EDITORIAL
A truly global industry
SIMON PLANZER PHD, Editor in Chief IMGL MAGAZINE
No one would dispute the fact that we work in a global industry and there are times when we can embrace the full interconnectedness conveniently on one occasion. Anyone attending the IMGL-IAGR conference in Rome, with over 50 nationalities represented, felt truly ‘global’, which also runs as a main theme through this edition of the IMGL Magazine. You will be familiar with the butterfly effect, where an insect flapping its wings in the Amazon might affect the weather on the other side of the world. Malta’s Bill 55 could be the gambling law equivalent as panelists in Rome debated and our colleague from the U.S. explains in his article. The legal ramifications globally go well beyond the theoretical and may have an impact on various operations and enforcement. And with a preliminary ruling procedure pending at the Court
of Justice of the EU, we can expect a continuation of the Bill 55 saga also in the judiciary. IAGR President Ben Haden kindly granted his time to sit down and share his thoughts with our readership. He observed that regulators from all countries and cultures wrestle with similar challenges. Superficially, that could mean that regulation around the world has huge potential for harmonization. Scratch beneath the surface, though, and his assertion is nevertheless that there will always be unique approaches. Whether it is the legal system, the political priorities, the societal norms or the historical legacies, there are many reasons why a copy and paste of regulations from elsewhere is not a realistic approach. What events like the IMGL Rome conference and publications like the IMGL Magazine can do is to outline policies and approaches that have proven
Contents 6
Small island, big impact: Malta’s Bill 55 continues to worry regulators around the world
12 16 24 30 34 38 42 46 48 54
International perspective: 1-on-1 with IAGR’s Ben Haden
Finnish gambling reform – first regulatory steps towards liberalization
The online gambling black market – at what cost?
Is Sweden the next frontline for ex-player reimbursement claims?
Asia in review: 2024 a year of change
The route machine market in Puerto Rico: an emerging gaming vertical
Player fund protection in Denmark, UK & Netherlands
Rome conference review
Cutting through M&A complexity Reflections on Responsible Gaming
IMGL MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2023 IMGL MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2024
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