The Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) has formally endorsed FI2024/00442, a government measure that seeks to prohibit the use of credit cards for gambling. This proposed ban has been under discussion for several months and has now garnered the regulator’s official support.

Camilla Rosenberg, director general of Spelinspektionen, stated that the authority believes the ban on gambling with credit should apply universally across all gambling forms. Additionally, the authority suggested the need for the ability to grant exceptions in certain cases.

In its official statement, Spelinspektionen affirmed its support for the proposal. However, the Swedish trade association BOS criticized the measure, arguing that it could severely impact the legal gambling marke. Despite this opposition, the regulator acknowledged that there is no conclusive evidence on how the measure would affect operators who sell tickets digitally.

One concern raised was the ambiguity regarding how the ban would impact players using account credits for wagers. Given that credits linked to a bank account are also considered account credits, Spelinspektionen noted that this could imply licensees must ensure that credit limits are not utilized for payments made with debit cards.

However, the original proposal does not mandate licensees to investigate such matters. Therefore, Spelinspektionen concluded that it does not interpret the current wording as requiring gambling companies to verify whether users’ debit cards have a credit limit.

Implementing a ban on credit card gambling would place Sweden in line with other modern regulated markets such as Australia, Ireland, Norway, and the United Kingdom.

Spelinspektionen concluded that the proposal outlined in the memorandum is consistent with the regulator’s recommendations.

The Regulator Continues Market Oversight

In other developments, Spelinspektionen recently banned another skins gambling website. The company, WiseAvant OÜ, was found to be providing games of chance to Swedish customers without the necessary license.

This action follows a series of crackdowns by the authority on unlicensed operators. A few months ago, Spelinspektionen took similar actions against three companies: Galaktika NV, Newera Frozen PTE Limited, and Aprodi Ltd, two of which also offered skins gambling.

In related news, ATG’s chief executive officer, Hans Lord Skarplöth, recently suggested that the government might reconsider its proposed Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) tax hike. The proposed tax increase has been controversial, with BOS warning that it could benefit the black market if implemented.

Source: “Spelinspektionen Approves Ban on Credit Cards in Gambling”. Gambling News. May 22, 2024.

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Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has opted not to veto the proposed amendments to the Gambling Law, which include a ban on gambling advertisements in the media.

President Radev had previously indicated that he was considering the changes to the Gambling Law and was awaiting input from his advisors before making a final decision.

Despite objections from media outlets, gambling operators, sports clubs, and other businesses between the readings, the prohibition on gambling advertisements in the media was approved by a significant majority of deputies during the final session of the 49th National Assembly. Some stakeholders argued that public discussion should precede the adoption of such a significant measure.

The initiative for these amendments came from GERB and DPS and was introduced unexpectedly during the final days of the 49th National Assembly by Yordan Tsonev (DPS) and Temenuzka Petkova (GERB). The bill rapidly moved through the legislative process, passing its first reading in the budget committee and subsequently receiving approval in the plenary session. An extraordinary meeting of the Committee on Budget and Finance was convened to expedite the voting on the amendments before deputies began their pre-election recess.

Controversial Ban on Gambling Ads

The new amendments, which include a total ban on gambling advertisements in the media, have sparked controversy. Various stakeholders have expressed their concerns and objections. Media outlets, gambling operators, sports clubs, and other businesses affected by the law have argued against the ban, suggesting that a public discussion should precede such a significant legislative change. However, despite these objections, the amendments were passed with a substantial majority.

President Radev’s decision not to veto the amendments has finalized the legislative process, bringing about significant changes to the Gambling Law in Bulgaria The new prohibition on gambling advertisements in the media marks a substantial shift in the regulatory landscape for gambling in the country. Despite the objections and calls for public debate, the amendments have been approved and will soon come into effect.

Source: “Bulgarian President Approves Gambling Law Amendments”. European Gaming. May 17, 2024.

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New York State previously announced its plans to introduce three new downstate casino licenses. One of those licenses is expected to be awarded for New York City and there are plenty of leading gaming operators and developers who have already shown interest. Overall, there are nine bids for a casino license for the Big Apple.

