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UKGC fines Betfred operator £240,000 for inappropriate slot features

iGamingExpertOctober 1, 20250256 views

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has issued a £240,000 penalty to the operator of Betfred.com for having online slot features which breached its Remote Technical Standards (RTS).

The Commission found that Petfre (Gibraltar) Limited, which runs betfred.com and oddsking.com (no longer operational), operated a selection of slot titles that failed to meet RTS requirements, including “hosting games which failed to display the consumer’s net position and games which celebrated losses as wins”.

RTS requires all gaming sessions to clearly show a customer’s net position, and a gambling system must not celebrate returns that are less than or equal to the total stake gambled.

Concerns about the celebratory effects’ fairness when a customer was in an overall losing position were raised by the UKGC, which stated that it may “negatively impact a player’s ability to interpret their gameplay accurately and make informed choices”.

Action was immediately taken by Petfre (Gibraltar), according to the report, which decommissioned the affected titles.

“Features that impair a consumer’s ability to make informed decisions are not appropriate and pose a clear risk,” commented John Pierce, Commission Director of Enforcement.

“While we acknowledge the operator acted swiftly to remove the affected games, this enforcement action should serve as a clear signal to the wider industry to review and strengthen their compliance practices — and to ensure that gameplay is fair and consumers are not exposed to unnecessary risk.”

Petfre (Gibraltar) has previously faced regulatory action from the UKGC, as the operator was fined £2.87m for social responsibility and anti-money laundering failures in 2022.

iGaming Expert has reached out to Betfred for comment on the UKGC fine.

Is Vietnam edging closer to a new era of regulation?

iGamingExpertSeptember 26, 20250215 views

Vietnam could be shifting towards a new approach to gambling regulation as local media reports suggest two land based casinos could be set to open to local players.

Frameworks are strict when it comes to limitations on local residents gambling. Currently, casinos, online betting and sports betting remain illegal for Vietnamese citizens.

However, there have been pilot programs launched that are enabling locals to gamble in these venues, with these pilot programs being expanded for a further five years.

The Grand Ho Tram and Van Don Integrated Resort are the two resorts at the centre of the pilot program’s expansion.

In order to ensure the financial viability of each entrant, the Ministry of Finance has put forward entry fees of VND 2.5 million (approximately $100 USD) for each 24-hour period of casino access, as well as VND 50 million (approximately $2,000 USD) for a monthly pass.

The pilot expansion will require final sign off from Vietnam’s Prime Minister, Pham Minh Chính and the country’s Minister of Finance.

This is a similar approach taken to that of Singapore, a framework that by many is considered the gold standard in Asia.

It marks the continued evolution of the country’s decree on gambling, with it also ensuring that, in order to strengthen the links of firms in the country, with local laws and market development, foreign online game suppliers must have a presence in the region.

There are also stringent age verification and surveillance frameworks placed upon casinos at the centre of the pilot program expansion.

Vietnam’s Corona Resort & Casino in Phu Quoc was previously utilised as part of the trial for enabling local residents to gamble. Whilst results for this trial were significantly limited by COVID, it is reported that the resort could be enabled to take on the permanent inclusion of local players.

This is a move that further underpins that evolution of the gambling framework and the country’s shifting stance when it comes to casinos.

VNLOK: False reviews leading Dutch players to illegal offerings

iGamingExpertSeptember 24, 20250220 views

Vergunde Nederlandse Online Kansspelaanbieders (VNLOK) has issued a stark warning to Dutch gambling stakeholders concerning the activity of the illegal market.

VNLOK, a trade body for licensed Dutch operators, said that reviews on Google and Trustpilot are being manipulated, resulting in illegal websites being made to look trustworthy by false reviews and fake profiles, in addition to illegal websites being promoted through websites that have been acquired or hacked, including former Government websites.

These revelations came from Meld Vals Spel, an initiative launched in November 2024 that covers illegal gambling reporting. VNLOK stated it has received a total of 238 reports about practices used by illegal gambling providers.

“We see how sophisticated illegal gambling sites masquerade as trustworthy entities,” noted Björn Fuchs, Chair of VNLOK.

