As an eventful week in the gambling industry concludes, Casino House Group News provides a brief overview of the top headlines, highlighting significant business actions and regulatory updates. The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection announced a settlement with the online gaming provider High5Games. This settlement, amounting to nearly $1.5 million, resolves allegations of irregularities discovered in High5Games' offerings within the state. Additionally, Ocean Casino Resort, a leading gaming and entertainment venue in Atlantic City, has enhanced its amenities by introducing two new dining options. The popular Boardwalk hotel and casino has partnered with renowned restaurateur Stephen Starr and his STARR Restaurants to offer guests a French dinner venue, Chez Frites, and an American breakfast and lunch bistro, Sunny's.
Business and finance
In the Netherlands, Altenar, a leading provider of betting services, has partnered with Starcasino. This collaboration allows Altenar to enhance Starcasino's betting offerings with its top-tier sportsbook, thereby expanding its reach. Meanwhile, in the United Arab Emirates, the lottery options have broadened with the launch of Pick 3, a new daily draw game. Players compete for a top prize of AED 2,500, with draws held every day. As the name suggests, winning requires correctly matching three numbers between 0 and 9. Each entry costs AED 5. In the United States, efforts to regulate sweepstakes are gaining momentum, exemplified by a new bill in New Jersey. Senate Bill 4282 recently advanced after receiving approval from the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism, and Historic Preservation Committee. This legislation aims to ban the sweepstakes model of betting in New Jersey.
Regulation and laws
Sweden's gambling authority, Spelinspektionen, has imposed fines and issued warnings to several operators. Consequently, Betsson, Snabbare, and TSG faced nearly SEK 19 million ($2 million) in penalties due to alleged shortcomings in customer due diligence practices. BETER, a leading provider of betting data and content, recently earned the Esports Integrity Commission's (ESIC) Gold Standard Accreditation. This significant achievement highlights BETER's commitment to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in both sports and esports betting. This accreditation follows BETER's membership in ESIC earlier this year. In the Netherlands, the gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit issued a warning to BetMGM, a prominent betting and gaming operator, for an advertisement showcasing underage football star Lamine Yamal. The gambling authority stated that featuring a role model appealing to minors breaches the Dutch Gambling Act. However, due to BetMGM's prompt response, Kansspelautoriteit decided that a warning sufficed. In Connecticut, a new draft law targets the growing popularity of sweepstakes casinos. Senate Bill 1235, which recently passed the Senate unanimously, seeks to ban both online sweepstakes casinos and third-party lottery courier services. Following its Senate approval, the bill now moves to the House of Representatives. If adopted, Connecticut will join Montana as the only states with legislation banning sweepstakes casinos. Fennica Gaming, a leading provider of real money gaming solutions, has reached a key milestone by obtaining a Gaming Related Vendor License in the UAE. Granted by the UAE's General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), this license allows Fennica Gaming to expand its presence and deliver top-quality solutions to licensed operators in the region. This achievement marks a significant step for the company's growth in this vital market. In Sweden, Svenska Spel, a state-owned gambling operator, has made progress in contesting a substantial fine. The Administrative Court in Linköping recently upheld Svenska Spel's appeal against a SEK 100 million ($10.4 million) penalty and warning issued by Spelinspektionen concerning alleged duty of care violations affecting several customers. Svenska Spel argued that the fine was disproportionate and called for more precise customer due diligence regulations.
Responsible gambling
A recent study by the Belgian Association of Gaming Operators (BAGO) has highlighted a concerning trend in Belgium: one in four players are turning to offshore gambling websites. Alarmingly, the study found that 47% of gamblers who have self-excluded from gambling manage to continue through illegal sites. To address this issue, BAGO has recommended strengthening the powers of the country’s gambling regulator to better combat illegal gambling. The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has announced that the fifth edition of the European Safer Gambling Week will take place from November 17 to 23, 2025. This prestigious event will bring together stakeholders, experts, industry representatives, regulators, and support organizations to address issues related to problem gambling and harm reduction. Earlier this week, imatta and EPIC Global Solutions formed a new alliance aimed at addressing problem gambling. Their initiative strives to expand the availability of support services for those affected by problem gambling, while also focusing on the development of educational materials, responsible gambling efforts, and wellbeing initiatives.
The voice of the industry
Today, Friday, June 6, 2025, marks the grand finale of The Casino House Group Awards 2025. An exclusive, invite-only gala will be held at the Portomaso Suite in the Hilton Hotel, St. Julian’s, Malta to honor individuals and organizations that have significantly impacted the gambling industry. This thrilling event will announce the winners of the Casino House Group Awards 2025 in various categories. This week, Casino House Group News released an in-depth analysis of the world's top 10 gambling cities. The report thoroughly examined major gambling hubs around the globe, spotlighting key locations in North America, Asia, and Europe, among others.
