Steve Hoare

Regulator reveals Tabcorp and others failed with BetStop obligations

Steve Hoare068 views

Six operators have been hit with enforcement actions for breaching self-exclusion compliance rules in Australia.

The investigations conducted by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) affect operators Tabcorp, LightningBet, Betfocus, TempleBet, Picklebet and BetChamps.

All compliance failures were related to people registered on BetStop, Australia’s national self-exclusion scheme, varying from allowing self-excluded persons to access wagering services, to targeting such individuals with marketing. All breaches occurred in 2024.

The largest operator in Australia in terms of retail presence, Tabcorp, has accepted a penalty of AU$112.7k (£57.5k), in addition to a Federal Court-enforceable agreement to conduct a third-party review of its customer verification processes in place and further staff training on self-exclusion.

Betfocus, LightningBet and TempleBet have been given remedial directions by the regulator, which obligates them to conduct an independent audit of their player safety checks and follow through on any resulting recommendations – with further compliance failure leading to potential civil penalties.

A formal warning has been issued to BetChamps, while the ACMA is in the process of finalising the enforcement action against Picklebet.

Carolyn Lidgerwood, ACMA member, commented: “The national self-exclusion register is designed to help people who are trying to avoid gambling services and stop gambling, but self-exclusion only works if wagering providers follow the rules.

“These rules have been in place for more than two years and wagering providers should be taking their responsibilities seriously.

“When people decide to self-exclude themselves from online and telephone gambling, they trust the system to protect them from gambling harm. These investigations have found that these companies broke that trust and let people down.

“All licensed wagering providers need to be aware that the ACMA is investigating compliance and enforcing the rules. Gambling companies must have effective systems in place to ensure self-excluded people cannot gamble with them.”

Launched in 2023, BetStop is currently undergoing a statutory review expected early 2026, which aims to assess the effectiveness of the register and address critical operational deficiencies such as some BetStop-registered players still receiving gambling marketing.

This review ties in with ongoing debates on wider reforms in the Australian gambling legislature, namely the still-to-be implemented 31 recommendations from the Murphy report, devised by the late Peta Murphy.

The document suggests that a unified gambling regulator is created to end the current supervisory fragmentation of the Australian market, with the sole entity taking charge of the national problem gambling projects such as BetStop as well.

Read more

Study finds black market gambling data holds too many weak assumptions

Steve Hoare0106 views

European and Nordic authorities require an expanded capacity and greater regulatory coordination to understand the black market on online gambling, an academic review claims.

This advice leads the findings of a ‘scoping review’ published in PLOS One, noting that current efforts to measure the size and scope of offshore gambling markets across Nordic jurisdictions are marred by data gaps, unclear methodologies that can lead to political fallouts.

Conducted by researchers from universities and public health institutes in Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, the review covered 32 studies between 2010 and 2024.

As independent researchers, the team found that “there is no gold standard or one reliable method to conclusively measure offshore gambling.”

Instead, the authors conclude that “methodological choices, data resources that have been used, and political interests can have an effect on the kinds of estimates that are produced.”

The report observes that most estimates, whether reported by governments, regulators, or industry groups, are derived from a single source.

This source is H2 Gambling Capital, a private data provider widely cited by the regulated industry, but which the Nordic academics believe has limited transparency.

“A significant part of studies included in this review made use of data from H2 gambling capital,” the authors write, “even regulators are not fully aware of metrics and assumptions based on which these estimates are made.”

The study’s authors — Virve Marionneau (University of Helsinki), Søren Kristiansen (Aalborg University), Tomi Roukka (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare), and Håkan Wall (Karolinska Institute) — observe that offshore gambling is “a politically sensitive topic wrought with uncertainties.”

Academics question offshore argument

The problem is not merely academic. The study observed that “offshore estimates are likely to be political tools.”

The authors highlight how the gambling industry, in particular, has “actively attempted to control the narrative over channelling rates within the Nordic countries,” often by releasing their own studies showing rising offshore participation to resist tighter regulation.

One Swedish report included in the review assumed that users of unlicensed websites spend 10–20 times more than those on legal platforms — a bold figure for which the researchers found “no empirical basis nor conclusive descriptions on how these were determined.”

Such assumptions, the authors suggest, can significantly skew perceptions of the so-called black market, inflating its threat.

“Industry-produced estimates of offshore gambling may be higher than government-produced figures,” the authors write.

They note that “these estimates diverged from governmental estimates” due in part to differing methodologies, and caution against letting such figures shape policy uncritically.

“Evidence-based policy should not be based on methodologically ambiguous evidence or estimates that lack transparency.”

