Steve Hoare

KSA and ZonMw unlock more funding for gambling harm prevention

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The Dutch government is releasing €21m of additional funding for the research and treatment of problem gambling.

With the last substantial funding round taking place in 2023, the ZonMw Prevention of Gambling Addiction research programme will enter its next stage of development. Grants towards the programme are managed by the Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA).

The details around the latest funding were cleared after a meeting between KSA President Michel Groothuizen and ZonMw Director, Véronique Timmerhuis.

Groothuizen said: “The protection of players is an important priority for the KSA. By continuing this program further, we are joining forces to gather more necessary knowledge on this subject, so that we avoid gambling damage as much as possible.”

Running from 2025 to 2030, the programme will tie in research, prevention and treatment efforts into the correlation between gambling harm, its triggers and consequences like financial and health issues.

Work will span across five distinctive projects: vulnerability and player behaviour, early detection, treatment, experimental participation, and the further development of overarching support infrastructure.

The first results will be published within a year, with ZonMw leveraging its digital communication channels to raise awareness about the programme.

Timmerhuis added: ‘It is good that this program aimed at gambling addiction will be continued. A lot of knowledge development is still needed to achieve effective approaches, and to ensure that those approaches are properly put into practice.

“ZonMw can also contribute expertise from other mental health domains and thus play a good connecting role. Step by step we are working on knowledge to better help people with addictions in the future.”

Governing Dutch gambling, Michel Groothuizen has underlined the importance of customer care and one-to-one interactions to ensure intervention with vulnerable and at-risk customers, as a principal duty of operators reporting to the KSA.
Speaking at this year’s Gaming in Holland event, Arjan Blok, CEO of the Nederlandse Loterij, estimated that as much as 25% of the Dutch player share is owned by black market operators.
However, the much needed reforms to expand the scope of player protection in the country are currently being put on ice, with Teun Struycken, the Minister responsible for gambling oversight, handing over his resignation earlier this week.

September 15 will see SBC organise a ground breaking charity football event in Lisbon. Make sure you get the chance to see some of the most legendary names in football by securing your ticket today at https://www.legendscharitygame.com/

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GamCare backs insights of ONS new domestic abuse survey 

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GamCare has urged partners and stakeholders to review the latest insights from updated research on domestic abuse in the UK, conducted in 2025 by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

New insights drawn from the 2025 Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW), are based on a new methodology aimed at capturing the evolving nature of abuse.

This recommendation comes from GamCare’s Women’s Pathway Team, a dedicated research unit focused on understanding the impact of gambling-related harm and addiction on women.

The ONS updated its domestic abuse questions to reflect legal changes, shifting societal attitudes, and increased recognition of non-physical forms of abuse.

The revised questions now include previously under-reported abuse types such as coercive control, economic abuse, health-related abuse, and abuse linked to marital status. The survey also distinguishes between abuse by intimate partners and by family members and, for the first time, asks about how frequently abuse occurs.

In the year ending March 2024, 3.9 million adults aged 16 and over experienced domestic abuse. The data shows that 9.5% of women and 6.5% of men reported being affected. Since the age of 16, more than a quarter of adults—26.1%, or around 12.6 million people—have experienced some form of domestic abuse.

GamCare welcomed the updated figures as a step forward in understanding the full scope of abuse. Although the ONS survey does not directly link gambling to domestic abuse, GamCare notes that many of the women who seek its support report experiences involving financial control and emotional manipulation linked to a partner’s gambling.

The Women’s Pathway Team says it regularly hears from women who are pressured into taking out loans, handing over money, or facing emotional coercion as a result of a partner’s gambling. These forms of abuse often overlap with those now recognised by the ONS, particularly financial and psychological abuse.

GamCare is calling on professionals across health, domestic abuse, criminal justice, and gambling support services to review the ONS data and recognise how gambling-related harm can intersect with domestic abuse. The charity is also urging services to adopt trauma-informed approaches, as many women face significant barriers to seeking help, including manipulation, isolation and fear.

Support is available through GamCare’s Women’s Pathway Programme, which offers individual services and the dedicated Way Forward support group. The organisation emphasises a person-centred approach, stating: “Our priority is to listen to your experience and offer support that centres on your needs.”

