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Compliance Updates

Comments on the Gambling Commission from Lord David Lipsey

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Gambling Commission Consultation

Memorandum from Lord David Lipsey (pictured), Chair for Premier Greyhound Racing

“Much public criticism has been levied at the Gambling Commission’s proposals on affordability; including by me. However, most of this concentrates on the possible effects of the proposals on horse racing.

“Practically nothing has been said about the corresponding effects on greyhound racing. Greyhound racing remains Britain’s fifth largest spectator sport, so this is a strange omission.

“By way of background, greyhound racing gets helpful support from a levy on bookmakers. This levy, unlike the horseracing levy, is voluntary. However, all but a few minnows amongst bookmaking pay it. It is collected by a body called the British Greyhound Racing Fund (BGRF), chaired by Joe Scanlon, an experienced bookmaker. Its board comprises a mix of bookmakers and representatives of the sport. They, in turn, allocate the funds they collect as they see fit to greyhound racing.

“The BGRF is focussed on something of great importance: the welfare of racing and retired greyhounds.

“It is channelled through the sport’s national governing body, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB). The GBGB has welfare as its predominant objective. Its document, A Good Life for Every Greyhound is the sport’s guiding light on welfare. Welfare used to be a much lower priority for the BGRF. Much of its money went, for example, on equipment for tracks; a straight business subsidy.

“However, the percentage devoted to welfare has steadily increased. Greyhound welfare now comprises some £3.9 million (51.4%) of the BGRF’s expenditure. A further 19% goes to regulation such as kennel inspection, which is also important for the dogs’ welfare.

“As a direct result of the BGRF’s increased emphasis on welfare, there have been huge improvements in the outcome for greyhounds. When I chaired the then-British Greyhound Racing Board in the 2000s. fewer than one in six greyhounds were rehomed after racing. Many were euthanised. Today on the latest GBGB figures a staggering 95% of dogs are rehomed after racing. Meanwhile, there has been a huge investment in improving track surfaces.

“However, the voluntary levy has not been buoyant. In the latest available year, 2022/23, it raised £7.6 million in levy. In money terms this compares with £8 million a decade ago. But in real terms it has fallen from nearly £11 million in 2012/13 to £8.2 million in July of 2023.

“There was a one-off hike in 2019/20 to £8.8 million following an extension of the levy to overseas bets on greyhounds. I was responsible in negotiating this at the request of the then-Sports Minister, Tracey Crouch. However, it has since declined. The GBGB has been talking to various bookmakers about increasing the levy. However, the near universal response has been for the bookmakers to say ‘we will pay more if all the other bookmakers do’. The result has been stasis.

“Premier Greyhound Racing has no independent evidence on the impact of the proposed crackdown on affordability proposed by the Gambling Commission. However, greyhound racing, like horse racing, has some heavy hitter punters who would plausibly be put off betting on greyhounds if they were subject to onerous affordability checks.

“I can offer here my own experience. £5/£10 is my normal stake. However, as a ‘politically exposed person’, I was subjected to rigorous checks by my bookmaker, responding as they were to Gambling Commission pressure. It took an exchange of 32 e-mails before I was finally allowed to keep my account.

“Of course, I, like other parliamentarians, have received direct assurances from ministers that affordability checks will be automatic and seamless. However, the consultation paper itself makes clear that this is not the intention of the Gambling Commission. It admits that 2/3% of punters may have intrusive affordability checks carried out.

“These will almost by definition be the big punters. Big punters are a mix of those with gambling problems and those who just enjoy a good bet. Greyhound racing like horseracing has done everything it can to encourage safer betting. But if the Gambling Commission insists on probing big punters, they will simply disappear. Some will go to the ‘black market’. Some will seek their kicks elsewhere.

“The loss of greyhound punters will directly impact the yield of the voluntary levy. But equally important, if the bookmakers are hard hit by the new affordability rules (and they all think they will be) that will be a huge blow to their willingness to contribute to the voluntary levy.

“So far bookmakers have stuck with the levy. They have done so partly because they are sentient human beings, many with a huge affection for this most loveable breed of animal. But they do so also because they regard the levy as a price they must pay for the ‘social licence’ for greyhound racing to continue. The RSPCA, Dogs Trust and Blue Cross are already agitating for a ban on the sport. If the bookmakers are under financial pressure because of the impact of affordability checks, they are not likely to be in a mood to up their contributions in line with the sport’s needs.

“It would be horrifying if the progress of the last couple of decades was undone. Some trainers might dispose of dogs in unacceptable ways. Track maintenance might be neglected. Vets might no longer be in attendance at some tracks. Yet if the money to pay for welfare is not forthcoming due to the impact on bookmakers of the new affordability requirements all these are possible. GBGB would resist but it might be powerless to insist.”

Compliance Updates

Vixio Launches Game-Changing Online Casino Technical Compliance Tool

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Vixio, a leading provider of regulatory intelligence solutions, has launched the newest RegTech solution for the gambling industry: the Vixio Technical Compliance Tool. The brand new Technical Compliance Tool gathers all the must-know technical requirements for online casino providers and operators in regulated markets in a consistent format, saving countless hours of manual research.

“At Vixio, we’ve always prioritised listening to our customers, and the launch of our Technical Compliance Tool is a direct response to their needs,” explained Mike Woolfrey, CEO, Vixio. “We understand the complexity and urgency of staying compliant in a rapidly evolving industry, and this Technical Compliance Tool will help our customers accomplish that simpler and quicker than ever before.”