The researchers also warn against viewing offshore and onshore markets as entirely distinct. “Offshore gambling is therefore not a separate market segment from onshore gambling,” the report explains.

A large portion of users participate in both. In Finland, for instance, “98% of individuals reporting offshore gambling also gamble within the regulated market,” with around 37% of their total gambling spending still occurring onshore.

Product types also matter. “Offshore consumption typically consists of the most harmful gambling products, including fast-paced online casino products and betting (including live betting),” the authors write, adding that these activities are overrepresented in gambling harm statistics.

More light needed on black market

The academics note that the mere presence of the fast-paced products discussed above on black market platforms has frequently been used to justify their availability within regulated systems — despite the risks being the same.

In terms of solutions, the research team makes several modest but clear recommendations. Chief among them is the need for “a transparent and scientifically validated measurement tool” to improve the evidence base.

They urge a “multi-method analysis,” combining population surveys, transaction data, and other indicators, including help-seeking statistics. Bank data, while legally sensitive, “could provide additional insight,” the report says, and could be technically feasible given the existing role of banks in payment blocking systems.

Ultimately, the report delivers a sober message: the offshore gambling debate is currently shaped more by assumptions than evidence.

“Despite the political importance of channeling,” the authors note, “it is surprisingly unclear how and if we can measure developments in the unregulated market.”

Until that changes, European regulators may continue to base major decisions on data that is partial, outdated—or simply invented.

Read more

University of Bristol unveils problem gambling toolkit for students

Steve Hoare076 views

A new toolkit has been revealed at the University of Bristol that aims to help students deal with their problem gambling.

Designed by Benjamin Parker and Jordan White, graduates from the same university, the ‘From Freshers’ Week to Losing Streak’ toolkit is educational in nature, offering guidance, practical advice and acts as an awareness campaign for university staff to better understand gambling harms and offer improved support.

White remarked: “As well as strengthening access to support, we want students to reflect and question their own relationship with gambling, and feel empowered to have conversations with their friends about it.

“People only talk about the wins, not about the losses, and often wait until they are in crisis before seeking help. But there are resources available for people who want to feel more educated and informed on the topic.”

Both creators have described the toolkit as easily integratable into existing university infrastructure, acting as a single hub to collect information on specialist services and compulsive gambling disorders.

“Lots of my mates gambled, and I had a suspicion that it was happening all the time,” said toolkit co-founder Parker.

“When we investigated university student gambling and discovered how pervasive gambling harms are, we felt we had to develop a solution. There is a massive gap between the awareness of universities and the scale of the problem.”

Parker and White researched the topic thanks to their university’s Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms. They got £8,000 in funding from Runway – another University of Bristol initiative that subsidises student-led startups – and are now working with the Ara Recovery For All charity, which helps those suffering from gambling harms in the South West and Wales.

Perhaps obvious from its dedicated gambling harms hub, the University of Bristol has historically been heavily involved with research into problem gambling and reducing its societal impact.

The educational institution is vigilantly following the advertising space, with some of its researchers having previously submitted complaints to the UK Advertising Standards Authority, which the regulator has subsequently acted upon.

Lastly, readers will remember a wide-scale campaign from local councils last year that demanded more rights when it comes to licensing permits for land-based bookmakers within their jurisdictions.

Politicians like Paulette Hamilton, MP for Birmingham Edmonton, have previously raised concerns about the prevalence of betting shops in poverty-struck areas, basing their arguments on previous studies by the University of Bristol which concluded that such venues are 10 times more likely to be found in deprived towns than affluent areas.

Read more

GRAI to curb youth normalisation of gambling in Ireland

Steve Hoare066 views

Concerns have been raised in the Republic of Ireland that gambling harms/risks are much more likely among those exposed to gambling as children.

The warning comes from research conducted by the Behavioural Research Unit of The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) commissioned by Ireland’s Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI).

Research draws links between early exposure to gambling as a factor that significantly increases the risk of problem gambling in adulthood. As such, Irish authorities are warned to tighten youth protections in the ongoing implementation of sweeping legislative reforms of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024.

Based on anonymous responses from a nationally representative sample of more than 1,600 adults, ESRI researchers examined how childhood gambling behaviour and experiences can be correlated to adult gambling outcomes.

Research considers factors such as societal attitudes, education, parental controls and household customs in the correlation of how youth experiences correlate to adult outcomes as results point to what the institute describes as a “clear and persistent link between early normalisation of gambling and later harm.”

Individuals who reported gambling before the age of 18 were almost twice as likely to experience problem gambling in later life. Meanwhile, having a parent who gambled increased the risk by around one third, with heavy parental gambling nearly doubling the likelihood of gambling-related harm.

