SBC News - Player Protection Hub

Betfred: “No evidence of criminal spend” regarding UKGC AML fine

iGamingExpertDecember 4, 20250138 views

Betfred has told iGaming Expert that it has found “no evidence of criminal spend” in any of its betting shops after a UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) investigation discovered social responsibility and anti-money laundering failures.

The UKGC investigation resulted in a £825,000 fine for Done Brothers (Cash Betting) Limited, who run Betfred’s land-based operations, as well as a warning and the operator will undergo a third-party audit to ensure AML and safer gambling policies, procedures and controls are being implemented effectively.

Between May 2024 and March 2025, AML failures listed by the commission through its investigation included:

Unable to effectively identify and manage money laundering risks associated with customers using B3 gaming machines. Machine alerts and daily reports were used, but practices in 2024 meant the operator was unable to assess overall customer spend and the associated money laundering and terrorist financing risks.

Not having an effective policy in place to identify and handle customers who may be subject to financial sanctions.

Thresholds for enquiries regarding customers’ income source not being appropriately risk-based – thresholds set at £15,000 losses and at £125,000 stakes in 365 days.

Between May 2024 and November 2024, the UKGC discovered the following social responsibility failures:

Not being able to adequately identify spend and any associated financial indicators of gambling harm for customers using B3 gaming machines.

Customer interactions were not always taking place after a risk indicator was identified, or when they did, interactions were not conducted in a way which minimised gambling-related harm risk.

Quality of interactions, in particular, understanding the interaction’s impact, did not meet the standards required.

Betfred defence

In response to the investigation, Betfred has told iGaming Expert that it has made improvements to its operations and that it did not discover any information that pointed towards criminal spend.

“Following a review of our UK-based betting shops by the Gambling Commission, we have further strengthened our Anti-Money Laundering and Social Responsibility policies,” said a Betfred spokesperson.

“During the review, the Commission found no evidence of criminal spend in our shops. Betfred is committed to ensuring a safe gambling experience for all our customers.”

This is the second time Done Brothers (Cash Betting) Limited has faced regulatory action, as the operator paid a £3.25m regulatory settlement for social responsibility and AML failures in 2023.

John Pierce, Director of Enforcement at the UKGC, said: “While the failings identified during the 2024 Compliance Assessment were predominantly technical breaches rather than arising from specific customer examples, they were nevertheless unacceptable, particularly with thresholds appearing too high and insufficiently risk-based when assessed in practice, and deficiencies in some processes and procedures adopted by the Licensee.

“We fully acknowledge the improvements the operator has already made since these issues were identified, and the independent audit will be key to confirming these changes are sustained so that the operator continues to be fully compliant with social responsibility and anti-money laundering requirements.”

Online regulatory action

Betfred’s online platform operator, Petfre (Gibraltar) Limited, also recently received a £240,000 penalty from the UKGC for having online slot features which breached its Remote Technical Standards (RTS), including “hosting games which failed to display the consumer’s net position and games which celebrated losses as wins”.

RTS requires all gaming sessions to clearly show a customer’s net position, and a gambling system must not celebrate returns that are less than or equal to the total stake gambled.

Concerns about the celebratory effects’ fairness when a customer was in an overall losing position were raised by the UKGC, which stated that it may “negatively impact a player’s ability to interpret their gameplay accurately and make informed choices”.

According to the report, action was immediately taken by Petfre (Gibraltar) to decommission the affected titles.

A Betfred spokesperson told iGaming Expert: “When we identified the issue with games provided by a third-party supplier, we acted quickly to remove them and reported the issue to the Gambling Commission. This experience has helped us improve and strengthen our safeguards.

“We’re committed to player protection and ensuring the very best and most transparent experience for all our customers.”

Lewis Hamilton ruled well off limits for betting marketing

Steve HoareDecember 4, 20250139 views

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled against Lewis Hamilton’s inclusion in betting social media campaigns for the second time this quarter.

Betway has been told to remove a Facebook post from 4 July 2025 which centred around Formula One. The post featured a video of three F1 drives, filmed from behind, along with the Betway logo.

