Leading figures from the European gambling sector gathered for a high-level EEGS webinar focused on the EU’s new Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) and the far-reaching regulatory reforms under the new AML package.

Titled “Preparing for the AMLA Era – What Gambling Stakeholders Must Know About the New AML Package and Beyond in Times of Increased Enforcement”, the session was hosted by Dr. Ekaterina Hartmann, Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs at the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA).

Dr. Hartmann outlined the key elements of the new framework, including the creation of AMLA (expected to become operational in 2026), a shift from directives to directly applicable regulations, and the expansion of the list of obliged entities to include sectors such as crypto services and football clubs.

She also shared that since 2022, there has been a significant rise in AML audits across the sector. Specifically, in 2024, EGBA member operators underwent a total of 142 license audits, with 48 of those audits being anti-money laundering. She stressed that these numbers are expected to grow further as the importance of fighting money laundering continues to increase.

Advertisement

Participants explored practical challenges of implementation, particularly the impact of enhanced due diligence (EDD) requirements on customer retention and compliance burdens across jurisdictions.

“The AML reforms represent a major shift for both financial and non-financial sectors. Gambling operators must prepare now to adapt to the new EU-wide standards,” said Dr. Hartmann.

The event also emphasized the benefits of regulatory harmonization and provided actionable insights for operators facing growing enforcement across the EU. All attendees received a personalized certificate of participation, underscoring the importance of ongoing regulatory education.

This webinar is part of EGBA’s broader initiative to support the industry’s transition to the new AML framework ahead of the 10 July 2027 deadline.

If you missed the webinar, you can catch the full session here.

Advertisement

Nothing compares to the thrill of spinning the slots — except, maybe, hitting a six-figure jackpot. One lucky RocketPlay winner recently turned an ordinary evening into an unforgettable moment, landing 150,000 EUR in a single spin.

With over 9,000 games from top providers and high ratings across review platforms, RocketPlay continues to be a trusted destination for players seeking both excitement and security.

We caught up with the lucky winner — who preferred to stay anonymous — and asked him to share his experience.

— When did you start playing on RocketPlay?
I think it was in 2021 or 2022. I tried several platforms, but RocketPlay stood out. After taking a break, I came back, deposited, and got lucky — some of my bets multiplied by 50 to 100 times. After a successful withdrawal, I stayed. Once I reached VIP status, RocketPlay became my main platform. Now I play almost daily.

— Do you remember your reaction to the big win?
Definitely. I had about 4,400 EUR in balance and was spinning at 30 EUR. Suddenly, the jackpot hit — I thought it was the Mini or Minor Jackpot. But when I looked again, I saw it was the Grand Jackpot — 150,000 EUR. It was around 10 PM — I had to double-check the screen, then woke up my wife and we celebrated with a shot of schnapps.

— Do you follow any strategy?
I try to understand how each slot behaves — looking for patterns and changes. I have a good memory, and sometimes I notice sequences repeating. That helps me decide when to increase the bet, change the game, or stop playing.

Advertisement

— What did you do with your winnings?
I spent some on wine, watches, and Mickey Mouse comic books. The rest I used to keep up my VIP status and continue enjoying RocketPlay.

— Any advice for other players dreaming of a big win?
Don’t chase it. Play for fun and only with money you’re comfortable losing. Treat it like a hobby, something that you enjoy. If you’re lucky, the win will find you when you least expect it.

Inspired? Discover RocketPlay — where 9 000+ games, big wins, and thrilling moments are always within reach. Your story could start with just one spin.

Partnership with the leading global monitoring body reinforces pawaTech’s efforts to combat betting corruption

pawaTech, a leading sportsbook provider in Africa that licenses the betPawa brand, which is available in 17 African countries, has joined the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA). The partnership will see betting integrity data from pawaTech’s sportsbook trading operations contribute to IBIA’s global monitoring and alert network, which tracks over $300 billion in annual betting turnover across more than 140 brands. The move reinforces pawaTech’s commitment to responsible betting, fraud prevention and safeguarding sports betting integrity across Africa.

Juri Sidorenko, CEO of pawaTech said: “Joining IBIA reflects our commitment to fair play, integrity and safer betting. We are proud to support a trusted ecosystem that makes betting more secure, transparent and player-friendly across Africa.”

Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, said: “We are thrilled to welcome pawaTech to IBIA. The company’s unique African operational footprint and technology infrastructure bring valuable regional market knowledge and monitoring coverage to our association. This partnership further strengthens our global network and supports our shared goal of protecting the integrity of sport and regulated betting markets.”

Advertisement

IBIA is a not-for-profit body that has no competing conflicts with the delivery of commercial services to other sectors and was established by operators, for operators, to protect regulated sports betting markets from match-fixing. IBIA’s global monitoring network is a highly effective anti-corruption tool, detecting and reporting suspicious activity in regulated betting markets. Through the IBIA global monitoring network it is possible to track transactional activities linked to individual customer accounts; this data is only available to IBIA and its members.