The European Gaming and Betting Association has filed a formal complaint against the Lithuanian payment service provider Walletto. The regulatory body initiated the action following an investigation into payment processing practices linked to illegal online gambling platforms.
The complaint alleges that Walletto facilitates financial transactions for operators lacking proper licensing. Evidence gathered during the investigation, including test transaction data, indicates that the payment provider’s services were utilized for deposits on several non-compliant platforms.
Payment Channels and Regulatory Compliance
EGBA emphasizes that illegal gaming operators depend on mainstream financial networks to function at scale. Maarten Haijer, the association’s secretary general, stated that payment providers must not process transactions for unauthorized gambling entities. He noted that cutting off these financial channels is essential to prevent operators from evading regulatory controls.
The association highlighted the role of card schemes in this process. These networks set the rules for payment flows and possess visibility into transaction data that other entities lack. EGBA aims to restrict the maneuvering room of illegal operators by targeting the payment infrastructure they rely on to reach European consumers.