As part of its National Education Initiative the Canadian Gaming Association decided to undertake a national needs assessment, “to identify challenges and determine whether or not there was an appetite for a more cohesive and centred approach to training for the Canadian gaming industry.”

The assessment found there was significant need for a national approach to iGaming education and training, since Canadian provinces do not have identical regulations, particularly in Responsible Gambling and Anti Money Laundering.

GCA’s mandate of advocacy and education requires an online and interactive platform with the added portability of mobile access. Operators also require precise logging of training progress in order to comply with regulators. Moreover, this training platform could be customised to suit the needs of each region as well as individual companies, but more importantly gaming companies can acquire effective and efficient compliance training that is jurisdictionally relevant and always kept up to date.

The CGA has partnered with the iGaming Academy to help them deliver on these key needs. The iGaming Academy currently trains over 40,000 professionals every year across more than 100+ companies in over 45+ countries. The company specialises in industry-specific compliance and job skills eLearning and has extensive experience training professionals of all levels within online gaming, land-based casinos, lotteries, and betting shops.

Partnership with the iGaming Academy allows the CGA to provide effective and economical mobile learning to the Canadian Gaming Industry. The iGaming Academy’s LMS, an interactive platform delivers compliance training and certification that is jurisdictionally relevant and kept up to date. It will also provide operators with the ability to assign, track and easily report on employee progress, enabling them in turn to provide regulators with up to the moment feedback.

Through this partnership the CGA will be able to provide not only effective and up to date compliance training, but also relevant job skills training such as iGaming and sports betting as these markets expand in Canada.

While the CGA endeavours to bring timely and relevant training to the Canadian gaming market, they also know that one-size-fits-all training doesn’t meet the diverse needs of their members or the industry overall.? By partnering with the IGaming Academy, they will be able to provide a training solution that is custom fit for each company.

Find out more about CGA Academy here

In 2012 Germany took its first steps into the regulated market when 16 L?nder (Federated States) passed an Interstate Treaty on Gambling, intending to open up sports betting in the regulated market for the first time. However, years of legal uncertainty have resulted in not a single legally valid license being issued.

But earlier this year, a breakthrough was made between the states over a new gambling treaty, with the consensus being that it’s better to have a regulated market than a large black market.

Transitional agreement

Germany entered a transition period for gambling operators after the “transition agreement” for the new treaty, the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (Glücksspielstaatsvertrag 2021), had been adopted by the governments in 16 L?nder in September.

The “transitional agreement” acts as a pilot scheme for existing German state-licensed operators to offer restricted forms of casino games, online poker, slots and sports betting. However, the operators must ensure they comply with new regulatory conditions stated in Glücksspielstaatsvertrag 2021 until the 15^th of? December. The transition period will last till the 1^st of July 2021, when Germany is due to officially launch its regulated online gaming market.

The operators are required to comply with the player protection guidelines and problem gambling prevention measures outlined in the new State Treaty on Gambling by the 15^th of December. The deadline has been recently extended to give operators enough time to adhere to the regulatory terms for each vertical and implement technical changes to their platforms. Previous deadline was set on 15^th of October.

New regulations

Online table games, such as roulette and blackjack, are not permitted during the transition period. These products must be offered separately from online slots. The vertical is highly controlled on the state level, as new legislation allows states to grant their lotteries a monopoly for the products. States are allowed to award as many licences to private operators to offer these products as there are land-based casinos in their state borders.

All online slots operators must adopt a €1 stake cap per spin, alongside with a 5-second interval between spins and multiplay functionality removed.

Monthly spending cap of €1,000 must be imposed across all igaming platforms. Small number of customers are allowed to apply for a spending cap of between €10,000 and €30,000. This may only be applied to a maximum of 1% of an operator’s total registered players under a set of conditions. This will only be permitted for individuals of at least 21 years old with obligatory enhanced due diligence applied. Maximum bet amounts and a special loss limit preventing the customer from losing more than 20% of their maximum spend must be imposed.

