SBC News - Player Protection Hub

UKGC fines bet365 £582k for customer deficiencies

SBC NewsApril 4, 20240266 views

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and bet365 have settled on a fine of £582,120 related to anti-money laundering and social responsibility failures of its bingo and casino business.

These failings were discovered during a Commission compliance assessment in March last year.

In total, Hillside (UK Gaming) ENC, which holds a licence for bet365’s bingo and casino products, must pay £343,035, whilst the remaining will be paid by Hillside (UK Sports) ENC – which holds a licence to offer betting.

Kay Roberts, Executive Director of Operations at the UKGC, described the policy and procedural failings as ‘not as severe’ as those at other gambling businesses in recent years, but emphasised that they were failings nonetheless.

He said: “We expect high standards from operators in terms of keeping gambling safe, fair and crime-free, and will always take action to correct any failings. This operator is very aware that a repeat of these failings will result in escalating regulatory action.”

One..

SBC Summit Player Protection Symposium to feature discussion with NCAA rep

SBC AmericasApril 3, 20240277 views

As the industry navigates the challenge of balancing regulatory compliance with commercial growth, SBC Summit North America will offer the optimal platform for delegates to glean insights into the latest compliance strategies, responsible gambling initiatives and safeguarding technology.

On Tuesday, May 7 the limited capacity, pre-day conference, will offer attendees at Tribeco 360 access to both the ‘SBC Gaming Regulation & Compliance Forum’ and the ‘Player Protection Symposium’.

Throughout the day, attendees can anticipate focused discussions on regulating innovative technologies, ensuring compliance in mergers and acquisitions, proactive solutions to combat underage gambling and the prominent role of technology in responsible gambling.

Kicking off the day is the panel Merge Here: M&A Compliance, which will provide insights into successfully navigating the complex framework of mergers and acquisitions. Finance and compliance experts Benjie Cherniak (Principal, Avenue H Capital),..

KSA self-reflects on problem gambling strategy ahead of Jansen’s departure

SBC NewsApril 3, 20240279 views

In his final tenure as Chairman of the Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA), René Jansen signed off the regulator’s new problem gambling report for one last time.

One for the road
Jansen will step down from his duties later this year and used the report’s foreword to reflect on the KSA’s most recent achievements in terms of preventing illegal gambling and protecting the Dutch regulated market.

“When I took office, the KSA was still a relatively unknown ‘niche player’. At the time, the illegally abundant online gambling offer also received relatively little attention,” Jansen wrote.

“Those days are well and truly over. The legalisation and regulation of online gambling, the subsequent wave of advertising and the growth in the number of players since October 2021 have resulted in penetrating discussions in politics, media and society.

“The most important of these are the concerns about (personal and social) financial and health risks as a result of immoderate gambling. The prevention of g..

Dr Michael Auer: Integrating safe play into the player experience

SBC NewsApril 3, 20240296 views

2023 saw OpenBet acquire customer protection specialist Neccton, which is considered a key pillar for the tech giant in building its new compliance unit to support the operations of Tier-1 clients.

Neccton co-founder Dr Michael Auer, a pioneer in player protection, explains to SBC why Neccton is challenging standardized player protection frameworks. These frameworks have a low adoption rate of responsible gaming tools among customers and often exclude research and machine learning advancements

SBC: Hi Michael, thanks for this interview. Why do you see player protection and compliance as the biggest opportunity for industry stakeholders?

Dr Michael Auer: As the global betting and gaming industry grows and increasing numbers of markets are choosing to regulate, or tighten existing regulatory frameworks, improving player protection and compliance capabilities is key. It is important to showcase to regulators that we can secure a sustainable landscape for all stakeholders.

Findings th..

Bacta & Bingo Association to produce new safer gambling recommendations

SBC NewsApril 2, 20240334 views

Bacta’s Technical Standards Group has announced that it will be working in partnership with colleagues from the Bingo Association’s Gaming Machine Working Group.

Headed by MERKUR UK’s Alan Claypole, the new mission is to produce a set of industry recommendations on enhancements to existing regulations which will enable the machines sector to remain ‘competitive’ and uphold the ‘highest standards of consumer protection’.

Bacta National President John Bollom shared his delight that the Gambling Commission has responded positively to the organisation’s request to provide insight and input to the current regulations covering technical standards.

“In partnership with the Bingo Association we are drawing up a concise six-point plan to update those areas where we believe that changes could be explored whilst always upholding our unswerving commitment to safer gambling,” he said.

