SBC News

The Hague Court has sided with Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Dutch gambling authority, in a lawsuit filed by a Malta-based operator after it was refused a license.

In 2023, the unnamed Maltese online gambling provider tried to obtain a certification which would’ve allowed it to target consumers in the Dutch market, only to be turned down by the regulator.

The reason behind the refusal was that the operator in question failed to pass the KSA integrity test required for the evaluation of each application’s viability to enter the Netherlands.

Details from the test procedure into the operator revealed that the KSA requested crucial information about the involvement with the company of a former shareholder.

After reviewing the provided documentation, the regulator concluded that the information in the company’s statements was either incorrect or incomplete, prompting the licence refusal.

The information was in connection to the shareholder’s suspected involvement in the murder of an..

The Netherlands will embark on a “fundamental change of course in gambling policy”, with a new gambling bill set to be proposed to the House of Representatives (Kamer) by the end of 2025.

The announcement was made by the State Secretary for Legal Protection, Teun Struycken, in response to the “worrying results” of the evaluation of the Remote Gambling Act (KOA), undertaken by the Kamer’s policy agencies in 2023 and 2024.

In a statement submitted by Struycken to the government on 14 February, he declared: “The most important principle in the new vision is the protection of all citizens against the risks of negative effects of gambling, such as addiction or debt.

“Special attention must be paid to minors and young adults. The reason for this change of course is that the current gambling policy does not yet sufficiently protect people against the risks of gambling.”

Responding to the KOA evaluations, the Kamer detailed that the current regime was grounded in policies set in 2011, whic..

Spillemyndigheden, Denmark’s Gambling Authority, has published its market statistics for Danish gambling in 2024.

The report covers the key segments of gross gaming revenues (GGR) for online casinos, sports betting, gaming machines, and land-based casinos. Lottery wagering is kept separate from gambling segments reported by Spillemyndigheden.

The Danish market’s gross gambling revenues totalled DKK 7.27 billion for the 12 months ending 31 December 2024, exceeding the DKK 6.80 billion recorded in the previous year.

2024 is deemed a ‘record year’ for online casinos in Denmark, as the segment generated a GGR of DKK 3,529m (€475m), up 14.5% on 2023 results of DKK 3,077m (€415m).

The report highlights a record December for online casinos, which generated a GGR contribution of DKK 347m (€47m). A breakdown of online casino activity in 2024 highlights the popularity of online slots over other games, generating 77% of GGR, approximately DKK 2,717m (€365m).

The sports betting segment (land-..

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has responded positively to the EU Committee for Standardisation‘s (CEN) draft on a common gambling harm markers framework.

Text proposals dictate that a set of markers of gambling harm is to be outlined and considered for adoption by online gambling operators across Europe for the purpose of detecting and preventing compulsive behaviours.

The initiative is based on a previous suggestion by EGBA for the implementation of the same model of problem gambling identification principles. The harm markers will be developed by a collaboration between academia, gambling regulators, operators, and harm prevention experts from across Europe.

The Gaming Regulators European Forum (GREF) also backed CEN’s plans, explaining that a common problem gambling guidebook will be particularly useful for CEN member countries where duty of care regulations are loose or absent.

Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA, commented: “We very much welcome ..

Grainne Hurst has warned of black market gambling being used to raise funds that support illegal business empires.

The CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) spoke of these concerns at the annual Gambling Anti-Money Laundering Group (GAMLG) training event.

The event welcomed industry collaboration whilst making those aware of the growing threat of the aforementioned illegal gambling black market.

Hurst, appointed as CEO in September 2024, described this as “a shared challenge”, which therefore requires a shared response.

She added: “GAMLG is the independent body by which we can, together, raise standards across our sector, and ensure we are fulfilling our responsibilities to keep regulated betting and gaming crime free.

“As a sector, we should lead the way in making certain our products are not hijacked and misused by those engaged in illegal activity, activity that has no place in our sector, activity which undermines our laws and our society.

