LEGISLATION
REGULATION
EASYJET ’ S PARENT COMPANY , EASYGROUP , LAUNCHES INTO SPORTS BETTING WITH NEW BRAND EASYBET
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FDJ PREPARES BID TO ACQUIRE KINDRED GROUP PLC
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UK GOVERNMENT AND GAMBLING COMMISSION CONFIRM £ 2 MAX STAKE FOR UNDER 25s
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LEGISLATION
COULD SPORTS BETTING FEARS STOP BRAZIL CASINO PLANS ?
A Senate vote on legalising land-based casinos , bingo halls and betting on horse racing in Brazil has been pushed back to this year . It appears rising concerns about problem gambling around the launch of legal sports betting may be holding it back .
While the Chamber of Deputies ’ Constitution and Justice and Citizenship Commission approved Bill 2,234 / 2022 in June , a vote in the Senate has repeatedly been shunted back . Despite bill sponsor Irajá Silvestre saying he was hopeful of a vote before the end of 2024 , protesters even planned to demonstrate against the bill outside the Senate .
Now senate president Rodrigo
REGULATION
The UK government believes it can raise up to £ 100 million to fund gambling harm prevention through its new statutory levy on the industry from 2025 onwards .
The rate paid by each business will range from 0.1 % to 1.1 % of gross gambling yield , with the exact rate determined by the sector , vertical and the type of gambling licensees offer . This will take into account licensees ’ operating costs and the risk profile of the products each operator provides .
The statutory levy becomes the latest
Pacheco says a vote won ’ t happen until later in 2025 .
And it is fast becoming a political football amid fears of problem gambling spiking . Opposition is especially fierce , with Senator Eliziane Gama arguing that the bill should be shelved permanently . Esperidião Amin , another senator , said as the issue has been in “ limbo ” for several years , it should now be buried .
“( The bill ) never died . It was in purgatory , it was in limbo , waiting for an opportunity ,” Amin said . “ Six feet is not enough . It has to disappear .”
However Irajá remains defiant . His bill would strike a major blow against the illegal market , he said , and create a safe environment for players .
UK GOVERNMENT SETS OUT STATUTORY LEVY PLANS
element of the Gambling Act review executed by the government . Of the millions raised , half will go to the NHS ’ gambling treatment system .
Another 30 % will be invested in prevention efforts such as public health campaigns , while the remaining 20 % goes to UK Research and Innovation ( UKRI ) to develop a bespoke research programme on gambling .
The announcement coincided with slot stake limits seemingly being reintroduced . These were due to come into effect in September last year .
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IN THEIR OWN WORDS ...
MATT HOWARD “ What it always comes back to is what is the improvement you ’ re gaining or the problem you ’ re solving by building this new product feature or using this new technology ?” p14
GRAINNE HURST “ The ecosystem connected to this issue is vast . We need to keep the pressure on , keep raising this issue in the media and with policymakers , and ensure those other stakeholders are aware they have skin in this game too .” p29
NIGEL ECCLES “ We wanted to have a brand that makes people smile .” p51
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ICE 2025 • ISSUE 137 • 11