Insights Archive

May 3, 2022

Duterte Bans Online Cockfighting In Sudden Policy Reversal

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has reversed course in his support for online cockfighting and banned the lucrative new gaming segment one week before the presidential election.

May 3, 2022

Personnel Moves – April 2022

Changes on the compliance committees for Flutter, a new CEO for 888's U.S. operations and Genting Singapore promotes a new CEO from within.

May 2, 2022

MGM To Acquire LeoVegas In Pursuit Of Global Online Growth

Nevada’s MGM Resorts International has agreed to acquire Swedish online casino operator LeoVegas for around $607m in cash, the companies announced early Monday morning.

May 2, 2022

No More Holdouts As U.S. Colleges Wade Into Sports Data Market

Opening a potentially multi-billion-dollar market for the sports betting industry, the non-profit agency overseeing college athletes and conferences in the United States is joining professional leagues in allowing the collection and distribution of sports wagering data.

May 2, 2022

Kansas Wins Sports-Betting Legalization Race Against Missouri

In the race between neighboring states to pass legislation permitting sports betting, Kansas has crossed the finish line first ahead of Missouri with a bill now heading to the governor’s desk.

April 29, 2022

J.P. Morgan Sued In $272m Fraud Complaint By Thai Ray-Ban Maker

A Thailand-based manufacturer of high-end Ray-Ban sunglasses is pursuing J.P. Morgan, the world’s largest bank by market cap, in a $272m fraud case.

April 29, 2022

US Open Banking Rules: ’We Don’t Wanna Be China,’ Says Chopra

Bigtech and the use of big data are top concerns of the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) as the agency forges ahead with its open banking rulemaking, Rohit Chopra has told Congress.

April 29, 2022

Lending Code Extended To Help APP Victims Better Understand Reimbursement Decisions

The UK's Lending Standards Board has published updates that enable more firms to sign up to the Contingent Reimbursement Model Code — the set of voluntary standards that aim to protect people against authorised push payment (APP) fraud.

April 29, 2022

Hong Kong Initiates New CBDC Discussion

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has invited stakeholders to feedback how they think a central bank digital currency, named the e-HKD, could be best utilised in the Chinese special administrative region.

April 29, 2022

Bitcoin Becomes Legal Tender In Central African Republic

The Central African Republic has become just the second country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, after being signed into law by the country’s President.

April 29, 2022

Massachusetts Senate Approves Sports-Betting Bill

The Massachusetts Senate has passed a bill to legalize sports betting with restrictions on advertising unique in the U.S. market, setting up a showdown with the state's House to iron out the many significant differences between the bills each chamber has approved.

April 29, 2022

Kindred Struggles With UK Affordability Checks

Kindred Group’s problems in the Netherlands were no surprise, but its first-quarter earnings also turned up weakness in France and the UK, where gains were curbed by the online gambling company’s efforts to adopt affordability measures.

April 29, 2022

Caliente Interactive Approved For Mobile Sports-Betting License In Illinois

Caliente Interactive, the largest gaming company in Mexico, is one step closer to entering the lucrative U.S. sports-betting market after Illinois regulators determined it met the minimum qualifications for an online-only wagering license.

April 29, 2022

News In Brief: April 25-April 29, 2022

Minnesota's sports-betting bill passes through its final committee stage and just two bids are left standing in Japan as casino-resort deadline passes.

April 28, 2022

Senators Rebuke Zelle Fraud Ignorance

US senators have poured criticism on large banks for ignoring widespread fraud and scams on the Zelle money transfer platform.

April 28, 2022

Give Ukrainians Payment Accounts, EBA Says (Again)

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has published a diktat to supervisors and financial institutions, stressing the need to ensure they use “every best effort” to offer Ukrainian refugees financial access.

April 28, 2022

Swedish Watchdog Investigates Bankgirot

The Swedish financial regulator, the Finansinspektionen, is investigating the clearing system’s IT and information security operations.

April 28, 2022

Decrease In AML Notifications A First, Says Danish Authority’s Report

The Danish Money Laundering Secretariat has published its 2021 annual report, revealing that there has been a dip in the number of suspicious transaction notifications.

April 28, 2022

To Pay In Roubles Breaches EU Sanctions, Says Von Der Leyen

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen calls for turning off the money tap to Russian gas suppliers, but European companies are still cooperating with the Kremlin.

April 28, 2022

Don't Wait On Gambling Curbs, Says Lord

A member of the House of Lords who headed an influential report has called for action on UK gambling concerns without waiting for primary legislation.

April 28, 2022

Belgian Gambling Regulator Backs More Ad Restrictions

The Belgium Gaming Commission has published its views on gambling advertising, revealing support for more restrictions and for its enforcement powers to be expanded.