Gamlinked July 2024
By Thadeus Geodfrey
We welcome you once again to another edition of Gamlinked. Gamlinked puts you ahead of the curve with regular, in-depth coverage and accounts, reports, and casino news in the gambling industry across the five inhabited continents of the world.
In this July edition, we reflect on significant advancements and regulatory shifts. On tech, Ronaldinho Spins is now exclusively available on Betano. Further away, Germany has new technology to prevent underage gambling. On regulatory changes, Buenos Aires tops the race to control gambling, with New Zealand, Australia, and Romania also having a few legal matters. Let’s get into the details.
Underage gambling causes Buenos Aires to stop issuing online casino licenses
The Argentinian Autonomous City of Buenos Aires no longer issues online casino licenses. Not even to top online casinos, citing underage gambling concerns. Gambling News reports that the decision is part of an ongoing effort to protect minors. There have been concerns about laxity in observing the gambling rules properly.
Buenos Aires launched its iGaming market in 2020 and has since licensed 11 operators. However, LOTBA, the city’s gambling regulator, has taken action after the recent surge in underage gambling.
While announcing the suspension last week, LOTBA’s president, Jesús Acevedo, was in the company of city officials, including Jorge Macri, the head of the City government.
Current operators must prevent minors from their platforms. Acevedo stated that the regulator’s focus will now shift to assessing compliance. LOTBA will also monitor operators’ adherence to spending and time limits as required under law. Operators must also implement responsible gambling tools such as self-exclusion.
In the same spirit, the local government has agreements with social media and e-commerce companies to help in the fight. This year alone, the City successfully lobbied to remove 715 social media profiles and ads promoting illegal gambling.
LOTBA has also successfully blocked access to 12 websites. It emphasized that it only permits websites with .bet domains. These registered sites must implement strict measures to prevent anyone under 18 from gambling on the platforms.
In addition to taking it to operators, the city is also conducting school workshops. These events educate adolescents and their families about the risks of gambling. Also, at the same school level, Buenos Aires has blocked access to gambling websites through public school WiFi networks. The city plans to extend this block to all public free WiFi networks.
Buenos Aires commits to safeguarding its young population from the potential harms of gambling. And all these activities are geared towards that, says Jesús Acevedo.
Ronaldinho Spins to exclusively sit with Betano brand
Ronaldinho Spins, a unique online casino slot, is a special offering exclusively available on Betano in Brazil. Betano, operated by Kaizen Gaming and one of the best online casinos in Brazil, has been the sole provider of this game in Brazil for the past two months before its network release. But Booming Games has now made it official, adding an element of exclusivity to this exciting game.
Ronaldinho Spins, which debuted last December, was a significant milestone. During the launch, Max Niehusen, CEO of Booming Games, underscored the strategic importance of collaborating with the legendary Ronaldinho Gaúcho. This partnership, he emphasized, was not just a step but a leap that expanded the company’s global footprint.
To Niehusen, integrating Ronaldinho’s image in Booming’s games is not just a feature. He saw it as a revolution in gaming that heightens players’ excitement. He believed this promised significant impacts across the industry and was crucial for the Booming’s global expansion.
Ronaldinho remains one of the most celebrated living athlete legends and well-known football players globally. He won a World Cup, Copa América, Confederations Cup, Champions League, Copa Libertadores, and Ballon d’Or. He also thrives as a businessman, music producer, and media influencer with a fan base of over 170 million across multiple platforms.
Ahead of the EURO and Copa America 2024, Kaizen Gaming and Booming Games have tapped into through Ronaldinho Spins. Additionally, a particular Copa America version of Ronaldinho Spins has been developed for the tournament and is available on Betano. So, Brazilians can at least celebrate this even after their men’s side suffered a quarterfinal exit in the Copa América after losing 4-2 on penalties to Uruguay on Saturday.
Frederik Niehusen, Booming Games’ CCO, highlighted the partnership with Kaizen Gaming, noting that it marked an exciting chapter in their journey and expressing their anticipation of delivering unparalleled entertainment to players worldwide.
Antonio Lamagna, Head of RNG at Kaizen Gaming, added, “This partnership underscores our commitment to providing our players with top-notch entertainment and further solidifies our position as a leading operator in the industry.”
Betano has been expanding. In May 2024, it developed into the UK market through a partnership with BVGroup. It offers UK customers enhanced betting features and safer gambling tools.
Booming Games also partnered with Aardvark Technologies to integrate its content into Aardvark’s platform, making its games accessible to operators and customers in Africa.
Ronaldinho Spins casino slot by Booming Games pays tribute to the legendary football player Ronaldinho. The game offers Expanding Wilds and Bonus Games, and with up to 5000X, your bet wins! Have you tried it? If so, tell us more about it.
