Founder at iGaming Times
93 articles published on iGaming Times
After years of regulatory grey area, New Zealand has passed legislation that will bring offshore online casino operators to heel and create one of the Asia-Pacific region's most anticipated new regulated markets.
Corporate · 24 Apr 2026
Two activist short sellers have dropped simultaneous reports accusing Sportradar of generating a significant share of its revenue from illegal operators. The fallout has been immediate, brutal and far from over.
Corporate · 23 Apr 2026
New York's Attorney General is calling prediction markets what she says they really are: illegal gambling. The lawsuits against two of crypto's biggest names mark a significant escalation in the state versus federal battle over who controls this fast-growing sector.
Corporate · 22 Apr 2026
During the first quarter of 2026, the Complaint Resolution Center published 3,986 complaints and successfully resolved 1,321 cases, resulting in $5,304,894 returned to players.
Press Release · 21 Apr 2026
A platform that was paying CFTC fines and blocking US users just three years ago is now reportedly worth $15 billion. Polymarket's comeback is one of the most dramatic turnarounds in the prediction markets industry.
Corporate · 21 Apr 2026
A business bought for £2.2 billion less than four years ago may be about to change hands for a tenth of that price. The Bally's Intralot bid for Evoke is the most significant corporate development in British gambling for years.
Corporate · 20 Apr 2026
A congressional hearing has exposed deep uncertainty at the heart of American prediction markets regulation. When the CFTC chair cannot tell a prediction market contract apart from a sportsbook bet, the regulatory gap becomes impossible to ignore.
Regulatory · 17 Apr 2026
Having clamped down on real-money gaming, India is now taking a lighter touch with social and skill-based games. The shift toward risk-based regulation could significantly reduce compliance burdens for a large segment of the country's gaming industry.
Regulatory · 17 Apr 2026
What started as a small group of industry professionals looking for real insights has grown into one of the most active and engaged communities in iGaming. The 500-member milestone is a reflection of the industry's hunger for a space where professionals can be open and real, connect and share experiences, and have candid discussions beyond the usual conference circuits and polished press releases.
Press Release · 17 Apr 2026
Less than 18 months after launching online, the UAE Lottery is building out its physical presence. A first dedicated retail outlet in Abu Dhabi marks the next step in a distribution strategy that is moving faster than many expected.
Regulatory · 17 Apr 2026
Australia's gambling regulator has handed Chasebet a formal warning for self-exclusion promotion failures, while simultaneously moving against 19 more unlicensed operators in an ongoing crackdown on the illegal market.
Corporate · 16 Apr 2026
The return of 888 to the Netherlands via a ComeOn Group licence has triggered formal parliamentary scrutiny. The answers could reshape how the Dutch regulator assesses the history of operators seeking market access through third-party arrangements.
Regulatory · 16 Apr 2026
Spribe's global campaign to protect its Aviator crash game is gaining momentum in the courts. A Brazilian ruling against one of Flutter's own brands sends a clear message to the entire industry.
Corporate · 16 Apr 2026
Casino Guru is proud to receive this nomination, as it once again serves as proof of the company’s sustained focus on improving the wider industry ecosystem, prioritizing player protection, and championing a fair and transparent online gambling industry.
Press Release · 16 Apr 2026
Washington's derivatives regulator has named the team that will help shape the future of prediction markets, cryptocurrency and AI regulation. The appointments signal where the CFTC's priorities lie.
Regulatory · 15 Apr 2026
Ontario wants to open its poker and daily fantasy sports markets to players across borders. Four lottery corporations say that would break the law. Canada's Supreme Court will now decide who is right.
Regulatory · 14 Apr 2026
From Robinhood's selective product choices to Europe's blanket bans, the prediction markets industry is facing a moment of reckoning over market integrity. The question is whether the sector can regulate itself before regulators do it for them.
Prediction Markets · 13 Apr 2026
The Dutch regulator has found serious gaps between Unibet's stated anti-money laundering policies and what it actually does in practice. And Unibet may not be the only operator in the crosshairs.
Regulatory · 10 Apr 2026
As the EU battles to fund its most ambitious budget yet, online gambling operators have found themselves in the crosshairs alongside Silicon Valley giants. The industry should be paying close attention.
Regulatory · 10 Apr 2026
Rather than compete with Smartico, Optimove has decided to own it. The deal reshapes the iGaming CRM landscape and signals where the real battleground for player engagement is heading.
Corporate · 7 Apr 2026
Kalshi insists its products are financial instruments. State regulators insist they are bets. A Nevada judge has sided firmly with the regulators, and the fight is now playing out in courtrooms across the country.
