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New Zealand has begun implementing the next stage of its regulated online casino gambling system following the commencement of the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 on May 1st, introducing a tightly structured licensing framework designed to regulate offshore gambling operators while strengthening consumer protections. Authorities have set out a phased approach that combines limited licensing, competitive allocation mechanisms, and strengthened enforcement provisions intended t

Mexico’s gambling industry has been thrust into controversy following allegations that casino licences were tied to a detained former security official accused of criminal activity. The dispute centers on claims published by the newspaper Reforma, which alleged that 20 casino licences had been granted to a company associated with the family of Hernán Bermúdez Requena. Regulatory authorities and industry representatives have strongly denied the report, accusing the publica

New Zealand’s Parliament has formally passed the Online Casino Gambling Bill after its third and final reading, moving the legislation toward Royal assent and setting the foundation for a fully regulated online casino gambling market. The reform establishes a comprehensive legal structure designed to regulate digital casino operators, strengthen enforcement capabilities, and introduce consumer protection and harm minimisation requirements, while also ensuring taxation is coll

A group of six individuals identified as the masterminds behind a Russian illegal gambling operation will not serve prison time after a court opted to impose suspended sentences instead of incarceration. The ruling was issued by the Central District Court of Prokopyevsk, located in the Kuznetsk Basin region of southwestern Siberia, where judges reviewed the case involving the operation of two unauthorized land-based casinos. The court found all six men guilty of “organizing i

A senior figure within Communist Party of the Russian Federation has urged the Kremlin to abandon controversial plans to legalize online casinos, instead advocating for a sweeping crackdown on digital gambling platforms. Georgy Kamnev, a State Duma deputy and member of the party’s Central Committee, has called for what he described as a “complete ban on online casinos in Russia,” according to reports from the Russian outlet News.ru . Kamnev argued that authorities should

Authorities in Taiwan have brought charges against 20 individuals accused of participating in a large-scale money laundering operation that allegedly channelled more than TWD33 billion (approximately $1.03 billion) through casinos in Macau. Prosecutors described the operation as the “nation’s first cross-border casino money laundering case”. According to investigators, the scheme involved directing illicit gambling proceeds into credit accounts assigned to designated intermed

Criminal Investigation Bureau in Taiwan has successfully dismantled a large-scale money laundering network tied to Macau that is believed to have processed roughly NT$330 billion ($1 billion) in illicit funds over the course of a single year, according to local reporting. The operation, which has now been formally charged by the Yunlin District Prosecutors’ Office, followed a series of coordinated arrests carried out across multiple regions of Taiwan. Authorities identified t

Macau’s gaming revenue share reached MOP94.9 billion (US$11.8 billion) in 2025, exceeding pre-year expectations and underscoring the continuing dominance of the casino sector in the Special Administrative Region’s economy. The $11.8 billion that flowed to the Macau SAR Government surpassed earlier forecasts of $11.6 billion in tax revenue. Officials had revised their projections downward midway through last year amid a deteriorating economic outlook, but a strong performance

The Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation has suggested that access to online casinos be restricted to players aged 21 and older, but experts warn that enforcing such rules will be a major challenge. Legal analyst Olga Fedorova cautioned that without careful planning, “any new restrictions will remain nothing but a nice idea on paper.” She emphasized the need for “a robust mandatory identity and age verification to be in place before anyone is allowed to place a bet on [leg

Vietnam’s casino industry is experiencing steady growth, fueled largely by strong demand from South Korean visitors. At the same time, the market is undergoing notable changes as player demographics evolve, competition among operators intensifies, and digital technologies become more deeply integrated into customer engagement strategies. Scott Choi, head of external marketing at Lion Club, a premium e-gaming club operator in Vietnam, told AGB that Korean players remain the si

Authorities in Jakarta, Indonesia, have intensified their efforts to combat illegal online gambling, announcing a major crackdown on 132 online casino websites and freezing hundreds of billions of rupiah in related financial transactions. According to officials, law enforcement agencies have temporarily blocked bank transactions totaling 255.75 billion rupiah, equivalent to about $15.2 million, as part of an ongoing campaign against digital gambling networks. In an offici

Casino operators in Macao recorded a solid increase in gaming income during February, with revenue rising 4.5% year-on-year as the Lunar New Year travel period attracted large numbers of visitors to the Pearl River Delta special administrative region. According to the city’s gambling regulator, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, Macao’s gross gaming revenue reached 20.62 billion patacas in February, equivalent to roughly $2.56 billion. The results, reported by B

Two major American gaming operators, Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts International, are closely tracking developments in the Middle East after Iranian attacks across the region raised concerns about safety and stability in the United Arab Emirates, where both companies are investing billions of dollars in new resort developments. Wynn Resorts is currently constructing a massive $5.1 billion casino resort on an island in Ras Al Khaimah, while MGM Resorts International is building

Lawmakers in Louisiana are preparing to consider a series of gambling-related policy proposals when the 2026 legislative session begins on March 9 in Baton Rouge. Several bills have already been pre-filed ahead of the session, which will bring together members of the Louisiana State Senate and the Louisiana House of Representatives next week. The proposals address multiple areas of gambling regulation, including sports betting markets, online sweepstakes casinos, the co

The Oxford Casino Hotel filed a lawsuit against the state of Maine last week in U.S. District Court, seeking to block enforcement of LD 1164, a bill passed by state legislators last year and allowed to become law by Gov. Janet Mills without her signature on January 11. Officially titled “An Act to Create Economic Opportunity for the Wabanaki Nations,” the law permits each of the state’s four recognized tribes to offer online gaming. In its 19-page complaint, Oxford Casino ref

Austria’s Ministry of Finance is drawing up a draft law to underpin a new casino tender process in the coming months, pledging “uniform player protection standards” even as gambling operators renew their calls for the country’s long-standing monopoly model to be scrapped. The ministry has confirmed it is preparing the legislative framework ahead of the renewal of the current monopoly tender in 2027, a moment many in the sector see as pivotal for the future of Austria’s gambli

The Finnish Parliament has approved the Government’s proposal for a new Gambling Act, marking a significant shift in the country’s gaming landscape. Under the reform, Veikkaus’ exclusive right to offer gambling services will end for betting games as well as online slot machine and casino games in the summer of 2027. The company will, however, retain its monopoly on lottery games, scratch cards, and physical slot machines and casino games. Gambling companies will be able to ap

Sri Lanka has moved swiftly to tighten its regulatory and fiscal approach to casino gaming, introducing higher costs for both players and operators effective from the start of 2026. From January 1, the government doubled the entry fee for Sri Lankan citizens at casinos from US$50 to US$100. In addition, the betting and gaming gross collection levy was raised from 15% to 18%, according to a notice issued by the Inland Revenue Department. These changes apply to all licensed bet

Japan’s governing coalition has once again confirmed its intention to exempt overseas casino patrons from paying taxes on gambling winnings, reinforcing a long-standing policy designed to boost inbound tourism and attract international investment. The commitment was reiterated in December during fiscal policy discussions between the Liberal Democratic Party and the Innovation Party, reviving measures that were first put forward several years ago. The exemption for non-res

Spain’s online gambling sector maintained its strong upward trajectory in 2025, with online casino activity once again acting as the primary engine of growth, alongside rising betting revenues and increased marketing spend. According to figures released by the General Directorate for Gambling Regulation (DGOJ) covering the three months ending 30 September 2025, gross gaming revenue (GGR) across Spain’s regulated online gambling market reached €405.36 million. This represent