News

The Japanese parliament cleared a bill prohibiting all forms of gambling promotions aimed at leading consumers to online casino sites. The decision comes amidst a rise in online gambling activity and advertisements featuring ex-athletes, influencers, and celebrities. Key Notes of the Story The amended Basic Law on Measures against Gambling Addiction bans the creation and operation of online casinos and similar platforms within Japan and the promotion of all online gambling sites, including offshore platforms. The law is expected to be implemented within three months, and it places an umbrella ban on several forms of advertising, including banner ads, social […]

A group of licensed online casino operators in Ukraine has come together to develop software for detecting illicit gambling sites that target Ukrainian players. The effort is part of a broader initiative to curb the rising trend of unlicensed gaming sites, particularly those backed by Russia. Highlights of the Story The software will help authorities identify operators falsely claiming to be local businesses. According to the group behind the initiative, over 50 illegal gambling sites currently operate in Ukraine. This collaborative effort is PlayCity’s first major initiative for modernising Ukraine’s digital gambling legislation and ensuring player safety. Operators Pool in […]

The European Commission has confirmed the removal of Gibraltar from its list of high-risk jurisdictions. This is a significant milestone for the territory and cements its position as a responsible and regulated financial centre. The EC is satisfied with Gibraltar’s anti-money laundering (AML) and counter terrorism financing (CFT) standards and has proposed to remove it from the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list. The decision awaits a final nod from the European Parliament. Key Points of the Story Its delisting from the FATF’s grey list is a major win for Gibraltar, which has been working to bolster AML and CFT […]

Ireland’s Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRAI) has announced it is reconsidering its proposed licence fee structure and term lengths after widespread industry concerns emerged during a recent public consultation. Main Highlights of the Story Ireland’s gambling regulator is reviewing its proposed licence fee model, with the possibility of shifting from turnover-based to a tiered structure based on revenue. Industry stakeholders warned that proposed fees could harm small-scale operators and requested longer licence durations. The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) pledged clearer guidance on financial terms and stronger consumer protections, including a national exclusion register. GRAI to Explore Tiered Fee Model […]

The Swedish government is working on a new legislation to ban all forms of gambling on credit. This move is aimed at closing loopholes in the current gambling credit ban. Lawmakers plan to prevent players from gambling with borrowed funds. This is an effort to stop the rise of gambling-related debts across the country. Highlights of the Story Despite the current sanctions on betting with credit, Swedish punters can gamble using credit cards or loans, provided these are not arranged by operators or their agents. The proposed legislation will place an umbrella ban on all forms of credit gambling. Operators […]

The Hong Kong administration has been in the news recently for plans to legalise basketball betting, following strong public support during a month-long survey. The results showed over 90% of the respondents were in favour of regulating basketball betting. Highlights of the Story The proposed amendment to Hong Kong’s Betting Duty Ordinance will allow legalised basketball betting under a single-operator model. The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) is expected to get an exclusive license to start accepting wagers on basketball legally. Lawmakers have proposed a 50% tax on net betting revenue, which will be calculated on the total wagers collected […]

The Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) recently introduced the Regulator 2.0 framework, providing greater support for gambling operations. However, it has warned gaming sites to abide by established advertising protocols or face a complete ban on gambling promotion. Key Notes of the Story The KSA, in an effort to move away from its image of being an “unreachable, rigid operator,” plans to move toward an open and flexible organisational structure to address the industry’s most pressing challenges. The regulator plans to enforce strict measures to rein in illicit gambling operations. It is contemplating a total ban on gambling advertisements to prevent […]

The Romanian Legal Affairs Committee cleared a parliamentary proposal for overhauling the country’s gambling self-exclusion regulations. The proposed changes include quicker response times, online accessibility, and strict penalties for non-compliance, including a six-month license suspension. Key Points of the Story Romanian players can continue gambling even after signing up for self-exclusion services, due to outdated registries and operator negligence. The updated regulations seek to enforce stricter measures to prevent such fallacies. The proposed amendments include easier online access, strict deadlines, forced refunds, mandatory cool-off periods, transparent reporting, public reporting, and license suspensions. The Save Romania Union (USR) party has called […]

The African gambling industry has been in the news recently, with several nations introducing progressive gambling reforms. Tanzania is the latest to join the fray, hot on the heels of Kenya. Lawmakers in Tanzania, in a bid to regulate the flourishing gambling market and rein in illegal operators, plan to introduce several reforms, increasing government oversight. Key Notes of the Story The Gaming Board of Tanzania (GBT) plans to issue 14,124 licences in the next fiscal year. The figures include 845 new licences and 13,279 renewals. The GBT is tightening its grip on illegal operators and educating the public about […]

The fate of gambling reforms in the Netherlands hangs in the balance following the collapse of the coalition government. Tensions are running high in the Dutch parliament, just a year into the four-party coalition government’s term in power. While online gambling in the Netherlands is supervised by the Remote Gambling Bill of 2021, illegal gambling sites continue to thrive in the absence of strict enforcement efforts. The broader regulatory reforms are part of the government’s efforts to rein in illicit operators. Highlights of the Story Geert Wilders of the PVV party revoked his support for the coalition government, citing his […]