“The focus of the Technical Standards Group led by Alan Claypole is to supply the Commission with a set of prop..

Twitch faces Swedish spotlight on influencer infringements

SBC NewsApril 2, 20240351 views

Twitch, the live streaming platform of Amazon, has come under scrutiny in Sweden following a private investigation which uncovered widespread advertising of unlicensed online casinos.

As exposed by Kulturnyheterna, the investigative team of Sveriges Television AB (SVT), a six-week investigation revealed that “eight out of ten Swedish influencers on Twitch had promoted unlicensed casinos to their audiences.”

Swedish media were informed: “For six weeks, Kulturnyheterna has reviewed the broadcasts of the most popular streamers and can demonstrate how online casino advertising is spread through hour-long live broadcasts where streamers promote unlicensed games to their followers.”

Though Twitch prohibits access to under-13s, the investigation revealed that streamers had a “collective reach of around half a million subscribers,” formed of a “primary audience of young males born in the 1990s and 2000s.”

During live streams, 60% of influencers used direct marketing strategies, including p..

Boston pro sports teams support youth sports betting safety coalition

SBC AmericasApril 1, 20240269 views

Massachusetts is taking steps to educate young people about the risks of gambling.

Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has announced that the state is launching the Youth Sports Betting Safety Coalition, a public-private partnership that aims to educate young people on the laws and risks associated with gambling, according to NBC Boston.

“Because Massachusetts has entered a new era with sports betting now literally available at your fingertips, it is critical that we raise awareness of the public health risks associated with this activity, particularly for young people,” said Campbell. “This coalition brings together the business, professional sports, nonprofit and responsible gaming communities to best achieve one common goal: better protect and educate young adults across the Commonwealth.”

The coalition, which targets state residents ages 12 through 20, will provide evidence-based education and training backed by some of the largest entities in sports, including the NCAA, Boston..

MGC talks wagering limits for sports bettors across Massachusetts

SBC AmericasMarch 29, 20240276 views

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) is discussing the potential implementation of sports wagering limits.

The MGC has raised the issue of authorizing wagering limits following a public comment submitted last year that questioned whether operators have the authority to limit bettors.

The MGC conducted an investigation on the topic that included a review of regulations, operator house rules, terms and conditions, and approved internal controls. The commission also consulted its legal team and operators to discuss betting limits.

Operators have leveraged wager limits to manage risk and to ensure the integrity of competitions on a per-customer basis. The MGC is discussing wager limits with no imminent changes coming to regulations but is willing to explore options with its six licensed sports betting operators or revisit the topic as the year moves forward.

Commissioners in the MGC are raising questions regarding potential limits in the state.

“It seems to me that the regulation..

Caesars Sportsbook earns RG Check accreditation for commitment to responsible gaming

SBC AmericasMarch 28, 20240317 views

Caesars Sportsbook has been recognized by the Responsible Gambling Council for its commitment to responsible gaming.

The operators announced that it has received the “prestigious” RG Check accreditation which is awarded to sites or venues that have implemented robust responsible gaming policies.

“We are honored to receive the RG Check accreditation from the Responsible Gambling Council,” Caesars Digital President Eric Hession. “For more than 30 years Caesars Entertainment has been at the forefront of responsible gaming, implementing policies that have carried over to Caesars Sportsbook. This acknowledgment validates our efforts to continue to improve our Responsible Gaming practices and ensure our players are gaming with us for the right reasons.”

As part of the accreditation process, Caesars Sportsbook underwent a thorough assessment of its responsible gaming practices, team member training process, player education and protection efforts.

From this assessment, the RGC concluded t..

AU10TIX launches future proofed digital ID solution

SBC AmericasMarch 28, 20240299 views

Identity verification solutions provider AU10TIX has unveiled an all encompassing Digital ID solution suitable for the transition to digital identity.

The system will allow businesses to “rapidly, accurately and securely” verify IDs of all types, including physical, digital, eID and verifiable credentials.

The Digital ID solution works by validating the cryptographic signature and cross checking personal identifiable information displayed on user IDs with government databases.

“Our Digital ID solution empowers businesses to embrace the global shift to digital identity with confidence,” said AU10TIX CEO Dan Yerushalmi. “It combines unparalleled accuracy and global reach with robust security measures to streamline onboarding and minimize fraud risk, all while addressing the diverse array of global ID formats.”

ID verification is a key part of the onboarding process for betting operators to ensure they are compliant with state regulations. Last year NeoGames partnered with AU10TIX to ..