As another eventful week for the gambling industry wrapped up, Casino Guru News brings a quick summary of the top industry headlines, including key business moves and regulatory developments.
The Department of Consumer Protection in Connecticut announced it has reached a settlement with the online gaming service provider, High5Games. The sweepstakes case saw the two sides settle for nearly $1.5m after the former uncovered alleged irregularities in High5Games' offering in the state.
This week, Ocean Casino Resort, the premium gaming and entertainment destination in Atlantic City, expanded its amenities with the addition of two new dining experiences. The popular Boardwalk hotel and casino teamed up with Stephen Starr, the award-winning restaurateur and STARR Restaurants to bring its guests a new French dinner spot called Chez Frites and an American breakfast and lunch bistro, Sunny's.
Business and finance
In the Netherlands, Altenar, the leading provider of betting services, joined forces with Starcasino. The deal saw the former agree to power the latter's betting offering with its industry-leading sportsbook, propelling its footprint further.
Elsewhere, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) expanded its lottery options with the introduction of Pick 3, a new daily draw game. The new game enables players to compete for a maximum prize of AED2,500 with drawings taking place every day. Just as the name of the game suggests, players need to match correctly three numbers between 0 and 9 to win the prize and the cost per entry is AED5.
Across the United States, anti-sweepstakes legislation is picking up speed and one recent example is a new bill in New Jersey. The proposal, Senate Bill 4282, recently gained traction after it was approved by the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism, & Historic Preservation Committee. Ultimately, the bill proposes the prohibition of the "sweepstakes model" of wagering in New Jersey.
Regulation and laws
Across the ocean, Sweden's gambling watchdog, Spelinspektionen, issued monetary sanctions and warnings against several operators. As a result, Betsson, Snabbare and TSG were handed down nearly SEK 19m ($2m) in fines. Per the gambling regulator, the sanctions and warnings follow alleged deficiencies related to customer due diligence.
BETER, the leading betting data and content provider, was recently recognized with the Esports Integrity Commission's (ESIC) Gold Standard Accreditation. The milestone achievement is a testament to BETER's dedication to upholding the highest standards of integrity for sports and esports betting products. The latest accreditation comes after BETER joined ESIC earlier this year.
In the Netherlands, the country's gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit, issued a warning against the leading betting and gaming operator, BetMGM, after an advertisement that featured Lamine Yamal, an underage role model and famous footballer.
According to the gambling watchdog, using a role model that may appeal to underage audiences is in violation of the Dutch Gambling Act. However, considering that BetMGM took swift action, Kansspelautoriteit concluded a reprimand would be sufficient action in this particular case.
A new draft law in Connecticut aims at the popular sweepstakes casinos. The proposal, Senate Bill 1235, recently passed the Senate after a unanimous vote and seeks to prohibit not only online sweepstakes casinos but also third-party lottery courier service providers. After it successfully passed the Senate, Senate Bill 1235 was referred to the House of Representatives.
If the proposal is approved as a law, Connecticut would become the latest state to take meaningful action against sweepstakes casinos. The only other state that has so far passed successfully legislation that prohibits sweepstakes is Montana.
Fennica Gaming, the leading provider of real money gaming solutions and services, reached a major milestone after securing a Gaming Related Vendor License in the UAE. The landmark license was awarded by the UAE's General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) and allows the company to grow its presence by providing quality solutions to licensed operators. The license marked an important achievement as it paved the way for Fennica Gaming's further growth in this important market.
In Sweden, Svenska Spel, the state-owned gambling operator, gained significant ground in a lawsuit against a hefty fine. Challenging a SEK 100m ($10.4m) fine and a warning issued by Spelinspektionen, the country's gambling regulator, Svenska Spel recently saw the Administrative Court in Linköping uphold the company's appeal against the sanction.
The monetary sanction followed alleged duty of care failings, which, according to the gambling watchdog, affected close to a dozen customers. However, Svenska Spel disagreed with the sanction, claiming it was disproportionate and at the same time warned that customer due diligence rules need to be more specific.
Responsible gambling
A recent study by the trade body that analyzes market trends in Belgium, the Belgian Association of Gaming Operators (BAGO), warned that 1 in 4 players use the services of offshore gambling websites. Concerningly, the study uncovered that 47% of the gamblers who have been self-excluded from the activity find their way back to gambling with the use of illegal websites. BAGO also recommended enhancing the powers of the country's gambling regulator as a way to combat illegal gambling.
This year's European Safer Gambling Week, the fifth edition of the event, is set to return on November 17-23, 2025, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has announced. Gathering stakeholders, experts and representatives of the gambling industry, regulators and support organizations, the prestigious event will focus on combating problem gambling and harm, among other important issues.
Earlier this week, imatta and EPIC Global Solutions joined forces for a new alliance that seeks to tackle problem gambling. The initiative aims to increase the availability of support services for people affected by problem gambling while also helping develop educational content, responsible gambling and wellbeing initiatives.
The voice of the industry
Today, Friday, June 6, 2025, marks the culmination of The Casino Guru Awards 2025. A live, invite-only gala ceremony will take place at the Portomaso Suite, Hilton Hotel, St. Julian’s in Malta, celebrating individuals and companies making a real difference in the gambling sector. The exciting event will confirm the winners of the Casino Guru Awards 2025 in a range of categories.
This week, Casino Guru News published a comprehensive analysis focusing on the 10 biggest gambling cities in the world. The extensive reporting looked into the biggest gambling cities across the globe, highlighting hotspots in North America, Asia and Europe, among other locations.
