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Finland’s National Police Board has received 50 gambling licence applications as operators position themselves for the country’s transition from a monopoly-based gambling system to a regulated commercial online gambling market. According to the regulator, there has been considerable interest from gambling companies ahead of the planned launch of the new licensing framework on July 1, 2027. Once the market opens, licensed commercial operators will be permitted to offer sport

Mounting financial problems among young people in the Dutch city of Enschede have intensified calls for stricter gambling regulation, with local councillor Meryam Sümer urging the Netherlands government to increase the legal minimum age for online gambling from 18 to 24. Sümer, a representative of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party and a welfare worker, has also advocated for tighter controls on buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) services and stronger enforcement against gam

Indonesia has intensified its nationwide campaign against illegal gambling by officially blocking access to the crypto-based prediction market platform Polymarket, following controversy surrounding wagers tied to President Prabowo Subianto and his political future. Although gambling remains illegal throughout Indonesia, underground betting operations and offshore online gambling sites have continued to attract users for years. Under Prabowo’s administration, however, author

The regulation of online betting in Brazil is already producing a substantial financial impact on public accounts. During the first quarter of 2026 alone, the federal government recorded R$3.4 billion in revenue generated from licensed betting operators. The figure stands out not only because of its size, but also because it represents a 123.7% increase compared to the same period in the previous year, when collections totaled R$1.5 billion. Official data released by the Fede

A vast parallel gambling economy is continuing to flourish within the digital shadows of Italy, generating an estimated €20 billion while attracting millions of active users despite mounting enforcement actions, domain shutdowns, and regulatory intervention by state authorities. The illegal online gambling sector has evolved into a highly adaptive digital ecosystem powered by smartphones, social media platforms, disposable domains, and rapidly replicating websites engineered

The Chilean government has significantly accelerated the legislative process surrounding the regulation of online betting platforms, granting the proposal “supreme urgency” status as it advances through the Senate. By assigning this classification, the Executive Branch has reduced the timeframe for parliamentary voting on the bill to just 15 days, signaling a major shift in political momentum behind the country’s long-delayed gambling reform agenda. The proposal first entered

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

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

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

The Philippine gaming sector posted total gross gaming revenues (GGR) of PHP396.14 billion ($6.61 billion) in 2025, reflecting a 6.39 percent increase from PHP372.33 billion ($6.21 billion) recorded in 2024, according to a press release issued by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). This overall growth was largely fueled by strong performance in the online and electronic gaming segment, which more than compensated for declining revenues from traditional

A new report from Amnesty International claims that the Cambodian government recently licensed “a dozen casinos” allegedly tied to online scam operations, raising serious questions about Phnom Penh’s commitment to combating cybercrime. Despite recent, highly publicized statements by Cambodian authorities asserting that they are cracking down on criminal online scam compounds, the human rights organization contends otherwise. Amnesty International asserts that “a dozen casinos

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

Russia is reportedly preparing to legalise online casinos as early as April, with officials indicating that a regulated market could be introduced within a matter of weeks. Sources within the Ministry of Finance suggest that plans are being actively developed to formalise the sector, as the government seeks to ease mounting fiscal strain while reclaiming gambling revenue currently lost to offshore operators. Under the proposed regulatory structure, online casino operator

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

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

Nearly half of the adult population in the Philippines, or approximately 32 million people, are reportedly engaging in online gambling, according to recent reports. Internet betting has surged since the COVID-19 pandemic, and with the Philippine government appearing intent on maximizing revenue from gambling, the country’s leading English-language newspaper is now urging regulatory reform. The Manila Bulletin, founded in 1900 and the second-oldest English newspaper in the Far

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

As of February 20, 2026, travelers requiring a French visa are now obligated to secure their appointments exclusively through an online system, with walk-ins and informal booking channels officially discontinued. The reform applies globally and covers both short-stay Schengen visas and long-stay national visas. The shift is aimed squarely at long-standing frustrations within the visa application process, including overcrowded service counters, extended queues, and the prolife

The Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) has implemented a five percent withholding tax on the net winnings of online bettors, a measure that takes immediate effect across the state’s regulated gaming market. The announcement was made on Thursday by LSLGA Chief Executive Officer Bashir Are, who confirmed that the deduction will apply to all gaming platforms licensed in Lagos, regardless of whether the player resides in the state. According to the public notice i