SBC News

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has notified online licensees of compliance expectations and duties concerning customer account withdrawals.

An update published by Commission CEO, Andrew Rhodes, references previous concerns about customers experiencing ‘delays when withdrawing funds’. As noted, late or delayed withdrawals are referenced as an action point of the Commission’s Business Plan and Budget 2023 to 2024.

Concerns about account withdrawals are highlighted due to the UKGC’s contact centre “continuing to receive around 2,000 complaints a year about delays to withdrawals.”

Compliance reviews have seen the Commission order operators to amend their terms and conditions, requiring ID verification prior to customer deposits, rather than “delaying identity verification until a customer seeks to withdraw funds.”

Withdrawal issues take on an industry-wide scope, impacting all online operators, yet the Commission maintains that overall complaints remain low in proportion to the tota..

Former NBA point guard player Stevin ‘Hedake’ Smith is the latest athlete to join EPIC Global Solutions in their effort to promote gambling harm awareness.

Smith became centre of attention in the late 1990s for his involvement in a point-shaving scandal, landing him a one-year prison sentence and costing him a career in the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks.

The story unfolded after a gambler approached him to change the final score of a game, which EPIC says remains a ‘very pertinent’ issue for student-athletes some 30 years after Smith’s wrongdoing.

However, he remains determined to make a change in sports, evident from his latest move to become a US sports advisor for EPIC and deliver a range of education sessions to teams, athletes, coaches and staff connected to the NCAA, MLB, and MLSPA.

“I’m passionate about wanting to tell my story and get out there to prevent this from happening again,” he explained.

“I’ve been able to tell my story to players previously and I’m able to ha..

Montenegro will re-evaluate the controversial ban proposed on digital payment systems, wallets and mobile apps for betting transactions.

The government enacted laws this year that prohibit electronic payment methods, including Apple Pay and PayPal, for online gambling services. Incumbents of Montenegros betting sector instantly criticised the laws, that will likely hinder Montenegro’s efforts to join the EU.

Several months later, Montenegro is reassessing the mandate, as market insiders tell SBC that revisions are expected later this year. The government is facing public and industry criticism because of the ban.

Betting industry customers are not happy about the limited payment options. Besides Apple Pay and PayPal, other forms of mobile banking, IPS, and e-banking are also prohibited, which are strongly believed to infringe on EU/EC competition rights

Instead of using electronic payment methods to fund online betting accounts, customers must use cash or specific terminals.

The b..

The UK Gambling Commission’s (UKGC) recent switch to quarterly regulatory reporting for the gambling sector will lead to a “risk-based, evidence-led and outcomes-focused” direction.

This was confirmed by Jason Davies, UKGC Data Data Analytics Manager, who noted that the regulatory returns submission changes also align with the commission’s ‘Corporate Strategy 2024 to 2027’ of using data and analytics to improve the effectiveness of gambling regulation.

Harmonised reporting periods have also been introduced – requiring all licensees to submit data for the same period – which the data analytics manager says will help the commission “analyse changes in the market on a timely basis and manage our income more effectively” and publish information more frequently.

Quarterly reporting basis
Back in March, the UKGC amended the frequency of when gambling licensees would be required to send regulatory return submissions, changing it to a quarterly basis.

The amendments to licence condition 1..

Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands Gambling Authority, has backed the new ‘gambling risk advice’ campaign of Loket Kansspel.

Titled “Don’t Play with Games,” the campaign has been developed by Loket Kansspel to raise awareness of gambling behaviours and risks among Dutch audiences under the age of 25.

Loket Kansspel serves as a central advice bureau for gambling addictions, offering help to all citizens concerned with problem gambling.

The campaign directs its audience to the Don’t Play with Games website, where viewers can “self-test about their gambling behaviours.”

Loket Kansspel launched the campaign in response to a summer of sporting activity, featuring the UEFA Euro 2024 championship and the Paris Olympic Games.

KSA and Dutch authorities have previously raised concerns about the high exposure of gambling to Dutch consumers aged under 25.

From 1 October, new safeguards and preventative measures will be applied to the Remote Gambling Act (KOA Act).

Headline measures w..

