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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

Ghana’s online gambling industry recorded a 24% increase in 2025, with legal and industry experts pointing to crypto adoption, digital payments, and regulatory reform as key factors likely to shape its future growth trajectory. When launching its Betano brand in Ghana on 5 February, Kaizen Gaming highlighted the West African market’s long-term potential, citing strong digital adoption and an increasingly forward-looking regulatory environment. The Malta-headquartered operator

Russian law enforcement agencies are escalating their campaign against criminal networks that exploit stolen personal information to create accounts on illegal online casino platforms. Officials say these operations often involve individuals acting alone, using mobile devices to traffic compromised data and extract funds from unsuspecting victims’ bank accounts. In the Siberian city of Tomsk, investigators recently identified one such “lone wolf” operator. According to

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

The rapid growth of prediction markets in Brazil has triggered a strong response from the country’s betting industry, with operators intensifying pressure on the federal government to introduce clearer regulation. The surge in attention follows the expansion of Polymarket, an international platform that enables users to place wagers on the outcomes of future events, ranging from elections to economic indicators. In response to this evolving landscape, representatives from

The Philippine government has taken a decisive step in eliminating offshore gambling operations by formalizing a coordinated enforcement system aimed at dismantling an industry long associated with organized crime. On Wednesday, multiple state agencies signed the “Inter-Agency Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) on the Implementation of Executive Order 74,” establishing a unified operational blueprint to enforce the country’s comprehensive ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming

The UK government’s move to raise gambling taxes is expected to significantly alter the competitive landscape of the betting industry, with licensed operators cautioning that the policy could accelerate the expansion of illegal betting markets in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup. Writing in The Telegraph, Stella David warned that increasing the remote gaming duty to 40 percent could push regulated operators to the fringes of the market at a critical moment, as unlicensed

Italy’s long-anticipated overhaul of its land-based gambling sector has moved into a crucial phase, as technical negotiations intensify within the Unified Conference. Policymakers are now working to reconcile national reform objectives with the entrenched authority of regional and municipal governments, setting the stage for a defining moment in the country’s gambling framework. The proposed legislative decree, drafted in accordance with the 2023 tax law, has undergone ex

Greece’s regulated gambling market delivered gross gaming revenue of €3.07 billion in 2025, marking a 6.7% increase compared with the previous year, with online gambling continuing to strengthen its position as the market’s fastest-expanding segment. The figures, published in the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) Newsletter #36 on 31 March 2026, underline the extent to which digital channels are reshaping the structure of the Greek market while policymakers prepare for signi

Africa’s gambling industry is on a strong upward trajectory, with projections estimating its value will reach $11.3 billion by 2032—nearly doubling the $6.1 billion recorded in 2023. This rapid expansion is being fuelled by a combination of urbanisation, aggressive marketing by operators, increasing internet penetration, and the continent’s notably young population. A wide range of both international and domestic brands are already active across the region, including Betw

The Georgian government has put forward draft amendments to Parliament that would significantly raise financial penalties for breaches of gambling licence conditions, signaling a tougher stance on regulatory enforcement across the sector. The proposed changes fall under the law “On Arranging Lotteries, Gambling and Prize Games,” and lawmakers are expected to examine the bill in the coming weeks. Under the draft legislation, fines for casino operators and online gambling p

Belgium’s regulated gambling sector recorded its first annual contraction since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as newly released figures for 2024 reveal a notable downturn across the market. Data published on Tuesday by the national regulator shows that total gross gaming revenue (GGR) fell to €1.61 billion, representing a 4.86% decrease from the €1.69 billion reported in 2023. The decline was largely attributed to a sharp reduction in land-based gambling activity, e

In October 2025, a surge of headlines ignited widespread confusion, criticism, and intense debate across the gambling industry, with many claiming that South Africa had effectively imposed a nationwide ban on online casino gambling. In reality, the situation was far more complex and nuanced than those initial reports suggested. The controversy originated with Supabet (Portapa Pty Ltd), which introduced a roulette-style product within physical betting shops. This offering allo

The Norwegian government has introduced an extensive four-year action plan designed to prevent and address problem gambling, outlining a coordinated national effort that will run from 2026 through 2029. Announced on Friday, the initiative brings together a broad set of measures including prevention campaigns, expanded treatment services, and a strengthened research framework. Notably, the strategy avoids introducing new regulatory restrictions, instead focusing on improving p

Kenya is facing a growing threat from offshore gambling networks hijacking local news platforms, using search engine optimization (SEO) spam to lure unsuspecting users into unregulated betting schemes. A Nairobi office worker might click on a headline promising insights into global travel or entertainment, only to be redirected to a flashy portal claiming to offer a “Vegas-style gambling adventure.” This is not a technical glitch but a calculated, aggressive form of digital p

Gibraltar has formally approved sweeping new gambling legislation designed to modernise its regulatory regime and reinforce its standing within an increasingly competitive international market. The newly passed Gambling Bill replaces an older, though historically effective, framework with a more adaptable structure intended to reflect the rapid evolution of the global gaming sector. The reform has been positioned as a strategic move to future-proof Gibraltar’s gambling in

The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission is weighing a significant tightening of oversight within its gambling industry, with new proposals that would shift part of the compliance responsibility away from corporate entities and directly onto individuals. Under the suggested reforms, regulators would gain the authority to impose financial penalties on managers and key personnel who are accountable for failures in know-your-customer and anti-money laundering controls. Th

Illegal online gambling is now siphoning more than R50 billion annually from South Africa’s economy, with unlicensed offshore operators responsible for nearly two-thirds of all online gambling activity in the country, according to the South African Bookmakers’ Association. The association on Tuesday sounded the alarm, warning that the proliferation of illegal online gambling has reached crisis proportions, posing serious risks to consumers, legitimate operators, and the broad

Brazil has emerged in recent years as one of the world’s most promising gambling markets. The formal regulation of sports betting in 2023 and the introduction of a licensing system laid the groundwork for rapid industry growth. Yet, political tensions and shifting positions from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have created an environment of uncertainty about the sector’s future. A pivotal moment for the Brazilian gambling landscape came in December 2023 with the signing o

South Africa’s gambling sector could soon face one of the highest tax burdens in the world if the government proceeds with a proposal to introduce a 20% national levy on gross gambling revenue (GGR) from online betting. While officials argue that the measure is intended to address the growing social impact of online gambling, industry stakeholders contend that the policy amounts to a revenue grab that will disproportionately penalize licensed operators without delivering ta