Compliance Updates
The Finnish National Police Board issues prohibition orders and conditional fines of €25k to two Curaçao licenced gambling operators
Article written by Antti Koivula, consulting legal advisor at Legal Gaming
Two Curaçao based gambling operators, Nordic Tech Services N.V. and Viking Technology N.V. (“Companies”) had been aggressively marketing and selling their gambling products via phone for the Finnish customers, which attracted a lot of negative attention among the Finns. Multiple complaints were made for the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (“FCCA”) and for the National Police Board (“NPB”) starting from April 2020 and in September 2020 the NPB opened administrative proceedings against the Companies.
The NPB’s communication with the Companies was not fruitful with the Companies underlining the fact that none of their operations were performed from Finland and thus the NPB lacked authority. As the scope of the Finnish Lotteries Act covers foreign gambling operators to the extent their services are available in Finland, the NPB proceeded with the case. In the end of January 2022, the case had proceeded to the point in which the NPB issued prohibition orders and conditional fines for the Companies. There were slight delays with the delivery of the formal decisions and thus the prohibition orders entered into force only in May 2022.
The prohibition orders are in force for 12 months period renewable by a maximum 12 months per time. As the PSP-blocking system in Finland is starting in the beginning of 2023, this means that the Companies will be the first ones to be placed on the payment blocking list (“Blacklist”) if they remain uncompliant. As the NPB has currently several pending cases against MGA licenced operators, it remains to be seen who will be first ones to follow the Curaçao competitors to the Blacklist.
The NPB’s public statement is available in English at:
https://poliisi.fi/-/121lotto-ja-365lotto-lottoarvontojen-markkinointi-ja-myynti-kielletty-suomessa?languageId=en_US
Compliance Updates
NIGC Announces Acting Chair
The National Indian Gaming Commission announced the President’s appointment of Associate Commissioner Sharon M. Avery as Acting Chair of the Agency, effective May 15, 2024. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland recently appointed Avery to a three-year term as Associate Commissioner, effective May 6, 2024. Avery will serve both as Associate Commissioner and Acting Chair until a presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed Chair is in place.
As Acting Chair, Avery has the same statutory authority to lead the Agency and take official actions as a Senate-confirmed appointee.
“I am humbled the administration has entrusted me with the distinguished opportunity to serve as the NIGC Acting Chair. In this capacity, and to the best of my abilities, I will diligently execute my duties and responsibilities designated by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to continue the Agency’s regulatory oversight of tribal gaming facilities without disruption, until a permanent Chair has been confirmed,” said Avery.
Avery is an enrolled member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan. She has been with the NIGC for over four years where she has served as an Associate General Counsel in the NIGC Office of General Counsel. Before joining the NIGC, Avery served for more than 10 years in the legal department for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan. Most recently, she served as the Tribe’s General Counsel for Tribal Operations.
Compliance Updates
Spillemyndigheden: Anti-Money Laundering- A report to the police must be followed up by a notification
Notifications to the Money Laundering Secretariat is one the most important sources of information on money laundering and financing of terrorism. A notification is information about a potentially criminal act, and it cannot be replaced by a report to the police.
Gambling operators are obligated to notify in accordance with section 26 of the AML Act. The obligation to notify means that gambling operators must immediately notify the Money Laundering Secretariat if they know of, suspect, or have reason to believe that a transaction, funds or an activity is or has been linked to money laundering or financing of terrorism.
Notifications are essential for the role of the Money Laundering Secretariat, as notifications can in themselves constitute a case. In addition, a notification about a suspicion can be part of a larger case of other suspicious matters.
Police reports cannot replace notifications
There are no exceptions to the obligation to notify even if you have reported the matter to the police. In case a gambling operator has reported a customer to the police, the gambling operator must also notify the Money Laundering Secretariat which is an authority independent from the police.
The post Spillemyndigheden: Anti-Money Laundering- A report to the police must be followed up by a notification appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Compliance Updates
CT Interactive Certifies 60 Games and Hot Luck Jackpot for Peru
CT Interactive has successfully certified 60 of its most popular games, along with the Hot Luck Jackpot, in Peru. This certification aligns with recent legislative updates in the Peruvian market, aimed at enhancing the gaming environment.
In response to these regulatory updates, CT Interactive has proactively certified a diverse range of games to provide Peruvian operators with a wide array of engaging gaming options. The newly certified games cover a broad spectrum of themes and features, ensuring that there is something for every type of player.
The newly certified games are: Hit the Hot, Lord of Luck the Wheel, Wizard Blizzard, 20 Star Party, Celestial Dragon, 40 Mega Slot, Monkey Sevens, 40 Shining Jewels, Shining Treasures, 40 Treasures, Giraffe Wild, 50 Treasures, Rodeo Power, Alaska Wild, Lord of Luck, Amazons Spear, Ramesses the Great, Banana Party, Fortune Pig, Brilliants Hot, The Power of Ramesses, Brilliants on Fire, Treasure Chase, Chilli Fruits, The Oldest Oak, Coffee Magic, Banana Merge, Dancing Dragons, Fortune Pyramid, Duck of Luck, HOT 7’s X 2, Fire Dozen, Magic Crown, Fortune Fish, Pick the Pig, Great Queen Bee, Win Storm, Lucky 3 Penguins, 20 Clovers Hot, Lucky Clover, Full of Luck, Penguin Party, The Great Sevens, Pot’o Luck, Fire Egg, Purple Fruits, The Golden Duck, Purple Hot 2, 40 Fruitata Wins, Pyramid of Gold, Power Storm, Wild Clover, The Big Chilli, Wild Hills, Jester Jack, Big Joker, Lucky Kiwi, Dark woods, 20 Mega Slot and Fluffy Tails.
Each of these games has been meticulously tested and certified to meet the stringent new standards set forth by Peruvian regulators.
The post CT Interactive Certifies 60 Games and Hot Luck Jackpot for Peru appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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