Earlier this week, city lawmakers approved important changes to the regulations, paving the way for the development of one casino. On Thursday, the New York City Council voted and approved a text amendment that would “allow applicants, with a proposed gaming site in the city, to be considered by committees of local officials established by the State’s casino licensing process.”

The City Council greenlighted the Gaming Facility Text Amendment which makes changes to New York’s zoning. Previously, casinos were not permitted within the Big Apple’s zoning, but the change seeks to address this conflict while still ensuring that local communities can help decide whether or not a casino is established in their area.

Operators interested in casino licenses must first secure approval from the local Community Advisory Committees (CACs), which will review submissions made before June 30, 2025. According to the City Council, after CACs approval and a Gaming Facility Location Board recommendation, one of those bids would be able to secure one of the three casino licenses announced by the New York State Gaming Commission.

“Currently, casinos are not permitted uses within New York City’s zoning. This text amendment would resolve this zoning conflict, while maintaining communities’ decision-making authority on casino licenses within the State’s application process, which first requires approval by local Community Advisory Committees (CACs),“

reads a statement from the New York City Council

Casino Opponents Raise Concerns

Although the voting of the zoning change text passed, it wasn’t without opposition. A majority of 35 council members supported the change while 15 members voted against it.

The City Council confirmed that the sites that would be considered for a casino would be “limited to high-density commercial and manufacturing areas.” This was precisely one concern for Kalman Yeger, one of the council members who voted against the zoning text change. Quoted by amNewYork, he revealed: “Casinos are bad, but they’re even worse in our residential neighborhoods.” Moreover, Yeger said: “They’re worse just blocks away from our schools, from our kids, from family lives. And no amount of revenue is worth destroying neighborhoods in the city. So that a lot of people can make some money…It’s bad policy.”

Despite the progress, there’s plenty of time before the potential approval of a casino license in New York.

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Mississippi’s Tidelands bill has raised concerns about the future of coastal casinos. The bill received unanimous approval from the Senate and has 30 days before a final vote is held.

Senate Bill 2780 passed the Senate on Thursday after receiving two amendments. The first amendment allows cities to control properties on ports and harbors as long as there is not a “gaming component” to them. This means that the state cannot restrict the public use of a coastal property, as long as it is for public purpose.

However, the amendment maintains the points that provide the Secretary of State with control over coastline casinos. Under the new bill, developers must secure a lease from the state, instead of from the local government. Additionally, new casinos cannot be located on or adjacent to sand beaches but still have to be located within 800 feet of the shore. Finally, the casino developer must control all property.

Overall, the bill has the potential to hinder the creation of new casinos, some believe. Critics furthermore claimed that coastal leaders were not consulted about the Tidelands bill, depriving them of their input.

The bill highlighted a discrepancy between the state government and the local governments.

Mississippi’s Government Doesn’t Want to Repeat the Recent Biloxi Hassle

David Blount, chair of the Senate Gaming Committee, ushered in the first amendment to Senate Bill 2780. He explained that the government is not interested in micromanaging local harbors and instead wants to create a “consistent environment” for the casino industry.

His comment echoed the recent approval of RW Development’s casino in Biloxi which was greenlit by the Mississippi Gaming Commission. The project was initiated by a partnership between the developer and the city of Biloxi and Harrison County to rebuild Veterans Avenue Pier. The Secretary of State blocked the initiative – a decision that was later disputed in the Supreme Court. As a result, RW Development was later able to secure approval for adding a casino to the pier.

Mike Thompson, chairman of the Senate Ports & Marine Resources Committee, explained that the Tidelands bill seeks to make sure that nothing precludes government authorities from having exclusive control over their ports and harbors. He acknowledged that the bill has generated concerns among coastal leaders and added a reverse repealer amendment that ensures the bill will have more time for adjustments to be made.

In the meantime, the House version of this measure, HB 1659, passed the House by a landslide after 113 representatives voted in favor of the bill against 6 who opposed it.

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Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), a provider of high-quality land-based, lottery, and iGaming testing and assessment services, announced that it has been approved as an Independent Test Lab in North Carolina.

Having been greenlit by the NC State Lottery Commission, GLI now has authorization to evaluate gambling equipment, software and processes for compliance with state law and commission rules.

