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Malaysia’s latest illegal betting crackdown shows how major sporting events continue to create immediate opportunities for unlicensed gambling networks. Police announced that 331 people had been arrested in a nationwide operation linked to World Cup betting, with local reporting putting the value of uncovered illegal transactions at approximately RM2.63 million. The operation, known as Ops Soga XI, was launched in anticipation of a surge in football-related betting activity a

Austria is moving closer to one of the most important online gambling reforms in Europe, but the transition may be just as important as the final framework. Industry reporting in late June said the country’s online market is expected to open in 2027, with a planned cooling-off period before new licences become available. That structure could create a temporary gap in which existing operators are forced out before the regulated market is ready to absorb players. The reform is

A new proposal to sharply increase taxes on high-street slot machines has reopened the UK debate over gambling harm, public revenue and the future of land-based betting venues. The proposal, advanced by the Social Market Foundation, would raise Machine Games Duty on higher-risk Category B machines, including many electronic gaming machines found in adult gaming centres, casinos, bingo halls and betting shops. The think tank argues that the measure could raise between £275 mil

Kalshi has added India to its restricted jurisdictions, marking another setback for prediction markets as governments increasingly treat event-contract platforms as gambling rather than purely financial products. The U.S.-based prediction market platform updated its member agreement on 17 June 2026 to prohibit users located in, domiciled in or organised in India from trading event contracts. The move followed action by India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technolog

The UK Gambling Commission has imposed a £122,835 regulatory settlement on gambling software provider Stakelogic BV after finding that several of its online slot games operated faster than permitted under the regulator’s responsible product design rules. The case highlights a growing area of gambling compliance risk: the mechanics of the product itself. For years, enforcement attention in the UK gambling sector has focused heavily on anti-money laundering, affordability check

SkyCity Adelaide has accepted a AU$21 million fine as part of a settlement with South Australia’s gambling regulator, marking another major development in Australia’s long-running enforcement campaign against casino compliance failures. The settlement follows years of scrutiny over the casino’s anti-money laundering controls, governance standards and gambling harm minimisation obligations. It also comes after separate federal AML/CTF proceedings brought by AUSTRAC, which resu

The Dutch gambling regulator has imposed a €3.082 million fine on Chestoption Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada for offering online gambling to players in the Netherlands without the required licence. The decision, published by the Kansspelautoriteit, adds to a wider enforcement campaign against offshore gambling operators that continue to target Dutch consumers despite not being licensed under the country’s regulated online gambling framework. The case is particularly sig

The Netherlands’ gambling tax increase has delivered far less revenue than expected, raising serious questions about whether higher tax rates are damaging the regulated market instead of strengthening public finances. The Dutch gambling tax was increased in two stages. The rate rose from 30.5% to 34.2% on 1 January 2025, followed by a further increase to 37.8% from 1 January 2026. The policy was introduced as a revenue-raising measure, with the government expecting the gamb

The Netherlands is preparing another major tightening of its online gambling market, with the government moving toward a full ban on online gambling advertising and bonuses. The proposal forms part of a wider reform package aimed at reducing gambling harm, strengthening player protection and giving the Dutch gambling regulator more power over both licensed and illegal operators. If implemented, the measures would mark one of the most restrictive approaches to online gamblin

Curaçao is tightening its approach to crypto gambling, giving licensed online gambling operators until mid-2027 to align with new compliance expectations under the jurisdiction’s reformed regulatory framework. The Curaçao Gaming Authority has issued new guidance for business-to-consumer online gambling operators that accept cryptocurrency, marking another step in the island’s transition from a historically flexible offshore licensing model to a more structured and complianc

Thailand has blocked nearly 14,000 illegal online gambling links as authorities intensify enforcement during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, one of the biggest betting periods in the global sporting calendar. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society reportedly blocked 13,888 gambling-related websites, URLs, social-media pages and online links between 1 June and 18 June 2026. The action came as betting activity increased around the World Cup, which began on 11 June and is expect

Egypt is preparing a series of legislative amendments that would specifically criminalise online betting applications, as lawmakers move to address legal gaps between longstanding gambling restrictions and the rapidly evolving digital gambling landscape. The proposed reforms are part of a broader revision of Egypt's Cybercrime Law, which is expected to introduce measures targeting online betting applications alongside cyber extortion, digital fraud, the spread of harmful on

Tanzania is preparing to introduce a new 5% excise duty on betting stakes as part of its fiscal measures for the 2026/27 financial year, marking a significant step in the government's efforts to increase domestic revenue while enhancing oversight of the country's rapidly expanding gambling industry. Under the proposal, the excise duty would be imposed on betting stakes across a range of gambling activities, including sports betting and other licensed gaming products. Accord

France is moving closer to a new debate over sports betting advertising, as the 2026 FIFA World Cup drives a surge in gambling promotion, betting interest and public concern over younger audiences. The issue has become more urgent during the tournament, with French gambling activity expected to rise sharply. Betting stakes linked to the World Cup could reach approximately €1.2 billion in France, while surveys suggest that a significant share of football viewers intend to pl

Brazil has taken a firmer step against illegal online betting operators after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a decree allowing authorities to freeze funds connected to unauthorised gambling platforms. The measure forms part of Brazil’s broader effort to bring order to a rapidly expanding betting market, where licensed operators, offshore platforms and illegal websites continue to compete for Brazilian customers. Under the decree, funds identified as belonging to c

Prediction markets are becoming one of the most closely watched gambling-related issues of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as regulators and sports stakeholders examine whether these platforms should be treated as financial trading venues, gambling products or something in between. The debate has intensified during the tournament because prediction markets are now being promoted to football audiences in a way that closely resembles mainstream sports betting. These platforms allow us

Brazil's progress in regulating its betting industry has significantly strengthened its position as one of the world's most attractive iGaming markets. During the SBC Summit Americas 2026, executives, investors, industry specialists, and market leaders repeatedly identified the country as one of the most promising destinations for future expansion within the global gaming sector. The growing attention is driven by several factors, including Brazil's large and engaged user

The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau in Macau (DICJ) has issued a public warning urging people not to trust or circulate online allegations claiming that card shoe devices in Macau casinos have been tampered with, stating that such content spreading on social media is likely fraudulent. The regulator responded after posts appeared on mainland Chinese social media platforms alleging that electronic card shoes used in Macau gambling venues had been manipulated. Accor

Three clubs competing in the Serie C division of the Rio de Janeiro State Championship have been precautionarily removed from the competition after investigations into suspicious betting activity uncovered what authorities described as atypical movements in the sports betting market. The decision was issued by the Rio de Janeiro Sports Justice Court (TJD-RJ) as part of ongoing efforts to investigate potential irregularities involving matches in the tournament. The ruling

Chile has broadened the scope of its simplified value-added tax (VAT) regime for digital services to now include foreign-based online gambling, casino, and betting platforms that supply services to consumers in Chile. The change was formalized through Resolution No. 69, issued by the Chilean Internal Revenue Service on June 2. Under the updated framework, non-resident operators providing online gambling services—including casino games and betting platforms—to individuals