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Italy’s regulated gambling industry is facing a prolonged regulatory impasse that risks accelerating the expansion of unlicensed gambling operations, according to the EGP-FIPE, which raised its concerns before the Senate’s Constitutional Affairs Committee on Tuesday. Representing gambling operators within the Italian Federation of Public Establishments (FIPE), part of Confcommercio, the association argued during the hearing that years of delayed reforms and fragmented local

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is not only the largest edition of the tournament in football history. It is also shaping up to become the biggest sports betting event ever recorded. Hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada, this year’s tournament has expanded from 32 to 48 national teams and from 64 to 104 matches. That structural change alone creates a much larger betting calendar, with more group-stage fixtures, more knockout matches and a longer period of sustained glob

Finland’s National Police Board has received 50 gambling licence applications as operators position themselves for the country’s transition from a monopoly-based gambling system to a regulated commercial online gambling market. According to the regulator, there has been considerable interest from gambling companies ahead of the planned launch of the new licensing framework on July 1, 2027. Once the market opens, licensed commercial operators will be permitted to offer sport

Russian law enforcement agencies have carried out a major operation targeting a payment platform allegedly used to facilitate transactions for more than a dozen online casinos, resulting in multiple arrests and the seizure of significant amounts of cash and luxury assets. According to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), the operation was conducted jointly with the country’s Investigative Committee and led to the detention of 24 individuals suspected of involvement in the

Tanzania’s iGaming industry has experienced remarkable growth in recent months, with sports betting revenues reportedly surpassing TZS189.18 billion ($72 million). The surge has been driven largely by a youthful customer base aged between 18 and 34, whose growing passion for sports content and widespread use of mobile devices have transformed the country’s gambling landscape. Today, an estimated 99% of gambling activity in Tanzania takes place online through mobile phones.

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