Gambling Regulatory Deadlines to Watch in October

Each month, we leverage data from our gambling regulatory updates to bring you a glimpse of the key response deadlines and legislation effective dates coming up, so you can plan and take action around some of the most important regulatory developments unfolding right now.

In October, there are 11 regulatory deadlines on the horizon — with 7 key consultation periods coming to an end and requiring a response, and 4 actionable deadlines to be aware of coming into effect.

What are the regulatory deadlines to watch in October?

Netherlands

On October 1, 2024, several amendments to player deposit limit rules and advertising restrictions take effect in the Netherlands. The amendments include, among other things:

• Introduction of maximum monthly deposit limits of €350 for players in the age group of 24 or older, and €150 for players in the age group of 18 to 24.
• Players who have already established personal deposit limits that exceed the default amounts will see pop-ups throughout each login session, until they reach the page where they can modify their limits.
• Operators must remind players of their personal limits at every login or logout, when players start playing, as well as when players have reached the 50 percent mark of their personal loss limit. 
• Players must be automatically logged out when they reach their personal loss or playing time limits. 
• Prohibition of engaging in any form of visual or auditory advertising, including bonus offers, beyond what is strictly required to provide player profile information or the option to update or complete the player profile.
  

Maine‍

On September 4, 2024, the Maine Gambling Control Unit posted a Notice of Rulemaking for casino gaming regulations. The deadline to submit comments on the proposed rules is October 5, 2024. Among the proposed amendments are rules relating to:

• Facility-based monitoring.
• Slot machine technical requirements.
• Jackpot requirements.
• Cashier cages.
• Count procedures.
• Chips.
• Table games.
• Poker games.
• Ticket redemptions.
• Slot machine transportation.
• Slot machine testing and certification.
  

New Zealand

On September 2, the New Zealand government issued a reminder that a consultation on the next three-year strategy to prevent and minimise gambling harm has been launched. The deadline to submit comments on the draft strategy is 5pm on October 6, 2024. Matt Doocey, Minister for Mental Health, stated that he especially wanted to hear from those with lived experience of gambling harm, as he believes their viewpoints will provide a better understanding of what actions might be effective at the community level. In the draft strategy the government outlines their addiction priorities that include:

• Increasing access to gambling harm support.
• Growing the gambling harm workforce.
• Strengthening the focus on the prevention of and early intervention in gambling harm.
• Improving the effectiveness of gambling harm support.

Italy

On July 17, Italy notified the European Commission of the 'Technical rules relating to the concession relationship for the operation and collection of games referred to in Article 6, paragraph 3, of Legislative Decree 25 March 2024, n. 41. The rules contain the technical specifications that define the performances and functions, as well as the technical requirements that the concessionaire must guarantee for the online operation and collection of gambling games. The notification's standstill period ends on October 18, 2024. The existing online gambling concessions are scheduled to end on December 31, 2024.The new online gambling concessions must be issued through a public tender.

Tasmania

On September 9, the Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission launched a consultation on player cards and cashless gaming. The Commission stated that it has progressed the technical requirements for the player card and cashless gaming system to a stage where it can now provide an overview of how the system is intended to operate through a public consultation paper. The consultation will help the Commission by providing views on the player experience and operational requirements for the system, and consultation responses will be reviewed and included in system design and implementation plans as appropriate. The deadline for submissions is 5pm on October 18, 2024.

United Kingdom

On March 27, 2024, the UK Gambling Commission published its response to the consultation on the frequency of regulatory returns, requiring operators to submit information to the commission which provides an understanding of the size and shape of the UK gambling market as well as other key regulatory data. The commission sought responses on proposed amendments to Condition 15.3.1 of the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP), via a consultation lasting from November 2023 to February 2024. The commission had proposed to increase the frequency of submitting regulatory returns for licensees that currently submit annual returns. The requirement took effect July 1, and requires all licensees to submit the first set of regulatory returns by October 28, 2024. Amended Condition 15.3.1 of the LCCP requires all licensees to submit quarterly regulatory returns and is anticipated to:

• Have a material impact on the commission’s ability to budget, through an improved ability to regularly understand income levels and forecast accurately.
• Enable the commission to provide a timelier, deeper and more accurate picture of the gambling sector.
• Provide simplicity of requirement.
• Facilitate simpler systems development for the commission.
• Simplify internal processes and improve the quality of industry statistics as reporting periods align.

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We’ve only shown you a snapshot of October’s deadlines. Want to see them all? Book a demo with a member of our team, who can show you the full Regulatory Deadlines Calendar for this month.