SBC News - Player Protection Hub

Colorado Senators remove prop bet ban from sports betting reform bill

SBC AmericasApril 23, 2026034 views

Senators in Colorado voted on Tuesday to advance a sports betting reform bill to the full chamber floor, but not before they struck a proposed ban on prop bets from the legislation.

Senate Appropriations Committee members voted narrowly 4-3 to advance the bipartisan Senate Bill 26-131 to the Committee of the Whole on April 21. It could be read at second reading there as early as April 23.

The bill, which has one Democrat and one Republican sponsor attached in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, is a wide-ranging responsible gambling bill aimed at implementing more safeguards and limitations on how licensed sports betting platforms can operate in the state.

Prop bet ban would cost too much

However, before the committee passed it on Tuesday, members approved an amendment via a 5-2 vote that scratched a proposed ban on prop wagers.

The original form of the bill proposed defining a proposition bet as one that is made on an individual athlete’s performance, a specific off..

Gambling Commission data shows spike in UK black market VPN use after Online Safety Act

A.J. KoehnApril 23, 2026048 views

An update from the Gambling Commission has suggested that there are no real patterns for consumer engagement with illegal gambling sites – but hundreds of millions of minutes are being racked up on there every month.

Data also suggests a huge increase in consumers using VPNs to access these sites since the Online Safety Act came into force in July 2025.

A blog post from Tim Livesley, Head of the Data Innovation Hub at the Gambling Commission, has revealed fresh insight into how the regulator is tracking illegal gambling activity and the challenges it faces in measuring it accurately.

Speaking following the Commission’s Spring Evidence Conference in Birmingham, Livesley outlined both recent trends and ongoing efforts to refine the regulator’s methodology.

The latest analysis, extending trend data through February 2026, suggests that engagement continues to fluctuate rather than follow a clear upward or seasonal pattern, but shows just how prevalent illegal operators consistently a..

New York AG sues Coinbase for illegal gambling activity tied to sports contracts

SBC AmericasApril 23, 2026036 views

New York Attorney General Letitia James is taking legal action against Coinbase over the company’s alleged operation of illegal gambling in the Empire State.

According to court documents, James is suing Coinbase for allegedly running an illegal gambling operation in New York through its delivery of event contracts. The AG alleges that Coinbase facilitates illegal gambling by operating in the state without a gaming license from the New York State Gaming Commission. As a result, James is seeking a court order to require Coinbase to pay a monetary penalty, forfeit “illegal profits,” and pay restitution.

“Gambling by another name is still gambling, and it is not exempt from regulation under our state laws and Constitution,” said James in a press release.

In the suit, the AG directly points to Coinbase’s sports event contracts, which are considered illegal gambling activity as the company does not hold a gaming license. James provides specific examples of how the event contracts resemble..

Ontario Liberals file legislation to ban online gambling advertising

CanadianGamingBusinessApril 23, 2026032 views

A group of Liberal Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) in Ontario have authored legislation that would ban most online gambling advertising in the province.

MPP Lee Fairclough’s Bill 107, titled the “Stop Harmful Gambling Advertising Act,” was officially introduced in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on Monday, April 20. It adds to a federal effort to rein in sports betting-specific advertising, S-211, which has passed the Senate and currently sits in the House of Commons.

MPPs target all online gambling ads, not just sports

Unlike that federal Private Member’s Bill (PMB), which aims to establish some kind of national framework for regulating sports betting ads, Fairclough’s PMB proposes an explicit ban on online gambling advertising at large. It would amend Ontario’s Gaming Control Act of 1992 to prohibit any of Ontario’s almost 50 online sportsbooks or online casinos from advertising or otherwise promoting their sites or products in the province.

Any iGaming company convic..

Has the Maryland sweepstakes bill fallen short?

iGamingExpertApril 23, 2026028 views

The momentum behind the Maryland sweepstakes bill has seemingly dwindled, as the State’s legislative sessions ended without a formal conclusion to the bill’s passing.

There were two key opportunities for the prohibition of dual-currency sweepstakes, with the House of Delegates passing two separate bills in 2026 that would have outlawed dual-currency sweepstakes.

Lack of progress around the bill was celebrated by the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA), as they claimed that there had been ‘false allegations’ driven by casino interests.

“We are pleased with this result in Maryland and want to thank the Maryland lawmakers who took the time to thoroughly consider this issue,” said SGLA Managing Director Sean Ostrow.

