Insights Archive

September 8, 2022

Finnish Audit Office Questions Gambling Grants

Finnish government authorities have been told to be more transparent when awarding grants from state-owned monopoly Veikkaus' proceeds, as the operator warns of a need to explore a licensing system if its market share continues to fall.

September 7, 2022

India’s PayU To Acquire Rival Payments Gateway BillDesk In $4.7bn Deal

India’s competition commission has given the go-ahead to a new fintech acquisition that is thought to be the second-largest in the history of India’s online services sector.

September 7, 2022

Russian U-turn Could Legalise Crypto To Create Cross-Border Payments Lifeline

A top official at Russia’s Ministry of Finance has said the country may legalise crypto to create a cross-border payments lifeline, marking a dramatic U-turn from a new law passed only two months ago.

September 7, 2022

Truss’ In-Tray: What Payment Firms Can Expect From New PM

As Boris Johnson bids Downing Street farewell, VIXIO looks at what we can expect from incoming prime minister Liz Truss, and what this means for payments compliance.

September 7, 2022

Central Bank Governor Says FedNow Will Negate Need For CBDC

US debates about a digital dollar are heating up as the country is inching closer to the adoption of FedNow, raising the question of why a country with a well-functioning payment infrastructure would invest in the development of a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

September 7, 2022

Industry Warned As Australian Police Raid Slots 'Syndicate'

Federal and state government agencies in Australia have cracked an alleged syndicate that laundered A$4.7m ($3.2m) in winning cheques bought from slot machine customers, prompting Victoria state’s regulator to warn it has “put the whole gambling industry on notice”.

September 7, 2022

Chile's Supreme Court Refuses To Force Internet Providers To Block Betting Sites

Chile’s Supreme Court has denied an appeal by the country's Polla Chilena de Beneficencia national lottery to block 23 offshore sports betting websites.

September 7, 2022

To Renegotiate Or Not To Renegotiate? That Is the Question California Gaming Tribes May Face

California tribes appear to be split on whether they should renegotiate their gaming compacts with Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom if voters approve online sports betting on November 8.

September 7, 2022

Rank Croupiers To Strike As UK Cost Of Living Crisis Bites

The Rank Group is “disappointed” after the announcement of planned strike action at its London Grosvenor Casinos, as the UK gambling industry prepares for impact from the current growing cost of living crisis.

September 7, 2022

Maryland Opens Application Process For Sports-Betting Licenses

Maryland's Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC) has begun accepting license applications from those companies interested in operating mobile sports betting and in-person retail wagering at locations throughout the state.

September 6, 2022

Politics Is Standing In The Way Of Cross-Border Innovation

For all the good work the private sector is doing to improve cross-border payments, national regulations and politics are still one of the main barriers to change. VIXIO discusses the challenge of fixing cross-border pain points with leading industry experts.

September 6, 2022

RBA To Accelerate Least-Cost Routing For Mobile Wallet Transactions

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has announced plans to work with payments companies to accelerate the rollout of card-based least-cost routing (LCR) for mobile wallet transactions.

September 6, 2022

Moral Hazard: How Payments Firms Are Addressing High-Risk Merchant Categories

After Visa is sued for allegedly turning a blind eye to videos of child sexual abuse, VIXIO takes a closer look at how payment companies can stay safe in high-risk merchant categories.

September 6, 2022

Ceuta Reaps The Rewards Of Spanish Offshore Status

A new report suggests that the Spanish enclave of Ceuta’s tireless campaign to become a new hot spot for online gambling operators is working, with 68 percent of the country's business revenue coming from just 3 percent of businesses, all of which are directly involved in the gambling industry.

September 6, 2022

Pennsylvania Report Claims Illegal Machines Cost State $650m In Lost Lottery Sales

The number of unregulated gaming machines in gas stations and convenience stores in Pennsylvania has grown dramatically over the past four years with no signs of a slowing trend, according to a new report commissioned by the state lottery.

September 6, 2022

Camelot Drops Legal Appeal To UK Lottery Decision

Allwyn last night moved one step closer to its takeover of the UK’s national lottery after current operator Camelot withdrew its appeal against a key decision to award the new licence to its rival.

September 6, 2022

California Cardroom Moratorium Set To Expire

After a last-minute defeat in a Senate committee to get a state moratorium on the number of licenses and tables for cardrooms extended for another year, lawmakers, some tribes and cardroom owners agreed to negotiate in an attempt to make a deal before next year’s legislative session.

September 5, 2022

California Passes New Crypto Licensing Regime With Bipartisan Support

The California State Legislature has passed a new crypto regulation that includes wide-ranging provisions on licensing and stablecoin issuance.

September 5, 2022

Multi-Jurisdictional, Multi-Pronged: FATF Changes Its Legal Persons Approach

Risky companies are falling through the cracks for authorities and the private sector, which has prompted the international standards-setting body to change its policy recommendation.

September 5, 2022

Enough Pie For All: Visa Unfazed By FedNow Launch

Speaking at a Deutsche Bank conference, Vasant Prabhu, vice chairman and CFO of Visa, said he does not think that competition building on the upcoming US FedNow service will have a big impact on its bottom line.

September 5, 2022

New UK Lottery Boss Says Digital Revamp Is Key

Allwyn is planning to rejuvenate the UK national lottery with a digital revamp, its boss has said, a week before its ongoing legal tussle with Camelot has its next day in court.