The driver standing in the middle of the trio wore a red uniform with ‘Hamilton’ sketched across the back, while the other two did not have any names. A heading read ‘Who’s the best of the Brits?’.

A complainant queried whether the ad violated the CAP Code by featuring someone who may be of strong appeal to under-18s. The ASA has upheld this complaint, reiterating its view that Hamilton has a strong appeal to young people and comes across as a role model.

The ASA’s statement explained: “The ad featured Sir Lewis Hamilton, who had won a joint-record seven Formula One World Drivers’ Championship titles and was recognised with a knighthood in 2021 for his outstanding achievements and contribution to motorsport.

“In his “Hall of Fame” bio on the Formula 1 website, Sir Lewis Hamilton was described as recognising his responsibility as a role model for young people, which further described that “the social media star encouraged his millions of supporters in ‘Team Hamilton’ to follow their dreams and never give up”.

The ASA did say that it may have allowed the use of an athlete with strong appeal to under-18s in a medium where visibility by that demographic could be excluded, but did not consider Facebook to be such a medium.

To support its rationale, the ASA referenced Hamilton’s 6.3 million Facebook followers – though noting that the demographic of these has not been determined – as well as his 1.6 million under-18 followers across Instagram and TikTok.

Hit brakes on Lewis Hamilton ads
To avoid bad press, it’s probably best for the betting industry to avoid using Hamilton, and probably other F1 drivers, on social media posts and other marketing. As noted above, this is not the first time the seven-time drivers champion has appeared in an ASA ruling.

Just under two months ago, a plethora of ASA rulings came out in just one day, one of which focused on Hamilton’s inclusion in a kwiff social media post. Similar to the Betway post, the kwiff one came ahead of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone this year, which Hamilton won.

Marketing is becoming an increasingly complex task for operators, with the CAP Code guidance presenting multiple factors for operators to consider. On the same day as the kwiff ruling, Betway was told to remove a post featuring Chelsea FC scarves and Sky Bet to remove a post featuring Gary Neville, despite football pundits and retired players previously being approved in other ASA rulings.

As the dust settles on last week’s UK budget, however, marketing expenditure is likely going to decrease too. Operators need to cut costs as they prepare for tax hikes to take effect from April next year, and marketing is a logical first step.

As marketing expenditure drops, perhaps recurrent complaints – the ASA has issued countless rulings this week while University of Bristol researchers seem to be a constant source of complaints – will also drop.

Brazil targets welfare spending with latest gambling tax reform

iGamingExpertDecember 4, 20250163 views

A tumultuous opening year for Brazil’s Bets regime appears to show no signs of abating after a Senate Committee approved a 2026 tax increase on online gambling.

The Committee of Economic Affairs (CAE) has passed a proposal to raise taxes on betting licences from 12% to 18% of gross gaming revenue. The measures will be graduated, with the rate rising to 15% by 2027 before reaching 18% a year later.

Although a blow for operators seeking to secure their footing within the burgeoning landscape, the CAE adjusted a previous proposal from the government to double taxes to 24% – which failed in Congress in October.

Welfare spending

The changes, combined with tax reforms for fintech services, could raise as much as R$5bn in federal revenue from 2026 onwards, according to economic projections.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is targeting the dual tax reforms to help finance the Brazilian Government’s R$300bn in welfare spending in 2026, in what is described as “the largest social-investment package in Brazil’s history”.

Similar optics provided a challenge for the UK gambling industry, as in the run up to the UK budget, advocates for increased tax linked the potential revenue boost with reforms targeted at combating child poverty.

Though not directly linked by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, UK remote gaming duty will be hiked to 40% in April 2026, while child benefit frameworks have been reformed within her mandate.

It elevated what was already a tough landscape for the gambling industry in terms of making the case against significant tax hikes.

Ongoing reform

Operators will be hopeful that a degree of stability in the Brazilian market is found in 2026, as 2025 has marked a somewhat chaotic period.

Since the market opened on 1 January, operators have been forced to adapt to new restrictions on bonuses as tighter frameworks around incentives and regulations related to ensuring welfare recipients can’t use funds for gambling.

