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The Oxford Casino Hotel filed a lawsuit against the state of Maine last week in U.S. District Court, seeking to block enforcement of LD 1164, a bill passed by state legislators last year and allowed to become law by Gov. Janet Mills without her signature on January 11. Officially titled “An Act to Create Economic Opportunity for the Wabanaki Nations,” the law permits each of the state’s four recognized tribes to offer online gaming. In its 19-page complaint, Oxford Casino ref

Chinese prosecutors have seized close to $17 million in Bitcoin from a man accused of stealing funds from an overseas online sports betting platform, in a case that has drawn attention to the legal treatment of cryptocurrency and data-related crimes in China. According to Chinese media outlet The Paper , the suspect is a Shenzhen-based IT network security engineer. For legal reasons, media reports have identified him under the alias Li Dong. Li was first detained in 2024 by p

The Curacao Gaming Authority (CGA) has confirmed that operators licensed under the updated Landsverordening op de Kansspelen (LOK) will receive additional time to meet the law’s local substance requirements, extending the effective deadline by more than a year. In a notice dated January 23, 2026, the regulator stated that the Minister of Justice had exercised the discretion provided under Article 5.12, paragraph 6 of the LOK to grant a general extension for all affected opera

The Netherlands Gambling Authority has issued a binding instruction to bet365’s Dutch operator, Hillside New Media Malta, after concluding that the company failed to properly assess player affordability and intervene when signs of financial harm emerged. The regulator noted that these deficiencies persisted for several months despite repeated warnings. The authority stated that the shortcomings occurred between at least December 2024 and June 2025, during which bet365 did not

Indian authorities have stepped up their crackdown on illegal online gambling by blocking a further 242 betting and wagering websites, bringing the total number of restricted platforms to more than 7,800 nationwide.   The latest move underscores a marked intensification of enforcement efforts following the introduction of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming (PROG) Act, which bans online money gaming throughout the country.   According to government officials, the on

Finland has moved further along the path of overhauling its gambling framework by granting expanded powers to its newly created gambling regulator, reinforcing enforcement as the country prepares to transition to a licensing-based market in 2027. The changes mark another significant milestone in the dismantling of the long-standing monopoly model. Under the new arrangements, Finland’s Permit and Supervision Agency will take responsibility for overseeing enforcement in the fut

The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening player protection in 2026, closing out January with the publication of its supervisory agenda for the coming 12 months. After a challenging and politically charged year for both the gambling sector and the Netherlands more broadly, the authority has struck an optimistic tone as it looks ahead to a period of intensified oversight and reform. In the agenda, KSA Chair Michel Gr

South Africa’s National Treasury has extended the deadline for public submissions on its proposal to introduce a 20% national tax on online and interactive gambling revenue, granting stakeholders an additional month to comment before Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana presents the 2026 Budget.   The move follows requests from interested parties for more time to assess and respond to the proposal.   Treasury initially invited public comment after releasing a draft discussion pa

The Colombian government has revised its taxation strategy for the online gambling sector, replacing the 19% value-added tax previously applied to player deposits with a levy based on gross gaming revenue. The updated framework came into force on January 1, redirecting the tax burden toward the actual income earned by operators rather than the total amount of money deposited by customers. The deposit-based 19% VAT was first introduced in February 2025 as a temporary response

The National Treasury of South Africa is preparing to introduce a new tax targeting online gambling, a move that would see gambling operators pay an additional 20% on the revenue they generate from online betting activities. As part of the consultation process, the Treasury has extended the deadline for public submissions on the proposal, shifting it from 30 January to 27 February 2026 to allow for broader engagement and feedback. The department has described the proposed lev

Paraguay’s gambling sector recorded its strongest year on record in 2025, generating PYG215.9 billion ($32.6 million), according to figures released this week by the country’s regulator, the National Gaming Commission (Conajzar). The milestone year followed the liberalisation of the market under Law No 7348/2025, which fundamentally reshaped the country’s regulatory framework.   The revenue total represents the highest annual figure ever reported in Paraguay’s gambling indust

Federal authorities have charged 20 former Division I college basketball players in what prosecutors describe as the largest point-shaving scandal in college hoops in 75 years, alleging a far-reaching scheme in which players were bribed to manipulate games so gambling syndicates could profit.   Prosecutors in Pennsylvania announced the charges on Thursday, revealing a sprawling indictment unsealed by a Philadelphia grand jury. The case spans more than a dozen mid-major colleg

More than ten illegal Chinese-made coin-slot gambling machines were seized and destroyed on Friday at the Nyando Deputy County Commissioner’s offices, as authorities stepped up efforts to eliminate unlawful gambling activities in the area.   Nyando Deputy County Commissioner Elijah Maranga said the machines were recovered during coordinated security operations carried out in Ahero and Awasi towns. He stressed that the operation of coin-slot gambling machines is prohibited und

Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority (OJK) has directed the country’s banks to block and shut down 31,382 accounts suspected of being connected to illegal online gambling activities, an increase from the 30,392 accounts previously flagged by regulators.   Authorities have repeatedly warned that online gambling poses serious risks to financial stability, disrupts household finances and undermines the wider economy. Although many gambling platforms are operated from outside

Ukrainian authorities have ordered internet providers to block access to Polymarket, a decentralised prediction market platform, after concluding that its services amount to unlicensed gambling under the country’s laws. The decision was issued in December 2025 by the National Commission for the Regulation of Electronic Communications, which instructed internet service providers to restrict access to online platforms that facilitate wagering without holding a Ukrainian licence

Austria’s Ministry of Finance is drawing up a draft law to underpin a new casino tender process in the coming months, pledging “uniform player protection standards” even as gambling operators renew their calls for the country’s long-standing monopoly model to be scrapped. The ministry has confirmed it is preparing the legislative framework ahead of the renewal of the current monopoly tender in 2027, a moment many in the sector see as pivotal for the future of Austria’s gambli

Denmark has formally submitted proposed new controls on gambling advertising to the European Commission for scrutiny, as part of an effort to expand the regulatory and enforcement powers of the country’s gambling watchdog.   On 13 January, Spillemyndigheden, Denmark’s Gambling Authority, filed a notification with the European Commission’s Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS), triggering the EU’s mandatory review procedure for draft technical regulations. The process

The Finnish Parliament has approved the Government’s proposal for a new Gambling Act, marking a significant shift in the country’s gaming landscape. Under the reform, Veikkaus’ exclusive right to offer gambling services will end for betting games as well as online slot machine and casino games in the summer of 2027. The company will, however, retain its monopoly on lottery games, scratch cards, and physical slot machines and casino games. Gambling companies will be able to ap

Cyprus’ betting market continued its expansion in the third quarter of 2025, with total gross revenue from Class A and Class B operators rising 7 per cent year-on-year to €312.5 million, according to data released by the National Betting Authority (NBA). The figure also marks a 20 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2023. The authority reported that online betting maintained its dominant role during the July to September period. Class B operators generated €235

Arena Racing Company (ARC) has obtained official authorization to operate as a gaming-related vendor in the United Arab Emirates, marking a significant milestone for the company’s international expansion. The approval, granted by the General Commercial Gaming Authority (GCGRA), permits ARC to provide its racing-focused solutions to operators who are themselves licensed by the UAE regulator, opening the door for the company to establish a presence in a newly regulated market.