Prediction Markets · 6 Apr 2026
With a full estate sale off the table and cost pressures mounting, Entain is cutting deep in Ireland. The retail betting shop is becoming an endangered species on both sides of the Irish Sea.
Corporate · 3 Apr 2026
Following a transformative year for the Brazilian iGaming industry, Alea is returning to São Paulo for its second consecutive term as the Headline Partner for NEXT.io Focus Brazil.
Press Release · 1 Apr 2026
The UK's Remote Gaming Duty has doubled overnight. Industry insiders are warning of a spiral effect that could permanently reshape Britain's licensed gambling market, and nobody, including the Treasury, knows where it ends.
Regulatory · 1 Apr 2026
Evoke warned this would happen if the government pressed ahead with its tax plans. It pressed ahead. Now 200 William Hill shops are closing and thousands of jobs are at risk.
Corporate · 31 Mar 2026
A €1.2 billion market growing at 15% year-on-year and still less than 60% online. Superbet has spotted the opportunity, and it is moving fast.
Corporate · 30 Mar 2026
Norway is investing heavily in education, treatment and research to tackle gambling harm from the ground up. But with its state monopoly operator under scrutiny, the government faces questions about whether prevention alone is enough.
Regulatory · 27 Mar 2026
As martial law continues, Ukraine is deploying automated technology to shield its military from online gambling, in what represents one of the most targeted regulatory interventions in the industry.
Regulatory · 26 Mar 2026
One of Europe and Latin America's most recognisable gambling operators is on the block. With advisors hired and a summer deadline in sight, the race to acquire Codere is already taking shape.
Corporate · 25 Mar 2026
Germany's gambling regulator claims 77% of players are in the licensed market. The industry says the real figure is closer to 50%, and the consequences of getting it wrong could reshape the country's entire regulatory future.
Regulatory · 24 Mar 2026
The Malta Gaming Authority is investigating unauthorised access to one of its systems after German security researcher Lilith Wittmann claimed responsibility, accused the regulator of enabling organised crime, and threatened to release a wider archive of gambling related data if enforcement action is pursued.
Regulatory · 23 Mar 2026
Earlier this year, Casino Guru officially revealed the shortlists across all award categories, following a record-breaking number of high-quality applications from across the iGaming industry. These shortlisted candidates represent the strongest performers in areas such as transparency, social responsibility, innovation, leadership, and player protection.
Press Release · 23 Mar 2026
New figures from GamCare and debt advice provider PayPlan show that 1,954 people sought financial guidance through GamCare's Money Guidance Service in 2025, more than double the previous year, with total reported debt rising 153% to £7.2 million, and January 2026 recording the highest monthly referral total in the service's history.
Regulatory · 18 Mar 2026
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has filed 20 criminal misdemeanour charges against prediction market platform Kalshi, alleging it operated an unlicensed gambling business and accepted bets on state elections in violation of Arizona law, marking the first criminal prosecution of a prediction market company by any US state.
Prediction Markets · 17 Mar 2026
Meta has removed more than 159 million fraudulent ads and shut down 10.9 million scam-linked accounts in 2025, while a joint international operation with the Royal Thai Police, FBI, and US Department of Justice disabled 150,000 accounts tied to Southeast Asian scam centres and led to 21 arrests, as criminal networks increasingly use fake gambling platforms to lure victims.
Corporate · 16 Mar 2026
Indiana Governor Mike Braun has signed House Bill 1052 into law, making Indiana the first state in 2026 and the seventh overall to prohibit dual-currency sweepstakes casino platforms, with civil penalties of up to $100,000 per violation taking effect from 1 July 2026.
Regulatory · 13 Mar 2026
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission has issued binding staff guidance and opened a formal advance rulemaking process on prediction markets, signalling a decisive shift under Chairman Mike Selig as event contracts surge from five per year in 2006 to roughly 1,600 certified contracts in 2025.
Prediction Markets · 12 Mar 2026
Austrian prosecutors have filed criminal bribery charges against Novomatic founder Johann Graf and former Ainsworth CEO Harald Neumann, adding fresh regulatory scrutiny to a company already locked out of its AU$1-per-share takeover of Australian gaming supplier Ainsworth Game Technology after minority shareholders blocked the deal in February 2026.
Corporate · 12 Mar 2026
Finland's state-owned operator Veikkaus has signalled ambitions to become a respected international gaming group by 2030, as its full-year 2025 results reveal declining domestic revenues and its B2B arm Fennica Gaming posts near-doubled turnover across 17 global markets all ahead of Finland's licensed market launch in July 2027.
