Compliance Updates
Gambling.com Group Limited Welcomes Legalization of Online Sports Betting in North Carolina

Gambling.com Group Limited (Nasdaq: GAMB), a leading provider of player acquisition services for the regulated global online gambling industry, today noted the signing of House Bill (HB) 347 to allow legal, regulated online sports betting across North Carolina – becoming the 28th state to do so. HB 347 requires the state lottery to publish online sports betting regulations by January 8, 2024, and to authorize sports betting operators to start accepting wagers within one year from today.
The legalization of online sports betting in North Carolina is a highlight for Gambling.com Group Limited’s co-founders and Charlotte natives, Charles Gillespie and Kevin McCrystle, who during their time at UNC Chapel Hill started the business that would become Gambling.com Group Limited in 2006. With no regulated online gambling in the United States at the time, Gillespie and McCrystle left North Carolina to build a fully-licensed performance marketing business focused on online gambling with the regulated United Kingdom and Ireland markets as the group’s initial core.
In 2018, the Gambling.com Group Limited turned its focus back to the United States after the Supreme Court invalidated the federal prohibition on sports betting. In the years since, Gambling.com Group’s business in North America has grown from under $2 million in revenue in 2019 to nearly $36 million for the 2022 full-year period.
Today, the Gambling.com Group Limited has its primary United States office in Charlotte, which the Charlotte Business Journal described as one of the ‘Best Places to Work’ in 2022. In his role of Chief Operating Officer, McCrystle is now once again based in Charlotte and leads the local North Carolina team in addition to overseeing the group’s global operations, which employ over 400 full-time employees and contractors.
“Kevin and I started our journey to build the pre-eminent online gambling affiliate operator in 2006 from an idea that formed in a dorm room in Chapel Hill and which quickly led us abroad to find regulated markets where we could apply our expertise and passion,” the Chief Executive Officer for Gambling.com Group Limited, Charles Gillespie, said. “Our journey to building one of the world’s leading online gambling performance marketing companies has now come full circle with the legalization of online sports betting in North Carolina. I applaud and congratulate the state’s General Assembly leaders and Governor Cooper for making regulated online sports betting a reality. The next generation of North Carolina entrepreneurs will be able to dive straight into opportunities in this exciting industry.”
Gambling.com Group Limited stands ready to apply its proven formula in North Carolina to help residents and visitors identify, assess and access the online sportsbooks that will be regulated by the North Carolina Lottery. The group helps licensed online gambling operators acquire players through its portfolio of websites including Gambling.com, Bookies.com, RotoWire.com and the soon-to-launch Casinos.com as well as state-specific websites like BetCarolina.com, which the group launched in March of 2022 to help residents find up-to-date information on North Carolina-specific sports betting topics such as legislative updates, breaking news about the push for regulation and betting coverage of local teams as well as through the Charlotte Observer, Raleigh News & Observer and the Durham Herald-Sun via the group’s media partnership with The McClatchy Company.
“After traveling all around the world helping to expand regulated betting markets, it is amazing to finally be home in North Carolina and have access to legal online sports betting,” McCrystle said. “Our talented team in North Carolina and across the globe are well positioned to help operators and customers in the ‘Tarheel State’ succeed as the legal North American sports betting industry continues to grow and succeed.”
Performance marketing companies, or affiliates, such as Gambling.com Group Limited, are a critical tool for regulators to channel customers toward their new legal sports betting options and away from offshore sportsbooks, which are subject to minimal oversight, are not taxed and provide risks to players’ deposits and winnings. As an online resource for sports betting, affiliates help millions of customers make informed decisions on where to place their wagers and therefore must be held to stringent standards of responsibility and safety. Gambling.com Group Limited works hand-in-hand with regulated sports betting operators and is an integral part of the ecosystem in establishing and maintaining the sustainability of the legal market, which will begin to provide consumer protection for North Carolina sports bettors.
Gambling.com Group Limited believes that North Carolina will not only grow jobs in the state but will keep revenue that is currently flowing to neighboring states such as Virginia and Tennessee where sports betting has been regulated for years, not to mention offshore websites.
