SBC News

GambleAware offers ‘self-help’ support pathway with new app launch

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GambleAware is providing additional support for 18 to 24-year-olds who are looking to quit or reduce their gambling with the launch of a new gambling harm prevention app called the GambleAware Support Tool.

Offering free and anonymous evidence-based advice and support, the app is designed to prevent gambling harm from escalating. It allows users to set personal goals to help them cut down or quit gambling altogether.

The GambleAware Support Tool app allows users to track their activity by inputting their gambling frequency and spend, helping them on their journey to reduce or quit gambling.

Alongside the evidence-based advice and support, the app includes access to podcasts and educational material resources, as well as signposting to other support options such as GambleAware’s service finder tool and the National Gambling Helpline.

Self-help support

Downloadable from the Google Play and the Apple App store, the app comes in response to data from the 2024 Treatment and Support Survey released by GambleAware that shows 18 to 24-year-olds are twice as likely to want to reduce or quit gambling compared to the average among those who gamble (29% compared to 15%).

Since the app’s launch, the charity has stated that it is having a positive impact on the demographic, as 48% of users aged 18-24 have indicated their motivation to change their gambling habits is to “save money”, while 27% say they want to “feel happier”.

Part of the app’s development also came from GambleAware’s 2023 Audience Segmentation Report, which stated that of the up to 4.5 million people in Great Britain that want to reduce or quit gambling, 93% (over 4.2 million) wish to do so without using a treatment service, so a ‘self-help’ support pathway was neeeded.

“Whether individuals want to reduce, manage or stay gamble-free, the GambleAware Support Tool is here every step of your journey,” stated Alexia Clifford, Chief Communications Officer for GambleAware.

“The digital age means we essentially have a casino in our pocket, and we know increased accessibility leads to increased participation and therefore increased risk of harm.

“These harms are a growing public health issue, but early intervention is key, and the GambleAware Support Tool app is designed to give people a timely insight into their gambling, with the aim of supporting their journey to reducing or quitting their activity.”

Lower Risk Gambling Guidelines

The GambleAware Support Tool app was developed in line with the Lower Risk Gambling Guidelines (LRGG), which were created by academic gambling experts globally over four years.

Over 260 risk curve analyses involving over 60,000 people from eight countries who gamble were conducted by LRGG researchers, as well as an online survey with more than 10,000 respondents, focus groups with 50-plus people, two comprehensive literature reviews and collaboration with a group of top global gambling researchers.

As such, three limits have been highlighted from the LRGG’s research for anyone who wishes to keep gambling but reduce the risks associated with it. These include gambling no more than 1% of your income, gambling on no more than four days per month, and avoiding more than two types of gambling per month.

The GambleAware Support Tool app is the only app in Great Britain using the LRGGs to suggest limits for users who are looking to reduce their gambling.

Catherine Adams, a member of the GambleAware Lived Experience Council, said: “I would be gambling on the computer from six in the evening until six in the morning and I just was not sleeping.

“It’s positive being able to monitor your progress yourself and to see how well you’re doing in reducing or quitting your gambling if you’re goal-oriented. To see ‘I’ve done this many days now ‘or ‘I’ve saved this much money, I think it really does give variety of choice in your recovery.”

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Senate Inquiry urges vote to impose radical penalties on Brazil Bets Regime

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Ricardo Assis – SBC Noticias Brazil
The CPI’s rapporteurs are demanding a shock to the system and reset of the governance, regulation, and enforcement of Brazil’s online gambling sector. Ricardo Assis, Editor of SBC Noticias Brazil declares that all regulatory conditions of the Bets regime are placed under scrutiny.

A series of radical reforms, penalties and criminal enforcements have been proposed by the Senate’s Commission Inquiry (CPI) evaluating the economic and social impacts of the Bets Regime.

Just 19 weeks since the CPI commenced its evaluation, led by Senator Soraya Thronicke (Podemos–MS) and Dr Hiran Gonçalves (PP–RR), the rapporteurs have submitted their recommendations to the Senate.