Where both factors were present, the effects were significantly amplified as research identified that “individuals were four times more likely to suffer from problem gambling as adults.”

Youth exposure & damaging consequences

Of utmost concern, underage participation was shown to be widespread across Irish society. Almost two-thirds of respondents said they had engaged in some form of gambling before turning 18.

The products most commonly cited as “unchecked engagement” included slot machines, national lottery products, scratch cards and informal bets amongst friends.

Dr Shane Timmons, Senior Research Officer at the ESRI and lead author of the report, warned that the data demonstrates how “deeply childhood exposure can shape gambling behaviour over a lifetime.”

“These results show that gambling is not a harmless pastime when introduced at a young age. Gambling has measurable and damaging consequences well into adulthood,” Timmons said.

“When gambling becomes normalised in childhood, it alters attitudes to risk, money and reward in ways that significantly increase the chance of later harm.”

He added that the findings must be viewed against the broader scale of the issue in Ireland: “Our best estimate suggests that around one in 30 adults in Ireland now struggles with problem gambling.

“When combined with the strong influence of early exposure identified in this research, it presents a compelling case for robust regulation aimed specifically at protecting young people from gambling environments, marketing and products.”

The study also identified that certain forms of childhood gambling including sports betting, casino-style games and digital loot boxes were linked to higher long-term risk, reflecting the growing role of online platforms and gamified products in shaping youth engagement with gambling. This is a concern shared with other EU authorities.

GRAI moves to new agenda

The publication arrives at a critical moment for Ireland’s gambling sector following the enactment of the Gambling Regulation Act in 2024, which introduced Ireland’s regulatory framework on gambling to overhaul centuries old liabilities.

The adoption and enforcement of the Act is led by the GRAI as a new regulatory agency responsible for gambling licences, market conduct and consumer safeguards.

Establishing its authority in 2025, the GRAI and the Dáil moved to a new agenda on the governance of gambling focused on enhancing consumer protection standards and settling on advertising and sponsorship practices.

The ESRI has urged the GRAI to pursue tougher advertising and marketing controls alongside stricter age-verification requirements across both online and land-based gambling.

However, the research stresses that regulation must go further — adopting a more nuanced approach that removes gambling’s appeal to youth audiences while ensuring parents are equipped with education tools to identify early signs of risk and harm.

Anne Marie Caulfield: GRAI

GRAI CEO, Anne Marie Caulfield, said the ESRI’s findings reinforce the urgency of embedding youth protection at the core of the new regulatory system.

“This research provides clear, evidence-based confirmation of the long-term harms that can arise when children are exposed to gambling,” Caulfield said. “It shows that the impact is not short-lived — it follows individuals into adulthood, affecting financial stability, wellbeing and family life.”

She added that one of the regulator’s central objectives is to prevent gambling from becoming a routine or socially embedded activity for younger generations.

“A well-regulated gambling sector must prioritise safeguarding children and those vulnerable to harm. That means strong age-verification systems, meaningful limits on marketing exposure, and ensuring that gambling products are not designed or promoted in ways that appeal to young people.”

No to Normalisation

To coincide with the research release, the GRAI has published guidance for parents, developed in collaboration with Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE) Addiction Services, aimed at helping families discuss gambling risks and recognise early warning signs of harmful behaviour.

However, while Ireland’s regulatory regime has formally relaunched, key policy decisions remain outstanding. The GRAI has yet to publish its full recommendations on gambling advertising restrictions, sponsorship rules and targeted youth protections.

Early indications from ministers in the Dáil suggest Ireland’s regulatory direction will broadly align with aspects of the UK’s post-Gambling Act review, particularly in areas such as advertising oversight, consumer safeguards and harm-prevention tools.

However, Irish MPs have consistently stressed their determination to avoid what they describe as the “normalisation of gambling in society” that has been witnessed in the UK, a theme that sits at the heart of the ESRI’s findings on childhood exposure.

With licensing processes now underway and secondary regulations in development, the ESRI report is expected to feed directly into forthcoming consultations on advertising codes, youth protections and enforcement priorities.

Read more

GB problem gambling rate stable but regional and gender disparities remain

Steve Hoare059 views

The latest NHS statistics into gambling prevalence state that problem gambling rates in England remain stable, as authorities require a better understood public health view of gambling harm impacts across communities.

Data from the NHS Health Survey for England 2024 (HSE 2024) put the number of UK adults at risk of some form of problem gambling at 5%, with under 1% classed as suffering from problem gambling.

