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Compliance Updates

Texas House Passes Bill to Abolish Texas Lottery Commission

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The Texas House has approved legislation to abolish the Texas Lottery Commission and reform lottery operations after multiple scandals have rocked the agency.

Authored by State Sen. Bob Hall (R-Edgewood), Senate Bill 3070 abolishes the commission that has overseen the lottery since shortly after its founding in 1991, moving operations to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

As originally written, the bill would also limit ticket sales per transaction, require age verification at the point of sale, push the agency into a two year probationary period and provide for greater oversight of the lottery—oversight that has been either intentionally or unintentionally lacking.

In January, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made an impromptu visit to a lottery ticket reseller responsible for selling millions of tickets online. During the course of his visit, he was denied access to the area where ticket printing was taking place.

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The bill, as originally written, would allow the lieutenant governor, Speaker of the House, attorney general, and governor the ability to act as inspectors of lottery operations.

At the eleventh hour, State Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth) offered a 58-page amendment to the measure that removed this and other critical parts of the bill. It was this amended bill that was, according to Geren, drafted with the lottery vendors, colloquially called stakeholders, that ultimately passed the House.

Among other changes, the Geren amendment changed vendor and employee retention.

While it was argued that the current employees would provide for a smoother transition from the TLC to TDLR, this would include members of the staff who were complicit in the extra legislative expansion of gambling in the state of Texas, and covering for the lottery’s multiple sins.

The Geren amendment, passed under the watchful eye of IGT’s lobbyist and former chief of staff to Gov. Greg Abbott, Luis Sanez, also guarantees that the state lottery contract will remain with its current vendor, IGT. According to a lawsuit filed in Houston, the company played a critical role in an international gambling syndicate’s rigging of the April 2023 $95 million jackpot.

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According to testimony given to the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee, representatives from IGT were onsite for hours during the ticket printing at a location that conducted no retail business, which is against state rules. This is the same location where children were filmed printing tickets.

Geren, a longtime proponent of expanding gambling in Texas, failed to pass a bill last session that would have allowed casino gambling in the state. This session, the lottery, and its corrupt operation took all the oxygen out of the room.

State Rep. Brent Money (R-Greenville) offered an amendment to Geren’s amendment that would have abolished the lottery and not just the commission. Money’s amendment failed by a vote of 71-58.

Geren’s amendment was ultimately adopted in a vote of 91-44.

The legislation passed in a vote of 110-29.

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Now, the bill requires one more vote in the House before going back to the Senate for either approval or to be reconciled in a conference committee.

If the bill is not reconciled, the lottery may be abolished, or a special session could be forced to save the corruption-plagued institution.

The post Texas House Passes Bill to Abolish Texas Lottery Commission appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

Compliance Updates

Digitain’s Paydrom Receives PCI DSS Certification

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Digitain is proud to announce that its payment platform, Paydrom, has successfully achieved PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) certification. This certification marks a key step in Paydrom’s mission to provide a trusted and secure payment environment for its partners.

The PCI DSS certification is a globally recognized standard designed to ensure that companies processing, storing, or transmitting credit card information maintain a secure environment. By obtaining this certification, Paydrom demonstrates its dedication to safeguarding sensitive customer data and preventing fraud across its payment services.

Arin Andriazian, Chief of Paydrom Product, commented: “Receiving PCI DSS certification is a significant validation of the secure infrastructure we’ve built at Paydrom. In an industry where trust and reliability are non-negotiable, this achievement sends a clear message to the industry: the customers’ sensitive data are protected by world-class security standards.
As we continue to expand globally, maintaining the highest levels of data protection will remain central to our promise to every partner who relies on Paydrom.”