Women seeking support can contact the Women’s Pathway Team by emailing womenspathwaysupport@gamcare.org.uk or by calling the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.

Further domestic abuse support is available through Refuge, which runs a 24-hour national helpline on 0808 2000 247. Women’s Aid provides local support through its online directory at www.womensaid.org.uk

Those affected by financial abuse can find resources at survivingeconomicabuse.org, and support for intimate image abuse is available via the Revenge Porn Helpline at www.revengepornhelpline.org.uk

In wider developments, GamCare has launched a tender to appoint an academic partner to conduct an independent review of the Women’s Pathway Programme.

The review will assess how effectively the programme removes barriers that prevent women from accessing gambling-related support, and will help guide its future strategic development.

GamCare’s call for engagement comes at a time of growing recognition that cross-sector collaboration is essential to supporting people affected by both gambling harm and domestic abuse.

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Mike de Graaff: Compliance is now a culture… not a department

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Mike de Graff – BetComply
A recent data ruling by the Dutch regulator serves as a reminder that compliance is now a real-time discipline, ongoing and unforgiving, argues Mike de Graaff, Chief Compliance Officer at BetComply.

Despite clear evidence to the contrary, much of our industry still misunderstands how compliance truly works in today’s most heavily regulated markets.

The old ways of thinking persist, even at some of the largest companies in our sector. Put the processes into place. Tick the boxes. Acquire the licence. Job done, now we can focus on the “real” business.

But look at the recent trend of enforcement from the UKGC, Spelinspektionen, Kansspelautoriteit and others, and the message is loud and clear: compliance is the real business.

Take the KSA’s August announcement on database monitoring as just the latest example.

The Dutch regulator confirmed that it will intensify monitoring of its control database (CBD), following a round of automated checks in which every single licensed operator showed deficiencies.

Some were minor, while others were more serious. But the KSA wasn’t in the mood to pull punches. Accurate, timely and complete data, it said, is not optional. It is the foundation of a licence to operate.

The regulator has already said it will conduct follow-up checks on operators this year, and we know that heavy fines and even licence revocation will be on the table for those who haven’t improved.

Shift in mindset
The KSA announcement is interesting beyond the particulars of data monitoring.

Firstly, it illustrates that the KSA sees compliance not as a static condition but as a living, continuous obligation. Participants in the market must show on a daily basis that obligations are being met, and understand that these obligations may evolve as well.

Secondly, the KSA is making it clear that compliance is not measured comparatively. The regulator isn’t only focused on the worst offenders. Everyone is under the spotlight.

This is a mindset shift that we’re seeing replicated around Europe. My bet is the trend will only accelerate. In the UK, affordability and source-of-funds checks are being built around real-time data visibility. In Sweden, Spelinspektionen has been actively investigating several operators regarding reporting obligations.

Regulators are quickly aligning around the principle that if you cannot see it, you cannot regulate it.

From obligation to opportunity
The wider implication is that operators can no longer rely on arguments about channelisation or market stability to shield themselves from scrutiny.

Yes, a total advertising ban in the Netherlands would harm channelisation. Yes, over-regulation risks empowering the black market. Regulators know and understand this.

The issue is that public trust is now the overriding currency of regulation. If licensed operators fail to demonstrate responsibility, restrictions become politically viable. That is how debates about advertising bans gain momentum, and why misjudged campaigns and compliance failures have outsized consequences.

The lesson here is simple: compliance must be built into every element of a business. It cannot be confined to a single department, siloed away from product, marketing or operations. Every team needs to understand not only what the rules are, but why they exist, and be able to explain their actions in those terms. “We thought we had to do this” is no longer good enough.

That may sound daunting, but it is also an opportunity.

Regulators are showing their teeth, and will punish those who fall short. Operators who can demonstrate a deep, proactive understanding of regulation are better placed to thrive in mature, tightly controlled markets.

It is worth remembering that even the industry’s largest incumbents can stumble. Some of the most high-profile enforcement cases in recent years have been against household names. For agile challengers willing to invest in compliance culture, this creates space to disrupt and win market share.

Embedding compliance into every decision and treating it as part of a competitive edge is now a genuine driver of growth.

Compliance is changing. The only question left is whether you are ready to change with it.

