Regulation
Licensing updates, compliance requirements, regulatory changes, and enforcement actions worldwide.
38 articles
RegulationTrending
Washington DC Council Holds iGaming Hearing — Councilmember Felder's B26-0656 Bill Would Authorise Online Casino Statewide
Washington DC's Council has heard testimony on Bill B26-0656, which would authorise online casino gambling in the District — a move that would make DC the first US jurisdiction to legalise iGaming through city-level legislation and add further momentum to the ongoing New York and broader East Coast iGaming push.
James Whitfield·
33
RegulationTrending
Chuck Schumer Calls on House and White House to Follow Senate Prediction Market Ban — Bipartisan Bill Targets Full Government Prohibition
Chuck Schumer has called on the House and White House to match the Senate's prediction market trading ban, as the Gillibrand-McCormick bipartisan bill gains co-sponsors and a Senate Commerce subcommittee schedules the first formal Senate hearing on prediction market integrity for May 20.
James Whitfield·
62
RegulationTrending
New Zealand Online Casino Act Takes Effect — 15-Licence Market Opens with July EOI Process and December 2026 Enforcement Deadline
New Zealand's Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 took effect on May 1, opening a 15-licence market that begins its Expression of Interest process in July and sets December 1 as the enforcement deadline after which only licensed operators may legally serve NZ players — with a competitive 12% duty rate.
Illia Lisovskyy·
44
RegulationTrending
US Senate Unanimously Bans Members and Staff from Prediction Market Trading — Bipartisan Bill Would Extend Ban Across Government
The US Senate passed a unanimous resolution on April 30 banning senators and staff from prediction market trading — with a bipartisan bill immediately introduced to extend the prohibition across the executive branch — as Washington's self-imposed restraint removes the political complexity from the licensed gambling industry's campaign to restrict sports event contracts.
James Whitfield·
96
RegulationTrending
New York iGaming Bill Returns to Albany with 30.5% Tax Rate as Resorts World NYC Casino Opening Sharpens the Political Case
New York's parallel Senate and Assembly iGaming bills — proposing a 30.5% tax on online casino revenue — are in committee as the 2026 session progresses, with Resorts World NYC's April 28 table games opening providing legislators the most powerful new argument yet for treating online gambling access as an extension of existing licensed casino activity.
James Whitfield·
68
RegulationTrending
Finland's Gambling Advertising Market to Become Europe's Second Largest After 2027 Market Opening — Under Some of the Continent's Strictest Ad Rules
Finland's private gambling market won't open until July 2027, but analysts project its advertising spend could reach €100 million in year one — placing it second in Europe — under regulatory constraints that ban game-level advertising, restrict direct marketing to opted-in players, and cap bonuses at 5x wagering.
Illia Lisovskyy·
38
British Columbia Launches Independent Gambling Control Office — New Regulator Has Expanded Powers and Ends GPEB Era
British Columbia's gambling regulator has been structurally reformed: the government-subordinate Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch has been replaced by the Independent Gambling Control Office (IGCO), which operates at arm's length from government, holds binding authority over BC Lottery Corp, and introduces the first licensing fee increases in over 15 years.
Illia Lisovskyy·
19
RegulationTrending
Alberta iGaming Market Confirmed for July 13 Launch — 55 Operator Applications Filed but Only 9 Have Paid Licensing Fees
Alberta has locked in July 13 as the universal launch date for its privately regulated iGaming market — a day when all approved operators will go live simultaneously — but only 9 of 55 applicants have paid licensing fees, signalling that the confirmed operator roster may be smaller than initially expected.
Illia Lisovskyy·
43
RegulationTrending
AGA and IGA Escalate Congressional Offensive Against Prediction Markets — House Agriculture Hearing Draws 16 Members
The AGA and IGA appeared before the House Agriculture Committee — which oversees the CFTC — in a closed session attended by 16 members, as 40 state attorneys general signed onto an amicus brief opposing prediction market sports contracts that could force the first Congressional intervention in the regulated sportsbook vs. prediction market standoff.
James Whitfield·
56
Dutch Gambling Regulator KSA Forces Holland Casino Online and Vbet to Remove Own-Goals Betting Markets Over Match-Fixing Risks
The Netherlands' KSA has intervened against Holland Casino Online and Vbet after both operators offered own-goals betting markets that the regulator classifies as manipulation-prone — both have removed the markets and the KSA has added control procedures to prevent recurrence.
James Whitfield·
24
RegulationTrending
Illinois Sweepstakes Casino Enforcement Update: Only 2 of 65 Operators Comply With Cease-and-Desist Orders
Two weeks after the Illinois Gaming Board targeted 65 sweepstakes casino operators with cease-and-desist orders, compliance stands at approximately 3%: only JefeBet and Jumbo88 have restricted Illinois access, while Chumba Casino, Pulsz, Stake US, Global Poker, and others remain live in the state.