North Carolina’s population of nearly eleven million adults has the potential to become one of the largest sports betting markets in the United States. Legislators forecast more than $100 million in tax revenue a year within five years of sports betting launching in the state. Gambling.com Group Limited enables sportsbook operators to acquire customers without broadcasting highly-visible advertising on television, which impacts everyone, including young people. Because affiliates predominantly provide resources to motivated consumers actively seeking out information, companies like Gambling.com Group Limited are an ideal alternative to traditional advertising in the industry.
According to a recent survey conducted by BetCarolina.com, nearly 16% of North Carolina adults already bet on sports and 31% said they are either ‘very likely’ or ‘likely’ to bet when the state launches sports betting statewide. A quarter of those surveyed said they would bet at least monthly and nearly half said they would bet at least once a year.
Compliance Updates
Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming Launches BetAlert

The Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR), an entity that brings together the main operators in Brazil and worldwide, announces the launch of BetAlert, an unprecedented tool that allows any user to quickly and easily verify whether the betting site they intend to use is regulated by the Federal Government. The initiative is part of the “No More Elephant in the Room” campaign, which includes a TV commercial, radio spots, airport panels, and social media actions. Its goal is to guide bettors in choosing platforms regulated by the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting, under the Ministry of Finance.
Conducted between April and May 2025 with 2000 adult bettors, research by the Locomotiva Institute served as the basis for the economic study prepared by LCA. The survey estimates that between 41% and 51% of the Brazilian betting market still operates illegally. The activity of these irregular platforms reflects an alarming fiscal impact: between R$ 1.8 billion and R$ 2.7 billion went uncollected in just three months – which could reach R$ 10.8 billion in one year.
Named BetAlert (https://betalert.com.br/), the technology runs on an exclusive microsite that offers an interactive experience for those looking to bet safely and obtain tips on how to differentiate regulated betting sites from illegal ones. Simply enter the URL of any betting site, and the tool immediately indicates whether the platform is licensed. If it is regulated, the following message appears: “All good. This betting site is authorized by the Federal Government.” If not, the system displays a creative alert integrated into the campaign by agency We: “Attention. This betting site is not authorized by the Federal Government,” reinforcing the illegality of the platform consulted.
“IBJR greatly values the use of tools and technologies that contribute to spreading knowledge about the sector. BetAlert is extremely important, and we hope it will be widely used by bettors and Brazilian society. Our goal is to ensure that people have access to all the benefits of regulation, the core of which is the safety of those who bet,” said Fernando Vieira, Executive President of IBJR.
Compliance Updates
Football Season Kicks Off: Arizona Department of Gaming Warns of Gambling Scams and Highlights Consumer Protection Tools

September is Responsible Gaming Education Month, and the Department is reminding fans to play it safe with tools like Check Your Bet, self-exclusion, and the 1-800-NEXT-STEP helpline.
With the football season underway, the Arizona Department of Gaming (“the Department”) is warning Arizonans about the growing risks of unlicensed online casinos and sportsbooks. September also marks Responsible Gaming Education Month, making this an important time to remind fans that if you choose to play, play it safe by choosing a regulated operator.
Regulated gaming offers important consumer protections, helping ensure fair play, data security, accountability, and a safer overall experience. The Department has seen an increase in consumer complaints about unlicensed gambling operations in recent months, a trend expected to intensify as football season kicks off and the busiest event wagering period of the year begins. Common issues include unfair or misleading terms, difficulty withdrawing winnings, and accounts being frozen without explanation, often after a withdrawal request.
“Responsible Gaming Education Month is the perfect time to remind Arizonans that while legal, regulated gaming options are available to all Arizonans ages 21+, there are also deceptive operators eager to take advantage of fans during football season,” said Jackie Johnson, Director of the Arizona Department of Gaming. “Unregulated platforms lack responsible gaming safeguards, age verification, and offer no consumer protections, which puts Arizonans at risk. That’s why the Department is promoting resources to give every Arizonan the tools they need to make informed choices and play responsibly.”
