Law and Regulations

Online gaming operators active in the Netherlands gambling market will have to abide by a new age verification requirement effective 1 January 2020. According to Kansspelautoriteit, Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA), operators who do not visibly confirm the age of participants before the registration process is completed will be dealt with …

The Australian Senate and House of Representatives have passed new legislation to establish a National Self-Exclusion Register for those at risk of problem gambling behaviours. The register will be administered by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and is designed to provide greater protection to online gambling consumers, particularly …

Sports betting technologies provider Kambi has signed up as a member of the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), the integrity monitoring body previously known as ESSA. The agreement will enhance the relationship between Kambi and IBIA on sports betting integrity and strengthens the association’s unique global monitoring and alert platform. …

The government of Denmark has decided to increase the iGaming tax from 20 to 28 per cent of gross gaming revenue (GGR) in its 2020 budget, which takes effect from 2021. Officials are claiming that this will ultimately raise DKK150m (€20.1m) in new tax revenue. 20 per cent of GGR …

Swiss gambling regulator the Inter-Cantonal Lotteries and Betting Commission (Comlot) has once again blocked access to a host of online gambling websites that target customers in Switzerland without a local licence. This time, 10 more websites were added to the blacklist, which now contains a total of 87 websites that …

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with its Swedish counterpart, Spelinspektionen. The agreement between the two gambling regulators was signed last month and came into effect on November 11th. The UKGC will work with the Swedish gambling authority to monitor general policy and supervisory …

The District of Colombia’s Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG) has revealed that it will launch the application process for new sports betting licences in Washington D.C. on December 3. After adopting final sports betting regulations in September, OLG will make forms and instructions available on Tuesday 3 December for …

The Austrian Association for Betting and Gambling (OVWG), Austria’s leading gambling trade group, has called for an end to Casinos Austria’s monopoly in light of the political scandal currently swallowing the operator. OVWG, which counts among its members bet-at-home, Interwetten, Mr Green and Kindred Group, believes that the controversy around …

The Republic of Ireland’s Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan, has announced plans to cap the maximum stake on gaming machines at €5 instead of €10, as it was previously suggested in March. The top prize will be set at €500, down from the €750 proposed in March. Flanagan …

New Hampshire is set to become the latest US state to launch sports betting after DraftKings was approved by NH Executive Council as the exclusive partner of the New Hampshire Lottery. DraftKings was selected by the New Hampshire Executive Council following a competitive bidding process, offering the New Hampshire Lottery …

Dutch gambling regulator the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has confirmed that the Netherlands’ regulated online gaming market is now likely to open from 1 July, 2021 – six months after previously stated. The country’s new Remote Gaming Act was expected to come into force on July 1st, 2020, with the launch of …

Swiss gambling regulator the Eidgenössische Spielbankenkommission (ESBK) has granted online gambling licences to two land-based casinos, Grand Casino Kursaal Bern AG and Casino Interlaken AG. Both can launch online operations as soon as the ESBK approves their online gambling product offering. Casino Interlaken is already teasing a countdown to the …

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has cancelled Sports Fantech’s B2C gaming licence with immediate effect after ruling that the operator breached the country’s Gaming Act. Under the new ruling, Sports Fantech will no longer be permitted to carry out any gaming operations, register new players or accept new customer deposits. …

Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), the new representative body for the UK gambling industry, has developed a new ‘cooling-off’ feature for gaming machines across UK betting shops in a bid to support responsible gambling measures. The newly-formed group uses the Anonymous Player Awareness System (APAS), a real-time algorithm developed over …

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is going to block access to illegal gambling websites hosted offshore in cooperation with internet service providers (ISPs). The authority will investigate suspect sites and, if unable to take enforcement action order internet providers to block them. ACMA recently saw its powers expanded …

The Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC) has given its approval to OPAP’s pending acquisition of majority stake in online bookmaker Stoiximan Group. OPAP is going to acquire a 51 per cent stake in Stoiximan for €95 million, a Greek and Cypriot online sportsbook property operated by Malta-based European online gambling group …

Ten of the UK’s top gambling firms have announced their commitment to five responsible gambling measures as part of an effort to prevent the current government from imposing new, stricter regulations on the sector. The CEOs from Aspers, bet365, Caesars, Flutter Entertainment, Genting, GVC Holdings, Playtech, Rank Group, Sky Betting …

Bethard launched a Spanish version of its website after receiving a licence from the Spanish regulator (DGOJ). The operator’s brand ambassador Zlatan Ibrahimović announced the launch of the site on his Twitter feed. The launch declaration follows several Ibrahimovic posts which were indicating his plans to come back to Spain …

Lawmakers in Greece voted in favour of new online gambling regulations launching the country’s first regulated online gambling framework. The new bill, which was backed by the European Commission and approved by House of Representatives, ends the ‘transition status’ granted to 24 online gambling enterprises which were issued temporary licences …

Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has pledged his support to proposed legislation which would impose a 5 per cent franchise tax on revenue generated by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and their service providers. The bill filed in the Philippines House of Representatives by Representative Joey Salceda also sets …