SBC News - Player Protection Hub

Michel Groothuizen: KOA changes must keep 95% channelisation rate of Dutch Gambling

SBC NewsOctober 11, 20240225 views

Michel Groothuizen, Chairman of Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands Gambling Authority, responded to the findings of the Autumn Report and Market Scan of the Dutch gambling market for 2024.

The reports revealed that despite concerns from licensed operators, the Dutch gambling market continues to grow. Gross gaming income (GGR) increased from €3.3bn to €4bn in 2023.

As the governing body, KSA closely monitors market changes resulting from new amendments and protections imposed on the Remote Gambling Act (KOA), which has regulated online gambling in the Netherlands since October 2021.

Groothuizen made it clear: “The Netherlands has a regulated gambling market to ensure that anyone who wants to gamble can do so safely, whether it’s at a lottery, the arcade around the corner, or behind the computer.”

The reports highlighted several positive trends. Dutch land-based gambling has rebounded to pre-COVID levels. Additionally, the KOA market has exceeded expectations, with 95% of play..

ANJ ‘100% winner?’ campaign informs public about illegal gambling websites

CasinoBeatsOctober 11, 20240255 views

Autorité Nationale des Jeux, France’s gaming authority, has launched a new information campaign about online casinos – “100% winner?” – to remind the French public about the dangers of illegal online gambling websites.

The campaign is part of the ANJ’s 2024-2026 strategic plan to tackle several objectives in the country’s gambling market, which includes combating illegal gambling.

It also follows a 2023 study conducted by the PWC for the ANJ on illegal gambling in France, which noted that between three to four million people have gambled on illegal sites, with online casinos being the most popular.

Beginning in October, the “100% winner?” information campaign aims to raise awareness amongst the French public about online casinos being illegal in the country, as only online poker, online sports betting and online horse racing are regulated.

The campaign will also provide education on the dangers of illegal websites in order to help reduce risky behaviours and problem gambling.

Isab..

Gentoo Media enhances Sitebee tool through QMRA partnership

CasinoBeatsOctober 10, 20240222 views

Sitebee, Gentoo Media’s newly-rebranded compliance tool, has strengthened its brand protection services by gaining legal expertise from Quality Mark Responsible Affiliates.

Gentoo Media’s automated compliance and brand protection tool, formerly GiG Comply, will offer clients access to “deep expertise in igaming regulations” provided by QMRA to encourage compliance in regulated jurisdictions.

Rasmus Bank Nielsen, Head of Sitebee, commented: “By integrating QMRA’s extensive legal knowledge, Sitebee empowers our clients with the latest regulatory insights, allowing them to operate with confidence in a highly dynamic market.

“This partnership gives operators the clarity and foresight they need to manage risk and maintain compliance across all regions where they operate.”

Sitebee’s partnered operators will be able to leverage QMRA’s legal expertise simply by having access to the compliance tool, helping said operators to “anticipate and adapt to changing requirements in various regi..

City Uni and Casino Guru extend consultation on universal self-exclusion standards

Steve HoareOctober 10, 20240252 views

City University of London and SBC Affiliate of the Year Casino Guru are extending their consultation on recommended standards for online voluntary self-exclusion schemes. The work on the standardisation of self-exclusion schemes is being conducted by City University of London Associate Professor Dr Margaret Carran in partnership with Casino Guru. Carran is drafting a set…

BGC, ECA and AGA to bolster safer gambling standards together

SBC NewsOctober 10, 20240237 views

The Betting & Gaming Council (BGC), European Casino Association (ECA) and the American Gaming Association (AGA) have come together to address key issues facing the global gaming industry.

The partners will mainly be focused on illegal gambling, responsible gaming, innovation and security.

BGC CEO, Grainne Hurst, commented: “This partnership marks a new chapter in our shared vision to build a world-class, trusted and sustainable betting and gaming industry.

“BGC members are rightly proud of their reputation as global leaders, and they know the power of collaboration.

“Working together with the AGA and ECA, I am confident our shared knowledge and expertise will be vital to bolstering safer gambling standards while tackling the threat of the growing and unsafe unregulated gambling black market in the UK.”

In detail, the Momentum of Understanding (MOU) will create a platform for undertaking joint research projects, bringing each organisation’s staff and members together to share exp..

