SBC News

The launch of Italy’s new framework for online gambling concessions has entered its final legislative procedure under the supervision of the European Commission (EC).

Recent proceedings saw the EC launch an open consultation on the technical rules of Italy’s new gambling licensing regime.

As a member of the European Union (EU), Italy must notify the EC of any legislative projects and amendments that modify its domestic market and competition rules.

While gambling laws and practices are under the jurisdiction of individual EU member states, the EC’s consultation aims to gather feedback on how the new licensing regime will impact Italy’s IT sector.

The licensing regime has now entered a three-month mandatory “standstill” period, allowing EU member states and other stakeholders to review and comment on the proposed changes.

The standstill period for the Italian gambling licence technical rules ends on 18 October 2024. After this, the Italian government plans to launch the tender for ..

South Korean holding company Hana Financial Group has initiated a project to circumvent the risks of illegal gambling for young people, and protect vulnerable groups.

The safety campaign will span three years and will promote gambling harm awareness through educational material such as lectures, videos, psychotherapy sessions, and nationwide advertisements across TV and newspapers.

Some notable partners of the campaign include the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), the National Gambling Control Commission, the National Police Agency, and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.

Estimates made by the financial group put the approximate cost of the campaign at 10bn won ($7.32m).

Ham Young-joo, Hana Financial Group Chairman, commented: “I hope that the entire Korean society serves as a lamplight that guides teenagers from the darkness of illegal gambling.”

The campaign’s launch was also commented on by Lee Bok-hyun, FSS Governor, who added: “I expect the campaign, through a ..

Pressure mounts on Australia PM Anthony Albanese to stick to his principles and apply a blanket ban on gambling advertising across all media disciplines.

This weekend, the Alliance for Gambling Reform, a non-profit organisation combating gambling harms in Australia, published an open letter in response to reports that the Labor government will water down the measures of the Murphy Report.

The letter is endorsed by the signatures of 60 prominent Australians, including former PMs John Howard and Malcolm Turnbull, Lucy Turnbull, former NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, and former Victorian premiers Jeff Kennett and Steve Bracks.

The Alliance calls on the federal government to commit to its pledge to implement the gambling reforms advocated by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy, who chaired the Federal Inquiry into Online Gambling, but who passed away in February fighting cancer.

The Labor government is expected to publish shortly the amendments of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, applying n..

The Vulnerability Registration Service (VRS), an independent vulnerable people registry, has entered into a partnership with Gamban to promote the latter’s safer gambling software to individuals who register with VRS.

VRS aims to “help flag vulnerable individuals to companies to help keep them safe” and those who register for their services can do so to “make people aware of their circumstances, or they can opt to be declined financial or related services for a period of time”.

Helen Lord, CEO of VRS, said: “Those experiencing financial vulnerability have very often experienced gambling harm. That is why it is so important that services like the VRS and Gamban work together to ensure that people presenting to either of us are signposted to any additional support they need.”

The VRS software will be promoted through TalkBanStop – a collaborative gambling harm prevention initiative formed in 2020 by Gamban and the non-profit self-exclusion scheme GAMSTOP.

Gamban also has a partnersh..

On Thursday, 8 August, the Senate of Brazil will begin hearings on Bill 2,234/22, which carries the federal mandate to modernise Brazil’s land-based gambling laws.

The Bill will be presented by Senator Irajá Abreu (PSD-TO), as the chief sponsor, calling on Senators to back the project to modernise Brazil’s land-based gambling laws pertaining to casinos, bingos, horseracing, and the sale of jogo do bicho (instant win games).

The Senate’s debate of Bill 2,234/22 has been awaited for over two years since Abreu took over the project from former rapporteur Renato Vianna (MDB-SC).

Headline measures call for the government to annul the 1946 Decree Law of President Gaspar Dutra, which banned casinos from operating in Brazil’s municipalities and districts.

The Bill calls for Brazilian states to be granted ‘municipal autonomy’ to operate gambling venues, dependent on meeting legal criteria in relation to the population and socio-demographics of the district, and the size, location, and type ..

The Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) has completed the technical framework required for the government of Brazil to launch a federal online gambling market – commonly referred to as ‘Bets’.

On Friday, the SPA submitted ordinance No.1231 to the government, outlining its rules and technical guidelines for responsible gambling with regard to marketing, communications, and advertising of the Bets market.

The document supports previous SPA ordinances on IT securities, AML, licensing criteria, and game authorisations to guarantee the launch of a legal framework for “ethical and licensed gambling for the Federal Constitution of Brazil.”

SPA guidelines underscore that operating agents must observe Responsible Gambling as a duty of “promoting healthy, socially responsible gambling while preventing harm.”

Betting agents must adhere to statutory duties educating customers on the risks of gambling addiction/disorders and ensure compliance with age restrictions prohibiting under-18s from..