The CPI was established to evaluate the economic liabilities and social threats of Brazil legalising online gambling since 1 January 2025.

The inquiry heard testimonies from operators, stakeholders and whistleblowers on wide ranging topics from fraud and match-fixing to money laundering, advertising malpractice and the absence of consumer safeguards.

Of significance, the inquiry hit national headlines after testimony concerning Virginia Fonseca, a social media influencer with over 50 million followers, who is accused of misleading advertising and acting as a financial beneficiary of unlicensed operators.

As reported by SBC Notícias, the CPI’s final report calls for 16 indictments, targeting both individuals and entities. Fonseca, alongside influencer Deolane Bezerra, is named in connection with promoting illegal betting operators, with the report stating it was “unlikely” that Bezerra “ceased to be an effective partner and simply became a spokesperson.”

The report proposes the criminalisation of match manipulation in sports be signed into federal law. An action to be governed by the creation of a ‘National Sports Integrity Authority’, that will oversee the regulation of automated systems used by betting platforms.

Algorithms, the report noted, often operate without independent certification, making it “difficult for the bettor to assess the real risk involved.” A technical audit protocol is proposed, under regulatory supervision, to ensure transparency in how odds and promotions are determined.

The commission warns that betting platforms have become conduits for illicit financial activities. Evidence presented to the CPI outlined the use of fragmented transactions, third-party CPFs, untraceable crypto operations, and withdrawals routed through accounts tied to Brazil’s social welfare schemes. To counteract these abuses, the CPI has recommended data-sharing protocols between the Federal Tax Authority, COAF, and licensed operators, as well as regular financial audits.

Brazilian football, a key beneficiary of betting sponsorship, came under heavy criticism. Club executives admitted they lacked integrity departments and were often unaware of commercial terms involving gambling partners, with many deals brokered through intermediaries. The commission labelled this state of affairs “institutional omission” and “structural unpreparedness.”

Digital influencers, a core channel for consumer engagement, were described in the report as central players in normalising irresponsible betting behaviours. As such, affiliate contracts linking influencer revenue to user losses were described by the commission as “anti-educational and perverse.” The CPI has formally requested investigations into these arrangements by COAF and Receita Federal.

The report further urges an outright ban on online casino-style games, denouncing them as “online slot machines with exclusively deleterious characteristics,” while calling for extensive reform of betting advertising, including:

Prohibition of gambling ads during prime-time TV
Bans on welcome bonuses and misleading promotions
Mandatory age and financial suitability checks for bettors

Additional proposals include embedding gambling addiction awareness and financial literacy into school curricula, alongside national prevention campaigns supported by the SUS, NGOs and “conscientious influencers.”

Despite being tabled, the report will not be voted on immediately. As SBC Notícias reports, several senators have called for more time to review its recommendations. CPI President Dr Hiran has since indicated that he will move to postpone the vote until the following week.

Political consequences now loom for Brazil’s fledgling Bets Regime. Last week, Finance Minister Fernando Haddad has backed a provisional measure to raise the GGR tax on licensed operators from 12% to 18%, as a measure to fill budgetary gaps of the PT government.

A pending tax hike underscores the government’s push for tighter fiscal and regulatory oversight, prompting a coalition of trade bodies to challenge a tax framework they argue imposes an effective burden exceeding 50%.

The publication of the CPI’s report and its pending vote bring a turbulent close to the first six months of the Bets Regime existence. With mounting headwinds of tax hikes, compliance demands and the threat of criminal sanctions, the competitive landscape of Brazil’s online gambling market is poised for reshaping in the second half of the year. The only certainty, it seems, is continued volatility of a fragile Bets market that has been radically transformed since its launch on 1 January.

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Gibraltar removed from EU AML grey list 

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The European Parliament has voted to remove Gibraltar from its AML grey list, a move welcomed by the country’s Government.

Previous efforts to remove Gibraltar from the list had been met with friction from a section of Spanish MEPs.

