Gambling Regulatory Deadlines to Watch in December

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 December, there are 11 regulatory deadlines on the horizon — with 5 key consultation periods coming to an end and requiring a response, and 6 actionable deadlines to be aware of coming into effect.

What are the regulatory deadlines to watch in December?

New Jersey‍

On October 16, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement proposed an amendment to allow the funding of online gaming and sports wagering accounts through the use of gift cards, provided certain conditions are met. Under the text of the proposed rule, a patron's internet or mobile gaming account would be able to be funded by one or more gift cards, provided that all gift cards have a play-through requirement of their full deposit amount prior to such funds being eligible for withdrawal. The play-through requirement would not be limited by time or number of wagering sessions. 

Additionally, funds can be withdrawn from a gaming account for the purposes of a cash-out, provided that if the cash-out is from an account whereby gift cards are more than 50 percent of the patron's deposits, an image of the patron must be captured by still camera or surveillance for identification confirmation purposes and said image permanently retained. Gift card deposits would be limited to no more than $500 on any one gaming day. The public comment period terminates on December 6, 2024.‍

Maine

On October 28, the Maine Department of Public Safety Gambling Control Unit issued two notices of proposed rulemakings. The first proposal is to implement the recent change in Maine law requiring the Gambling Control Board, in cooperation with the Department of Public Safety, to approve qualified independent laboratories for certification of slot machines and associated equipment from distributors and service vendors. The proposed rulemaking creates Chapter 19-A of the Maine Administrative Code to set out the requirements and criteria for independent laboratory certification. Additionally, the rulemaking includes a requirement that the certified laboratory must be recognized by the Gaming Standards Association (GSA) as being able to certify all protocol implementations to current GSA standards. The public comment deadline is December 6, 2024. 

The second proposal is to implement the recent change in Maine law creating a universal exclusion list for all areas of gambling under the oversight of the Gambling Control Board and Gambling Control Unit. The proposed rule making would update Chapter 13 of the Maine Administrative Code and allow persons participating in internet wagering to self-exclude by request through an internet wagering operator's platform or application, effectively aligning internet wagering with existing land-based self-exclusion standards and procedures. Additionally, patrons applying for self-exclusion would have the ability to choose whether exclusion is sought from casinos, slot machine facilities, advance deposit wagering, fantasy contests, and/or sports wagering. The public comment deadline is December 6, 2024.

South Africa

On November 8, 2024, Mr Roger William Chance, a South African MP, issued a notice to introduce a private members bill in the South African parliament and invited comments on the draft Remote Gambling Bill 2024. The bill, which was introduced in the parliament by the Democratic Alliance (DA), seeks to comprehensively regulate South Africa's online gambling industry, as well as provide oversight and adequate protection to patrons. The main objectives of the bill are:

• To regulate the issuance of licences to be controlled by the provincial licensing authorities (PLAs).
• To provide for procedures relating to objections from issuing of licenses.
• To regulate advertising of interactive/online gambling entities.
• To provide for the protection of minors and vulnerable persons.
• To ensure compliance with the Financial Intelligence Centre Act.
  

The notice invites interested parties and institutions to submit written representations on the proposed content of the bill to the Speaker of the National Assembly by December 8, 2024. Comments can be delivered to the Speaker, New Assembly Building, Parliament Street, Cape Town; mailed to the Speaker at PO Box 15, Cape Town 8000; or emailed to speaker@parliament.gov.za and copied to legislation@da.org.za.‍

Brazil

On November 26, 2024, Brazil's Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) published Ordinance No. 1.857/2024 which regulates the transfer of data and funds of bettors between legal entities of the same economic group. Ordinance No. 1.857/2024 requires legal entities interested in receiving data and resources to formalize their request for approval to the SPA by December 13, 2024. The application for the request is attached to the ordinance as annexes I and II. The request must be sent via the electronic information system (SEI).

The data and resources referred to in Ordinance No. 1.857/2024 is the player account information that companies who have been previously operating in Brazil have and want to transfer  over to their platform that has requested authorisation for fixed-odds betting under Law 14.790/2023. This allows the companies that have been operating in the transitional period to keep the player's information and funds to transfer over to their authorised platform, once the regulated market becomes effective. 

Ordinance No. 1.857/2024 establishes various deadlines for the steps in the transfer process to take place. It also requires that the players whose information is to be transferred to have successfully completed the KYC procedures, as required by Ordinance No. 722/2024 and Ordinance No. 1.231/2024. Additionally, operators must receive express consent from the player to have their account information transferred. By December 31, 2024, operators who have not received approval to transfer player data and funds must:

• Close open bets on the platform that has been operating in the transitional period. 
• Transfer the funds available in the bettors' accounts in favor of a deposit or payment account previously registered by the player.
  

United Kingdom

On October 1, 2024, Northern Ireland's Department for Communities (DfC) opened a consultation on the proposed gambling Code of Practice. Pursuant to Article 180A(1) of the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, the department is required to issue one or more gambling codes of practice. The consultation will close on December 24, 2024. Responses can be emailed to gamblingcop@communities-ni.gov.uk. The department has currently invited feedback on the following proposals, which shall enter into force six months after the date of issue of the code. 

• Prohibition on acceptance of credit payments from customers who are not themselves gambling operators.
• Ban on automated teller machines (ATMs) (or any method of withdrawing cash from a financial institution) from bookmakers’ offices, bingo clubs and dedicated amusement and gaming centre premises.
• Requirement to display age limit notices outside and inside gambling premises.
• Requirement to carry out age verification checks on prospective customers who appear to be below the legal age for gambling.
• Adherence to the UK Fund Raising Code of Practice in relation to society lottery fundraising activities involving children.
• Provision of a self-exclusion scheme to be made available to any customer who wishes to self-exclude.
  

We’ve only shown you a snapshot of December’s deadlines. Want to see them all?

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