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Global market updates and International online gambling compliance

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Learn about online gambling compliance with our comprehensive guide to regulations, licensing, and safer gambling.


Online casino compliance is one of the fastest-growing and widely debated topics in the online gambling community. We all know that online gambling is a fantastic hobby, but it is also a very lucrative one, and that requires that protective measures be put in place to safeguard players and legitimate gambling operators. These safeguards include responsible gambling programs, advertising restrictions, clear and understandable bonus terms, and other measurable outputs.

We invite you to join us as we delve into the richly detailed compliance information provided by the analysts from VIXIO Gambling Compliance. In this insightful overlook, we will clarify the online casino compliance requirements for 2023 for the United Kingdom (UK), Ireland, the European Union (EU), the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Canada, New Zealand, and India.

UK online gambling compliance

The UK was one of the first countries in the world to open its borders to licensed offshore gambling operators with the Gambling Act 2005. In doing so, they became the yardstick by which all other regulators measured their programs.

In many cases, regulators who are praised for their easy transition into licensed gambling and for having well-formed and problem-free gambling acts from the start owe their success to the trials endured by the UK Gambling Commission.

The Commission is well underway with a review of its Gambling Act which will address marketing concerns, gaming limitations, safe gambling initiatives, and the scope of the authority of the UKGC itself.

One of the biggest challenges the UK faces in 2023 is the electoral process. Given the awareness of online gambling in the UK, it is often used by upcoming politicians as a platform to garner support. With each new pundit that uses regulated gambling for their ends, it "serves only to further mire the long-awaited white paper".

Read also: Gambling regulations in the UK

Irish online gambling compliance

Despite its proximity to and shared history with the UK, Ireland has been reticent to establish a modern regulated gambling act. That is all set to change in the new future in 2023 with the establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland and the introduction of the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022.

Once the new gambling act comes into force, the Gambling Authority will begin to award licenses to qualifying offshore operators and establish compliance guidelines relating to advertising, communication, player protection and more.

Two points already outlined as part of the country's safer gambling regime include an advertising watershed between 5:30 am and 9 pm and a ban on credit card-financed gambling. The regulator has noted its appreciation of other self-exclusion and cooling-off programs but has yet to publish their plans concerning online casinos in Ireland.

Some concerns have been raised over the region's intent to ban nearly all social media advertising and gambling sponsorships. The consensus is that this favours operators with a land-based presence as they can advertise these businesses and push customers to their online products at a later stage.

Read also: Gambling regulations in Ireland

EU online gambling compliance

The European Union is an exciting test bed for establishing a global compliance manifesto that appeals to a broad spectrum of independent jurisdictions. There is currently no globally implemented series of compliance regulations in the sector. However, significant headway has been made in neutralising longstanding monopolies.

The EU has long held that its Free Trade Agreements preclude the right of a participating country to refuse to offer offshore operators licenses to provide gambling services.

Most of EU online casinos have agreed with this, and either have licensing in place or are in the process of reviewing their current outdated online gambling policies.

A feather in the cap of the EU gambling community was the cross-border cooperation that took place during the FIFA World Cup. During this global sporting event, several jurisdictions, including the French regulator (ANJ), the Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC) and the Netherlands' Gambling Authority (KSA), joined forces to enforce responsible advertising and shut down illegal sports betting operations.

Dutch online gambling compliance

Having written its Remote Gambling Act into force in April 2021, the Netherlands is one the newest yet most well-run gambling jurisdictions in Europe.

The Dutch market might have gained a lot of praise for its smooth transformation into a regulated gambling jurisdiction, but that is not to say it does not face its several challenges.

This includes a proposed ban on all "untargeted advertising", which was due to be introduced on 1 January 2023 but has been delayed for several months. The proposal's wording threatens all forms of online advertising, including display networks and social media campaigns affecting online casinos in the Netherlands.

There are also three competing bills being voted on, one to increase gambling taxes from 29% to 29.3%, the other to raise taxes to 29.5% and a third that seeks to overturn a motion to reduce taxes to 25%. This level of discord around taxation can be why several operators hesitate to launch in the region.

