SBC News - Player Protection Hub

New York to study gambling behaviour in landmark 10-year RG survey

SBC AmericasMay 1, 2026037 views

New York has committed to a decade-long study of gambling behaviors in the largest online sports betting market in the U.S. as it continues to assess how it can best prevent problem gambling and support those affected.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the launch of the 10-year survey effort on Wednesday. A press release stated that the study is designed to assess how New Yorkers are gambling and to evaluate where additional problem gambling-related services and supports may be needed.

The survey will be administered and overseen by the State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), the government agency that currently provides gambling addiction support. New Yorkers aged 18+ in all areas of the state will be contacted to promote participation in questionnaire-based surveys, interviews, and focus groups.

What will the NY gambling study entail?

In short, the decade-long survey effort will focus on:

Understanding the trends and viewpoints associated with gambling harms

Assessi..

FanDuel adds TV veteran Erin Andrews to RG ambassador program

SBC AmericasMay 1, 2026032 views

FanDuel has recruited TV and media veteran Erin Andrews as its newest responsible gaming ambassador.

On Thursday, the Flutter-owned brand announced that Andrews is a new member of the operator’s Responsible Gaming Ambassador Program.

Andrews will support FanDuel in delivering RG messaging to customers across the country, and she and the operator will also collaborate to create and deliver campaigns and original social media and video content. The content will focus on FanDuel’s suite of RG tools and resources.

“The Responsible Gaming Ambassador program is really about raising awareness about gambling harms and sharing real stories,” FanDuel Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Sustainability Cory Fox told SBC Americas. “The program is also helping people to understand the risks and resources around gambling. We think that education and awareness are really critical for FanDuel customers and potential FanDuel customers.”

We’re excited to welcome @ErinAndrews as FanDuel’s newes..

Caesars Digital stops accepting credit cards across entire network

SBC AmericasMay 1, 2026032 views

The U.S. online gambling industry is reconsidering the use of credit cards en masse, and Caesars Entertainment is the latest operator to opt to ban them as a payment method.

Caesars stopped accepting credit card account funding on any of its online gambling platforms in the mainland United States on April 14, the company’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications & Production Kate Whiteley confirmed to SBC Americas on Thursday.

The change applies to all Caesars Digital sites and apps, including:

Caesars Sportsbook & Casino

Caesars Palace Online Casino

Horseshoe Casino

William Hill Sportsbook

Caesars Racebook

World Series of Poker (WSOP) Online

The shift, which is noted on the Caesars Sportsbook & Casino website, does not apply to the platform’s online operations in Puerto Rico or Ontario.

“This change follows months of independent review and careful evaluation that began last fall, during which we closely assessed our deposit processes and customer preferences,” Whit..

‘To save youth from destruction’, Bangladesh vows no leniency for illegal gambling

iGamingExpertMay 1, 2026033 views

Politicians in Bangladesh have vowed to launch a nationwide crackdown on gambling and online betting, emphasising that coordinated action is looming for the sector.

Action will begin following the closure of the country’s parliament on 30 April, with assertions made by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, who promised a ‘zero tolerance’ policy on gambling, alongside drug use, in response to concerns raised by Zainul Abdin Farroque, parliamentary member for the Noakhali-2 constituency.

“To save the youth from destruction, the government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy,” said Ahmed, who promised that law enforcement agencies will conduct coordinated operations to dismantle networks linked to drugs and gambling.

Most forms of gambling remain illegal in Bangladesh under the Public Gaming Act of 1867, meaning online gambling operates in a grey area with no local regulation.

Ahmed’s call to arms over curtailing online gambling comes despite Bangladesh last year passing the Cyber Security..

