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Industry pokes holes in Bulgaria online limits draft

Steve HoareJuly 10, 20250202 views

The Bulgarian sector has come out against government plans to introduce a number of restrictions on online gambling.

While agreeing that such conversations are a right step towards better player protection, a number of industry organisations came forward to deem the draft text ‘unviable’ in its current form as it limits player freedoms.

What’s the fuss about?
Last month, two of Bulgaria’s Ministries came out with a proposal to tighten controls around consumer engagement with the sector. Despite it placing the well being of players at the centre, however, another glance at the measures makes it clear why they might’ve come across as rushed by some.

For one, mandatory time limits would see individual game sessions being restricted to a maximum of four hours for over-24s, and two hours for everyone under that age. So far, so good. The texts however do not clarify whether these limits per 24 hours, or per session start.

Critics have pointed out that in its current form, the draft allows for players to reach the 3:59 hours mark, log out, log in again, and continue for another four hours – with amendments needed to address this loophole.

A more serious issue is the proposed mandatory exclusion of players. The text envisions a maximum loss limit within a 24-hour window that would be set by the player itself.

Subsequently, if the customer reaches 100% of that limit within that period, operators would be required to place that customer on the self-exclusion registry for seven days.

Industry feedback has highlighted this as problematic for two main reasons. First, this would constitute a breach of freedom rights outlined within the Bulgarian constitution. Secondly, if a customer has their access to legal options forcefully revoked, the risk of turning to the black market increases significantly.

And lastly, but perhaps the biggest head scratcher, is the proposed cap on online wagers. The brief, which as a reminder was approved by two Ministries, wants to set a 24-hour wagering limit of a maximum of 20 average monthly salaries – amounting to thousands of Euros.

This is certainly a precedent in the whole of Europe, and does not accurately reflect the economic landscape in Bulgaria – the poorest country in the EU.

Industry is baffled
Since the consultation’s deadline expired on 5 July, several industry organisations have provided detailed feedback – pointing out what is wrong with the draft while leveraging their expertise to recommend amendments to the proposal.

Association of the Gaming Industry in Bulgaria (AGIB)
In its statement, AGIB noted that the draft fails to introduce a centralised system that would simplify the implementation of player session limits and wagering caps. Currently, this is left as the sole responsibility of individual operators.

“This means that a participant who has reached their limits with one operator can immediately continue playing with another licensed operator,” the statement read.

Furthermore, it recommended clear indication that session limits are tied to the active participation of customers with a game, rather than to activity not considered as ‘playing’, i.e. logging in and out of an account.

On the above, AGIB also suggested that session limits should not be overarching, but tailored to specific types of play, bringing a distinction between online gambling and sports betting for example.

The body also believes that the forceful exclusion of players by private companies is an infringement on citizens’ “freedom of personal choice and economic freedom”, and that the matter should be handled by the regulator instead.

Bulgarian Gaming Association (BGA) and Association of Organisers of Gambling Games and Activities in Bulgaria (AOGGAB)
BGA and AOGGAB warned of an increased black market prominence if wagering and play limits are introduced by the government.

“Experience in all European markets…shows that mandatory restrictions on gaming on licensed betting sites do not lead to restrictions on the players’ gaming and limiting the risks for them, but redirect them to freely accessible unlicensed sites.”

Various reports were cited from international trade bodies like the EGBA and national ones like the Netherlands’ NOGA, as well as national regulators like Sweden’s Spillemyndigheden, highlighting that the black market has overtaken legal alternatives in market share across Europe.

“As a result of the restrictive regulations, the money of citizens in the Republic of Bulgaria, instead of being spent on entertainment on the regulated, protected licensed market, will flow to Curacao, Panama, the Philippines and other offshore zones, where illegal online gambling providers are most often located.”

Both NGOs also claimed a breach in EU law, as all listed technical requirements will affect companies headquartered in other European jurisdictions. Therefore, the draft needs to be approved by the European Commission.

State monopoly talks
Another proposal was recently submitted by the far-right political party MECH to introduce a monopoly on gambling under the state-owned Bulgarian Sport Totalizator (BST).

Speaking to the media, party leader Radostin Vasilev said that he views direct state intervention as the only viable solution to an effective control on gambling.