Arshak Muradyan, Group Chief Compliance Officer at Digitain, added: “The PCI DSS certification reflects our long-term vision to deliver a payment platform, along with the entire products portfolio of the Digitain Group in the gambling sphere, that is as efficient as it is innovative. From a compliance perspective, this certification is a critical milestone that strengthens the foundation built on transparency, consistency, and security. It ensures that our partners can rely on Paydrom and the Digitain Group’s solutions with full confidence, knowing that every transaction and product interaction upholds the highest standards of data integrity and protection.  This achievement reaffirms our commitment to maintaining rigorous compliance standards essential for safeguarding sensitive payment data and sustaining trust across all our offerings”.

With this certification, Paydrom continues to offer businesses a safe and efficient way to manage their payments. The certification also assures partners and clients that Paydrom follows strict protocols to protect sensitive payment information.

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The post Digitain’s Paydrom Receives PCI DSS Certification appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Compliance Updates

New Zealand Government Releases Refreshed Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm

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New Zealand Government Releases Refreshed Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm
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The Minister for Mental Health in New Zealand, Matt Doocey, has announced that the Government has released the refreshed Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm.

“The updated strategy includes a targeted investment of over $81 million to improve access to support, strengthen prevention and early intervention and reduce the impact of gambling-related harm across New Zealand,” Mr Doocey said.

“We know that simply announcing strategies isn’t enough to make a material difference. We want New Zealanders to see real change and make progress, that is why as part of this strategy we’ve built in an independent review in 2025/26 to track what’s working, and what’s not.

“The strategy focuses on delivering timely, effective support for individuals, families and communities affected by gambling harm. Key areas of investment include increasing access to treatment and support, improving prevention and early intervention initiatives, and improving the effectiveness of support for those experiencing gambling harm.

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“We know one of the biggest barriers to people accessing support is workforce, that is why the plan includes ways we will grow the gambling harm workforce. We will be creating up to 18 additional clinical internship places.

“It is expected these interns will be supported to develop gambling harm expertise by working closely with a supervisor in a clinical setting. This approach is necessary to bridge the gap between education and work and will give interns the practical experience needed to help people affected by gambling harm.

“Not only will this ensure more people can access help, but this will also support people who could otherwise struggle to meet the requirements to become registered clinicians.

“One in five New Zealanders will be affected by gambling harm in their lifetime—either directly or through someone they know. This can have devastating effects not only on individuals, but also on their families and wider communities.”

Services will be funded through the new Problem Gambling Levy Regulations, paid by non-casino gaming machine operators, casinos, TAB NZ and Lotto NZ. Work is also underway on how online casino operators will contribute under upcoming regulations.

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The strategy was developed through a two-stage consultation process and strongly reflects the voices of people with lived experience.

“I want to thank those who shared their experiences with us. You’ve helped ensure this strategy is reflective of real-life experiences and have helped to ground the strategy with a strong understanding of what support works best for you and our communities,” Mr Doocey said.

The post New Zealand Government Releases Refreshed Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Ben Clemes

High Roller Submits Gaming License Application in Ontario

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High Roller Technologies, operator of the premium online casino brands High Roller and Fruta, announced the submission of its Internet Gaming Operator license application in Ontario, Canada, targeting the launch of its flagship brand HighRoller.com in the second half of 2025.

“The submission of our licensing application to access Ontario’s regulated online gambling market is an important milestone in our Company’s journey. Once our application is approved, we anticipate that we will have the opportunity to launch our online casino product into the market later this year,” said Ben Clemes, Chief Executive Officer at High Roller.

Ontario is one of the largest regulated online gambling markets in the world as measured by gross gaming revenue. In 2024, regulated online gambling operators within the province generated approximately $2.3B in gross gaming revenue, and growth continues to be recorded in the first half of 2025. Recently, the province of Alberta passed enabling legislation to establish a regulatory framework for online gambling. Once available, the Company also intends to pursue licensure in Alberta to expand its regulated market footprint in Canada.

“Ontario is missing an elegant brand like High Roller. We’re excited to roll out the red carpet for our new customers, and we’re looking forward to showcasing our tremendous product,” said Clemes.

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The post High Roller Submits Gaming License Application in Ontario appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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