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AUSTRAC CEO Focuses on Gambling Industry Compliance
AUSTRAC, the anti-money laundering watchdog in Australia, will continue to give a prime focus on the gambling industry and won’t be cautious in taking action against companies that fail comply with their obligations, CEO Brendan Thomas said.
During a Keynote Address on the final day of the Regulating the Game conference in Sydney on Thursday, Thomas said it still has a lot of “activities” around the gambling industry in the works, even as it looks to conclude long-running actions against casino operator Star Entertainment Group and online operator Entain for various compliance failures.
More importantly, he promised that although AUSTRAC will work with industry to achieve appropriate outcomes, its patience has limits.
“I’ve been the CEO of AUSTRAC for just over a year and I’m so proud of the work that we’ve done in that time to reduce the harms to our community. But while I’ve been working with the industry and our reporting entities to reduce that harm, AUSTRAC is not in the business of continuing to educate without action. It is important that businesses understand their legal obligations because I’m prepared to take strong and swift action where it is warranted,” he said.
“If you expect AUSTRAC to educate, educate, educate and then take action years later, you’re mistaken. If you think your business is too small to take responsibility for regulatory compliance, you’re also mistaken. Your services in the gambling industry have been subject to a regulatory regime for many years now and it is your responsibility to comply,” he added.
Noting that licensed operators in Australia face an ever-evolving risk landscape due to “the digitization of currency, financial systems that are more dispersed and complex, the need for more sophisticated customer verification processes, and greater competition in the rapidly expanding online gaming sector,” Thomas called on operators large and small to run thorough risk assessments in order to properly identify where the true risks of infiltration sit for each.
This, he explained, is in line with the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2024 that was passed in federal parliament last year.
The bill, which updated the previous act from 2006, adds a raft of new industries to AUSTRAC’s purview – namely real estate professionals, lawyers, accountants, trust and company service providers, and dealers in precious stones and metals – but also amends laws around how entities should comply with their obligations.
“We’re trying to shift the way that we do regulation in our regulated industries away from pure compliance to a proper discussion about risk so that we can talk to you about what that risk actually is and then we can focus practically on what are the controls that are directly aimed at those risks rather than just ticking a bunch of compliance boxes. We aim to take the bureaucracy out of what we do and how we do it,” he said.
Despite promising to be tougher on those who fail to properly comply, Thomas said the agency also wants to improve its lines of communications with the industries it regulates.
“AUSTRAC is making some significant changes ourselves – establishing functions that are purely about establishing proper partnerships with our regulated industries,” he said.
“In the past we haven’t done that and we are committed to working in partnership with those industries that want to comply with the law. We will also be much more transparent and forward on what our legal position is on a whole range of different moves and we will be more up front about where we are seeing risks that affect our regulated industries.
“[But] there is no question on where [illegal] funds come from and how those funds are impacting Australians. There is the crime that leads to profits in the first place and then the reinvestment of those profits into more crime. At the worst end of the scale, we are talking about illicit drugs running, scams, child sexual exploitation and significant amount of human trafficking, so if you are in the gambling industry you have a pretty big obligation to help us combat these problems,” he added.
The post AUSTRAC CEO Focuses on Gambling Industry Compliance appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Paysecure wins “Best Online Payment Service 2025” at SiGMA Americas Awards
Paysecure has been named Best Online Payment Service 2025 at SiGMA Americas Awards, held during the opening night of the SiGMA Americas event at the Transamerica Expo Center in São Paulo.
The awards ceremony, hosted by BetConstruct and held on April 7th, brought together leading names in the iGaming, fintech, and digital payments industries to celebrate excellence and innovation. The Best Online Payment Service award, presented in association with Megaposta, recognized companies offering outstanding online payment infrastructure. Paysecure was selected among strong contenders including Online IPS, Nuvei, Payment.Center, and Payku.
Paysecure’s solutions include its unified payments hub, designed to simplify operations for merchants in various sectors, Host-2-Host integrations, cashier services, and plug-in modules for seamless deployment on external platforms. With PCI DSS certification, a focus on 360-degree user trust, and advanced tech capabilities, Paysecure empowers merchants to optimize their payment operations with full control and transparency.
“This award is a testament to our mission: delivering payment technology that is smart, secure, and scalable”, said Viktoriia Degtiarova, Co-founder and CCO of Paysecure, who attended the ceremony alongside Sridhar Sethuraman, Co-founder and COO.
“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized at SiGMA Americas, especially amongst such outstanding peers.”
This year, Paysecure exhibited at Booth N115, showcasing its orchestration platform, global PSP coverage, and market-specific solutions tailored for LATAM and beyond. To learn more about Paysecure and its payment orchestration platform, contact the team at: paysecure.net/contact-us/
The post Paysecure wins “Best Online Payment Service 2025” at SiGMA Americas Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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ACR POKER’S NEXT HIGH STAKES ADVENTURE TAKES PLAYERS TO MONTENEGRO FOR PRESTIGIOUS SUPER HIGH ROLLER SERIES
Two $110,000+ Montenegro packages available during ACR Poker’s Main Satellite on Sunday, April 27th
The next chapter of ACR Poker’s High Stakes Adventure is taking shape. Two players are set to win their way to stunning Montenegro in Southeast Europe to compete against top poker pros and high stakes legends for huge prizes during the prestigious Super High Roller Series, scheduled for May 13th to 27th.
