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UK Gambling Commission announces package of changes which make online games safer by design

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UK Gambling Commission announces package of changes which make online games safer by design
UK Gambling Commission announces package of changes which make online games safer by designReading Time: 3 minutes

 

The Gambling Commission has announced a package of strict measures which will strengthen the protections and controls for those who gamble through online slots games – including the introduction of limits on spin speeds, and the permanent ban on features that speed up play or celebrate losses as wins.

Following a consultation with the public and players, the gambling industry and other stakeholders, operators will need to implement tough new player protection measures which will make online casino games less intensive, safer by design and hand players more control over their gambling.

The Commission has focused on online slots because of its features which increase the intensity of play and the corresponding risks to players. Slot games have by far the highest average losses per player of online gambling products1.

The new rules include the outright ban of four key features of online slots games:

Features that speed up play or give the illusion of control over the outcome
Slot spin speeds faster than 2.5 seconds
Auto-play – which can lead to players losing track of their play, and;
Sounds or imagery which give the illusion of a win when the return is in fact equal to, or below, a stake
Other changes include:

Operators must clearly display to the player their total losses or wins and time played during any online slots session.
Alongside the changes for online slots the Commission has also introduced a permanent ban on reverse withdrawals for all online gambling – this function previously allowed consumers to re-gamble money they had previously requested to withdraw.
The enhanced protections that have been announced today will need to be fully implemented by online operators by 31 October 2021.

Since the publication of the Commission’s consultation in July 2020, further research has shown that using an auto-play feature has been linked to some players losing track of play, making it difficult for some to stop playing and in some cases gambling on other activities simultaneously.

Evidence shows that reverse withdrawal functions present a risk to players because of the temptation to continue gambling. In addition, the slot features being removed or more closely controlled have been associated with increased intensity of play, loss of player control, or binge play.

Neil McArthur, Gambling Commission chief executive, said: “To make online games safer we are introducing a ban on features that speed up play, or give the illusion of control over the outcome. We are also introducing a ban on auto-play, losses disguised as wins, and slot spin speeds faster than 2.5 seconds. The evidence shows that these features increase the risk of harm to customers.

“This is another important step in making gambling safer and where the evidence shows that there are other opportunities to do that we are determined to take them.”

Minister for Sports, Tourism and Heritage Nigel Huddleston said: “Today’s steps will help curb the intensity of online gambling, introducing greater protections that will reduce the risk of gambling related harm.

“I welcome the Gambling Commission’s tough measures as we continue our comprehensive review of gambling laws to make sure they’re fit for the digital age.”

The new rules are part of the Commission’s comprehensive programme to make gambling fairer and safer which has also seen the introduction of strengthened protections around online age and ID verification, improved customer interaction practices, and the banning of gambling on credit cards.

The announcement of the further consumer protection rules for online games and the design of those games follow the Commission’s announcement on 30 September that it was implementing new rules to stamp out irresponsible ‘VIP customer’ practices. Those rules came into force on 31 October 2020. A consultation on customer interaction was also launched last in November with the outcome expected later this year.

Readers can access the Commission’s online games design and reverse withdrawals response for more details.

1 Our Covid data shows the average spend per slots player is £67 per month, compared with £36 for casino products and £45 for real event betting.


Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
This is a Syndicated News piece. Photo credits or photo sources can be found on the source article: UK Gambling Commission announces package of changes which make online games safer by design

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

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WSOP Europe Heads To Prague In 2026

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World Series of Poker’s premier European event to be hosted at Hilton Prague from March 31 through April 12

The World Series of Poker® Europe (WSOPE) is proud to announce its new home for 2026: the Hilton Prague in Czechia. The event will take place from March 31 to April 12, 2026, in partnership with King’s Casino Prague.

Continuing its tradition of awarding the most coveted prizes in poker, the 2026 WSOPE will feature 15 gold bracelet events. The full schedule, including event details and buy-ins, will be released soon.

“It’s an exciting rebirth of the World Series of Poker Europe in Prague,” said Ty Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of WSOP. “We have a big ambition to elevate this festival to one of the very best in the world and look forward to welcoming players to a great poker city next April.”

WSOP Europe: A Tradition of Excellence

Since its inception in 2007, WSOPE has celebrated poker excellence across Europe, with past host cities including London, Cannes, Paris, Berlin, and Rozvadov. The list of Main Event champions includes some of the biggest names in the game: Annette Obrestad, John Juanda, Elio Fox, Phil Hellmuth, Adrian Mateos, Kevin MacPhee, and Jack Sinclair.

The 2026 event will also incorporate the revolutionary WSOP+ app, the digital platform designed from the ground up to enhance the player experience.

Further announcements, including exciting online promotions aimed at attracting players globally, will be shared on WSOP.com and via WSOP social media in the coming months.

Exclusive Satellite Tournaments at GGPoker 

Players will be able to satellite into the 2026 World Series of Poker Europe exclusively via GGPoker, the World’s Biggest Poker Room. WSOP Express satellite tournaments are available now, offering players a direct path to this amazing event in Prague and other WSOP live events across the globe.

The post WSOP Europe Heads To Prague In 2026 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Payments Under Scrutiny: Polish Example

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Online gambling continues to thrive in Poland, despite the country’s strict regulatory framework. Virtual casinos and betting platforms still attract players with the promise of easy access and quick winnings. Yet, their operations would not be possible without the involvement of payment institutions that process transactions for entities operating outside the boundaries of the law. Behind the scenes lie not only questions about compliance with Poland’s Gambling Act, but also serious concerns about money laundering and the potential financing of criminal activity.

