The Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (KRAIL), Ukraine’s gambling regulator, has taken decisive action against illegal gambling activities in the country. Recently, KRAIL blocked 371 websites offering illegal gambling services as part of a joint effort with the Security Service of Ukraine. This move was formalized through Order No. 451/2256, which targeted the domain names of these unauthorized gambling sites.

The order mandates electronic communication service providers to block the specified websites using their Domain Name System (DNS) servers. Between April and May, KRAIL and the Security Service issued over 1,000 orders to restrict access to various domain names and subdomains on DNS servers, further intensifying the crackdown on illegal gambling operations.

Uncertainty Over KRAIL’s Future

KRAIL’s recent actions come at a time when the future of the regulator is in question. In April, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, voted to dissolve KRAIL after more than a year of contention over its effectiveness in regulating the gambling industry. The opposition to KRAIL’s operation stemmed from dissatisfaction with its regulatory performance, particularly its delays in processing license applications.

KRAIL is currently composed of a collegial body with a chairman and six members. Meetings are only valid if at least five members are present. However, some commission members were mobilized for military service following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, causing significant delays in regulatory processes, including the issuance of licenses.

The legislative bill that includes KRAIL’s dissolution also proposes stricter measures on gambling advertising and other regulatory controls. This bill is set for a second reading, and if passed, it will become law upon the signature of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Future of Gambling Regulation in Ukraine

Should KRAIL be dissolved, the responsibility for regulating gambling will be transferred to the Ministry of Digital Transformation. Alina Plyushch, a partner at Kyiv-based law firm Sayenko Kharenko, highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the future structure of gambling regulation. “This is pending a further government decision on the creation of a new regulator under the digital transformation ministry’s umbrella,” Plyushch said.

She also noted the possibility that the Ministry of Digital Transformation might retain regulatory functions indefinitely. The exact duration and structure of this transitional regulatory framework remain unclear, leaving the future of Ukraine’s gambling industry in a state of flux.

As KRAIL continues its efforts to combat illegal gambling, the impending legislative changes pose significant questions about the long-term regulatory landscape for gambling in Ukraine. The outcome of the legislative process and subsequent government decisions will determine the next steps for ensuring a well-regulated and compliant gambling market in the country.

Source:

“КРАІЛ про обмеження доступу до 371 вебсайту, через які надавався доступ до нелегальних азартних ігор”. The Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (KRAIL). June 5, 2024.

Ukraine regulator blocks 371 illegal gambling sites. iGaming Business. June 6, 2024.

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The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, the government body in charge of regulating sports betting and gambling in Canada’s most populous province, has ordered all licensed operators in the region to stop offering bets on events organized by the World Boxing Association (WBA).

The measure was due to concerns over the integrity of those events after the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario ruled that boxing matches organized by the WBA do not have adequate safeguards in place when it comes to preventing match fixing and insider betting. This all started after the regulator conducted a thorough review of the wagering activity of a title fight organized by the World Boxing Association.

The respective bout was the one between Yoenis Tellez and Livan Navarro, when the Ontario regulator observed suspicious betting patterns in live bets being placed over five and a half rounds during the match. The bout was observed by two registered independent monitors while the betting activity took place at a registered iGaming operator in the Canadian province.

There were also reports in the media claiming that the manager of Yoenis Tellez placed bets worth 110,000 dollars at a casino in Florida on the match going on for over five and a half rounds. The bet was a winning one as the match went on until the tenth round, when Tellez managed to knock out Navarro.

All Eyes on Insider Betting

The match took place in December 2023 in Florida and that is also when the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario started its review of the matter. One of the conclusions of the respective review was that bets related to boxing matches organized by the WBA don’t meet the current version of the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming. This led to the indefinite suspension of betting on WBA events in Ontario.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario also underlined that its licensed operators were asked to demonstrate that the WBA prohibits betting from insiders and the respective operators were unable to do that. This means that coaches, managers, handlers or medical staff involved with one of the fighters could place bets on the respective matches while having the benefit of knowing non-public information. Moreover, the review found no proof that the World Boxing Association took any action to investigate past allegations of match fixing and insider wagering.

This is not the first time the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario takes such a measure. In December 2022 the regulator ordered licensed operators to stop offering bets on UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) matches following similar concerns over insider betting. That ban lasted just for a few weeks because the UFC then implemented new protocols to prevent insider betting.

Source: “Ontario halts World Boxing Association betting over integrity concerns“. iGaming Business. April 19, 2024.

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The United Kingdom’s new Criminal Justice Bill is set to provide the Gambling Commission (UKGC) with extra powers, allowing it to request the blocking of unlicensed gambling websites. While yet to be passed, the bill is gaining traction as the UK seeks to empower law enforcement bodies, allowing them to tackle crime and fraud.

