Compliance Updates
NCPG Issues Guidelines for Payment Providers
The National Council on Problem Gambling has issued new guidelines for the payment providers. The new guidelines will help guide the industry’s thinking about solutions to negative consequences associated with gambling.
“Payment limits can be an important responsible gambling tool, offering a consumer-centric approach that emphasizes player control, information, and shared responsibility. Our guidelines are based on an informed consumer choice model and can help payment processors play an important role in reducing gambling addiction,” Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling, said.
Unlike the United Kingdom, where credit card use for gambling is now prohibited due to public backlash, some states in the US where gambling is legal to allow credit cards for gambling. To sustain this business model, the industry must pay attention to potentially negative outcomes and work to prevent them. Gambling operators, vendors, payment processors, financial institutions, regulators and people who gamble all have important roles to play in minimizing potential harm from gambling activities.
NCPG calls on all stakeholders to: encourage people who gamble to set their own limits of time and money; use personalized responsible gambling messages; allow players to self-exclude from gambling platforms and venues; allow players to synchronize their exclusions with venue and state exclusion lists; research signs of problematic play; utilize the payments data they collect to monitor performance; and develop models to help predict and prevent excessive usage.
Additional recommendations can be seen in the full guidelines. They include specific items on the following topics: limits; Know Your Customer (KYC); access by players to information about and in their own accounts and transaction history; self-exclusion; and research.
Many of these recommendations were first set out in NCPG’s Internet Responsible Gambling Standards, but these payment guidelines are intended to apply broadly to all forms of gambling and guide stakeholders across the industry.
Compliance Updates
Play’n GO announces Delaware license award
Legendary studio’s games now live with Rush Street Interactive brand BetRivers in US state
Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, has today announced the receipt of a sixth US state license, this time in the state of Delaware.
Having entered the US market in 2022, Play’n GO has gone live in West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Connecticut, and now Delaware, where some classic Play’n GO titles, such as Piggy Blitz will now be available to BetRivers players in the state affectionately known as the First State.
Play’n GO added Pennsylvania and Connecticut to its list of regulated markets in 2024, and have a publicly stated goal of being active in every regulated market in the world, a goal that has seen the Swedish gaming giant release a portfolio of over 350 premium games in over 35 regulated markets to date.
Anna Mackney, US Head of Region at Play’n GO added “It’s fantastic to begin the year by adding yet another new regulated market in the US, this time in the shape of Delaware. Our expansion into the state marks yet another significant step in our US growth strategy. Play’n GO continues to lead the charge in regulated markets, and we are committed to delivering our premium content to players across the country.
“We’ve already established an excellent relationship with BetRivers across the United States and we are confident that our partnership will continue to be mutually beneficial to both businesses as we enter yet another new market together. US players have clearly demonstrated their demand for our games, and we will continue to deliver.”
Compliance Updates
Florida Gaming Control Commission Demands Overseas Bookmakers and Casinos Cease Their Illegal Online Gambling Operations in Florida
The Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) demanded that three overseas bookmakers and casinos halt their illegal online gambling operations in Florida. These overseas bookmakers and casinos host online gambling websites accessible to Florida residents and visitors. FGCC sent cease-and-desist letters to Milvus Ltc, d/b/a BetUS.com.pa, Harp Media B.V. d/b/a Bovada.lv, and Gaming Services Provider, N.V. d/b/a MyBookie.ag.
The websites operated by these overseas bookmakers and casinos only offer illegal wagers. As FGCC explained in its cease-and-desist letter:
[The gambling websites offered by your overseas bookmaking and casino operation] offers or accepts wagering on sports and horse races, including betting on point spreads, moneylines, and totals, as well as proposition bets and futures in the sportsbook and adding money to bet slips in the racebook. Under Florida law, this conduct is a felony offense. See § 849.14, Fla. Stat. Further, it is a felony offense to receive illegal wagers on the result of any trial or contest of skill, speed or power or endurance of human or beast, or to aid, assist, or abet such illegal wagering. Id.