Illia Lisovskyy·
35
RegulationTrending
UK High Court Dismisses Richard Desmond's £1.3 Billion National Lottery Claim — UKGC Fully Vindicated on Allwyn Award
The UK High Court has dismissed in full Richard Desmond's £1.3 billion damages claim against the UKGC over the award of the Fourth National Lottery Licence to Allwyn, finding the bidding process lawfully conducted and Desmond's TNLC having 'failed to establish any aspect' of its case.
James Whitfield·
53
RegulationTrending
UKGC Director Dismisses 'Inaccurate' Claims That Financial Risk Checks Are Driving Players to Illegal Operators
UKGC's Director of Major Policy Projects Helen Rhodes has directly challenged claims that financial risk checks are pushing UK players to illegal gambling sites — noting that the checks are not yet live and no consumer has been subject to any action — while confirming the Commission is approaching its advisory board sign-off stage.
James Whitfield·
41
RegulationTrending
Brazil Enforces Full Credit Card Ban for Online Gambling as SPA Moves from Guidance to Active Enforcement
Brazil's SPA has shifted from guidance to active enforcement of its online gambling framework, issuing its first fines under Ordinance 722 for KYC failures and enforcing the full ban on credit card gambling payments — a move that directly affects the payments and onboarding architecture of the 78 licensed operators running 138 brands in the market.
Marcus De Luca·
29
Washington DC Lawmaker Proposes Online Casino Legalisation with 25% GGR Tax
A Washington DC city council member has proposed legalising online casino gaming, including slots and interactive table games, with a 25% GGR tax structure and a ring-fenced contribution to gambling addiction services — building on the city's existing online sports betting framework.
Marcus De Luca·
17
RegulationTrending
Australia's Partial Gambling Ad Restrictions: A Compromise That Falls Short of the Full Ban Campaigners Demanded
Australia has announced a partial gambling advertising reform package that stops short of the comprehensive ban recommended by the Murphy Review — restricting live sport daytime ads and capping frequency to three per hour, while banning celebrity endorsements and online keno, with changes effective January 2027.
Marcus De Luca·
32
RegulationTrending
24 Operators File for Finnish iGaming Licences as €1.9B Market Prepares to Open in 2027
Twenty-four operators have applied for Finnish online gambling licences within the first month of the application window, targeting a €1.9 billion market that opens to private operators on July 1, 2027. Industry observers expect the final licensed pool to reach 40–50 operators.
Marcus De Luca·
33
KSA Issues Mandatory Intervention Standards and Tightened Cruks Self-Exclusion Rules for Dutch Operators
The Netherlands' KSA has published detailed player protection rules specifying mandatory intervention procedures for at-risk players and tightened Cruks self-exclusion enrollment requirements — including an obligation for operators to report to the regulator when a player refuses to self-exclude.
Marcus De Luca·
19
RegulationTrending
1.5 Million UK Players Now Gambling on Unlicensed Sites as Black Market Reaches 9% of Total Market
An estimated 1.5 million UK players are now gambling on unlicensed offshore sites, accounting for approximately 9% of the total market and £4.3 billion in annual stakes. A new government Illegal Gambling Taskforce involving Google, Mastercard, TikTok, and Visa has been established — but the BGC warns the funding is inadequate.
James Whitfield·
47
RegulationTrending
South Africa Orders Sports Bookmakers to Remove Casino-Style RGS Games by June 30
South Africa's National Gambling Board has given sports betting operators until June 30, 2026 to remove casino-style RGS games from their platforms, following a Supreme Court ruling that such offerings exceed sports bookmaker licences. A new online casino licensing framework is planned for Q3 public consultation.
Marcus De Luca·
18
RegulationTrending
Gibraltar Becomes First European Jurisdiction to Licence a Prediction Markets Operator
Gibraltar has issued Europe's first formal licence to a prediction markets operator, granting Predict Street Ltd — a crypto-based platform backed by Abu Dhabi blockchain infrastructure ADI Chain — a betting intermediary licence. The platform launched April 9, positioning itself as FIFA World Cup 2026's official prediction market partner.
Marcus De Luca·
31
UK Gambling Commission Reviews Where Operator Settlement Funds Are Directed Following GambleAware Transition
The UK Gambling Commission is reviewing where regulatory settlement payments from penalised operators will be directed, following GambleAware's closure and the introduction of the statutory gambling levy. Acting CEO Sarah Gardner is leading the post-transition priorities review.
Marcus De Luca·
14
RegulationTrending
Sweden Becomes First EU State to Ban Credit-Funded Gambling — April 1 Implementation
Sweden has become the first EU country to ban all credit-funded gambling, effective April 1, 2026. The prohibition covers credit cards, overdrafts, personal loans, and BNPL services including Klarna — requiring operators to implement real-time payment screening across all deposit channels.
