SBC News - Player Protection Hub

Connecticut government agency reminds public to use RG resources

SBC AmericasMarch 20, 20250306 views

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) is reminding bettors ahead of March Madness of responsible gaming resources available across the state.

The DCP has teamed up with the state’s Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling to remind residents and visitors to only wager on licensed platforms and to review available RG resources.

“We know that March Madness can be an exciting time for those who participate in sports betting, but we want to encourage you to do so responsibly,” said DCP Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli. “Before you play, create a game plan. Set time and money limits, know your odds, use the necessary resources, and only engage with legal online platforms.”

The DCP takes steps to curb problem gambling by offering a public statewide portal.

The portal allows bettors to voluntarily exclude themselves from receiving direct marketing from licensed operators. The portal also aids in the exclusion from..

Croatia readies new gambling regime to eradicate addiction

iGamingExpertMarch 20, 20250269 views

The Republic of Croatia is set for a new era in terms of gambling framework as new measures are set to be implemented by the early stages of 2026.

Central to the new framework is strengthening the ability to eradicate addiction and socially irresponsible behaviours.

Parliament in Croatia has outlined new player protections, tightening rules on gambling venues and eliminating aggressive advertising as key measures to improve the country’s ecosystem.

Furthermore, in what would likely be an avenue to fuel the growth of the country’s economy, it has also been proposed that the country would increase gambling taxes.

It comes amidst promises from the government and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković to clean up the country’s gambling ecosystem and tighten the framework of the country’s gambling sector.

He is currently working in collaboration with the Croatian Institute of Public Health and professors from the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation, as he continues his third term as l..

European Court rules Lithuania’s new gambling policy is unenforceable

iGamingExpertMarch 19, 20250291 views

The European Court has stated that the widespread rule changes around gambling promotions looking to be implemented in Lithuania are unenforceable.

In what could prove to be a landmark ruling that sets a precedent across Europe, the courts sided with operator Unigames, which took issue with the notification that the government provided to the European Commission.

Unigames had previously been sanctioned over several breaches, which included a breach of Article 10(19), the encouragement of players to gamble on their site or at a remote location.

This sanction came in 2021 off the back of a rule amendment in Lithuania, which prohibited any encouragement for gambling within marketing content.

However, it was claimed that on the date of the order the breaches were still in place on the operator’s website, which caused the operator to be sanctioned with a €12,662 ($13,795) fine and removal of the infringement by no later than 20 June 2022.

However, the European Court ruled that the ..

Rising illegal casino raids heighten Australia’s black market concerns

iGamingExpertMarch 19, 20250269 views

Illegal casino raids are on the rise in Australia as the debate surrounding industry regulation rages on.

As reported by the Australian media group News Ltd, authorities raided five illegal casinos in Sydney last year, indicating the increasing threat of the black market. There has also been a stark increase in private poker games taking place across Sydney.

In one incident, police raided an unlicensed casino after a player contacted the police claiming he was being held hostage for outstanding debts. Upon arriving at the venue, the police discovered the casino was operating numerous gaming tables and had hostesses serving food to customers.

Tobacco wars

According to the reports, players are flocking to unlicensed venues in light of the increasing restrictions placed on the regulated market in Australia.

The news comes as one of Australia’s largest casino operators, The Star Entertainment Group, faces significant financial difficulty and talks of an international buyout.

The gr..

Malawi regulators confirm punishments for enabling underage gambling

iGamingExpertMarch 19, 20250278 views

Malawi’s gaming regulators have confirmed that operators facilitating underage gambling will be sanctioned with fines.

During a regulations sensitisation workshop in Mangochi, the Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority (MAGLA) announced that operators in the country will have to pay a $11,500 fine if a minor under the age of 18 is found to have used their platform.

Speaking on the new regulation, MAGLA Director General, Rachel Mijiga, emphasised the importance of protecting minors from the effects of gambling.

She said: “We must protect our youth from the serious social and psychological risks that gambling poses. That is why the new regulations are clear, anyone found entertaining children under the age of 18 to participate in gambling activities will face a fine of [$11,500].”

The tightening of restrictions in Malawi follows an increased focus on the country, and the wider African region, in recent times by global operators.

Earlier this year, 888Bets confirmed its expansion i..

Lucrative digital currency betting ring busted in Vietnam

iGamingExpertMarch 19, 20250296 views

A lucrative gambling ring in Vietnam, which enabled players to bet in digital currencies and stablecoins, has been unearthed by police.