This bill related to welfare funds proved controversial upon its introduction following the publication of SPA/MF Ordinance No. 2,217/2025, recipients of Bolsa Familia and the Continuous Cash Benefit are among groups banned from taking part in fixed-odds sports betting.

In order to ensure the implementation of the guidance, the SPA also issued Normative Instruction No. 22/2025, which sets out procedures that betting operators must follow to ensure compliance.

According to the new rules, companies must consult the Betting Management System (Sigap) to verify whether a user is included in the database of beneficiaries during customer registration, and at the first login of each day.

It outlined that operators must ensure that players are blocked if they are registered, with any deposits also being returned to them.

Speaking at the time of the implementation of the rules, Regis Dudena, Secretary of Prizes and Bets at the Ministry of Finance, stated: “To ensure compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling, it was necessary to develop a robust technical tool, carefully ensuring that the measure guaranteed the protection of the rights involved. Protecting citizens, their security, their rights, and their personal data are always objectives of the Brazilian Government.”

The Ministry of Finance stressed that recipients do not risk having their benefits suspended if they are found to be accessing betting sites, and it is the responsibility of operators to stop this from happening.

Meanwhile, regulatory gaps, such as the creation of a federal self-exclusion register and a dedicated bill to govern online gambling advertising, remain to be determined in 2026.

The bill to increase taxes will now advance to the Chamber of Deputies, before heading to the lower house for further committee analysis. Any amendments will return to the Senate for confirmation.

Better Gambling Forum unveils scientific oversight committee to guard against industry bias

Steve HoareDecember 3, 20250163 views

The Better Gambling Forum (BGF), a Brain Capital Alliance-affiliated platform for evidence-based gambling policy, has announced the completion of its scientific oversight committee. The committee is composed of experts in a variety of fields, including public health, addiction science, and gambling understanding. BGF steering committee chairman Shawn Fluharty told Player Protection Hub: “We could sugarcoat…

Sweden hands gambling brief to Erik Eldhagen ahead of 2026 reforms

iGamingExpertDecember 3, 20250163 views

The government of Sweden has appointed Erik Eldhagen as new State Secretary for Gambling, reporting to Minister for Financial Markets Niklas Wykman to lead one of Sweden’s most closely scrutinised policy portfolios.

Eldhagen’s responsibilities will extend across gambling regulation, financial markets, state-owned properties, and the financing of new nuclear power projects. His appointment takes effect on 1 December 2025.

A seasoned public official, Eldhagen joins from the Riksbank, where he served as Head of the International Secretariat. He previously held senior positions within the Ministry of Finance and acted as an advisor to the World Bank.

The appointment comes ahead of the government’s anticipated amendments to the 2018 Gambling Act, which opened Sweden’s online gambling market.

The forthcoming reforms, developed under the guidance of Inspector Marcus Isgren and Niklas Wykman, to strengthen Swedish gambling consumer safeguards and protections against unlicensed gambling.

2025 has seen Sweden change its leadership of Swedish gambling as Gambling Inspectorate Spelinspektionen has undertaken its own transition. Announced in October Johan Röhr has begun his tenure as Acting Director General following the departure of Camilla Rosenberg after eight years at the helm.

Prelude to sweeping 2026 reforms

In the final months of 2025, Spelinspektionen has advised all Swedish licensees to prepare for a transformative 2026, as the government finalises a package of sweeping regulatory reforms.

Amendments to the Gambling Act will tighten definitions of illegal gambling activity and expand the law’s jurisdiction to offshore operators that make their services available to Swedish players, even without explicit targeting.

The Ministry of Finance has endorsed a proposal to remove the “directional criterion” — a long-standing clause that excluded non-Swedish-facing games from domestic law. Its removal will empower authorities to pursue any operator accepting Swedish players, regardless of language, payment method, or marketing approach.

Additionally, the government plans to bolster regulatory oversight through new enforcement powers and an enhanced penalty framework, granting Spelinspektionen the authority to impose heavier sanctions, revoke licences, and expand compliance investigations.

