SBC News

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has published new findings investigating the relationship between reasons for gambling and different gambling activities. The research forms part of the Commission’s new data on consumer behaviour and references the findings of the Gambling Survey of Great Britain (GSGB).

In 2023, the Commission began data gathering on the GSGB, a new research project sanctioned following two years of pilot tests and dedicated fieldwork. The GSGB seeks to deliver first-of-its-kind insights as the largest survey on gambling behaviours conducted by a regulatory authority, with 20,000 respondents.

In 2024, the Commission published the first GSGB updates, providing insights into gambling behaviours via Wave-1 and Wave-2 datasets. Both datasets showed consistency in gambling participation, with 48% of respondents reporting engagement in any gambling activity in the past four weeks.

Helen Bryce: UKGC
GSGB research has enabled the Commission to publish a ‘short report’ on..

The National Gambling Support Network (NGSN) has introduced lived experience-led recovery support groups for people suffering from gambling harm.

In partnership with the EPIC Restart Foundation and Reframe Coaching charities, the NGSN now offers a lived experience service across Great Britain that brings additional expertise and insights into gambling disorders.

Richie Paxton, EPIC Restart Foundation Interim CEO and Head of Programmes, said: “We’re excited to join the National Gambling Support Network and continue to work with other providers to offer a seamless and supportive recovery path to those experiencing gambling harm.

“At EPIC Restart, we are dedicated to offering compassionate guidance and coaching, grounded in lived experience. Our mission is not only to help individuals navigate their recovery, but also to empower them to rebuild their lives with renewed hope and a brighter future.”

With EPIC’s and Reframe’s help, the NGSN will aim to increase the number of people it..

Advertising action in Australia has seen the Minns Labor government move to ban gambling adverts on public transport in New South Wales (NSW).

The ban would see gambling advertising banned from all transport-owned and controlled assets, such as trains, metro, buses, light rail, train stations, and ferry terminals, both internally and externally.

Gambling advertising to be included in the ban extends to all casino, lottery and online betting advertising.

Jo Haylen, Minister for Transport, stated: “Gambling advertising has been a common sight on our public transport for a couple of years now, and I’m pleased our Government is taking action to remove it.

“Parents are rightly worried about the impact it has on their kids, so it’s not something that we think needs to be on our transport network.

“With over 3,500 buses, close to 800 advertising assets at train stations, as well as advertising on light rail and trains, Transport’s advertising contracts are vast. Because of the scale ..

The industry non-profit All-in Diversity Project (AiDP) has reshaped the ‘methodological evolution’ of its All-Index to provide a deeper report and analysis on the inclusivity of the global gambling workforce.

Since 2018, AiDP has reported on the composition of the global gaming workforce and the development and challenges of diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) through the All-Index.

For its forthcoming update, AiDP will reveal “significant shifts in industry participation patterns, leading to a transformative approach in measuring and reporting workplace inclusivity across the global betting and gambling sector.”

These changes reflect the evolving participant profile of the index, which now accounts for a wider representation of organisations involved in various gambling disciplines.

Participants broadening AiDP’s research scope include government regulatory bodies, regional service providers, compliance agencies, independent consultancies, and non-gambling-specific organisat..

Gambling advertising will no longer be permitted on the transport network of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW).

This morning, NSW Premier Chris Minns signed a ‘prohibition agreement’ to ban gambling advertising from being displayed on all state-owned transport assets. NSW will prohibit gambling advertising across its transport network, including trains, metro services, trams, and taxis. Additionally, the ban will cover all stations and terminals used by the public.

The ban will be implemented over a 12-month period, during which NSW will work with contract holders to implement the required changes.

As detailed: “NSW operates one of the largest portfolios of advertising assets across Australia. This includes 798 advertising boards at Sydney train stations, 49 road-facing digital billboards, adverts on up to 3,711 urban buses, 76 trams, and across the Tangara train fleet.”

Since 2023, NSW Premier Chris Minns has implemented a comprehensive action plan to mitigate gambling..