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Danske Bank warns of escalating gambling among young men

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Danske Bank, Denmark’s largest bank, has warned authorities of its concerns on the gambling expenditure of “young Danish men”.

Louise Aggerstrøm, Chief Financial Analyst at Danske Bank, revealed that men between the ages of 18 and 24 are predominantly spending the most of their monthly disposable income on gambling.

Concerns were relayed in an interview with Danmarks Radio (DR), with Aggerstrøm stating that on average, men in that age group set aside around 800 Danish kroner (£93) for the pastime activity – or “about double what they spent on gambling in 2019”.

Statistically, this is 20 times more than what women in the same age bracket spend each month, which is around 40 kroner as per data from Danske Bank.

However, it is also important to note that the median monthly salary before tax was DKK 46,972 (£5.5k) in 2024, with the amount projected to increase following a similar trend across European markets.

And while Aggerstrøm placed the 800 kroner as an average portion of 10% from the young men’s monthly consumption, deeming it “fairly large”, the economist did also point out that this is purely money coming out of accounts – with winnings left out of the statistics.

Regardless, she did caution against large expenditures, as there is a risk of developing problem gambling behaviour, which must be tracked at an individual level beyond statistical insights.

ROFUS, the national self-exclusion scheme managed by Denmark’s Gambling Authority of Spillemyndigheden, estimates that in June 2025, the number of self-excluded men aged 18-29 reached a total of 24,689.

This indicates that there is a good understanding among players about the support available to them if they fall victim to gambling harm.

Not only that, but general gambling spend among Danes appears to be slowing down, again as per Spillemyndigheden. The most recent data from the regulator revealed that in June, total gambling GGR dropped by 17% YoY.

Still, concerns remain about the current state of the Danish gambling market, with talks to limit advertisements being held at the highest political level.

Rasmus Stoklund, Minister of Taxation, was appointed in August, 2024. Since then, he has been actively reviewing the idea of imposing a stricter advertisement regime.

However, given the declining rates of licensed GGR, such a decision would likely need to be advised by a thorough investigation into the prominence of the black market in Denmark.

Danske Bank’s concerns reflect broader discussions across European markets on how best to protect young consumers aged 18 to 24 from gambling-related harm. In the Netherlands, authorities have been tasked with drafting new protections for under-24s as part of the Gambling Act reform.

Meanwhile, in Spain, licensed operators are now required to register all activity involving under-21 customers in a federal database, as the government considers implementing a universal deposit limit for young users.

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September 15 will see SBC organise a ground breaking charity football event in Lisbon. Make sure you get the chance to see some of the most legendary names in football by securing your ticket today at https://www.legendscharitygame.com/

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Slovakia Sports Minister campaigns for gambling overhaul 

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Political tensions are mounting in the Republic of Slovakia as debate intensifies over the governance, conduct, and social responsibility of the country’s gambling sector.

Leading the charge is Sports and Tourism Minister Rudolf Huliak, who has called on members of the National Council to back his proposed amendments to the Slovak Gambling Law.

Introduced in 2019 to licence and liberalise Slovakia’s online gambling market, the current law, Huliak argues, was designed to favour operators over citizen protections. This week, he introduced amendments that aim to “regulate, not promote, gambling.”

The proposals include restrictive measures targeting vulnerable groups, including individuals on social benefits, those in alimony arrears, and citizens who have failed to meet tax obligations.

Rudolf Huliak
We are not here to enable the gambling industry — we are here to control it,” said Huliak. “Illegal operators exploit loopholes, target vulnerable citizens, and funnel profits offshore. Meanwhile, regulated platforms face burdensome compliance with little competitive protection. That’s unsustainable.”

Huliak has also called for an expanded role for TIPOs, the national lottery company, in channelling gambling revenues into public and social initiatives.

Our goal is a clean, accountable, and socially responsible gambling environment. Strengthening TIPOS is not about state control for its own sake — it’s about ensuring that profits generated from gambling are reinvested in Slovak communities, not lost to foreign markets or shadow platforms.

This amendment is the first step in realigning the system toward public interest, rather than private enrichment.”

Tax shortfall must be answered
However, his proposals have drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties — particularly the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH). The party accuses Huliak of posturing as a reformer while serving the interests of the gambling lobby and avoiding deeper questions around tax fairness and consumer protection.