A landmark element of the 2026 reforms will see Sweden become the first EU nation to impose a complete ban on gambling with credit. From 1 April 2026, operators will be prohibited from processing any payments funded through credit cards, overdrafts, personal loans, or buy-now-pay-later services.

Hailed by the government as a key consumer protection measure, the ban aims to curb gambling-related indebtedness and reinforce the country’s responsible gambling framework.

The implementation of these measures will fall under the leadership of Acting Director General Johan Röhr, who succeeded Camilla Rosenberg on 1 November 2025, marking a new chapter for Spelinspektionen’s direction and enforcement strategy.

Dutch regulator goes after Unibet as players left unsupervised

Steve HoareDecember 3, 20250144 views

Optdeck Service Ltd, operator of Unibet in the Netherlands, has been fined €4m over duty of care failures.

The Dutch gambling commission, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), confirmed that the failures occurred between 14 July 2022 and 1 July 2024, and that they were related to insufficient player protection measures.

“Gambling companies must protect players as much as possible from excessive participation and gambling addiction,” the regulator said.

Within the files requested and examined by the KSA, it was revealed that Optdeck continuously failed to intervene in cases where problem gambling indicators were present.

Several incidents involved gamblers spending “thousands of Euros” per day but information about their income was requested only weeks after. Also present in the documents reviewed by the KSA was an instance where money from a business account was used to gamble – a prohibited practice under Dutch law.

Michel Groothuizen, KSA Chairman, commented: “When there are signs of immoderate gambling behavior and someone bets a huge amount of money in a short time, a provider must investigate the origin of the money.

“It is essential that providers carry out this analysis adequately, because not all financial resources may simply be included. The KSA takes violations of the duty of care very seriously and will continue to act hard against them.”

Unibet, is everything alright?
This is not the first time Optdeck has landed in trouble with the Dutch regulator. Earlier in September, the operator was charged an additional €450,000 for offering Unibet customers bets on prohibited markets – corner kicks, yellow cards, and under-21 games.

The violations went on from October 2022 to May 2025 – overlapping with the time period when the player protection failures occurred.

Similar duty of care breaches are not limited just to Optdeck, however. Earlier this year, Unibet received a penalty of AU$1m (£481,000) in Australia for failure to restrict the access of hundreds of self-excluded accounts.

Another case from just over two months ago saw Platinum Gaming, operator of Unibet in the UK, receive a whopping £10m penalty for social responsibility and AML beaches

All of these instances build up the case for a bigger question – are such significant oversights region-locked or is there something far more bigger going on centrally at Unibet and its parents Kindred Group and FDJ United that requires urgent attention?

Spanish regulator criticised for bracketing Codere, Betfair and 888 with unlicensed operators

iGamingExpertDecember 3, 20250152 views

The use of Codere’s name in the headline of a recent ruling from Spanish regulators has been criticised as creating “an inaccurate and disproportionate impression”, according to Fernando Martín, Partner at Loyra Abogados.

Codere was among three regulated operators highlighted as the authorities announced sanctions worth €33.5m to 32 gambling operators in Spain. However, $30m of the total fines were attributed to six illegal operators.

The Spanish gambling group argued that its inclusion within the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030’s headline alongside 888 and Betfair unfairly grouped them in with more serious offenders, given its fine totalled a measly €17,500 of the total figure.

Martín said: “For licensed operators such as Codere, 888 or Betfair, these cases relate to administrative compliance issues. They involve failures in technical controls, internal procedures or reporting obligations. They do not relate to illegal gambling activity.

“By contrast, the €5 million fines issued to offshore operators correspond to very serious infringements and come with website and payment blocking. These are aimed at disrupting unlicensed activity.

“This difference is essential. Mixing both types of operators in a single headline creates confusion and can damage reputations. This episode illustrates why such a distinction is essential, especially at a time when consumer confusion between legal and illegal platforms is growing.”

Black market confusion

Alongside sanctioning each illegal operator €5m, the DGOJ has blocked their websites. However, the sanctions illustrate the strength of Spain’s illicit gambling market.

