Compliance Updates
Deputies and Experts Await Voting on Gaming Law After Presidential Election in Brazil
Deputy Bacelar (Pode-BA) opened the panel by providing a background on the regulatory framework for gaming, noting that the initial project, from 1991, was discussed and shelved on several occasions for years until, in 2016, it was again discussed with emphasis and a lot of professionalism.
“In 2017, after we approved the regulatory framework in the House Committees, a group that advocated the legalization only of casinos in large integrated resorts, caused the process to stop. Along with this, the opposing groups contributed to the suspension of the procedure,” he recalled.
According to him, the approval in February of this year of Bill 442/91 in the Plenary of the Chamber of Deputies was the result of many discussions and intense work by the Working Group created by the president of the Chamber, Arthur Lira (PP-AL).
“We were able to approve the regulatory framework for gaming in February, thanks to the support of various sectors of society, the dedication of the rapporteur Felipe Carreras (PSB-PE) and the important help of other parliamentarians who understand the sector as an important economic activity for the country,” he explained.
For Bacelar, it would be very important for the Senate to vote on the Bill after the elections, “since President Bolsonaro does not have enough support in Congress if he vetoes the bill. If he vetoes it, I am sure that in Congress we will override the veto,” he assured.
Then, Herculano Passos (MDB-SP) once again defended the approval of gaming due to the importance of the activity for the economy: “Brazil needs the resources in the form of taxes and we can no longer wait any longer to approve the activity in the country, which will represent billions of reais in taxes and hundreds of thousands of jobs.”
According to him, “the approval of Bill 442/91 encourages us that the project will also pass the Senate and I hope that it follows the same pattern as the Presidency of the Republic for sanction.”
“President Jair Bolsonaro has said that he can veto the project, but I am sure that Congress will override the veto,” he guaranteed, also remembering that tourism will benefit greatly from the approval of the legal framework for gaming in Brazil.
Daniel Homem de Carvalho, from the National OAB’s Gaming Commission, said that “gaming is not prohibited in Brazil. What is prohibited is private gambling and for this reason the government is always very reticent in approving a law for the activity.”
According to him, “we’ve always had bad lottery products and it’s time for the big world players to arrive in Brazil to offer innovative and modern products. The national OAB intends, together with the state OABs, with the States and with players, to present the best possible regulation to the market.”
Asked about a possible non-presentation of the presidential decree regulating sports betting, he said that “on December 13, if the regulation is not reached, the market will continue to operate without it.” In other words, there will be points to be defined regarding the protection of the citizen and the form of taxation.
Karen Sierra-Hughes, Vice President for Latin America and Caribe for GLI, was asked by the moderator about how the international market sees Brazil’s current moment and what the country can’t go wrong in regulating the gaming sector. The GLI executive said that the gaming industry is seen around the world as an important economic activity. “In practically all countries, a large portion of the resources invested in the social area come from the gaming sector and I see that Brazil can – and should – follow the examples of good international experiences,” she commented.
For her, regulation must be discussed and well understood by the government, the regulator and all market players so that a country can achieve a really important activity to leverage its economy.
“GLI has global experience in dealing with regulatory bodies in many jurisdictions that have worked hard to organize the gaming industry in their countries. We focus on compliance, responsible gaming and anti-money laundering practices and this allows us to have a very broad view of the sector,” she commented.
According to her, GLI has always made itself available to Brazil to offer knowledge and help the country achieve good regulation of all verticals. “The world market sees Brazil as one of the main ones in the world and the country really has exactly this characteristic and needs to take advantage of the moment to offer society an extremely rich activity due to the taxes and jobs it can generate,” concluded Karen.
The Arizona Department of Gaming (“ADG”) is issuing this Consumer Protection Alert to inform Arizonans of a concerning nationwide trend that has now reached Arizona. Fraudulent operators are falsely claiming that legitimate Arizona casinos have launched online gaming platforms. These illegal online casino platforms are presenting themselves as legitimate platforms by offering illegitimate or illegal gaming services. Online casinos (often referred to as “igaming”) are not legal in Arizona. Any claims otherwise should be treated as highly suspicious. These scams not only put players at financial risk but also undermine the integrity of Arizona’s regulated gaming industry.
ADG has received multiple reports of fraudulent online casinos targeting Arizonans, as well as complaints from patrons who have been misled. These scams are being widely disseminated through social media advertisements directing consumers to download apps and visit websites, and are enticing unsuspecting consumers to spend money on illegitimate games.
The Arizona Department of Gaming urges residents to verify the legitimacy of any online gaming platform before engaging in play. Many of these operations are not legal or regulated, leaving users vulnerable to fraud, identity theft, and other serious risks. Due to their unregulated nature, ADG is unable to resolve complaints and disputes arising from unregulated and illegal gaming sites, leaving victims with little to no chance of recovering lost funds. It is important to remember that just because you can download the app, visit the website, and play the games, it does not mean it is a legitimate and legal gaming platform.
In light of these developments, the Department encourages both Arizona residents and visitors to visit our website to find a list of all regulated casinos and licensed event wagering and fantasy sports operators legally taking bets in Arizona. The list can be found on the Department’s website at gaming.az.gov. Legal, regulated operations provide important consumer protections not found in the illegal market, helping ensure a safer experience for participants.
The Dangers of Illegal Online Casinos:
Fraudulent online casinos often mimic reputable platforms, using familiar branding, flashy advertisements, and enticing promotions to lure victims. These unregulated operations leave participants vulnerable to:
- Financial loss through fake gaming platforms or fraudulent prize fees.
- Identity theft resulting from shared personal or financial information.
Common Red Flags of Illegal Platforms:
These deceptive platforms often use tactics such as:
- Mimicking branding of legitimate Arizona casinos, including similar or actual logos and names.
- Enticing promotions that appear too good to be true, such as excessive bonuses or guaranteed wins, luring players into providing sensitive information.
- Incorrect Website URL/Mobile App – Fraudulent sites often use web addresses that closely mimic legitimate casino names but have slight misspellings or different domain extensions (e.g., .net instead of .com).
How to Protect Yourself:
- Check before you bet: verify the licensed and regulated casinos and operators in Arizona.
- Be skeptical of advertisements or promotions on social media promising guaranteed wins or no-risk gaming.
- Avoid sharing personal or financial information with unverified sources.
- Look for sites that include resources for dispute resolution, as well as self-exclusion, responsible gaming messaging, or a toll-free helpline number.
Reporting Suspicious Activity, Fraud, or Identity Theft:
If you encounter fraud, identity theft, or suspicious online gaming operations, apps, or websites impersonating a casino or claiming to be a licensed operator in Arizona, please take the following steps:
- Document the website URL, app, business name, and any promotional materials associated with the fraudulent operator.
- Report it to ADG at [email protected] and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office Consumer Information and Complaints Unit at (602) 542-5763 or by visiting azag.gov/consumer.
- Cease activity on the platform and monitor financial accounts for unauthorized transactions.
If you suspect identity theft, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”): for help in English, go to IdentityTheft.gov and for help in Spanish, go to RobodeIdentidad.gov.
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.”
Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar – AGCO
ADDITIONAL 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 Street”. |
| 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 Marketing”. |
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.
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