iGamingExpert

Sri Lanka set for major gambling reforms

iGamingExpert0156 views

The publication of a draft bill to establish a Gambling Regulatory Authority is pushing Sri Lanka towards a significant shift in its gambling framework.

Published under the directive of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, if approved, the bill would come into effect as the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act.

According to Sri Lanka’s Cabinet Office, the Gambling Regulatory Authority would function “as the sole independent regulator with a broad and overarching scope on operations in the gambling industry”. This would include online gaming and offshore gambling activities on ships and in the Colombo Port City.

Currently, the only legal forms of gambling in Sri Lanka are betting on horse racing at venues such as the Royal Turf Club in Nuwara Eliya and at casinos such as Bally’s Casino in Colombo.

Under the proposed legislation, the current Horse Racing Betting Ordinance, the Gambling Ordinance and the Casino Ordinance would be repealed, with the Gambling Regulatory Authority replacing them as the singular overseer of Sri Lanka’s market.

The primary objective of the new bill will be to implement a series of proposals, including the collection of revenue from gaming activities and unregulated gaming.

Sri Lanka’s Cabinet approved the proposed legislation of Ministers on 21 April, and it must now gain approval from the 225 members of Sri Lanka’s parliament.

President Dissanayake is a member of the governing National People Power (NPP), which holds 159 seats, indicating that the odds appear to be in favour of the gambling reform receiving the green light.

Bangladesh renews online gaming battle

The trend is seemingly being set by Sri Lanka isn’t being followed across Southeast Asia, as Bangladesh has renewed a campaign against the vertical following the passing of a new law.

Under the newly passed Cyber Security Ordinance 2025, operating or promoting online gambling can lead to two years in prison or a fine of approximately $80,000.

Most forms of gambling remain illegal in Bangladesh under the Public Gambling Act of 1867, and online gambling operates in a grey area with no local regulation.

According to reports, since the bill was passed, authorities have identified over 1,000 financial service agents thought to be connected to illegal gambling transactions. Details of which have been passed to the Bangladesh Bank with a recommendation to revoke their professional licences and impose financial penalties.

Read more

Bangladesh government renews battle against online gaming

iGamingExpert0204 views

Authorities in Bangladesh have renewed a campaign against online gaming following the passing of a new law.

The initiative forms part of a crackdown on online gambling platforms in the wake of the newly passed Cyber Security Ordinance 2025.

Under the new law, operating or promoting online gambling can lead to two years in prison or a fine of approximately $80,000.

Most forms of gambling remain illegal in Bangladesh under the Public Gambling Act of 1867, and online gambling operates in a grey area with no local regulation.

Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) states that the focus on gambling stems from worries around the social and financial impact of online gaming, especially among young people.

Platforms targeted include apps, websites and social media channels.

According to reports, since the bill was passed, authorities have identified over 1,000 financial service agents thought to be connected to illegal gambling transactions. Details of which have been passed to Bangladesh Bank with a recommendation to revoke their professional licences and impose financial penalties.

Bangladesh Bank has also issued a directive to banks and financial institutions across the South Asian country to use artificial intelligence to monitor and identify merchants or customers involved in online gambling.

Anxiety over the black market is also shared by Bangladesh’s neighbour, India, following a report by the All India Gaming Federation, which detailed the extent to which players in the country engage with the sector.

The report outlined that unlicensed betting platforms had a total of 1.6 billion visits over a three-month period, highlighting the lack of effect website blocking is having to curb the sector.

Meanwhile, uncertainty is also fuelled by the uncertainty surrounding the 28% GST levy placed on the regulated industry, which has caused many to depart the market.

One of the key departures was Superbet, with the firm revealing that the tax rules make the Indian market no longer commercially viable.

Read more

UKGC: New Consumer Voice framework to deliver high-quality research quickly

iGamingExpert0182 views

The UK Gambling Commission is committed to delivering high-quality research efficiently through its new Consumer Voice framework, which introduces four specialist research suppliers with unique expertise.

Consumer Voice aims to help the gambling regulator understand the experiences of UK gamblers, providing information alongside the Gambling Survey for Great Britain. It seeks to offer a “flexible, targeted approach to gathering insight” and a way to conduct “deep dives into specific issues, test new ideas, and track consumer sentiment over time”.

The programme engaged with more than 10,000 gambling consumers in 2024, while previous studies have examined financial risk checks, bonus incentives, and gambling during the cost-of-living crisis.

Greater agility and reach

Undergoing restructuring, the Commission noted that Consumer Voice will be able to dive deeper into the views, motivations, and behaviours of gambling consumers.

This includes those from underrepresented or harder-to-reach groups, such as people who gamble on specific products, certain demographic groups, and those experiencing negative consequences of gambling, whether it be their own or someone else’s.

The four specialist research suppliers being included in the Consumer Voice programme under the new framework are Yonder Consulting, The Behavioural Insights Team (BIT), Humankind Research and Savanta. Each will have a two-year contract that can be extended until 2029.

