Insights Archive

March 7, 2023

Flutter Faces $4m SEC Settlement Over PokerStars’ Russian Activities

Flutter Entertainment has agreed to pay $4m to settle allegations that payments made by PokerStars to Russia-based consultants violated federal anti-bribery laws, according to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) settlement published on Monday.

March 7, 2023

Ladbrokes Fined In Northern Territory Amid Push For Tough Changes

Entain-controlled bookmaker Ladbrokes has been slapped with three maximum penalties in Australia’s Northern Territory, but the nominal size of the fines reinforces the need for reform, the territory’s regulator says.

March 7, 2023

New York Times Series Haunts Industry In Ongoing Advertising Debate

It has become almost a mantra among U.S. gaming officials to disparage the New York Times series from last November which criticizes the sports-betting industry, but the Empire State’s top gaming regulator on Monday acknowledged the articles' influence on new proposals that would restrict advertising.

March 7, 2023

Austrian Loot Box Ruling Adds To Gambling Loss Recovery Saga

An Austrian court has declared that loot boxes are a form of gambling that requires a licence, in a non-legally binding decision that could cost video game companies millions.

March 7, 2023

Problem Gambling Funding Bills Face Difficult Legislative Process

Following the rapid expansion of sports betting and online gaming in the U.S. over the last five years, lawmakers in several states have introduced bills during the 2023 legislative sessions that are designed to increase awareness as well as funding for problem gambling prevention and treatment services.

March 6, 2023

CENTROlink Expansion In Works, Bank Of Lithuania Confirms

A surge in instant payments made by the central bank’s SEPA product has prompted it to consider new functionalities.

March 6, 2023

Regulators Eye Data Analytics In Fight Against Money Mules

As instant payment systems open up new opportunities for money mules, regulators from Singapore to the UK have called for greater use of data analytics, and ultimately data sharing, to detect unusual activity.

March 6, 2023

WhatsApp Business Payments Get Green Light In Brazil

The Brazilian Central Bank has given WhatsApp the green light to launch its payment service for small- and medium-sized companies in Brazil.

March 6, 2023

Congress Joins White House Versus Supreme Court On Indian Gaming

The Biden administration and Congress are collaborating to roll back the effects of a 2009 U.S. Supreme Court ruling against new tribes, even though some commercial casinos and Indian gaming operators oppose the effort.

March 6, 2023

Market Forecast Outlook: Europe and The Americas

Regulated online gambling revenue across Europe, North America and Latin America is projected to grow from US$45.1bn in 2022 to US$72.1bn in 2026, according to VIXIO’s recently expanded suite of interactive Forecasting Dashboards.

March 6, 2023

Victoria Regulator Praises Crown's Rebound But Wields 'Plan B'

Victoria state’s gambling regulator has praised casino operator Crown Resorts and US-based owner Blackstone Group for their cooperation as Crown Melbourne attempts to regain licence suitability, but a “Plan B” to keep the casino operating will still apply even if the licence is cancelled.

March 6, 2023

Ukraine Casino Industry Under Threat As Government Calls In Debts

Ukrainian casinos will no longer be able to defer their licence fees and have been told they must pay any outstanding money in the next 30 days.

March 4, 2023

Personnel Moves – February 2023

Italy's gambling regulator has a new director, Bally's is to switch its CEO and Racing Australia's boss resigns in protest.

March 3, 2023

EU Drops In-App Payment Charge Against Apple

The European Commission has dropped a charge related to Apple’s in-app payment restrictions in one of its probes looking at app store rules.

March 3, 2023

UK Banks ’Closely Watching’ EU Instant Payments Proposal

A senior banking official has said that the UK is keenly watching the work happening with instant payments in the EU, especially considering the country’s access to SEPA, which could be compromised depending on the final law.

March 3, 2023

Brazil Reins In Third-Party Relationships On Pix

Brazil’s central bank, BCB, has issued new orders clarifying that it does not tolerate third parties on Pix that circumvent the regulator’s oversight, potentially affecting payments business models such as Banking-as-a-Service.

March 3, 2023

Week In Crypto: Third Former FTX Exec Pleads Guilty, Kraken Loses Banking Partner

Another former FTX executive pleads guilty to fraud, Signature Bank will no longer handle most USD transfers for Kraken, French MPs vote for stricter licensing requirements for crypto firms and more Binance blues.

March 3, 2023

Daily Dash: US BNPL Users More Likely To Be Indebted

New US research shows extent of buy now, pay later (BNPL) user indebtedness, financial crime on the rise in Denmark, senior Mastercard executive becomes chief of influential think tank and Australia names Mastercard as participant in CBDC pilot.

March 3, 2023

Georgia Sports-Betting Bill Suffers Senate Defeat

Hopes for an expedited sports-betting launch in Georgia took a hit on Thursday as the state's Senate voted down a bill that would have legalized sports wagering without a constitutional amendment.

March 3, 2023

Videoslots Fights Back Against Expected Dutch Fine

Online gambling company Videoslots has said it will challenge a pending €9.9m Dutch fine, in what would be the Netherlands Gambling Authority’s largest ever penalty, as it accuses the regulator of “acting unlawfully”.

March 3, 2023

Dutch Regulator Hands Out €26m In Fines As Chairman Says It 'Means Business'

The Netherlands Gambling Authority has handed out a record-breaking €26m in fines to five operators for illegally offering online games of chance.