Insights Archive

January 4, 2023

Finnish Minister Pushing For Online Licensing

A Finnish government minister has said there is large cross-party support for the introduction of an online gambling licensing regime.

January 4, 2023

Personnel Moves - December 2022

Fresh deputy leadership in place at the European Casino Association, a new face at the top of the International Gaming Institute, more figures exit Star Entertainment and there's a new head regulator in Colombia.

January 3, 2023

The Battle For Your Wallet: 2022 Year In Review

After another year of disruption for the global payments industry, VIXIO takes a look at the trends that have shaped 2022, from the continued demise of cash to the rise of instant payments, open banking and the war on card fees.

January 3, 2023

US Beneficial Ownership Rule Draws Broad Lines For Data Access

The US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has set out its second set of rules governing beneficial ownership information, enabling agencies to directly access the database and use it for more general purposes.

January 3, 2023

India Releases Draft National Online Gaming Rules

India has taken a major step towards constructing a national regulatory space for online gaming by focusing regulation into two ministries and releasing draft rules enshrining industry self-regulation and consumer protections.

January 3, 2023

Pennsylvania Reopens Application Period For Online Casino Licenses

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has reopened a two-month window for gaming companies primarily operating in other states to submit applications for internet gaming licences that are not tied to a land-based casino.

January 3, 2023

Long Island VLTs Add To New York Gaming Expansion

As state officials prepare to kick off the licensing process for three new casino-resorts, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed legislation to allow an existing casino facility in Long Island to double the size of its gaming floor.

January 3, 2023

Ohio Regulator Continues Sports-Betting Advertising Vigilance

The first bets were accepted in Ohio just seconds after 2022 became 2023 early on Sunday morning, but in the lead-up to launch, state regulators expressed their continued frustration with the advertising tactics of sports-betting operators and said they are already planning a six-figure fine for DraftKings over marketing violations.

January 3, 2023

Peru's Political Turmoil Not Expected To Affect Online Gambling Law

In the first week of December, Peru’s former President Pedro Castillo was jailed for attempting to dissolve Congress and install an emergency government, but gambling industry insiders remain optimistic the upheaval will have a minimal effect on the timeline for regulating online gambling.

December 22, 2022

Week In Crypto: FTX Execs Plead Guilty To Fraud, Binance Financials Probed As Auditor Quits

Breaking news as two top executives associated with FTX plead guilty to criminal fraud charges. Meanwhile, Sam Bankman-Fried’s extradition to the US is confirmed and doubts are raised over Binance’s elusive balance sheet.

December 22, 2022

Durbin’s US Credit Card Bill Not On Congress’ Agenda

2023 is going to end without US Congress acting on the widely-disputed Credit Card Competition Act after it failed to make it into the government’s omnibus spending bill.

December 22, 2022

EU Banks Weigh On Online Consumer Protection Proposal

The European Banking Federation has said the Payment Service Directive should prevail over new online consumer protection rules and that legislators must ensure they do not create unnecessary friction in the consumer journey.

December 22, 2022

Daily Dash: Young Google Users Can Now Pester Parents To Pay For Purchases

Google brings pester power into the digital age allowing kids to request payment from their parents for app purchases, McDonald's launches automated Drive Thru payments in South Korea and Bolsonaro signs new crypto law in Brazil.

December 22, 2022

Manila's Pasig Region Set To Ban Online Gambling Operations

The elected council of one of Metro Manila’s more prominent regions has banned local and foreign-facing online gambling and related services within its city limits.

December 22, 2022

Gaming Industry Faces Battle To Improve Its Media Image

The fallout continues from last month’s series of articles by the New York Times on the U.S. sports-betting industry, and it is not clear how the industry can devise a strategy to respond to negative news coverage as betting and casino companies expand their markets.

December 22, 2022

Oregon Committee Wants Ongoing Oversight Role On Gambling

A special legislative committee on gambling regulation is seeking a more permanent role in steering gaming policy in Oregon and has recommended a pause in any expansion of lottery games or sports betting pending further study.

December 22, 2022

EU Online Casinos Key Mafia Laundering Tool, Says Study

There are few better tools than online casinos for criminals to launder their illicit funds, according to a new study on money laundering in the European Union.

December 22, 2022

News In Brief: December 19-December 23, 2022

BetMGM reveal customer data hacked six months ago and Maverick completes Evergreen Gaming acquisition.

December 22, 2022

Ukrainian Parliament Preps Blocklist With New Gambling Bills

Ukraine is preparing a blocklist of unlicensed operators and new rules to make it harder for Russian-backed operators to slip into the market, as it continues to root out companies linked to the nation invading its territory.

December 21, 2022

Nine UK Banks Unite To Launch New Non-Profit Access To Cash Company

Led by UK Finance, a financial services trade association, nine banks have come together to launch Cash Access UK, a new non-profit company focused on high-street access to cash.

December 21, 2022

2022 Wrap-Up: Key Payment Regulatory Developments in the EU and the UK

This overview provides details of the key 2022 regulatory developments across the EU and the UK within the financial sector, and those which will continue into 2023. The main regulatory developments have involved areas such as consumer credit (buy now, pay later - BNPL), consumer protection, anti-money laundering (AML), crypto-assets and the sanctions regimes imposed on Russia as a consequence of the conflict in Ukraine.