This approval further expands the company’s presence in the US, cementing it as a leading test lab. For reference, GLI is an authorized test lab for 65 lotteries and for 707 markets across the world. The company excels in a variety of compliance-related services, including regulatory compliance, technical compliance, end-to-end testing and full lifecycle compliance.

GLI’s latest approval was praised by the company’s vice president of global lottery solutions, Angela Wong. She expressed her team’s excitement saying that GLI is thrilled to be approved to test and certify for the North Carolina State Lottery Commission.

Our testing and consultation services are unmatched because we combine innovation with compliance and a global reach and presence that gives our clients a world of insight.

Angela Wong, VP of global lottery solutions, GLI

GLI Continues to Expand Its Influence and Team

In other news, GLI recently secured accreditation for its testing laboratories in India and Canada. This followed accreditation to the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA).

Back then, GLI said that this accreditation attests to its ongoing commitment to the highest possible quality testing services. For reference, all of the testing specialist’s labs are currently operating under the latest requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017.

In other news, GLI recently reinforced its team with two major promotions. The company promoted the experienced Ginnie Hollis and Samantha Powell as vice presidents of engineering. Hollis is based in GLI’s office in Colorado, USA, and will take care of the company’s digital operations. In the meantime, Powell, who is based in GLI’s office in Adelaide, Australia, was tasked with supporting the testing provider’s land-based-related operations.

The promotion of Hollis and Powell followed the appointment of Richard Howarth as chief business officer for the APAC region.

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Last year, casino workers in Missouri filed a class action lawsuit against Penn National Gaming and two of its casinos in the state, the Argosy Riverside Casino and Hollywood Casino St. Louis. In their lawsuit, the workers claimed that the trio breached multiple laws by illegally reducing their paychecks. Allegations filed by the casino workers claimed the companies reduced their paychecks to cover costs for maintaining, obtaining and renewing gaming licenses for Missouri.

Further allegations filed by the workers claimed the aforementioned companies created a tip pool applicable for table game dealers. Those tips were allegedly then used to cover paid time off for employees who were non-tipped such as supervisors and managers.

Judge Approves a $5.5 Million Settlement

According to the lawsuit, Penn National Gaming, Argosy Riverside Casino and Hollywood Casino breached the Fair Labor Standards Act. The casino workers alleged breaches of the Missouri Minimum Wage Law and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

Representing the plaintiffs are lawyers George A. Hanson, Alexander T. Ricke from Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP, as well as Ryan L. McClelland and Michael J. Rahmberg of McClelland Law Firm, P.C.

According to a report released by Missouri Lawyers Media, a judge recently approved a $5.5 million settlement, siding with the casino workers. US District Judge Stephen R. Bough, gave an initial approval last year in January. Now, as confirmed in the recent report, the judge gave final approval for the settlement of the lawsuit on May 25.

From the approved $5.5 million settlement, some 35% will be allocated toward attorneys’ fees. The Kaufman Fund along with Angels’ Arms, two charity organizations are going to benefit from unspent money.

Elsewhere in Missouri, twelve ballot initiatives will seek to pave the way for legal sports betting across the state. Supported by professional sports teams and legislators, the activity is yet to be legalized across Missouri. Each of the 12 proposals can appear on the Ballot in November, subject to collecting a minimum of 171,592 signatures by May this year.

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Gambling compacts have been at the core of gambling operations in some jurisdictions around the United States, with New York not any different, and the Empire State also running revenue-sharing agreements with tribal gaming establishments.

Seneca Nation to Continue Running Gambling Business Operations

The Seneca Nation in Western New York has a compact with New York through December 9, 2023, which will now be temporarily renewed as confirmed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, with the revenue-sharing agreement extended through March 31, 2024. 

This agreement allows the Seneca Nation to continue running all of its three venues in the state, to wit Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino, and Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino.

The compact negotiation is important, because under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, federally-recognized tribes may operate Class I and Class I gaming, but Class III gaming, which features table games and gives casinos their fully-fleshed look, is subject to additional red tape.