Commenting on the new framework, the UKGC’s Head of Research, Laura Carter, noted that the restructuring of Consumer Voice will give the Commission “greater agility and reach than ever before”.

“With these four partners, we’re better equipped to commission high-quality research quickly and use a range of approaches to respond to emerging trends or risks as they develop,” added Carter.

“The Consumer Voice programme is central to our efforts to ensure our decisions are grounded in the lived experiences of all consumers and the evolving realities of gambling.”

Specialist research suppliers

Yonder Consulting is a specialist organisation in mixed methodology research that has partnered with the UKGC’s Consumer Voice programme for the past three years, exploring the consumer experience elements such as industry trust, unlicensed market engagement, key sporting event behaviours and the impact of marketing and bonus offers.

BIT is an experimental and behavioural research expert team that combines human behaviour understanding and evidence-led problem solving to help improve people’s lives.

Eleanor Collerton, Senior Advisor at The Behaviour Insights Team, stated: “We’re excited to contribute our expertise in experimental research to generate new insights, address key evidence gaps, and help ensure consumer voices shape meaningful and effective gambling policy, building on more than five years of work to reduce gambling harms in GB.”

Humankind Research is composed of qualitative experts with a focus on complex issues and the lived experience of hard-to-reach audiences via sensitive and inclusive research approaches to understand their experiences and needs and to guide policy and priorities.

Savanta offers fast-turnaround, cost-effective research tools that are quantitative and qualitative.

“Savanta are delighted to be one of the suppliers chosen to support the Gambling Commission on its Consumer Voice programme,” commented Olly Wright, Head of Public at Savanta.

“Through our range of quantitative and qualitative quick-turnaround research tools, we can ensure the Commission stays on the pulse of consumer opinion and behaviours and help it in its efforts to put the voice of gambling consumers at the heart of its work.”

Read more

GGL publishes casino FAQ to demystify interstate rules

iGamingExpert0153 views

Germany’s gambling regulator, the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL), has rolled out a new FAQ section designed to clarify what constitutes a legal online casino, amid growing confusion and a surge in unlicensed operators targeting the market.

The move is part of a wider effort by the GGL to inject transparency into the legal framework established by the 2021 State Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV 2021), and to provide both consumers and operators with clear-cut guidance on what is—and isn’t—permitted under German law.

Cutting Through the Confusion

At the heart of the matter is the term “online casino”, which the GGL argues is being routinely misused. While the average consumer may see it as a catch-all for any digital gambling site, the legal definition refers strictly to virtual versions of classic table games—roulette, blackjack and baccarat among them.

Such games may only be offered under state-specific licences and are not subject to federal authorisation. To date, just two states—Schleswig-Holstein and Bavaria—have issued a total of five licences for online casino operations.

In contrast, virtual slot games, though often branded under the same terminology, fall under a different regulatory regime. These are supervised directly by the GGL, which oversees licensing, technical compliance, and player protection measures. The regulator has made clear that any operator promoting virtual slots as “online casino” games is in breach of the law.

A Whitelist for Legitimacy

To help consumers navigate the legal landscape, the GGL has updated its official whitelist of licensed providers. Users can filter by game type, operating region and regulatory body to determine which platforms are legally authorised in Germany.

Only those listed are permitted to offer games under the strict rules laid out by GlüStV 2021, which include deposit limits, mandatory player protection mechanisms, and integration with national oversight systems like LUGAS and OASIS.

Tackling the Illegal Market Head-On

The FAQ also takes aim at the growing presence of unlicensed operators, many of whom manipulate search rankings and affiliate networks to appear legitimate. Terms like “Online Casino Germany” and “Real Money Casino” are commonly used by illegal outfits to lure users, despite being prohibited for licensed providers under current law.

The GGL confirmed it is working closely with search engines—most notably Google—to limit the visibility of these operators and has made progress in delisting non-compliant sites.

The regulator warned that illegal gambling poses serious risks: there is no guarantee of winnings, no data protection, and no accountability. Participants may also face criminal penalties under sections 284 and 285 of the German Criminal Code.

More Transparency

With its new FAQ section, the GGL is attempting to bring clarity to a sector clouded by marketing misdirection and legal complexity. As Germany continues to enforce its federated model of gambling oversight, the message is clear: if it’s not on the whitelist, it’s not legal.

More information is available at the GGL’s official portal, where the full FAQ and whitelist can be accessed.

Read more

Spain regulator studies surge in iGaming identity theft 

iGamingExpert0169 views

The General Directorate for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) in Spain has moved to gain a deeper insight into the prevalence of problem gambling and how it transcends into other areas of fraud.

A myriad of experts have been brought in to deep dive into the impact of problem gambling and whether it can lead to other avenues of criminal activity.

Central to the discussions was the significance of identity theft as data was divulged from the the Protocol for Action for Impersonated Taxpayers, which revealed the extent to which tax payers were being impacted by identity theft fuelled by problem gambling.

