EUROPE IN FOCUS

New CEO at Entain, UKGC releases survey, gambling streaming nixed in Germany and more.

Published July 27, 2024

EUROPE IN FOCUS

KSA chairman addresses black market concerns, Evoke slumps in H1, Ukraine blocks more illicit sites and more.

Published July 20, 2024

Europe in Focus

U.K. gaming under Labour, pushback on affordability checks, iGaming shakeup in Finland and more.

Published July 13, 2024

U.K. Public Opposes Gambling Affordability Checks, says Survey

The U.K. gambling public doesn’t take well to “financial risk checks” before being allowed to play. That’s the takeaway from a 2021 survey conducted by the U.K. Gambling Commission...

Published July 8, 2024

Spain Names Gaming Reform Czar

Andrés Barragán Urbiola is Spain’s new secretary general of consumption and gaming. In the new role, Urbiola will be tasked with strengthening the sector’s regulatory framework and boosting consumer...

Published July 1, 2024

Group Warns Irish Bill Capping Winnings Could Aid Black Market

Irish gamblers could soon be limited in how much they can win to €3,000 with an upper cap on bets at €10. Industry experts warn that this could drive...

Published July 1, 2024

Lithuania Raises Gaming Tax to 22 Percent

Lithuanian lawmakers have voted to raise the gambling tax from 20 percent to 22 percent, starting in 2025. Finance Minister Gintarė Skaistė said “in principle,” the change won’t have...

Published July 1, 2024

French Snap Election Could Reshape its Gaming Sector

A snap election in France could catapult the right-wing party of Marine Le Pen into power for the first time. The gaming sector is contemplating what this might mean...

Published July 1, 2024

Aide to U.K.’s PM Investigated Over Election Date Bet

Craig Williams, parliamentary private secretary to U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (l.), is in hot water for placing a bet on when Sunak would call for the snap election....

Published June 24, 2024

Gambling Hotline Wants U.K. Banks to Block Gambling Transactions

GamCare, operator of the U.K. National Gambling Helpline, is urging banks to block transactions between business cards and gambling outlets. This comes amidst reports of financial losses after cards...

Published June 24, 2024

U.K. Labour Promises to Drive up Gaming Standards

Amidst the U.K. snap election, the Labour party, vying for power after 14 years, is pledging to continue to “strengthen protections” for responsible gambling. The election is scheduled for...

Published June 24, 2024

GambleAware: U.K. Bookie, Online Casino Ads Need Smoking-Style Warnings

The U.K. non profit GambleAware recommends that “smoking style warnings” be put on ads for bookmakers and online casinos. It calls the industry approved “Take Time To Think” slogan...

Published June 17, 2024

Palm Beach Exploitations Buys 40 Percent of Cannes Centre Croisette

Palm Beach Exploitations purchased a 40 percent interest in Cannes Centre Croisette from Groupe Partouche. The deal provides financing to finish extensive renovations to recreate Annemasse casino’s original 1995...

Published June 17, 2024

Ukraine Cracks Down on Illegal Gambling Sites

Ukraine, in an ongoing campaign to squash illegal and unregulated gambling, is targeting 433 illegal online operators. This is a team effort of the Ukrainian Gambling Commission and Security...

Published June 10, 2024

Kids Exposed to Fewer Gambling Ads in U.K.

The exposure of children 16 and under to gambling advertisements in the U.K. has declined precipitately in the years since 2010. That’s according to a study conducted by the...

Published June 10, 2024

U.K. General Election Leaves Gambling Ministry Vacant

Because of the impending snap election on July 4, the U.K. doesn’t currently have a gambling minister. Gambling Minister Stuart Andrew resigned in order to campaign for a parliamentary...

Published June 10, 2024

Swedish Court Reduces Kindred’s Bonus Rule Penalty

The Kindred Group will now pay less of a penalty for 2020 violations of Sweden’s gambling bonus rules. Sweden’s Administrative Court of Appeal has lowered its penalties to SEK...

Published June 3, 2024

Bulgaria Now Compliant with Europe’s AML Standards

Bulgaria has revised rules for anti-money laundering (AML) to meet international standards. The Council of Europe’s oversight body Moneyval found that Bulgaria complies with many recommendations.

Published June 3, 2024

U.K.’s BGC has Record Compliance Rates for Age Verification

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) of the U.K. has achieved record compliance for age verification checks. The auditor Serve Legal reported the council’s members achieved pass rates in...

Published June 3, 2024

Irish Pols Under Pressure to Dilute New Gaming Laws

Irish lawmakers are under increasing lobbying pressure by the gambling industry to pull back some of the more onerous proposals in its revision of gambling law. Among them is...

Published June 3, 2024