Latest Gambling News: New Zealand Invites Feedback On Account-Based Play Standards, and more

Catch up on six of the stories our gambling compliance analysts have covered lately, and stay up-to-date on the latest news.

New Zealand Invites Feedback On Account-Based Play Standards

New Zealand’s government has announced a one-month consultation period for a draft standard for account-based play, covering data and fund security, functionality, software and hardware and other elements.

The draft Casino Minimum Standards for Account-Based Play cover functionality criteria including account creation and deactivation, user identification, fund processing and game activity, regulatory monitoring and data auditing.

The draft was triggered in part by account-based, carded play requirements mandated by new Host Responsibility Programmes in force at SkyCity Entertainment Group casinos from January this year, and which have a July 2025 deadline for final implementation.

“The proposed standard prescribes that in approving account-based play systems, the Secretary [of Internal Affairs] must be satisfied that … the system meets the standard, … that the integrity of the system is supported by appropriate Terms and Conditions for use account holders, and that … there are appropriate internal controls and procedures to enable the operation and security of the system,” according to the consultation document.

“Prior to approval, the standard provides that Account-Based Play systems should be submitted to an accredited testing facility for testing against the standard,” it adds.

The consultation period closes on September 20.

Bovada Adds Ohio To Restricted List

Bovada has added Ohio to its list of restricted states after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from state gaming regulators earlier this month.

“The commission will continue to ensure that entities seeking to offer casino gaming, skill games, fantasy contests or sports gaming in Ohio do so in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations,” Jessica Franks, a spokeswoman with the Ohio Casino Control Commission, said in an email on Wednesday (August 21).

“We will use the civil and criminal tools at our disposal whenever it discovers gaming products being offered illegally in the state,” Franks said.

Curaçao-based Harp Media B.V. operates Bovada.com and Bovada.lv. Ohio is the 11th U.S. jurisdiction added to Bovada’s restricted list and follows the additions of Washington, D.C. and Connecticut to its list in July.

As of Wednesday, Bovada restricts users from the following states: Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware, Michigan, Colorado, West Virginia, Connecticut, Ohio and the District of Columbia.

Gaming regulators in both Massachusetts and Louisiana are also considering potential investigations into Bovada or issuing cease-and-desist letters.

Ohio Casinos Set To Accept Digital IDs

Casinos in Ohio will begin accepting digital driver’s licenses or identification cards loaded onto an Apple iPhone later this year when customers enter the gaming floor after the state earlier this month approved its use for getting through TSA checkpoints at the airport but not for voting.

Matthew Sculer, executive director of the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC), confirmed the launch Tuesday (August 20), describing casinos as the perfect environment “because they are expert for screening for minors and those on the exclusion list.”

“This is the future,” Schuler said. “We are just stepping into it right now. The casinos once this happens will be the first large scale business in the state to adopt this.”

The Apple wallet version of an ID may have all the information, but it is not a photocopy. Instead, the iPhone shares a person’s information digitally, which means each casino will need a specific card reader.

Ohio joins Arizona, Colorado, Georgia and Maryland as states that allow the use of mobile IDs at airport security. Seth Elkin, a spokesman with Maryland Lottery and Gaming, said the state’s six casinos “aren’t prohibited from using a system like this, but they would need to request approval, and then update their standard operating procedures accordingly.”

“Yes, the Colorado Division of Gaming does allow for casinos in Colorado to use digital IDs to allow for access to the gaming floor,” said spokesman Kyle Boyd. “The division also recommends that casino operators consult the Internal Revenue Service and follow their guidelines for utilization of digital IDs for tax purposes.”

Genting Seeks Legal Advice On Nevada Complaint

Genting Berhad acknowledged in a regulatory filing that it has sought legal advice after the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) filed a 12-count disciplinary complaint against the company and its Resorts World Las Vegas subsidiary by allowing illegal bookmakers to wager millions of dollars at the casino.

“Resorts World Las Vegas has been actively working to communicate with the NGCB,” Genting said in its filing. “Genting and Resorts World look forward to resolving the issues raised by the NGCB and continuing to ensure that business practices at Resorts Worl Las Vegas meet all regulatory and legal requirements.”

The 31-page complaint deals with the activities of illegal bookmaker Mathew Bowyer, who pled guilty in federal court earlier this month to one count each of operating an illegal gambling business, money laundering and filing a false tax return.

According to the NGCB, Bowyer was allowed to gamble millions of dollars at Resorts World even though the resort had not adequately established his source of funds.

Genting stated that the company takes any suggestion of regulatory violations very seriously.

“Genting and its subsidiaries are committed to doing business with the utmost integrity and in line with applicable laws and industry guidelines.”

Delaware Orders Virtual Gaming Worlds To Cease Operations

The Delaware Lottery has ordered Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW) to shut down operations in the state, according to a report by the Australian Financial Review.

VGW operates sweepstakes sites Chumba Casino, Luckyland and Global Poker.

The Perth, Australia-based company has also faced regulatory issues in other U.S. markets outside Delaware.

In December, the Michigan Gaming Control Board ordered VGW to cease operations of its sweepstakes games in the state, joining Idaho and Washington.

The report of Delaware’s order against VGW comes several days after the American Gaming Association (AGA) called on state regulators to investigate whether the offerings violate local laws.

Gibraltar Assesses Licensee Over Information Deficiency

The Gibraltar Gambling Division said it has reached a £25,000 settlement in lieu of a financial penalty with a licensee it did not name over a deficiency in treatment of two players.

The licensee failed to reconcile tax and income information provided by the players, the regulator said Friday (August 16) in a press release.

There was no evidence the players had engaged in tax evasion in their non-UK jurisdiction, but the mismatch between income and tax information should have meant that the operator asked more questions and asked for more information, the division said.

If a player does not provide a satisfactory explanation, consideration should be given to filing a suspicious activities report, the regulator said.

The licensee was fully cooperative with the investigation throughout, the regulator said.

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