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The Greek government is moving forward with sweeping reforms to its legislation targeting illegal gambling, introducing stricter criminal sanctions aimed not only at operators but also at repeat participants. Authorities say the measures are necessary to combat what they describe as a fast-growing underground market that is reducing public revenue streams while exposing younger individuals to unregulated and potentially harmful gambling environments. Athens has confirmed that

Ireland’s newly established gambling regulator is preparing to start issuing licences following formal authorisation from a senior government minister. Jim O’Callaghan, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, has granted the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) permission to begin the licensing process. The minister confirmed that the authority can begin granting licences “for new entrants as soon as is feasible.” Under the rollout timeline, the GRAI will

The large-scale confiscation of illegal gaming machines in Cape Town has been welcomed by the Eastern Cape Gambling Board, which has praised the operation as a sign of a more robust approach to combating unlawful gambling activity.   Authorities believe the machines were intended for distribution throughout the Eastern Cape before investigators intervened.   South Africa, and the Eastern Cape in particular, operates under stringent rules governing the supply and placement of

Several international gambling operators have voiced strong concerns over proposed player protection rules in Finland, warning that overly restrictive measures could undermine the country’s newly forming regulated market by pushing players toward illegal operators. SkillOnNet and Wildz Group both argue that the proposals risk weakening channelisation by making licensed gambling less attractive than unregulated alternatives. The concerns were raised in response to a consultati

A criminal court in Kuwait has imposed seven-year prison sentences on nine individuals convicted of running an online gambling platform and laundering the proceeds of illegal activity, in what authorities characterised as an organised criminal enterprise.   In addition to the custodial sentences, the court ordered each of the nine defendants to pay a fine of KD1m (approximately $3.3m). This brings the combined personal fines to KD9m (around $29.7m).   The court also levied a

Italy is preparing to introduce a far-reaching overhaul of its land-based gambling sector, with the aim of harmonising regulations across the country’s 20 regions and more than 110 municipalities.   The government is expected to publish a draft decree setting out a single national framework for slot machines, bingo halls and video lottery terminal (VLT) systems, which would apply uniformly to all franchise operators.   The draft decree has been drawn up following almost two y

A bloc of 23 members of Tunisia’s parliament has put forward a draft law designed to impose far stricter controls on gambling and betting activities, with a strong emphasis on the online environment, as the country looks to rein in illegal platforms and shield vulnerable segments of society.   The proposal, formally submitted on 19 January 2026, would amend Decree-Law No. 74-20 of 1974, the legislation that currently regulates fairs, gaming rooms and lotteries. The MPs behind

The UK government is weighing a possible increase in gambling operator licence fees, as part of a consultation aimed at securing additional funding for the Gambling Commission’s enforcement work and its efforts to combat illegal gambling.   The consultation, launched by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on 27 January, will remain open until 30 March and seeks input from operators, industry trade bodies, consumer organisations, local authorities and members of

A criminal court in Kuwait has imposed seven-year prison sentences on nine individuals convicted of running an online gambling platform and laundering the proceeds through a complex financial network, in a case described by authorities as an organised criminal scheme.   In addition to the custodial sentences, the court ordered each defendant to pay a fine of KD1m (approximately $3.3m). The combined personal fines total KD9m (around $29.7m).   The court also levied a separate

Uganda is reporting significant gains from its revamped approach to gambling regulation, with revenue from the sector showing substantial growth. According to the country’s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board, non-tax revenue from the gaming industry has increased nearly eight-fold, rising from Sh 1.14 billion (£232,945) in the 2019/20 financial year to Sh 8.79 billion (£1.8 million) in FY 2024/25. Annual revenue collection has also seen a dramatic rise, climbing f

The Netherlands Gambling Authority has issued a binding instruction to bet365’s Dutch operator, Hillside New Media Malta, after concluding that the company failed to properly assess player affordability and intervene when signs of financial harm emerged. The regulator noted that these deficiencies persisted for several months despite repeated warnings. The authority stated that the shortcomings occurred between at least December 2024 and June 2025, during which bet365 did not

Indian authorities have stepped up their crackdown on illegal online gambling by blocking a further 242 betting and wagering websites, bringing the total number of restricted platforms to more than 7,800 nationwide.   The latest move underscores a marked intensification of enforcement efforts following the introduction of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming (PROG) Act, which bans online money gaming throughout the country.   According to government officials, the on

Finland has moved further along the path of overhauling its gambling framework by granting expanded powers to its newly created gambling regulator, reinforcing enforcement as the country prepares to transition to a licensing-based market in 2027. The changes mark another significant milestone in the dismantling of the long-standing monopoly model. Under the new arrangements, Finland’s Permit and Supervision Agency will take responsibility for overseeing enforcement in the fut

The Colombian government has revised its taxation strategy for the online gambling sector, replacing the 19% value-added tax previously applied to player deposits with a levy based on gross gaming revenue. The updated framework came into force on January 1, redirecting the tax burden toward the actual income earned by operators rather than the total amount of money deposited by customers. The deposit-based 19% VAT was first introduced in February 2025 as a temporary response

The National Treasury of South Africa is preparing to introduce a new tax targeting online gambling, a move that would see gambling operators pay an additional 20% on the revenue they generate from online betting activities. As part of the consultation process, the Treasury has extended the deadline for public submissions on the proposal, shifting it from 30 January to 27 February 2026 to allow for broader engagement and feedback. The department has described the proposed lev

Paraguay’s gambling sector recorded its strongest year on record in 2025, generating PYG215.9 billion ($32.6 million), according to figures released this week by the country’s regulator, the National Gaming Commission (Conajzar). The milestone year followed the liberalisation of the market under Law No 7348/2025, which fundamentally reshaped the country’s regulatory framework.   The revenue total represents the highest annual figure ever reported in Paraguay’s gambling indust

More than ten illegal Chinese-made coin-slot gambling machines were seized and destroyed on Friday at the Nyando Deputy County Commissioner’s offices, as authorities stepped up efforts to eliminate unlawful gambling activities in the area.   Nyando Deputy County Commissioner Elijah Maranga said the machines were recovered during coordinated security operations carried out in Ahero and Awasi towns. He stressed that the operation of coin-slot gambling machines is prohibited und

Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority (OJK) has directed the country’s banks to block and shut down 31,382 accounts suspected of being connected to illegal online gambling activities, an increase from the 30,392 accounts previously flagged by regulators.   Authorities have repeatedly warned that online gambling poses serious risks to financial stability, disrupts household finances and undermines the wider economy. Although many gambling platforms are operated from outside

Ukrainian authorities have ordered internet providers to block access to Polymarket, a decentralised prediction market platform, after concluding that its services amount to unlicensed gambling under the country’s laws. The decision was issued in December 2025 by the National Commission for the Regulation of Electronic Communications, which instructed internet service providers to restrict access to online platforms that facilitate wagering without holding a Ukrainian licence

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