AGCO Updates Responsible Gambling Training Standards
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has revised its Responsible Gambling (RG) Training Standards, effective immediately, eliminating the need for Registrar approval for casino and lottery employee training programs.
The updated Standard 2.5 maintains mandatory training, requiring regular updates and alignment with best practices to ensure employees understand responsible gambling, player protection, and how to assist those showing signs of gambling harm. The AGCO emphasizes that this shift fosters a flexible, outcomes-based approach, reducing administrative burdens while upholding high player protection standards.
The change aligns RG training across gaming sectors, including iGaming, encouraging innovation. Recently, the AGCO also issued new guidance under Standards 2.10 and 2.11 to help iGaming operators identify and support at-risk players, reinforcing its commitment to a safer gambling environment.
Ukraine Seeks Feedback on New Online Gambling Monitoring System
Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation is developing an online gambling monitoring system to oversee legal casinos, combat illegal gambling, and establish a transparent tax policy. The system will track bets in real time, record data on bets and winnings, publicize market volumes, and clarify tax contributions to the state budget. The Ministry is seeking input from tech companies to create a user-friendly and effective system. Public consultations are scheduled for July 21, 2025, to gather feedback. The Ministry believes this system will drive significant improvements across the gambling sector, enhancing regulation and transparency.
UK APPG Launches Inquiry into Future of Gambling Regulation
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Gambling Reform, led by new Chair Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, has launched an inquiry into the “Future of Gambling Regulation in the UK” to address public harms caused by the gambling industry.
Duncan Smith, a long-time advocate for overhauling the Gambling Act, criticizes the Government’s White Paper for inadequate reforms, particularly on gambling advertising, online protections, and industry conduct. He has also slammed the UK Gambling Commission for lenient licensing despite operators’ repeated regulatory failures. The inquiry will examine advertising, sponsorships, and enforcement, pushing for legally binding regulations over voluntary codes.
Duncan Smith emphasized the need for a regulatory framework suited for the digital age. The APPG, credited with past reforms like banning Fixed Odds Betting Terminals and introducing stake limits, invites public and organizational input. Will Prochaska of The Coalition to End Gambling Ads hailed the inquiry as a pivotal moment, combining Duncan Smith’s experience with new Labour voices. The Labour government plans to implement White Paper recommendations but acknowledges calls for further review.
Alberta’s iGaming Revolution Set for 2026 Launch
Alberta’s online gambling landscape is poised for a major transformation with the passage of Bill 48, the iGaming Alberta Act, signed into law to create a competitive, regulated iGaming market by early 2026.
Joining Ontario as Canada’s second province to allow private online gambling operators, Alberta aims to replicate Ontario’s success, where 49 operators generated CAD $2.4 billion since 2022. The Alberta iGaming Corporation, a three-year-old Crown entity, will manage online lottery schemes, while the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) oversees regulation.
Minister Dale Nally emphasizes consumer protection and market integrity over market expansion, breaking Play Alberta’s monopoly to capture the 55% of gambling activity currently lost to unregulated offshore sites. The framework introduces “iGaming suppliers,” requiring AGLC registration and strict adherence to responsible gambling standards, including a province-wide self-exclusion system.
With potential annual revenues of USD $700-730 million within three years, Alberta is positioning itself as Canada’s next iGaming hub, attracting major operators like FanDuel and BetMGM.
Philippines Eyes iGaming Tax Hike to 40% for $3.43B Revenue Goal
The Philippine government is considering raising the iGaming tax from 25% to 40% on gross gaming revenue (GGR) to meet a ₱200 billion ($3.43 billion) gambling revenue target for 2025, with half expected from online platforms and half from land-based casinos, according to Finance Secretary Ralph Recto.
The Department of Health flags online gambling as a public health risk, prompting tighter regulations. With 60% of online gambling activity deemed illegal, Recto stresses balancing enforcement to avoid pushing operators to unregulated markets. Proposed measures include e-wallet restrictions and deposit time limits.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is being consulted to ensure effective implementation. While licensed operators support stronger rules, they warn excessive taxation could drive players to offshore sites. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is reviewing calls for a potential ban, citing social harms, though Recto advocates regulation over prohibition to control illegal activity. Public consultations continue as the government navigates health concerns and economic goals.
