Compliance Updates
How suppliers can maintain a presence in the US space
While a lot of talk about the US betting and gaming markets have been around operators and the highly competitive climate, behind the scenes, suppliers are also battling for a slice of the cake.
From powering betting and casino offerings to providing games content, reg tech, and RG solutions, the US is a region with high potential for suppliers willing to invest time and resources.
We spoke with Compliable’s Chief Revenue Officer, Greg Ponesse, to discover more about how suppliers can establish a presence and achieve their goals in the US.
A lot of the recent focus on North America has been around operators and the tough competitive landscape, but how are suppliers faring?
Overall, suppliers are doing quite well. This is partly driven by the simple fact that all operators rely heavily on suppliers in one way or another to run their businesses. On the platform and content side, the big players such as Light & Wonder, Everi, Aristocrat and Playtech, are especially vital as their casino offerings keep operators progressing. In a way, they become the production engine for operators and help entice customers to the gambling sites.
Smaller content suppliers may have a tougher time to fight off the competition from well-established land-based US giants, but as the markets mature, we are likely to see an increase of newer studios in the casino lobbies.
Outside of the content sphere, there is plenty of excitement around suppliers of reg tech, responsible gambling solutions, geolocation platforms and KYC tools etc, which are crucial for operators to further grow their businesses, so I expect to see more growth in that area too.
How do the licensing requirements differ for suppliers in the US compared with operators?
Both must navigate a complex and often-changing regulatory landscape but operators usually require a more comprehensive type of license due to their direct interaction with consumers and handling of player funds, meaning more rigorous and stricter investigations and background checks. This can include scrutiny of financial history, research into key employees, and inspections around anti-money laundering practices and responsible gaming.
Providers of goods and services to the industry need different types of licenses, and often fewer ones, with less stringent regulatory requirements regarding operational procedures. They must however adhere to standards ensuring the integrity and security of their products and can face a more focused set of rules related to specific technical standards and testing requirements.
From a cost perspective, an operator’s market entry fee is typically markedly higher than a supplier’s, including steeper licensing fees and taxes.
Are there any challenges that suppliers need to be aware of before entering the space, especially coming from Europe? Any common mistakes?
The first thing to determine is what type of license is required, and we often see suppliers apply for the wrong license or licenses they don’t necessarily need. This slows down the process and can end up being costly, so getting some guidance around this is recommended.
There are major regulatory differences in the US compared to Europe, with laws varying by state, so suppliers must be ready to navigate this unique landscape. Common mistakes include underestimating the complexity and cost of compliance and licensing, not adapting products to specific consumer tastes, meeting the legal requirements of different US states, overlooking the importance of local partnerships and networks, failing to have a robust plan for payment processing that complies with US regulations, and ignoring the potential for intellectual property disputes.
The overall licensing procedure is lengthy and complicated so European providers need to be prepared for detailed background checks and long waiting periods. To avoid any difficulties, companies must be fully committed and ready to adapt and comply with all the rules and regulations in the US.
Will the investment be worth the rewards for suppliers entering the US or is the local competition too hard?
From a traditional game perspective, the US has some well-established suppliers with a long history in the land-based sector and they are doing extremely well. There are however European suppliers who are also popular in the US market. In order to be successful, it is all about competitive differentiation as that is what operators are looking for. Evolution is a great example of this. As a fairly late market entry, they have still managed to stand out and is now dominating the live casino space with an unparalleled offering.
Many European suppliers have been in the market for a long time, so they have the knowledge and experience that can give them a competitive edge as they enter the US. It does take a lot of resources and investment but if you have a truly innovative product, you can make a mark.
How can Compliable help suppliers in the space?
We provide speed and accuracy and enable companies to keep up to date on what licenses are required. Our scalable platform allows employees to securely enter their information just once, with the data then being auto-populated across multiple forms and applications, making it simple to apply for different jurisdictions at the same time. Compliable keeps users aware of the licensing journey and offer FAQs and 24/7 help throughout.
We accelerate the licensing process for both operators and suppliers, giving them a competitive advantage in an industry where the first movers retain larger market share. Speed is just as important for suppliers who must keep up with the expansion of their operator partners, and we can offer that necessary support.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has contacted more than a dozen traditional and digital media platforms, calling on them to stop promoting unregulated online gambling and sports betting sites like Bodog to Ontario residents.
Operated by Il Nido Inc., Bodog is an offshore operator actively targeting Ontarians by advertising on popular traditional and digital media platforms. Despite blocking players in Quebec and Nova Scotia from accessing their unregulated gambling and sports betting sites, Bodog continues to allow Ontarians to access these sites while advertising heavily on traditional and digital media platforms targeting Ontarians.
Under the Gaming Control Act, 1992, Bodog and other online gambling sites are required to register with the AGCO and sign an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario in order to operate in Ontario. Ontario’s regulated igaming framework requires operators to meet comprehensive requirements related to game integrity, player protection, anti-money laundering and information privacy. Bodog’s efforts to direct Ontarians to unregulated gambling undermine player protection and other safeguards which exist in the regulated market, as well as fair market principles.
By airing ads for Bodog and other unregulated operators, legitimate media platforms are providing a veneer of legitimacy to unregulated and high-risk sites and creating confusion for Ontarians. The AGCO is therefore calling on these platforms to take a stand against the promotion of unregulated online gambling sites and remove the ads. By doing so, broadcasters and digital media companies will help reduce the risks these sites pose to Ontarians and support the long-term sustainability of Ontario’s regulated igaming market – all key objectives of the AGCO.
The AGCO will continue to work with its partners – both in Ontario and internationally – to combat these unregulated sites and protect the public.