Advertising casino products will not be permitted during the transition period.

However, above mentioned conditions will not apply in Schleswig-Holstein, which has adopted a more liberal framework by permitting all products and imposing a 20% gross revenue tax. Furthermore, it is still unclear if some states will avoid any involvement before the Glücksspielstaatsvertrag comes into force in July 2021.

Change is on the horizon as government research begins into the questions outlined in the Gambling Act Review. Companies need to decide now how they are going to take action to prepare for future regulation change and new restrictions.

The Gambling Review

The review will aim to answer questions that have arisen about the need for new legislation to keep pace with the explosive growth of the industry over the last 15 years. This will cover everything from effective customer safety controls for games to advertising regulations and of course, the UKGC’s regulatory powers and resources. It is widely expected that the outcome of this review will bring many new regulations as well as greater levels of scrutiny for operators in line with the UKGC’s recent tougher stance on non-compliance.

Currently in progress, a 16 week call for evidence will conclude on 31 March 2021. The Government’s proposals will then be published later in the year as a white paper.

The outcome of this review will certainly bring about large scale industry-wide change,? but the specifics of what, when and how are yet to be decided. In the meantime companies need to do everything they can in order to stay ahead of the information curve.

How to get ahead

All we know for certain is that change is coming and that the existing rules may change. Staying abreast of current compliance legislation can be difficult as it is often updated, for example recently the UKGC announced strict new controls for online slots banning autoplay, reverse withdrawals, disillusioning sounds or images and game speed modifiers.

1. Focus on achieving full compliance with current regulation.

It’s clearly critical to remain in full compliance with existing legislation, even as the rules are up for review. Since new regulation is likely to build on much of the existing as a framework, this will also double as effective preparation for whatever changes are to come.

2. Strengthen compliance and governance processes

?New responsibilities are likely to be intense, and closely scrutinised. Now is therefore the time to ‘get your house in order’, resolving any structural issues that could stand in the way of a rapid and effective roll-out of new regulatory processes.

3. Develop effective compliance training for staff?

Every member of staff will need to know their new obligations and understand the nuances of new guidelines. With such a major change likely, it is critical that this training exercise be effective and provide clarity for employees. Our compliance eLearning for UKGC service will be the ideal solution for many.

4. Hire specialist compliance experts

Gaming compliance expertise is in extremely high demand and talent is scarce. Those operating in the UKGC would do well to prioritise compliance recruitment at this time in preparation for changes to come.

5. Engage proactively with the review process

The industry is engaged with the review process, and rightly so. All changes need to be workable, and industry expertise is also critical in ensuring that changes actually achieve the outcomes that politicians desire.

Preparing for UKGC compliance training

Staff training will always be critical when it comes to achieving compliance. Investment in company-wide training schemes are already a key part of staying ahead of the regulators and this will be no different going forward. It will, however be difficult to adjust to so many potential large-scale changes at once.

Our compliance training courses are updated as regulation and guidelines evolve. As iGaming compliance specialists, we ensure our clients can always provide their employees with the latest training. , Over 40,000 professionals train with us every year, across 100+ companies in 45+ countries.

iGaming Academy specialises in industry-specific compliance and product eLearning and has extensive experience training professionals of all levels within online gaming, land-based casinos, lotteries, and betting shops.

All our courses are kept up to date, meaning staff will be educated and trained to comply with any new regulations and restrictions that may come about as a result of the Gambling Review.

In order for the gambling industry to be a true part of the evolution of regulation, its professionals need to be immersed in the issues and given the scope to explore solutions. iGaming Academy will keep all our clients fully informed on updates to the current regulations as they roll in as well as facilitating relevant training through our mobile learning platform.

iGaming Academy offer a key component in a successful organisations’ compliance infrastructure. Now is the time to build training properly into your organization, connect with iGaming Academy today to futureproof your business.

Contact us today to arrange a UK compliance training consultation and eLearning platform demo.

