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ܰç's Gaming Control Board (GCB) has responded to a raft of allegations regarding the country’s licensing reforms, including denying assertions it embezzled money and refuting claims it lacks the authority to grant licences.
In a statement circulated on November 26, the GCB said under the National Ordinance on Hazard Games (NOOGH), the current gambling law, it can “grant, amend, suspend temporarily, revoke, or deny licenses, as well as attach terms and conditions to licenses”.
“The licenses granted on the basis of the NOOGH are not provisional licenses. Any applicant whose application is approved will be issued a license,” the GCB said.
When the new law (LOK) comes into force, which the GCB is hopeful will be passed before the end of the year, licence holders will automatically be granted a provisional licence.
“This allows them up to one year to comply fully with all LOK requirements as a transition period,” the GCB said.
Addressing fee payments, the regulator denied the assertion that funds may have been embezzled, calling the claims “incorrect”.
“Once licenses are approved, invoices are issued by the GCB and the operators pay their fees directly into an official government bank account and not via the online gaming portal. There is no scope for mismanagement,” the GCB said.
It also detailed its “multi-phase” licensing process, beginning with applications undergoing checks, including due diligence “on decision-makers”.
An assessment process concludes with a report, which the GCB executive team uses to decide whether to grant or deny a licence.
It also stated that it does not have the jurisdiction to intervene in alleged breaches of foreign regulations.
It “relies on formal decisions issued by competent foreign authorities. Enforcement actions taken by the GCB depend on factors such as the severity of the violation.” There were no additional details on how this affects foreign enforcement action against ܰç licensed operators.
Additionally, under the LOK, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) will be made mandatory to ensure more independent evaluations and complaints will be used as inputs in the GCB’s the risk-based supervision process.
The letter also addressed the bankruptcy of BC.Game, Premier League side Leicester City’s front of shirt sponsor; however, the regulator would not comment on specific details of the case.
“This bankruptcy is administrative (based on a civil law statute in ܰç) and is not due to insolvency. A trustee has been appointed to handle the estate and ensure payments to players. The GCB is consulting with the regulated entity involved to determine appropriate regulatory measures,” the letter states.
The GCB also clarified it currently does not use AI but it is open to incorporating new technologies.
In recent months, the GCB has also introduced a system of digital seals, which indicates that a gambling company is engaging with the new interim licence system.
Operators can display an orange seal if they are existing sub-licensees, have submitted an application, but have not yet been approved, or a green seal if they have been granted an interim licence by the GCB.
In an update, shared with žž earlier this month, the regulator said a total of 173 licences have already been granted and a further 59 have been approved and are in the process of receiving a green seal.