Recent data from EY and Jdigital revealed that 23.4% of Spanish players have used illegal gambling websites, and the market has grown to be worth €231m in 2024, approximately 16% of the value of the regulated market.

Mirroring similar findings to those in the UK, the research found that the distinction between the legal and illegal remains increasingly blurred for players.

“One of the most striking findings is the level of confusion among consumers. Almost half of the players who believe they only use legal “.es” sites have actually accessed illegal platforms, including domains such as “.com” or “.bet”. This lack of awareness is a major cause of exposure,” explained Martín.

“32.1% of players aged 18 to 24 do not realise they are using illegal operators, making them one of the most exposed demographics.

“Illegal operators exploit these weaknesses with aggressive promotions, unlimited stakes, faster payments and a strong presence on digital channels. Platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Telegram, and payment methods like Bizum and cryptocurrencies are central to their strategy of attracting Spanish players outside the regulated system.”

Regulating the suppliers

The DGOJ is currently considering a raft of significant reforms, including tighter restrictions on advertising and promotions, and the implementation of a regulator-developed risky player behaviour monitoring system.

Alongside this, for the first time in Spain, B2B providers will be required to register with the DGOJ, marking “the beginning of direct supervision over the technological backbone of the industry”.

“The reform introduces a clear obligation for providers to ensure that their systems are not used by unlicensed operators,” concluded Martín.

“They will need to adopt both technical safeguards and contractual controls to prevent their platforms, software or RNGs from ending up in the illegal market. This shifts part of the responsibility for enforcement onto those who develop and supply the technology.

“In addition, a licensed operator will only be allowed to certify or approve a technical system if the supplier is properly registered. This creates a direct link between the regulatory status of B2B providers and the compliance obligations of licensed operators, tightening oversight across the entire chain.”

UKGC tells retail ‘comply or be sorry’ amid self-exclusion concerns

Steve HoareDecember 3, 20250164 views

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has increased its regulatory scrutiny of Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs) throughout this year.

Andrew RhodesCredit:UKGC
This was confirmed by UKGC CEO Andrew Rhodes himself in his speech during amusements trade body Bacta’s Annual Convention in Leeds.

Rhodes confirmed that official communiques were sent out by the regulator to all licensed AGCs earlier this year, reminding them of obligations around self-exclusion.

Although not directly referenced, this move could’ve been prompted by an undercover BBC investigation published back in June where a reporter was allowed access to multiple AGC venues in South England despite self-excluding themselves prior to that.

At the time, John Bollom, then-President of Bacta, criticised the investigation for being “unrepresentative” of the land-based arcade sector that the organisation represents – words also echoed by Rhodes in his latest speech.

“The media coverage often implies that one case or one example is indicative of the industry or sector as a whole. You know, this may be unfair, but it is the reality,” the UKGC CEO said.

“Earlier this year, the Commission wrote to all adult gaming centre licensees to remind them of their obligations around self-exclusion.

“Unfortunately, despite the warnings, some operators weren’t taking their responsibilities seriously. At the start of this month we announced that we had taken decisive regulatory action.

“Seven AGC operators have seen their operating licences immediately suspended this year for failing to be part of a self-exclusion scheme. While most of those licences have since been reinstated following clear steps to remedy failings, all operators concerned remain under investigation, which may result in further regulatory action being taken.”

Illegal land-based gambling ripe for culling
Whether or not the UKGC was reminded of its land-based compliance assessment duties by the BBC report remains a topic of speculation. One thing, however, that remains fully within the UKGC remit and which the regulator never leaves out of sight is funding.

The 25 November Budget announcement by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves revealed a total of £26m of additional funds set aside for the regulator, to be granted over a period of three years.

This was warmly welcomed by the UKGC and the importance of the announcement was further emphasised by Rhodes’ words: “In my 20 years on executive boards of public bodies I’ve never known that kind of multiple from the Treasury ever before.”

The top honcho of UK gambling regulation additionally revealed that the money will be used specifically to push back against illegal land-based gambling, but what exactly that fight will look like still remains to be seen.

New Zealand gov sets formal timeline for online casino market

iGamingExpertDecember 3, 20250152 views

The countdown has officially begun for New Zealand’s online casino market, as a date has been set for when the country plans to launch its online casino licences.

