Compliance Updates
“Please Remain Vigilant: Department PSA on Gaming Scam Calls”
The Arizona Department of Gaming (“ADG”) is warning the public that gaming scam calls are on the rise in Arizona and nearby states. These scammers are pretending to be affiliated with ADG, the National Indian Gaming Commission, and the Indian Gaming Association, among many other organizations, in an effort to steal patrons’ personal information and hard-earned money. Other notable references include, but are not limited. to: the Indian Gaming Association, the Arizona Gaming Commission, the Arizona Indian Gaming Association, the New American Dream Foundation, the Publisher’s Clearing House, etc.
Legitimate organizations such as the ADG, its partner Tribal gaming regulators, and national gaming regulatory agencies will never call a patron to alert them of a “win” or “sweepstakes.” In addition, these legitimate organizations will never call a patron to alert them of delinquent taxes or fees owed to the State of Arizona or the Internal Revenue Service (“I.R.S.”). If someone claims to work for one of these organizations and makes any demands or threats relevant to the information above, they are a scammer. Keep your money safe and secure, pass the information along to others, and report the scammer immediately.
Arizona Attorney General’s Office – Tips to Avoid Falling Victim to Scams:
Verify Information: Before taking any action, hang up the phone and independently verify the legitimacy of the caller by directly contacting the organization they claim to represent by calling those organizations’ official listed phone number(s). Never use the contact details the caller provides call whoever they claim to represent directly. Scammers can mask numbers making it appear that a legitimate company or organization is calling you.
Be Skeptical: Always be skeptical of unsolicited calls, especially those asking for immediate action involving financial transactions. A government agency will never ask you to remove money from your accounts to send via bitcoin, wire transfer, or gift cards.
Only Scammers Demand Payment in Cryptocurrency: No legitimate business is going to demand you send cryptocurrency in advance-not to buy something, and not to protect your money. That’s always a scam.
Secure Your Personal Information: Never share personal information like your social security number, bank account details, or passwords over the phone with unknown callers or give anyone real-time access to your computer. Never click on a link from an unexpected text, email, or social media message, even if it seems to come from a company you know.
Consult Trusted Individuals: Always consult with a trusted family member or friend before making any substantial financial decisions, especially those involving digital currencies like bitcoin.
Report Suspicious Activity: If something feels off, it probably is. Report the call to local law enforcement and file a complaint with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.
Business, Government, or Job Impersonator Scams:
In a business, government, or job impersonation scam, the scammer pretends to be someone you trust to trick you into sending them money. They might claim that there’s been fraud detected on your accounts and that your money is at risk. To resolve the issue, they may instruct you to send money or cryptocurrency. They might also tell you that there’s a legal problem, that you owe money, or that your accounts or benefits have been frozen as part of an investigation. They then advise you to buy cryptocurrency to fix the problem or protect your money. These are clear warning signs of a scam.
“You’ve Won” scams are a bit different. You may get a call, letter, email, or text saying that you have won. Perhaps it’s a vacation, cruise, lottery, or sweepstakes. They cannot wait for you to get your winnings, however, they advise that there are fees, taxes, or customs duties to pay. Then, they ask for your credit card number or bank account information. In some cases, they might even ask you to pay with cash, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. If you pay a scammer or share your information, your financial and personally identifiable information have now been breached. There is no prize. Instead, you might even receive more requests for money, and more false promises that you’ve won big.
If you believe you or someone you know has been the victim of fraud, file a consumer complaint by visiting www.azeg.gov/consumer. If you need a complaint form sent to you, contact the Attorney General’s Office in Phoenix at (602) 542-5763, in Tucson at (520) 628-6648, or outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas at (800) 352-8431.
It is important to note that the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) frequently educates the public about avoiding and reporting scams, such as “You’ve Won” scams. If you spot a scam, please report it to the FTC. Go online at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or call at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or TTY 1-866-653-4261. Your report can help protect other people. By reporting fraud, you assist the FTC’s investigators to identify scammers and stop them before they can steal someone’s hard-earned money.
Additionally, if you believe you have been the victim of identity theft, get help from the FTC by visiting www.identitytheft.gov or by calling (877) 438-4338.
ADG takes complaints about illegal gambling seriously. To report suspected illegal gambling activity, visit our website, call (602) 255-3886, or email [email protected]. You can remain anonymous.
Canada
AGCO issues $110,000 in penalties to BetMGM Canada for offering cash to induce new gambling customers
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has served BetMGM Canada Inc. with an Order of Monetary Penalty (OMP) of $110,000 for violations of the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming.
In two separate incidents in 2024, BetMGM engaged marketing companies who offered cash to members of the public in return for opening new BetMGM accounts. The marketing activities occurred in public forums, such as a major national trade conference. Under AGCO’s Standards, operators are responsible for the conduct of their third-party suppliers who are contracted to support the operator’s Ontario gaming business, and must require their third-parties to meet Ontario laws, regulations and standards (Standard 1.19).
Ontario is one of the first jurisdictions in the world to establish and enforce rules that strictly limit high-risk inducement advertising and marketing in the online gambling industry. Registered iGaming operators are prohibited from offering gambling inducements, bonuses and credits as part of their broad public advertising and marketing activities (Standard 2.05). These Standards exist to protect Ontarians from predatory advertising and promotional marketing practices in order to limit the risk of gambling-related harm.