Curaçao Fines 12 iGaming Operators in Landmark KYC Settlement
Curaçao’s Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO) has secured a landmark out-of-court settlement with 12 online casino operators, totaling 360,000 Caribbean Guilder (€170,412), for failing to implement mandatory Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures.
The settlement, the first under Curaçao’s anti-money laundering laws, follows Operation Nebraska, an investigation sparked by media reports and complaints from the Foundation for Representation of Victims of Online Gaming. It revealed that 17 platforms allowed deposits and bets without identity verification, violating the National Ordinance on Identification of Clients.
Eleven operators paid fines of 22,500 guilder (€10,650) per casino, while one faces prosecution for non-payment. The PPO emphasized that settlements ensure accountability, as corporate penalties are limited to fines. This action aligns with Curaçao’s recent regulatory reforms amid global criticism of lax oversight.
The Curaçao Gaming Authority now enforces stricter licensing, warning operators using foreign licenses. The settlement signals heightened scrutiny, urging operators, affiliates, and payment providers to prioritize robust KYC and AML compliance to avoid future penalties.
Malta Court Clears Betsolution Owners of Mafia Links
A decade-long investigation in Malta has concluded with Betsolution owners Domenico Lagrotteria and Alessandro Ciaffi being acquitted of alleged ties to Italian mafia operations and money laundering through the gambling sector.
The Maltese court also dismissed charges of illegal betting and tax irregularities due to expired statutes of limitations. Initiated in 2015, the case led to multiple arrests and a freeze on Betsolution’s B2B license by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). Of 23 defendants, only Antonino Alvaro and Cristian Fortunato received 10- and 7-year sentences, respectively.
The ruling may bolster Malta’s iGaming sector, distancing it from mafia-related allegations highlighted in a 2023 study by MEP Martin Schirdewan, which criticized the island’s regulatory gaps.
The MGA, contributing over 10% to Malta’s GDP, continues to strengthen oversight, with 2024 initiatives under CEO Charles Mizzi focusing on workforce development and ESG standards. The authority’s decision on reinstating Betsolution’s license remains pending, signaling ongoing efforts to enhance regulatory credibility and combat criminality in the sector.
South Korea Cracks Down on Payment Firms Linked to Illegal Gambling
South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) has launched a robust enforcement action against six payment gateway firms accused of facilitating illegal gambling, voice phishing, and narcotics transactions. Identified through routine transaction data analysis mandated by law, these firms allegedly provided electronic accounts to criminal networks, enabling fraud and embezzlement.
One firm supported illegal gambling and phishing sites disguised as e-commerce platforms, earning substantial commissions, while another manipulated sales data via shell companies. The FSS has referred cases to prosecutors, with potential penalties including up to 30 years in prison.
To prevent future violations, the FSS plans enhanced monitoring, increased on-site inspections, and legislative reforms to strengthen oversight. This crackdown underscores South Korea’s strict gambling laws, which limit legal betting to specific venues like Kangwon Land’s High1 Resort. The FSS aims to protect consumers and ensure financial system integrity through these aggressive measures.
PayPal Launches Crypto Payment Option for U.S. Merchants
PayPal has introduced a “Pay with Crypto” feature, enabling U.S. merchants to accept over 100 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Trump’s memecoin, and Fartcoin. Available to businesses using PayPal’s online payment platform, the service offers a promotional 0.99% transaction fee for the first year, rising to 1.5% thereafter—below the 1.57% average credit card fee in 2024.
Crypto payments are converted to PayPal’s PYUSD stablecoin or fiat currency, ensuring stable settlements. Users can link wallets like Coinbase or MetaMask for seamless transactions. PayPal, an early crypto adopter among Fortune 500 companies, began supporting digital assets in 2020 and launched PYUSD in 2023, now valued at $850 million.
CEO Alex Chriss highlighted the feature’s potential for global commerce, citing a Guatemala-to-Oklahoma transaction example. With crypto markets thriving and supportive U.S. policies, PayPal plans to expand this feature to larger enterprises, reinforcing its role in mainstreaming cryptocurrency payments.