AGA to work with European, UK associations to focus on illegal gambling

SBC AmericasOctober 9, 20240252 views

The American Gaming Association (AGA) has announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the European Casino Association (ECA) and the U.K. Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) to collaborate on shared industry values and priorities.

The first initiative under the MOU will be a law enforcement roundtable focused on combating illegal gambling.

Scheduled for January 2025, this roundtable will bring together industry leaders, law enforcement officials, and regulators to discuss the impact of illegal gambling on legal operators, consumer safety and the global financial system. The session will also explore strategies for enhancing cross-jurisdictional communication and developing actionable solutions to address these challenges.

That will be just the first project undertaken by the various industry associations. The AGA said in a release that the MOU formalizes a commitment among the three associations to address key issues facing the global gaming industry including..

BGC launches ‘vital’ International Best Practice Guide for global policymakers

CasinoBeatsOctober 9, 20240367 views

The Betting and Gaming Council has released an International Best Practice Guide laying out key policy objectives for global operators and regulators.

Compiled by professional consulting firm Alvarez and Marsal, BGC’s best practices guide compares regulatory approaches across each market around the world, offering a single body of evidence to critically analyse each and every strategy.

Grainne Hurst, BGC CEO,explained: “For the first time, the BGC has brought together the lessons, both positive and negative, which have been learned by operators and regulators around the world when it comes to the online gaming sector.”

“This sector will no doubt continue to grow internationally, offering huge potential benefits to existing markets and those which are currently developing.

“Through effective regulation of this new growth sector, governments can achieve their core priorities of raising tax, boosting growth and jobs, while delivering high standards for player protection.”

Key objec..

Gentoo Media rebrands GiG Comply to Sitebee

CasinoBeatsOctober 8, 20240282 views

Gentoo Media has rebranded its automated compliance and brand protection tool from GiG Comply to Sitebee.

The service will continue to assist operators in the igaming industry with regulatory compliance across their brands and as they work with affiliate partners.

Gentoo Media noted that Sitebee will build upon GiG Comply’s legacy, automating compliance monitoring, saving time, reducing risks and helping companies gain marketing and affiliate partnership insights.

Rasmus Bank Nielsen, Head of Sitebee, commented: “Sitebee is more than just a rebrand. It’s a renewed commitment to our partners and the industry. Compliance doesn’t stand still, and neither do we.”

Sitebee’s list of client partners includes the likes of bet365, Betway, Kaizen Group and Betsson Group.

The GiG Comply rebranding follows the recent rebranding of Gaming Innovation Group Inc to Gentoo Media Inc, as well as the completion of the company’s split of its media and platform division into two independently listed..

DCMS: COVID cost UK Gambling £1bn in economic output

SBC NewsOctober 8, 20240294 views

DCMS has revised its economic estimates, measuring the economic contribution and productivity of the UK Gambling sector.

Economic estimates and datasets have been updated for DCMS’s key sectors for the reporting period of 2011 to 2021, tracking a decade of business activity.

DCMS is responsible for reporting on the economic contribution and productivity of the following sectors: Civil Society, Creative Industries, Cultural sector, Digital sector, Gambling, Sport, Telecoms, and Tourism.

The economic contribution of industries under DCMS guidance is reported using key measures such as Gross Value Added (GVA) output, employment, earnings, and productivity.

Audiences are cautioned about technical limitations in gathering and interpreting data on DCMS sectors, as individual sectors such as Civil Society and Tourism maintain separate measures to gauge their economic output.

The Gross Value Added (GVA) for all DCMS sectors (excluding Civil Society and Tourism) in 2020 was estimated at £1..

Coalition for Fantasy Sports pairs up with idPair for cross-operator self-exclusion system

SBC AmericasOctober 7, 20240283 views

The operator-led Coalition for Fantasy Sports has unveiled a new partnership with idPair, a safer gaming company dedicated to enhancing consumer protection through research and technology.

In a release, the coalition said that the collaborative initiative will enable its operator members to establish a seamless self-exclusion solution.

The coalition is made up of Underdog Fantasy, PrizePicks, Betr and Dabbleand its mission statement is to work together to protect fantasy sports players, promote innovation, ensure responsible play, identify best practices and encourage the growth of the market.

Now, users of any of those brands’ services will be able to choose to simultaneously self-exclude across all platforms, regardless of their location. Players will have the choice on whether they self-exclude on one platform, or on all member platforms. The coalition stated it has broken new ground in the gaming industry by demonstrating high cooperation among four leading operators to raise ..