The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is set to investigate a series of problems regarding self-exclusion after a report from the BBC. An undercover reporter from BBC Radio 5 Live managed to bet in 19 out of 21 bookmakers he visited Grimsby. He signed up to the government’s self-exclusion scheme. Following up his submission the United […]

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is set to investigate a series of problems regarding self-exclusion after a report from the BBC.

An undercover reporter from BBC Radio 5 Live managed to bet in 19 out of 21 bookmakers he visited Grimsby. He signed up to the government’s self-exclusion scheme. Following up his submission the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) decided to proceed with further investigation of the problem.

Rob Cave, the reporter from the BBC, signed up to the Grimsby scheme, which automatically sends someone’s name and picture to the gambling places located in the territory, and was able to play on FOBTs in 16 shops before he entered another facility and was asked to leave.

“The result of the BBC investigation is concerning and we’ll be making our own inquiries into what happened in this case. We’re determined to drive improvements in behavior across the industry in terms of the effort they put into reducing gambling-related harm, and it really is getting to the stage where there is nowhere to hide for businesses who don’t take this seriously. What we would like to see is much more emphasis from gambling businesses on intervening at an early stage before there is a need to self-exclude.”: UKGC executive director, Sarah Gardner said.

The problems were highlighted months before the likely introduction of the online National Online Self-Exclusion Scheme (NOSES), which will be known as GAMSTOP, in spring 2018.

The Remote Gambling Association (RGA) is leading the implementation of the scheme, with support from business services company KPMG.

In an interview Michael Pedersen of LetsBet.com noted that players enjoy indirect presence of others even if they don’t have particularly deep or regular contact with them. Most of online-casinos try now to replicate the atmosphere to the greater extent as in land-based casinos. To recreate that social atmosphere in online casinos, Pedersen said online […]

In an interview Michael Pedersen of LetsBet.com noted that players enjoy indirect presence of others even if they don’t have particularly deep or regular contact with them. Most of online-casinos try now to replicate the atmosphere to the greater extent as in land-based casinos.

To recreate that social atmosphere in online casinos, Pedersen said online operators should take live streaming of their offerings to new heights.

“So far, people are using it [live streaming] for casino dealings, so there will be some exciting stuff out there. Its social aspect, social features… there’s so much happening with Twitch. People, let’s say, wanting to socialize,” Pedersen told CalvinAyre.com. “We are trying to take that sort of social atmosphere from land-based and put that into online.”

Letsbet.com, the new online casino brand is set to launch by early 2018.

According to Pedersen, the new offering is a product of their company’s end goal of creating a dynamic proposition for online casino players, in combination with the best in live streaming, social engagement and player gamification utilities.

Source: calvinayre.com

William Hill will appeal against a €300,000 fine issued by the Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) for targeting players in the country without an iGaming licence. The regulator penalised the bookmaker for offering online games of chance to Dutch consumers via its WilliamHill.com website and two mobile applications. Online gambling is currently prohibited in the Netherlands, […]

William Hill will appeal against a €300,000 fine issued by the Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) for targeting players in the country without an iGaming licence.

The regulator penalised the bookmaker for offering online games of chance to Dutch consumers via its WilliamHill.com website and two mobile applications. Online gambling is currently prohibited in the Netherlands, with a bill to re-regulate the market currently stalled in the country’s legislature.

Consumers had been able to play casino games such as blackjack, roulette and poker, as well as betting on sports.

In its ruling, the KSA noted that customers had the option to translate the site into Dutch, as well as offering the iDEAL online payment solution for processing deposits and withdrawals. iDEAL is only available to those with a Netherlands bank account, and is by far the country’s most widely-used online payment solution.

However, a William Hill spokesperson has said that the bookmaker will “definitely be appealing against the fine”, having been that the KSA was preparing to impose a penalty weeks in advance.

Speaking on behalf of the KSA, René Jansen, chairman of the executive board at the regulator, said the fine represents its ongoing effort to protect consumers in the Netherlands from unregulated activities.

“A player who gambles with an illegal provider does without any protection; there is no supervision so it is impossible to ensure these companies are conducting business fairly, and that is why the KSA acts against illegal providers,” Jansen said.

“Protecting the consumer is an important objective of the KSA, in addition to preventing gambling addiction and combating illegality.”

Although online gambling traveled and flourished across different countries of the world, has a prominent influence on the UK. Unforeseen, online gambling continues to drive the gaming market in the country, as per the new figures revealed by the UK Gambling Commission, which is the regulator of all gambling activities in the country. The UK […]

Although online gambling traveled and flourished across different countries of the world, has a prominent influence on the UK. Unforeseen, online gambling continues to drive the gaming market in the country, as per the new figures revealed by the UK Gambling Commission, which is the regulator of all gambling activities in the country.

