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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

A Macau legislator has raised concerns about the resilience and security of the city’s casino industry, questioning whether adequate safeguards are in place to address supply-chain vulnerabilities stemming from the sector’s heavy reliance on imported gaming equipment. The lawmaker warned that the dependence on overseas suppliers leaves one of Macau’s most important economic sectors exposed to significant risks and urged authorities to accelerate efforts to increase local part

According to TRM Labs, the ecosystem surrounding on-chain casinos and decentralized gambling platforms has expanded at an unprecedented pace over the past several years, quietly developing into a vast parallel financial system that presents increasingly complex challenges for anti-money laundering professionals. While regulators, policymakers, and the public concentrated much of their attention on prediction markets during periods of heightened political activity, decentraliz

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.