MECH is currently in opposition to the coalition government and has a small number of MPs, which will slow down any momentum for support behind their bill.

UKGC places transparent terms on penalty determinations

Steve HoareJuly 10, 20250211 views

Due to a long spate of enforcement actions in the first half of the year, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) will undergo changes to the way it determines financial penalties.

The regulator stated today (10 July) that it wants to make the process more transparent, particularly around the steps taken to determine the seriousness of a regulatory offence, a matter highlighted to the Commission in previous industry consultations.

Fines, financial penalties and other enforcement actions are now going to be subject to a seven step process, with regulatory breaches ranked along five levels of seriousness.

The extent of a financial penalty will be determined by the gravity of the breach, based on the five levels, and the percentage of an operator’s yearly gross gambling yield or other income at the time the breach occurred.

John Pierce, UKGC Director of Enforcement and Intelligence, said: “We are making changes to strengthen the transparency and consistency of how we impose financial penalties.

“These proposals were subject to extensive consultation, and the views shared by all our stakeholders have been taken into account.

“The resulting changes will strengthen our decision-making and streamline the calculation of penalties – helping to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our enforcement work.”

Commission clears up communication on enforcement
The UKGC is one of the most active regulators in Europe when it comes to enforcing standards across its industry. Given the vast scale of the British gaming industry, the often strict monitoring it engages in is necessary.

Headlines have often been generated as a result of the hefty penalties imposed by the regulator. Most notably, records were broken in 2022 and 2023 when huge penalties of £17m and £19m were issued to Entain and William Hill respectively for anti-money laundering and social responsibility shortcomings.

At the time, both gambling Plcs responded that the record penalties had been imposed on their business for the period of 2019-to-2020, prior to undertaking mandatory compliance changes on AML, customer care and responsible gambling.

This year has been no different. The past six months alone have seen the regulator take aim at Merkur Slots, the Football Pools, Corbett Bookmakers, SpreadEx and most recently Fafabet, issuing penalties of varying size.

With a focus on transparency, the UKGC is hoping to reduce the number of enforcement actions though, according to Pierce. The regulator hopes that the new process will encourage greater compliance with UK regulations, and catch out acts of non-compliance before things have to escalate to penalties or fines.

Additionally, the Commission has also clarified that penalties against society lotteries will not be determined by GGY or income. This comes amid a wider review of society lottery regulations, with the government evaluating whether to raise the limit on how many ticket sales these lotteries can make each year.

“Crucially, the new approach also encourages compliance at the earliest opportunity, supporting the protection of consumers alongside fair and proportionate outcomes for operators,” Pierce concluded.

“Where fines are imposed on society lotteries, registered charities or personal licence holders these will not be based upon a percentage of the GGY accrued during the breach period, rather an appropriate alternative will be used.”

EGBA requests markets to step up long-term safer gambling policy

iGamingExpertJuly 10, 20250213 views

The European Gaming and Betting Association has highlighted record levels in player safety messaging and safety tool use in the past year as part of its fifth sustainability report.

However, the EGBA is calling on some national markets to step up their long-term policy vision to produce stronger enforcement against the black market, as well as stable and supportive regulatory frameworks.

Positive impact of personalised messages

The collective efforts of EGBA members are outlined in the Sustainability Report 2025, showcasing their contributions to safer gambling, social investment, and responsible business practices.

With the report, the EGBA spotlights their members’ contributions of €3.8bn in taxes to the European economy in 2024, while 100 million safety messages were sent to customers, and 26.7 million (69%) customers used safety tools, with half doing so voluntarily.

Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA, brought attention to the use of personalised messages, 28% of all messages, and how it is having a positive impact.

“This year’s report shows our members are not only positive contributors to Europe’s economy but also setting industry benchmarks for safer gambling,” said Haijer.

“We’re especially encouraged by the success of personalised safety messages, which our report shows to be positively impacting between 42% to 46% of customers showing high-risk behaviours. That’s genuinely meaningful progress that builds trust and helps raise standards across the wider industry.”

Safer gambling support

The Sustainability Report 2025 showcases the year-on-year data progression of online EGBA members related to social contributions, safer gambling promotion and tools, customers, employment and diversity, as well as energy and environment.

