SBC News

The government of Brazil has elected Giovanni Rocco Neto to serve as the first National Secretary of Sports Betting for the Economic Development of Sport.

Neto will take charge of the newly created role to ‘coordinate and supervise the economic development of Brazilian sports’, benefiting from the launch of the Bets market—the federal framework that will regulate online betting and gaming in Brazil in 2025.

The government’s gazette noted that Neto had served as a counsellor of the Ministry of Sport, where he led the Committee of Integrity, Rights and Duties in Betting and Gaming. The Committee provided the Ministry of Sport with feedback on integrity protections and safeguards to finalise the modalities of the Bets market.

Neto’s role will be independent of the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA), the department that serves as the regulatory authority of Brazilian gambling, led by Secretary Regis Dudena, reporting to the Ministry of Finance.

In his remit, Neto will report to Sp..

Responsible gambling platform Rdentify has released a new update which expands its customer-facing AI functionality.

Thanks to the changes, Rdentify can now offer the igaming industry not only risks of player harm in customer support conversations but also a full analysis of user interactions.

Some of the added functionality includes customer voice recognition across an operator’s live chat, social and phone channels, which in turn will compile service data on customer preferences, frustrations, and more.

Daniel Brookes, CEO and founder of Rdentify, commented: “Rdentify has been trusted by many of the biggest names in gaming for some years now to detect at-risk players. With this update, we’ve dramatically expanded its scope to the entirety of the customer experience.

“This is about elevating support by better understanding customer preferences and the way your CS team interacts with the user. Those who are using Rdentify are already reporting cost savings and improved performan..

Google has issued an update specifically for Germany, informing advertisers that it will restrict the promotion of gambling services to businesses licensed by the Glücksspielbehörde (GGL), the Federal Gambling Authority of Germany.

As part of the update to its German market Gambling and Games policies, advertisers were informed that GGL licensing certification for gambling services will be required from 25 September 2024.

The update stated: “Only gambling operators and brokers licensed by the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) will be eligible to apply for advertising certification for the gambling products specified in our Gambling and Games Policy.”

The requirement for GGL certification will be adopted as a mandatory measure for all gambling advertisers in Germany, including affiliates. Those offering gambling aggregation services, such as linking to multiple offers from different operators on their landing page, will no longer be accepted.

As a result of these change..

To mark the start of New Zealand’s Gambling Harm Awareness Week, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey has urged citizens to share their opinions on the country’s gambling harm prevention strategy over the next three years.

“While many New Zealanders enjoy gambling as a pastime without issue, the statistics are clear that harm from gambling can have a significant impact, therefore it is important that we put in place initiatives and interventions that prevent and minimise harm from gambling,” the Minister clarified.

“I would encourage you to have your say on this consultation document by 6 October 2024 to help inform its development. In talking to people about mental health and addiction, I’ve become firmly of the view that the ideas we need to solve the issues we face are already in the community, so please make your voice heard.”

The ministerial speech gave special acknowledgement to those with lived experiences of gambling harm, with Doocey clarifying that vulnerable groups and thei..

The government of Belgium has been urged to increase funding and resources available to the Kansspelcommissie to help the Gambling Commission enforce new rules and penalise illegal gambling websites.

The recommendation was endorsed by researchers conducting an evaluation of “Belgium’s Gambling Advertising Ban” – primarily funded by the Federal Ministry of Justice.

On 1 September, Belgium adopted new rules raising the minimum age for all gambling segments (online and retail) to 21 years and adding an outright ban on bonus inducements to its Royal Decree on Gambling.

In July 2023, Belgium’s government authorised a Royal Decree banning gambling advertising across all mediums, including TV, radio, outdoors, magazines, newspapers, and in public spaces. Online advertising on websites and social media was further prohibited.

Further restrictions are set to follow as Belgium will apply a ban on gambling advertising in sports stadiums from 1 January 2025 and on all forms of gambling sponsor..

The government of Belgium has been urged to increase funding and resources available to the Kansspelcommissie to help the Gambling Commission enforce new rules and penalise illegal gambling websites.

The recommendation was endorsed by researchers conducting an evaluation of “Belgium’s Gambling Advertising Ban” – primarily funded by the Federal Ministry of Justice.

On 1 September, Belgium adopted new rules raising the minimum age for all gambling segments (online and retail) to 21 years and adding an outright ban on bonus inducements to its Royal Decree on Gambling.

In July 2023, Belgium’s government authorised a Royal Decree banning gambling advertising across all mediums, including TV, radio, outdoors, magazines, newspapers, and in public spaces. Online advertising on websites and social media was further prohibited.

Further restrictions are set to follow as Belgium will apply a ban on gambling advertising in sports stadiums from 1 January 2025 and on all forms of gambling sponsor..