Reported by VN Express, it was revealed that as a result of the $3.8bn gambling ring being uncovered, four siblings have been placed under arrest in the region – pending further investigations into the alleged crimes.

The ring allowed bettors to engage with the illegal market through ETH and Naga tokens, as well as the most popular global stablecoin by market cap, USDT.

Variety utilised within the currencies being offered underlines how widespread the operation is and the full spectrum of demographics that it caters to.

The usage of USDT also emphasises a desire to engage players that aren’t versed with the crypto space or shy away from the volatility, given USDT pegged against the US Dollar to provide stability associated with fiat currencies. Furthermore, it also raises questions being asked by leaders in global markets that have touted the po..

NCAA debuts Don’t Be a Loser video to hinder online abuse

SBC AmericasMarch 19, 20250296 views

The NCAA is bolstering its sports betting education campaign ahead of March Madness.

The governing body of college sports has launched a new anti-harassment video before the start of the largest single-elimination amateur sports tournament in America. The NCAA has debuted its Don’t Be a Loser spot, which is aimed at preventing gambling-related abuse and harassment towards student-athletes. The TV spot is a part of the NCAA’s Draw the Line Campaign. The campaign debuted in 2024 and draws awareness of problem gambling while educating student-athletes and staff on the effects of sports betting.

“The horrific messages we are seeing across online platforms are absolutely unacceptable,” said NCAA President Charlie Baker. “Angry fans are sending numerous abusive messages and threats to student-athletes, publicly and privately, because of lost bets placed on the athlete’s performance in a game. These actions severely threaten student-athlete mental health and well-being, while harming the c..

Football Governance Bill passes Lords without betting sponsorship amendments

SBC NewsMarch 19, 20250250 views

The Football Governance Bill has been approved by the House of Lords – but without some recently proposed amendments that would have effectively banned gambling sponsorships in football.

Peers considered the Bill in its third reading on Monday, carrying three amendments but rejecting amendments suggested by Lord Addington, a Liberal Democrat peer, who stated that “football might be one place we could do without” betting advertising.

One of Addington’s amendments was withdrawn during the report stage of the Bill and another was not moved forward by the House during this stage. During the third reading on Monday, his fourth and final amendment, amendment 53, was rejected by 339 votes to 74.

The Bill’s key measure is the creation of an Independent Football Regulator. Addington’s amendment would have set the regulator a duty to “prevent advertising and sponsorship related to gambling in English football. English football must not promote or engage in advertising or sponsorship related t..

CPI Senators told to close tax disparities & AML loopholes

SBC NewsMarch 19, 20250249 views

The tax liabilities and fiscal responsibilities of the Brazil Bets regime continue to be scrutinised by the Parliamentary Commission Inquiry (CPI) led by Soraya Thronicke (Podemos-MS) and Senator Dr Hiran Goncalves (PP-RR).

Following a brief pause, the commission, referred to as the ‘CPI of Bets,’ has reinitiated testimonies from key legislative stakeholders to provide feedback on the economic accountabilities of the Bets regime.

Last week, a key testimony was provided by Robinson Barreirinhas, the Special Secretary of Receita Federal, the Federal Revenue Service of Brazil, on the tax framework of Bets.

In charge of Bets tax collection, Receita Federal remains cautious in making projections of taxes accumulated by the new regime, for which the agency has appointed an expert team to monitor market movements.

Yet Barreirinhas has advocated that stricter tax requirements should be placed on Bets licences as part of an individual tax policy aimed at discouraging excessive gambling.

He..

Danish authority vigilant of rise of Roblox betting

SBC NewsMarch 19, 20250246 views

A reported proliferation of gambling on the widely used online computer game Roblox has caught the attention of the Danish Gambling Authority (DGA).

In its latest report into the extent of illegal gambling in Demark and how it is trying to counter it, the Spillemyndigheden stated that it has become concerned with ‘skin betting’ in recent years.

In particular, a form of skin betting on Roblox whereby users gamble using the game’s in-house virtual currency, the Robux, as a deposit is ringing alarm bells at the regulator.

The authority has become aware of a form of Robux called ‘earned Robux’ which can be paid out in US dollars or Danish Krona through the Roblox Developer Exchange Programme.

“This is used by several third-party websites where you can use Robux as deposits and winnings in betting, casino games and lotteries,” the DGA states.

Not the first rodeo for Roblox
Roblox T&Cs state that although gambling content is allowed on the platform, actual gambling – whether for real-wo..