Commpacts have proven to be a very successful negotiation tactic in many places already. Florida, for example, has been able to launch sports gambling, effectively going around the need to amend its State Constitution by establishing an agreement with the Seminole Tribe of Florida to run sports betting out of tribal land to wield the entire online gambling industry in the state.

This was interestingly interpreted to also include online betting platforms that can be hosted on sovereign tribal land, and that have faced severe legal challenges. Yet, most of these have been dismissed with the Seminole Tribe now looking as a shoo-in.

Yet, Seneca Nation has not won a definite extension, but just bought time to continue negotiating with the state, as the governor and tribal leaders are butting heads over the tax payable by the tribe. New York has been known as one of the keenest jurisdictions to collect tax revenue from local gambling companies and business owners.

Negotiating Exclusivity in Times of Fast Market Liberalization

The compact is an important win for the tribe nevertheless, as the Seneca Nation wants to retain its exclusivity of table and slot games west of State Route 14, which guarantees it a good influx of revenue and no real competition at least in its chosen geography.

New York is also benefiting as the state claws 25% of the tribe’s gross gaming revenue, which generates a windfall of roughly $100 million for the state every year.

This rate, though, is now the subject to debate, as the Seneca Nation has cited the changing realities of new commercial casinos that are being built closer to its territories and effectively drawing business away from the tribal properties. Seneca hopes to pay a little less than its current 25% rate to remain competitive.

This is a tough sell in a state that already charges sports betting businesses with 51% on their gross gaming revenue.

Gov Hochul was also the subject of some criticism as her husband, William Hochul, was until recently working for Delaware North, a competitor to Seneca Nation’s gambling businesses, which made the governor reluctant to weigh in, recusing herself at first.

Her husband has since quit his position at Delaware North, allowing the governor to weigh in without any speculation about the fairness of her opinion.

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After securing licenses in many key European markets, such as Greece, Romania, Denmark, and Sweden, the company continues conquering other markets all over the continent. The most recent expansion is the one to the Italian market, where the company got approval to go live with its quality B2B services.

Key European market

Soft2Bet expansion to the new jurisdiction is done through the collaboration of a renowned iGaming regulator from Italy, Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM), which is able to certify the company’s platform and ensures that the expansion is done in accordance with the country’s laws and regulations. The expansion is done through the acquisition of a Maltese company that has already been licensed in Italy.

According to Gaming Intelligence, David Yatom Hay, a General Counsel at Soft2Bet, commented on the recent expansion: “We at Soft2Bet are happy to deepen our European presence with this exciting venture into the Italian market. This is yet another example of Soft2Bet’s steadfast commitment to expand its regulatory portfolio. We’re confident that Italian operators will greatly benefit from what Soft2Bet has to offer to the market.”

Just before conquering the Italian market, Soft2Bet got approval to supply the Greek market with its popular services, and before Greece, the company got licensed in Romania and Denmark, strengthening its position in these key European markets.

Successful provider

Soft2Bet is a famous B2B sportsbook and casino platform provider known for innovative and advanced solutions in the gaming and gambling industry. Each operator the company collaborates with gets its custom solution, which would work the best for them, along with a range of premium services and offerings.

Their talent and expertise were recognized in the industry, so the company was awarded Best Online Product of the Year at MIGEA Awards 2021, Online Casino Provider of the Year and Platform of the Year at Sigma Awards, White Label Supplier of the Year at SBC Awards 2021, Workplace of the Year at Sigma Americas Awards, Highly Commended at EGR Nordics Awards 2022, as well as the White Label Supplier of the Year at Starlet Awards.

The company currently possesses more than 8.500 games developed by 120 providers from its vast network of partners. Its content is available in more than 20 languages, and the services can be paid in 150 payment methods across all countries where Soft2Bet is present. Their plan is to conquer all key markets all around the world, and it seems the European expansion is going as planned since taking over the Italian market is a significant step for Soft2Bet.

Source: “Soft2Bet Expands Into Italy with New B2B License”, GamingInteligence, September 22, 2023.

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In a significant development, the Maine House voted in favor of a bill that would enable Native American tribes in the state to benefit from federal laws, overriding a previous land claims settlement. However, the proposed legislation specifically prohibits the application of certain federal laws related to casinos, making it necessary to obtain state approval for their establishment. The bill will now move to the Senate for further consideration.

