In this episode of iGaming Accent, host Vakho Mdivani sits down with Quirino Mancini, Strategic Advisor of WH Group, a veteran legal expert whose career has spanned over two decades in the global gaming industry. Additionally, the conversation covers an exploration of the International Player Safety Index – a groundbreaking initiative designed to provide the industry with objective, data-driven benchmarks for player protection and responsible gambling.
Quirino’s journey into iGaming began unexpectedly when a colleague from New York asked for help understanding Italy’s gambling laws. “All of a sudden, I became someone who was advising on gaming regulations in Italy… When the market opened, I had already accumulated a number of consultancies to companies that were beginning to look at Italy as the next destination.”
This serendipitous start led to a career that weathered five licensing rounds and became a go-to advisor for operators and regulators alike.
The International Player Safety Index, a research initiative conducted in partnership with SBC Media and 1xBet, is a central topic of the episode. Quirino discusses how the Index fills a critical gap in the regulatory landscape, offering regulators, operators, and policymakers a reliable foundation for understanding and addressing problem gambling.
Quirino explains, “The report was an essential tool… What was missing was some solid grounds to start the conversation about player protection and problem gambling. Until you have some objective, undisputable, hard data, you’re not even in a position to do anything effective.” The Index, he notes, provides a much-needed benchmark for both industry and regulators to move forward.
The discussion highlights the complexity of compliance in Europe, where each country has its own requirements. “There is no harmonization… The big issue is that what my people are doing in Italy or France is not necessarily the same level of compliance required in Romania or Belgium.”
Quirino’s advice to operators is clear: “Make sure you have a dedicated team for each challenging regulated market… and build an ongoing, open, and transparent relationship with your regulator.”
He also stresses the importance of internal communication: “Once you have created those units, make sure the various compliance teams are communicating internally… Sharing experiences can prevent costly mistakes in other markets.”
Quirino’s practical wisdom is rooted in years of experience: “Investing in the right resources for compliance is essential. The cost of mistakes can be millions in fines.”
The conversation turns to the role of legislators and the dangers of over-regulation. “Very often the problem is not the regulator, it’s the legislator… Over-regulation only redirects consumers towards the illegal gambling offer.”
He advocates for balanced, sound regulations and ongoing dialogue between industry and regulators: “Licensed operators are the good guys. They pay taxes, they play by the book.”
On the future of regulation, Quirino highlights a recent initiative by the European Gambling and Betting Association (EGBA) to standardize markers of harm for problem gambling. “Even if there is no harmonization across the EU, there are some useful practical benchmarks that can be used to spot problem gambling and deal with it effectively.”
He also responded to a question from Hybrid Interaction’s Nona Titanyan and posed one of his own for the next guest.
To hear the whole conversation and gain even deeper insights, listen to the complete podcast episode of iGaming Accent.
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