SBC News

Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Gambling Authority of the Netherlands, will fund a pilot program with Gamban to provide a comprehensive block of all online gambling websites and apps targeting Dutch audiences.

Operating in the UK since 2015, Gamban is recognised as the most comprehensive gambling block and self-exclusion solution, compatible across all devices and operating systems (Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android).

As detailed, the pilot aims to ensure that “anyone in the Netherlands can obtain a free one-year Gamban subscription by contacting the country’s national support service, Loket Kansspel, via the website, WhatsApp, email, or phone.”

Gamban will introduce its new Dutch version of the app, ensuring the most effective gambling block solution is available for the KSA, while also providing a new route to self-exclusion for Dutch gambling consumers.

Nathalie Smit, Director at Loket Kansspel, said: “At Loket Kansspel, we believe that taking control of your online environment is cr..

Can operators rely on revenue from VIP players while running an effective player protection strategy?

A trio of industry experts considered this question in a panel titled ‘Can operators focus on player protection and increase shareholder value’ – part of SBC Digital’s Player Protection online conference.

“From my perspective, good player protection doesn’t mean that you can’t have high-value customers,” said Andy Danson, Partner at Bird & Bird.

“It does mean that for high-value customers you’ve got to be particularly careful as an operator to ensure that they are in control of their gambling and that they can afford their losses, so there is more work to be done on the operator side.”

Floris Assies, Founder of Better World Casinos, argued that VIP players with greater disposable income are more likely to be gambling for “the right reasons”.

He said: “Some people gamble for entertainment and that’s perfect. It’s very likely that the people who have more disposable income gamble mo..

Games Global spoke with SBC News about its recent partnership with Better Change and other igaming organisations to support safer gambling in the workplace. The latest initiative provides tools and training to prevent gambling harm and support well-being in the igaming industry.

Ty Smith, Head of Environmental, Social & Governance at Games Global, and Rob Mabbett, Engagement Director at Better Change, elaborate on a range of issues; touching on how the alliance was formed to how these ongoing efforts help to heighten the effectiveness of work in harm prevention.

SBC News: How did the collaboration between Better Change and Games Global emerge, and what was the identified need?

Rob Mabbett: The collaboration began earlier this year when Ty Smith, Head of Environmental, Social & Governance at Games Global, approached Better Change to explore projects that could be supported by voluntary contributions aimed at Research, Education, and Treatment for gambling harm.
Better Change, togethe..

The Chamber of Deputies of Argentina has announced the principal stakeholders/committees in establishing a federal framework to “reduce gambling harms and eliminating pathological behaviours.”

On Wednesday, 13 November, a new “working project” will commence to establish federal protections, standards, and rights to combat gambling harms.

The project will involve input from five Argentine civic committees on “Addiction Prevention and Drug Trafficking Control, Social Action and Public Health, Communications and Information Technology, Criminal Legislation, and Families, Children, and Youth.”

These five committees are tasked with agreeing on the policies for a federal bill to be urgently voted on by the House of Representatives, aiming to supersede state laws on gambling.

Federal intervention is necessary as, in May, the executive government of Buenos Aires (BA) updated its Code of Contraventions to introduce tougher penalties on gambling operators, intended to restrict gambling to in..

Sweden’s gambling authority, Spelinspektionen, has welcomed the government’s proposal for the country’s accession to Europe’s Macolin Convention.

The Macolin Convention was adopted by the Council of Europe back in 2014, with the main goal of protecting the integrity and ethics of sports and combatting the manipulation of results.

Subsequently coming into force in 2019, the Convention currently includes 34 countries as signees, 22 of which are European Member States. Sweden is not a part of it as of yet.

However, the government of Sweden through its Ministry of Social Affairs has assessed that the country meets the requirements to become the latest member of the Convention.

According to the Ministry, Sweden does not need additional constitutional amendments to ratify the international framework, and can move to accession without the approval of Riksdag, which Spelinspektionen wholeheartedly agreed with.

“The Swedish Gaming Authority endorses and welcomes the government’s propos..

Lithuania will proceed to tighten its gambling laws to strengthen problem gambling controls and ‘prevent irresponsible behaviours’.

On Friday, 8 November, the Seimas (parliament) approved ‘new provisions’ to be added to the Gambling Law of the Republic of Lithuania.

Headline measures saw ministers approve of Lithuania enforcing a new ‘consolidated gambling age’ of 21 years, to be effective from 1 July 2025.

The raising of Lithuania’s legal gambling age from 18-to-21 had been sanctioned by the government in January, with the schedule of Gambling Law amendments to be determined by the Seimas. Previously, the government had only enforced the 21+ age restriction on casino venues.

From 1 July 2025, a new gambling age limit of 21 years will be applied as a ‘centralised control’ on all gambling activities (land-based and online) except for the draws of Lithuania’s national lottery.

New ‘centralised controls’ will require Lithuanian gambling venues to employ a qualified and dedicated staf..