Compliance Updates
Planned Summer Introduction for Barbados Online Gaming Legislation
In Barbados and the government of Prime Minister Mia Mottley soon intends to introduce legislation for the more effective management of the small island nation’s financial and online gambling sectors.
This news was revealed on Friday by the Caribbean country’s Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Ryan Straughn, during the two-day Barbados Risk and Insurance Management Conference. The experienced politician declared that the move will allow the nation to better supervise activities that may well pose ‘significant risks’ to the wider economy following the recent bankruptcy of prominent Bahamas-based cryptocurrency exchange firm FTX Trading Limited.
Straughn said that the Mottley-led government has had a ‘long withstanding process’ with respect to upgrading its banking and insolvency regimes and hopes to have introduced the new legislation before the end of June in order to put the entire framework ‘on an international standing’.
“In a risk context, we are in the final stages of addressing a couple of key matters,” Straughn told attendees at the Barbados Hilton Resort event. “Equally important and more directly related to risk is a new betting and gaming framework, which we are bringing into play also similarly within that time frame.”
A former economist, Straughn told those at the gathering that the more effective regulation of iGaming is critical due to a recent rise in the proliferation of online gaming activities that have potentially exposed Barbadians to ‘the similar types of risk that is taking place within the high-frequency trading space’.
“We are going to be bringing a new regime with respect to being able to address the risk associated with those things,” Straughn said. “Why are these things important? Because our citizens are currently engaging in e-commerce-type activities that we are not currently capable of regulating.”
Straughn additionally asserted that his department was already liaising with the local telecommunications industry so as to establish a more effectual monitoring system and will be working closely with an undisclosed entity ‘to build capacity and identify skill sets to provide sophisticated support for regulation’. He detailed that such move would allow Barbados to better secure its economic fortune and learn from the experiences of others around the world.
Barbados became a unitary parliamentary republic in November of 2021 and Straughn stressed that local regulators are to be tasked with remaining vigilant as new and more sophisticated businesses enter the market. He nevertheless finished by acknowledging the ever-present potential for significant loss and major economic damage from activities such as cryptocurrency.
“There will always be a risk…you can never totally eliminate risk,” Straughn said. “As a government, we want to facilitate the improvement of technology and the investment in technology in order for us to do things faster but achieving that efficiency cannot be at the expense of the financial system or the persons who actively participate in that space.”
High Roller Technologies, operator of the premium online casino brands High Roller and Fruta, announced the submission of its Internet Gaming Operator license application in Ontario, Canada, targeting the launch of its flagship brand HighRoller.com in the second half of 2025.
“The submission of our licensing application to access Ontario’s regulated online gambling market is an important milestone in our Company’s journey. Once our application is approved, we anticipate that we will have the opportunity to launch our online casino product into the market later this year,” said Ben Clemes, Chief Executive Officer at High Roller.
Ontario is one of the largest regulated online gambling markets in the world as measured by gross gaming revenue. In 2024, regulated online gambling operators within the province generated approximately $2.3B in gross gaming revenue, and growth continues to be recorded in the first half of 2025. Recently, the province of Alberta passed enabling legislation to establish a regulatory framework for online gambling. Once available, the Company also intends to pursue licensure in Alberta to expand its regulated market footprint in Canada.
“Ontario is missing an elegant brand like High Roller. We’re excited to roll out the red carpet for our new customers, and we’re looking forward to showcasing our tremendous product,” said Clemes.
The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) has released the program for its upcoming annual conference, to be held in Toronto from 20-23 October.
With the theme ‘Resilient regulation: Exploring what works, why and what’s next’, the event brings together global regulators and thought leaders to examine how regulatory frameworks can evolve to meet today’s challenges.
The four-day program explores timely issues, including the rise of AI and behavioural analytics, the impact of converging technologies, cross-border collaboration and the continued push to strengthen responsible gambling policies.
IAGR President Ben Haden said the program offers a strong preview of the content and conversations delegates can expect in Toronto.
‘This year’s program showcases the breadth and complexity of the challenges facing gambling regulators worldwide, from protecting player wellbeing to tackling illegal markets and understanding new technologies,’ Haden said.
‘I encourage regulators, researchers and policy professionals from around the world to join us in Toronto. The conference is a space to learn, share experience, challenge assumptions and shape the future of effective, collaborative regulation.’
Confirmed speakers and panellists include:
- Andrew Rhodes, CEO, Gambling Commission, Great Britain
- Anders Dorph, Director, Danish Gambling Authority, Denmark
- Dr Karin Schnarr, CEO and Registrar, Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, Canada
- Mark Vander Linden, Director of Research and Responsible Gaming and Carrie Torrisi, Chief of Sports Wagering Division, Massachusetts Gaming Commission, United States
- Bashir Are, CEO, Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, Nigeria
- Teo Chun Ching, Chief Executive, Gambling Regulatory Authority, Singapore
- Ladipo Abiose Akolade, Founder, GamblePause Initiative Africa, Nigeria
- Rasmus Kjaergaard, CEO, Mindway AI, Denmark
- Tracy Parker, Senior Vice President, Accreditation, Advisory and Insights, Responsible Gambling Council, Canada
- Pedro Romero, Chief of Safer Gambling Partnerships, BetBlocker, Gibraltar
- Sonia Wasowska, Head of Supervision, General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority, United Arab Emirates
- Steven Blackburn, Partner, Ashurst Risk Advisory, Australia
The event will be held at The Westin Harbour Castle on Toronto’s waterfront.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (Board) has taken actions to place 14 individuals on its various Involuntary Exclusion Lists. Placement on an Involuntary Exclusion List prohibits individuals from either gaming in a casino in Pennsylvania, via an online betting site regulated by the Board, or a Video Gaming Terminal (VGT) location.
These matters, presented by the Board’s Office of Chief Counsel and Office of Enforcement Counsel, raise the number of individuals now on the Board’s various Involuntary Exclusion Lists to 1391.
The actions by the Board include placement of five individuals on the Involuntary Casino Exclusion List including one who left minors unattended while gambling in a Pennsylvania casino:
A female patron who left her 7-month-old twins in a vehicle in the valet area of Valley Forge Casino Resort for 5 minutes in order to obtain a cash out at the sportsbook.
Actions such as these to deny statewide gambling privileges serve as a reminder that adults are prohibited from leaving minors unattended in the parking lot or garage, a hotel, or other venues at a casino since it creates a potentially unsafe and dangerous environment for the children. To complement the efforts by casinos to mitigate this issue, the Board created an awareness campaign, “Don’t Gamble with Kids”.
Additionally, nine others were placed on the Board’s Involuntary Interactive Gaming Exclusion list for fraudulent actions involving online gambling.
The Gaming Control Board is scheduled to meet next at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 in the Board’s Public Hearing Room located on the second floor of the Strawberry Square Complex in Harrisburg. More information, including the agenda, will be posted on the Board’s website prior to the meeting.
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