The long-awaited launch of the Technical Compliance Tool comes as a result of customer feedback for a one-stop solution for technical requirements in the online casino industry. Online casino suppliers are seeking to capitalise on opportunities to enter newly regulated markets across multiple regions and speed up new game development while balancing an increasing burden on compliance teams to ensure product and regulatory compliance. Regulations and technical requirements vary greatly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and with speed-to-market of paramount importance, compliance teams face increasing pressure to act quickly whilst avoiding errors.

“With our Technical Compliance Tool, we’re providing a solution that empowers our customers to confidently expand into new markets, knowing they have the most up-to-date and comprehensive regulatory intelligence at their fingertips,” said James Kilsby, Chief Analyst, Vixio.

Kilsby continued, “The technical compliance landscape for online casino games has become significantly more complex in recent years as European regulators have imposed stricter requirements on game design at the same time that North and Latin American markets have offered significant new opportunities for suppliers and operators to grow their businesses. The Vixio Technical Compliance Tool ensures compliance teams can continue to meet these two challenges.”

Providing a comparative view of over 65 of the most critical technical requirements that impact the development, deployment and certification of online casino games across the world’s largest and strategically important regulated markets, with source references in their original language and English translations, the tool initially covers regulations for 26 jurisdictions in Europe, North America and Latin America, including Brazil.

The Technical Compliance Tool will sit within Vixio’s flagship platform, GamblingCompliance. Vixio GamblingCompliance is trusted by leading gambling brands for insights into specific requirements in 180+ jurisdictions to stay current with the ever-evolving gambling regulatory landscape and support strategic growth objectives.

It has already been beta-tested by a select group of Vixio customers and will be officially launched today at an exclusive industry event in London.

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Australia

Dr Marla Royne Stafford Named First Conference Chair for 2025 Regulating the Game conference in Sydney

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Leading gambling law and regulation conference Regulating the Game, to be held from 10 to 13 March 2025 in Sydney, has announced Dr Marla Royne Stafford as its first Conference Chair for the event.

Chairing a day of the conference provides an opportunity for industry professionals and regulators to offer unique insights and perspectives, steward the conversation to highlight critical points and stimulate an exchange of ideas and discussions.

Dr Stafford is Professor of Marketing in the Lee Business School at University of Nevada-Las Vegas. She is also a Faculty Scholar with the UNLV International Gaming Institute, Director of Research for the Cannabis Policy Institute and past Executive Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the Harrah College of Hospitality.

She is a past William F. Harrah Distinguished Chair, a member of the Board of Advisors for the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling and is currently serving as a guest editor for an upcoming special issue of the UNLV Gaming Research and Review Journal. She is an expert in the responsible gambling arena and her work includes projects with the American Gaming Association and AMZC Limited.

“I am deeply honored and excited to serve in this leadership role at the 2025 Regulating the Game Conference. The Conference is one of the premier annual events in the gaming world, featuring thought leaders and stimulating important discussions in a fast-moving industry. It is truly a privilege to be part of the organizing committee and help advance the needed conversations in policy, regulation, leadership, ethics and the future of the industry,” Dr Stafford said.

Paul Newson, Principal at Vanguard Overwatch, said: “The fact that we are attracting such distinguished figures to Chair a day of Regulating the Game is a clear testament to the conference’s expanding influence and significance in the industry. It’s an exciting time as we continue to bring together the brightest minds to shape the future of gambling regulation.”

Regulating the Game is looking for more candidates to Chair in 2025, specifically seasoned professionals with experience in the gambling sector and regulation, compliance, policy or related fields. The event provides regulators, industry executive or thought leaders this the chance to make a significant impact at one of the industry’s most influential events.

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Compliance Updates

Amusnet Gaming Secures the Critical Gaming Supply License till 2034

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The renowned gaming provider Amusnet Gaming officially announced the renewal of its Critical Gaming Supply License by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) for a period of 10 years. The Critical Gaming Supply License is valid until 2034 and has been also converted into a Corporate Group Critical Gaming Supply Licence, covering group entities within the group. A holder of a corporate group license is allowed to include multiple entities within a group to be treated as a single Licensee. Amusnet Gaming Ltd. is the designated group company holding the license, which encompasses its three subsidiaries: Amusnet BNL B.V. (serving Belgium and the Netherlands), Amusnet Spain S.L., and Amusnet d.o.o. for services (serving Croatia). The group license facilitates the provision of essential gaming supply services across the organization and allows the subsidiaries to distribute gaming software in markets where local B2B licensing is not required.

The renewal underscores Amusnet Gaming’s commitment to compliance, integrity, and innovation within the gaming sector. It is a testament to the company’s ability to meet stringent regulatory standards and deliver secure and fair gaming experiences. This empowers Amusnet Gaming to maintain and further develop its diverse portfolio of gaming products within Malta’s robust regulatory framework, further strengthening its foothold in the European market and solidifying its position as а renowned international gaming provider, which stands for trust and credibility.

A Critical Gaming Supply License is a B2B license that enables the provision of online gaming products to businesses and individuals licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) or other regulatory authorities.

The license play a pivotal role in Amusnet Gaming operations, enabling the provision and management of gaming software and systems. With a diverse portfolio of 200+ casino games, this license empower the preferred provider to deliver a wide range of gaming experiences to diverse European and international audiences.

Moreover, Amusnet Gaming announced the launch of its newly designed website, featuring a modern and intuitive interface that enhances user experience. The upgraded content is curated to give visitors easy access to valuable information and resources across our offerings. With a modern outlook and streamlined navigation, the website reflects the high level of service Amusnet Gaming stands for.

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