Read also: Gambling regulations in the Netherlands

German online gambling compliance

2022 has been a fantastic year for legal online gambling in Germany, given that the Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States (GGL) finally assumed control of the sector. As of 1 January 2023, the GGL is in charge of all gambling activities across all sixteen federal states.

One of Germany's most significant pain points has been the lack of approved gambling licenses despite the country being a pro-gambling region.

The GGL has confirmed that they plan to have a working multi-license program in place during 2023 for online casinos in Germany and will review the existing applications accordingly.

Read also: Gambling regulations in Germany

Swedish online gambling compliance

The Swedish Gambling Authority has faced much criticism in recent years for handling the gambling industry during the pandemic. Not only were its concerns proven to be baseless, but local gambling statistics have shown a deceleration in growth throughout 2022 into 2023.

The market's inability to regain momentum is blamed on the Authority's restrictions on casino bonus offers, deposit limits, loss limits, and adjustments to games like slots, which were slowed down to make each spin take longer to play in Swedish casinos.

Another challenge facing the offshore gambling community in Sweden is the country's new minister, who, according to VIXIO, has "a fondness for state-owned Svenska Spel in its former monopoly days".

The Swedish trade association Branscheforenigen för Onlinespel (BOS) calls for Svenska Spel to be disbanded entirely.

Read also: Gambling regulations in Sweden

Finnish online gambling compliance

Historically Finland has been one of the Scandinavian markets which refused to consider opening its borders to offshore gambling operations. Players in the country are the ones enjoying Finnish online casinos and gameplay.

However, with the recent implementation of safe and financially attractive multi-license programs in Europe, the Finnish government has changed its tune.

The region is currently reviewing how to transition to an open market, which ironically enough has led to even more stringent restrictions on games of chance being offered to its citizens and enhanced payment-blocking activities by the National Police Board.

The project timeline for a fully functional multi-license online gambling regime for Finland is the first quarter of 2026.

Read also: Gambling regulations in Finland

Norwegian online gambling compliance

Norway remains one of the EU's last standouts for a state-owned and operated gambling monopoly. Not only has the country rejected all overtures to review the upside of opening its borders, but its 1 January 2023 gambling act amendments strengthened its monopoly.

Players are enjoying online casinos in Norway, nonetheless.

The latest amendments to the gambling act placed complete control over all online and land-based gambling and betting in Norway in the hands of Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto.

These internal operators are now fully licensed to offer high-risk games of chance and high-turnover betting.

Read also: Gambling regulations in Norway

Ontario, Canada, online gambling compliance

When discussing legal online gambling in Canada, one discusses gambling compliance in Ontario. Since the launch of its legal gambling framework in December, the region has licensed nearly 60 online casino and sports betting brands.

While Ontario has adopted a relatively strict advertising policy to ensure that at-risk players and youth do not get exposed to casino bonus offers, the market is still deemed stable, supporting the industry's growth while protecting players from gambling harm.

Considering that regulated online gambling has only been legal in Ontario since April 2022, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has done a fantastic job of shaping the future of the local market.

The regulator has been fining non-compliant casinos based on marketing material, and bonus offers began shutting down unlicensed casinos on October 31st, and is looking at how to safely enter into promotional partnership agreements.

Read also: Gambling regulations in Canada

India online gambling compliance

Online gambling in India was deemed illegal, but this stance was disputed by several states when they decided to act on their rights to determine whether they would allow it or not.

Many operators used the tension between state and federal law to establish a foothold in this emerging market; however, recent occurrences could hamper the widespread regulation of games of chance.

According to the analysts at VIXIO, the decision by the state of Meghalaya to withdraw its proposed bill legalising games of chance and land-based casinos due to "sustained civic and political pressure" may encourage the federal government to push back on state-based gambling laws.

It is expected that the Supreme Court will continue to support skill gaming in 2023, but the future of online slots, video poker and other chance games again hangs in the balance.

Read also: Gambling regulations in India

Conclusion

It is clear from the gambling statistics found in the Gambling Outlook report provided by VIXIO Gambling Compliance that the world of regulated online gambling is expanding and that there is less and less place in our industry for unlicensed operators. Be sure to check back regularly as we continue to monitor and share the latest news on gambling compliance from around the world.

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