Compliance Updates
Harrah’s Casino Faces Class Action Lawsuit
A lawsuit has been filed against Harrah’s Casino in Joliet for violating the state’s Biometric Information Privacy Act by possessing the facial geometry scans and identifying information of its Joliet casino customers “without creating and following a written policy, made available to the public.”
The lawsuit asks the judge to award liquidated or actual monetary damages, whichever is higher, to lawsuit co-plaintiffs Leon Martin and Anthony Adams and members of the class action lawsuit, “for each violation of the Biometric Information Privacy Act.”
Last year, Harrah’s downtown Joliet casino had gross receipts of nearly $178 million and admitted 1.29 million patrons, with an average daily admission of 3536 patrons, the lawsuit states. “Defendants use facial recognition technology with their video security cameras at their Illinois casinos,” the suit explains. “Defendants’ facial recognition technology identifies a person by scanning the geometry of a person’s facial features and comparing that scan against databases of stored facial geometry templates.”
Compliance Updates
Aposta Ganha secures Brazilian sports betting and online games license
Aposta Ganha, the fastest-growing Brazilian sports betting and online gaming site, has officially been awarded its sports betting and online games license through the Betting Management System (Sigap) to operate within Brazil’s regulated market.
Aposta Ganha is one of the first betting platforms to be regulated, with registration number 0022 in the Betting Management System. Having operated in Brazil over the past six years, it is perfectly positioned to thrive in Brazil’s new regulated environment, adhering to the rules of the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) under the Ministry of Finance
Responsible Gaming continues to be at the heart of Aposta Ganha’s operations, even before the implementation of the stringent measures outlined in the SPA ordinances.
Aposta Ganha will commence its regulated operations from January 1, 2025, depending only on the SPA analysis to obtain the official license from the Brazilian government. Hugo Baungartner, Grupo Aposta Ganha CCO, said: “We’re incredibly proud to announce our successful completion of our federal operating license application laid out by the Ministry of Finance. The strict security criteria ensure greater consumer protection and market integrity. Our hard work has seen us join an exclusive tier of companies authorized to deliver an entertaining and 100% secure gaming experience across the nation.”
Compliance Updates
Wyoming’s First Mile-Long Racetrack Set to Launch in the Mountain West
The Wyoming Gaming Commission has approved Wyoming’s first mile-long horse racing track for 16 live race dates in 2025, as well as simulcasting and related activities. While the first racing season at Thunder Plains Park will feature temporary structures, the essential components, including barns, racing officials’ tower, video patrol towers, and spectator areas, will be in place.
The track, located 10 miles east of Cheyenne at Thunder Plains Park, will host its inaugural race day on Friday, August 1, 2025, with additional race days to follow on August 2, 3, 8-10, 15-17, 22-24, 29-31 and September 1. Dates are subject to change per the Wyoming Gaming Commission.
With its convenient location along I-80, the track is set to draw racing fans from neighboring states in the mountain west region, as well as local fans from Cheyenne and surrounding areas.
“As a fifth-generation Wyomingite, being able to bring this track to our state carries a lot of meaning,” said Ryan Clement, managing partner at Thunder Plains. “Thunder Plains sees an incredible opportunity to create a positive impact not only on the Wyoming horse racing industry but also the area’s economy, in terms of new job opportunities and tourism revenue.”
Through partnerships with elite industry veterans and horsemen, Thunder Plains looks forward to bringing high-quality, high-caliber racing to Laramie County.
“We’ve established a strong partnership with 1/ST, North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing, entertainment and pari-mutuel wagering company,” said Clement. “They’ve set the standard for horse safety across the nation, and we’re looking forward to bringing that strong emphasis on safety and track protocols to Wyoming.”
Of the partnership with Thunder Plains, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY’s Senior Vice President Jeff True said he sees exciting opportunities ahead.
“1/ST has a long history of operating premier racetracks and premier racing events across the country. We are thrilled to be entering the Wyoming horse racing market together with our local Wyoming partners, and we look forward to lending our expertise to help grow Wyoming horse racing.”
For all simulcasting operations, 1/ST will leverage the expertise of its affiliates at Monarch Content Management, AmTote International, and PariMAX.
“Our racetrack will be operated with numerous horse safety and welfare protocols in place,” Clement said. “The track itself, being a mile long and eighty feet wide, dramatically improves horse and rider safety. Throughout track design and construction, we collaborated with Dennis Moore, a renowned track surface specialist, to ensure the safest, most high-quality racing surface.”
Moore’s professional history includes designing and building world-class racetracks across the county, as well as consulting on track safety projects at racetracks across the country and around the world. Moore’s projects have included the racing surfaces at Santa Anita Park, Del Mar, Lone Star Park, Remington Park and in Dubai, among others.
Future plans at Thunder Plains Park include building a regional equestrian center and establishing a high-altitude horse training and breeding program.
Compliance Updates
eCOGRA Approved to Operate in Arizona, Indiana and Panama
eCOGRA, a leading international authority in Testing, Inspection and Certification services for the iGaming industry, has secured new regulatory approvals across three key jurisdictions: Arizona, Indiana and Panama. With these developments, eCOGRA strengthens its position in the U.S. and Latin American markets, offering excellence in compliance through their Quality, Speed, and Service promise.
This strategic expansion allows eCOGRA to conduct independent compliance audits and certification services in each region, addressing the growing demand for rigorous regulatory oversight in the fast-evolving global iGaming industry.
Securing approval in Arizona, where eCOGRA has now been licensed as an Event Wagering Ancillary Supplier, enables the International Testing Laboratory (ITL) to audit event wagering licensees in line with Arizona’s expanding regulatory landscape. Indiana, which introduced online sports betting in September 2019, has authorised eCOGRA to perform regulatory compliance audits, providing licensed operators with crucial assurance in meeting the state’s high standards.
In Panama, the Board of Gaming Control officially recognised eCOGRA as an Authorised Entity for Compliance Certification, specifically for slot machines and gaming software. This endorsement reinforces eCOGRA’s role as a trusted partner for operators seeking to meet stringent regulatory requirements in Latin America’s emerging iGaming sector.
“Our recent approvals in Indiana, Arizona, and Panama underline our dedication to continually expand our offering, to support our growing portfolio of clients with their global growth plans. We are committed to ensuring that we bring the same quality, speed and service that marks us out to both our clients and regulators in these dynamic markets,” said Will Shuckburgh, Group CEO of eCOGRA.
Bradley Khoury, Chief Technology Officer at eCOGRA, said: “Securing licensure as an Event Wagering Ancillary Supplier in Arizona and an Authorised Entity in Panama underscores our dedication to supporting responsible and sustainable iGaming operations. We are committed to driving trust and accountability within the industry by providing compliance solutions that uphold the highest standards.”
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