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Hong Kong-listed International Entertainment Corporation (IEC) is moving into the Philippine online gaming sector after one of its subsidiaries entered into a cooperation agreement with Total Gamezone Xtreme Incorporated (TGXI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Philippine gaming operator DigiPlus Interactive Corp. According to a filing submitted to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, New Coast Leisure Inc. (NCLI), an indirect subsidiary of IEC and the operator of LaVie Resort & Casin

The gambling regulator of Anjouan has firmly pushed back against suggestions that its licences are designed to provide operators with unrestricted access to betting markets around the world, insisting that its regulatory approvals have never been intended as universal authorizations. Anjouan, one of the self-governing islands that form part of the Union of the Comoros in the Indian Ocean, has increasingly become a focal point in discussions surrounding unlicensed, offshore an

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has unveiled a new strategy aimed at combating the growth of illegal gambling in the United Kingdom, arguing that a coordinated response from government authorities, regulators, technology platforms and financial institutions is necessary to protect consumers and the licensed market. Representing what it says is around 90 per cent of Britain's regulated betting and gaming industry, the trade body believes that unlicensed operators are expa

Germany's regulated sports betting sector is preparing for a major surge in activity during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with industry representatives predicting that the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico will become the year's most significant commercial event for the market. According to projections from the German Sports Betting Association (DSWV), the total volume of wagers placed in Germany during the competition could approach the €1 billion threshold. The

The New Zealand government has formally released a comprehensive set of regulations to implement the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026, setting the stage for a regulated online gambling market. These rules will take effect on 3 July 2026, coinciding with the expected start of a competitive licensing process for online casino operators. The regulations were issued via an Order in Council, acting on recommendations from the Minister of Internal Affairs. They outline strict op

Singapore authorities are investigating 30 people for their suspected involvement in illegal online gambling activities and related financial offences following a targeted enforcement operation conducted over nine days in May. In a statement released on Thursday, the Singapore Police Force said that a nationwide operation carried out between 21 and 29 May resulted in the identification or arrest of 21 men and nine women ranging in age from 17 to 79. The operation was led by

Nigeria’s gambling sector continues to undergo significant transformation nearly eighteen months after a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court fundamentally altered the regulatory structure governing lotteries and games of chance across the country. The decision, delivered in November 2024, transferred regulatory authority from the federal government to individual state governments, triggering a wave of legislative and administrative activity as states move to establish or str

South Korea’s Supreme Court has established that operators of unlawful online gambling platforms can be held criminally responsible for violations of data protection laws when they acquire and use personal information obtained through illegal means. The ruling clarifies that individuals involved in illicit gambling operations are not exempt from liability under privacy legislation simply because the information was used within the context of an illegal enterprise. The decisio

Canada’s financial intelligence authorities have identified online sports betting and gambling as increasingly significant channels for money laundering, warning that both licensed and unlicensed platforms are being exploited by criminal organizations seeking to move illicit funds through the financial system. An examination of suspicious transaction reports filed between 2016 and 2023 reveals increasingly complex laundering methods involving financial institutions, payment p

Austria’s long-standing online casino monopoly may finally be approaching its end following a dramatic shift in policy by the Finance Ministry. After years of speculation and only limited movement toward reform, a leaked draft gambling law published on Wednesday indicates that the government is preparing to open the online gambling market to multiple operators. The proposal represents one of the most significant developments in Austria’s gambling sector in decades and could f

Italy’s communications regulator is moving to provide greater clarity on how licensed gambling operators can interact with customers while remaining compliant with the country’s stringent advertising restrictions. The initiative comes as the regulator launches a consultation focused on responsible gambling communications, seeking to establish clearer distinctions between customer information that may be permitted and marketing activity that remains prohibited under existing l

The European Commission is reportedly examining the possibility of introducing an EU-wide tax on online gambling as part of a broader effort to identify new sources of income for the bloc’s next multiannual financial framework. According to reports , the measure is being discussed alongside potential taxes targeting cryptocurrency activity and large digital businesses, with the combined package projected to generate as much as €13.3 billion annually during the 2028–2034 budge

Hedge funds have generated enormous profits this year by betting against publicly traded gambling companies, as a wave of declining share prices across the online betting sector delivered billions in gains to short sellers. Hedge funds have earned at least $2.3bn in 2025 through short positions targeting major online gambling operators. The profits came as several of the industry’s largest listed companies suffered steep market declines amid increasing regulatory pressure,

Kazakhstan is moving aggressively to expand its gambling industry, with authorities announcing the creation of several new gambling zones across resort destinations and urban centers as part of a broader economic development strategy. Under the country’s current legislation, gambling activities are legally restricted to just two designated areas: the city of Konaev in the Almaty region and the Shchuchinsk-Borovoye resort district located in the Akmola region of north-central

Spain has temporarily halted the operations of prediction market platforms Polymarket and Kalshi within its territory after regulators concluded that both services were offering gambling-related products without the legally required authorisations. The country’s Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs & Agenda 2030 confirmed that the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling has initiated formal sanction proceedings against the two companies. The measure was also

Mounting financial problems among young people in the Dutch city of Enschede have intensified calls for stricter gambling regulation, with local councillor Meryam Sümer urging the Netherlands government to increase the legal minimum age for online gambling from 18 to 24. Sümer, a representative of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party and a welfare worker, has also advocated for tighter controls on buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) services and stronger enforcement against gam

Indonesia has intensified its nationwide campaign against illegal gambling by officially blocking access to the crypto-based prediction market platform Polymarket, following controversy surrounding wagers tied to President Prabowo Subianto and his political future. Although gambling remains illegal throughout Indonesia, underground betting operations and offshore online gambling sites have continued to attract users for years. Under Prabowo’s administration, however, author

France has taken another step toward strengthening oversight of its gambling industry after the National Gaming Authority (ANJ) unveiled a new risk algorithm designed to help online operators identify compulsive and excessive gambling behavior. The initiative comes as the French gaming market reached a value of €14.1 billion in 2025, increasing pressure on regulators to improve consumer protection measures across the sector. Rather than serving as a medical diagnostic tool,

Nevada gaming regulators have officially approved a far-reaching overhaul of the state’s anti-money laundering framework, imposing strict new operational requirements that are expected to permanently reshape compliance practices throughout the casino industry. The updated regulations introduce direct personal licensing obligations for compliance executives while simultaneously restricting the methods high-value gamblers can use to fund wagering accounts. Casino compliance d

The regulation of online betting in Brazil is already producing a substantial financial impact on public accounts. During the first quarter of 2026 alone, the federal government recorded R$3.4 billion in revenue generated from licensed betting operators. The figure stands out not only because of its size, but also because it represents a 123.7% increase compared to the same period in the previous year, when collections totaled R$1.5 billion. Official data released by the Fede