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France’s ANJ Flags Concerns Over Licensees’ Player Protection Strategies
L’Autorité nationale des Jeux (ANJ) has approved or suggested improvements to player protection plans licensees were ordered to submit as part of the French gambling regulator’s increased focus on social responsibility.
The regulator examined action plans from all operators active in the country, including the two former monopolies, La Française des Jeux (FDJ) and Pari-Mutuel Urbain (PMU).
As well as approving 96 plans, the ANJ said it may make decisions later on some land-based casinos which may only open at a later date because of restrictions related to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
There was no indication that any plan was rejected outright.
The ANJ said it prioritised four main issues: prohibiting minors from gambling, allowing for self-exclusion and other checks, identifying and supporting potential problem gamblers and having a general policy that focused on protecting these groups.
Examining the plan of FDJ, the regulator approved the plan with no further conditions. It said the lottery operator “reflects the operator’s desire to meet” the French government’s objectives regarding protecting minors and problem players.
“It is distinguished in particular by the setting up of an ambitious program aimed at guaranteeing the ban on gambling by minors on all game types, innovative prevention initiatives, diversified and adapted to the profiles of players, and the existence of an advanced player identification and support system for pathological gamblers,” the regulator said.
For PMU, however, it raised some concerns and thus added further conditions.
“Further progress is expected from the operator to fully achieve the objective of preventing excessive or pathological gambling,” ANJ said.
In particular, it said tools and resources for problem gamblers were not easily available, while identification of problem gamblers and training of employees were also not up to standard.
While the ANJ approved this plan, it told the operator it must improve these areas. This included providing technical specifications of its system to recognise problem gamblers, taking the effort to strengthen its training system and ensuring the accessibility of RG tools.
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Better Collective Acquires AceOdds
In a strategic move to strengthen its foothold in the UK, digital sports media group Better Collective has acquired sports betting media AceOdds for a total consideration of 42 mEUR implying 4x last twelve months EBITDA.
AceOdds, a versatile multi-language sports betting brand, offers a comprehensive range of betting tools, odds, reviews and streaming schedules through its web and app based platforms. With a robust presence in the UK market, Better Collective’s global reach through local expertise aligns perfectly with AceOdds’s vision of expanding its influence outside the borders of the UK. Following the acquisition, Better Collective upgrades its 2024 full year financial targets.
Ian Bowden, Better Collective’s Senior Director for UK & Ireland, said: “I am thrilled to announce the addition of AceOdds to the Better Collective group. This strategic acquisition brings us a robust owned and operated sports betting media brand in the UK market, poised for global scalability. Aligned perfectly with Better Collective’s overarching strategy of acquiring leading sports media brands across various niches, the AceOdds brand fills a crucial gap by offering a vital sports betting affiliation brand in a pivotal growth market for the Better Collective group, along with an app benefiting from hundreds of thousands installs to further increase the reach we can provide our partners.”
Established in 2008, AceOdds was founded with the aim of providing UK sports enthusiasts with an easy-to-use betting calculator. Over the years, the brand has expanded, offering a well-regarded web platform featuring a range of betting tools, comparison features, live streaming schedules, an odds and parlay calculator, and more. Additionally, AceOdds has introduced a popular app.
The acquisition aligns with Better Collective’s strategy of owning the full range of sports media across key regions, spanning from traditional sportsbook comparison brands to general sports media, social media content creators, podcast producers and beyond.
The post Better Collective Acquires AceOdds appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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AUSTRAC and SkyCity agree to proposed $67 million penalty
SkyCity Adelaide Pty Ltd (SkyCity) and AUSTRAC have filed joint submissions with the Federal Court of Australia, proposing a $67 million penalty over the casino’s contravention of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (AML/CTF Act).
A court hearing has been set down for 7 June 2024, at which Justice Lee will consider the parties’ proposed settlement.
While AUSTRAC and SkyCity agree that a $67 million penalty is appropriate in all the circumstances, it is a matter for the court to determine the appropriate penalty.
In reaching this agreement, SkyCity has admitted that it operated in contravention of the AML/CTF Act, including that:
- its AML/CTF Programs did not meet the requirements of the AML/CTF Act and AML/CTF Rules, in contravention of section 81.
- it did not carry out appropriate ongoing customer due diligence with respect to certain higher risk customers and customers transacting through higher risk channels, in contravention of section 36.
“AUSTRAC took this action out of concern that SkyCity’s conduct meant that a range of high-risk practices, behaviours and customer relationships were allowed to continue unchecked for many years,” AUSTRAC’s Chief Executive Officer, Brendan Thomas said.
Mr Thomas said the action serves as an important reminder to casinos and the gaming sector to take their AML/CTF obligations seriously and be vigilant to money laundering and terrorism financing risks.
As the matter is before the court for determination, AUSTRAC is unable to comment further on the proceedings.
The post AUSTRAC and SkyCity agree to proposed $67 million penalty appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Dench eGaming Solutions strikes deal with REEVO!
REEVO, a cutting-edge provider and aggregator of online casino games, strike a deal with Dench eGaming Solutions, the innovative supplier of the online gaming industry to enhance its casino offering.
The distribution deal shall see REEVO providing entire portfolio of certified games for Bulgaria including Curacao, MGA and Romania certified titles. All of REEVO’s game titles will be available in a mobile HTML5 version across all Dench operators.
Dobromir Mitev CEO of Dench eGaming Solutions, said: “REEVO is a first-class casino slot provider and we are very excited to form this partnership ahead of the launch of a number of European facing operators which will significantly benefit from their product proposition.”
Petra Maria Poola, Head of Sales in REEVO, added: “The decision to partner with Dench was easy to make for us and following an impeccable integration effort, our games are now available to their customers via Dench Core. Delivering our content and promoting it via their fully automated instrument Giselle is what we are definitely looking forward to as this will clearly open up fantastic opportunities for both REEVO and Dench.”
The post Dench eGaming Solutions strikes deal with REEVO! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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