Casino game developer Wazdan has been given the green light to launch its products in New Jersey. 

The company says it has received a transactional waiver from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE), allowing it to launch a selection of its online and mobile casino games in the US state.

The supplier is now able to take its best performing hits live across the state, including 9 Lions, Larry the Leprechaun, and Sizzling 777 Deluxe, as well as other popular titles, such as Power of Gods™: The Pantheon, Magic Stars 3, and Magic Fruits Deluxe.

Andrzej Hyla, Chief Commercial Officer at Wazdan, said: “New Jersey needs no introduction as a market and we’re thrilled to be able to offer some of our most popular games to operators in the state. With more to come from us in this territory, it’s the first step on a very exciting journey.”

All gambling advertisements and promotions will be illegal in Lithuania from 1 July 2021. 

Yesterday, the Lithuanian Parliament voted in favour of an amendment to the country’s Law on Gambling, banning all advertising and promotions, including special offers, discounts and bonuses. 

The government says the changes are necessary to help combat problem gambling, and reflect the mood of the country’s public – if a recent survey from the Gambling Supervision Authority is to be believed.

Gambling operators in Lithuania had previously agreed to halt advertising for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the regulator has said many operators broke this promise and gambling advertising actually increased. 

Lithuania’s National Gambling and Gaming Business Association has warned the new rules will cause operators to shun the country, and damage the sector. 

AYO.NEWS says:

While Lithuania, with less than 3 million residents, isn’t exactly a major market for international gambling operators, the worry will be that the move encourages those calling for similar bans elsewhere.

However, those cheerleading such bans might want to take another look at Italy, where all gambling advertising has been banned since 1 January 2019. Since then the Italian gaming market, particularly online, has boomed. 

But, is this really surprising? Throughout history, when something is banned or treated as if it’s forbidden, it often makes people want it more. Just look at the outcome of prohibition in the United States, or ask any parent! 

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), and urged gambling operators to review the FATF’s updated AML guidance. 

Anglo-Dutch cooperation agreement

The Netherlands’ gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has signed a cooperation agreement with the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Both regulators will be collaborating in various ways, including information sharing and exchanging regulatory best practices on issues like enforcement and licensing. 

Commenting on the news KSA chairman, René Jansen, said: “Such a Memorandum of Understanding forms a good basis for sharing knowledge, collaboration and a smooth exchange of information. A clear signal is also given to providers of games of chance that cooperation is taking place at an international level. Online games of chance move across borders. That is why it is important for supervisors to work together.”

With the Netherlands’ regulated online gaming market is set to launch on 1 October 2021, the KSA has been busy forming partnerships with various European regulators, including France’s Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), the Belgium Gambling Commission (BGC), Sweden’s Gambling Inspectorate Spelinspektionen, and the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA).

Operators urged to review FATF AML guidance

Staying with European gambling regulators, the UKGC has also urged all operators to review the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) updated AML guidance. 

The FATF is the financial crime and anti-terrorist financing unit set up by the G7 countries in 2001, with the goal of fostering international cooperation to combat money laundering. 

Its updated guidance makes it clear that companies in high risk sectors, including gambling, financial services, accountancy, real-estate, and virtual asset trading, must develop a true ‘supervisory culture’ across their businesses. 

Specifically, it emphasises that all corporate supervisors must be fully trained and able to address the entire spectrum of AML risks associated with their industry, while cooperating effectively with regulators and stakeholders. 

SEO service provider SEOButler is being hit with a daily NOK2000 (approx. €198 euro) fine in Norway for promoting illegal gambling sites. 

The country’s gambling regulator, Lotteritilsynet, says that despite repeated warnings SEOButler is still promoting illegal gambling to Norwegian consumers via four websites; Tjenpengeronline.no, Fotballreisetips.no, Finnstilling.no and Startsidendin.no.

Lotteritilsynet claims it first warned the company to cease marketing illegal gambling sites in December 2020, and then again in March 2021. SEOButler responded by blocking Norwegian visitors from some sites, but the regulator subsequently found the offending sites were still promoting offshore gambling to Norweign visitors. 

In a statement, Lotteritilsynet said: “SEOButler has on a number of occasions been made aware of breaches of the marketing and dissemination ban. Lotteritilsynet takes a serious view of repeated breaches of the regulations, especially after the actor is made aware of which specific cases are considered to be breaches of the rules. Furthermore, SEOButler has in several cases given the impression that it has complied with the orders to stop its illegal business.”

From 25 May, the company will be subject to a NOK2000 daily fine, up to a maximum of NOK200,000 (approx. €19,800). 

AYO.NEWS says:

Considering SEOButler is based in the UK, which is now not part of the EU or EEA (Norway is a member of the EEA), and there’s no legal gambling market to lose in Norway by annoying their regulator, we can’t see that the company is going to pay much attention to the deluded demands of an anachronistic regulator like Lotteritilsynet. 

The entire episode just further underlines why the Norwegian authorities need to drag themselves into the 21st century, and stop treating their own consumers like naughty children by denying them legal access to a fair, international digital marketplace. 

Staying with Norway’s insane gambling rules, last month Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), called on the Norwegian government to ditch their existing monopoly system and introduce a proper regulated market. 

Relax Gaming’s Gibraltar-based subsidiary has been granted a license by the UK’s Gambling Commision.

The news means that Relax can now offer its casino content to UK operators via its Gibraltar registered company, Relax Gaming Gibraltar Ltd, and can continue to grow in more jurisdictions. 

Relax Gaming is also licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority and the Romanian National Gaming Office.

The company has already transferred certain operator partnerships, including those with Boylesports, 32Red, and BetVictor to its Gibraltar subsidiary, and says it expects to transfer Entain’s UK brands, including Ladbrokes and Coral soon. 

Relax Gaming CEO, Tommi Maijala said: “Following a fruitful relationship with the Gambling Commission through our Malta-based company, having all our products and services approved for our Gibraltar branch is another major commercial highlight for us. Its significance will be felt across the business, including by our valued third-party partners. This licence acquisition represents fresh opportunity in our drive to deliver excellence and growth across all regulated markets.”

The UK’s Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) and International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) have announced a partnership to promote sporting integrity. 

Under the agreement, the BGC and IBIA will cooperate to promote the safeguarding of sporting integrity in both existing and emerging markets around the world. In addition to information and intelligence sharing, the two organisations will also conduct research into areas of mutual interest. 

The BGC represents some of the world’s biggest gambling names, including Entain, Flutter, William Hill, Betfred, Betway, BetVictor, Playtech, Inspired, Rank Group, LeoVegas, Kindred, and Gamesys Group. 

Commenting on the partnership, Brigid Simmonds, Chairman of the BGC, said: “The IBIA is playing a decisive part in ensuring that sports betting markets are duly regulated, and sports integrity is at the core of its action. The BGC will wholeheartedly join this effort and bring its experience and expertise in promoting world class standards in new and emerging sports betting markets.’

Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, added: “Both of our associations are active internationally and in many of the same markets, share many of the same members and have many of the same regulatory goals. We’ve already been collaborating in markets such as Brazil and it was a natural progression to a more formal and structured relationship. The scope of our combined membership gives us a powerful mandate to speak on behalf of a large part of the regulated sector and policymakers welcome that level of focused industry engagement.”