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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

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

Brazil’s president has indicated that the government is preparing to introduce what he described as “very serious” measures aimed at slowing the rapid expansion of online betting platforms across the country. The announcement reflects increasing concern among policymakers regarding the broader social and economic consequences linked to the surge in mobile gambling. The issue has gained political and public attention as online betting services continue to experience widespread

A 25-year-old woman from St Paul’s Bay has been remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to charges accusing her of scamming roughly 200 individuals by allegedly pretending to be a bank. Tammy Caruana, who informed the court that she is currently unemployed, was arraigned following a large-scale online fraud probe conducted by the Malta Police Force’s Financial Crimes Investigations Department. The investigation was carried out in collaboration with Europol as well as la

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

A senior advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly urged the Kremlin to consider legalizing online casino gambling as a way to generate much-needed state revenue. According to Kommersant, a leading Russian newspaper covering politics and business, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov has proposed that Putin authorize iGaming as part of broader efforts to strengthen government finances. The recommendation comes as Russia’s economy faces mounting strain from prolong

Chinese prosecutors have seized close to $17 million in Bitcoin from a man accused of stealing funds from an overseas online sports betting platform, in a case that has drawn attention to the legal treatment of cryptocurrency and data-related crimes in China. According to Chinese media outlet The Paper , the suspect is a Shenzhen-based IT network security engineer. For legal reasons, media reports have identified him under the alias Li Dong. Li was first detained in 2024 by p

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

Cyprus’ betting market continued its expansion in the third quarter of 2025, with total gross revenue from Class A and Class B operators rising 7 per cent year-on-year to €312.5 million, according to data released by the National Betting Authority (NBA). The figure also marks a 20 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2023. The authority reported that online betting maintained its dominant role during the July to September period. Class B operators generated €235

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