“The AGCO is committed to protecting Ontario players and ensuring they have the safest experience by playing on regulated igaming sites. By refusing to carry advertising from unregulated and high-risk operators like Bodog, media organizations can exemplify social responsibility and play an important role in protecting Ontarians and supporting Ontario’s regulated market.” – Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, AGCO.
Compliance Updates
Brazilian Ministry of Sports and Sportradar Partner to Strengthen Integrity in Sports in Region
The Brazilian Ministry of Sports and Sportradar Group AG formalized a Technical Cooperation Agreement (ACT) focused on protecting the integrity of sports betting in the country. The partnership provides for the exchange of information related to the betting market and the implementation of joint initiatives to combat match-fixing.
Sportradar will provide specialized support to the Brazilian Ministry of Sports, including the reporting of potentially suspicious activity detected by its industry-leading Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS). In addition, Sportradar will provide education and training for Ministry of Sports personnel and staff focused on best practices in monitoring, identifying and investigating suspicious activities. The first workshop will be held on May 15 and include the Brazilian Ministry of Finance, a recent partner with whom Sportradar also signed an ACT.
André Fufuca, Brazil’s Minister of Sport, said: “Today we signed a milestone agreement in the fight against match-fixing in Brazilian sports. Integrity must be a constant principle when it comes to transparency, ethics, and, above all, the fairness of sports results. With this agreement, we will have tools to curb this practice and ensure greater transparency in competitions. This way, athletes, clubs, organizations, fans, and the entire population will be able to trust the fairness of the outcomes and, in turn, have the confidence to unlock the full potential of Brazilian sports.”
Andreas Krannich, EVP, Integrity and Regulatory Services, Sportradar said: “Establishing this partnership with the Ministry of Sports is an important milestone in strengthening sports integrity in Brazil. As a global integrity leader, leveraging cutting-edge technology to prevent and combat match-fixing, we believe that protecting competitions requires coordinated action between the public and private sectors. Through this collaboration, Sportradar continues to reaffirm its commitment to a more transparent and safer sports environment for the athletes and all the stakeholders involved in Brazilian sport.
This ACT adds to Sportradar’s growing number of integrity services partnerships in Brazil that include recent agreements signed with the Goiás State Attorney’s Office, the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation (CBV) and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), as well as existing relationships with soccer federations in 17 Brazilian states, creating a strong network focused on protecting the integrity of sport in the country.
Compliance Updates
Scientific Games iLottery Receives National Council on Problem Gambling’s iCAP Ready Accreditation
Scientific Games has achieved the distinguished iCAP Ready supplier accreditation from the National Council on Problem Gambling. The iCAP Ready accreditation, a version of NCPG’s Internet Compliance Assessment Program for suppliers, confirms that the global lottery company meets the gold standard for consumer protection with its iLottery platform and user experience requirements for consistently safe, enjoyable online lottery play.
iCAP is a U.S. accreditation for best practices in online gambling player protection held by only a few U.S. lotteries and suppliers. The assessment, conducted by independent responsible gaming experts, audited a framework of player protection processes, tools, responsible gambling policies and trainings completed by Scientific Games. This included demonstrating to employees that the company remains committed to safer lottery play. NCPG also evaluated Scientific Games’ overall compliance.
“Scientific Games continues to demonstrate leadership in responsible gambling by earning iCAP Ready accreditation,” said Jaime Costello, Director of Programs for the National Council on Problem Gambling. “This accomplishment reflects a thoughtful and proactive approach to player protection, and we commend their commitment to aligning with best practices that support player well-being.”
The company’s digital platform is part of a highly secure technology suite that delivers modern technology and advanced features to support a lottery’s online business. The program’s heart is SG PAM, a secure player account management system for all player account activity and wallet transactions across retail and digital. Other features of the iLottery program include an advanced responsible gaming toolset and Healthy Play program, as well as powerful customer relationship management components.
Andrew Jackson, VP, Corporate Responsibility for Scientific Games, said, “We are honored to achieve this important iCAP supplier accreditation from NCPG. Our government-regulated lottery customers can be assured that Scientific Games’ iLottery platform and solution meet the highest standards in the U.S. for responsible gaming and player protection.”
Scientific Games serves more than 30 lotteries globally with iLottery solutions, including in the U.S., Canada, UK, Denmark, Germany, France and Turkey. Lotteries worldwide use the company’s award-winning Healthy Play program’s tools and research to provide more insight into lottery players and promote ‘lottery literacy’—understanding how lottery games work, the odds of winning, and the minimum age to play.
Since 1972, NCPG has led state and national stakeholders in the development of comprehensive policies and programs for all those affected by problem gambling.
With operations on five continents, Scientific Games provides retail and digital games, technology, analytics and services to 150 lotteries in 50 countries worldwide.
Healthy Play™ and MOMENTUM® are trademarks of Scientific Games. ©2025 Scientific Games, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
-
Canada6 days agoAGCO issues penalties of $151,000 against Great Canadian Entertainment for alleged age verification failures
-
Compliance Updates6 days agoGreyhound Advocates Applaud Oregon Governor Tina Kotek for Signing Historic Internet Betting Ban on Greyhound Races
-
Latest News5 days agoRush Street Interactive Announces Initiative Supporting Increased Gaming Literacy for Teens
-
Latest News6 days agoScientific Games Wins Three 2025 American Business Awards for Lottery Retail Technology Innovation and Instant Scratch Game Achievement
-
Latest News6 days agoSouth Africa is Leading the Call for Responsible Gambling in African Countries
-
Compliance Updates5 days agoMinimum Deposit Casinos Warns of Sweeping Changes as States Crack Down on Online Sweepstakes Casinos
-
Canada5 days agoOLG Selects Caesars Entertainment as the Service Provider for Windsor Casino
-
Latest News5 days agoWildly popular ‘Fortune Tiger’ game among PG Soft Brazil rollout