SBC News - Player Protection Hub

Labor takes soft path on Murphy’s goal to end “Australia’s gambling normalisation”

A.J. KoehnMay 14, 2026037 views

The Australian government has published its ‘official response’ to online gambling reforms sought by the late Peta Murphy.

The much-awaited response has been published two years after Labor MP Peta Murphy submitted her 2024 parliamentary inquiry into gambling harms and federal interventions, titled “You win some, you lose more: the impact on those experiencing gambling harms”.

The inquiry was the final parliamentary project undertaken by Murphy, who passed away in December 2023.

Her recommendations on federal gambling reform were widely expected to shape the agenda of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, following commitments made by the Labor Party during its 2022 Australian election campaign.

Murphy called to end the “normalisation of gambling”

Australia’s online gambling laws were heavily scrutinised by Murphy, who questioned whether the existing regulatory framework and operating conditions were effective in reducing harms and extending support across the country’s six commonweal..

Flutter’s Cash4Clubs scoops grassroots prize at Women’s Football Awards

Steve HoareMay 12, 2026030 views

Flutter and Sported’s Cash4Clubs programme won the Best Grassroots Initiative award at the prestigious Women’s Football Awards, recognising its contribution to women’s football and community sport across the UK and Ireland. Flutter fought off competition from Liverpool, Manchester City and McDonald’s to the top prize, awarded by Gabby Logan and Jamie Carragher. Sported CEO Sarah…

IPSOS research reveals 11% of U-18s have gambled online in Brazil

Steve HoareMay 12, 2026030 views

A survey by Ipsos in partnership with Unico , an identity verification network, revealed that 11% of young Brazilians will have gambled online in 2025. The research was first published by the Estadão newspaper , in the Estadão Column , on Saturday the 9th. According to data obtained by the newspaper, the largest number of gamblers among young people are boys aged 16…

Argentine lawmaker demands problem gambling plan

Steve HoareMay 12, 2026026 views

This week, Valentín Miranda, a deputy from Buenos Aires province, submitted a request for information from the government of Axel Kicillof, asking them to detail the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan to address problematic gambling among adolescents, launched in July 2024 with the aim of preventing, assisting, and eradicating online gambling among minors. The radical legislator’s initiative seeks to…

Noyes quits UK advisory group over financial risk checks

A.J. KoehnMay 12, 2026030 views

The not-so-coveted upcoming affordability checks in the UK have led to Dr James Noyes leaving the Gambling Act Review Evaluation Advisory Group in an act of protest against the government, as reported by The Sun.

Noyes was invited to be a part of the Advisory Group on behalf of the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) due to his credentials as an expert in gambling policy and his advisory work as a Senior Fellow at the Social Market Foundation (SMF).

The Advisory Group itself was set up in coordination with the Gambling Commission to provide technical advice on the provisions of the 2023 Gambling Act Review White Paper, which Noyes alleged has fallen on deaf ears.

No agreement on affordability checks

What proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back were the highly divisive affordability checks, which would require bettors to provide proof of financial stability if they are flagged by an operator for accumulating extensive losses – according to the government.

The ch..

New York takes aim at prediction markets with ‘risky bet’ campaign

SBC AmericasMay 12, 2026031 views

The New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) has launched a new campaign to educate residents and visitors about the risks associated with unlawful gambling.

On Friday, the NYSGC launched its Unlawful Gambling = Risky Bets initiative, providing bettors in the Empire State with the knowledge and tools to identify unlicensed gambling platforms and protect themselves from the dangers of unlawful wagering.

The NYSGC takes direct aim at online casinos, sweepstakes casinos and prediction markets by declaring them unlawful gambling options in New York. The regulator wants New Yorkers to bypass accessing the unlicensed platforms as they fail to deliver the same consumer protections standards and procedures as required by licensed operators in the state.

In some cases, the unlicensed platforms also facilitate wagering by people under the age of 21—a violation of New York gaming rules. The illicit platforms also provide users with access to house rules and market catalogs that have not receiv..

Soccer leads IBIA alerts for suspicious activity in North America

SBC AmericasMay 12, 2026027 views

The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) released its latest integrity report, providing insights into suspicious wagering activity throughout North America.

The not-for-profit betting monitoring organization published its Q1 2026 Integrity Report, providing an overview of suspicious wagering activity detected by its global monitoring and alert platform. The tool detects suspicious betting for more than 90 global operators and is deployed to ensure the integrity of more than 1.5 million sporting events annually.

It monitors over $300bn in sports betting turnover for retail and online wagering per year.

“The takeaway is simple: as markets expand, so too must cooperation between operators, regulators and sports bodies,” said the IBIA.

“Data-led monitoring and cross-sector collaboration are not optional; they are essential to safeguarding sport and maintaining consumer trust”.

The IBIA’s membership includes bet365, FanDuel, DraftKings, Kambi and Entain.

Suspicious acti..

ACMA investigates Entain for inactivity warning emails

iGamingExpertMay 12, 2026029 views

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is reportedly investigating Entain Australia & New Zealand after the operator allegedly sent emails sent to inactive customers warning them to place a bet or risk monthly inactivity fees.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the Ladbrokes Australia brand also failed to disclose the customer’s legal right to close their account through the government’s self-exclusion website, BetStop, and have their money returned.

This is just the latest in Entain’s Australian troubles, after the operator recently entered into a court-enforceable undertaking after more than 500 breaches of national self-exclusion rules were discovered as part of a separate ACMA investigation.

The Sydney Morning Herald stated that Entain ‘sends the emails to customers who have been dormant for 18 months, warning them it will begin charging a $5 a month fee for holding their money’.

The report added that the ACMA confirmed it was reviewing to see if the ema..

Ohio gaming regulator to investigate Texas Tech QB Sorsby

SBC AmericasMay 12, 2026038 views

The alleged illicit betting activity of Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby is drawing the attention of a state gaming regulator, as the NCAA also investigates the matter.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) initiated a probe into Sorsby for his alleged wagering on his own team in 2022 while a member of Indiana’s football program, an OCCC spokesperson confirmed to SBC Americas on Friday.

Sorsby’s alleged betting was revealed after Texas Tech made an announcement. The quarterback allegedly held several sportsbook and DFS accounts in several U.S markets.

“The Ohio Casino Control Commission routinely receives information and conducts administrative investigations related to matters that impact the integrity of sports gaming in Ohio,” said the regulator in a statement to SBC Americas.

“The commission has received information that has warranted an integrity investigation to be conducted related to Brendan Sorsby”.

Why is the OCCC investigating Sorsby?

Ohio’s gaming regulator i..

Gambling Commission to bring in a Head of Illegal Markets amid black market boom

A.J. KoehnMay 12, 2026026 views

The Gambling Commission is moving to strengthen the UK’s fight against illegal gambling with the creation of a Head of Illegal Markets role.

It will focus on leading high-profile investigations and disruption activity targeting black market operators, as the licensed industry in the UK continues to battle the ever-growing presence of unlicensed operators.

Reporting directly to the Commission’s Director of Enforcement and Intelligence John Pierce, the successful candidate will sit within the regulator’s Operations Directorate and play a central role in shaping and leading its response to illegal gambling across the UK.

According to the job description, they will coordinate resources across Enforcement and Intelligence functions while working closely with the Illegal Markets team, Sports Betting Integrity Unit, Legal, Policy, Strategy and Communications departments.

The regulator added that the role will play a “critical part” in supporting its broader strategy to combat illegal gam..