A registered operator served with an OMP by the AGCO has the right to appeal the Registrar’s decision to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), which is an adjudicative tribunal independent of the AGCO and part of Tribunals Ontario.
QUOTE
“Responsible gambling safeguards and the protection of Ontarians on registered gaming sites is among our key priorities. The AGCO monitors the activities of all registered operators and their third-party suppliers to ensure they are meeting our high standards and we continue to take strong action to ensure they operate within the public interest.â€
Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar – AGCO
ADDITIONALÂ INFORMATION
BetMGM Canada Inc. failed to comply with the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming. Specifically, the licensee failed to comply with the following provisions of the Standards:
- 1.19 Operators are responsible for the actions of third parties with whom they contract for the provision of any aspect of the Operator’s business related to gaming in Ontario and must require the third party to conduct themselves in so far as they carry out activities on behalf of the operator as if they were bound by the same laws, regulations, and standards.
- 2.05 Advertising and marketing materials that communicate gambling inducements, bonuses and credits are prohibited, except on an operator’s gaming site and through direct advertising and marketing, after receiving active player consent.
Contrary to the Standards, BetMGM Canada Inc. and/or their affiliates allegedly engaged in the following activities:
| a) | On or about January 13 and 14, 2024, BetMGM representatives were alleged to have attended the National Franchise Show and were offering $100 in cash to new players for opening a new account and depositing $15. |
| b) | On or about March 11, 2024, BetMGM acknowledged that its marketing affiliate “Above the Street†had engaged in prohibited inducement marketing. The conduct resulted in 377 player sign-ups and $127,180.00 in commissions to “Above the Streetâ€. |
| c) | On or about April 13, 2024, another BetMGM marketing affiliate “Maple Leaf Marketing†engaged in prohibited inducements and marketing to induce on-site activations and acquire new players. The conduct resulted in 94 player sign-ups and about $34,000.00 in commissions paid to “Maple Leaf Marketingâ€. |
4ThePlayer has officially received game certification for the Brazilian iGaming market, reinforcing its commitment to regulated markets worldwide. This milestone enables the company to bring its acclaimed player-first gaming experiences to a brand-new audience.
Approved by Gaming Associates and eCogra, these certifications allow licensed operators in Brazil, to offer 4ThePlayer’s high-quality, player-centric games through their existing platform integrations with Relax Gaming and Yggdrasil.
Certified game titles include 4 Fantastic Fish, 4K Ultra Gold, and 5 Wild Buffalo as well as their innovative and unique table games 100 Bit Dice and 1000x Busta, all top-performing, player-favorite releases. Moving forward, all 4ThePlayer games will be certified for Brazil from day one.
Beyond its existing portfolio, 4ThePlayer is committed to delivering region-tailored content, leveraging its local team in Brazil to develop engaging, culturally relevant gaming experiences set to launch later this year. The first one of these titles is 4 Fantastic Fish Amazon Adventure, the latest in their player favourite 4 Fantastic series, coming via Yggdrasil in April.
Henry McLean, Co-Founder, Commercial & Marketing Director at 4ThePlayer, expressed his enthusiasm: “We are thrilled to bring our unique, player-centric games to Brazil, a market full of energy and potential. These game certifications are a major milestone, reinforcing our dedication to regulated markets and delivering best-in-class entertainment. We look forward to collaborating with operators and creating unforgettable gaming experiences for Brazilian players.”
With this certification, 4ThePlayer continues its mission of providing exceptional, player-focused gaming worldwide, ensuring its engaging and innovative titles reach new markets and audiences.
SOFTSWISS, a leading iGaming software provider, continues its expansion in LATAM by obtaining certification for the Peruvian market for its Jackpot Aggregator, a comprehensive player engagement solution. This follows the recent certification of the SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator in Brazil.
The certification was achieved through GLI, an accredited testing laboratory, ensuring that the Jackpot Aggregator meets all technical and legal requirements set by Peruvian authorities.
The online casino segment in Peru has seen steady ARPU growth, increasing from 181 dollars in 2017 to a projected 513 dollars by 2028. Similarly, online sports betting has shown consistent growth, with ARPU rising from 319 dollars to 453 dollars over the same period.
The SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator effectively caters to both segments, as it can be seamlessly integrated with sportsbooks and online casinos, even those based on third-party platforms. Also, SOFTSWISS recently announced the launch of the first Network Jackpot for Sportsbooks, a rare and effective engagement tool in the market.
Angelina Stasiuk, Head of Business Line at SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator, commented: “When it comes to player retention and engagement while delivering an exciting entertainment experience, the SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator offers a powerful solution. It allows operators to easily configure and implement a variety of mechanics, from multi-level prizes to branded jackpots. We are excited that these effective tools are now available for the Peruvian market.â€
The Jackpot Aggregator can also be seamlessly integrated with the SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator, which is also certified for the Peruvian market.Â
The SOFTSWISS team will be available to discuss sweepstakes, social casino segments and partnerships at SiGMA Americas in São Paulo, Brazil, from 7 to 10 April.
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 counts over 2,000 employees.
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