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Authorities in Mauritius have ordered the immediate suspension of betting activities operated by Bet 593 Ltd following an investigation into suspected money laundering.   The directive was issued by the country’s Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) after the regulator completed an internal inquiry and referred the matter to the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC), which subsequently led to the arrest of the company’s director on provisional money laundering charges.   The suspe

Casino operators in Macao recorded a solid increase in gaming income during February, with revenue rising 4.5% year-on-year as the Lunar New Year travel period attracted large numbers of visitors to the Pearl River Delta special administrative region.   According to the city’s gambling regulator, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, Macao’s gross gaming revenue reached 20.62 billion patacas in February, equivalent to roughly $2.56 billion. The results, reported by B

The government of the Isle of Man has officially categorized its gambling sector as presenting a “medium-high” risk for money laundering, highlighting the regulatory challenges facing one of the island’s most significant—and often scrutinized—industries.   In a newly released standalone National Risk Assessment (NRA) for gambling published on February 24, authorities concluded that the sector’s exposure to money laundering (ML) risks remains substantial. According to the repo

Two major American gaming operators, Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts International, are closely tracking developments in the Middle East after Iranian attacks across the region raised concerns about safety and stability in the United Arab Emirates, where both companies are investing billions of dollars in new resort developments. Wynn Resorts is currently constructing a massive $5.1 billion casino resort on an island in Ras Al Khaimah, while MGM Resorts International is building

Lawmakers in Louisiana are preparing to consider a series of gambling-related policy proposals when the 2026 legislative session begins on March 9 in Baton Rouge.     Several bills have already been pre-filed ahead of the session, which will bring together members of the Louisiana State Senate and the Louisiana House of Representatives next week.   The proposals address multiple areas of gambling regulation, including sports betting markets, online sweepstakes casinos, the co

Nationwide Building Society has revealed that the total amount spent by its customers on gambling increased by 9% year-on-year in January, with the number of gambling-related transactions climbing 7%, according to figures published by the lender on Friday. The data, based on responses from a representative sample of 2,000 UK gamblers, also showed that the top 10% of spenders wagered an average of around £745 per month. The survey, conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Nationwi

New Zealand will begin its iGaming licensing process from July, according to a new timeline issued by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). The proposed Online Casino Gambling Bill, which passed its first reading in July 2025, is expected to be passed into law in May following a second reading in parliament. Once it clears this stage, the bill will move to committee for a third reading before becoming enforceable. The introduction of the licensing regime represents a sign

Nearly half of the adult population in the Philippines, or approximately 32 million people, are reportedly engaging in online gambling, according to recent reports. Internet betting has surged since the COVID-19 pandemic, and with the Philippine government appearing intent on maximizing revenue from gambling, the country’s leading English-language newspaper is now urging regulatory reform. The Manila Bulletin, founded in 1900 and the second-oldest English newspaper in the Far

The UK Gambling Commission is preparing to examine whether cryptoassets could be introduced as a payment method for licensed gambling operators, marking what officials describe as an exploratory but significant development in the regulator’s approach to innovation and consumer protection.   Speaking at the Betting and Gaming Council’s annual general meeting, Tim Miller, Executive Director of the UK Gambling Commission, confirmed that the regulator will assess how cryptoassets

January 2026 did not arrive with a single explosive headline for Nigeria’s gambling industry.   Instead, it ushered in something arguably more significant: a series of regulatory clarifications and compliance pressures that began to reshape how operators structure payments, licensing, technology contracts and player protection tools.   The month’s developments can be examined without sensationalism or political framing. Five themes defined the shift: the treatment of VAT on s

The Philippine government is considering a possible ban on Telegram as authorities intensify efforts to combat illegal online activities, including unauthorized gambling operations and sexual exploitation, that have allegedly proliferated on the messaging platform. According to a report by Manila Bulletin, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) confirmed that it is evaluating the option of blocking access to Telegram following reports that illicit

Licensed betting operators in Brazil have avoided the introduction of a 15% tax on player deposits after the Chamber of Deputies voted to strip the provision from the Antifaction Bill prior to its approval on Tuesday. The proposal, known as CIDE-Bets, had originally been included in the bill passed by the Senate plenary in December. At that stage, the legislation not only sought to strengthen penalties against criminal organisations but also introduced a 15% levy on deposits

The Malaysian government is preparing new legislation aimed at curbing illegal gambling, with plans to grant expanded enforcement powers to police in response to growing concerns over both online and land-based betting activities.   Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof confirmed that authorities are currently drafting the proposed law and intend to present it during the upcoming parliamentary session.   “At the federal level, the government is drafting a law to address illega

Major leadership changes at the Federal Reserve this year could bring long-awaited relief to the US gaming industry, as investors and operators closely monitor who will succeed Jerome Powell when his term as chair ends in mid-May.   There is intense speculation in Washington over Powell’s replacement, and the gaming sector is paying close attention to the transition at the central bank. The prevailing view among political and economic observers is that the next chair, possibl

Finland’s sweeping plans to reform its gambling system are facing mounting criticism from legal experts and harm prevention organisations, as discussions intensify under the consultation process led by the Gambling Harm Risk and Harm Assessment Group within the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.   Legal firm Nordic Law has strongly criticised the government’s position on artificial intelligence, arguing that the draft legislation fails to properly recognise the sophistica

Athens has announced that all options are being considered in the fight against black market gambling, including prison sentences and consumer fines for repeated participation on illegal websites. Greece is moving forward with plans to become the first EU country to introduce a “comprehensive framework” specifically targeting illegal gambling activities and associated crimes. The initiative comes from Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Minister of National Economy and Finance, who is adva

Wynn Resorts Ltd. has become the latest major Las Vegas casino operator to face a cyberattack, with hackers demanding a $1.5 million ransom and threatening to release sensitive data. The extortionists have set a Monday deadline for payment and claim to have obtained approximately 800,000 records from the company’s systems. A hacking group calling itself ShinyHunters reportedly contacted Wynn Resorts on Friday, demanding the ransom while warning that they would make public “fu

The Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) has implemented a five percent withholding tax on the net winnings of online bettors, a measure that takes immediate effect across the state’s regulated gaming market. The announcement was made on Thursday by LSLGA Chief Executive Officer Bashir Are, who confirmed that the deduction will apply to all gaming platforms licensed in Lagos, regardless of whether the player resides in the state. According to the public notice i

South Africans who access unlicensed offshore gambling websites face serious legal and financial consequences, including the possible loss of both their deposits and any winnings.   Financial institutions are obligated under the law to seize funds connected to illegal betting activities, meaning users may never recover money earned through these platforms.   According to the Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA), national legislation forbids residents from participat

The Dutch gambling authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has issued a penalty order against Polymarket, instructing the cryptocurrency-based prediction platform to halt its operations in the Netherlands or face fines that could reach as much as €840,000 ($994,147).   The regulator determined that the platform had violated national regulations by making its services available to Dutch users without the required gambling licence.   According to the KSA, the company responsible f