Michel Groothuizen has delivered his first address as Chairman of Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands’ Gambling Authority, opening the iGB Live, Amsterdam Conference (16-19 July).

Beginning his tenure as KSA chairman on 1 July, Groothuizen told delegates: “I am probably entirely new to you, the gambling market is not entirely new to me,” referencing his casework in 2015 with the Ministry of Justice to establish the KSA as Dutch gambling’s new authority.

“A lot has happened since I worked on the file and so there is still a lot for me to learn. I look forward to the conversations I will have today and in the future with gambling operators, international regulatory colleagues, legislators, and regulators, among others, many of whom I am sure are already here.”

KSA demands higher Duty of Care standards
Groothuizen takes charge of KSA as Dutch authorities and a new government continue to amend the Remote Gambling Act (KOA), the legislative framework, which launched the Netherland..

GamCare has appointed Alexa Roseblade as the new Chief of Staff. She will support GamCare’s leadership team in delivering on organisational priorities and achieving the charity’s governance objectives.

Alexa Roseblade steps into this role after four successful years managing GamCare’s Children and Young People’s Team. She further led the Young People’s Service and the Young People’s Gambling Harm Prevention Programme (YPGHPP).

Under her leadership, the YPGHPP worked effectively with regional support providers. They delivered workshops to 133,000 young people and 28,000 professionals, providing high-quality support services, participation, and digital information.

Margot Daly, Executive Chair at GamCare, said, “I am delighted to welcome Alexa as our new Chief of Staff. She has done important work in our Children and Young People’s services, helping develop GamCare into the charity it is today. I look forward to her supporting our Board and leadership team as we continue to reduce gam..

GamCare has appointed Alexa Roseblade as the new Chief of Staff. She will support GamCare’s leadership team in delivering on organisational priorities and achieving the charity’s governance objectives.

Alexa Roseblade steps into this role after four successful years managing GamCare’s Children and Young People’s Team. She further led the Young People’s Service and the Young People’s Gambling Harm Prevention Programme (YPGHPP).

Under her leadership, the YPGHPP worked effectively with regional support providers. They delivered workshops to 133,000 young people and 28,000 professionals, providing high-quality support services, participation, and digital information.

Margot Daly, Executive Chair at GamCare, said, “I am delighted to welcome Alexa as our new Chief of Staff. She has done important work in our Children and Young People’s services, helping develop GamCare into the charity it is today. I look forward to her supporting our Board and leadership team as we continue to reduce gam..

Croatia will move to overhaul its gambling laws as a pledge guaranteed by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Croatia’s new government.

Yesterday, Plenković submitted the draft decree of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) to Parliament, demanding ministers back an urgent reform of Croatia’s ‘Gambling Act’.

Plenković stated that urgent reforms need to be implemented, as growing concerns had been raised by local leaders, city mayors, and municipal leaders about the high and unprotected exposure of gambling to citizens.

Prior to Croatia’s snap elections in May, Plenković and the HDZ-coalition government had been criticised by opposition leaders for failing to tackle gambling addiction “impacting the lives of +40,000 Croats“.

Croatia’s gambling regime was established in 2009 under the Republic’s Games of Chance Act, which was modified in 2015 to include new gambling activities. Although Parliament has hosted several debates on gambling amendments, no decree has been proposed until now..

SOFTSWISS has shared that gambling fraud notifications fell during the first quarter of the year.

The global technology company’s managed services’ anti-fraud team has helped operators save around €6m in H1 2024 – according to the recently published insights – which is a one-third reduction in the amount at risk in comparison to last year.

Including operator and verification requests, fraud and responsible gambling notifications, the anti-fraud team handled around 54,000 tasks during the first six months of the year, which is down 8.5% year-over-year.

Ilya Nesterov, Anti-Fraud Team Lead at SOFTSWISS, commented: “The most common types of fraud our team deals with are bonus abuse, identity theft and documents forgery, which account for almost 90% of all fraud cases.”

In addition, SOFTSWISS noted that player complaints submitted to regulators or at industry forums have risen by 12.4% YoY in H1 to 118. The firm claimed that its expertise in analysing these cases helped operators resolv..