Through ACR Poker’s Main Satellite on Sunday, April 27th at 2:05pm ET, the High Stakes Adventure: Montenegro is guaranteeing two all-inclusive packages, each covering $110,000 in tournament buy-ins / entry fees, plus added business-class airfare, and a 5-night stay at the luxurious Maestral Resort & Casino.
“The High Stakes Adventure is all about creating opportunities for players to escape the ordinary and play alongside poker’s elite in incredible destinations,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. “I can still feel the energy from my deep run in Montenegro last year, and I’ve got a good feeling this event is going to be just as unforgettable. If you missed your chance to win a South Korea package earlier this year, this is your chance to get in the game.”
Moneymaker is no stranger to the high-stakes scene in Montenegro, having won last year’s Triton Poker Super High Roller Series $25,000 buy-in event for $903,000. Meanwhile, fellow ACR Pro Nacho Barbero also made waves this year during the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Jeju, finishing 7th in the $100,000 buy-in Main Event, earning $946,000, plus cashing in four other events.
The High Stakes Adventure: Montenegro package winners will have the flexibility to split their $110,000 buy-in budget across multiple events or go all-in on a single high-stakes tourney. Off the felt, players can look forward to exploring Montenegro’s rich history, stunning landscapes and vibrant culture.
This latest satellite follows the success of ACR Poker’s High Stakes Adventure: South Korea earlier this year, where two $110,000 packages were awarded to players for the Super High Roller Series Jeju. Players looking to follow in their footsteps and compete for the Montenegro packages can buy into the Main Satellite for $2,650 or qualify for less through satellites running on ACR Poker this month.
For more details on the High Stakes Adventure: Montenegro, visit the promo page at ACRPoker.eu.
The post ACR POKER’S NEXT HIGH STAKES ADVENTURE TAKES PLAYERS TO MONTENEGRO FOR PRESTIGIOUS SUPER HIGH ROLLER SERIES appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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BetBrothers Introduces Platform Dedicated to Safer Betting in Regulated Markets
BetBrothers announced the launch of its affiliate marketing platform, dedicated to providing detailed information and analysis of regulated sports betting operators. With the core mission of “Connecting Players with Safer Bets,” it will focus on developing and managing affiliate websites within regulated markets, starting with Spain and Greece.
BetBrothers sets itself apart by partnering exclusively with operators who hold valid licenses within these jurisdictions. This strategy ensures full compliance and promotes a safer betting environment for players.
“Licensing isn’t just a checkbox for us. It’s a baseline. By working only with licensed partners in each market, we not only ensure compliance. We’re taking an active role in promoting a safer betting environment and a player-friendly iGaming ecosystem,” said Borja Imbergamo, Head of Growth & Strategy at BetBrothers. “We are confident that this dedicated approach will resonate with both players and operators who value fair play and responsible experience.”
The platform is founded and managed by a team of seasoned professionals with deep expertise in sports betting, affiliate marketing, and product development. The team behind BetBrothers has 25 years of combined experience in the industry.
BetBrothers content strategy is centered around providing players with clear and reliable insights in sports betting operators and their offerings. The team aims to become a compass for players, guiding them towards betting options offered by reputable and licensed brands. This player-first approach prioritizes user safety and promotes sports betting as an enjoyable form of entertainment.
Imbergamo added, “We established BetBrothers with a clear vision. To build a trustworthy bridge between players seeking entertainment and operators committed to the highest standards of user safety and regulation. We believe that the future of affiliate marketing in this industry lies in responsibility, transparency, and a commitment to safer betting experience.”
BetBrothers adopts a strong product-centric approach. The brand’s strategy goes beyond typical formats, building features and content that are engaging and useful for the players. This commitment to product innovation aims to significantly improve the user experience and offer more than just basic operator reviews. In addition to editorials, BetBrothers will also incorporate user-generated content to highlight real player experiences. This blend of expert-driven analysis and player feedback will provide a more well-rounded view of the betting market.
The brand aims to become an authority for responsible affiliate marketing. Offering valuable resources for players to help them make informed choices while delivering high-quality, compliant traffic to its operator partners. BetBrothers team plans a steady expansion into other regulated markets in the near future.
About BetBrothers:
BetBrothers is an affiliate marketing platform operating in the sports betting industry. Founded by seasoned industry professionals, its core mission is “Connecting Players with Safer Bets.” The platform builds and manages affiliate websites that exclusively promote licensed operators within regulated markets. BetBrothers is committed to responsible gambling, transparency, compliance, and creating a safer online betting environment for players.
The post BetBrothers Introduces Platform Dedicated to Safer Betting in Regulated Markets appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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