EGBA members include bet365, Betsson, Entain, evoke, FDJ United, Flutter, LeoVegas, Superbet, while its associate members are Aircash and Sumsub.

Most personalised safety messages are delivered to customers via pop-ups at 67%, followed by email (25%), other (7%) and phone calls (1%).

Following a personalised message, 21% of customers either activated or strengthened their safety tools in the past year. Deposit limits are the most popular tool used, utilised by 65% of customers who use tools voluntarily, but this is down from 70% in the previous year.

Time limits were used by 11% of customers, followed by other (7%), product blocks (5%) and self-exclusion for less than six months (6%), as well as more than six months (6%).

Safety tools are used the most by customers aged between 36-50 years (30%), followed by 26-35 years (28%), 18-25 years (21%), 51-65 years (17%) and 66 years or more (4%).

The number of employees who received safer gambling training also increased in comparison to the previous year, rising to 89% of all employees (more than 55,000 across online and land-based), up from 80%.

In total, €148.9m was contributed to research, education and treatment services to support gambling harm prevention in Europe, bringing the figure contributed over the past five years to €290m.

Regarding social contributions, €735m invested in European sports through sponsorships, fees, and streaming rights payments, with streaming rights accounting for the largest share at 62%, followed by sponsorships (27%) and levies/fees (11%).

Charities and community initiatives across Europe received €156.8m, representing a 4% yearly increase (2023: €151.4m).

Call to action

Yet, despite the highlighted progress being made, Haijer has issued a call to action, asking for stronger enforcement against the black market, as well as regulatory frameworks that are stable and supportive.

“Our members are showing that leadership in our industry is about more than commercial success – it’s about protecting players, supporting communities, and investing in Europe’s future,” Haijer added.

“But sustaining these achievements requires stable and supportive regulatory frameworks and stronger enforcement against black market operators based outside Europe, who threaten the safety of European citizens and contribute nothing to our societies.

“The regulated industry makes substantial investments, but we need a longer-term policy vision in some national markets.”

Trinidad and Tobago set for major shift on gambling policy

iGamingExpertJuly 10, 20250271 views

A Bill proposing sweeping social reforms is set to be presented to Trinidad and Tobago’s Parliament, as new Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar delivers on key campaign pledges targeting youth welfare and broader public health objectives.

“As promised by Kamla” the UNC Party is committed to raising the legal drinking age to 21, while gambling and cannabis use would be restricted to those aged 25. The reforms mark a major policy shift, to position Trinidad and Tobago as the strictest Caribbean state on adult activities.

Persad-Bissessar unveiled the measures during her first official address since her general election victory on 28 April, reaffirming the UNC Party’s ambitions and promising “tough decisions” to bring long-term stability and fairness.

The reforms are being bundled into a wider legislative manifest that also includes a review of pension tax laws. The Prime Minister pledged to exempt retirement benefits from taxation for individuals over 60, arguing that taxing pensions after decades of contribution amounts to double taxation and imposes undue strain on seniors with fixed incomes.

“These changes are about fairness, safety, and building a healthier future. You don’t want the next five years to be as terrible as the last ten,” she told supporters during a UNC meeting in Penal.

Cautious Support from Business Community

The proposal has received early backing from three major business chambers, including the Greater San Fernando Area Chamber of Commerce (GSFCC), whose president Kiran Singh praised the government’s focus on addiction prevention and urged it to go further by restricting vaping among minors.

Singh downplayed concerns about potential losses to nightlife and gaming industries, stating that the societal benefits would outweigh economic costs, and noted that most youth spending in these sectors is marginal or reliant on borrowed money.

However, Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CCIC) president Baldath Maharaj urged greater consultation, warning that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in tourism, hospitality, and entertainment could face setbacks during an already fragile post-pandemic recovery. He recommended a phased implementation strategy, backed by education campaigns and support measures for affected businesses.

The Fyzabad Chamber of Commerce also welcomed the intent but called for a balanced approach, citing concerns that the age increase may inadvertently hurt local businesses that cater to younger demographics. Its president, Anjie Jairam, emphasised the need for evidence-based policymaking and engagement with both the private sector and youth groups.

