The LNB received an award during the World Lottery Summit 2024 in Paris.
El Salvador.- The National Lottery of Beneficence of El Salvador (LNB) was honored with a recognition for its leadership in responsible gaming practices during the World Lottery Summit 2024. The event was organized by the World Lottery Association (WLA) and took place from October 21 to 24 in Paris.
During a ceremony held at the Summit, the president of the LNB, Javier Milián, received the distinction. The institution highlighted: "This award reflects the efforts that the entire LNB family makes, achieving a solid and reliable institution that responds to the commercial, technological, and social challenges typical of state lotteries."
In 2023, the institution launched the "Responsible Gaming" campaign based on the seven principles of responsible gaming established by the WLA. The initiative prioritizes the well-being of players and their families, promoting healthy entertainment and minimizing the risks associated with gambling addiction.
See also: The LNB of El Salvador signed a cooperation agreement with the Institute Grow Together
"The recognition from the WLA is an honor that motivates us to continue improving and providing ethical and safe entertainment, as well as continuing to bring benefits to thousands of Salvadorans. We maintain the commitment to always act with transparency, ethics, and best practices, demonstrating that El Salvador is also a benchmark in the industry of state lotteries globally," conveyed by the LNB.
This year, the National Lottery of Beneficence of El Salvador became the official sponsor of the Closing Tournament 2024 of the Tigo Sports Cup. In a press conference, Yamil Bukele, president Ad Honorem of the National Institute of Sports (INDES) and the Salvadoran Basketball Federation (FESABAL), presented the details of the tournament.
The Ibero-American Corporation of State Lotteries and Betting (Cibelae) invited participation in the webinar on the “Certification Process of the WLA Responsible Gaming Framework”, which will take place on Thursday, November 14.
This event, organized in collaboration with the WLA and DigitalRG, aims to delve into the certification process of the WLA Responsible Gaming Framework.
Thousands of illegal online gambling websites have been blocked since the beginning of January.
Singapore.- The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has blocked more than 3,800 illegal gambling websites in the first eight days of the year.
More than 145,000 illegal gambling transactions involving the Singapore public, amounting to about SGD37m (US$27.0m), had been blocked as of December 31, 2024, as reported by The Straits Times.
Minister of Home Affairs, K. Shanmugam, said during a session in the city-state’s parliament: “These blocking measures have impeded access to illegal online gambling to some extent. However, this approach is clearly not foolproof as illegal operators can easily create new websites, and we do not have the ability to know of every gambling website.”
He further encouraged the public to report to the police illegal websites, apps, advertisements and bank accounts used by illegal gambling operators.
Shanmugam also said that the MHA currently has no intentions to allow families of people with gambling-harm-related issues to ask for the blocking of their bank accounts.
Last October, the Casino Control (Amendment) Act 2024 entered into force. Under the revised rules, it is now an offence for “any person” to destroy or falsify documents, knowing that the document is required by the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA).
The amendment also aligns penalties for offences related to casino operations with similar laws in other areas. This includes increased penalties for: providing false or misleading information to GRA and a minor refusing to give particulars or using false evidence of age to enter a casino, which now align with similar offences under the Gambling Control Act.
The bill also gives the GRA the power to take disciplinary action against operators and special employees for regulatory breaches even after their licences have lapsed if the disciplinary action had commenced before the licence lapsing. The GRA retains the authority to regulate gaming software used on mobile devices within casino premises.
The bill also transfers the authority to authorise the primary stakeholders of casino operators from the GRA to the MHA, which the government sees as more suited to “guarantee ongoing harmony between the integrated resorts (IRs) and the strategic goals of the Singapore government.” The GRA must approve all casino games, gaming machines and chips.
The bill also gives the GRA the power to regulate betting and lotteries in casinos in addition to games of chance. Additional measures include returning entry levies for Singapore citizens and permanent residents to SG$150 daily and SG$3,000 annually after a period of lower rates.