“This makes it nearly impossible for consumers to tell the difference. That’s why it’s crucial that reports are followed up quickly and that illegal providers are dealt with more rigorously.”

VNLOK has called on Dutch politicians to trust legal gambling and note the damage illegal practices can do to players who are at risk, stating that high taxes and additional restrictions on legal providers push players to illegal operators.

These comments are in response to significant changes to the country’s tax on gambling, which increased from 30.5% to 34.2% in 2025, and it will rise again to 37.8% in 2026.

The trade association said: “Give the Netherlands gambling authority the power to take decisive action and immediately block illegal gambling sites and their affiliates. And ensure that the legal market remains attractive and visible, so players can more easily find a safe provider.”

Of note, Meld Vals Spel said that most reports (30%) highlighted misleading advertisements from illegal online casinos, while other areas included misuse of logos and names of legitimate providers (20%), making illegal sites accessible to minors (10%), and problems with payments and withdrawals.

According to VNLOK, €1.2bn is estimated to be spent by Dutch players with illegal providers in 2025, while around 200,000 gamble illegally online, “36% of whom are at-risk gamblers – four times as many as with legal providers”.

Supported by Frank Kruit in processing the reports, the trade association added that a quarter of players don’t know if they are gambling legally or illegally.

Illegal international gambling network taken down in Kuwait

iGamingExpertSeptember 23, 20250215 views

Kuwait officials have reportedly eradicated a network that allegedly facilitated online gambling and enabled the illicit transfer of profits abroad.

According to investigations, the network was at the heart of significant money laundering operations, which utilised a myriad of avenues to transfer funds.

First reported by the Kuwait Times, trading outlets, delivery services, health salons and perfume shops were all avenues tapped into by the network to siphon money out of the network.

The site also reported that the busting of the lucrative network led to the seizure of funds totalling around KD 153,837 (£373,805), whilst funds transferred from abroad via unofficial channels totalled KD 25,000 (£60,750)

The Ministry of Interior has underpinned that the arrests and referrals to public prosecution are part of its much wider strategy to tackle illicit gambling.

Key figures from the network were reportedly based in Turkey, with a statement from officials emphasising that there is nobody above the law in terms of tackling gambling.

Laws are incredibly strict in Kuwait when it comes to gambling, with the activity being prohibited and any engagement resulting in fines and imprisonment. Furthermore, money laundering any profits from the business can also result in significant sanctions from the Government.

The only previous efforts for the legalisation of the gambling industry in Kuwait dwindled before they gained real momentum in 2014.

Politician Waleed Al-Nasser proposed the plans to boost the economy and diversify the tourism sector in Kuwait, but they were met with vehement opposition.

Since then, the Middle East has transformed in many ways, as a cultural shift has been undertaken in the United Arab Emirates.

This has included the gradual expansion of its gambling regulation, which included the formation of the GCGRA, the federal body responsible for regulating all commercial gaming activities in the region.

Nonetheless, even with this expansion, operators and suppliers looking to move into the UAE have been warned that they should anticipate tough conditions.

In a recent interview with iGaming Expert, Lau Kok Keng, who was at the heart of shaping Singapore regulations, underlined that even at the early stages, there are key lessons for operators.

He stated: “The UAE is in the early stages of regulated gaming, and the legal and regulatory framework is still very much evolving. Operators looking to enter the UAE market should stay abreast of all legislative and policy updates, build relationships with government agencies, local partners, and community leaders to understand cultural sensitivities and regulatory expectations.

“The UAE is likely to adopt a highly regulated and tightly controlled model, with a strong emphasis on anti-money laundering, responsible gambling, and social safeguards. Operators must be prepared to meet stringent compliance standards.

“The UAE is also a conservative society with unique cultural and religious considerations. Marketing, product offerings, and customer engagement must be tailored accordingly. Any investment in the UAE market needs to be a long-term one, with investment in local talent, training and infrastructure necessary.”

EGBA seeks support for European standardisation of markers of harm

iGamingExpertSeptember 23, 20250262 views

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has called on delegates to approve a continent-wide standard on markets of gambling harm.