This article is part of our UK Compliance Focus series, examining regulatory infringements that were penalised in 2020, the business impacts of non-compliance and what can be done to minimise future risk. Read The Full Series

In 2020 operators faced financial penalties amounting to a 50% increase on 2019. The UKGC has been meting out harsher fines, perhaps in response to widespread criticisms of its toothlessness. Common failures penalised by the commission tend to centre around Anti-Money Laundering and responsibility checks. The majority of cases fall into the category of “preventable”; some simple steps could have, if not eliminated, then at least significantly reduced the risk of failure.

The Fines

In 2020, eight operators were fined a total of more than ￡33million – along with significant associated reputational damage – for non-compliance with UK gambling legislation. Hundreds more were investigated and many warned. All the following companies were fined in 2020.

Triplebet Ltd were fined ￡740k after serious problems were found with the operator’s response to AML, monitoring of business relationships and diligence checks into members of gambling syndicates. BGO Entertainment Limited were fined ￡2m for social and AML control failures. This led to negative effects on customers using its online casino properties. Boylesport Enterprise was fined ￡2.8m for AML failures. Its AML policies, procedures and controls were unsuitable and the operator did not have an appropriate AML risk assessment in place. Mr Green was fined ￡3m for failing to prevent money laundering and problem gambling.

Anti-Money Laundering comes up time and time again, with companies failing to notice red flags related to money laundering or financial terrorism, often due to lack of effective training. The fines listed so far are already large but penalties can go far higher in the case of drastic AML failings, especially in combination with lack of social responsibility checks.

Betway was fined ￡11.6m for accepting stolen money from ”VIP” customers with gambling addiction problems. Caesars Entertainment UK were fined ￡13m for systemic failings. The company drastically failed in its social responsibility, in particular it did not have adequate interaction with customers who previously self-excluded and lost ￡240k and ￡323k each. It failed to carry out proper source of funds checks enabling a customer to drop ￡3.5m and lose ￡1.6m over a period of 3 months.

More than tough talk from the UKGC

It’s clear that the UKGC is taking an increasingly tough approach to enforcement, “consumer safety is non-negotiable” says UKGC Chief Neil McArthur.

“We are absolutely clear about our expectations of operators – whatever type of gambling they offer they must know their customers. They must interact with them and check what they can afford to gamble with – stepping in when they see signs of harm.”

The UKGC has been criticised in the past for failing to keep pace with the rapid growth of the gambling industry, but is working hard on multiple fronts to change this. Only this month the UKGC announced strict new controls for online slots banning autoplay, reverse withdrawals, disillusioning sounds or images and game speed modifiers.

Behind the scenes the commission is re-strategizing and reorganising to tackle the growing online market, and with the Review of the Gambling Act 2005 already underway it is expected to be granted further powers.

The commission is “constrained by factors outside its control, including inflexible funding and a lack of evidence on how developments in the industry affect consumers,” according to the National Audit Office (NAO). The NAO and Parliamentary reports have recommended a review of the Commission’s current fees to ensure it has the funding and staffing required to impose tighter restrictions effectively in future.

With larger fines, stricter regulations, and a more powerful UKGC on the horizon, what can operators do to stay one step ahead?

Minimising Risks: Simple Steps To Compliance

Complying with government regulation is critical; it’s good for business and it’s good for customers. Gambling regulation is there for a reason – predominantly the protection of individuals from harm. But with the thread of ￡multi-million fines and even license withdrawals, there are also clear businesses reasons for ensuring optimal compliance.

How can businesses ensure compliance with UK gaming regulation, then? It can certainly be challenging, particularly when operating at scale with large teams, complex online products and an ever-evolving technical landscape.

A critical first step is that gaming operators and suppliers must first ensure that all staff fully understand the regulations, the UKGC’s guidance and their relevant responsibilities. It is vital that this knowledge is communicated clearly and refreshed regularly, particularly as information evolves.

Staff can then be expected to take responsibility for ensuring best practise throughout the operation, whilst clear processes and auditing structures provide a safety net to spot and resolve issues prior to the regulator’s involvement.