The tax rate for fixed-odds betting in Slovakia stands at 22% of gross gaming revenue (GGR) for online operators and 6% of turnover for land-based venues — in addition to a 21% corporate VAT.

The KDH has called for a parliamentary inquiry into the distribution and transparency of gambling tax revenues, demanding answers as to how operators collected €1.4 billion from €24 billion in wagers, yet contributed only €340 million in taxes in 2024.

“This is a mockery of social justice,” KDH states, accusing Huliak of posturing whilst being aware of tax shortfalls but refuses to address them.”

Gambling dysfunctions exposed
A damning audit from the Supreme Audit Office (SAO) and a comprehensive report by the Institute for the Regulation of Gambling (IPRHH) have further eroded confidence in the current regulatory regime.

The IPRHH’s Black Book of Illegal Gambling reveals a fragmented system failing to keep pace with the proliferation of digital, unlicensed gambling platforms — many of which allow anonymous betting, no age verification, and unlimited stakes.

Startlingly, 31% of Slovak youth aged 15–17 reported gambling online illegally, with early exposure linked to addiction and long-term debt risks. The report also highlights the growing influence of loot boxes in video games and social media influencers promoting offshore casinos, blurring the lines between entertainment and exploitation.

The SAO report found that enforcement failures were largely due to a lack of capacity. Between 2019 and 2025, the Gambling Authority (ÚRHH) let over 900 cases lapse due to missed deadlines — a consequence of having just one employee managing sanctions during that period.

A further legal loophole allows gambling halls to operate in municipalities that have banned them unless local authorities notify the regulator within five days — a provision the SAO labelled “unreasonable and dysfunctional.”

“Regulated operators are held to high standards — but that only works if unlicensed providers face real consequences. Right now, they don’t,” said Dávid Lenčéš, Executive Director of IPRHH.

Changing of regulatory guard

Calls for reform have gained further traction following a change in leadership at Office of Gambling Regulation (ÚRHH), with Director General Martin Bohoš stepping down and replaced by Jana Mravíková in early 2025.

Upon leaving office, Bohoš recommended a full review of the Gambling Act, six years after its implementation. He highlighted the urgent need for stronger consumer protections in online casino and high-risk games, warning of an “increasing divergence” in player behaviour — with Slovak consumers flocking disproportionately to online casino products over other verticals.

“Urgency is needed,” he said, citing data showing a steep rise in unregulated activity and insufficient safeguards in the current framework.

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Robert Chvatal: F1 provides global grid for Allwyn’s responsibility ambitions

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It’s no secret to anyone that the relationship between sports and gaming is under a huge amount of scrutiny across various markets. To ensure this relationship can stay in place, partnerships will likely see social responsibility play a deeper role.

This is certainly the case for Allwyn International, Europe’s largest lottery conglomerate with an active presence in the UK, Czech Republic, Austria, Greece and growing profile in North America. The group continues to extend its lottery operations, whilst expanding into new verticals of iGaming and sports betting.

Source: Hoch Zwei Photography
Robert Chvatal, Allwyn Group CEO, tells SBC news that he believes socially responsible sports partnerships will define the future of the gaming sector’s commercial relationships with its sporting counterparts.

“We are not there just to fix brand awareness and try to profile ourselves with the very prestigious and visible events. We also want to do something that is impactful. I believe that this is the future.”

The remarks come ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend, with Allwyn being both a commercial partner of Formula One as a whole as well as with McLaren, one of the series’ most widely followed teams – and one which is enjoying some on-track success at the moment.

Going beyond cutthroat competition
Allwyn is trying to take its partnership with F1 to another level, however, by introducing a CSR element. This weekend will see the company unveil its Allwyn Global Community Award, a CSR initiative announced during the Austrian Grand Prix and which will award a €100,000 grant to a chosen community project.

The marketing value of sports is no secret to people in the gaming industry, whether in lotteries, sportsbooks or casinos. The value of F1, which has enjoyed soaring global audiences over the recent years as a result of a high standard of competition as well as the success of drive to survive, has been plain for the company.

This value has translated from marketing into CSR, Allwyn believes. Chavtal shares that the firm sees F1 both as ‘very visible and very impactful’ due to its global reach, adding that “the sheer size and impact and scope of F1 is huge”.