The UK Gambling Commission publishes industry statistics in May and November every year, and gives an insight into the performance of all industry sectors. The gambling market in the UK attained a milestone of £13.7 billion (USD 18.2 billion), recording a 10 percent growth rate in gambling revenues. Between April 2016 to March 2017, the gambling industry’s revenue increased by 1.8% from what it was in the same accounting period a year before.

The National Betting Authority announced that it has suspended the operations licence of Royal Highgate Public Company Ltd for two months for non-compliance with its terms. In an announcement, the authority said Highgate “will not be able to provide betting services according to the 2012 law on betting as its licence has been suspended for […]

The National Betting Authority announced that it has suspended the operations licence of Royal Highgate Public Company Ltd for two months for non-compliance with its terms.

In an announcement, the authority said Highgate “will not be able to provide betting services according to the 2012 law on betting as its licence has been suspended for two months”.

The same applies for all establishments acting as authorized representatives of the company in question, the authority said.

The leading gambling hub, Malta, announced that Bookmakers and Betting exchanges will be exempted from Value Added Tax (VAT). Starting from January 1st 2018 the Maltese government would no longer impose VAT on bets and wagers, including the services of bookmakers and betting exchanges, according to the report of The Times of Malta. Last week […]

The leading gambling hub, Malta, announced that Bookmakers and Betting exchanges will be exempted from Value Added Tax (VAT).

Starting from January 1st 2018 the Maltese government would no longer impose VAT on bets and wagers, including the services of bookmakers and betting exchanges, according to the report of The Times of Malta.

Last week it was announced on the Government Gazette that bets on actual and virtual sports events, lotteries, competitions, lotteries, performance of an index, and even natural disasters and other phenomenon would also be exempted from the tax.

The Maltese government, however, clarified that the VAT exemption under the new tax regime did not include bets on the outcome of casino table games, including blackjack, roulette, poker, or any other casino-style game of chance. Any gambling services provided through the use of remote technology would still pay the VAT, the government added.

Government lotto and lotteries are currently exempted from the tax.

The Value Added Tax Act was enacted in order to keep up with the Council of Europe directive on the common system of VAT. According to the Council of Europe’s directive, a EU State may exempt betting, lotteries and other forms of gambling subject from VAT although such measures are still subject “to the conditions and limitations laid down by each Member State.”

Malta’s gaming industry accounted for over 12 percent of the nation’s economy in the first half of 2017.

According to an announcement on Thursday by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) on its website, the Chief Executive Sarah Harrison has resigned from the Organization leaving at the end of February 2018, following Nick Tofiluk’s departure. Ms Harrison will take a senior role with the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Neil McArthur who […]

According to an announcement on Thursday by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) on its website, the Chief Executive Sarah Harrison has resigned from the Organization leaving at the end of February 2018, following Nick Tofiluk’s departure.

Ms Harrison will take a senior role with the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Neil McArthur who is currently the Chief Counsel & Executive Director of the Organization, will take the place of the ex Chief Executive until a permanent replacement is found.

“I am proud of the work that all at the Commission have delivered together; I am very confident that as the Commission delivers its new strategy it will go from strength to strength and will continue to make gambling in Britain fairer and safer,” Ms Harrison said.

The Chairman of the UKGC, Bill Moyes, added: “The Gambling Commission has set an ambitious agenda and clear priorities for treating customers fairly and making play safer and our new three-year strategy embeds this approach for the future. Sarah’s impact has been significant in shaping this direction of travel.

“I and my board colleagues wish Sarah every success for the future and look forward to continuing to work with her to deliver this agenda over the next few months.”

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has announced on its website on Tuesday that is looking for interested parties willing to share information regarding their cryptocurrencies and/or DLT projects, as is actively considering the possibility of allowing the application of cryptocurrencies and DLT by its licensees. The regulator says that is mindful that there are risks […]

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has announced on its website on Tuesday that is looking for interested parties willing to share information regarding their cryptocurrencies and/or DLT projects, as is actively considering the possibility of allowing the application of cryptocurrencies and DLT by its licensees.

The regulator says that is mindful that there are risks which need to be addressed in order to ensure that the necessary safeguards are in place to protect consumers, cater for the prevention of crime and money laundering or funding of terrorism and protect the reputation of the Maltese jurisdiction.

“MGA is currently in the process of establishing the sandboxed (test and learn) live environment for cryptocurrency usage within the remote gaming sector, whilst also drafting guiding principles for the application of DLT and its various adaptations within the industry. Cognizant of the fact that a certain degree of expertise lies within the industry, with a number of innovative projects and concepts already available on the market, the Authority is reaching out to interested parties willing to share information regarding their cryptocurrencies and/or DLT projects.”, MGA said.