Corporate · 11 Mar 2026
The Kansspelautoriteit has handed Novatech a record €24.8m fine for operating Qbet.com and 55Bet.com illegally in the Netherlands, as the Dutch regulator signals it will pursue the entire ecosystem behind unlicensed gambling - including influencers, payment providers, and hosting companies.
Regulatory · 10 Mar 2026
Dutch operators have urged lawmakers to revisit the Netherlands’ rising gambling tax, claiming the policy has reduced receipts by an estimated €43.5m in 2025 and is accelerating movement to unlicensed sites ahead of a parliamentary committee debate on 11 March.
Regulatory · 9 Mar 2026
The milestone further strengthens the CRC’s position as one of the industry’s most trusted dispute resolution platforms, providing free and impartial assistance to players across the globe.
Press Release · 9 Mar 2026
Freedom of Information documents suggest DCMS warned the UK Treasury that large gambling duty increases could miss revenue targets and boost illegal play through behavioural change, but Treasury pressed ahead as the Finance Bill enters a key parliamentary stage.
Regulatory · 6 Mar 2026
Bally’s Intralot will transition its lotteries leadership on 16 March 2026 as Nikos Nikolakopoulos steps down as President of Lotteries, with chief operating officer Chrysostomos Sfatos set to assume the role while the outgoing executive remains on the board as a non-executive director.
Corporate · 5 Mar 2026
Israeli police are investigating a large Polymarket wager that correctly predicted a United States strike on Iran on 28 February, amid concerns about possible insider knowledge and renewed scrutiny of how prediction platforms handle high risk geopolitical markets.
Prediction Markets · 4 Mar 2026
The Netherlands Gambling Authority has reported a rise in cases of athletes betting on their own competitions during 2025, while overall match fixing alerts from licensed sportsbooks remained broadly stable and prompted renewed focus on integrity controls and reporting expectations.
Regulatory · 4 Mar 2026
A Nevada federal judge has remanded disputes involving Kalshi and Polymarket back to state court, a shift that clears the way for Nevada regulators to pursue rapid orders that could restrict prediction market contracts offered to residents.
Prediction Markets · 3 Mar 2026
Following hundreds of high-quality applications from companies and individuals across the entire industry spectrum, Casino Guru has narrowed the field to the strongest candidates in each category who demonstrated unfaltering compliance with the format’s requirements.
Press Release · 3 Mar 2026
Leading iGaming content provider Spinomenal has struck gold with the launch of 3 Irish Treasures Hold & Hit, a charming new addition to its Hold & Hit portfolio.
Press Release · 2 Mar 2026
Nationwide says gambling spend rose in January, with the top 10 per cent of gamblers averaging about £745 a month, as a busy 2026 sports calendar raises concern about higher betting activity and growing demand for support services.
Corporate · 2 Mar 2026
The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission has rated the gambling sector as a medium to high money laundering risk in its 2026 assessment, citing the scale of online gambling, complex B2B supply chains, and technology driven threats, while highlighting stronger AML CFT supervision and enforcement capability since 2020.
Corporate · 27 Feb 2026
NHS Wales will launch a specialist gambling treatment service and the Wales Gambling Helpline on 1 April 2026, bringing gambling harm support into mainstream healthcare with NHS led referral, treatment and aftercare funded through the statutory gambling levy.
Corporate · 26 Feb 2026
Atucha Strategic Advisory, led by LatAm specialist Ramiro Atucha, has announced the appointment of Eliane Nunes as Head of Revenue & Commercial Growth, reinforcing the consultancy’s capabilities across Brazil and Latin America.
Press Release · 25 Feb 2026
Switzerland has added 271 new domains to its offshore gambling blacklist, taking the total to 2,944 as regulators intensify enforcement under the Federal Act on Money Games and extend blocking to affiliate sites that direct Swiss users to unlicensed operators.
Regulatory · 25 Feb 2026
Mexico is considering a new restriction on gambling advertising that would block betting and casino promotion during family viewing hours and before 10:30pm, as lawmakers cite concerns about youth exposure and misleading messaging ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Regulatory · 25 Feb 2026
DraftKings has reorganised parts of its workforce as it ramps up automation and scales its prediction market ambitions, with management and analysts pointing to cost alignment, AI driven decisioning, and infrastructure changes ahead of a major 2026 sports calendar.
