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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

A Russian court has chosen not to impose prison sentences on the three individuals behind a high-profile illegal poker club operating in the western city of Smolensk.   Instead, the district court issued suspended jail terms ranging from 20 to 22 months, according to a report by Russian media outlet Rabochy Put.   The three organizers, whose identities have not been disclosed due to legal restrictions, were also ordered to serve two years of probation. In addition, each of th

The Philippine government is considering a possible ban on Telegram as authorities intensify efforts to combat illegal online activities, including unauthorized gambling operations and sexual exploitation, that have allegedly proliferated on the messaging platform. According to a report by Manila Bulletin, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) confirmed that it is evaluating the option of blocking access to Telegram following reports that illicit

The Malaysian government is preparing new legislation aimed at curbing illegal gambling, with plans to grant expanded enforcement powers to police in response to growing concerns over both online and land-based betting activities.   Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof confirmed that authorities are currently drafting the proposed law and intend to present it during the upcoming parliamentary session.   “At the federal level, the government is drafting a law to address illega

Athens has announced that all options are being considered in the fight against black market gambling, including prison sentences and consumer fines for repeated participation on illegal websites. Greece is moving forward with plans to become the first EU country to introduce a “comprehensive framework” specifically targeting illegal gambling activities and associated crimes. The initiative comes from Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Minister of National Economy and Finance, who is adva

South Africans who access unlicensed offshore gambling websites face serious legal and financial consequences, including the possible loss of both their deposits and any winnings.   Financial institutions are obligated under the law to seize funds connected to illegal betting activities, meaning users may never recover money earned through these platforms.   According to the Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA), national legislation forbids residents from participat

Authorities in Egypt are moving forward with plans to implement a nationwide shutdown targeting online betting applications, as part of new legislation expected to permanently disable illegal gambling services while introducing stricter sanctions for companies that advertise or promote betting activities within the country. The proposed regulatory changes represent a major expansion of enforcement efforts aimed at curbing unauthorized digital gambling operations. Reports indi

A senior Russian law enforcement officer tasked with combating corruption has himself come under investigation for allegedly accepting bribes from operators of illegal casinos and gambling dens.   According to Russia’s state-run news agency RIA Novosti, the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ branch in the Omsk Oblast is probing one of its own officers, Dmitry Nagibin, who serves as a police colonel within the ministry’s Economic Security and Anti-Corruption Department.   The minis

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

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

Brazilian authorities dramatically increased their campaign against unlawful gambling activity throughout 2025, blocking more than 25,000 illegal betting platforms as the country completed its first full year operating under a regulated sports betting regime.   Figures released by the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA), which operates under the Ministry of Finance, show that enforcement actions were carried out in close collaboration with the National Telecommunications

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

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

Swedish law enforcement has stepped up its offensive against unauthorized financial intermediaries, warning that anyone acting as an illegal money transmitter risks long prison terms and the seizure of their assets. Criminal networks are increasingly leaning on loose, decentralized webs of willing or coerced individuals to move dirty money across borders while steering clear of regulated banks. The funds being shuffled through these channels often bankroll major criminal acti

Turkey’s sweeping investigation into illegal betting and alleged match-fixing within professional football has intensified further, with authorities expanding the scope of enforcement to include additional players, referees and football officials.   On Friday, prosecutors issued detention orders for 29 more individuals as part of the widening probe into unlicensed gambling activities and integrity breaches. Turkish media outlets, including broadcaster NTV, reported that those

Uganda’s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) has intensified its crackdown on illegal gambling operations, netting scores of Chinese nationals and their Ugandan accomplices in a nationwide operation targeting unlicensed slot machines and gaming equipment that have deprived the government of significant revenue.   The enforcement drive, code-named Operation Mashine Haramu —Swahili for “illegal machines”—is part of a broader effort by the regulator to stem th