What That Means for the Gambling Industry

The bill has already passed its first and second readings and is now being discussed before undergoing a third reading. Following that, the bill will go to the House of Lords and, if approved, will finally be signed into law.

Under the new proposal, the UKGC will be able to request IP and domain name providers to block access to websites that violate or might violate British law. At the moment, the commission must request such actions under a voluntary suspension model that has proved to be inefficient, especially for sites outside of the UK.

As a result, the UK seeks to enable agencies, such as the UKGC, to apply for court orders, which can be served even to foreign companies.

Minister Philp Says the Bill Would Bring Much-Needed Change

Under the new Criminal Justice Bill, unlicensed operators and crypto casinos risk getting blocked. As reported by Next.io, Chris Philp, the United Kingdom’s Minister for Policing, said that these new rules will allow any UKGC member of at least the level of executive director to make applications for court orders.

Philp said that this is an important step in the crackdown on foreign companies that steal a market share from their legal competitors and do not respond to requests to cease their unlicensed activities.

Philp said that he hopes everyone can agree that this is a necessary measure, arguing that it would also help to tackle online crime as a whole.

In the meantime, the UKGC just handed a £6 million fine to Gamesys, which violated the country’s social responsibility and anti-money laundering protocols. The commission, which continues to closely monitor the market, concluded that Gamesys conducted inadequate customer due diligence and was over-reliant on third-party regulation.

In other news, the UK continues to discuss the ongoing gambling reforms, especially the controversial affordability checks. While yet to be implemented, the checks have agitated many bettors who believe that the measure would infringe on their privacy. As a result, the UK Petitions Committee will discuss Nevin Truesdale’s recent anti-affordability checks petition.

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The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), the Australian government agency that oversees regulating online and media, has ordered another five offshore gambling websites to be blocked.

The websites in question are Viperspin, Just Casino, Betandplay, Play Fina and Comic Play Casino, which the Australian Communications and Media Authority found to have been operating illegally in Australia. The regulator announced that the respective websites breached the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority asked internet service providers in the country to block access to these online casinos, so when somebody tries to access them they will see a message from the government instead of the home page of the website.

ACMA released a statement in which it underlined once again that players from Australia who use such illegal gambling websites will not be protected by Australian laws. “This means our laws can’t help if something goes wrong, like if the service provider withholds winnings,” the regulator explained.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority can act against gambling websites that do not hold licenses to operate in the country or if they offer prohibited services such as online slot games or in-play sports betting. Moreover, publishing ads for another website that is unlicensed or runs prohibited services is also forbidden and can lead to ACMA requesting the respective publisher to be blocked.

835 Websites Blocked and Counting

Before this latest blocking request, the Australian Communications and Media Authority had successfully blocked 830 gambling and affiliate websites. The regulator also determined 215 services to exit the Australian market since ACMA began to crack down on illegal offshore gambling in 2017.

Last month, ACMA ordered the blocking of Crown Pokies and Play AUD, which the regulator deemed as operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. In July, the Australian Communications and Media Authority blocked another five websites: Reef Reels, Royal Reels, Ricky Casino, Slots Gallery and Slotastic.

June was by far the most prolific month of the year for ACMA as it blocked no less than 12 websites that month, after having managed to shut down another three websites in May 2023.

Source: “ACMA orders blocking of five more offshore gambling websites“. iGaming Business. September 20, 2023.

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Self-exclusion from gambling is one way for people affected by problem gambling or at-risk gambling to limit their access to such activities. While self-exclusion options can help people who are struggling with gambling, bank gambling payment blocks can also have a positive impact on that process. This is because such payment blocks can reduce the possibility for people affected by at-risk or problem gambling to deposit funds with gambling operators.

Now, the UK charity that helps people affected by problem gambling, GamCare, reiterated the importance of improving bank gambling blocks and the benefits such options bring to consumers. On Monday, the charity revealed that a key part of the process is to help raise awareness of bank gambling blocks and provide support for people that needed it.

The announcement comes after earlier this year, GamCare organized its second workshop on bank gambling blocks. The workshop sought to uncover new ways to raise awareness of bank gambling blocks and other gambling management tools. During the event, GamCare heard different ideas and opinions from experts.

A key part in the process of improving bank gambling blocks is raising awareness, the workshop found. An idea was formed that banks need to be proactive and notify their customers about tools that can limit gambling activities such as blocks.

Still, that wouldn’t be a general requirement but rather affects consumers that have “vulnerability markers on their account.” Additional proactive efforts by the banks would be to refer such customers to organizations that provide gambling support such as TalkBanStop.

Inconsistency in Naming Bank Gambling Blocks

Deelan Maru, one of the members of GamCare’s Behavioral Insights Team, explained that one challenge bank gambling payment blocks face is the inconsistency such activities are referred to by different banks. As an example, he pointed out that some banks refer to gambling payment blocks as “card freeze,” while others present the block as “restriction” or “merchant control.”

