Compliance Updates
Ireland Embraces GRAI: Transforming the Landscape of Online Betting
The Minister for Justice, Mr Jim O’Callaghan T.D. has signed the order to commence parts of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 to enable the Authority to become operational and the order to establish Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, on a statutory basis.
Minister O’Callaghan has also approved the appointment of the seven members of this new, independent Authority, who will be appointed and commence their roles with effect from tomorrow, 5 March, 2025. They will be the members of the Authority which is responsible for regulating and licencing all gambling providers in the State and which has wide ranging powers to regulate both in-person and online gambling, gaming and most lotteries.
Mr. Paul Quinn has been appointed as chair of the Authority and the other newly appointed members are as follows:
• Ms. Celine Craig
• Ms. Marion Kelly
• Ms. Rita Purcell
• Mr. David Hickson
• Mr. Michael McGrath
• Dr. Colin O’Driscoll
Minister O’Callaghan said:“Today marks a new era for the regulation of gambling in the Irish State.
“The establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland is a further step towards replacing Ireland’s outdated gambling laws with a streamlined and simplified licensing framework, which will reflect the nature of modern gambling and take into account the harms associated with problem gambling, providing safeguards to protect people from those harms, especially children.
“It is designed to meet the challenges of gambling responsibly in 21st century Ireland, providing clarity for operators and for consumers and taking a responsible approach to balancing the freedom to gamble with the safeguards to protect people from falling prey to addiction.
“I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of my predecessor, Minister Helen McEntee and Minister James Browne, in the development of this legislation.”
Minister O’Callaghan added: “I warmly congratulate Mr. Paul Quinn on his appointment as Chair of the new Authority and each of the newly appointed Authority members and wish them well in their new roles.
“The newly appointed members will now join CEO Anne-Marie Caulfield and her staff in commencing the Authority’s operations and legislative powers, on a phased basis. I understand that this includes, as a priority, work on progressing the licensing process, with a view to inviting applications for some licence types within the coming year.”
In accordance with the provisions of section 17 of the 2024 Act, appointments to the Authority will be for an initial period of three or four years. All members of the Authority may be reappointed for a second four-year term.
Speaking this morning, Minister Browne stated: “Minister O’Callaghan’s actions today mark the culmination of much hard work and dedication by Minister McEntee, Ms. Caulfield, Minister O’Callaghan and myself, supported by a core team of Authority staff and Departmental officials.
“I am pleased and encouraged at this Government’s commitment to continuing the phased commencement of the Authority’s operations and legislative powers as a priority.”
Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, T.D., commented: “I welcome today’s development as an important step towards ensuring that the harms associated with gambling are minimised. I look forward to the Department of Health working with the Gambling Regulatory Authority on initiatives to promote and progress this important goal.”
Welcoming the establishment of the Authority and the appointment of its members, the CEO of the GRAI Anne-Marie Caulfield said: ‘I greatly welcome the appointment of the seven-member Authority and the establishment of Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann. I would like to thank the Ministers, Oireachtas members, the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and Department of Justice officials for their work in bringing about our establishment.
“I look forward to fulfilling our mandate and delivering a safe, well-regulated and transparent sector, with consumer protection at its core.”
The post Ireland Embraces GRAI: Transforming the Landscape of Online Betting appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (Board) has taken actions to place 14 individuals on its various Involuntary Exclusion Lists. Placement on an Involuntary Exclusion List prohibits individuals from either gaming in a casino in Pennsylvania, via an online betting site regulated by the Board, or a Video Gaming Terminal (VGT) location.
These matters, presented by the Board’s Office of Chief Counsel and Office of Enforcement Counsel, raise the number of individuals now on the Board’s various Involuntary Exclusion Lists to 1391.
The actions by the Board include placement of five individuals on the Involuntary Casino Exclusion List including one who left minors unattended while gambling in a Pennsylvania casino:
A female patron who left her 7-month-old twins in a vehicle in the valet area of Valley Forge Casino Resort for 5 minutes in order to obtain a cash out at the sportsbook.
Actions such as these to deny statewide gambling privileges serve as a reminder that adults are prohibited from leaving minors unattended in the parking lot or garage, a hotel, or other venues at a casino since it creates a potentially unsafe and dangerous environment for the children. To complement the efforts by casinos to mitigate this issue, the Board created an awareness campaign, “Don’t Gamble with Kids”.
Additionally, nine others were placed on the Board’s Involuntary Interactive Gaming Exclusion list for fraudulent actions involving online gambling.
The Gaming Control Board is scheduled to meet next at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 in the Board’s Public Hearing Room located on the second floor of the Strawberry Square Complex in Harrisburg. More information, including the agenda, will be posted on the Board’s website prior to the meeting.
The post PA Gaming Control Board Removes Gambling Privileges for 14 Individuals appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
On May 22, 2025, the European Gaming and Amusement Federation (EUROMAT) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Brussels, Belgium, where members unanimously re-elected Jason Frost as President and Uwe Christiansen as First Vice-President. Karoly Buzás from the Romanian Slot Operators’ Association (ROMSLOT) has been elected as Treasurer of the association.
“I am very proud that our members have once again placed their trust in me, our Vice-President, and our new Treasurer for another term. EUROMAT is thriving with an expanding membership and a clear sense of mission: to make the business environment better for our industry” Jason Frost said.
“One important issue that we need to tackle is the rapid growth of the illegal market. There is not enough focus from regulators on this problem. Illegal gambling channels are proliferating at an alarming rate which makes a mockery of licensing regimes and puts players at risk. We will be pressing the case for tangible initiatives from authorities to get on top of this problem,” Jason Frost added.
The AGM also ratified Damien McCoy of the Irish Amusement Trades Association (IATA) and Bernhard Teuchman of the Spanish association Club de Convergentes as Executive Board Members. In addition, it welcomed the Association of Organizers of Gambling Games and Activities in Bulgaria (AOGGAB) as a new Association Member, along with Aristocrat and Sigma as new Corporate Members.
The post EUROMAT Re-elects Jason Frost as President appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Zitro has achieved a new certification in its commitment to sustainability: the ISO 14064-1 standard, which manages the improvement of its corporate carbon footprint. After successfully completing the certification process, the company now holds this accreditation that supports the management of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across all its global locations.
This certification strengthens the corporate system with which Zitro manages its ESG objectives, aimed at the progressive reduction of CO₂ emissions. The scope of this standard covers three key emission areas:
- Scope 1:Direct emissions generated by owned and rented vehicles used at all locations.
- Scope 2:Indirect emissions associated with electricity consumption in offices, laboratories, and warehouses.
- Scope 3:Direct and indirect emissions from the value chain, including suppliers, customers, business travel, product distribution, and waste management.
The ISO 14064-1 certification represents an essential milestone for Zitro in consolidating a more sustainable business model aligned with the highest international standards in corporate responsibility.
The post ZITRO OBTAINS ISO 14064-1 CERTIFICATION appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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