New guidance on identifying problem gambling behaviours and symptoms has been provided to general practitioners (GPs) and other healthcare professionals in the UK by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

GPs have been provided with practical guidance to help identify, assess, and manage gambling-related harms affecting members of local communities.

NICE serves as an independent organisation that provides guidance on health and social care issues to improve the quality and availability of healthcare services for British patients.

Guidance on problem gambling is recommended, recognising that “stigma, shame and fear of disclosure can prevent people experiencing gambling-related harms from talking about gambling and from seeking and accessing support and treatment.

“In addition, stigma may be a particular issue for certain groups, such as people from marginalised, minority, or under-represented communities.”

The guidelines provided to GPs cover problem gambling..

Turkish authorities have been directed to expand their enforcement activities and allocate dedicated resources to combat the growing encroachment of illegal gambling websites.

The directive was issued by Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek, who stated to the national media, “Turkey faces a great battle against illegal betting and gambling sites.”

Reporting to Şimşek and the Treasury, the National Lottery Administration (MPİ) of Turkey detailed that, in 2023 and 2024, it had blocked 233,000 websites.

In its findings, the MPİ reported that, of the 233,000 websites blocked in the past two years, 56% of infringing portals originated from the USA, with a further 17% traced to neighboring Armenia. Another 6% were reported to come from the Netherlands.

The MPİ’s findings have been forwarded to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Cybercrime Department for further investigation. Authorities are preparing legal actions against the owners of 376,000 websites and more t..

Sky Betting and Gaming (SBG) is “considering” an appeal after the high court ruled the group did breach data regulations following direct marketing sent to a problem gambler.

The player in question, who reportedly lost more than £45,000 over 10 years, made the case that the now Flutter-owned operator should have been aware they were a problem gambler and therefore should not have enabled their data to be utilised for third party marketing.

SBG emphasised on site that it “never shares data with companies outside of its group for them to use for their own marketing.

A company response detailed: “We fundamentally disagree with this judgment. We have made significant changes to our controls and processes over the past six years as part of our ongoing investment behind safer gambling and will continue to do so.”

Whilst remedies were deferred, the judgement does hold up in terms of declaratory relief for the claimant, with further submissions from both parties anticipated in the event th..

Jake Pollard
Last week’s ICE2025 conference in Barcelona drew a packed audience to the First Gaming in France Briefing, debating outstanding affairs on iCasino regulation, taxes and politics.

Diane Mullenex, partner at the law firm Pinsent Masons, opened the event by saying that the “landscape of regulation in France is very challenging” but that she also believed that “the market should and will open” eventually.

The political uncertainty that has dogged France since last summer will impact proceedings, but what will ultimately “drive the [regulatory] opening [will be] a balance between needing more money and curbing an illegal market” that is one of the largest in Europe, she added.

Nicolas Béraud: Betclic & AFJEL
Nicolas Béraud, CEO of the French online market leader Betclic and President of AFJEL, the iGaming trade body in France, said one of the key factors impacting operators is that they are subjected to GGR and VAT taxes that come to more than 60%, but they cannot make up ..

Guidelines on Personal Income Tax (IRPF) have been updated for Brazilian citizens to register prizes and winnings from online gambling and sports betting activities.

Receita Federal, the Federal Revenue Service of Brazil, has updated articles of its “General Coordination of Taxation” to include new provisions for consumers to declare profits/winnings generated from online gambling.

An update to the IRPF guidelines was required to address ambiguities in current legislation and align broader efforts to regulate and standardise taxes on gambling-related income in Brazil, following the launch of the Bets market on 1 January 2025.

Mandated by Law No. 14,790/2023, the legislative framework of the Bets regime requires a 15% tax to be imposed on player prizes/winnings exceeding the threshold of BRL 2,824 (approximately €530). The tax on player prizes was enforced by President Lula da Silva in the final revision of the bill prior to its federal sign-off.

New IRPF guidelines state that tax c..