All Articles

Albania is moving closer to reopening its sports betting market after years of prohibition, with the government preparing a tightly controlled online licensing system that could allow up to 10 operators to enter the market. The shift represents a significant change in policy after a seven-year ban failed to eliminate betting activity and instead pushed a substantial portion of the market into unregulated online channels. Sports betting was effectively prohibited in Albania in

The United Arab Emirates is strengthening coordination between its gaming and financial regulators as the country continues to build its emerging commercial gaming industry. The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), the UAE's federal gaming regulator, has entered into a formal memorandum of understanding with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), establishing a framework for regulatory cooperation, information

Ireland is preparing to introduce a significantly tougher anti-money laundering framework for the gambling industry as part of the country's first National Anti-Money Laundering, Countering Financing of Terrorism and Countering Proliferation Financing Strategy. The reforms are designed to reduce the risk of gambling businesses being exploited to conceal criminal proceeds, strengthen oversight of higher-risk gambling activities and improve the ability of authorities to trace m

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has provided further insight into the financial risk assessments (FRAs) pilot conducted between 2024 and 2025, warning that weaknesses in operators’ identity verification procedures undermined aspects of the scheme and created additional difficulties for consumers. In a blog post published on Wednesday, Gambling Commission senior executives Helen Rhodes and Sarah Webster outlined problems identified during the pilot, particularly concerning t

Macau generated approximately 58.34 billion patacas (US$7.22 billion) in gaming revenue between January and July 2026, marking a 9.3% increase compared with the same period last year. According to figures from the city’s Department of Financial Services, gaming taxes continue to represent one of the Macau government’s most important sources of current revenue. By July 31, the government had recorded 67.85 billion patacas in current revenue, with gaming-related taxes accountin

Britain's regulated betting-shop sector is facing mounting financial pressure as higher gambling taxes and increasing operating costs contribute to a continuing wave of closures across the country's high streets. Industry representatives have warned that further increases in taxation could accelerate the decline of physical betting outlets, putting additional jobs and investment at risk while potentially strengthening the position of unlicensed gambling operators. The warning

The share of Brazil’s online betting activity taking place through illegal operators declined during the first half of 2026, although unlicensed platforms continue to represent a substantial portion of the country’s betting market. A new study, “Sizing and Combating the Illegal Betting Market in Brazil,” estimates that between 38% and 44% of online bets were placed with illegal operators during the first six months of 2026. This represents a decline from the 41% to 51% range

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