However, in the latest round of removals from the list, Gibraltar has joined the United Arab Emirates in succeeding in being taken off the list.

The Minister for Trade, Justice and Industry, Nigel Feetham, stated: “The news today that the European Parliament has rejected objections to the update of the EU list brings an end to the uncertainty about Gibraltar’s merited delisting, which should have happened over a year ago following our delisting by the FATF.

“This is testament to the work undertaken by my Ministry to bring Gibraltar to the vanguard of the fight against money laundering and counterterrorist financing, and Gibraltar’s reputation as a world-leading financial centre has been rightfully restored. It is clear too that our engagement with partners in Brussels, both with the European Commission and the European Parliament, has worked to produce the result that we have worked so hard to obtain.

“Our work does not end here though. We will not rest on our laurels. We will continue to improve and are committed to maintaining the highest international standards and working constructively with our European and international partners.”

It’s a move that is a testament to Gibraltar’s efforts to clean its overall economy and gambling sector.

The Gibraltar Financial Intelligence Unit (GFIU) recently announced the strengthening of its fight against financial crime through a collaboration with the regional INTERPOL sub-bureau.

Key to the collaboration and the new strategy for securing a positive ecosystem in Gibraltar is the utilisation of INTERPOL’s Global Rapid Intervention of Payments (I-GRIP) mechanism, which seeks to swiftly identify, freeze, and recover illicit funds before criminals can move them beyond reach.

The Commissioner of Police, Richard Ullger, stated at the time: “Financial crime is a growing threat, often involving international networks that seek to exploit legal and jurisdictional gaps. By joining forces with INTERPOL and integrating I-GRIP into our enforcement strategy, we are reinforcing our ability to disrupt criminal activities, giving our officers at the Economic Crime Unit another tool at their disposal.”

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Croatia ties new ‘civic strategy’ to gambling overhaul

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Yesterday, a panel of community stakeholders declared full support for Croatia’s plans to overhaul its gambling laws and create a new regulatory regime to govern and tax gambling.

State Secretary Tereza Rogić Lugarić hosted a press conference with representatives of Croatian business, media, education and healthcare to encourage a wider participation in the government’s forthcoming overhaul gambling laws.

Of significance, hosted under the banner of “Fun in moderation – what you need to know about gambling” – stakeholders confirmed that they would cooperate in establishing a “National Strategy for the Prevention of Gambling Addiction to 2030.”

The gathering marked the launch of a far-reaching legislative effort, authorised by the Sabor (Parliament) in March. A mandate viewed as an executive intervention by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. now in his third term, to make gambling reform a centrepiece of the HDZ government’s agenda.

The Plenković pledge
Following wide-spread criticism, many view this as the HDZ government’s admission of its systemic failure to protect 40,000 Croats from gambling-related disorders, a figure that rises alarmingly when one considers the younger population.

Research from the Croatian Institute of Public Health reveals that 73% of high school students have gambled at least once, with 13% already exhibiting signs of harmful behaviour.

Plenković’s government aims to arrest this trend with a strategy that is both legislative and cultural. The new gambling law, to be fully enforced by early 2026, introduces mandatory player identification for all gambling participation — whether online or in-person — and establishes a national self-exclusion register to protect vulnerable individuals.

Venues such as cafes and restaurants will be prohibited from hosting self-service betting terminals. Municipalities will be ordered to review the location of gambling establishments, which must now maintain minimum distances from schools and religious buildings. The government estimates that 50% to 60% of betting shops may be forced to relocate or shut down altogether.

Gambling advertising will be banned from television, radio and online platforms between 6am and 11pm. Promotions featuring celebrities, athletes, or influencers will be outlawed entirely. Print and outdoor advertising will likewise be curtailed. Digital operators will be held accountable for preventing underage exposure to gambling content.

State Secretary Rogić Lugarić was forthright in her rationale: “Technological progress has made gambling just too accessible. These measures are designed to reassert the boundaries of conduct and responsibility of gambling.”

However, yesterday stakeholders announced that gambling reforms would not simply be contained to policies. Cooperation is needed to launch a new National Strategy for the Prevention of Gambling Addiction 2030.