The meeting featured insights from the Responsible Gambling Advisory Council (CAJR) and the medical field of the Madrid City Council, as stakeholders unite in a bid to mitigate problem gambling rates in Spain.

Also at the forefront of discussions was the impact of tipsters when it comes to influencing younger players. The meeting is seeking to further discover whether the rise in ..

Read more

UKGC reveals gambling engagement data amidst financial profiling reform

iGamingExpert0172 views

The latest data from the UK Gambling Commission’s (UKGC) Gambling Survey of Great Britain (GSGB) has affirmed that young males are more likely to be drawn to traditionally higher risk gaming verticals.

The study found that when lottery draws are removed, males aged 18 to 24 had the highest rate of gambling participation, 47%, compared to the overall figure of 28% for the whole cohort.

Male participants showed a stronger preference for betting exchanges, in-play betting and virtual horse racing – all products that require repeated player interaction and have been flagged as higher risk verticals due to their rapid gameplay mechanics and highly engaging design features.

The data detailed that scratchcards (12%), sports betting (10%) and online instant win games (7%) ranked as the three most frequently used non-lottery activities – products that are typically associated with higher gambling risk.

Gambling rates stabilise

The GSGB was developed over a two-year period to transform rese..

Read more

Liverpool Council to implement gambling advertising blackout 

iGamingExpert0141 views

Liverpool is set to undergo regulatory changes that halt gambling marketing from appearing on the side of taxis in the city.

Documents released and seen by the Liverpool Echo detailed a myriad of changes to the sector in the North West city, including limitations on marketing which would likely impact the relationship between black cabs and the gambling industry.

Risking backlash from drivers in the region, the changes come alongside a steep rise in licensing prices for the sector.

There is also a dispute brewing around the number of vehicles that are registered in Wolverhampton but operating in Liverpool – with many believing that the licensing process in Wolverhampton is far easier than in other parts of the country.

The capital watches on

The tightening of restrictions in the North of England is yet to be mirrored in the South of England, in spite of significant criticism levelled at London Mayor, Sadiq Khan.

Khan has been accused of “backtracking” after he pledged in 20..

Read more

PAGCOR issues fraudulent licence warning

iGamingExpert0168 views

PAGCOR has issued a bleak warning to the public against offers being made by operators with fake offshore gaming licences.

The Philippines’ regulatory body claims that the Lucky 7 Bingo Corporation, which holds a legitimate E-Games venue licence, has been engaging in contact agreements with individuals under the guise of offering “guidance and support to potentially earn Php50,000 (£670.50) through the Lucky 7 Bet Lottery Platform”.

As part of the bogus agreement, bettors are reportedly required to make an upfront initial cash deposit of Php3,000 (£40).

PAGCOR confirmed that the licence referenced in these agreements is a fake offshore gaming licence, given that all offshore gaming operations, known as POGOs, have been banned in the Philippines since the end of 2024.

Atty Jessa Fernandez, Head of PAGCOR’s Offshore Gaming and Licensing Department, warned: “We urge the public to remain vigilant and always verify the legitimacy of a PAGCOR-licensed gaming entity before entering into a..

Read more

Ex Mansion CEO hit with custodial sentence in longstanding legal battle 

iGamingExpert0183 views

Former Mansion Bet CEO, Karel Manasco, has been handed a 12-month custodial sentence over a contempt of court charge as the legal battle between him and his former employer escalates.

Manasco failed to appear at court, however, he was represented by counsel, with a warrant for the arrest of Manasco previously being issued after he failed to appear in court during a previous session on 9 April.

At the heart of the case involving Manasco are allegations of financial misconduct and accusations that he failed to comply with asset freezing orders.

The sentence comes as a result of Manasco being found to have made a false statement in a witness statement, as well as removing or diminishing assets from the jurisdiction in his name to the sole name of his wife in an account held in Spain.

The transferring of funds meant that Manasco was in breach of a worldwide freezing order.

The judge emphasised that “this contempt is so serious that only a custodial sentence will suffice”.

Issui..

Read more

PointsBet Australia fined for “deeply concerning” failures

iGamingExpert0158 views

PointsBet Australia has been hit with an over AUD $500,000 (£240,450) fine for breaches of spam and gambling self-exclusion laws.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) issued the penalty after discovering that the company sent more than 800 messages that breached Australia’s e-marketing laws. The operator was also found to have breached laws relating to BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register (NSER).

According to the ACMA, PointsBet delayed closing the accounts of customers who had registered for the NSER and sent marketing messages to self-excluded persons. In total, 508 messages were sent to self-excluded individuals between August and September 2023.

The AMCA did note, however, that no excluded customers were able to place bets with PointsBet during the investigation period.

Nerida O’Loughlin, Chair of the ACMA, said there were “no excuses” for gambling companies such as PointsBet failing to understand their legal obligations to customers.

She added: “..

Read more