New Zealand government’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon Brooke van Velden, has released the cabinet paper and associated materials for the online casino gambling bill, which has been in motion since being introduced to parliament in June.

Other important updates were contained within the release for interested parties to take into account, but the date of 1 December 2026 will now be added to the diary of all stakeholders as the date for when online casino licences will start.

The wheels are now speeding up for New Zealand’s online casino market, as the government also stated in an email update that detailed regulations for licence holders are expected to be finalised by mid-2026.

“It is our intention to give the sector time with these finalised regulations before running the licensing process,” said Trina Lowry, Programme Director – Online Gambling Implementation, in an email update.

Draft regulations that have recently been issued to the cabinet for approval include areas covering harm prevention and minimisation, consumer protection and record-keeping, advertising and marketing, as well as fees, levies, or charges for cost recovery.

Lowry added that the government hopes to provide another update with detailed information on the regulatory decisions taken before the end of the month.

Community funding changes

Community funding returns have also been introduced in the bill, with offshore gambling duty rising from 12% to 16%, with this 4% increase ringfenced for community returns.

As a result, it is estimated that community returns could reach between NZ $10m and NZ $20m in the first year (approximately €4.9m to €9.9m), although this is dependent on how much total gross gambling revenue the licensed online casino market generates.

New Zealand’s government noted that the community return option “does not seek to replicate the not-for-profit Class 4 model” and that the most relevant comparison would be to land-based casinos in the country since they are for-profit entities, in comparison to Class 4 or Lotto, whose profits must be used to benefit communities.

Montenegro rejects constitutional review of New Gambling Law

Steve HoareDecember 3, 20250150 views

The Government of Montenegro has rejected appeals demanding a constitutional review of articles authorised under the New Law on Games of Chance.

The challenge was filed by NVO, the national trade association for games-of-chance suppliers, and Lutrija Crne Gore (the Lottery of Montenegro), which has contested the provisions of Article 106.

The Incumbents cite that the “transitional and concession rules” set out in the legislation undermine constitutional rights of gambling licences authorised by the former laws of Montenegro.

According to the two parties, Article 106 of the New Law will breach the constitutional ban on retroactive legislation, create unequal treatment for operators with different contract expiry dates, and will further infringe on what they described as “acquired rights” linked to existing concessions.

PM Spajić says no…
A written opinion was submitted to the Vlada legislature directly by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, who stated:

“After examining the submission, the government finds that the law does not have retroactive effect. The mandate on games of chance is an activity of public interest and holds exclusive rights for the state. Organisers therefore do not possess any rights that will be in breach of the New Law.

The government ensures a transitional period of 270 days to allow all organisers to align their business operations with the new requirements, in all fairness to all, regardless of who they might be.

Spajić continued: “The government ultimately decides that this disputed provision is not contrary to constitutional norms or international conventions, and that there is no prospect of bringing proceedings before the Constitutional Court with respect to Article 106 of the Law on Games of Chance.”

The PM’s opinion formed the legal basis upon which the cabinet rejected the petition for constitutional review. Although the constitutional challenge has been rejected, the new framework continues to attract criticism from Montenegro’s gambling licences.

Montenegrobet, the national association of licensed operators, has warned the government that it will introduce “unrealistic compliance obligations, disproportionate criminal-liability triggers, and licence-revocation grounds that could destabilise the legal market and hinder channelisation.”

The association has urged the government to reopen dialogue with gambling licences and revise several contentious provisions that will hinder market stability and suppress investment in domestic operators.

Gambling and Euro ascension
Following the decision, Montenegro’s New Law on Games of Chance passed in August 2023 – will proceed through a phased implementation in which the government will consider minimal changes.The Ministry of Finance has begun issuing secondary regulations covering licensing conditions, AML controls, supervision, and market conduct standards.

The launch of a modernised gambling framework is earmarked by the Spajić “Pro Europa” administration as a critical domestic reform supporting Montenegro’s full accession to the European Union – in which PM Spajić and the government seek to become a full member state by 2028.