Members of national standardised bodies have until 25 September to vote on a proposal submitted by the EGBA to the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), which seeks to establish a list of behavioural indicators that can signal problematic gambling behaviour.

According to the trade body, the framework, in development since 2022, will address a “critical gap” in the use of markers of harm in responsible gambling, as there is currently no agreed framework defining what constitutes risky behaviours.

“We call on national delegates to approve the important standard, which will contribute to a better understanding of problem gambling behaviour and support more effective harm prevention across Europe,” urged Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of the EGBA.

During the development, experts across Europe, including academics, gambling regulators, operators and harm prevention professionals, have come together to develop the proposed policy.

If approved, the finalised standard is expected to be published by CEN by the beginning of 2026. It will be voluntary in nature, meaning online gambling regulators will decide whether they wish to incorporate it as part of their national safer gambling frameworks.

The EGBA represents licensed operators regulated across 21 countries across the European Union.

Spain leads the way

Already in the EU, national regulators are working on their own systems to counter problematic behaviour.

In June, Spain’s regulator, the Directorate General of the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ), laid out plans for a responsible gambling algorithm that will step in to lead Spain’s player protection evolution

The DGOJ’s Director General, Mikeal Arana, also revealed that it has been forced to overhaul the detection systems in the country due to the failures of operators.

At the Gaming in Spain conference, he told attendees that very few of the country’s operators are implementing the detection systems mandated under the Royal Decree that governs gambling in Spain.

“We have seen that from 50 operators, around 38 have [no] risky players, which is hard to believe,” explained Arana.

UK Gambling Commission shuts down Advisory Board for Safer Gambling

iGamingExpertSeptember 23, 20250213 views

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has opted to close the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG) as part of the market’s move to the research programmes funded by the statutory levy.

According to the Commission, the advisory board has completed its original remit of providing oversight and challenge in relation to the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms, so focus must now shift to “new arrangements better aligned to the next phase of research and regulation”.

Andrew Rhodes, Chief Executive of the UKGC, stated: “ABSG has played an important role in shaping how we think about gambling harms, and embedding lived experience perspectives into regulation. I want to thank all current and former members for their contribution and commitment.

“As we move into a new phase with the implementation of research programmes funded by the statutory levy, our priority is to ensure we have the right expert input to help inform our work. This is the right time to close ABSG and establish new arrangements that reflect the future needs of our gambling regulation and research.”

The UKGC noted that the ABSG assisted in important gambling regulation development, including recognising gambling harms as a public health issue and creating the Lived Experience Advisory Panel to include lived experience opinions in policy and regulation.

The Commission added that the advisory board also provided support to the introduction of the statutory levy, developed to fund independent research, education and treatment.

Helen Child, Head of Governance, added: “ABSG have made a huge contribution to gambling regulation and the Commission. I am grateful for the insight, engagement and challenge each and every member has provided.”

A new research-focused expert group will be established by the UKGC to “support the expanded role of research made possible through levy funding”.

The implementation of the statutory levy will cause several changes to take place in the UK gambling market beyond the closure of the ABSG.

One of those changes will be to GambleAware, as it will undergo a managed closure by 31 March 2026, with the charity fulfilling its existing commissioning agreements until the new system is in place by April 2026.

The levy will see the UK Research and Innovation, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, as well as NHS England and relevant bodies in Scotland and Wales, working as Research, Prevention and Treatment Commissioners respectively.

UK Gambling Commission lifts lid on black market activity

iGamingExpertSeptember 23, 20250219 views

The UK Gambling Commission has released the first phase of a new study that seeks to provide insight into the illegal online gambling sector in the UK.

Initially focused on consumer awareness, drivers and motivations to engage with the black market, the research, conducted by Yonder Consulting, revealed only a minority of players were aware they were straying into the illegal market.

The research also found that those using the black market were more likely to prioritise better odds, playing games unavailable in the UK and alternative payment methods.

Others chose to do so due to the lower barriers to entry, such as ID verification processes, and the ability to circumvent protection measures like self-exclusion.

Andrew Rhodes, Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission, commented: “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 combatting 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.”

According to the research, users of illegal sites fall into four distinct categories.