Marcus De Luca·
38
RegulationTrending
Andrew Rhodes Steps Down as UK Gambling Commission CEO — Leaves April 30 at Critical Industry Juncture
Andrew Rhodes will leave the UK Gambling Commission on April 30, 2026, ending a nearly five-year tenure during which he implemented affordability checks, marketing restrictions, and the statutory levy framework. Deputy CEO Sarah Gardner takes over as Acting CEO during the successor search.
Marcus De Luca·
29
RegulationTrending
UK's 40% Remote Gaming Duty Takes Effect April 1 — Highest Online Casino Tax Rate Among Major Markets
The UK's Remote Gaming Duty rose to 40% on April 1, 2026 — the highest rate in any major regulated market globally. Flutter, Entain, and Bet365 are among the operators absorbing the impact, with Entain alone projecting a £100–150 million earnings hit across 2026–2027.
Marcus De Luca·
87
RegulationTrending
GambleAware Closes After 20 Years as UK Statutory Gambling Levy Takes Over from April 1
GambleAware has ceased operations on March 31, 2026, ending two decades as the UK's primary voluntary-funded responsible gambling charity. From April 1, a mandatory statutory levy on operators replaces the voluntary funding model, with three new national commissioners taking over harm reduction functions.
Marcus De Luca·
24
Canada's Wealthsimple Gets Regulatory Clearance for Prediction Market Contracts — Sports Excluded
Canada's CIRO has approved Wealthsimple to offer forecast trading contracts on economic and financial outcomes — but barred sports and political event contracts. The decision makes Wealthsimple only the second firm cleared for such products in Canada and reignites the investing-vs-gambling regulatory debate.
Marcus De Luca·
13
New Study Challenges Effectiveness of Self-Exclusion Tools, Calls for Industry-Wide Data Sharing
Researchers from the University of Bristol have published findings questioning whether self-exclusion programs meaningfully reduce gambling harm, and have proposed a centralized database model.
Alex Biliy·
33
RegulationTrending
MGA Issues Crypto Gambling Framework Consultation, Proposes Stablecoin-Only Policy for Licensed Operators
The Malta Gaming Authority has published a consultation paper proposing a framework for cryptocurrency gambling that would restrict licensed operators to stablecoin transactions only, prohibiting the use of volatile crypto assets for wagering.
Marcus De Luca·
51
RegulationTrending
Brazil Issues First Batch of Online Gambling Licences as SPA Opens Application Process
Brazil's Secretaria de Prêmios e Apostas (SPA) has issued the first batch of online gambling licences under the country's new regulatory framework, with 14 operators approved in the initial cohort.
Alex Biliy·
67
Netherlands iGaming Market Grows 28% in 2025, KSA Signals Further Restriction on Bonus Promotions
The Netherlands' regulated online gambling market posted 28% gross gaming revenue growth in 2025, but the KSA has signalled its intention to further restrict bonus promotions in a consultation published in January 2026.
Illia Lisovskyy·
29
Ontario's Regulated iGaming Market Posts Strong Three-Year Growth as Player Protections Praised Internationally
Ontario's AGCO has published its third annual market report showing sustained growth in regulated operator revenue, declining grey market activity, and improved problem gambling indicators.
Alex Biliy·
29
Spain Tightens Gambling Advertising Rules, Bans Influencer Partnerships and Live Sports Sponsorships
Spain's gambling regulator DGOJ has published new advertising guidelines that ban influencer marketing partnerships and prohibit gambling operators from sponsoring live sports broadcasts effective from March 2026.
Marcus De Luca·
41
Germany's Online Casino Market Posts 31% Growth in 2025 Despite Strict Spin Speed Restrictions
Germany's licensed online casino market has grown 31% by gross gaming revenue in 2025, according to new data from the Joint Gambling Authority of the States (GGL), despite ongoing operator complaints about product restrictions.
Marcus De Luca·
33
RegulationTrending
UK Gambling Commission Begins Rolling Out White Paper Reforms as Operators Face Affordability Check Deadline
The UKGC has confirmed implementation timelines for key White Paper measures including enhanced affordability checks and stake limits, with operators required to comply by March 2026.
Alex Biliy·
61
RegulationTrending
UKGC Publishes White Paper Implementation Update: Stake Limits and Affordability Checks Enter Consultation
The UK Gambling Commission has published its latest White Paper implementation progress report, confirming that proposed online stake limits and enhanced affordability checks are entering a formal public consultation phase.
Marcus De Luca·
58RegulationTrending
EU Gambling Authority Proposes Unified Licensing Framework for Online Operators
A landmark proposal from the European Gaming and Betting Association could reshape how online gambling licenses are issued across EU member states, reducing duplication and compliance costs.
Alex Biliy·
47Newsletter
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