As with most surveys into British gambling preferences and gambling related harm, the study – which only looks at England and not the other three nations of the UK – maintains the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) as the primary methodology to measure gambling harm rates.

The PGSI has been used as the main indicator of gambling harm since 2016 when it was adopted by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) as a replacement for DSM-IV, the model which had been used since the 1990s.

Anyone with a PGSI score of eight or more, based on their answers to survey questions, is considered a problem gambler. Scores of between one and two indicate low risk and between three and seven indicate moderate risk.

Stable rates don’t tell full story

According to the 2024 survey, of the 5% of adults with a score of one or more the number classed as encountering problem gambling was 1% in 2024, suggesting a somewhat stable rate with previous survey estimates.

This does suggest an increase from some previous NHS surveys. A 2021 survey, for example, put the problem gambling rate at 0.3% – a period in which Survey participation and response was impacted by COVID-19 adjustments.

However, it does show a significant disparity with UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) data, also derived from the PGSI as discussed above. Stats from Year Two of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB), published in October 2025, put the rate at 2.7%.

After problem gamblers, HSE 2024 put the number of people across England at low-risk of gambling harm at 3%, while the number of people at moderate risk of gambling harm stands at 1%. Nationwide, the 5% figure has been translated to account for between 4.2% and 5.8% of the population.

Overall, as the summary of the NHS survey states, rates of problem gambling from low to severe remain relatively stable in England. However, this will not excuse the betting sector from political scrutiny, with a number of policymakers vocally calling for gambling to be viewed as a public health issue in 2025.

The survey has taken note of the reforms introduced by the Gambling Act review, with the White Paper published back in April 2023. It adds, though, that despite these reforms the UK hosts ‘one of the most accessible gambling markets in the world’.

“Opportunities to gamble exist on most high streets and, with access to the internet, in virtually every home,” the survey said. “Concerns regarding the harms associated with gambling have been increasing in the UK in recent years and gambling is viewed as a public health issue.”

Men are the outlier of risks

The NHS survey also provided some insights into the regional and demographic contrasts relating to gambling harm across England. Firstly, on a gender basis, men saw a higher PGSI score than women.

Overall, 7% of English men scored one or more on the PGSI score, and 1% were considered problem gamblers. In comparison, only 3% of women scored one or more and the number of problem gamblers was rounded down to 0% in datasets – though it is likely higher than this given margins of error.

Perhaps most significant, however, are the regional disparities, with problem gambling and overall risk of gambling harm more likely in northern England and in coastal regions, these also being areas more likely to see higher rates of social deprivation.

The Yorkshire and the Humber region of Northern England had the highest rate of people with a score of one or more at 7%, followed by the North East, South East and South West at 6%, London at 5%, the North West, East of England and West Midlands at 4%, and finally the East Midlands at 3%.

This could prove significant in the context of both the calls for gambling to be viewed as a public health issue and for more powers to be given to local councils. Dawn Butler, Labour MP for Brent East, has been particularly vocal in calling for the latter, with a number of MPs and councillors joining her push for the ‘Aim to Permit’ rule around licensing to be scrapped.

Focus on levy application

Meanwhile, proponents of the gambling as a public health argument, which received backing from members of the Health and Social Care Select Committee last year, have often argued that approaches to problem gambling need to be contextualised to regional requirements.

While the NHS’ latest datasets do show that problem gambling rates remain overall stable, and are much lower than issues like alcohol abuse, tobacco and e-cigarette smoking, and obesity, concerns remain that will continue to fuel political and regulatory debate around this industry.

The NHS’ role in gambling harm research, education and treatment (RET) will only grow from here on out. The service is taking on more gambling harm treatment duties by becoming the main commissioner of projects in this area as overseer of the RET levy, taking over from GambleAware.

Read more

VNLOK blasts Meta over number of Facebook offshore ads

Steve Hoare062 views

The gambling sector is taking an increasingly combative stance against Facebook’s Meta, with now the Dutch getting in on the action.

Days after Tim Miller, the Chief of Research and Policy at the UK Gambling Commission, lambasted the Silicon Valley darling for not doing enough to combat illegal gambling ads, Dutch online gambling trade body VNLOK has done the same.

According to data quoted by the trade body, most gambling advertising material seen on Facebook by Dutch consumers is for illegal gambling websites.

For the period October-December, illegal gambling content made up more than 95% of the combined Facebook pages and individual pieces of gambling marketing on the social media platform.

Additionally, in November the illegal gambling ads across Facebook reached a total of 50 million impressions, VNLOK further stated.

In contrast, the trade body reported that Meta had removed a tiny fraction of the ads from its platform – 3% in October, 5.2% in November, and 4.7% in December – with illegal providers rolling out and replacing their marketing “at lighting speed”.