‘Self excluders’, those who have previously chosen to self-exclude from licensed sites but feel the urge to gamble again.

Meanwhile, ‘social explorers’, players who typically discover sites through social media and affiliate websites, and ‘accidental tourists’, are both likely to be unaware they are playing on an illegal site.

“I didn’t realise these sites might be unlicensed. I didn’t even think about their being UK based or otherwise,” said one respondent in the latter category.

Finally, ‘skilled advocates’ are players who “knowingly and systematically engage with illegal websites”, and are motivated by the desire to acquire new skills and explore a variety of new game types.

Individuals in this group tend to find websites by engaging in conversations with other gamblers through platforms like X, Whatsapp, Facebook, Telegram and Reddit.

The Betting and Gaming Council estimates 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.

Despite engaging with black market sites, the majority of respondents agreed that it is important for operators to hold a licence to offer their services in the UK.

“We are determined to protect consumers and maintain confidence in the regulated sector by taking robust, evidence-led action,” Rhodes emphasised.

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

The release of the study marks the start of a phased publication in the coming months, with later work focused on engagement and data trends, enforcement and disruption activity and the challenges of estimating the size of the UK’s black market.

Meta and Malaysian government set for crunch talks over illicit marketing

iGamingExpertSeptember 15, 20250230 views

The Malaysian government is set to take aim at meta over the prevalence of black market gambling ads that appear on the site, according to a report by The Scoop.

It comes ahead of a crunch meeting between the two parties over the advertising of black market operators across social media sites, specifically Facebook.

The meeting, which is set to take place on 22 September, arrives following a flurry of complaints from the government over the lack of action from Facebook around harmful advertising.

One of the central issues set to be raised by the government’s Communications Minister, Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, is around the lack of action when it comes to blocking credit cards with known links to black market websites.

Speaking to reporters, he stated: “If a gambling ad is paid for using a credit card, and Facebook knows this content is illegal in Malaysia, they should block the credit card account used. But Facebook has refused to do so.”

“Many people benefit from these platforms socially and economically – but we cannot allow criminals to misuse them for profit or to commit online crimes.”

He also took aim at the platform over the accessibility of black market gambling adverts and just how prevalent they are.

Social trepidation across India

This issue is not isolated to Malaysia, a recent report by the All India Gaming Federation revealed the extent at which players in the country engage with the black market.

The report detailed that unlicensed betting platforms had a total of 1.6 billion visits over a three month period.

It was a report that specifically took aim at poor effectiveness of the current measures being in place when it comes to halting the black market – specifically pinpointing website blocking measures as not having the desired effect.

This partially comes down to illegal operators utilising mirroring websites to enable users to circumvent blocking regulatory takedowns and blocking protocols.

Central to this is the usage of new UPI accounts in order to evade detection from website blocking strategies.

The report cited RBI data from July 2024, which states that mules funnel around $300m in illicit funds every month, with the illicit gambling market being one of the most significant beneficiaries of these transactions.

It revealed that mules provide one of the key ways for the illicit market to evade regulatory and financial frameworks, an evasion they rely on to be sustainable.

Furthermore, there is also evidence, according to the report, that using blocking as the sole strategy when it comes to crippling the black market is simply ineffective. The report cited Norway, the UK, Denmark, Belgium, and the United States as markets that highlight this.

The network utilised by illegal operators was described by the report as “highly sophisticated”, engaging with a myriad of payment journeys and currencies – these include UPI transactions facilitated through mule accounts, cryptocurrencies, and international wallets.

In terms of traffic drivers to the illicit market, the report cited the significant impact of social media and influencer marketing, calling on strictness of advertising policies to be increased.

It detailed that over a three month period, social media drove 42.8 million visits to just four illegal sites, whilst referral traffic generated 247.5 million visits, primarily from adult sites, gambling affiliates and promotions on sports and video streaming platforms.

It specifically took aim at the Facebook advertising policy, which has grown monumentally in recent times.

iGaming Expert Analysis: The action of the Malaysian government could well usher in strengthening of strategies from across Asia when it comes to ensuring that social media giants do more to tackle the black market. We have already seen in India the impact of Instagram and Facebook when it comes to black market engagement. We have also seen the recent growth of TikTok when it comes to a platform that bolsters black market engagement.

