Regulatory
Licensing, compliance, and regulator activity worldwide.
As the Angolan government prepares to appoint a single provider to oversee all digital gambling transactions, the nation stands at a crossroads. With online revenues falling and physical betting shops booming, this move toward a centralised payment gateway represents a high-stakes attempt to modernise the industry and secure vital tax revenue for the state.
Norway expands charity lottery access to twenty-three organisations as the state monopoly faces unprecedented political and regulatory challenges.
Austria prepares for a monumental shift in its betting landscape as the Ministry of Finance outlines new draft legislation for the 2027 casino tenders. While the government focuses on age-based loss limits and stricter enforcement against unlicensed sites, major industry stakeholders are lobbying fiercely for a transition from a state-backed monopoly to an open, competitive licensing model to ensure better player safety and tax retention.
The Star Entertainment Group is set to ax its corporate head office and eliminate hundreds of roles in a radical decentralisation plan. New CEO Bruce Mathieson Jr told staff the current structure added complexity rather than value. The move follows a A$300 million rescue deal by Bally’s and the Mathieson family aimed at satisfying regulators and securing the company’s future.
Indiana lawmakers are currently debating a massive 750 million dollar casino relocation to Indianapolis alongside a competing 500 million dollar proposal for Allen County as the state also weighs the future of online lottery and sweepstakes gaming.
As Iowa legislators gather for the 2026 session, a landmark bill promises to end the impunity of unlicensed gambling platforms. By granting the state commission the power to issue cease and desist orders, Iowa aims to protect its citizens from fraudulent sites and recover billions in lost revenue currently flowing to offshore markets.
Mississippi’s Senate Bill 2104 is a rigorous legislative filing that aims to classify online sweepstakes casinos as illegal gambling devices, carrying heavy felony charges and asset forfeiture.
Tennessee regulators have issued a stern ultimatum to Kalshi and Polymarket demanding an immediate halt to all sports wagering activities within the state. The move follows allegations that these platforms are bypassing local gambling laws by offering unlicensed sports event contracts to residents. Companies have until the end of January to refund all customer deposits or face heavy fines and potential criminal investigation.
The KSA enters 2026 with a new leadership structure designed to tackle the digital age, yet the Dutch gambling market remains under threat from low channelisation rates and a looming tax hike to 38 percent.
Chicago's 10.25% sports betting tax has taken effect after operators withdrew an injunction request, though a constitutional challenge remains active while state lawmakers propose bills to preempt the city's levy.
Sri Lanka has enforced new gaming taxes for 2026, doubling the casino entry fee for locals to $100 and raising the operator levy to 18% to boost fiscal revenue.
Kazakhstan has approved a major expansion of its gambling zones, authorizing new casinos on the Caspian coast and Lake Alakol. The move aims to capture foreign tourism revenue while maintaining strict domestic controls.