In Parliament Opposition to Kamla plans, have cautioned that stringent age restrictions—particularly if applied to nightlife, casinos, and recreational venues—could deter western visitors, opting for neighbouring Caribbean destinations perceived as more permissive

Unfinished Oversight of Gambling

While the government seeks to raise the legal gambling age, Trinidad and Tobago has yet to fully implement its 2021 Gambling (Gaming and Betting) Control Act. Though passed and partially proclaimed, the Act’s full regulatory framework including licensing, inspections, and enforcement remains inactive, in need of a final proclamation.

The law would establish a dedicated Gambling Control Commission to oversee five casino venues and 80 gambling/betting establishments (public and private) operating in Trinidad and Tobago

In parallel, the Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago (FIUTT) has stepped up enforcement in the gambling sector to combat money laundering and financial crime. In 2024, it held multiple stakeholder engagement sessions and public consultations, and collaborated with the EU Global Facility on AML/CFT to align the sector with international standards.

The FIUTT has become a key actor in bridging the regulatory vacuum while the 2021 Act awaits full implementation, with increased scrutiny on unregulated gambling environments and risk-based supervision.

The proposed social reform Bill is expected to be introduced in Parliament in the upcoming session, yet the new government has made no statement on the proclamation of the Gambling Control Act.

Former MGC General Counsel Todd Grossman joins PrizePicks

SBC AmericasJuly 9, 20250216 views

A former gaming regulator is joining PrizePicks as fantasy operators across the country deal with legality concerns in one of the largest markets in America.

PrizePicks announced the appointment of Todd Grossman as the company’s Director of Gaming Regulatory Compliance to ensure the fantasy giant meets legal and compliance standards as it expands across North America. Grossman joins PrizePicks after spending more than 10 years in various roles at the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC).

“After an unforgettable chapter in public service, I’m thrilled to share that I’ve joined PrizePicks as Director of Gaming Regulatory Compliance,” said Grossman in a post on LinkedIn. “From day one, the welcome has been warm, the energy high, and the company’s commitment to building something truly exceptional has been unmistakable.”

At the MGC, he served as General Counsel for three years before being appointed as Interim Executive Director. Grossman was named interim director after Karen Wells st..

NJ Gov. Murphy signs bill banning betting partnerships with colleges

SBC AmericasJuly 9, 20250212 views

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has signed a bill into law banning public colleges and universities across the state from securing deals with sports betting brands.

Assembly Bill 4113 was signed by Murphy on Tuesday after first being introduced by Assemblywoman Linda Carter and Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly last April. It was carried over into the current year’s session.

The legislation is the same as Senate Bill 2155, which was introduced in January 2024 by Sen. Joseph Cryan. SB 2155 was passed by the Senate Higher Education Committee with amendments in May before being substituted by A4113 last month.

The bill was filed despite there being no active partnerships between New Jersey public educational institutions and gambling brands.

Still, Murphy’s approval of A4113 now writes a formal ban into law. Colleges and universities may not sign a sports wagering partnership that provides a gambling brand or operator with “access to advertise in the institution’s stadiums and other facilities…

Newsletter: Problem gambling is falling, isn’t it?

Steve HoareJuly 9, 20250229 views

The UK Statistics Authority has warned the Department for Health and Social Care and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) about the misuse of suicide statistics. Disparities at the Office for Disparities: The statistics regulator also noted problems with the OHID report, which assumes: Lies, damned lies etc: The issue of the misuse…

Paddy Power Betfair attack shows extent and boldness of UK cybercrime

Steve HoareJuly 9, 20250221 views

Flutter Entertainment confirmed yesterday (8 July) that its Paddy Power and Betfair UK brands had been subject to a heavy cyber attack.

The respective sportsbook and betting exchange brands were targeted by cyber criminals who were able to access information like emails and account names.

It is understood that a significant number of customer accounts were targeted. However, Flutter stated that serious information like passwords, ID documents and payment details, were not accessed by the cyber attackers.

“We can confirm that our Paddy Power and Betfair businesses have suffered a data incident involving personal information for some of our customers,” a Flutter statement provided to SBC News read.

“Immediately upon becoming aware of this incident, we informed relevant regulators and authorities and initiated a full investigation, supported by external IT security experts, to understand what happened and how we can better protect our networks and customers.

“The unauthorised access has been removed and the incident contained. Our investigation concluded that the affected information was isolated to limited betting account information. No passwords, ID documents or usable card or payment details were impacted. We are informing all affected customers.