“It’s one of the biggest, if not the biggest, impactful sports series – the World Cup and soccer, and the Olympics, do come close, but this happens every season and across the globe.

“It’s also good that the community impact will benefit from this visibility. It’s not just about cutthroat competition and innovation, it’s about reminding people that some are not less fortunate and we want to celebrate the NGOs and grassroots organisations that are almost the opposite of this. It’s about inclusion and helping others who can’t help themselves.”

The Dutch version of the award this weekend will be the first of four, followed by the Mexican Grand Prix, the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, and finally the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Juries will evaluate initiatives based on different criteria, with positive local impact being one of the overriding factors.

“The entries are evaluated based on the positive impact to the local area, relevance to the F1 ecosystem, and innovative approach to social, community impact and sustainability, potential to grow and proven success of compelling plans,” Chvatal explains.

There are two overriding conditions attached to these grants. Firstly, as mentioned above, the projects need to be focused on the community in the local area. Secondly, the grant be generally used by the organisation or charity receiving it – the funds must go towards the specific initiative they have been shortlisted for, with two shortlisted for this weekend’s event.

Allwyn’s CEO shared that the company will be closely monitoring developments following the awards to make sure that the goals of the initiative are being achieved in line with conditions attached with the grant.

The end goal is for chosen organisations to work towards and achieve empowerment and inclusion, education, health and wellbeing in local communities, he says.

“We will stay in touch, and there are some concrete conditions that we have set for the winner. It is part of the award being made and given that we will track the progress of how this award is being utilised. We will be able to communicate it through our channels.”

Connecting community to high-performance
Allwyn has cemented itself as one of the key partners of F1, with its branding clearly visible during some of the biggest races in global motorsports. Both the F1 and McLaren partnership are relatively new for Alwyn, having been signed and initiated this year.

According to F1 itself, the series is counting 1.7bn viewers, 96 million social media followers, and 750 million viewers across the current season. This has, naturally, given Allwyn a lot of visibility across many of its core markets, as well as ones where it may want to expand its presence.

McLaren’s on-track performance, having won 11 of the 14 races so far this season, has made the sponsorship even more valuable for Allwyn. Chvatal observed that “it’s great to see them doing well this season, and it’s exciting to see how they will do next season with the rule changes”, referencing the changes to F1 regulations which will be rolled out in 2026.

This does raise the question though as to how Allwyn will balance its partnership with the F1 as a whole against its partnership with McLaren with regards to its new CSR initiative. Some F1-adjacent community initiatives may be closely linked to McLaren, after all, but Allwyn leadership is confident that there is a shared understanding between the different parties.

“I think McLaren understands that this is going beyond the interests of one specific team and it’s more about celebrating F1 and its impact in the locations they race,” says Chvatal.

“It also celebrates and reminds people that we as Alwyn are a company with an obvious strong purpose, almost given to us by the nature of the business because lotteries are associated with good cause funding and non-profit funding.

“This is a reminder through a different and novel way, the F1 partnership, and I can guarantee they will be no favouring anything close to McLaren.”

Hoch Zwei Photography
Allwyn’s leadership stresses that its approach to sports sponsorship will likely always be influenced by a desire to connect with grassroots communities. As grand as its partnership with F1 may be, the firm has no desire for a “sponsorship on the top jersey of Manchester United”.

This grassroots approach can be found in some of the company’s other community engagement initiatives. In the Czech Republic, where the firm operates the country’s National Lottery, it sponsors the Future Frames programme at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

This programme gives young aspiring film directors the chance to learn ‘the tricks of the trade from the best in Hollywood’, Allwyn’s CEO explains. Another notable initiative the firm is involved in is Wings of Life, a charity for people suffering from spinal cord injuries.

Allwyn’s Formula One future
However, Allwyn does still have some involvement in sports betting. Some of its key assets, such as Greece’s OPAP, count sports betting as a significant business division, while it also has a stake in Kaizen Gaming’s Betano sportsbook brand – a major player not only in Greece but also in countries like Brazil.

On top of this, the company is also looking to expand its international reach. The US has become a key target for this, with the firm taking on a more B2B approach when compared to its activity in Europe as a lottery operator, while also hiring the former CEO of Betfred USA to head up its Allwyn Digital division.

