SBC News

EGBA believes incoming EU AML rules will benefit online operators

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The European Gaming and Betting Association has welcomed the finalisation of the European Union’s new anti-money laundering framework, as the organisation believes the standardised rules and reporting requirements will benefit online gambling operators.

Approved by the European Parliament in April and by the European Council earlier this week, the final step of the EU legislative process, the AML package includes the establishment of the European Anti-Money Laundering Authority, the sixth AML Directive and a new AML regulation.

Based in Frankfurt, the AMLA will have “direct and indirect supervisory powers to ensure compliance with AML requirements, working in tandem with national AML authorities” and will also be “responsible for a large amount of technical and implementing rules that will directly apply to the online gambling sector”.

The sixth AML Directive will contain “national provisions on supervision and the powers of national AML authorities, including their access to requis..

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Regulator launches plan to combat human trafficking near Massachusetts casinos

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The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) is taking steps to combat human trafficking.

On Thursday, the MGC announced its plan to provide grants to support law enforcement in preventing instances of human trafficking in regions that house casinos across the state. The MGC will also be funding a study of casino-related crime in Massachusetts.

“These initiatives underscore the MGC’s unwavering dedication to prioritizing the safety and wellbeing of individuals within our communities by prosecuting human trafficking and protecting vulnerable populations,” said Interim MGC Chair Jordan Maynard. “These grants represent a significant investment in our collective efforts to combat human trafficking by providing agencies with the necessary information and resources.”

The MGC is awarding grants through the Community Mitigation Fund allowing law enforcement agencies statewide to expand their teams. The expansion will allow the agencies to take on a higher volume of cases while being provided w..

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Flutter launches non-profit Foundation to improve 10 million lives

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Flutter Entertainment has unveiled the Flutter Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to meeting the company’s goal of improving 10 million lives by 2030.

Aligning with the operator’s Do More and Positive Impact Plan sustainability campaigns, the Flutter Foundation has established a base in Ceuta, Spain, where it will hope to support social action and generate positive change.

Dan Taylor, CEO of Flutter International, commented: “We are excited to see the start of the Flutter Foundation in Ceuta, and we aim today for this initiative to make a significant difference in communities, starting with Ceuta.”

As Flutter’s first foundation anywhere in the world, the organisation will focus on the community in Ceuta and has formalised two agreements to benefit the area.

These agreements have seen the organisation partner with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Youth to support disadvantaged families and promote gender equality in scientific careers, allocating €80,000 in sc..

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NOGA: Unnecessary restrictions harm delicate balance of KOA market’s channelisation

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Dutch ministers have been urged to recognise the risks of imposing unnecessary restrictions on online gambling consumers, which could impact the channelisation of the KOA market.

The plea was made by NOGA, the Netherlands Online Gambling Association, which published new research by IPSOS on Dutch consumers’ sentiments and engagement with online gambling.

Striking insights were offered by the ‘Online Gambling Barometer 2024’, revealing concerns that consumers will switch to unlicensed operators if they are overburdened by new restrictions.

Of particular note, the headline finding of the Barometer reveals that “nearly half of at-risk gamblers are unwilling to show proof of income to gamble online.”

This response should concern ministers, as the Kamer continues its ongoing regulatory review of the Remote Gambling Act (KOA Act) – the legislative framework adopted in October 2021 to regulate the Netherlands’ online gambling marketplace.

NOGA maintains that the principal objective of KO..

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Integrity Compliance 360 launches reporting platform for athletes and coaches

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Integrity Compliance 360 (IC360) is leveraging its partnership with RealResponse to launch a new product.

The Nevada-based technology and consultancy company announced on Tuesday the launch of Alert360, an anonymous reporting platform aimed at protecting players and coaches from gambling-related threats and harassment.

“The implementation of Alert360, powered by RealResponse, is another example of how we help our partners to stay one step ahead,” said IC360 CEO Matthew Holt. “An anonymous tip can help limit and prevent acts or threats of physical and emotional harm or intimidation while thwarting attempts to undermine the integrity of sports competitions.”