Prediction Markets · 24 Feb 2026
FDJ United has shifted its online betting and gaming strategy from acquisitions to technology transformation, with CEO Stéphane Pallez outlining accelerated internal platform migration, stack consolidation, and stricter focus on platform control as tax and regulatory pressure intensifies across Europe.
Corporate · 23 Feb 2026
Brazil’s securities regulator has authorised B3 to launch the country’s first regulated prediction market product for professional investors, positioning the initial yes or no contracts on the dollar, the Ibovespa, and bitcoin under capital markets oversight rather than the national betting framework.
Prediction Markets · 20 Feb 2026
France has activated the JONUM regime, a three-year trial that regulates games using monetisable digital objects such as blockchain-based items and non-fungible tokens, imposing gambling-style safeguards while prohibiting cash prizes and requiring declarations and transparency for regulatory monitoring.
Regulatory · 20 Feb 2026
The Malta Gaming Authority has published a thematic review of self exclusion practices after mystery shopping tests across 20 licensees found delays, cross brand weaknesses, and shortcomings in limit setting prompts and Reality Check controls, with remediation required and enforcement escalated where needed.
Regulatory · 19 Feb 2026
Indiana has moved closer to an outright prohibition on online sweepstakes casinos after the Senate passed an amended House Bill 1052 that would define sweepstakes games in state law and empower the Indiana Gaming Commission to issue civil penalties of up to $100,000, with the bill now returning to the House for final agreement.
Regulatory · 19 Feb 2026
Casino Guru has won the EGR Europe Awards 2026 in the Best Central and Eastern Europe Affiliate Award category, recognizing the company’s efforts in providing players with informed decisions on their iGaming journey.
Press Release · 18 Feb 2026
The International Association of Gaming Regulators has appointed former UAE regulator chief Kevin Mullally as its first chief executive officer, citing the need to expand operational capacity as its global influence and regulatory agenda continue to grow.
Regulatory · 17 Feb 2026
The SEC is stepping up scrutiny of prediction markets and coordinating weekly with the CFTC, as Chairman Paul Atkins told senators that contract design and activity can trigger overlapping jurisdiction and shape how regulators ultimately classify these products.
Prediction Markets · 16 Feb 2026
France’s gambling regulator has urged licensed operators to hold the line on World Cup marketing budgets after seeing planned 2026 promotional spend rise by more than 25 per cent, warning that extra in-match advertising time could increase pressure on vulnerable audiences.
Regulatory · 16 Feb 2026
ATG reports a dip in 2025 profits to SEK 2.099 billion as CEO Hans Lord Skarplöth departs; the operator warns that Sweden's increased gambling tax is now directly undermining the financing of the horse racing industry.
Corporate · 16 Feb 2026
Casino Guru and Gamecheck have announced a new partnership aimed at strengthening transparency, integrity, and trust within the iGaming industry.
Press Release · 16 Feb 2026
As the dust settles on the aborted merger between Tabcorp and BetMakers, the industry is left to wonder if the Australian giant can successfully navigate its digital transformation alone or if another tech savvy target is already in its sights.
Corporate · 12 Feb 2026
The Estonian Riigikogu has finalised a correction to the Gambling Tax Act, restoring a 5.5% levy on online casinos after a drafting error briefly left the sector untaxed. The new rules, effective from 1 March 2026, alongside upcoming crypto reporting requirements, signal a major push for fiscal transparency and the protection of cultural funding.
Regulatory · 10 Feb 2026
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.
Press Release · 10 Feb 2026
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.
Prediction Markets · 9 Feb 2026
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.
Regulatory · 9 Feb 2026
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.
Regulatory · 9 Feb 2026
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.
Press Release · 4 Feb 2026
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.
Corporate · 4 Feb 2026
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.
Interviews · 4 Feb 2026
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.
Regulatory · 3 Feb 2026
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.
Regulatory · 3 Feb 2026
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.
Press Release · 3 Feb 2026
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.
Regulatory · 2 Feb 2026
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.
Regulatory · 2 Feb 2026
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.
Regulatory · 30 Jan 2026
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.
Regulatory · 28 Jan 2026
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.
Regulatory · 28 Jan 2026
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.
Regulatory · 26 Jan 2026
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.
Regulatory · 26 Jan 2026
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.
Regulatory · 23 Jan 2026
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.
Regulatory · 22 Jan 2026
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.
Regulatory · 22 Jan 2026
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.
Corporate · 21 Jan 2026
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.
Prediction Markets · 21 Jan 2026
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.
Regulatory · 20 Jan 2026
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.
Regulatory · 20 Jan 2026