“I’m not revealing any secret that what we want to see is a more balanced presence in Europe and America, maybe some other continents as well,” Chvatal says. “Our participation in Betano is a good testament to this, as Betano is probably number one in Brazil in sports betting.”

As the company gets more involved in sports betting – a prospective 51% share in Novibet, while not yet fully closed, will further widen its footprint in this area – it could be assumed that the firm may become more visible in sports.

Chvatal is not convinced of this. While it may engage more with sports betting, the firm’s focus will remain firmly lottery-led, company leadership asserts, with Chvatal noting that this helps retain and further build up its relationship as an operator-of-choice for government-sanctioned lotteries, and more importantly, as a responsible one.

Both this and its ambitions to grow globally will be reflected in its partnership with F1.

Again, the series’ global reach comes in handy here, with the tournament taking place globally, offering Allwyn chances to connect its focus on casual gaming with different communities across various different markets.

“Allwyn is more related to casual gaming like lotteries rather than betting and online casinos,” Chvatal says. “Yes, we are the partner of F1, which is high profile and glamorous, and the following has gone way above some petrolheads.

“The young generation, the balance between men and women, and the ability to create a behind the scenes experience, see the strategy and innovation, has made it become so popular and global.

“And because it has become so high profile, it can be well used and channelled into initiatives like the Community Award.”

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September 15 will see SBC organise a ground breaking charity football event in Lisbon. Make sure you get the chance to see some of the most legendary names in football by securing your ticket today at https://www.legendscharitygame.com/

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Flutter pulls Junglee from India as money games ban comes to force

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Flutter Entertainment Plc has announced its decision to withdraw its Junglee Games subsidiary from India, following the introduction of new laws prohibiting Real Money Games (RMG).

On Friday, the Lok Sabha authorised the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, a federal mandate which seeks to implement a legislative framework governing India’s gaming sector.

Among its provisions, the Bill includes three dedicated chapters (5 to 7) that define the legal parameters of RMG, which are now no longer permitted. It categorises RMG as: “any online game—whether based on skill, chance, or both—played by a user by paying a fee, depositing money, or other stakes, in the expectation of winning, which entails monetary or other enrichment in return.”

In its announcement, Flutter stated that it is responding to an “exceptionally short timeframe, having only been introduced into Parliament on 20 August 2025, and without a consultation process with industry stakeholders to consider the significant adverse consequences of this action.”

Flutter maintains that it has always positioned Junglee as a social and skill-based gaming platform for Indian consumers—permitted under previous legal interpretations prior to the federal government’s recent determination.

In 2021, Flutter acquired a 51% majority stake in the San Francisco-based games studio Junglee Games for $70 million. The business, founded in 2013 by Ankush Gera, had grown into India’s largest community for rummy and other non-poker card games, with a player base of over 100 million.

According to its 2024 accounts, Junglee nearly doubled revenues (+91%), though its EBITDA performance was severely impacted by the introduction of India’s 28% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on gaming.

Markets were informed that: “Flutter’s Indian operations were expected to contribute approximately $200m in revenue and $50m in Adjusted EBITDA in 2025, with approximately half of the profits to be delivered in the second half of 2025.”

Further costs are anticipated as Flutter has yet to determine the full accounting implications of the decision, including any non-cash impairments to the Junglee business. Additional disclosures will be made in due course.

Despite withdrawing from RMG activity, Flutter’s leadership is evaluating options “to advocate for the restoration of the 70-year-old constitutional protections afforded to skill-based games.” At the same time, the group is working swiftly to adapt to the changed regulatory environment while continuing to promote the benefits of fully regulated products.

Peter Jackson, Flutter CEO
Flutter also reiterated its continued investment in India’s technology sector, having expanded its Hyderabad-based Global Capability Centre (GCC) to over 1,000 staff, supporting the growth of its entire global brand portfolio.

Peter Jackson, CEO of Flutter, commented:“I am extremely disappointed with the sudden changes to the regulatory landscape in India. Over the last four years, Junglee has invested significantly in its local market, building a workforce of over 1,100 employees to deliver innovative skill-based gaming products to Indian customers.