To help protect Arizonans, the Department has launched a new Responsible Gaming website and is spotlighting three key resources this month:
- Check Your Bet– If you choose to participate in gaming, opting for legal, regulated operators is the best way to protect yourself. Playing responsibly means knowing your operator is licensed and that you meet Arizona’s legal gaming age of 21+. This online resource helps Arizonans confirm they’re using a legal site, which helps protect against fraud, identity theft, and other risks.
- Self-Exclusion Program– A free, confidential program that allows people to voluntarily limit their access to Arizona’s regulated gaming. The statewide self-exclusion program was established in 2004 for casinos and expanded in 2021 to include retail sportsbooks, event wagering platforms, and fantasy sports platforms. More than 550 Arizonans enrolled in the last fiscal year, and over 11,000 have chosen this option since the program began.
- 1-800-NEXT-STEP – A confidential, 24/7 helpline for anyone seeking support right now, whether for themselves or someone they care about. The helpline connects Arizonans with caring professionals who can provide immediate assistance, low and no-cost treatment referrals, and financial counseling.
These resources, along with more tips and tools, are available at the Department’s new webpage: gaming.az.gov/ResponsibleGaming.
Top 5 Signs of an Unlicensed Gambling Site
The Department urges Arizonans to be cautious and watch for these warning signs that a site or app may be fraudulent or unlicensed:
- No Responsible Gaming Protections – Licensed operators are required to provide responsible gaming tools, including age verification to ensure no one under the age of 21 can play, deposit limits, time limits, self-exclusion options, and access to the 1-800-NEXT-STEP helpline. If you don’t see these tools, it’s a red flag.
- Too-Good-to-Be-True Offers – Promises of “guaranteed wins,” oversized bonuses, or “risk-free” bets are common scam tactics.
- Trouble Getting Paid and No Dispute Resolution – Unregulated sites often delay or deny withdrawals, with little to no process for resolving disputes.
- Unusual Payment Methods – Sites that only accept cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or gift cards instead of secure, standard payment options are a major warning sign.
- Copycat Branding or Poor Site Quality – Some fraudulent sites impersonate legitimate Arizona casinos or sportsbooks, using misspellings, broken links, or look-alike names to trick players into downloading their app or visiting their site.
“Licensed operators in Arizona are required to provide responsible gaming safeguards. When people play on unregulated sites, those protections are missing and people are more vulnerable,” said Elise Mikkelson, Director of the Division of Problem Gambling. “That’s why Arizona’s helpline exists: to ensure every Arizonan has access to the support they need. With more than 11,000 Arizonans choosing to enroll in the state’s self-exclusion program since it began, it’s clear that no one is alone in taking steps to protect themselves. And if you or someone you know is struggling, help is always available.”
How to Report Suspicious Gambling Activity, Fraud, or Identity Theft:
Arizonans who believe they may have encountered an unlicensed or suspicious gambling site are encouraged to report it directly to the Arizona Department of Gaming. Reports help the Department investigate and take action to protect consumers statewide. If you find a website, app, or business that claims to offer legal gaming in Arizona but does not appear to be licensed or authorized by the Department, follow these steps:
- Document the website URL, app, business name, and any promotional materialsassociated with the platform or operator.
- Report itto 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.
The Department takes complaints about all illegal gambling seriously. Reports can be made anonymously.
California
California Gambling Control Commission Issues New Precedential Decision on Licensing Requirements

The California Gambling Control Commission has issued a new Precedential Decision that addresses licensure requirements for funding sources of Third-Party Providers of Proposition Player Services (TPPPS).
The decision, formally titled Precedential Decision 2025-01, was adopted on August 21, 2025, and is now available on the Commission’s Precedential Decisions page
along with all prior precedential rulings.
This latest decision provides further clarity on licensing obligations and regulatory expectations for individuals and entities involved in funding TPPPS operations—a key aspect of maintaining integrity and oversight in California’s regulated gambling industry.
Stakeholders and members of the public can stay informed by subscribing to receive notifications when new Precedential Decisions are under consideration or adopted. The Precedential Decisions Subscription Signup Form, along with other subscription options for Commission meeting agendas, newsletters, and rulemaking updates, is available on the Commission’s website.
For questions or additional information, contact the Commission at (916) 263-0700 or via email at [email protected]
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