The Malaysian government is clearly intent on ensuring that social media platforms do more and unsurprising given the funnel that social media can provide to the black market – here’s hoping that other governments will follow their lead on this one.

GambleAware: prize draws normalising gambling a ‘troubling trend’

iGamingExpertSeptember 11, 20250195 views

GambleAware has published its annual report for 2024, citing concerns over a rise in marketing around prize draws such as McDonald’s Monopoly and Omaze, as it reported a significant rise in gambling harm support in the past four years.

Prize draws were highlighted within GambleAware’s ‘Annual GB Treatment and Support Survey 2024’ for the first time, but this vertical is not regulated as a licensed form of gambling.

The gambling support charity noted that prize draws are a vertical in which people who gamble are either estimated to be experiencing any level of problems from participating, around one in four (27%), while around one in nine (11%) are estimated to be experiencing ‘problem gambling’ (PGSI 8+).

GambleAware has warned that prize draws have “many similarities to certain types of gambling”, the risks associated with them may not be understood and that they normalise gambling, particularly for young people and children.

Image: GambleAware’s ‘Annual GB Treatment and Support Survey 2024’

Treatment and support survey

Conducted by YouGov, GambleAware’s ‘Annual GB Treatment and Support Survey 2024’ is an online quantitative survey of 17,933 adults in Great Britain, as well as a qualitative element.

Fieldwork was undertaken between 25 November 2024 and 23 December 2024. The survey included 17 one-on-one depth interviews with people who gamble and seven one-on-one depth interviews with people who recently started gambling.

According to the report, almost one in three (30%) adults who gamble and are experiencing any risk of gambling problems want treatment, support or advice, almost doubling the 17% figure from 2020.

GambleAware noted that the increase “could be an indicator of gambling harm as a growing issue across the country”, adding that the proportion of adults who are experiencing ‘problem gambling’ has risen to 3.8% in 2024 (2020: 2.4%).

There has also been an increase in the number of people being impacted by a friend or family member’s gambling, from losing money to having a relationship break down, with the figure increasing to 8.1% (2020: 6.5%), equivalent to an estimated 4.3 million adults.

“Gambling can be highly addictive, with devastating impacts on people’s lives, relationships and financial stability,” noted Zoë Osmond OBE, CEO of GambleAware.

“While it is encouraging that more people have sought help, this rise may also point to a growing public health crisis.”

‘Urgent preventative action’

The report also spotlighted children’s exposure to gambling, with 91% of people backing a ban on gambling advertising on TV and video games, while 90% support a social media ban.

Osmond noted: “We are increasingly alarmed by how gambling is being normalised and how frequently people—especially young people—are exposed to gambling across Great Britain. To reverse this troubling trend, urgent preventative action is needed. This must include tougher regulation of gambling advertising to stop gambling being portrayed as ‘harmless fun’.

“There should also be mandatory health warnings on all gambling ads, stricter controls on digital and social media marketing, and a full ban on gambling promotion in stadiums and sports venues to protect children and young people from harm.”

National Lottery and cost of living

The report also asked for perspectives on the UK National Lottery, which were mixed, as 45% of people agreed that the National Lottery was good for society overall, while 14% disagreed with the statement.

Perceptions of National Lottery game types were varied due to their characteristics, as draw games’ delayed gratification and lower cost per play were associated with less risk, while instant win games’ game design and ease of access were viewed as more addictive and harmful.

Image: GambleAware’s ‘Annual GB Treatment and Support Survey 2024’

80% of respondents also said that gambling had no impact on their financial situation in the past three months. However, those who were experiencing ‘problem gambling’ were the only PGSI group where the majority reported that gambling had some impact on their financial situation recently – 44% said it improved, while 23% said it had worsened.

The PGSI 8+ group were also more likely to report that the cost of living had impacted their gambling, with 43% saying they had gambled more, 30% saying it had no impact, while 23% said they gambled less.

The proportion saying they were gambling more increased with PGSI score, with the report stating that the findings show people experiencing ‘problem gambling’ don’t all experience the cost of living the same way regarding their gambling habits.