By properly addressing regulatory compliance challenges, and taking a few simple steps to mitigate risks, the vast majority of failings can be avoided. And it’s in everyone’s interests to do so.

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Minimise Risk with our UKGC Compliance Training

iGaming Academy offers a suite of eLearning courses designed for operators and suppliers in the UKGC jurisdiction. All our courses are highly engaging and are updated in-line with new guidance.

Contact us to arrange a consultation.

The UKGC published stern advice for online operators this week, reminding licencees of their responsibilities while COVID-19 continues to impact consumer behavior.

The commission restated the heightened vulnerability of new and long-term customers during lockdown and made clear that any violations would be taken extremely seriously.

“No one should be in any doubt about how closely we are monitoring issues or our willingness to take further action if we deem that necessary” said Neil McArthur, Chief Executive of the UKGC.

Troubling behaviours

McArthur outlined several new issues that are predicted to affect gambling behavior:

• People spending more time at home.
• Restricted lifestyles.
• Uncertainty over personal/financial circumstances.
• “Highly engaged” customers who may spend more time and money gambling.
• New people who might gamble for the first time.

The Commission reminded companies to follow the stringent COVID-19 guidelines set out in its social responsibility code, particularly with regards to increased use of gambling services.

Specifically the UKGC encouraged companies to “avoid any temptation to exploit the current situation for marketing purposes and be very cautious when seeking to cross-sell products.”

Neil underlined that the UKGC will continue to monitor operators very closely and strengthen regulatory requirements, including changes to RTS and LCCP in the interest of consumer safety.

Sharing insights

Companies have also been invited to share insights – including original data and analysis?– that could be useful in customer protection, as well as anything that could help the UKGC Statistics team make sense of the impact of the pandemic on the industry.

The commission also encouraged those who felt troubled by operator behaviour to email the gambling commission directly or use their confidential hotline.

McArthur highlighted the troubling times for the industry and the desire of the UKGC to continue to practice a good working relationship with its operators.

“The gambling industry and daily life as a whole continues to be impacted by the pandemic and whilst there is some light and hope ahead with the vaccine, I want to ensure operators are clear of our expectations. Since March we have all adapted to new ways of working and this new phase will be a challenge for us all. However, operators must now more than ever, continue to be vigilant to protect their customers.”

The message is clear; now more than ever companies have a responsibility to ensure they are complying with UKGC regulations, and acting to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their customers.

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Explore Our Training Solution for UKGC Operators

To ensure you are fully compliant with the latest regulatory policies and directives from the UKGC explore iGaming Academy’s training solution for UKGC operators today. We supply a full suite of high quality, regulatory training courses via eLearning, providing an efficient and effective way to train your entire company.

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Originally published in iGaming Business

“Continuity” was only phase 1. The iGaming industry now faces a new challenge – to maintain strong levels of innovation in a wholly new working world.

In challenging economic times, employers who can motivate teams to solve big problems, rather than just tick over with ‘tactical work’, are surely the ones who will thrive. As was proven in the 2008 financial crisis, treading water is not a long term solution.

“Improvise, adapt and overcome” – the US Marine Corps mantra is more fitting than ever for today’s iGaming leaders. Distanced workforces, remote working, major commercial risks and economic uncertainty… and that was only in the past 3 months! The iGaming industry has already weathered a significant storm.

So, now that the immediate continuity plans have been enacted, the big question iGaming leaders should be asking themselves is:

“How do we inspire our workforce to innovate and solve the big problems in a post COVID-19 world?”

Focusing on the answer to this question will be the key to triumph in these uncertain times.

Digital Essentials = Continuity

The first priority since March 2020 has been ensuring “continuity” wherever possible. Achieving this in itself has taken gargantuan feats of effort and imagination, both within and beyond the iGaming Sector.

Companies whose digital transformation efforts had dragged on for decades have jet-propelled plans into reality in the last few months. In fact, 70% of those organisations surveyed by dmexco in the DACH region “expect the coronavirus pandemic to accelerate the pace of the digital transformation.”