Author: Andrew Fletcher

New research from Online-Casinos.com reveals that fast, transparent withdrawals have become one of the strongest factors shaping player trust in regulated online gambling markets. The findings, compiled by Heath Chesters from Online-Casinos.com, examine how shifting payment technology and evolving consumer behaviour are changing what players prioritise when choosing an operator. According to the report, withdrawal speed and payment transparency are increasingly overtaking traditional acquisition incentives like welcome bonuses as the primary measure of operator quality. “Players have become much more sophisticated,” said Chesters. “A generous bonus might attract attention, but the withdrawal process is where a casino earns or loses…

Bodog has returned to public life as an independent editorial platform, marking a significant departure from the gambling operations that made it a recognisable name. The company ceased operating its casino and sportsbook in February 2026, and its new website is now focused entirely on editorial content, research and commentary. Bodog plans to maintain its connection with the gambling sector while also expanding coverage into sports culture, technology, travel and wellness topics. Responsible gambling education and research will be integrated directly into the editorial operation rather than treated as a secondary concern. The rebrand revives a name strongly associated with…

Imagine Live has received regulatory approval to operate in South Africa, opening the door for licensed operators in the country to integrate its live casino content. The licence permits operators to offer Imagine Live’s full portfolio of live casino games directly to players based in South Africa, representing a significant market entry. South Africa has a well-established gaming sector with considerable growth potential, making it an attractive destination for regulated live casino providers seeking international expansion. Imagine Live views the approval as more than simple market access, describing it as a foundation for building trusted, long-term partnerships with locally licensed…

Penn Entertainment has swung back into profit for Q2 2026, posting a net income of $32.6m after a challenging stretch of quarterly losses. The turnaround marks a significant improvement from Q2 last year, when the operator recorded losses of $18.3m across the same period. Penn had already been moving in the right direction in Q1 2026, narrowing its losses to just $2.8m before returning fully to profitability this quarter. A 5% uptick in revenue helped push the company back into the black, with total revenue for the quarter reaching $1.86bn. Despite the return to profit, earning power remains below the…

Brazil’s Congress has returned from its winter recess period, and President Lula’s government is wasting no time pushing forward its ambitious overhaul of the country’s Bets framework. Bill PL 2,258/2026, introduced on 7 May, sits high on the legislative agenda with its central aim of banning online casinos across the country. Since Brazil’s regulated betting market launched, Lula has been vocal in his criticism, branding online gambling licences as predatory to Brazilian families and damaging to the nation’s poor. The president has consistently argued that those receiving welfare assistance should be excluded from participating in online gambling entirely. The Bets…

SBC Insights has released a new industry snapshot report examining the current state of player education across the global gambling sector. The report, titled ‘Shaping the Future of Player Education’, was commissioned by 1xCare and explores what education measures operators currently have in place. Safer gambling policy has long leaned heavily on restrictive tools such as deposit limits, loss limits, and time limits as the primary mechanisms for player protection. This approach implicitly places the burden of responsibility on the player rather than the operator or the broader gambling ecosystem. Without genuine awareness of how gambling products work and what…

Boyle Sports has found a creative route to front-line football branding just as Premier League shirt sponsorship rules close the door on gambling companies. The Irish bookmaker was named official betting partner of Leeds United mere days before announcing title sponsorship of a pre-season cup fixture between Leeds and Manchester United. The match, named the BOYLE Sports Cup 2026, takes place on 12 August at Croke Park in Dublin, a venue historically reserved for Gaelic athletics. This will mark the first ever club football match played at Croke Park, adding genuine historic significance to what might otherwise be billed as…

Italy’s Customs and Monopolies Agency, known as the ADM, is set to launch a new centralised complaints portal for online gambling disputes on 10 September. The launch was formally announced by the ADM on 3 August as the agency continues its broader reorganisation of Italy’s online gambling sector. The initiative forms part of a wider regulatory push aimed at strengthening consumer protection and improving player safety across the country’s licensed online gambling market. The new portal has been named the “Portale delle segnalazioni” and will serve as a central tracking system for disputes between customers and licensed online gambling operators.…

BoyleSports has confirmed it will be the title sponsor of the pre-season friendly between Manchester United and Leeds United at Croke Park in Dublin. The match represents the first football fixture held at the famous Dublin venue since Ireland’s World Cup playoff tie against France back in 2009. That 2009 fixture remains deeply embedded in Irish football memory, largely due to Thierry Henry’s infamous handball assist during the second leg at the Stade de France. The game has already sold out, reflecting the enormous appetite for this fixture among the large Irish fanbase supporting both clubs. It will be broadcast…

The Affiliate Leaders Summit 2026 will debut as a standalone event co-located with SBC Summit in Lisbon this autumn. The event takes place at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa and MEO Arena from 29 September to 1 October, bringing together affiliate and performance marketing professionals. The conference programme will feature two dedicated stages and six tracks examining the forces reshaping the affiliate marketing landscape. Organisers have placed SEO, AI, content, and performance marketing at the heart of the 2026 agenda, reflecting the industry’s evolving priorities. The Affiliate Leaders Stage will focus on three key themes: Platforms and Performance, the Future…