Gatchalian, which include a ban on using e-wallets to fund online betting, a minimum player age of 21, and, to discourage participation by low-income players, a minimum deposit requirement of PHP10,000 (£129).

On Friday (4 July), Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri filed the more aggressive ‘Anti-Online Gambling Act of 2025’, a bill that seeks to implement an outright ban on online gambling.

Zubiro described gambling addiction in the Philippines as a growing “silent epidemic” and claimed: “For as long as gambling is within reach by almost anyone online, this is a social cancer that will continue to fester.”

Read more