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Roblox bets on AI to solve child ID and engagement vulnerabilities

iGamingExpertSeptember 10, 20250240 views

Roblox is circling on age liabilities with tougher checks on child users, but will it ever silence critics of its platform.

Roblox, the world’s biggest open gaming platform, has announced ambitious plans to “expand age estimations” of its users.

The announcement comes via a blog post by Matt Kaufman, Chief Safety Officer (CSO) of Roblox, aimed at addressing parental concerns about interactions between adults and children on the platform.

Kaufman explains: “Using a combination of facial age estimation technology, ID age verification, and verified parental consent, this process will provide a more accurate measure of a user’s age than simply relying on what someone types in when they create an account.”

Founded in 2004 by David Baszucki and Erik Cassel, Roblox is regarded as a breakthrough open gaming platform which pioneered a new era of game development driven by user-generated content.

Central to its success is Roblox Studio, a game development environment offering accessible tools for users of all ages and skill levels to create and publish games. This feature attracts young users who can earn Robux through their creations. Of significance, parents and educators increasingly view Roblox as a learning platform that fosters skills in engineering, programming, game development, and digital literacy.

A gaming giant of Silicon Valley, platform metrics for 2024 indicate that Roblox caters to over 380 million active users worldwide, helping the company achieve a market capitalisation of between $35bn and $40bn.

In 2025, Roblox made user safety its top priority, launching an unprecedented “wave of over 100 safety-focused updates to its platform”.

Leadership has dedicated substantial resources to developing AI-based moderation tools, most notably the open-source Roblox Sentinel system, which is designed to detect signs of child endangerment and harmful behaviour at an early stage. These measures are part of its broader efforts to build trust with users, parents, and regulators, while working to create a protected environment for children to play safely.

However, Roblox’s rising popularity has led to mounting criticism from parents and digital safety experts, particularly concerning its management of child users and potentially deceptive gameplay systems. With an estimated 35–40% of its audience under the age of 13, parents worry about children being able to interact with strangers, make real-money purchases, and access age-inappropriate content within an ecosystem that can appear safe on the surface.

Beyond its age-related liabilities, Roblox has also come under fire for casino-style monetisation mechanics embedded in some of its most popular user-created games. Critics argue that these games mirror gambling through randomised rewards, loot box-style prizes, and the use of in-game currencies.

One widely cited example is “Please Donate”, a game where users stand in virtual booths hoping others will “donate” Robux (Roblox’s virtual currency) — a system that critics say encourages a gambling-like cycle and social pressure monetisation. Another controversial title, “Adopt Me!”, has been criticised for encouraging players, many of them children to spend Robux to hatch mystery pets, a mechanic comparable to “gacha systems” found in mobile gambling apps.

Returning to the security blog post, Roblox has stood by the safety measures it currently has in place, positioning itself as a platform that goes further than many of its peers in protecting younger users. Unlike many competitors, Roblox promotes a community-based approach to safety, while also making clear its readiness to intervene directly when policies are breached or harmful content is detected.

“Unlike many other online platforms, Roblox proactively monitors all text chat on the platform, prevents user-to-user image sharing, and has default settings designed to prevent users younger than 13 from using private chat or voice chat. We also filter public chat to block inappropriate content. Roblox provides parental controls so families can customise default settings to what they feel is best for their child.”

As Roblox rolls out its sweeping safety reforms including improved age estimation and AI-driven moderation, concerned parents and watchdogs will be watching closely to see whether these changes meaningfully address long-standing issues of the gaming giant.

“We recognise that no system is foolproof and we cannot prevent all problematic content from appearing on Roblox.”

Yet, even with tighter controls and new technologies, these efforts are unlikely to quell the deep division surrounding the platform.

While supporters champion Roblox for offering educational benefits — from fostering creativity and problem-solving to teaching coding and promoting collaboration — others remain deeply sceptical.

A recent article by The New Yorker, provocatively titled “It’s 10 p.m. Do You Know Where on Roblox Your Children Are?”, branded the platform “a brain-rotting, hypercommercial dystopia”, underscoring just how polarising Roblox has become.