Insights Archive

February 16, 2022

Desperately Seeking Standards - QR Code Payments In Europe

QR codes have major potential in the single market, but regulatory intervention may eventually be necessary, EU payments players have warned.

February 16, 2022

EBA Promises To Improve Q&A Backlog

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has agreed to get quicker at answering questions that are submitted regarding regulatory clarifications.

February 16, 2022

U.S. Gaming Revenue Hits Record $53bn In 2021

Despite having to navigate its way through the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. gaming industry was able to top $50bn in revenue last year for the first time ever, according to the American Gaming Association.

February 16, 2022

Mississippi Pays Price For Punting On Mobile Sports Betting

The decision this month by Mississippi lawmakers to kick an online sports-betting bill down the road came back to haunt them this week with the release of the Magnolia State’s total wagers on the Super Bowl.

February 16, 2022

Austrian Finance Ministry Promises Gambling Changes Soon

The Austrian Ministry of Finance is working “at full speed” on a draft of a delayed set of proposed changes to gambling law, a ministry spokesman has said.

February 16, 2022

German Slots Applicants Not Allowed To Offer Bonuses, Lawyer Says

German contenders for virtual slots and poker licences should not be offering player bonuses while they await results of their applications, as offering incentives is considered illegal advertising, a gambling lawyer has said.

February 15, 2022

Kenya Jumps Into CBDC Race

The Central Bank of Kenya has begun a consultation on the issuance of a central bank digital currency (CBDC), but will the mobile payments heavy country actually need one?

February 15, 2022

HMRC Makes History With First NFT Seizure

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the UK’s tax authority, has announced that three people have been arrested on suspicion of a £1.4m VAT repayment fraud involving 250 fake companies.

February 15, 2022

Brazil Presses On With Payments Modernisation Journey

Brazil has ambitious plans to continue on its successful path towards payments modernisation in 2022, bringing new features to its PIX instant payment network, expanding open finance functionalities and carrying out a central bank digital currency pilot.

February 15, 2022

Karnataka High Court Voids Ban On Skill Gaming With Stakes

The Karnataka High Court has struck down a state government ban on online skill gaming with stakes, in a judgment brimming with references to individual liberty, privacy and the freedom to do business.

February 15, 2022

Gambling Reforms Are Clear And Present Danger, UK Racing Warned

British racing faces a “clear and present danger” if the government gets changes to gambling law wrong and the next few weeks are "absolutely critical" to the sport's future, the gambling industry’s trade body chief has warned.

February 15, 2022

New York Lawmakers Continue Push To License Downstate Casinos

New York lawmakers are continuing their efforts to bring casino expansion to the downstate region sooner than originally planned.

February 14, 2022

EU Needs More Harmonisation On Access To Cash

Campaigners are sceptical about whether EU-wide rules offer enough of a lifeline for cash, and have called for better criteria to aid communities.

February 14, 2022

BNPL Firms Change Terms Amid FCA Concerns

Although regulations governing buy now, pay later (BNPL) are still in the making, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has asked the largest providers to amend their “potentially” unfair contract terms and offered general guidance to firms operating in the sector.

February 14, 2022

Private Sector Takes Initiative In dSterling Pilot

A UK payment initiative to facilitate collaboration between the private and public sectors has launched with the intention to usher in a new era of digital payments using a central bank digital currency.

February 14, 2022

A Sharp Decline: Cheque Usage In Britain

Although cheques are still used, usage continues to dwindle among consumers, businesses, charities and schools, research by Pay.UK suggests.

February 14, 2022

The Crash At DCash - The Significance Of Resilience In The Caribbean

The resilience of payments is one of the key cited benefits of the Eastern Caribbean central bank digital currency. However, consumers and businesses were unable to use their DCash due to a system crash, casting doubt on this key aspect of the platform.

February 14, 2022

Virginia Lawmakers Consider Casino Referendums, Ending College Betting Ban

A bill to allow the city of Petersburg to hold a referendum for a casino and ban Virginia's state capital of Richmond from holding a second vote for five years has been killed by a Senate committee, to the surprise of the measure’s sponsor who plans to revive his proposal.

February 14, 2022

Blackstone Takeover Of Crown Resorts Moves Into High Gear

A Blackstone Group takeover of Australian casino operator Crown Resorts has become much more likely after the companies entered into a scheme implementation deed, with each committing to a break fee of A$89m ($63m).

February 14, 2022

As COVID-19 Impact Recedes, Brexit Blowback May Surface

COVID-19 travel restrictions have been obscuring Brexit complications for gambling companies, consultants and conference organisers, but problems are set to become more obvious as travel resumes.

February 11, 2022

New Zealand’s CBDC Plans Take Shape

New Zealand’s central bank governor has announced the rollout of the country’s proof of concept plans for its central bank digital currency (CBDC) initiative.