The American Gaming Association (AGA) has introduced a new responsible gambling campaign, Play Smart from the Start, which it describes as a “research-backed messaging platform” designed to bolster the industry’s approach to responsible gaming and foster stronger connections between players and responsible play. Play Smart from the Start is shaped by in-depth research over the…
In this episode of iGaming Daily, Jessica Welman and Charlie Horner unpack the recent lawsuit filed by Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott against DraftKings and FanDuel. The duo dives into the heart of the allegations—claims that the operators are targeting vulnerable individuals with gambling problems—and explores the broader implications for the industry. From media scrutiny to…
Stake’s US operation has become the target of legal action over allegations that the operator is mirroring its real-money platform with a sweepstake site.
The case has come from a law firm with a strong track record when it comes to gambling operators, having previously had success in suing High 5’s social casino.
It centres around Brayden Urdan, from Illinois, who is alleging that the company is in breach of state laws with its workaround of gaming laws in the state.
One of the key elements of the case is the claim that both the sweepstake operation and the real-money operation of Stake both utilise the same promotional channels including the ambassadors they utilise, such as music legend Drake.
It forms a key part of Stake’s aggressive marketing campaign that it has undertaken on social media in the past year.
“The point of Stake’s aggressive sponsorship strategy is clear: by linking itself with globally admired celebrities and teams, Stake aims to normalise online gambling..
A Finnish law firm has informed the Helsinki Times that betting and gambling are the third biggest growth drivers of over-indebtedness among Finns.
Takaisinperintä, a law firm which specialises in serving financially vulnerable clients, told the outlet that it had conducted a survey of 765 heavily indebted people, asking them what they had taken out payday loans for.
A total of 28% of respondents said that they had taken out loans for betting and gaming, coming behind payments for clothing, accessories or electronics, with urgent household maintenance the most widely stated reason for taking out a short-term loan.
The findings come at a critical juncture for Finland’s gambling sector, which is in the process of being reformed from a monopoly system to a multi-licence mass market model. The government launched legislation to parliament earlier this year with the goal of creating a multi-licence market in 2026.
Food for Finnish thought
The recent findings may lead to further debate a..
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has appointed Gennadiy Novikov as the Head of PlayCity, the newly established gambling authority of Ukraine.
Novikov’s appointment was confirmed to Ukrainian citizens via the government’s Telegram channel on 8 April.
The PlayCity agency was launched on 1 April with the mandate to “implement a new state policy in the field of organising and conducting gambling and lotteries.”
PlayCity will work under Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov to ensure that new laws protect Ukrainian gambling licences, consumers, and the regulatory regime from corruption.
In January, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued an executive order to liquidate KRAIL, Ukraine’s former state agency for gambling. KRAIL had come under scrutiny due to ongoing corruption cases, including allegations of money laundering and providing intelligence to associates of Russia.
Taking charge of PlayCity, Gennadiy Novikov previously served as Head Prosecutor at the National Agency for the P..
Brazil’s ministers and senators have been warned of a ‘clear gap’ in dedicated facilities needed to treat gambling addiction and the mental health disorders associated with gambling.
The warning came from Dr Antônio Geraldo da Silva, the leading psychiatrist of the Brazilian Association of Psychiatry (ABP), in his testimony to the Commission of Inquiry on Online Gambling (CPI of Bets).
Led by Senator Soraya Thronicke (Podemos-MS), the inquiry continues its evaluation of the economic threats and financial liabilities of Brazil’s nascent online gambling market – launched on 1 January under the framework of the Bets Regime.
Beginning his testimony, Dr Silva stated that he would provide his evidence as a “medical doctor specialising in psychiatry for 38 years,” in which he believes that there are 20 factors that “must be recognised in the treatment of gambling disorders”.
In the context of Brazil, socio complexities of treating gambling addiction and mental health disorders arise from..
Entain Plc’s Australian subsidiaries have been accused of significant compliance liabilities which have been abused to facilitate criminal activities and money laundering.
An Austrac report seen by the Australian Financial Review detailed failures which occurred at its Neds and Ladbrokes AUS brands, and the group’s subsequent exposure to money laundering liabilities and fraud by criminal accounts.
According to the report, Austrac alleged that the company fell way short in its AML procedures specifically around betting activity of players that had significant links to drug trafficking.
The Austrac allegations assert that Entain failed to take action in spite of knowing that the player in question was a wanted suspect when it came to the global drugs trade.
It’s alleged the company failed with its intervention process, even when the player had wagered in excess of $1 million over a year-long period.
Incidents between 2015 and 2022 saw Entain accused of elevating the risk and vuln..
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has launched its first public consultation to secure feedback on the scope and remit of gambling licences as proposed by the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 (GRA).
The consultation will run from 7 April to 5 May, as the GRAI would like to hear the views of stakeholders, including operators and the public, on the proposed regulations concerning licensing, which will be commenced on a phased basis.
Led by Chairman Paul Quinn and CEO Anne-Marie Caulfield, the GRAI took charge of its regulatory duties on 5 March, becoming the principal authority on gambling in the Republic of Ireland.
The Gambling Regulation Act aims to establish a new licensing and compliance framework by 2026.
The application process has required the GRAI to place existing gambling licences under a ‘transition phase’, as businesses will be required to re-apply for new licences to be activated in 2026.
The GRAI seeks to establish three tiers of licences for B2C business..
Problem gambling tool Gamban has introduced support services in both Finnish and Norwegian.
The addition of the two new languages further expands Gamban’s accessibility, with players in both countries able to seek support without worrying about potential language barriers.
Jack Symons, Gamban CEO, commemorated the launch by saying: “Language should never be a barrier to accessing help.
“By introducing Finnish to Gamban, we’re ensuring that more people in Finland can access the tools they need. We hope this update makes the process of blocking gambling on devices more intuitive and effective.”
With the Finnish and Norwegian services now live, this brings the number of languages on the Gamban network up to a total of seven, in addition to English, Spanish, French, Dutch, and Portuguese (Brazilian).
Planning ahead
There’s also strategic planning behind Gamban’s latest decision to expand its services, as both Finland and Norway are moving towards a licensed gambling regime.
And w..
ADM Italy’s Customs and Monopolies Agency has revised its technical rules and IT demands for ‘verification bodies’ that licence gambling concessions and games of chance.
The guideline outlines the key checks that must be carried out on the technical requirements that must be evidenced by the concessionaire’s system. All information on Italian gambling licences, technical systems and solutions is freely available on the portal Portale Unico delle Dogane e Monopoli (PUDM).
The Role of a Verification Body?
A Verification Body (also known as an Organismo di Verifica – ODV) is an independent body appointed by ADM to carry out assessments on gambling systems. These bodies are vital to confirm that the technical and operational arrangements of gambling concessions are compliant with ADM’s standard requirements.
The main responsibility of an ODV is to check whether the concessionaire’s system is in line with the requirements to ensure that it is possible to operate transparently, fairly, ..