Insights Archive

February 22, 2024

Gambling Industry Welcomes Finnish Licensing, Dreads 'Dutch-Style' Cooling Off

The European gambling industry applauds Finnish monopoly Veikkaus’ support for an open licensing system to combat the black market but fears its support for a cooling-off period like the one that rocked would-be entrants to the Dutch market.

February 22, 2024

EPC Opens Verification Of Payee Consultation

The European Payments Council (EPC) has launched a public consultation on the Verification of Payee Scheme Rulebook.

February 22, 2024

ANZ To Acquire Suncorp Bank Following U-Turn By Australian Regulator

Australia’s ANZ has secured regulatory approval for a proposed acquisition of Suncorp Bank, following a six-month legal battle with the country’s competition watchdog.

February 22, 2024

Daily Dash: Money Laundering Bank Taken Down In Pan-European Investigation

A multi-agency, cross-border investigation in Europe has taken down a suspected money laundering network, and Qatar has confirmed that it will launch a new instant payments system next month.

February 22, 2024

Netherlands Tackling Illegal Adverts On Affiliate Websites

The Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) has said that tackling illegal gambling operators is a “high priority” in 2024 having recently conducted two investigations into advertising for illegal operators on affiliate and online newspaper websites.

February 22, 2024

Illinois Governor Seeks Stinging Sports-Betting Tax Hike

As New York continues to fill its coffers with tax revenue from mobile sports betting, the governor of the United States' second-largest market is now proposing to more than double Illinois’ tax rate to help balance the state budget.

February 21, 2024

Amid Record U.S. Gaming Revenues, AGA Remains Focused On Unregulated Competition

The American Gaming Association reported commercial casino revenues topping $66m in 2023, a record amount for the third straight year, while policy priorities for this year are to lead on responsible gambling and to fight illegal gaming.

February 21, 2024

Banks Can Play 'Crucial Role' In Tackling Gambling Harms, Says Report

Banks can play a “crucial” role in tackling gambling-related harms and the UK's Financial Conduct Authority should consider issuing guidance on the issue, according to a new research report from Queen Mary University of London.

February 21, 2024

African Payments Leaders Seek Regulatory Support For Regional Trade

Mobile money services are revolutionising the payments sector in Africa, but a complex regulatory environment complicates cross-border transactions, impeding regional trade and financial flows.

February 21, 2024

Capital One To Acquire Discover For $35bn, But Will Regulators Approve?

US bank and card issuer Capital One has announced plans to acquire Discover Financial Services, in a bid to compete with rival issuers and larger card networks.

February 21, 2024

Daily Dash: Revolut Becomes First UK FI To Offer Downloadable SIM Cards

Revolut has launched a new eSIM that allows customers to purchase global data packages covering more than 100 countries, and regulators in Hong Kong have issued new guidance on crypto custody.

February 21, 2024

Japan Authorities Make Landmark Online Gambling Arrests

An American national and six locals have been arrested in Japan over the alleged operation of a mahjong gambling website generating millions of dollars in revenue, reportedly the nation’s first arrests involving domestic online gambling operators.

February 20, 2024

Brazil Timeline In Doubt After Official's Exit

Less than two weeks after announcing concrete steps to open the Brazilian market at ICE, the country’s would-be chief gambling regulator is no longer working for the government.

February 20, 2024

Massachusetts Considers Modifications To Data Privacy Regulations

As a first set of waivers to give sports-betting operators more time to come into compliance with data privacy rules are set to expire in June, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is considering some modifications to the regulations.

February 20, 2024

Betsson To Gain Dutch Licence By Acquiring Holland Gaming

Betsson said it has acquired Holland Gaming Technology, an online gambling operator, and Holland Power Gaming, a game studio which develops games for Holland Gaming.

February 20, 2024

Experts Split On Who Will Win AMLAvision As The Grand Finale Nears

Will Frankfurt or Paris seize the day? Will politicians settle for a compromise to win, such as Vienna? Deliberations over the EU’s new financial crime watchdog, which will oversee anti-money laundering rules for payments, e-money, and crypto institutions, have split experts.

February 20, 2024

Which Amendments Have Been Submitted For The EU Open Finance Framework?

Members of the European Parliament have shared their views on how the Financial Data Access regulatory framework could be improved ahead of a vote on February 22.

February 20, 2024

India's Neighbours Welcome New Connections To UPI, RuPay

The Reserve Bank of India has announced a trio of new partnerships that will bring instant payments linkages to three of its neighbours: Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Nepal.

February 20, 2024

Daily Dash: European Commission Opens Infringement Proceedings Against TikTok

The European Commission is considering whether TikTok has violated the Digital Services Act by failing to protect minors, while the UAE and Gibraltar are hoping to be removed from the greylist during FATF Week.

February 20, 2024

Victoria Regulator Expels Slots Licensee Over Two Breaches

The Victoria state gambling regulator has again raised the bar for aggressive penalties against industry non-compliance, apparently prompting a hotel owner to sell its business over falsified records and abuse of customer identification.

February 20, 2024

New Federal Rules Herald Online Era Of Tribal Gaming Compacts

The U.S. Department of the Interior has approved new regulations for tribal gaming compacts that expressly recognize the possibility of tribes offering state-wide online gaming without having to obtain a state license.