 

PSPs Legal Responsibility

The key question remains the legality of actions taken by payment institutions that handle transactions linked to illegal online gambling. Do they, even unintentionally, help such operations thrive? Under Polish law, payment service providers are required to monitor and limit high-risk transactions. In practice, this means that every deposit or withdrawal connected to unlicensed gambling activity should be treated as a red flag. Special attention is also given to transactions made through popular mobile payment systems such as BLIK. While BLIK itself is not a payment institution under Polish law, the banks and financial operators using it are and it is they who bear responsibility for preventing the flow of funds that may support illegal gambling activities.

 

Clear Legal Framework, Limited Excuses

Polish law leaves little room for speculation here. The register of domains used to offer illegal gambling, the ban on processing payments for unlicensed operators, and the penalties outlined in the Fiscal Penal Code and Criminal Code set clear boundaries of responsibility.

The Anti-Money Laundering Act (AML) and the EU Regulation 2023/1113 require payment institutions to actively monitor transactions, block suspicious transfers, and cut off risky relationships. Guidance issued by the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF/UKNF) and the National Risk Assessment, along with its sectoral annex, describes typical abuse schemes and makes it clear that payments directed toward online gambling should be treated as a major warning signal. In practice, this means that financial channels supporting illegal gambling must be identified and shut down before the funds return to players as so-called “winnings.”

And this principle is now being actively enforced. Recently, the Financial Supervision Authority (UKNF) went a step further, issuing a sector-wide warning urging payment service providers to block financial flows to unlicensed operators. In response, Polish payment providers have begun withdrawing support for illegal gambling sites and removing payment options such as BLIK from unlicensed platforms.

 

The Hardest to Detect: The Intermediary Role

The flow of funds into illegal online gambling can take many forms, depending on the relationships between the parties involved in the transaction. The most difficult to detect, however, is the scenario in which a payment institution acts only as an intermediary within a larger payment chain transferring money between other financial service providers without directly serving the payer or the recipient. Even in such cases, the institution is not exempt from its obligation to continuously monitor and analyse all transactions.

Depending on the type of payment, it should apply different verification methods, all aimed at determining whether executing a transfer on behalf of another provider could, in practice, end up funding entities that organize illegal online gambling. The institution must obtain information from the ordering provider about the recipient, determine whether it is engaged in gambling related activity, and verify its legal status. If red flags arise during the analysis such as missing data in the payment chain, a domain listed in the official register, or the absence of the website from the list of legal operators the transaction should be paused or rejected and properly escalated. This includes raising the risk level, notifying the relevant authorities, or even terminating cooperation. When dealing with correspondent relationships involving other institutions, including those based within the European Union, heightened caution is essential.

 

Grey Market Fuelled by Inaction

Illegal online gambling would not exist without the support of the payment system. Although the law clearly defines the obligations of financial institutions, in practice it is often these very institutions that knowingly or not enable the flow of money into illegal online gambling. This is why effective identification and blocking of such transactions is crucial, especially within complex payment chains where tracing the connections can be most difficult. Every transfer made in support of illegal online gambling represents not only a legal risk but also real support for the shadow economy that thrives on the lack of vigilance within the financial sector.

This article was supplied by:

Marek Plota

Founding Attorney at RM Legal & Gaming In Poland •

Marek is a founder and a head of the legal team at RM Legal Law Firm and Gaming In Poland, jointly providing multidisciplinary and multijurisdictional support for leading international gambling operators in the Polish, European Union, and African markets. His gambling practice includes regulatory support at the pre and post-licensing stage, IT, and taxation services, as well as the unique service of performing a function of a gambling representative. RM Legal is the only law firm in Poland representing offshore companies operating legally in the Polish gambling market. Apart from gambling Marek specializes in corporate commercial law and international investment projects.

The post Payments Under Scrutiny: Polish Example appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Galaxsys Expands Leadership Team with New Head of Partner Management

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Levan brings over 10 years of leadership experience, including a decade in the iGaming industry, covering both B2C and B2B markets. Throughout his career, he has held key executive roles in Commercial, Product, and Management, successfully building and scaling iGaming products, driving significant revenue growth, and establishing strong partnerships worldwide. His experience spans multiple regions and includes collaboration with leading operators and platforms.

At Galaxsys, Levan will lead the partner management strategy and development, strengthening collaborations with operators worldwide and supporting the company’s mission to deliver innovative, high-impact experiences.

Levan Kavtaradze, the newly appointed Head of Partner Management Department, commented: “I’m truly excited to join Galaxsys at such an important time in its growth journey. My focus will be on building strong, long-lasting relationships with our partners and helping them succeed through collaboration and innovation. I look forward to working closely with our broad network of partners worldwide, understanding their needs, and ensuring that our products and services deliver real value to them. Together with the talented team at Galaxsys, I’m confident we can create new opportunities and achieve new heights.”

Teni Grigoryan, Chief Sales and Partner Management Officer, added: “Welcoming Levan to Galaxsys has been one of the most confident decisions we’ve made. His expertise and human-centered approach, combined with a sharp business mindset and innovative ideas across both product and commercial areas, will be a powerful addition to our team. I’m confident he will foster seamless collaboration internally within our commercial department and externally with our valued partners. We’re excited to see the impact he will make as our new Head of Partner Management.”

With Levan’s appointment, Galaxsys aims to further strengthen its commercial and partner strategies, ensuring operators receive innovative products, seamless integration, and exceptional support.

The post Galaxsys Expands Leadership Team with New Head of Partner Management appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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