“Our analysis of bank gambling tools shows that gambling blocks have inconsistent naming conventions across different banking apps. For example, one bank may call it ‘card freeze’, whilst another would place it under ‘merchant control’ or ‘restriction’ settings – ultimately causing ambiguity and confusion for the consumer.“

Deelan Maru, Behavioral Insights Team member at GamCare

Maru explained that the inconsistent naming of the bank gambling blocks creates confusion for the customers. According to him, consistent naming of the solution across bank institutions and a proactive approach can raise awareness of those tools and ultimately help more people.

GamCare also pointed out that while self-exclusion options are popular, some people learn about bank gambling blocks only when they encounter gambling harm first. The charity revealed that there are people, affected by problem gambling that reach out for support and discover the option for bank gambling blocks.

The post GamCare Supports Raising Awareness for Bank Gambling Blocks appeared first on Keno Wizard.

As a result, players will get to enjoy Bison Blocks, Stakelogic’s latest crack at the video slot industry, and a game that is loaded with cool features to make sure you are having the best possible experience.

Stakelogic Releases Brand New Multiplier Slot

The slot includes gameplay mechanics such as Cascades, Free Spins, Multipliers, and Wilds, and it is also an opportunity for players to trigger any of the 4,096 paylines to secure a win. The Cascade Feature is one of the biggest tickets here as players will have all losing symbols removed with new symbols dropping in instead.

The new game was welcomed by Stakelogic product owner Andrew Fraser who hailed the new release and the many excellent features that it includes:

Bison Blocks takes players on an incredible adventure where they join these remarkable beasts in search of big wins. They are helped in joining the herd by the great selection of bonus features built into the game including Cascades, Wilds, Free Spins and Multipliers.

Stakelogic product owner Andrew Fraser

If a new win occurs, the reels will Cascade again, making it so that you can enjoy even better returns. The Multipliers in the game are increased by 1x for every win that you realize. There is a big win potential in the game with the Expand Feature pushing the reels to a 6×6 grid and format and adjusting the paylines from 4,096 to the whopping 46,656.

The features that you can discover in Bison Blocks do not end there, as you can further try the Free Spins bonus, which will be triggered through Scatters and feature 10 Free Spins, or even more, depending on how many Scatters you land on the reels.

Joining the Free Spins Bonanza with Bison Blocks

Players may also scoop up to 12 Free Spins, 14 Free Spins or even 16 Free Spins if they end up hitting six Scatters when they are triggering the bonus level.

Bison Blocks is also designed with a Bonus Buy Feature which will apply to certain jurisdictions, and you may enter the Free Spins bonus game without having to wait for the Scatters to actually drop.

Fraser said that the new slot was a fantastic addition to the overall portfolio of the company and a great chance for players to enjoy truly significant wins. He similarly hinted that casino brands may be interested in checking out Bison Blocks just as well.

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Gov. Jared Polis has found the bill to be vastly inappropriate and said that it was impossible for him to go ahead and approve it. The bill went through some legislative rollercoaster with lawmakers who originally not supporting it, changing their minds, and ultimately sending it to Gov. Polis’ desk.

No Credit to Be Extended to Patrons in Casinos – For Now

It was there where SB23-259 had its fiercest opposition yet with the governor arguing that the proposal to extend credit markets of $1,000 or more was inappropriate. He argued that there were ethical and legal concerns with this legislation. For one, how is the state to ensure that people with substance or gambling disorders are protected when they can tap into credit to play more?

This invites a dangerous way for casinos to interact with their patrons and one that Gov. Polis simply could not approve of. Gov. Polis is one of the public figures to have changed his mind on the bill himself, however. He previously vowed support for SB23-259 in the sense he wanted to see more tourists motivated to visit Colorado.

The bill, he thought previously, could have made it possible to attract more VIP customers and casino-goers who come from across the state border, a win-win for local businesses and the state. The original design of the bill though is not to instigate social malaise but to rather offer high rollers and other VIP customers convenience.

Not Designated for the Right Type of Customers

High rollers traveling with high amounts of cash may not feel entirely comfortable taking the trip to Colorado and its casinos. However, if a person can apply for credit beforehand, that is another matter altogether, the logic goes.

Meanwhile, Colorado’s casino properties have been looking to attract more clientele from across the border with Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Nebraska, and Kansas. Gov. Pois is not entirely convinced that SB23-259 was worded properly.

He explained his lack of support for the bill by explaining that the bill failed to focus on out-of-state high rollers. Gov. Polis would have expected the bill to have been specifically targeting that cohort of VIP visitors and not locals. The veto comes as a blow to lawmakers who expected to see the bill signed into law. They would now have to wait for the next legislative session most likely.  

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