All submissions will be evaluating bt the Authority, “with a view to enrich and render more practical the sandbox environment and DLT guiding principles it intends publishing in Q1 of 2018.”

The British land-based casino operators are going to pay at least 0.1% of their annual gross profit for funding the charity GambleAware to fulfill the National Responsible Gambling Strategy’s goals, as agreed the British land-based casino operator’s trade association, the National Casino Forum (NCF). “The casino sector has always supported fundraising for research, education and […]

The British land-based casino operators are going to pay at least 0.1% of their annual gross profit for funding the charity GambleAware to fulfill the National Responsible Gambling Strategy’s goals, as agreed the British land-based casino operator’s trade association, the National Casino Forum (NCF).

“The casino sector has always supported fundraising for research, education and treatment and casino operators are determined to go beyond both the letter and the spirit of the Act in their support for responsible and safer gambling. They want to ensure that research, education, prevention and treatment programmes are fully funded across the gambling industry.” NCF CEO Tracy Damestani, said.

Marc Etches, chief executive of GambleAware added: “It is imperative that all businesses deriving a profit from commercial gambling in Britain support GambleAware in the delivery of the National Responsible Gambling Strategy. This initiative by NCF’s members will ensure transparency in relation to the casino sector’s funding of research, education and treatment and sets an important benchmark for others.”

Portugal will amendment the country’s gambling laws in 2018, according to local media reports. The goverment has put forward a number of proposed changes to online gaming tax and regulations. As per the proposed changes to online gaming tax, the tax for the State will raise from 2.28% to 3.17% and the allocation for the […]

Portugal will amendment the country’s gambling laws in 2018, according to local media reports. The goverment has put forward a number of proposed changes to online gaming tax and regulations.

As per the proposed changes to online gaming tax, the tax for the State will raise from 2.28% to 3.17% and the allocation for the ministry responsible for promoting social policies will increase from 34.52% to 48.05%.

Currently, the country taxes sports betting operations at 16% on turnover, and casino operations, including online poker, at 30%.

According to the proposed changes to the current Online Gambling Law, the government is considering the legalization of national and international liquidity for different iGaming and betting services.

“The State Budget Proposal includes amending the law to allow licensed operators in the country to share their gambling platform to provide and promote online games to players registered with different sites in the country,” Betting industry entrepreneur Ivo Doroteia, revealed in a LinkedIn post.

According to an announcement of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), the Executive Director and Regulatory Operations lead, Nick Tofiluk, has departed the Organization for the Cyprus National Gaming & Casino Supervision Commission. As an Executive Director of the UKGC for the last 10 years, Nick Tofiluk has experience on licensing, compliance issues and betting integrity. […]

According to an announcement of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), the Executive Director and Regulatory Operations lead, Nick Tofiluk, has departed the Organization for the Cyprus National Gaming & Casino Supervision Commission.

As an Executive Director of the UKGC for the last 10 years, Nick Tofiluk has experience on licensing, compliance issues and betting integrity. He was also involved in coordinating gambling organizations internationally.

He studied at the University of Birmingham and received his Bachelor of Education in Economics from Dudley College. In 2000, he earned a master’s degree in criminology from Cambridge University.

Mr Tofiluk states on his LinkedIn profile that he is an “experienced executive director focused on risk management, strategic and operational intelligence, senior law enforcement.”

According to media outlets, the Cyprus National Gaming Commission has already signed with Mr Tofiluk an agreement which includes a two-year co-operation contract, as at the same time Cyprus is processing with the €500 million Melco-Hard Rock casino resort which will be the “Europe’s largest integrated casino resort”.

The Cyprus Government intends to regulate bingo gambling, as confirmed by the Finance Minister of Cyprus, Harris Georgiades, last Thursday, at the 1st Annual meeting of the National Betting Authority. Mr Georgiades stated that the new legislation “will secure national interest and social benefit”. “It is an activity whose turnover, according to estimates, exceeds €100m […]

The Cyprus Government intends to regulate bingo gambling, as confirmed by the Finance Minister of Cyprus, Harris Georgiades, last Thursday, at the 1st Annual meeting of the National Betting Authority.

Mr Georgiades stated that the new legislation “will secure national interest and social benefit”.

“It is an activity whose turnover, according to estimates, exceeds €100m per year but has been done in a completely unregulated way,” the Minister added.

The Finance Minister has mentioned that the parliament is discussing another bill for the regulating games offered by gambling monopoly Opap.

The Government’s policy is to reject “the hypocritical across-the-board ban, but also the irresponsible and unregulated operation,” “A blanket ban only serves lawbreakers and the black economy,” “Unregulated operation leaves society completely unprotected.”, the Minister added.

Mr Georgiades mentioned that the Government has submitted to the parliament a measure to privatise the state lottery which will be placed under the control of the National Betting Authority.