Maine Bill Seeks to Extend Federal Benefits to Wabanaki Tribes

The tribes in Maine have long been governed by the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980, which subjected them to state law and limited their access to federal legislation. This contrasted with the autonomy enjoyed by the other 570 federally recognized tribes across the country.

The proposed bill seeks to address this disparity by allowing most federal laws that benefit other tribes to extend to the Wabanaki tribes in Maine, reported New England Cable News. However, it is important to note that the bill falls short of granting full sovereignty to the tribes.

The legislation specifically excludes certain federal laws pertaining to casinos, requiring state permission for their establishment. This provision aims to strike a balance between tribal interests and state concerns. Despite the exclusion, tribal leaders and supporters of the bill have expressed optimism about its potential benefits.

Passamaquoddy tribal representative, Rep. Aaron Dana, shared a troubling incident to illustrate the urgent need for change. He highlighted how his tribe was unable to seek aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) when a cold snap caused pipes to freeze at a health clinic. Dana stated that he believed the bill could be considered the single most important in recent history due to the immediate and critical impact it could have on the Wabanaki tribes.

Critics Voice Concerns as Maine Tribal Bill Raises Potential for Conflicts and Lawsuits

However, critics of the bill have raised concerns about potential conflicts and lawsuits that could arise from its implementation. Governor Janet Mills’ chief legal counsel urged the tribes to collaborate with the administration to find mutually agreeable solutions rather than pursuing a bill that may create new complications.

The bill’s passage in the Maine House reflects a significant step forward in rectifying the inequities faced by Native American tribes in the state. While it falls short of full sovereignty, it represents progress toward achieving greater parity with other federally recognized tribes.

The Senate will now deliberate on the bill, and its fate will be closely watched by tribal communities and supporters throughout Maine. The Native American tribe bill comes at a time when the state of Maine is preparing to launch its sports betting market. The head of the state’s gambling regulator, Milton Champion, suggested that sports betting could go live in time for Thanksgiving, pending the review and approval of the revised rules.

The post Maine House Approves Tribal Bill, Casinos Excluded from Benefits appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Kentucky may soon legalize sports betting as a new bill continues to gain traction. House Bill 511 seeks to allow wagering on sports at the state’s horse racing tracks, bringing a new gambling vertical to the state. In addition, racing tracks would be able to partner with up to three online operators, allowing local customers to play online.

Now, the Bill, which passed a House vote on Monday, also passed through a state Senate committee. Despite this, many challenges remain.

Kentucky Closer to Sports Betting than Ever

House Bill 511 is but the latest effort to bring sports flutters to the Bluegrass State. Kentucky has been trying to legalize punts since 2018 when the PASPA was repealed. However, previous efforts have ended in failure.

Despite the past misfirings, there is now a real chance for Kentucky to welcome sports betting. No bill has previously been able to pass the Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee. Not only that but the committee voted resoundingly in favor of HB 511, with 9 votes in favor of the measure against one that opposed it.

Many believe that Governor Andy Beshear is in favor of sports betting and would sign the bill into law, meaning that the only challenge to Kentucky becoming the 37th state to allow sports betting is the Senate. Beshear’s campaign from four years ago prominently highlighted his pro-gambling stance.

Rep. Meredith Will Seek Supporters

While HB 511 has a real chance of passing, it is still too early to rejoice as the Senate will pose the greatest threat to the measure yet. Under local laws, the bill must receive at least three-fifths of the Senate votes to pass. In addition, passing HB 511 would be a race against time since there are but four days remaining in this year’s legislative session.

Luckily, a planned recess period in the legislative session may work in favor of the bill as it would provide its supporters with enough time to convince other senators to vote in favor of the bill. State Rep. Michael Meredith admitted that the pro-gambling camp is still a few votes short of passing the bill.

The legislative session will continue on March 29-30 when the fate of sports betting in Kentucky will be conclusively decided, at least for now.

Earlier this month, a Kentucky House committee also cleared HB 594 which imposes a ban on “gray” video game machines with cash payouts.

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