Portugal is instituting strict rules to protect compulsive gamblers that will include requiring online gambling sites to share data about players and the creation of a state-run blacklist of compulsive gamblers.
According to Portugal’s leading newspaper Pùblico, the Portuguese government sees the players’ blacklist as a key measure to fight against compulsive gambling and is designed to keep players at risk from gambling online as well as at brick-and-mortar casinos.
Large fines and possible criminal actions would be levied against sites that do not comply.
The list will be run by Portugal’s Inspecção de Jogos (Gaming Inspectorate) and will include personal data about the players such as their name, age and social security number.
The move is seen as a response to strong criticism against the government for failing to protect compulsive gamblers in the past.
