James Kilsby, Chief Analyst and VP Americas, Vixio Regulatory Intelligence, breaks down how achieving compliance quickly and efficiently can be a game changer for the industry, and how the company’s Technical Compliance Tool can help make it happen.
Of the myriad compliance challenges faced by online gambling operators and suppliers, perhaps the most complex is ensuring their systems, platforms and game content are aligned with the highly detailed – and often divergent – technical requirements that are imposed by gambling authorities in regulated markets worldwide.
At Vixio, we’ve spent years working closely with compliance teams across the globe, and one thing is clear: the industry is at a tipping point. The traditional methods of managing technical compliance (spreadsheets, manual processes, and reactive strategies) are no longer sustainable.
For operators and suppliers alike, the ability to efficiently identify, analyze and diagnose technical and product compliance requirements can be the difference between a smooth certification and market-entry process, and a prolonged, costly and painful one.
The growing complexity of technical compliance
The gambling industry has always been subject to stringent regulations, but the pace and scope of change have accelerated dramatically in recent years. From change management to infosecurity and responsible gaming protocols, the technical requirements for operating in regulated markets are becoming increasingly diverse and granular.
According to our recent supplier survey, 90% of suppliers say technical requirements are getting more diverse and harder to manage. Furthermore, 86% say that policymakers often establish requirements for online gambling without enough consideration of their impact from a technical and product perspective.
You only need to look to Brazil for a reminder of how effective execution around technical compliance is increasingly complex, yet so pivotal to market-entry.
For all the challenges associated with Brazil’s market opening, it was only by extending tight deadlines for certifications that the Brazilian regulator was able to hit its Jan. 1, 2025 launch date, with provisional licences initially awarded to the vast majority of operators who were unable to fully certify their systems against rules which were derived from multiple ordinances and which continued to evolve in the weeks leading up to the deadline.
Still, it is not only in new markets – from Brazil to the UAE, Finland, Alberta, New Zealand and beyond – where technical requirements are in flux.
Key rules either have been or are in the process of being updated in well established markets such as the U.K., Italy, Denmark and Pennsylvania, requiring operators and suppliers in those jurisdictions to revisit the regulations and diagnose what needs to be updated or reconfigured in order to maintain compliance with them.
As explored on a recent Vixio webinar, no two regulatory regimes are ever the same and operators and suppliers need to be able to adapt quickly to shifting requirements if they want to succeed in scaling on a global basis.
Speed-to-market: the competitive edge
In this environment, speed-to-market has become a critical competitive advantage. The ability to launch quickly and efficiently in new markets is not just an aspiration; it’s a business imperative. However, achieving this requires a fundamental shift in how compliance teams operate.
Traditional methods of managing technical compliance are inherently reactive. Teams spend weeks, sometimes months, manually tracking changes, interpreting requirements and updating internal processes. This approach is not only time-consuming but also prone to errors, which can have serious consequences in a highly regulated, global industry.
The solution lies in leveraging technology to streamline and automate compliance processes. By adopting tools that provide real-time, analyst-verified updates, compliance teams can cut research time from weeks to minutes, reduce errors, and focus on more strategic initiatives.
A new era of technical compliance
With these challenges in mind, Vixio has launched a major expansion of its Technical Compliance Tool. Originally launched in 2024 as the industry’s first one-stop solution for technical compliance in online gambling, the tool has recently been expanded to cover a broader range of requirements across 11 dedicated modules. These include sports betting, live casino, platforms, reporting, KYC and responsible gaming.
After the first iteration of Vixio’s Technical Compliance Tool was warmly received, the main demand from our clients was for more – more coverage across the full spectrum of technical and product compliance requirements applicable to online gambling operators and suppliers of all persuasions.
The expanded Technical Compliance Tool delivers just that, and it’s a game-changer, replacing convoluted spreadsheets with reliable, real-time updates in one place.
It links directly to original regulatory sources, ensuring that compliance teams have access to the most accurate and up-to-date information. Real-time alerts notify users of changes as they happen, allowing them to stay ahead of the curve.
The tool also integrates with Vixio’s proprietary AI assistant, enabling rapid queries and benchmarking across multiple jurisdictions. This not only saves time but also empowers compliance teams to make more informed decisions.
Real-World impact
During Brazil’s market opening, Vixio’s Technical Compliance Tool mapped everything in real time, so one of our clients was able to cut their research time from weeks to minutes, enabling them to hasten their market entry prep significantly.
Through the tool, users can compare requirements for different product types or in different areas of regulation across the markets that matter to them, enabling compliance executives to benchmark the rules of a new jurisdiction and well-established ones.
The precise language of all requirements for a given product or system feature are consolidated in one place, with the underlying source of the requirement – the regulation, technical standard or guidance published by the regulator – just one click away.
Technical compliance in the future
As the gambling industry continues to evolve, the importance of technical compliance will only grow. Policymakers and regulators must work more closely with the industry to ensure that new rules are both effective and practical. At the same time, operators and suppliers must embrace innovation and invest in the tools and technologies that will enable them to navigate this complex landscape.
At Vixio, we’re committed to helping our clients stay ahead in this dynamic environment. The expanded Technical Compliance Tool is just one example of how we’re empowering compliance teams to turn challenges into opportunities. Together, we can build a more resilient and innovative gambling industry.
For more information about the Technical Compliance Tool, visit www.vixio.com/technical-compliance. Vixio will also be showcasing the new Technical Compliance Tool at G2E Vegas 2025, stand 3313.