Grainne Hurst
“While we work ..

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) takes role of RET Levy Prevention Commissioner as system demands a measurable understanding of harms…

DCMS has confirmed the appointment of the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) to serve in the role of “Prevention Commissioner” of a new structure on gambling harms prevention overseen by the NHS. The appointment was confirmed to Commons by DCMS Minister for Sports and Media, Stephanie Peacock.

An agency of the Department of Health and Social Care, OHID was formed in 2021 to replace Public Health England (PHE), a unit disbanded by the Conservative government’s reorganisation of public health and social care.

A policy advisor to the government, OHID was created to improve efficiencies for the health system of England, by preventing disparities in healthcare and reducing inequalities in the access to treatment.

New RET Levy ready for April
The appointment of OHID is noted as the final body needed for the NHS to..

The creation of a “comprehensive gambling self-exclusion scheme for Brazil” has been prioritised by the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA).

On Monday, 10 February, the SPA sanctioned a public consultation seeking feedback from all stakeholders on the launch of the Brazil Bets regime—the federal framework regulating online gambling, which came into effect on 1 January 2025.

The SPA considers that it has completed the ‘first phase’ of its regulatory process, although further laws are still awaiting approval, alongside the authorisation of additional betting licences.

SPA President Regis Dudena emphasised that the regulation of online gambling should be viewed as a “continuous cycle”, stating:

“There are always aspects that need to be reviewed and improved. We are constantly monitoring the practical effects of the rules we have established to understand what needs to be refined.”

Following an extensive process to launch the Bets market, the SPA believes that Brazil now has a “co..

Player protection solution provider Mindway AI has secured a provisional associate membership for The European Lotteries (EL).

Joining 70 members across 39 European countries, Mindway AI’s membership is currently provisional until it receives formal approval from the EL General Assembly in September 2025.

“To join as a proud new member of The European Lotteries, Mindway AI is delighted to contribute to and learn from a community that shares our commitment to integrity and public welfare,” said Mindway AI CEO Rasmus Kjaergaard.

The EL is an umbrella organisation for national lotteries operating games of chance across the continent, including sports betting.

Each year, its members contribute €22bn to society to support projects covering sport, cultural heritage, art, healthcare, education, science and more.

Supporting the EL’s initiatives will align with Mindway AI’s work to advocate for responsible gambling and ‘benefit society as a whole’.

Kjaergaard added: “This partnership ..

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has published a PSA warning against the use of unregulated providers to mark today’s Safer Internet Day.

“Does a website look like any other legal licensed site, but lets you deposit funds with a credit card or crypto? Does it promote the fact they’re not onGAMSTOP? Offers unusually large account opening bonuses?

“Some things really are too good to be true and the same can be said for betting sites,” the LinkedIn announcement said.

According to the UKGC, some of the signs that customers should be on the lookout for when choosing an online gambling provider include a very high prize amount with no stake limits, no RTP information, intrusive marketing and no age verification.

The UKGC also reminds that questionable websites will not have any messaging indicating whether or not they are licensed by the Commission, however, players can visit the UKGC public register to check if they are unsure.

In one of the latest episodes of iGaming Daily, Duncan ..

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has completed Stage-1 of its pilot on financial affordability risk checks, in which frictionless assessments have been carried out by credit agencies on the historic data of participating online operators.

An update on the Commission’s four-stage pilot was provided by Helen Rhodes, Director of Major Projects and Evaluations. The pilot, which began on 30 August, aims to evaluate the feasibility of applying financial risk assessments to help online operators identify high-risk customers.

Helen Rhodes: UKGC
The pilot runs separately from the White Paper proposal on light-touch affordability checks, which were implemented on 28 August at a £500 threshold on customer deposits, set to be reduced to £150 from 28 February 2025. As cited: “The Gambling Commission does not have any requirements for affordability checks and is not proposing any. Financial risk assessments would be a much more targeted way of identifying potentially financially vulnerable custom..