Gambling Regulatory Deadlines to Watch in August

Each month, we leverage data from our gambling regulatory updates to bring you a glimpse of the key response deadlines and legislation effective dates coming up, so you can plan and take action around some of the most important regulatory developments unfolding right now.

In August, there are 10 regulatory deadlines on the horizon — with 7 key consultation periods coming to an end and requiring a response, and 3 actionable deadlines to be aware of coming into effect.

What are the regulatory deadlines to watch in August?

Macau

On April 12, 2024, the Macau Legislative Assembly approved the "Legal Regime for Granting Credit for Games of Chance in Casinos", allowing concessionaires to extend chips to gamblers as credit while prohibiting junkets from engaging in credit activities. Gaming operators are also permitted to enter into agency appointments or outsourcing contracts with junkets to assist in finding gamblers seeking credit and earn commissions through such. Furthermore, all changes to agency contracts between operators and junkets must receive approval from the secretary for economy and finance of Macau. The secretary may also mandate modifications to contract terms based on public interest.  Additionally, the bill mandates operators establish systems to control credit risks, maintain records of credit activities and implement effective mechanisms for patron complaints. The law will become effective August 1, 2024.

Illinois

On June 6, 2024, the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) issued a request for proposals (RFP) to manage the video gaming terminal (VGT) central communication system (CCS). The deadline to submit proposals is August 5, 2024. According to the RFP, the current ten-year CCS contract has expired and the IGB is seeking a new CCS vendor to connect VGTs, site controllers and other related technological components to the state's 46,400 VGTs and other associated video gaming equipment for regulatory monitoring, oversight and enforcement actions in 8,400 locations across the state. The RFP notes several areas of concern under the current system, including technological challenges and slow advancements. 

Specific services under a new CCS vendor will include:

• Support during the transition period (range 12-24 months) to manage the transfer of data and hardware between service vendors.
• Monitoring and reporting gaming activity on all VGTs.
• Calculating, collecting and distributing revenue.

The new contract will have an initial term of five years, but may not exceed ten years. According to the RFP, the awarded vendor must provide the IGB with a CCS that, at a minimum, can monitor, communicate with and activate or deactivate VGTs and other related technological components utilized in the video gaming industry. 

‍Iowa

On July 11, 2024, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) issued a request for proposals (RFP) to conduct a gaming market study, as part of the process for considering new casino license applications. The deadline for the RFP is set for August 15, 2024, with license applications due one month later in September. The IRGC will hear presentations for potential new casinos in October. The gaming market study will be due at the end of December, with a public hearing set for January according to the IRGC. The expectation is that the IRGC will decide on awarding any new licenses in February 2025. The issuance of a new timeline concerning casino licenses within Iowa comes as the Iowa legislature's two-year moratorium on new licenses expired June 30, 2024.

Finland

On July 3, 2024 the Ministry of the Interior in Finland requested comments on the draft government proposal for a new Gambling Act. The deadline for submitting comments as part of the consultation on the proposal is August 18, 2024. Under the proposal, Veikkaus Oy would no longer hold the monopoly to arrange betting and online slot machine games and casino games. This change from a monopoly system would allow for competition through an open licensing regime, would help ensure players are gambling with regulated operators, and would help to reduce gambling-related harm. Lotteries, pools, totalisator betting and physical slot machines, and casino games would remain subject to an exclusive licence. Veikkaus therefore would retain a monopoly for lottery games and scratch cards.

The draft proposal also suggests the introduction of a centralised register of gambling exclusions, which would allow people to self-exclude on gambling games offered by any licence holder. A new gambling regulator has been proposed to replace the National Police Board. The new regulator, the Finnish Supervisory Agency, would have the authority to impose sanctions for unlawful activities and to revoke licences. The new proposal will be submitted to parliament in the Spring session of 2025 and would be introduced in stages once approved. Applications to operate gambling games could be submitted from the start of 2026, with licensees able to begin operations from the start of 2027. Supplier licences would only be required from 2028.

‍United Kingdom

On May 1, 2024, the UK Gambling Commission published a response to its July 2023 consultation on proposed changes to the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) and the Remote Technical Standards (RTS). As part of its proposed changes, there will be a strengthening of age verification in premises. The commission will remove the currently applicable exemption from carrying out age verification test purchasing for category A and B licensees, including betting, bingo, family entertainment centres (FECs) and adult gaming centres (AGCs). Relevant amendments to SR Code 3.2  are effective on August 30, 2024. There will also be financial vulnerability checks: the regulator will conduct a six-month pilot programme of financial risk assessments, and introduce "light-touch" financial vulnerability checks, as part of a two-tier system, commencing end of August 2024 and fully implemented before 2025.

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We’ve only shown you a snapshot of August’s deadlines.

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