Sweden’s gambling regulator, the Spelinspektionen, has called on the government to reconsider the proposed implementation of a credit card ban which is aimed at combating gambling-induced debt. The authority made its views clear about the ban in its response to a government consultation regarding enhanced consumer protection against risky lending and over-indebtedness. 

Spelinspektionen Supports Credit Card Ban

Back in July, the government published a report on its inquiry on over-indebtedness which includes a proposal to prohibit credit card gambling. Responding to a consultation on this matter, Spelinspektionen said it supports the inquiry’s recommendation to extend the credit card ban in the Gambling Act to include third parties. 

Under the measure, licensed gambling operators and so-called “gambling agents” will be prohibited from promoting and facilitating credit card payments for the purpose of gambling.

Govt. Should Consider Ban’s Impact in UK, Norway

While the authority backs the ban, it noted in its response that it cannot be imposed at this time due to “practical problems” associated with the measure.

Spelinspektionen also stated that prior to implementing the ban, the government must first examine the impact of a similar measure currently in place in the UK and Norway.

Spain has allocated €1.3 million in funding for academic research on gambling disorder prevention. The latest initiative will see the government award research grants to 26 projects, as confirmed by the Spanish Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ).

Spain Approves 26 Gambling Disorder Research Projects

Spearheaded by the Spanish Ministry of Consumer Affairs, the grant scheme aims to provide relevant government agencies with a better understanding of gambling disorders in the country. 

The announcement of the grants follows a tender process that opened in April and was participated in by several academic institutions throughout Spain. The applicants submitted 39 research projects, 26 of which were approved, following a review by the DGOJ’s Evaluation Commission, with support from the State Research Agency of Spain, AEI.

The Recipients 

The recipients of the grants include the following: the University of the Church of Deusto, the University of Santiago de Compostelo, the University of Oviedo, the University of Castilla La Mancha, and the Universidad Complutense of Madrid.

The Spanish government has this year stepped up efforts to combat gambling harms, introducing stricter rules on responsible gaming which are set to take effect in 2024. 

At the moment, the DGOJ is conducting a stakeholder consultation on the implementation of the new rules which include measures aimed at enhancing player protection.

Armenia is now one step closer to implementing a cash ban for online gaming, with the National Assembly’s Finance Committee clearing the way for the proposed changes to the rules governing online gambling transactions. 

New Rules Put an End to Online Gambling Cash Transactions

Under the new rules, Armenian customers will be prohibited from making cash payments related to online gambling, as betting accounts may only be replenished through card services offered by banks licensed in the country.  The card must belong to the player. Additionally, any winnings can only be paid out through the same method. 

The measure, proposed by MPs Gevorg Papoyan and Tsovinar Vardanyan who are both members of the ruling Civil Contract Party, was initially approved by the Assembly in May 2022 by 67 votes. It is aimed at limiting the ability of players to make “easy bets”, preventing gambling addiction, and protecting vulnerable citizens.

Cash Ban Approved by NA Finance Committee, Central Bank

After obtaining approval from the Assembly, the cash ban stipulations were then reviewed by the Finance Committee, with consultations also conducted between the government, betting operators, and the Central Bank.

In a recent announcement, the Assembly confirmed that the discussions had positive results, with the relevant parties giving their go-ahead to the revised legislative initiative. The Central Bank also issued a recommendation for the adoption of the new rules.

Bacta, a trade association representing the UK amusement and gaming machine industry, launched its Social Responsibility (SR) Exchange to provide practical guidance to the industry’s consumer-facing staff on delivering safer gambling experiences. 

The exchange is part of bacta’s new commitment to foster training, collaboration, and shared knowledge among members. It will hold its first exchange on October 31, 2023, in Birmingham, and provide training focusing on consumer-safe gambling interventions and engagements at UK venues. 

Through creating opportunities for attendees to share their experiences of engaging with players, Bacta aims to collect the actual experiences of land-based casino employees. 

Bacta Chief Executive John White says the trade body knows about the need to complement academic work on safe gambling. The SR Exchange uses the real experiences of real people to satisfy this requirement and provide attendees with toolkits of practical measures to share with colleagues. 

The SR Exchange is the first of the four bacta initiatives, reflecting the trade association’s commitment to deliver responsible, fun, and safe gambling entertainment to UK residents. 

The first exchange precedes the Safer Gambling Week, scheduled for 13 – 19 November 2023, by the Betting and Gaming Council, the Bacta, the Bingo Association, and the Lotteries Council. 

The ongoing cost-of-living crisis has indirectlyled Australians to lose billions of dollars more to pokies, with losses recorded in some states jumping by as high as 34% from pre-pandemic figures. Gambling researchers and analysts say the sharp rise comes as no surprise, with Australians now gambling more as they grapple with rising inflation.

Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

South Australia recorded the biggest increase in gambling losses in the previous financial year, with residents losing $917 million, up 34% from 2018-2019. Those in Queensland also saw their losses rise to $3.24 billion, an increase of 33% from the $2.42 billion recorded before the pandemic. New South Wales (NSW) residents lost $8.07 billion to pokie machines in the past financial year, representing a 23% jump from $6.5 billion in 2018-19. 

Charles Livingstone, Associate Professor at Monash University, said Australians are leaning more towards gambling out of desperation as the cost-of-living crisis continues. People under stress are more vulnerable to harmful gambling as they see the activity as a temporary escape from life’s day-to-day challenges, he added.

Urgent Pokie Reforms Needed

The steep increase in Australians’ gambling losses has once again put the impact of pokie machines under the spotlight, with gambling reform advocates criticizing the industry for preying on vulnerable people. 

In NSW in particular, there’s a higher concentration of pokies in disadvantaged areas, as observed by researchers. Rev Stu Cameron, CEO of the charity Wesley Mission, said the government must now implement sensible, effective reforms as a matter of urgency.