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.
Compliance Updates
Attention: Important Information from the Arizona Department of Gaming Regarding Reporting Gambling Winnings on Taxes
The Arizona Department of Gaming (“ADG”) has received inquiries from patrons seeking to verify the legitimacy of companies that are issuing tax forms for gambling winnings. As a result, the ADG wants to take this opportunity to remind Arizonans to be cautious this tax season and to thoroughly review and investigate any requests from anyone purporting to be the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”).
The ADG would like to remind Arizonans that if they participate in casino gambling, parimutuel/simulcast wagering, event wagering, and/or fantasy sports, they may receive a W-2G or 1099-MISC form for their winnings. It is important to be aware that the gambling institution that you choose to participate in gaming activities with will be the payor, and the payor is responsible for issuing the tax form. The ADG
advises that Arizonans keep accurate records of any winnings from all gambling activities throughout the year to avoid any confusion during tax season. It is further recommended that Arizonans consult a tax professional if they have any questions about income reporting requirements to ensure they file an accurate tax return.
To help ensure Arizonans are aware of common tax scams, the ADG advises Arizonans to review the
following links and articles on the IRS website discussing common tax scams for 2025:
- As stated on the IRS website, the IRS will make initial contact with a taxpayer through a letter
sent via the United States Postal Service. Be wary of anyone purporting to be the IRS or ADG
contacting you by phone, email, or social media requesting personal or financial information. - If you receive a letter from someone purporting to be the IRS, you can verify that the letter is
legitimate through the IRS website. - Dirty Dozen tax scams for 2025: IRS warns taxpayers to watch out for dangerous threats.
- Misleading social media advice leads to false claims for Fuel Tax Credit, Sick and Family Leave
Credit, household employment taxes; FAQs help address common questions, next steps for those
receiving IRS letters.
What to Do If You Encounter Fraud or Identity Theft:
If you believe you or someone you know has been targeted by fraudulent payors or individuals
purporting to be the IRS, file a consumer complaint by visiting azag.gov/consumer. You can also find the
contact information for the Arizona Attorney General’s Office below:
- Phoenix: (602) 542-5763
- Tucson: (520) 628-6648
- Statewide: (800) 352-8431
For more information, check out the Department’s related news releases from this past year:
- ADG PSA: Tips for Safe and Responsible Online Gaming
- Please Remain Vigilant: Department PSA on Gaming Scam Calls
After years of anticipation, all eyes are on Brazil, and GoldenRace, leading provider of award-winning Virtual Sports and betting solutions, is proud to lead this new era with an official certification to operate in this long-awaited, newly regulated market.
Since legislation was first approved in 2018, operators have been waiting for clear rules to unlock Brazil’s potential. Finally, on 1 January 2025, online betting regulation became a reality, opening one of the world’s most dynamic and lucrative markets.
GoldenRace’s certification ensures compliance with Brazil’s rigorous regulations, covering our RNG, RGS (Remote Gaming Server) and 20 top-performing online games available in schedule and instant modes.
For operators, a winning strategy lies in aligning with Brazil’s cultural heartbeat: football. In a nation where this sport is nothing short of a religion, those who tap into this passion will capture players’ attention and loyalty.
GoldenRace brings to the market the industry’s most played Virtual Football, generating the highest ticket volumes worldwide. Now enhanced with their next-generation Virtual Football, which offers advanced features, hyper-realistic graphics and a responsive design.
Brazilian players will enjoy iconic LatAm favourites like La Libertadores and the universally loved Football Single. With so many young Brazilian talent feeding the future of European football, their certified Football League, Euro Champions, Euro League and World Cup titles are perfectly tailored to captivate this football-obsessed market.
Their offering extends far beyond football. Among the 20 certified games is Greyhound Racing, a proven hit across Latin America that consistently drives engagement and revenue.
Other highlights include thrilling combats with MMA, high-speed action in Horse Racing and Motorbike Racing and immersive number games like Keno, Keno Deluxe, Spin2Win and Penalt2Win.
And we can’t forget their Crash Games: Fire Crash, Boom Ball Juggle, Meteoroid, Bank Run and Jet Escape are primed to make waves in Brazil, offering players fast-paced excitement and operators steady revenue growth.
Hard Rock Digital has joined the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), expanding the association’s integrity monitoring coverage across the United States. Through the partnership, integrity data from Hard Rock Digital’s online sports betting platform, Hard Rock Bet, will now feed into IBIA’s leading global betting integrity network, which includes over 70 companies and 140 sports betting brands monitoring over $300bn per annum in betting handle (turnover).
Matt Primeaux, President and Executive Managing Director of Hard Rock Digital said: “Hard Rock Digital is committed to protecting the integrity of sports and ensuring a responsible gambling environment for our players. We’re proud to join the International Betting Integrity Association and support its mission by helping to detect suspicious activity and ensure fair play on a global scale.”
Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, said: “IBIA is delighted to welcome Hard Rock Digital to our association of leading global sports betting operators. Hard Rock is a major U.S. company and is another great addition to our rapidly expanding membership base, further strengthening our integrity monitoring coverage across the North American region and globally. We look forward to working closely with Hard Rock Digital on integrity and protecting the company’s business from corrupt betting activity.”
IBIA is a not-for-profit body that has no competing conflicts with the delivery of commercial services to other sectors and is run by operators, for operators, to protect regulated sports betting markets from match-fixing. The association is licensed or approved to provide integrity monitoring services in 32 U.S. states and holds multiple Tribal Gaming licenses.
IBIA’s global monitoring and alert network is a highly effective anti-corruption tool, detecting and reporting suspicious activity in regulated betting markets. Through the IBIA monitoring network it is possible to track transactional activities linked to individual customer accounts. Additional functionality was added in 2024, with that technological upgrade enhancing the association’s ability to detect and report suspicious activity on its members’ betting markets.
IBIA’s recently released 2024 integrity report detailed 219 suspicious betting alerts reported during to the relevant authorities during the year. IBIA alerts contributed to the investigations and subsequent successful sanctioning of 17 clubs, players and officials in 2024.
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