Gambling reforms take on civic duties
A five-year mandate that for the first time treats gambling harm as a behavioural health issue with social, economic and psychological dimensions. The strategy, developed in coordination with the Ministry of Health, the Croatian Institute of Public Health, and academic experts, outlines a comprehensive public health response.

It prioritises mental health support, early intervention in schools, media literacy, and international cooperation. “This is not a public relations exercise,” said Marko Babić of Hrvatska Lutrija.

“We are part of a European project, alongside the Council of Europe and nine member states, to study youth mental health and reduce high-risk behaviours such as gambling.”

The conversation also touched on the wider implications of the digital economy. Professor Predrag Pale, speaking on behalf of the education sector, warned of the collapsing attention spans among youth — a trend he believes makes them more susceptible to rapid-reward mechanisms like betting and gaming.

“Children today have access to everything, but are engaged by nothing,” he noted. “We are still teaching with 20th-century methods, while they are living in a hyper-connected 21st-century reality.”

The reforms coincide with the introduction of a progressive new tax regime. The current flat tax model, in place since 2010, will be replaced by a tiered system on player winnings, ranging from 10% on sums under €1,500 to 30% on those above €70,000. Licensing fees will rise sharply: land-based casinos will pay €600,000 annually (up from €400,000), while online operators and betting shops will see similar increases.

The state anticipates an additional €50–70m in annual revenue, with at least 11% ring-fenced for addiction treatment and prevention. The remainder will fund education, civil society initiatives, and healthcare.

Not everyone is convinced by the mandate. The Croatian Association of Gambling Operators (HUBPS) and the European trade group EUROMAT have warned that the reforms could jeopardise as many as 15,000 jobs and disproportionately affect small operators.

Ozren Kronja, representing Croatian digital publishers, voiced concern that the government’s heavy-handed approach might backfire.

“While Croatian media are being strangled with restrictions, Big Tech platforms are left to self-regulate,” he said. “The unintended consequence may be to push gambling adverts further into unlicensed, untraceable channels. We’ve seen this in Italy, where illegal digital casinos proliferated despite stringent laws.”

Balkan eyes on Croatia
Nonetheless, the government appears resolute. A new regulatory authority will be established to monitor compliance, oversee licensing, and enforce penalties. Operators that fall short of new standards risk fines and the revocation of their permits.

The Ministry of Finance has already trialled automated keyword-based detection to block access to illegal gambling sites. Now, it intends to go further by compelling payment providers to halt transactions to unauthorised operators.

The HDZ government has committed to a “calculated bet” on restructuring Croatia’s gambling sector, recognising the high stakes involved in achieving a balanced regulatory framework that serves all stakeholders.

Progress in Croatia is widely seen as a potential inflection point for gambling reform across the Balkans, where countries like Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia face similar failures and liabilities. As such, Croatia’s legislative trajectory warrants close attention from industry observers across the region.

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BetMGM books Derek Jeter for US and Canada RG boost

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BetMGM has swung big on signing up iconic athletes to represent its brand, and it’s added one of the biggest hitters around.

The online sportsbook and casino brand announced on Monday that New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter has signed a multi-year partnership with BetMGM that spans both Canada and the U.S.

Broadly speaking, the partnership makes the 14-time MLB All-Star and five-time World Series champion a brand ambassador for the renowned operator. But the collaboration will look pretty different depending on whether you live north or south of the border, as evidenced by the way it was presented in each country.

In the U.S., he will be featured prominently across all kinds of advertising and make appearances at exclusive VIP events. Perhaps most notably from the industry perspective, the MGM Resorts International and Entain joint venture announced that it will launch an exclusive Jeter-themed slot game, which will be the first online casino game to feature a current or former MLB player.

BetMGM Chief Marketing Officer Casey Hurbis said that ‘The Captain’ has a “universal appeal and proven track record of excellence, both on and off the field” that will be a big asset to BetMGM’s brand and player engagement. Jeter joins a BetMGM lineup of sporting partners that also includes Wayne Gretzky and former NFL MVP Barry Sanders.

