The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) is not letting up in its efforts to ensure the only online casinos taking state residents’ money are ones it has licensed. Michigan’s regulator announced on Wednesday it has sent cease-and-desist letters to nine more online casinos, alleging violations of state gaming laws: The platforms offer a range of casino-style games such as…
The Basque Gaming Observatory has launched a new market study which warns that 47 percent of young people between 18 and 24 years old are active participants in gaming and betting offers throughout the region. The study also highlighted the shocking figure that 92.8 percent of the population has gambled at some point in their lives, while…
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has responded positively to the EU Committee for Standardisation‘s (CEN) draft on a common gambling harm markers framework.
Text proposals dictate that a set of markers of gambling harm is to be outlined and considered for adoption by online gambling operators across Europe for the purpose of detecting and preventing compulsive behaviours.
The initiative is based on a previous suggestion by EGBA for the implementation of the same model of problem gambling identification principles. The harm markers will be developed by a collaboration between academia, gambling regulators, operators, and harm prevention experts from across Europe.
The Gaming Regulators European Forum (GREF) also backed CEN’s plans, explaining that a common problem gambling guidebook will be particularly useful for CEN member countries where duty of care regulations are loose or absent.
Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA, commented: “We very much welcome ..
Grainne Hurst has warned of black market gambling being used to raise funds that support illegal business empires.
The CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) spoke of these concerns at the annual Gambling Anti-Money Laundering Group (GAMLG) training event.
The event welcomed industry collaboration whilst making those aware of the growing threat of the aforementioned illegal gambling black market.
Hurst, appointed as CEO in September 2024, described this as “a shared challenge”, which therefore requires a shared response.
She added: “GAMLG is the independent body by which we can, together, raise standards across our sector, and ensure we are fulfilling our responsibilities to keep regulated betting and gaming crime free.
“As a sector, we should lead the way in making certain our products are not hijacked and misused by those engaged in illegal activity, activity that has no place in our sector, activity which undermines our laws and our society.
Grainne Hurst
“While we work ..
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) takes role of RET Levy Prevention Commissioner as system demands a measurable understanding of harms…
DCMS has confirmed the appointment of the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) to serve in the role of “Prevention Commissioner” of a new structure on gambling harms prevention overseen by the NHS. The appointment was confirmed to Commons by DCMS Minister for Sports and Media, Stephanie Peacock.
An agency of the Department of Health and Social Care, OHID was formed in 2021 to replace Public Health England (PHE), a unit disbanded by the Conservative government’s reorganisation of public health and social care.
A policy advisor to the government, OHID was created to improve efficiencies for the health system of England, by preventing disparities in healthcare and reducing inequalities in the access to treatment.
New RET Levy ready for April
The appointment of OHID is noted as the final body needed for the NHS to..
Swedish operators ATG, Betsson, Kindred and Svenska Spel have released their H2 2024 responsible gambling figures. One of the most notable differences in the figures is Betsson’s self-exclusion statistic – 18.7% of its contacted customers self-excluded from gambling compared to between 1.38% and 4.4% at the other operators. A spokesperson for Betsson commented: “The figure…
The creation of a “comprehensive gambling self-exclusion scheme for Brazil” has been prioritised by the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA).
On Monday, 10 February, the SPA sanctioned a public consultation seeking feedback from all stakeholders on the launch of the Brazil Bets regime—the federal framework regulating online gambling, which came into effect on 1 January 2025.
The SPA considers that it has completed the ‘first phase’ of its regulatory process, although further laws are still awaiting approval, alongside the authorisation of additional betting licences.
SPA President Regis Dudena emphasised that the regulation of online gambling should be viewed as a “continuous cycle”, stating:
“There are always aspects that need to be reviewed and improved. We are constantly monitoring the practical effects of the rules we have established to understand what needs to be refined.”
Following an extensive process to launch the Bets market, the SPA believes that Brazil now has a “co..
Player protection solution provider Mindway AI has secured a provisional associate membership for The European Lotteries (EL).
Joining 70 members across 39 European countries, Mindway AI’s membership is currently provisional until it receives formal approval from the EL General Assembly in September 2025.
“To join as a proud new member of The European Lotteries, Mindway AI is delighted to contribute to and learn from a community that shares our commitment to integrity and public welfare,” said Mindway AI CEO Rasmus Kjaergaard.
The EL is an umbrella organisation for national lotteries operating games of chance across the continent, including sports betting.
Each year, its members contribute €22bn to society to support projects covering sport, cultural heritage, art, healthcare, education, science and more.
Supporting the EL’s initiatives will align with Mindway AI’s work to advocate for responsible gambling and ‘benefit society as a whole’.
Kjaergaard added: “This partnership ..
Stake has told Player Protection Hub it will end its white-label business and focus on securing local licences in regulated markets, following its exit from the UK market. The crypto-first operator acquired Danish operator VinderCasino last month, following similar moves into Colombia, Peru, Brazil, and Italy. It also has licences in Ontario, Mexico, Paraguay and -…
The UK government has appointed the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) as the Prevention Commissioner for gambling harms, according to several sources. While the government has yet to announce the appointment, several sources have been told it will be responsible for the 30% of the £100m research, education and treatment levy that has…