News

The beginning of the week saw the Government of Slovakia publish the first-ever online gambling websites blacklist in the country. The list includes online gambling domains that are regarded as unacceptable and untrustworthy due to the fact they have provided local players with services without an operating license issued by local authorities. The Finance Ministry of the country has already released a list containing the first ten operators blocked from providing their services in Slovakia. As a matter of fact, the blacklist includes the names of some of the largest…

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) issued a warning to the organisers of fantasy football leagues to be careful not to be caught cheating by gambling law. The UK regulatory watchdog made this right before the beginning of the new football season, raising a red flag about the risks for the organisers of such events. According to the UK Gambling Commission, the main risk for everyone who organises fantasy football leagues is that they could be required to present a pool betting license from the Gambling Commission. Currently, prize values are…

The Australia Institute Tasmania has released information, according to which the number of Tasmanian residents who are currently employed in the local gambling industry amounts to less than 50% of the figure that has previously announced by the industry. The Australia Institute Tasmania released a special report, which questions the estimates the possible impact that Electronic Gaming Machines could have on employment and revenue in Tasmania. According to the Institute, the previously made estimates on the Poker machines phasing out on employment are contradictory to the data that has recently…

It seems that US state governments are to face hard times, as long as the cashflow of local lotteries is concerned. Yesterday, the Pew Charitable Trusts published some data, according to which that half of the 44 states where lotteries are legal saw a decline of their lottery revenues in the period between 2014 and 2015. The fact that a large number of US state have reported flat or declining lottery sales combined with their reluctance to increase local taxes in order to compensate for the deficit, more and more…

The Christian Democratic and Flemish Party (CDV), which is currently the opposition party in Belgium, has proposed for some amendments to be made in the gambling legislation of the country. It has called for further restrictions to be made in Belgium’s legal gambling industry, and more specifically, for the legal age to be raised from 18 to 21 years. The proposal of the Christian Democratic and Flemish Party includes increasing the age limit on all forms of gambling, including casino, sports betting and lottery services. It has been aimed at…

Pennsylvania’s budget negotiations between the state’s Governor Tom Wolf and senior lawmakers have brought the matters of gambling expansion to an impasse. The Pennsylvania’s Senate and House broke off for recess without even making an agreement for the major details of such an expansion. All this has basically put online gambling expansion on hold in the state. The comprehensive gambling package which has been seen as the state’s chance for gambling industry expansion, was not finalised after local legislators have done nothing to ensure such a step. As a matter…

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has published a White Paper to propose some important reforms to the country’s legislation and regulatory framework. One of the main reasons why the Malta gambling regulatory watchdog has made this proposal is its attempt to annul the already existing legislation and replace it with a singular piece of legislation. The latter is aimed to be a primary Act of Parliament that will be passed with a complementary legislation that will cover the main regulatory areas. In addition, the Malta Gaming Authority will issue a…

The Irish Cabinet approved the Courts and Civil Liabilities Bill, which would set the legal age of 18 years for the available forms of gambling across the country. The new legislation, which is expected to be published over the days to come, is to provide a number of amendments of the Ireland’s Gaming and Lotteries Act of 1956. Currently, the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 provides the legal and regulatory framework of gaming activities at circuses, carnivals, funfairs and amusement halls. In addition, it provides the necessary framework for arcades,…

Several Crown Resorts employees were released from Chinese jail, where they have been detained since October 2016, after being accused in gambling crimes. According to media reports, 10 of 16 company employees who were sentenced by local court in June, were released from the detention facilities in Shanghai they were in. First, four employees were released from a detention facility in Shanghai accompanied by their family members and security officials. They left immediately and refused to speak to media representatives. Then, as explained by an individual who identified himself of…

At the beginning of the week, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) revealed that it has published a special consultation document in collaboration with the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU). The document is a comprehensive study that is primarily focused on the upcoming application of the Authority’s anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism funding requirements imposed by the Malta gambling regulatory body on license holders. The document released as a joint publication of the MGA and FIAU is divided into five sections, which correspond to the major obligations of the licensees that are…