Compliance Updates
Secretary Haaland Announces Appointments to National Indian Gaming Commission

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today announced the proposed appointments of Sharon Avery (pictured, left) and Jeannie Hovland (pictured, right) as Associate Commissioners to the National Indian Gaming Commission.
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act established the three-person National Indian Gaming Commission in 1988 to support and promote tribal economic development, self-sufficiency and strong tribal governments through the operation of gaming on Indian lands. The National Indian Gaming Commission’s Chair is appointed by the President and its two Associate Commissioners are appointed by the Secretary of the Interior. All National Indian Gaming Commission members serve three-year terms.
“The Biden-Harris administration is committed to ensuring that tribes have the resources they need to exercise their tribal sovereignty and support their communities,” Haaland said. “Not only does gaming support tribal economies, but the funding it generates also helps to support the vital services that tribal nations provide to their citizens; from language preservation to healthcare. Today’s appointments to the National Indian Gaming Commission will help ensure we continue to provide resources and support for an industry that remains one of the most significant sources of economic development in Indian Country.”
Avery is an enrolled member of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan. She currently serves as an Associate General Counsel for the National Indian Gaming Commission’s Office of General Counsel. In this role she has gained familiarity with the agency’s structure and the important role the agency plays within the tribal gaming industry. Prior to joining the National Indian Gaming Commission, Avery worked in the legal department of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan for ten years. She graduated from Michigan State University College of Law with a Juris Doctor degree and a certificate from the Indigenous Law and Policy Center.
Hovland is an enrolled member of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota and currently serves as Vice Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Since joining the National Indian Gaming Commission, she has worked collaboratively to consult with tribes for the promulgation of regulations and to coordinate the agency’s regulatory responsibilities with tribal regulatory authorities. Prior to joining the National Indian Gaming Commission, Hovland served as Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Native American Affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services and held roles at the Interior Department as well as in the office of South Dakota Senator John Thune.
Appointments to the National Indian Gaming Commission can be finalized following a required 30-day public comment period. Information on how to comment and full biographies of the appointees can be found in the accompanying Federal Register notice.
Ben Clemes
High Roller Submits Gaming License Application in Ontario

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.
The post High Roller Submits Gaming License Application in Ontario appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Compliance Updates
UKGC Launches New Consumer Voice Framework

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has unveiled a new and improved Consumer Voice framework, marking a major step forward in how the regulator listens to and understands the experiences of people who gamble in Great Britain.
The new framework expands the Commission’s research capabilities by introducing four specialist research suppliers, each bringing unique expertise to the table. This shift allows the Commission to delve deeper into the views, motivations, and behaviours of gambling consumers – including those from underrepresented or harder-to-reach groups such as people gambling on specific gambling products, particular demographic groups and those experiencing negative consequences from their own or someone else’s gambling.
Under the new framework, the Consumer Voice programme will now be supported by:
Yonder Consulting – specialists in mixed methodology research
The Behavioural Insights Team – experts in experimental and behavioural research
Humankind Research – qualitative experts with a focus on hard-to-reach audiences
Savanta – providers of fast-turnaround, cost-effective research.
Each supplier has signed a two-year contract, with the potential for extension until 2029.
“This new framework gives us greater agility and reach than ever before. With these four partners, we’re better equipped to commission high-quality research quickly and use a range of approaches to respond to emerging trends or risks as they develop. The Consumer Voice programme is central to our efforts to ensure our decisions are grounded in the lived experiences of all consumers and the evolving realities of gambling,” said the Gambling Commission’s Head of Research, Laura Carter.
Consumer Voice complements the Commission’s nationally representative Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) by offering a flexible, targeted approach to gathering insight. It allows the Commission to conduct deep dives into specific issues, test new ideas and track consumer sentiment over time.
In 2024 alone, the programme engaged with over 10,000 gambling consumers. Previous studies have tackled issues like financial risk checks, bonus incentives and gambling during the cost-of-living crisis.
Joe Wheeler, Associate Director of Yonder Consulting, said: “Over the past three years Yonder Consulting have partnered with the Gambling Commission in delivering mixed-methods research for the Consumer Voice Programme. We’ve supported on a wide range of impactful research programmes, covering elements of the consumer experience like trust in the industry, engagement with the unlicensed market, behaviours during key sporting events and the impact of marketing and bonus offers. We’re delighted to continue our ongoing partnership and to support the Commission in delivering against key policy evidence gaps.”
Eleanor Collerton, Senior Advisor of the Behaviour Insights Team (BIT), said: “We’re delighted to contribute to the Gambling Commission’s Consumer Voice programme. As a global research and innovation consultancy, BIT combines a deep understanding of human behaviour with evidence-led problem solving to improve people’s lives. We’re excited to contribute our expertise in experimental research to generate new insights, address key evidence gaps, and help ensure consumer voices shape meaningful and effective gambling policy, building on more than five years of work to reduce gambling harms in GB.”
Tom Silverman, Co-Founder of Humankind Research, said: “Humankind Research specialises in research with a positive impact, and much of our work is exploring lived experience of complex issues and under-served groups. So we are delighted to be chosen to be the Gambling Commission’s partner for ‘in-depth qualitative research’ within the Consumer Voice framework. It is a fantastic opportunity to work in close collaboration with the Commission to really understand the experiences and needs of people who are involved in or affected by gambling; using sensitive and inclusive research approaches to gain strategic insights that can help to guide policy and priorities.”
The post UKGC Launches New Consumer Voice Framework appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Compliance Updates
Michel Groothuizen Joins GREF as Board Member

Michel Groothuizen, chairman of the Netherlands Gambling Authority, has been unanimously appointed as general board member of the board of the Gambling Regulators European Forum (GREF) for the period 2025-27. GREF is a partnership in which gambling regulators from Europe share knowledge, experiences and best practices and work together on a safe and fair gambling market.
In his new role, he will spend the next two years working to strengthen the importance of GREF and to further grow the organisation. His personal mission is to work with other regulators to establish shared standards in the area of gambling supervision.
“An example of this is the clear standard that gambling under the age of 18 is an absolute no go,” said Groothuizen.
He looks forward to a pleasant collaboration with other countries in the coming administrative period.
The post Michel Groothuizen Joins GREF as Board Member appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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