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The UK House of Lords Liaison Committee has called for a comprehensive ban on gambling advertising, marketing and sponsorship, arguing that stronger restrictions should form part of a public health approach to reducing gambling-related harm. The recommendation was included in the committee's 173-page report, *Gambling Harm—Time for Action: Follow-up report*, published on 17 September 2026. The report follows up on the House of Lords' 2020 examination of the social and economi

More than 200 American victims and relatives of people killed or injured in terrorist attacks in Iraq and Israel have filed a lawsuit against Commerzbank AG in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, alleging that the German bank provided financial services that helped Iran and organisations linked to it support terrorist activity. The civil complaint concerns attacks that took place between 2007 and 2011. The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory and punitive dam

France’s National Sanctions Commission has imposed a combined €45,000 in financial penalties on an anonymised licensed online betting operator and two individuals following breaches of obligations relating to asset freezing and anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist-financing controls. The case was referred to the National Sanctions Commission by France’s gambling regulator, the Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ), following an inspection of the operator. It represents the

The value of European Union petroleum oil imports increased sharply in the second quarter of 2026, while the volume of oil imported by the bloc remained broadly stable, according to Eurostat data. The value of EU petroleum oil imports increased by 55.8% in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the monthly average recorded in 2025. At the same time, import volumes reached 36.7 million tonnes, representing an increase of 1.2% against the 2025 monthly average. The figures ind

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has issued final guidelines establishing a new framework for the management of third-party risks associated with services supporting critical or important functions at financial institutions. Published on 18 September 2026, the Guidelines on the sound management of third-party risk related to non-ICT services are intended to replace the EBA’s 2019 Guidelines on outsourcing arrangements and create a broader framework covering third-party re

Spain’s regulated online gambling market generated €993.6 million in gross gaming revenue (GGR) during the first half of 2026, representing a 23% increase compared with the same period of 2025. The figures were reported by Spain’s Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) and show continued growth across the country’s regulated online gambling sector. The second quarter was particularly strong, with online gambling GGR reaching €539.18 million between April an

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a provisional measure on September 25, 2026, prohibiting the operation, offering, intermediation and advertising of fixed-odds betting across the country. The measure covers both online sports betting and online casino games, and also applies to authorisations granted by states and the Federal District. It took effect upon publication, but must be approved by the National Congress within 120 days to remain in force. The dec

U.S. authorities and Guatemalan justice officials are strengthening cooperation aimed at disrupting the financial networks supporting transnational cartel activity, with investigations expected to focus on fraud, bulk cash movements, trade-based money laundering, cryptocurrency and other methods used to move illicit proceeds across borders. U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould and Criminal Chief Fabio Leonardi of the Northern District of Texas travelled to Guatemala during the week of

Binance withdrew its application for authorisation as a crypto-asset service provider in Greece in June 2026 after the licensing process stalled before the end of the transitional period under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). Subsequent reporting has alleged that European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde intervened with Greek authorities to prevent the application from being approved. The application was submitted to the Hellenic Capita

The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates has prohibited all branches of Bank Melli Iran operating in the UAE from conducting financial transactions to and from Iran following regulatory examinations that identified violations of UAE laws, regulations and supervisory requirements. The measure was announced on 23 September 2026 by the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE). The prohibition applies specifically to financial transactions between the UAE branches of Bank Melli Iran a

Zambia has introduced a temporary tax relief programme allowing eligible taxpayers, including gaming and betting businesses, to settle qualifying historical tax liabilities without paying accrued penalties and interest. The Extended Voluntary Disclosure Scheme (EVDS), launched by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) on September 17, 2026, will remain open until December 31, 2026. The scheme applies to outstanding principal tax liabilities, penalties and interest relating to per

Tabcorp VIC Pty Ltd has been fined AU$350,000 by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) for failing to implement mandatory multi-factor authentication controls on customer wagering accounts within the required timeframe. The disciplinary action relates to breaches of four security requirements between January 30 and June 23, 2025. The fine was imposed following a decision dated September 21, 2026. The VGCCC found that Tabcorp had contravened technical st

The Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) has confirmed that its online gaming licensing portal was accessed without authorisation for approximately nine months through an account registered using a false identity. The regulator said the unauthorised access began in December 2025 and continued until it was identified and terminated in September 2026. The access was obtained through the customer-facing section of the CGA's licensing portal. According to the regulator, the account was

A Russian financial technology group known as A7 allegedly moved more than $6.9 billion through the international banking system using front companies, forged commercial documents and other methods designed to conceal the nature and origin of transactions, according to an investigation based on hundreds of thousands of leaked internal files. The investigation concerns A7, a cross-border payments business established in late 2024 with backing from Russian state-owned Promsvyaz

Spain has allowed a US request to extradite American national James Cox Chambers to proceed to judicial review, following his arrest in Ibiza in July 2026. The decision does not constitute approval of his extradition. The case will now be considered by Spain’s Audiencia Nacional before the Spanish government makes a final determination. Chambers, 41, was arrested on 10 July while visiting Ibiza and remains in pre-trial detention in Madrid. He is a US citizen and has been desc

Financial firms in the United Kingdom closed 238,396 customer accounts linked to suspected money mule activity in 2025, according to a review published by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on 23 September 2026. The regulator’s findings also show that fraud proceeds commonly pass through multiple mule accounts before being withdrawn or otherwise converted into usable funds. The figures were collected through a survey of 35 financial services firms, including retail banks,

Business activity across the euro zone expanded in September at its fastest pace in more than three years, according to preliminary business surveys, indicating that the region’s economy has remained resilient despite higher energy costs linked to conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. The S&P Global Flash Euro Zone Composite PMI Output Index rose to 53.1 in September from 52.0 in August. Readings above 50 indicate that activity is expanding. The September result exceeded

The Dutch Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit, KSA) has issued the first eight follow-up licences to online gambling operators, allowing them to continue operating in the Netherlands for another five years. The licences will run from October 1, 2026 until September 30, 2031, following the expiry of the first licences issued when the Dutch online gambling market was opened in 2021. The eight operators receiving follow-up licences are TOTO Online B.V., operating TOTO and Win

Barbados is preparing to strengthen the practical application of its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework ahead of its fifth international mutual evaluation, with the government emphasizing that controls must extend beyond banks and other financial institutions. Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams addressed the issue in the Senate on September 23, 2026, during debate on the Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (Prevention and Control) Amendment

The Senate of American Samoa has given final approval to the Money Laundering Prevention and Enforcement Act of 2026, establishing a dedicated criminal-law framework targeting the laundering of proceeds derived from criminal activity. The legislation was approved by the Senate on September 23, 2026. The measure is intended to create clear criminal offences covering the concealment, movement and handling of money obtained through unlawful activity in American Samoa. The bill f

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has published its 2026 Mutual Evaluation Report on Türkiye, finding that the country has strengthened its defences against money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing, while identifying a number of areas requiring further improvement. The assessment examined Türkiye’s AML/CFT/CPF framework and its effectiveness based on the situation at the time of the FATF’s on-site visit in November 2025. The evaluation found that