Björn Fuchs, Chairman of VNLOK, said: “These numbers are startling. The huge flow of illegal gambling ads on Meta platforms undermines player protection, but also undermines confidence in the legal market. Unfortunately, this problem is getting bigger and bigger.

“The promotion of illegal gambling websites on social media is expanding from social advertising to social content. Meta and other platforms are flooded with viral videos, in which the brands of illegal gambling websites are visible.

“This content specifically lures minor and young adult target groups to the illegal gambling offer, where the chance of gambling damage is very high.”

Now, VNLOK is calling for action, demanding Meta to strengthen its proactive detection of illegal gambling advertisements, urging the Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) to take more enforcement action against marketing companies and platforms that facilitate advertising, such as Meta.

The trade body is also requesting regulations that do not tie the hands of licensed operators – but instead help them sustain a more competitive offer than their black market counterparts.

Read more

Safe Bet Show: Dr Mary Donohue, The Digital Wellness Center

Steve Hoare074 views

In this episode of Martin Lycka’s Safe Bet Show, Martin is joined by Dr Mary Donohue, CEO of the Digital Wellness Center, for a powerful conversation on how neuroscience, technology, and behavioural science can reshape the future of responsible gambling. Dr Donohue shares the personal story behind founding the Digital Wellness Center after surviving a…

Read more

Newsletter: FanDuel aims big by encouraging behavioural change

Steve Hoare061 views

Culture change FanDuel has launched a new campaign, ‘Play with a Plan’, based on behavioural research that tries to encourage thoughtful play rather than wagging the finger and telling players what not to do. Rethinking sports betting: The advert encourages customers to rethink their approach to sports betting – as much as it encourages them…

Read more

League of Ireland rolls out EPIC programme amid regulatory reset

Steve Hoare065 views

The League of Ireland is working to address problem gambling and gambling-related harm in Irish football, coming at a time of heightened regulatory focus on the industry’s societal impact in the country.

Earlier this week, the League announced the rollout of a new educational programme focused on gambling harm, in partnership with consultancy EPIC Global Solutions.

The programme has also secured the backing of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), the National League Committee and the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland (PFA Ireland).

Mark Scanlon, League of Ireland Director, said: “As the League of Ireland grows each year, it is very important to work with all stakeholders including our players and match officials at the centre of the game to stress the importance of integrity at all levels.

“This partnership with EPIC also means we can also look to prevent potential gambling harm amongst our players. We know the vast majority of people gamble without an issue.

“But the seminars at our Academy clubs will be hugely beneficial and educate for the next generation of Irish footballers. We have seen the work that EPIC is doing with the English Football League and it’s having a measurable impact. We look forward to seeing that replicated in the League of Ireland.”

The programme will deliver training to football coaches, match officials and FAI staff. Training will include education around betting integrity protection.

Prominent footballers with lived experience of gambling harm, such as Dominic Matteo, Marc Williams and Scott Davies, will conduct in-person sessions discussing gambling harm.

The rollout will follow a similar model to a similar prevention programme organised by EPIC for the English Football League (EFL), a joint initiative with the league’s main sponsor Sky Bet.

Flutter Entertainment, Sky Bet’s parent company, will also be funding the League of Ireland initiative. The firm has Irish roots, having its origins in the merger between Paddy Power and Betfair, and maintains a HQ in Dublin.

Kevin Harrington, CEO of Flutter UK and Ireland, said: “As a major betting operator, we pride ourselves in leading the industry on safety and trust, and we take our responsibilities around protecting our customers and the integrity of sport seriously.

“As a global company founded in Ireland, we are incredibly proud to fund this independently provided three-year programme, supporting the League’s commitment to proactive prevention and education.”

The announcement comes amid the re-regulation of Irish gambling under the Gambling Act of 2024, which has launched a new regulator, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRA).

This context has seen some pressure on the relationship between sports and gambling in Ireland as well as wider public and political concerns about the extent of gambling-related harm in the country.

Paul Buck, CEO of EPIC, said: “Following the success of similar initiatives we’ve delivered in elite sport, this prevention-based programme looks to empower players to recognise the signs of gambling harm, be more informed about their relationship with betting and better equipped to understand pathways to support.

“More significantly, the message is conveyed powerfully and with real meaning by individuals whom players are likely to respect – former footballers and athletes sharing their individual experiences in face-to-face sessions.

“They have encountered problems, and they simply did not have the same opportunity or education around prevention that we are now in a fortunate position to provide for the league. We are really pleased to be able to bring this training to Irish players.”

Read more