“Safeguarding and securing our customers’ information is of the utmost importance to us.”

The incident highlights the extent of cybercrime threats to online-focused businesses, with a huge range of companies subject to attacks over the past year, not just those in the gambling sector.

The British government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey for 2025, for example, found that 43% of UK businesses reported a cyber security breach or attack in the past year – showing that Paddy Power and Betfair’s recent issue is hardly uncommon.

For companies like Flutter, which has access to one of the best tech stacks the industry has to offer as well as other important aspects like legal counsel, overcoming cyber security issues is a challenge – but not an enormous one.

For the many SMEs which make up both the B2C and B2B pillars of the betting industry, cyber issues may present more of a challenge.

According to a study conducted by Umazi, a digital ID platform, which was released the same day as the attack on Flutter, SMEs are the biggest victims of cyber criminality. The firm’s study found that 70% of SMEs are worried that business identity information and other data could be stolen.

“This isn’t a digital economy, it’s a digital illusion,” said Cindy van Niekerk, CEO and Founder of Umazi. “While regulators and corporates applaud innovation, SMEs are being left behind with legacy processes that actively undermine cybersecurity and economic growth.”

The British government, which is acutely aware of how big a contribution financial services make to its economy, has attempted to clamp down on cyber crime through legislation, such as the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act.

These measures will provide some support to betting and gaming firms as much as any other digital business. However, the attacks against Flutter, one of the biggest betting firms in the world, showcases the boldness of cyber criminals and the extent of the threat faced by businesses large and small.

NHS psychiatric morbidity survey reveals low rate of problem gambling and gambling participation

Steve HoareJuly 9, 20250228 views

The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) has published trends and insights on mental health and common disorders impacting the treatment of adults in the UK.

Commissioned by NHS England and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) the study provides insights and the prevalence of the UK’s nine most common mental health disorders including, depression, bipolar, psychosis, ADHD, OCD, trauma, phobias, drug addiction and problem gambling.

Among these, the APMS sheds new light on problem gambling—not as a standalone behavioural issue but as one frequently linked with deeper mental health challenges. Based on structured clinical interviews and a nationally representative sample, the survey finds that just 0.3% of adults in England meet the clinical threshold for problem gambling, with 0.9% of those who gambled in the past year affected.

This figure sits far below the 2.5% prevalence rate cited by the Gambling Commission’s Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) in 2023. That contrast has sparked debate over statistical rigour.

Gambling advisory Regulus Partners, has criticised the Commission’s handling of gambling regulation, argues that the GSGB “remains an outlier when compared to all other official statistics on the prevalence of harmful gambling stretching back almost two decades.”

The APMS, in contrast, offers a clinical, methodologically transparent account. Its true value lies not in prevalence comparisons, but in its analysis of comorbidity: the strong and consistent overlap between problem gambling and psychiatric disorders.

Mental Health applies across all data

Problem gambling in the APMS is revealed to be tightly interwoven with mental ill-health. Adults identified as problem gamblers were substantially more likely to report symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and suicidal thoughts or behaviours. They were also more likely to experience problem debt, unemployment, domestic violence, or trauma.

“Problem gambling, although rare, is consistently associated with a greater burden of psychological, financial and social distress,” the report concludes.

The survey also shows that problem gamblers are more likely to be receiving counselling or psychiatric medication, suggesting that they are already visible within the health system—but perhaps not always recognised through the lens of gambling-related harm.

Sharper focus on shrinking base…
Interestingly, the APMS also finds that gambling participation in the UK is declining. In 2023/24, only 43% of adults reported gambling in the previous year—down from 66% in 2007. While public discourse often implies a growing epidemic, these figures point to a contraction of gambling participation, not its expansion.

This long-term trend undermines claims of gambling “normalisation.”

The implication is not that gambling has ceased to pose a public health risk. Rather, as fewer people gamble, harm may become more concentrated among a smaller, more vulnerable population—often overlapping with those already experiencing mental health challenges.

Framing the evidence
Much of the friction between APMS and GSGB findings can be explained by methodology. The APMS relies on face-to-face household interviews and clinically validated tools, providing a more stable basis for tracking trends over time.