Central to this has been a strategy which prioritises consumer protections and responsible gaming. We believe this change will drive customers to the unregulated market, offering limited consumer protections and providing no contribution to the local economy. We believe in regulatory frameworks that put customers first, and are evaluating options to restore skill-based games in the Indian market.”

Weekend reports confirm that several prominent RMG studios—including Dream11, My11Circle, Zupee, Gameskraft, Mobile Premier League (MPL) and Probo—have shut down their real money operations in direct response to the government’s landmark decision.

In the case of Probo, the company has confirmed the closure of both its opinion trading app and its fantasy cricket platform, Team 11, marking a significant rollback of its product offerings.

The future of India’s digital gaming economy now hangs in the balance. Industry analysts estimate that over 400 active game studios and platforms are currently operating in the Indian market collectively valued at $4 billion in 2024— which must now evaluate whether to withdraw, restructure, or modify their offerings under the new regulatory regime.

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UKGC sets rules and remits on levy amount calculations

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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has issued guidance to licensees outlining how the Statutory Levy will be calculated for payments due from 1 September, with rates set between 0.1% and 1% of relevant revenue depending on the type of gambling activity.

Recognised as the flagship measure of the Gambling Act Review, the levy will see operators make a mandatory payment from yearly revenues, which will be directed towards a new system of funding for gambling harm research, education and treatment (RET).

Treatment funding and commissioning of projects will be overseen by the NHS, with NHS England chosen to do this although it is now being dissolved by the government. Prevention and education will be overseen by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) and research by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Levy number crunching
As noted above, the UKGC has set the rates for operator revenues paid towards the RET levy at between 0.1% and 1%. When a company’s levy value is calculated at £10 or less for the levy period it will not be required to pay, with different types of companies assigned different levy periods.

The levy has been in place since 1 July for most operators, chiefly betting, casino and bingo firms, and since 1 April for society lotteries. Invoices for the levy will be issued on 1 September annually and based on financial activity from the previous financial year.

Prior to the launch of the Levy system, DCMS updated gambling licences confirming that the levy would impose the specific rates of:

Source; UKGC website
The mechanics of the Gambling Levy, deem that the system of funding will be overseen by the Commission as a regulatory remit assigned by DCMS. As previously cited, the calculations of rates are varied depending on business category of between 0.1% and 1.1% depending on the type of licence.

The calculation applied to determine the applicable levy payments for UK licensed B2C non-lottery operators equates to “Levy Amount = Stakes + Other Income – (Prizes Paid Out)”. The calculation will be used to determine what levyable amount can be charged on non-lottery B2C operators.

The ‘other income’ of B2C operators can be viewed as competition entry fees, tournament subscriptions, poker rake, and game monetisation features.

For lottery operators (B2C), the statutory levy is calculated on the net income they receive from lottery sales minus prizes paid out to determine the levy amount to be charged on subject to the category rate.

A third calculation is required for Societal lotteries. In which the levy amount is drawn from net income generated from operating lotteries on behalf of charities and good causes. The calculation is determined as total fees earned – prizes paid to partners.

Paying and preparing – what is expected of operators?
The Commission has confirmed, as stated above, that invoices for the new statutory levy will go live on eServices on 1 September, with licensees required to pay in full by 1 October.

As the payment of the levy is a licence condition, operators risk losing their licence if they fail to meet the deadline, unless the authority accepts that the delay was due to an administrative mistake.

For the levy’s first year, firms will be issued with a single invoice covering GB activity, and a second one if any non-GB operations are reported. Payments cannot be made in instalments however, and must be done via bank transfer or GovPay into the account listed on the invoice.

The Commission also made it clear that every detail – from quoting the invoice number in full to the exact amount – must be followed, adding that any errors could see payments rejected and licenses put at risk.

With the first statuary levy deadline approaching, operators are being advised to get their house in order. That means making sure regulatory returns are filed on time and correctly, confirming they can access eServices and checking that the Commission has all the right contact details on its record.

The UKGC also assured that further guidance is to follow over the next few months as UK gambling companies adopt one of the biggest licensing requirements it has seen since the 2005 Gambling Act was passed.

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September 15 will see SBC organise a ground breaking charity football event in Lisbon. Make sure you get the chance to see some of the most legendary names in football by securing your ticket today at https://www.legendscharitygame.com/

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