SBC News

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..

GamStop has recorded a period of record engagement with its national self-exclusion scheme for online gambling during the first half of 2024.

The non-profit organisation reports that more than 49,000 people have self-excluded from online gambling sites in 2024 so far.

In April, GamStop recorded its highest-ever month for self-exclusion registrations since its inception in April 2018, with 8,686 new registrants applying for self-exclusion from online gambling websites.

During the first half of 2024, GamStop registered a total of 49,500 new applicants, bringing the total number of users of its self-exclusion scheme to 482,815.

The UEFA Euros championship had a noticeable impact, with registrations increasing by 8% for the first half of July (knockout stages) compared to the same period last year. Registrations spiked on three particular days: the day after England’s group stage victory over Serbia, the day after England’s extra-time last-16 victory over Slovakia, and the day after th..