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Five online gambling operators have secured new five-year licences in the Netherlands, marking the beginning of the country’s first major relicensing cycle since its regulated online gambling market opened in 2021. Fair Play Online and Kansino have joined TOTO Online, Holland Casino Online and Bingoal in confirming that they have received new licences. The permits will take effect on October 1 and remain valid until 2031. The first licences granted when the Dutch regulated on

Romania’s National Office for Gambling (ONJN) has added approximately 800 illegal gambling websites to the country’s national blacklist, marking the largest single blacklist expansion under the regulator’s current leadership. The decision was announced on 31 July 2026 by ONJN, whose Supervisory Committee approved the addition of the new domains. The latest action more than doubles the previous record established during the same mandate, when approximately 370 illegal gambling

Ireland is introducing new anti-money laundering requirements aimed at strengthening controls within the gambling industry and preventing criminal organisations and terrorist groups from using gambling businesses to disguise and legitimise illicit funds. The measures form part of a broader effort to strengthen Ireland's financial crime framework and bring greater scrutiny to transactions and customers in a sector considered vulnerable to money laundering risks. The new rules

Brazilian lawmakers are stepping up scrutiny of the country's illegal betting market as concerns grow over the financial, social and regulatory consequences of unlicensed gambling activity. A House committee recently held a workshop focused on the impact of illegal betting and the challenges involved in monitoring and controlling websites that operate outside the country's regulated framework. The discussion comes as Brazil continues to build out its newly regulated betting m

Uganda has removed a tax exemption previously available to land-based casinos, bringing physical casinos into the same 15% withholding tax regime that applies to winnings from online betting and gaming. The change follows a proposal by President Yoweri Museveni to amend the country's tax legislation and is intended to create a more uniform approach to the taxation of gambling winnings while reducing opportunities for tax avoidance and revenue leakage. The amendment addresses

Denmark’s gambling regulator, Spillemyndigheden (the Danish Gambling Authority), has launched a new application round for land-based casino licences, with successful operators eligible to receive licences for periods of up to 10 years. Operators interested in entering or expanding within Denmark’s land-based casino market must submit their completed applications, together with all required supporting documentation, no later than November 3. The authority has made clear that a

Sri Lanka has ordered the immediate blocking of 24 online gambling and betting websites that are operating without the licenses required under the country’s legal framework. The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) has instructed all telecommunications service providers to restrict access to the identified platforms with immediate effect. The websites covered by the directive are 1xbet.com, betway.com/en-lk, 22bet.com, melbet.com, unibet.com, betfair.

Malta is preparing to challenge plans for a potential European Union-wide levy on online gambling, arguing that imposing a common tax at EU level could undermine national regulatory systems, distort competition and place additional pressure on an industry that is already subject to significant taxation and compliance obligations in individual Member States. The proposal has emerged as part of wider discussions about new sources of revenue for the EU's next long-term budget. T

Australia's largest wagering companies have rejected claims that millions of dollars stolen by a former financial adviser were spent through their betting platforms, as the federal government's proposed gambling reforms come under scrutiny during a Senate inquiry. The Senate committee investigating the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 heard evidence from anti-gambling advocate Reverend Tim Costello, who referred to the case of a former financial advi

After more than a decade of anticipation, Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF) officially began hearing Extraordinary Appeal (RE) 966177 on Wednesday (5), a case that will determine the constitutionality of the country's longstanding prohibition on games of chance. The appeal first reached the Supreme Court in 2016, before Brazil legalized and later regulated fixed-odds sports betting. According to information released by the STF, the central issue before the Court is whether

Kenyan families have been given new legal authority to step in when a relative’s gambling behaviour threatens household finances or the welfare of dependants, following the introduction of comprehensive new gambling regulations. The Gambling Control (Conduct of Gambling Operations) Regulations, 2026, which were published in the Kenya Gazette on June 30, create a legal mechanism allowing family members and other concerned individuals to apply to the Gaming Regulatory Authority

Sri Lanka has taken decisive action against unlicensed online gambling by blocking access to 24 betting and gaming websites, including major international platforms such as Stake, bet365, Betway and 1xBet. The move follows a directive issued by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL), which instructed all telecommunications service providers across the country to immediately restrict access to the identified websites. The enforcement action was annou

Denmark has reopened applications for land-based casino licences, inviting both new operators and existing licence holders to compete for licences of up to ten years, even as the country's retail casino sector continues to experience declining revenues. The move reflects the Danish Gambling Authority's commitment to maintaining a competitive and well-regulated land-based market while adapting to significant shifts in consumer gambling preferences toward online platforms. The

Austria has taken a significant step towards opening its gambling market by submitting a comprehensive draft gambling law to the European Commission for review, marking one of the country's most substantial regulatory reforms in decades. The proposed legislation would replace the long-standing online gambling monopoly with a regulated licensing framework while introducing stricter player protection measures, enhanced supervisory powers and a modernised compliance regime for g

The Court of Appeal has refused The New Lottery Company Limited (TNLC) and Northern & Shell PLC permission to appeal the High Court's ruling over the award of the fourth National Lottery licence, leaving the April 2026 judgment intact and confirming that the claimants remain liable for indemnity costs throughout the proceedings. The legal battle over the fourth National Lottery licence has been ongoing since April 2022, when the procurement process became the subject of multi

The global online gambling industry is experiencing an accelerated wave of regulatory reform, with governments placing greater emphasis on licensing, taxation, financial oversight and consumer protection. According to a new regulatory review by SOFTSWISS, the first half of 2026 has been characterised by significant legal and policy developments across multiple jurisdictions, reinforcing the industry's transition toward more tightly regulated markets. One of the most notable t

Capital One Financial said on Friday that it is seeking dismissal of a lawsuit filed by the Trump Organization over the closure of its bank accounts, arguing that the decision was based on an extensive anti-money laundering (AML) review conducted by the bank’s compliance specialists rather than political considerations. The court filing represents the first formal instance in which a bank has connected anti-money laundering concerns to the business operations of U.S. Presiden

Britain's increase in gambling-related taxation is beginning to have a visible impact on retail betting employment, while the Gambling Commission has postponed publication of the evidence supporting its Financial Risk Assessment (FRA) framework until the autumn. At the same time, the latest financial results from Europe's leading gambling operators highlight sharply contrasting fortunes, with FDJ UNITED slipping into a first-half loss as Lottomatica continues to strengthen it

The Autonomous Region of Madeira has formally launched an international tender for the exclusive concession to operate casino gaming in the Funchal gaming zone, marking the end of the long-standing arrangement with the current concessionaire and opening the process to both domestic and international bidders. The decision follows the approval of Resolution No. 723/2026 by the Regional Government Council during its plenary meeting on 15 July 2026. The resolution was subsequentl

The UK Gambling Commission has published its 2026 Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment, providing licensed operators with an updated overview of the principal financial crime threats facing the British gambling industry. The revised assessment is intended to help operators strengthen their anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) frameworks by identifying emerging risks, evolving criminal methodologies and areas where additional co