I’ve got two letters for you: R and G
Buried in the U.S. release announcing the Jeter deal was a line that noted that the former Yankee will play “a key role” in promoting BetMGM’s responsible gambling initiatives in both the U.S. and Canada.

In the Canadian press release, that wasn’t so much a secondary mention as it was the entire foundation of the announcement. “The baseball legend will appear in commercials that highlight BetMGM’s industry-leading suite of responsible gambling tools,” stated the Canadian release. The first responsible gambling advertisement will air in Canada and the U.S. later this year.

The reason for the difference in tone between the two releases is that in Canada’s only regulated online gambling market of Ontario, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario’s (AGCO) rules stipulate that active or retired athletes cannot be used in advertising and marketing, “except for the exclusive purpose of advocating for responsible gambling practices.” Ontario also has a requirement that operators must spend a certain percentage of their annual gross gaming revenue on RG-specific messaging.

Back in August 2023, just over one year into the lifespan of Ontario’s commercial iGaming market, the AGCO announced it would ban the use of athletes in online gaming advertising and marketing in Ontario. The change came into effect on Feb. 28, 2024.

“Following the first year of Ontario’s open, regulated iGaming market, the AGCO identified advertising and marketing approaches that use athletes, as well as celebrities with an appeal to minors, as a potential harm to those under the legal gaming age and is taking this step to reduce the risk,” said the regulator at the time. It banned the use of athletes, with the caveat of the RG carve-out, after consulting with stakeholders including mental health and public health organizations, responsible gambling experts, gaming operators, broadcast and marketing groups and the public.

Since then, operators have continued to partner with sports stars, basing the entire collaboration around responsible gambling measures. BetVictor, for one, recently enlisted former Toronto Raptor Tracy McGrady to serve as its face in Ontario.

The McDavid Effect
BetMGM already has impactful partnerships with former and current Edmonton Oilers heroes Gretzky and Connor McDavid, which give the brand that purports to be Ontario’s online casino market leader significant recognition and visibility not just in Ontario but across Canada.

The company’s Jeter release noted the former Yankee will join McDavid in supporting its ongoing responsible gambling campaign. BetMGM uses RG tools including GameSense, the industry-leading program developed and licensed by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC).

At BCLC’s New Horizons in Safer Gambling conference last October, BetMGM Director of Responsible Gambling Richard Taylor detailed that the operator saw a general increase of about 10% in the use of tools such as deposit limits which it credited to the use of McDavid to promote the tools in Canada.

“This is another example of Ontario pushing us to innovate and to make our organization better across all of our jurisdictions,” Taylor said at the time. “Big credit to Ontario for that requirement because it’s pushing us to innovate and do fun things with the way we market and promote responsible gambling.”

Now, BetMGM can lean on the profile of not only one Canadian hockey icons, but also one of baseball’s modern greats.

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Kalshi’s lawyer goes hard at state-regulated gambling

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Anyone who has attended a gaming conference will tell you that panels are regularly devoid of conflict and debate.

That was not the case during a discussion on prediction markets at the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) summer meeting in Louisville, KY.

Josh Sterling, a lawyer from Millbank and former Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) employee, represents both Kalshi and Crypto.com in their legal challenges to cease and desist letters from gaming regulators in a trio of states. His comments on a panel regarding prediction markets both gave insight into Kalshi’s legal position and ruffled some feathers in a room full of regulators and lawmakers who believe sports contracts are infringing upon their turf.

Sterling stands firm: sports trading is federal territory

While the gaming industry tries to define where the line between prospecting and gambling is, Sterling found the issue crystal clear.

“The line is drawn in Section 281, Title Seven in the U..

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Ontario operators no longer need AGCO approval on responsible gambling training

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Ontario gambling operators will no longer need to seek the approval of the provincial regulator on their responsible gambling training.

