A regulatory investigation by the MGA has revealed shortcomings in the systems designed to protect vulnerable gamblers. Behind the technological promises, reality still reveals shortcomings.
The new Dutch Jetten government is preparing to radically redefine gambling policy, with one clear priority: to better protect players while combating the illegal market that is gaining ground.
Long perceived as a market constrained by strict regulations, the German online gambling ecosystem is currently undergoing a quiet transformation. Behind some of the most demanding rules in Europe, growth is very real.
Just a few years after the legalisation of the digital gambling market, the Dutch model is already being called into question. Between criticism of player protection and calls to ban all advertising, the debate is taking a decisive turn.
The Ksa has just clarified the protocols for accessing online gambling platforms during technical malfunctions of the national Cruks register.
The popular feature among online bookmakers, “early payout”, is under fire.
In Belgium, players who have wagered on unlicensed online casinos can now take their case to court. This legal development marks a turning point in the fight against illegal operators and strengthens consumer protection against unauthorised platforms.
The chairman of the Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA), Michel Groothuizen, has publicly expressed his reservations about the coalition government’s plan to impose a total ban on gambling advertising.
Belgium and the Netherlands are actively combating gambling addiction, and one of the tools available to gamblers is the EPIS system and the Cruks register respectively. Let’s take a look at the similarities and differences between these two systems.
Anger and concern are mounting in Finland. Major gambling companies such as Wildz Group and SkillOnNet are reacting sharply to the government’s new plans.
What started as a handy extra feature is now officially banned.
The Ksa is drastically strengthening its collaboration with sports federations and professional clubs to tackle persistent grey areas.
A new wind is blowing through the Irish gambling market. The government is taking a big step and giving the regulator real power. From 5 February, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) will be officially authorised to issue licences to gambling companies.
A minority coalition government in the Netherlands has made the fight against the risks associated with gambling a central priority of its programme. In a 67-page document published at the end of January, the executive announced a series of radical measures, including a general ban on all gambling advertising and possible restrictions on the number of licences granted to online operators.
Belgian professional football has always been driven by sponsorship deals. While the government is tightening the rules on gambling-related advertising, the links between clubs and industry players remain surprisingly strong.
It once seemed like a smart move. Start a company in Curaçao, arrange a gambling licence, open a bank account in Cyprus, and you were good to go. But those days are over. Anyone still operating this way is not only taking a risk. They will soon be out of the game.
In Austria, a gambler lost his case after spending tens of thousands of euros on loot boxes. The judge clearly stated that this was not gambling. At the same time, anger is rising in Belgium, where Meta is massively promoting these same loot boxes among young people.