Offshore gambling duty implemented in New Zealand
New Zealand has introduced a 12% offshore gambling duty to ensure that offshore casinos contribute their fair share of taxes. This new tax, effective from July this year, is expected to generate over NZD 716 million annually for the government.
The 12% duty applies to a casino’s total profits, excluding the betting handle and payouts to winners. Operators who provide more than $60,000 will be subject to this tax.
The government has already imposed a 13% GST tax on operators’ gross gambling revenue. So, the new 12% tax now brings the total taxation for gambling businesses to 25%. It’s still within the competitive global range. The move follows earlier discussions by officials in New Zealand about the need to regulate the iGaming industry. Primarily tax compliance was deemed the most appropriate.
Despite the new tax policy, it is still unclear if the government plans to establish a licensing body. The country has no outright gambling regulator like the Malta Gaming Authority or the UK Gambling Commission. Instead, the Department of Internal Affairs, simply referred to as the Department undertakes the role. It licenses and oversees compliance and enforcement functions under the Gambling Act 2003.
According to stats by Statista, more than 500,000 people in New Zealand engage in online gambling annually. On average, Kiwis spend $2,200 per person. They play at low-deposit casinos and minimum-bet sportsbooks of offshore online casinos based in regions like Malta. They are casinos with a minimum deposit and are convenient, support various payment methods, and offer attractive bonuses.
The offshore gambling duty presents a challenge for the New Zealand government on enforcement. While it can block and warn non-compliant offshore casinos, it lacks the authority to charge offshore companies as they are not physically in the country.
Most offshore casinos are safe and trustworthy. They hold licenses from reputable regulators like Malta, Gibraltar, or the Isle of Man. However, players must verify a site’s features, casino games, fast casino withdrawals , and fair bonuses and promotions.
New Zealand’s new offshore gambling duty aims to capitalize on the thriving online gambling market. It remains to be seen how it will achieve it while ensuring player safety and regulatory compliance. Despite potential enforcement challenges, this initiative reflects the government’s intent to regulate and rip from the growing industry.
How will the new tax policy affect New Zealand’s online gambling industry’s ability to compete with offshore casinos in other regions?
Biometric verification for online gambling on the cards for Argentina
In Mendoza, Argentina, provincial lawmaker Verónica Valverde proposes a bill to implement biometric authentication in online gambling. The bill aims to prevent minors from accessing these platforms.
If the bill passes, Verónica Valverde told the local newspaper, San Rafael, the law will ultimately address the inadequacies of the current legislation. Valverde argued the current system of ID verification allows minors to use adult data to access online games. She emphasized the importance of using advanced technological mechanisms to ensure that only people of legal age can participate in iGaming.
“It seemed crucial for us to implement an ID verification mechanism based on new technologies, given that we are dealing with a very recent and complex phenomenon. Biometric data are tools already used in other contexts. Applying this method in the regulation of online gaming is elementary to protect our children,” she said.
Valverde acknowledged the significant challenge of regulating platforms operating outside the provincial jurisdiction. However, she is hopeful that implementing this law in Mendoza will inspire similar regulations at the national level. The issue’s urgency is widely recognized, as the bill has received support from both sides.
“All political forces have supported this project because we all agree that it is a matter of concern,” Valverde noted.
The bill’s next step is to be discussed in parliamentary committees. It is expected to receive the necessary support for quick implementation.
“We have worked hard to ensure that this initiative has solid support, she added, “and we hope that it will be the starting point for finding solutions to current concerns related to online gambling and child protection.”
It seems age verification technology is becoming an integral part of online gambling. What do you think?
Credit cards and crypto banned for online gambling in Australia
Australia has banned the use of cryptocurrency and credit cards for online gambling. The law, which took effect on June 11, includes fines of up to AUD 234,750 (approximately USD 155,000) for non-compliance. The ban also includes linked credit cards to digital wallets. The Australian government said this new rule is to protect citizens from financial risks.
Kai Cantwell, CEO of Responsible Wagering Australia, supported the move. He also urged the government to extend the ban to other forms of gambling to ensure comprehensive protection. He argued that the measure would protect customers and allow players to take control of their gambling behaviour.
The new regulations bring online betting in line with Australia’s established laws on land-based gambling, providing a sense of reassurance. However, it’s important to note that online lottery payments using credit cards are still permitted. The industry has a six-month transition period before the commission enforces these restrictions.
Cryptocurrency is included in this ban because it is difficult for authorities to monitor. Besides, the transactions and activity on these platforms are largely pseudonymous. Although it may be tempting to utilise current gambling laws, these regulations would probably be awkward and unwise as cryptos are decentralised.