Alert360 users can use text messages, emails, and QR codes to report instances of harassment with all communications delivered through secure and private channels. IC360 also provides trained professionals and administrators to ensure seamless reporting.

IG360 and RealResponse launching Alert360 builds on previous services offere..

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Spelinspektionen fines Hacksaw and Panda Bluemoon for black market clients

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The Swedish Gambling Authority, Spelinspektionen, has handed warnings and sanction fees to Hacksaw Studios and Panda Bluemoon for providing gaming software to operators who don’t hold a Swedish licence.

Sweden’s Administrative Court has also annulled an injunction made by the authority in July 2023 against Zimpler AB as it has determined that the authority has no basis for issuing such an injunction.

Hacksaw Studios

Regarding Hacksaw Studios, Spelinspektionen has stated that the provider supplied gaming software to operators who didn’t have a Swedish licence and will therefore receive a warning and a SEK 2.6m (€226,300) sanction fee.

The authority mentioned that an inspection took place on January 10, 2024, of several websites run by companies that don’t have a licence to operate in the country. Hacksaw Studios was found to be a games supplier for two of the websites investigated, so an inspection into the supplier was initiated.

Within the authority’s decision, it is noted that H..

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Montenegro gambling in turmoil as e-payments ban is authorised 

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The government of Montenegro has been urged to explain why it has authorised amendments to impose a ban on electronic payments services for gambling.

Conflicts arise in the Balkans nation as the government has confirmed that it will “enact amendments to Gambling Laws” that will prohibit the use of modern payment systems for gambling.

The controversial amendments contravene EU competition rules by blocking e-banking, IPS, and mobile payment services such as PayPal and Apple Pay.

Controversy surrounds the government of Montenegro’s action plan to strengthen its anti-money-laundering (AML) compliance framework to meet the concerns outlined by MONEYVAL, the financial intelligence monitoring body of the Council of Europe.

Montenegro had been advised to “step up efforts to investigate and effectively prosecute money laundering and strengthen the supervision of high-risk non-financial businesses and professions”.

In response, the Ministry of Finance recommended imposing amendments to Art..

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BOS rejects technical terms of credit ban on Swedish gambling

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Branschföreningen för Onlinespel (BOS), Sweden’s online gambling trade association, has urged the government to rethink the framework applied to its comprehensive ban on gambling on credit.

The measure proposed by the Ministry of Finance will see Sweden adopt an outright ban on all forms of credit applied to gambling transactions.

Current laws prohibit all licensed operators from processing credit card transactions, as specified by the Gaming Act of 2018, the legislative framework which re-launched Sweden’s gambling market.

Yet amendments endorsed by the Ministry of Finance have proposed that an outright ban on all forms of credit-funded payments be applied to Swedish gambling.

As such, beyond credit card transactions, licensed operators would no longer be able to process any credit-based funds such as personal loans, deferred payments, and overdrafts.

The comprehensive ban on credit transactions forms part of a package of measures proposed by the Ministry, which called for greate..

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IDnow: VideoIdent Flex applies human touch to detect KYC blindspots

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In April, IDnow, a provider of customised ID verification and KYC systems for high-risk sectors, launched its VideoIdent Flex solution in the UK.

Engineered in Munich, VideoIdent Flex is an enhanced video-led customer verification solution providing clients with built-in AI modules to gauge biometric features of customers. The solution aims to “reduce rising fraud attempts, increase inclusivity, and tackle an array of complex online verification scenarios while offering a high-end service experience to end customers.”

Roger Redfearn-Tyrzyk
Roger Redfearn-Tyrzyk, Vice President of Global Gaming at IDnow, shared insights with SBC on how VideoIdent Flex will set new standards in KYC by helping customers overcome future compliance challenges and threats.

Video identification remains the most comprehensive method for customer verification. “However, to date, systems delivered to market have been cumbersome to integrate as part of the customer experience.”

As such, VideoIdent Flex leve..

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