“Over multiple hearings and dozens of meetings, SGLA addressed false allegations by casino interests by demonstrating that the Social Plus industry already offers strong consumer protections and contributes to Maryland’s economy, while pushing back against efforts ..

Romanian authority preps €5m to combat problem gambling

A.J. KoehnApril 21, 2026037 views

Romania will release a total of €5m (£4.3m) in grants to fight problem gambling through funding from the regulator, the ONJN.

The funding is being released under the National Public Interest Programme ‘Conscious and Free’ under a commitment made by the ONJN and published in the Official Gazette in December 2025.

Grants will come in the form of non-reimbursable financing for non-profit activities, taken directly from ONJN’s 2026 budget intended for the promotion of socially responsible gambling.

Funding will be structured into three pillars. The lion’s share of it – €3.6m – will be released for prevention and education, protection of minors, treatment and counselling, research, digitalisation, and promotion of responsible gambling.

A total of €1.2m will be allocated to the creation or expansion of specialised treatment centres, which can only be claimed by public authorities.

Lastly, the remainder of €200,000 will subsidise studies and impact assessments to help inform future publi..

EU ruling delivers Malta fresh setback against foreign challenges of iGaming licences

iGamingExpertApril 17, 2026044 views

Fears that the door could be opened for an influx of players seeking to reclaim losses from Maltese operators have been intensified following the latest ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).

The CJEU has aligned with the view that contracts between players residing in Germany and operators that aren’t licensed in the country are essentially void.

Long-standing legal conflicts between Malta and the member states of Germany and Austria over a myriad of compensation claims has escalated over the past decade, requiring the determination of the Attorney General of the CJEU.

In a preliminary ruling requested by the First Hall of the Civic Court in Malta, the EU court outlined that players could be entitled to claim back losses from operators not licensed in the country. The European Court deemed that Article 56 TFEU – an EU law concerning restrictions on the provision of unrestricted services – does not supersede national laws related to online gambling disputes..

Mafia Casino among websites blocked by Australian watchdog

iGamingExpertApril 17, 2026046 views

Australia’s communications watchdog has blocked a slew of websites operating outside the country’s licensed market, including the imaginatively named Mafia Casino.

In total, 19 online gambling platforms and affiliate sites have been blocked by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), as an unyielding approach is taken by Australian officials to unlicensed operators.

The latest sites blocked are: Bass Bet, BetWhale, CasinOK, Cleobetra, Diva Spin, FatPirate, Free Spinz, Gransino, JackBit, Legiano, Mafia Casino, Magius, Monster Win, NewLucky, Nonbetstop.com, Slotexo, Talismania, Tiki Casino and Vegas Hero.

The agency stated: “The ACMA is reminding consumers that even if a service looks legitimate, it’s unlikely to have important customer protections. This means Australians who use illegal gambling services risk losing their money.”

Blocking a myriad of websites is a tough challenge for regulators, as it leads to a whack-a-mole style predicament with operators rebrand..

Gambling Commission hits back at ‘inaccurate’ risk check criticism

A.J. KoehnApril 17, 2026034 views

The UK’s Gambling Commission (GC) has defended its proposed financial risk assessments (FRAs), pushing back against mounting criticism from industry stakeholders who warn the measures could drive customers to the black market.

Debates around FRAs have continued to spiral in what has been a hectic recent period for the UK’s gambling industry, which has also been hampered by the recent increase in Remote Gaming Duty (RGD) tax to 40%.

In a detailed update, Helen Rhodes, the regulator’s Director of Major Policy Projects and Evaluation, said the checks are designed to identify high-spending customers in financial difficulty, rather than introduce affordability limits or spending caps.

The proposals stem from the 2023 Gambling Act review White Paper and have been incessantly backed by the UK government. Affordability was a defining topic of the 2020-2023 Gambling Act review, and FRAs were the touted solution in the April 2023 White Paper.

Gambling Commission to only target 3%

According ..

Researchers call on UKGC to clear up baffling bonus requirements

Steve HoareApril 16, 2026063 views

Regulators should require betting firms to show the real cash cost of “10x” wagering requirements in pounds and pence, according to new research that finds UK gamblers consistently misunderstand bonus offers – and rate them as far less attractive when the true cost is made explicit. “Free bets” and welcome bonuses are a core marketing…