Gambling Commission director turns fire on Big Tech in fight against black market

Steve HoareApril 29, 2026044 views

Tim Miller’s defence of financial risk assessments also provokes fury from BGC, which says GC stats are misleading

BetMGM brings back Connor McDavid for responsible gambling campaign

CanadianGamingBusinessApril 29, 2026041 views

BetMGM is once again placing responsible gambling at the center of its marketing strategy. But, instead of relying on traditional messaging that often feels distant or overly instructional, the operator is returning with a campaign that feels far more natural and aligned with how players actually consume content today.

By bringing back Connor McDavid, BetMGM is repeating a successful formula but refining it into something that speaks directly to modern players who expect entertainment, clarity, and control to exist within the same experience.

An entertaining campaign

The latest campaign, titled “Mullet Over,” builds on the foundation established by BetMGM’s earlier work, yet it leans more confidently into humor and storytelling, presenting responsible gambling as something that can be understood through everyday moments rather than formal warnings or disclaimers.

In the ad, McDavid appears alongside former NHL player Terry Ryan in a relaxed setting where the message is delivered t..

Flutter sets up Leeds customer protection hub with £1.5m backing

A.J. KoehnApril 29, 2026042 views

Flutter Entertainment has invested a further £1.5m into responsible gambling and player safety, launching a new dedicated centre at one of its major UK headquarters.

Located in the firm’s Leeds, West Yorkshire, HQ, the ‘Centre of Excellence’ is intended as a place for collaboration, learning and experimentation in the field of responsible gambling and customer protection.

The move forms part of a wider focus on responsible gaming tools, with Flutter having set itself a target of 75% of its customer base using these tools by 2030. The current rate sits at 60%, according to the Sky Bet, Paddy Power and Betfair parent group.

Flutter’s new hub will host the company’s 450-strong customer safety team, and serve as an area for them to develop and test technological capabilities in this field.

The opening of the hub has been timed with Flutter’s Leeds office hosting the Ethical Gambling Forum, where the editor of SBC’s Player Protection Hub, Steve Hoare, will be moderating two sessions.

..

Google cracks down on bad ads but remains under pressure

Steve HoareApril 23, 2026045 views

Google has banned hundreds of millions of gambling adverts for breaching its rules, with the tech giant stating that its safety teams have been ‘working round the clock’. Despite its efforts, however, Google still finds itself in regulatory crosshairs regarding illegal gambling across multiple markets, alongside some of its fellow Big Tech players. Alphabet’s IT and tech firm…

Canada advances federal bill to limit sports betting advertising

CanadianGamingBusinessApril 23, 2026044 views

Bill S-211, the legislation that would set the stage for the federal government of Canada to take a firmer hand in regulating sports betting advertising, took a significant and unprecedented step forward on Wednesday.

Members of the House of Commons voted 298-21 in favour of sending the National Framework on Sports Betting Advertising Act on for further discussion in the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.

It marks a watershed moment for the legislation. While the proposal to create a federal framework for sports betting advertising across Canada passed the Senate in both 2024 and 2025, the current version is the first that has been taken up for discussion in the opposite chamber.

Prime Minister Carney votes in favour

There is still a long way to go before the legislation can potentially become law. But it’s the latest sign that Canadian Members of Parliament believe that, while the Criminal Code of Canada gives provinces the rights and responsibilities to run online gambling ..

Easier self-exclusion mechanisms introduced by Dutch regulator

A.J. KoehnApril 23, 2026036 views

The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has launched a new mechanism to simplify the process for authorised third-parties to register problem gamblers with the national self-exclusion scheme CRUKS.

Changes are meant to provide persons or guardians authorised by court to manage the finances of others with more legal leverage to put them on the register if problem gambling occurs.

These authorisations are generally made when there are financial problems already occurring in the first place with individuals who are at risk of mismanaging their finances.

Adding them to CRUKS eliminates the possibility of problem gambling exacerbating the issue. Previous mechanisms for authorised guardians to do so have been deemed ineffective and legally cumbersome, the KSA added.

Complaints about the process highlighted an unnecessary volume of evidence to prove that problem gambling is taking place and that it has caused damage, together with slow processing times.

Now, the KSA has m..