The GSGB, by contrast, uses online self-completed questionnaires, which are cheaper to run but more prone to response bias. That does not invalidate either approach—but it does caution against treating all figures as equally reliable.

Problem Gambling Prevalence: APMS vs GSGB vs HSE (2018)
A comparative graphic that illustrates how survey design can shape outcomes.

Policy must be grounded in evidence
The APMS issues a stern warning: problem gambling is a mental health concern first, and a regulatory issue second. On that basis, it points—indirectly but firmly—to two policy priorities:

Mainstream gambling screening in mental health services
Practitioners in NHS mental health and primary care should routinely assess for gambling harm—particularly among patients presenting with depression, anxiety, trauma, or financial distress.
Focus interventions on high-risk groups
Public health strategies should prioritise the small subset of individuals at highest risk, rather than applying generalised restrictions. This includes tailoring support across healthcare, addiction services, and financial counselling.

The APMS confirms that problem gambling is not a widespread epidemic, but for a narrow group of individuals, it is profoundly damaging. Recognising this comorbidity with mental illness is the first step toward targeted, effective policy. As the availability of rigorous national surveys shrinks, the clarity offered by this one should not be wasted.

SBOTOP owner handed £3.9m penalty by Isle of Man regulator

iGamingExpertJuly 9, 20250250 views

Celton Manx, the parent company of SBOTOP, has been hit with a £3,937,500 penalty from the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) for anti-money laundering (AML) failures.

The GSC found that the company lacked evidence of proper risk assessments, ongoing customer monitoring, enhanced due diligence and sufficient identity verification procedures, as well as falling short when it comes to handling suspicious activity.

The regulator noted that the original penalty was £5,625.000, however, it was discounted by 30% after the company undertook “comprehensive remediation” to address the identified issues.

A GSC statement read: “The Commission is satisfied that the imposition of the Civil Penalty on Celton Manx reflects the serious nature of the identified non-compliance and the issues and risks identified.

“It was further noted that Celton Manx acknowledged the serious shortcomings in its operational and governance arrangements at an early stage of the Commission’s investigation and thereupon had entered into settlement discussions with the Commission and sought to resolve matters expeditiously.”

TGP Europe exits the UK

Celton Manx held an Isle of Man licence from August 2008 until surrendering it on 9 May 2025, a decision that was part of a wider exit of the UK by the Isle of Man-based TGP Europe.

Prior to its departure, TGP Europe operated SBOTOP in the UK via a white label agreement with Celton Manx, as well as operated the UK domain names of several Asia-focused brands, such as DEBET.

However, the platforms associated with TGP Europe ceased their UK operations after the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) uncovered significant AML failures by TGP. The company was handed a £3m penalty by the UKGC following its investigation.

John Pierce, UKGC Head of Enforcement, commented at the time of TGP’s exit: “This case involves a gambling company that was unwilling or unable to meet the regulatory standards we expect from our licensees. It is right that they have now exited the British market.

“Following TGP’s exit, several online gambling operators can no longer lawfully offer gambling facilities to consumers located in Great Britain. These sites, previously operating under TGP’s licence, may not provide adequate protection against criminal activity or gambling-related harm and should not be available to GB consumers with immediate effect.”

Criminal infiltration

Financial crime is an ongoing concern for the Isle of Man given its established financial sector and links to the UK, and it is often the destination for operators seeking regulatory approval.

However, media reports claim that the crown dependency has been subject to attacks by criminals to bypass its controls against financial crime and immigration.

As a result, the Isle of Man’s government has warned that there is “limited appetite” for iGaming businesses with links to East or Southeast Asia.

This sentiment was revealed upon the publication of Digital Isle of Man’s National Risk Appetite Statement (NRAS), a document that seeks to outline the attitude towards new and current iGaming business relationships on the island and identify risk factors.

Although entities are not expressly prohibited from engaging with what are considered higher-risk jurisdictions, they must implement enhanced measures to manage the risks effectively.

In addition, if there is an accumulation of identifiable risk factors, regulators “will not authorise new business, and will review the terms of any existing licences, on the basis of this being outside of the national risk appetite for the Isle of Man”.

According to the report, iGaming contributes 16% of the Isle of Man’s GDP and provides over 1,000 jobs.