“Gaming, both land-based and online, is strictly regulated in Florida. For example, when it comes to slot machine gaming, counting the eight legal, state-licensed slot machine businesses, and the six tribal gaming locations currently operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, there are only fourteen legal slot machine businesses in Florida. The only online sportsbook operating lawfully in Florida is the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Hard Rock Bet. Anyone in Florida betting on the Big Game needs to know this. Bettor beware,” explained Florida Gaming Control Commission Executive Director Ross Marshman.
These overseas bookmakers and casinos’ illegal conduct is not limited to sports betting and horse racing. As explained in the FGCC cease-and-desist letter:
[The gambling website offered by the overseas bookmaking and casino operation] offers or accepts wagers on casino-style games, including slots, poker, blackjack, roulette, craps, and baccarat. It is a criminal offense to conduct unauthorized games of chance. §§ 849.08, .15, Fla. Stat. [Additionally,] you allow Florida residents to participate in illegal lotteries, such as deposit-matching promotions, giveaways of cash or prizes, and sign-up bonuses. The conduct, promotion, or advertisement of such an illegal lottery is strictly prohibited under Florida law and is a felony offense. See Art. X, § 7, Fla. Const; § 849.09, Fla. Stat.
Illegal gambling operations offer no benefits to Floridians. On the other hand, tax revenue from state-licensed slot machine businesses and revenue-sharing payments from the Seminole Tribe of Florida are used to fund valuable state programs. For example, in 2024, the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund of Florida received over $240 million in tax revenue from the eight state-licensed slot machine businesses. Florida will receive no less than $2.5 billion from the Seminole Tribe of Florida during the next five years, which is earmarked for water quality improvement, infrastructure, and management of Florida’s conservation lands.
The mission of the Florida Gaming Control Commission is to preserve and protect the integrity of gaming activities in Florida through fair regulation, licensing, effective criminal investigation, and enforcement.
Compliance Updates
SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator Certified in Brazil
SOFTSWISS, a leading iGaming software provider, announced that its Jackpot Aggregator, a comprehensive player engagement solution, has successfully obtained certification for the Brazilian market.
Following its flagship product, the SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator, which was the first to be certified in Brazil, SOFTSWISS has now received approval for its engagement tool, the Jackpot Aggregator, meeting all technical and legal requirements set by Brazilian authorities. Both products – the SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator and the SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator – can be used independently or together, significantly enhancing casino KPIs.
With iGaming regulations effective 1 January 2025, companies planning to operate in the country must obtain the certification. The regulation enforces responsible gambling standards, aligning with principles already adopted in many regulated markets.
For operators legally operating in the Brazilian market, the key priority is to engage with players responsibly while delivering a captivating gaming experience using approved, secure, and effective tools.
The SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator provides various flexible jackpot mechanics tailored to enhance user engagement across different player segments. Among its standout features are multi-level prizes, prize drops, branded jackpots, and others.
To maintain this high level of performance, SOFTSWISS strengthened its commitment to the Brazilian market by appointing Rubens Barrichello, the legendary Brazilian Formula 1 driver, as a Non-Executive Director. Additionally, to ensure seamless operations and swift response to ongoing needs, SOFTSWISS has established a dedicated team of local business development managers in Brazil.
Angelina Stasiuk, Head of Business Line at SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator, commented: “We are thrilled to bring the Jackpot Aggregator to the Brazilian market. Brazil is a massive and rapidly growing market, and we already have potential certified clients there who are actively seeking innovative engagement tools. The Jackpot Aggregator is the perfect solution to meet these demands, providing operators with powerful tools to enhance player retention and engagement.”
The Jackpot Aggregator can be seamlessly launched with the Game Aggregator. The SOFTSWISS team will be available to discuss partnerships in Brazil and other markets at the SBC Summit Rio on 25 to 27 February
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds several gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 23,500 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
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