In an update posted on Friday, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) noted it has amended its RG training standards for employees in the gaming and lottery sectors. Henceforth, operators will not need to to seek approval from the Registrar for training programs.

RG training itself is still compulsory for all staff in those sectors. But operators now have more freedom to develop and revise their own content without needing AGCO sign-off, as long as the training meets industry best practices and effectively prepares employees to recognize and respond to gambling-related harm.

The AGCO stipulates that RG training must adequately ensure that employees understand their role in promoting responsible gambling and supporting individuals who may show signs of gambling problems.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s (OLG) PlaySmart program remains valid under the updated standard, confirmed the regulator.

The change is intended not only to reduce red tape but to encourage innovation within responsible gambling, maintain Ontario’s standards for player protection, and bring greater consistency between land-based gaming and iGaming.

AGCO regulator advises operators on how to spot at-risk players
This is the second time in a few weeks that Ontario’s online gambling regulator has tweaked the way it approaches responsible gambling.

In early June, it updated its comprehensive advice on how licensed operators can identify and support players at risk of harm.

While the AGCO noted its regulatory model places accountability on operators to actively shield players from gambling-related harm, its guidance helps clarify its expectations of operators and signposts ways that gambling brands can meet the province’s requirements.

At that time, the commission stressed the importance of rigorous employee training, documentation of such training and continuous assessment in upholding its standards.

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DraftKings to pay back $3M to Connecticut players in promo settlement

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DraftKings is returning $3 million to customers in Connecticut following an investigation by the state’s Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) into the operator’s bonus offers.

The DCP reached a settlement with DraftKings requiring the Boston-based sports betting and fantasy giant to return funds to approximately 7,000 consumers in Connecticut.

The department initiated an investigation into DraftKings amid allegations of the operator violating gaming law through its casino deposit and general bonus offers between October 2021 and January 2023. DraftKings allegedly violated Connecticut gaming laws by offering bonuses that promised a particular deposit match or bonus bet amount but included a playthrough requirement that was not expressly marketed by the company. DraftKings avoided any further legal or regulatory repercussions through its settlement with the DCP.

According to the settlement agreement, DraftKings “denies all allegations” and “denies any and all liability or wrongdoin..

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Twelve Curacao operators reach out of court settlement over RG failures

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An out of court settlement has been reached by 12 operators in Curacao over player protection shortcomings.

It was cited by the Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO), investigating the case, that these operators fell short in terms of KYC procedures.

The operators at the centre of the case remain unidentified. However, it is reported that all involved in the case were accepting of the sanctions.

Poresecution in the case centres around player verification, with it being found that players were allowed to open accounts and deposit without any friction or verifying their identities.

Originally, 17 firms were targeted in the investigation, which was codenamed Operation Nebraska and spearheaded by the specialist police forces.

A statement from the office said: “The PPO sees several reasons to settle the matter out-of-court. Since the suspects are legal entities, it is unlikely — in the event they are proven guilty — that the criminal court will impose a penalty other than a fine.”

Continuing on its path of regulatory progress, Curacao governance recently revealed that several provisional licenses issued have been extended.

The decision applies to both Green Seal B2C entities and also to B2B license holders, with relevant parties now being ordered to ensure they are compliant with LOK requirements on 24 December 2025. Nonetheless, the Curacao Gaming Authority did lay out that not all operators will be granted the full six-month extension period, underpinning the importance of them showing progress when it comes to LOK standards.

There are a number of requirements that need to be implemented as a result of the policy, specifically around player verification and social responsibility.

These checks include age verification, player self-assessments, deposit limits and additional training for marketing partners and affiliates.

The new framework details that staff should be able to handle player interactions professionally and effectively, whilst also emphasising the importance of staff being able to recognise the signs of gambling distress and ensuring they can conduct sensitive and structured conversations with players.

Enforcement of significant self-exclusion protocols is also included in the framework, ordering operators to display clear self-exclusion guidance.

Central to the new framework is the advancement of efforts when it comes to AML protocols, as the country looks to eradicate bad actors within the B2C and B2B space.

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