HOW TO PROMOTE BETTING AND GAMBLING: JULY RESULTS

Publication date: 08 Aug 2024

July was hot! It’s been a long time since there has been so much great news from the gambling and betting industry! 3S.INFO has collected the latest news regarding regulation, new laws, initiatives and gambling advertising rules!

New Laws and Advertising Regulations: What Happened in July?

Buenos Aires announced that it will stop issuing new gambling licenses in July 2024. Furthermore, 11 existing licenses will be reviewed. This is due to the activation of the shadow gambling sector. Currently, about 80% of bets are placed on the sites of illegal operators. The country’s authorities intend to implement comprehensive measures to protect the population from offshore gambling in the near future. One of the first measures was to block access to gambling sites through public WI-FI. 

Vanuatu is introducing a new gambling and betting licensing system. You can apply for a gambling license online. The Vanuatu license is issued for 15 years, the cost is €5,000 and the annual license fee is €10,000. At the same time, the tax on gambling will be 1% of the GGR.

Experts note that the licensing system has become easier and more attractive than in Malta or Curacao. 

UK gambling legislation is becoming increasingly complex. As of July 1, the UKGC regulator requires all operators to submit quarterly reports. Stricter measures are also being introduced to protect players: age and financial vulnerability checks.

Germany has imposed a ban on gambling advertising for streamers. This rule applies not only to illegal ones, but also to operators with a German license. 

Denmark continues its fight against illegal gambling advertising. If iGaming companies violate the rules, sanctions will be imposed according to the decision of the Advertising Council and the regulator. Ordinary players have also been given the opportunity to complain against gambling operators for inappropriate advertising.  

Iceland is also considering ending its gambling monopoly. Authorities believe that it is precisely because of the monopoly and the limited choice, Icelandic gamblers are forced to look for the best offers on offshore sites.

In July 2024, Kazakhstan introduced a new regulator – the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Kazakhstan has implemented a legal ban on participation in gambling for certain categories of players: military and police officers, civil servants, and persons included in the register of debtors. Consequently, about 20% of the population or 4 million people will not be able to gamble and bet. 

Curaçao is again accepting applications for B2C, B2B2C and B2B gambling licenses as of July 15.

In addition, new anti-money laundering regulations will come into effect on September 1, 2024: player verification after a €2,200 transaction, player sanctions verification, more internal documents, rules and practice guidelines.

The Netherlands completely banned advertising by iGaming operators as of July 1. For the time being, the ban applies to outdoor advertising, TV and radio. Internet gambling advertising is allowed, although operators must ensure that no more than 5% of the audience is under the age of 24.

New Zealand has announced plans to fully legalize online casinos by 2026. 

The United Arab Emirates has launched the GCGRA regulator’s website, where it has published its gambling regulation rules. Casino games and online sports betting will be allowed in the country. 

Portugal has taken the promotion of illegal gambling operators seriously. In July 2024, the regulator APAJO filed “criminal complaints” against several bloggers with a combined audience of 2.8 million subscribers on Twitch, TikTok and other social networks. Among the operators whose ads were deemed illegal are Vem Apostar!, Betify, Monro, Weiss, BC Game, Stake, Wolfi, and Starda.

The USA may have a unified gambling law for all states. The National Council of Gaming States (NCLGS) plans to provide it in December 2024. 

In Ukraine, the regulator KRAIL teamed up with Meta Corporation to block illegal gambling ads. As a result, 89 promotional Facebook and Instagram posts were blocked in the first month of their joint work.

Meta Corporation is considered extremist in Russia. Its Facebook and Instagram services were blocked by court order. 

Finland is preparing to fully legalize gambling by 2027. Land-based gambling will remain in the monopoly of the state-owned company Veikkaus, while a licensing system will be introduced for the online sector. Applications for Finnish gambling licenses will begin to be accepted in the first quarter of 2026, while applications from software providers will be accepted in early 2027. 

Croatia wants to tighten the rules for the gambling industry. Proposed measures so far include a ban on advertising in public places, print media and television, the creation of a self-exclusion list, the protection of minors and mandatory identification of all players.

Montenegro is prepared to reconsider the restriction on the acceptance of payments in gambling.  Previously, a ban on accepting deposits via Apple Pay, PayPal, IPS and mobile banking was introduced. Players were left with the option to deposit only in cash through special terminals. Eventually, the Montenegrin Betting Industry Trade Association created a petition that was signed by 25,000 people. This was the reason for the revision of the law. 

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