The ban clearly reflects the government’s unwavering commitment to reducing gambling harm. To take a firm stance, the government categorizes credit cards and cryptocurrencies as high-risk casino payment methods.
Australia’s new measures aim to reduce excessive gambling and ensure better financial control for its citizens. The growth of the crypto market has enabled users to make speculative bets on regulatory decisions or election outcomes.
Judicial Review ordered after Romania bans gambling in small towns
Gambling could return in small towns in Romania. The country’s Supreme Court has mandated a constitutional review of gambling restrictions imposed on small towns. In April, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu issued an executive order banning gambling in small towns of less than 15,000 inhabitants. Local lawmakers backed the order and prohibited land-based casinos in these areas.
The Supreme Court’s critique of the ban is significant. The Court found that the restrictions violated the bicameral principle and identified the order’s intrinsic and extrinsic constitutional flaws. The law’s lack of clarity on the affected localities, the relocation of affected venues, and its lack of clear enforcement guidelines, particularly for rural areas with limited resources, were pointed out. The Court also noted the lack of compensation for local businesses impacted by the ban.
The penalties for non-compliance with the ban are severe. Operating slot-machine gaming devices without municipal licenses can lead to three to twelve months in prison or fines. Issuing false population size certificates could result in jail for six months to three years.
Despite these legal challenges, PM Ciolacu remains committed to protecting the public from gambling harms, emphasizing public well-being over economic benefits. The Romanian Parliament, confident in the legislation, has not proposed compensation for the 27 licensed betting operators, including major names like SuperBet, StanleyBet, and Casa Pariurilor.
The ongoing constitutional review emphasizes the importance of the independence of various arms of government and the necessity of balancing laws with practical enforcement challenges.
We wait to see how the law will change and how it defines small towns in the context of gambling restrictions. Besides, these small-town residents can still visit the best PayPal casinos online.
German regulator endorses facial age verification for online gambling
KJM supports IDVerse’s use of facial recognition to determine a person’s age. This will help prevent underage gambling. KJM stands for the Commission for Youth Media Protection, a state organization that regulates children’s exposure to mass media.
IDVerse is a significant step in combating underage online gambling. This advanced technology ensures that minors don’t access adult online platforms like casino sites by accurately verifying their age. It does this either through biometric facial recognition or ID document checks. IDVerse’s system enhances the protection of minors in environments with insufficient parental supervision. It is designed to handle data securely and promptly deletes it after verification, so there’s little worry about privacy.
KLM endorsement coincides with efforts in Argentina’s Mendoza Province, where lawmaker Verónica Valverde has proposed a bill to implement biometric authentication to prevent minors from accessing online gambling.
Peter Violaris, IDVerse’s global privacy chief, says they want to build a safer online world for children worldwide.
The success of IDVerse’s system in Germany and the proposed measures in Argentina could be the start. They could set the pace for other regions grappling with the same challenge. Biometric age verification could soon be the new way to verify age in digital media. These developments come as part of a broader trend of increasing regulation in the online gambling industry, especially in response to concerns about underage access.
The German and Argentinian initiatives highlight the potential of biometric technology to provide robust solutions for age verification.
Technology and the law can indeed work together to safeguard minors from the risks associated with online gambling.
Kiwi gambling license framework to be implemented by 2026
The New Zealand government has announced its preparations to regulate online casinos for the first time, with an in-depth licensing framework expected to be effective from 2026. The effort will focus on minimizing harm, ensuring tax collection, and providing robust consumer protections. The impact of this will be felt at best NZ online casinos and minimum bet sportsbooks.
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden outlined the government’s high-level approach to online casino regulation, emphasizing that it will be illegal for unlicensed operators to target players in the country.
The regulatory framework, currently in development, will see a limited number of online casino licenses issued through an auction process. Interested bidders must meet stringent regulatory requirements to qualify. Players accessing these licensed platforms must be at least 18 years old.
The framework will also impose strict advertising limits for licensees, ensuring that online casino advertising is separate from other gambling products. Sports betting and lottery offerings will not be permitted alongside casino games.
The public will have an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed regulatory plans during the select committee process. This move to regulate online casinos marks a significant step in the country’s efforts to manage the digital gambling landscape effectively.
Closing Remark
From Buenos Aires’ proactive measures to Germany and Argentina’s strides in biometric age verification technologies, July seems to be all about protection. Shall we call it the guarding month? Countries are not letting their guard down, especially when protecting generation alpha. The month has seen significant changes in legislations and protecting vulnerable populations. That wraps up our roundup. As you play, do so responsibly, and remember the fan is not in the winning but enjoying the game. Please stay safe and don’t miss our next edition.
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