iGaming News

Digital Footprints has announced the results of the inaugural Accelerator Fund, with Tipsterizer, a SaaS white-label platform that powers community-led and social sports betting experiences, named as the winner.

The Swedish Gambling Authority has confirmed that new supervision fees will impact all licensed operators from 1 March 2026. This financial update arrives just weeks before a strict ban on credit gambling takes effect, creating a challenging environment for the industry as it battles to retain players against a growing black market.

Egypt initiates a legislative crackdown on unlicensed online betting apps, targeting major offshore operators like 1xBet to curb addiction and financial loss. The new draft law promises strict penalties for users and seeks to close the digital loopholes that have allowed the shadow gambling market to grow into a billion dollar industry.

The UK Gambling Commission has officially categorised prediction markets as gambling, requiring operators to secure a Betting Intermediary licence and warning that unlicensed firms targeting British punters face criminal prosecution.

This episode of iGaming Real Talk offers practical insight without hype. It is a grounded conversation for founders, operators, and industry leaders navigating growth, visibility, and leadership in a rapidly changing landscape.

Lithuania’s gambling regulator has handed a €330,600 fine to Baltic Bet for systemic failures in money laundering prevention, marking another blow for the Entain owned operator as the country continues its aggressive compliance crackdown.

If you walk the floor of any major iGaming conference, you are usually drowning in a sea of cheap black polyester. Sandra Bondare, Co-Founder of Swag42, argues that this isn't just a fashion crime; it is a strategic business error.

Leading gambling operators SkillOnNet and Wildz Group have rejected Finland's proposed universal loss limits, warning that overly strict rules will drive players to the black market. Citing the failures of the German regulatory model, the companies argue that the new legal framework must remain competitive to ensure high channelisation rates when the market opens in 2027.

The conflict highlights the immense tension within the Nordic gambling sector as Finland prepares to dismantle its state monopoly. While Veikkaus maintains its actions are lawful, the investigation by the FCCA will determine whether an incumbent can legally fortify its position against future rivals before the market even opens.

Nominations close on February 15, 2026, marking the final opportunity to put forward organizations and individuals whose work goes beyond commercial success and actively contributes to fairness, responsibility, innovation, and a healthier industry culture.

The Constitutional Court of Colombia has delivered a shock suspension of the 19% VAT on gambling, citing constitutional concerns over emergency decrees. With an election year approaching, legal experts believe the tax is unlikely to be revived before 2027, providing a major boost to licensed operators.

The Dutch government is set to implement a total ban on gambling advertisements and introduce license limits, citing fears of crime and a need to protect the public from an industry they have compared to the sex trade.

As the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, the Russian Finance Ministry has proposed legalising online casinos to generate 100 billion roubles annually, a move critics label as a desperate attempt to fund the ongoing military campaign through state-controlled gambling.

As the Netherlands prepares for a massive wave of licence renewals, the government has confirmed that fees will rise by 28 per cent across the board. Combined with a 37.8 per cent tax rate, the move has left many wondering if the Dutch market is still a viable home for online gambling operators.

As the DCMS considers a 30% hike in gambling licence fees, the UK regulator warns that without a significant cash injection, it may be forced to cut staff and scale back essential enforcement against illegal operators.

The escalating legal conflict over bet365 in Germany serves as a litmus test for the European Union’s ability to enforce judicial cooperation across borders. As Maltese legislation continues to shield operators from multi million euro claims the upcoming decisions from the European Court of Justice will determine whether the current system of regulatory loopholes can survive or if a new era of stringent player protection and cross border accountability is about to begin.

Finland is scrambling to fix a regulatory oversight that turned gifted scratch cards into worthless bits of cardboard, all while preparing for the biggest gambling market liberalisation in its history.

As New York faces a billion-dollar drain to neighbouring states and illegal markets, Senator Joe Addabbo launches a renewed 2026 push to legalise iCasinos. With a proposed 30.5 per cent tax rate and a focus on consumer safety, the Empire State may finally be ready to embrace the digital gambling revolution.

Iowa lawmakers have introduced HSB 586 and SSB 3040 to grant the IRGC explicit powers to shut down unlicenced sweepstakes casinos using civil injunctions and stop orders.

The Nigerian Tax Act 2025 has officially eliminated VAT on gambling stakes as of 1 January 2026. This landmark legislation aligns Nigeria with international tax standards and provides much-needed clarity for the sports betting and lottery sectors. While stakes are now exempt, operators must still pay tax on service fees and commissions.

MGM Resorts has reached a landmark achievement in Nevada by doubling its renewable energy capacity through the Escape Solar and Storage Project. With 115 megawatts of solar power and a 25 year stability agreement, the gaming leader is now meeting all its daytime electricity needs on the Las Vegas Strip via clean energy sources.

A Massachusetts judge has granted a preliminary injunction against prediction market Kalshi, prohibiting the platform from offering sports related contracts to residents without a state licence. The ruling, which follows a lawsuit by Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, marks the first successful state level block of the company’s sports business and challenges its claim that federal CFTC regulation preempts local gambling laws.

The UK Gambling Commission has accused Meta of profit seeking at the expense of player safety, claiming the social media giant allows illegal casinos to bypass British self exclusion schemes. Tim Miller warned that the regulator will use new powers and millions in funding to make the black market commercially toxic for all involved.

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.