Author: Andrew Fletcher

Bragg Gaming Group chief executive Matevž Mazij has resigned from the company’s board of directors following a shareholder vote against his re-election at the AGM on 18 June 2026. Shareholders voted 55.67% to 44.33% against re-electing the Slovenian gaming executive, triggering his resignation offer in line with Bragg’s corporate bylaws. The result represents a significant setback for Mazij, who was appointed CEO of the iGaming games developer, aggregator and PAM supplier back in August 2023. Mazij had previously founded one of the business’ precursor companies and served as chair of the board before taking the top executive role. He will…

VNLOK, the trade association for licensed online gambling providers in the Netherlands, has published the country’s first Responsible Play Monitor covering operator conduct in 2025. The report was presented in The Hague on 18 June and represents the first broad attempt by the sector to document player protection measures in one place. VNLOK Director Rosemarijn Dral, who was appointed to the position in May, said: “This is an important beginning, not an end point. We want to gain better insight into which interventions are most effective and share that knowledge with regulators and care partners.” The monitor covers VNLOK members…

BGaming’s annual Charity Gala has completed its second edition, raising more than €200,000 and welcoming over 400 guests from across the iGaming industry. The funds raised will directly support DAR Bjorn’s new Respite Centre, covering essential medical equipment and helping to furnish new resident rooms for those in need. Lubov Stelmakh, event manager at BGaming and the driving force behind the initiative, described the fundraising result as only part of the story behind the event’s success. “What makes me happiest is seeing how many people and companies chose to support the initiative,” Stelmakh said, noting that many attendees were returning…

Entain’s Sportingbet brand has lost trademark protection across most betting and gaming-related goods and services following a significant EUIPO ruling. The EU Intellectual Property Office’s Cancellation Division issued its decision on 18 June 2026, targeting a mark that was originally filed in 2003 and registered in 2005. The office ruled that the “sportingbet” mark was descriptive and lacked distinctive character for goods and services tied to betting and gambling activities. The mark was struck down across large parts of six trademark classes covering electronic publications, communications, gambling-related financial services, data transmission and gaming itself. The challenge was brought by SB…

The North Savo District Court has convicted Finnish content creator Jouko Kärkkäinen of a gambling offence for marketing offshore casinos to a local audience. Kärkkäinen, who posted and streamed under the handle “pottukoira”, promoted offshore gambling offers between May 2023 and February 2024 in breach of Finland’s Lotteries Act. The court ruled on 18 June that his activity across Instagram, Kick, and a linked website constituted illegal marketing of casino operators other than state monopoly Veikkaus. He has been ordered to pay 80 day-fines totalling €2,480, plus an additional €80 victim surcharge. The ruling arrives at a significant moment, as…

The gambling industry’s march into the American mainstream reached a striking new milestone when Donald Trump staged a UFC event on the White House South Lawn. Branding for prediction market platform Polymarket was prominently displayed at the event, where users traded millions of dollars on the outcomes of the fights themselves. Online casino and sportsbook Stake also secured visible sponsorship presence at the event, placing gambling brands at one of the world’s most recognisable political venues. Sportsbooks went further by offering novelty wagers on whether Trump would receive a birthday cake or whether the president might fall asleep cageside during…

Finland’s Ministry of the Interior has published draft regulations for its incoming licensed online gambling market, introducing a sweeping set of player protection measures. The proposals form part of Finland’s transition away from its long-standing gambling monopoly system toward a fully regulated, licensed online market. A public consultation on the draft decrees will remain open until 5 August, after which the rules will be finalised ahead of the new regime’s planned 2027 launch. Key measures in the draft include a ban on autoplay features, mandatory 15-minute gameplay reminders, and a €20 per spin stake limit for online slots. Players under…

Boa Lion, the Brazilian joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Grupo Globo, has agreed to acquire Bingão do Brasil, a pre-operational online video bingo developer. The transaction was submitted for competition review following a notice published in Brazil’s Official Gazette on 9 June by the Administrative Council for Economic Defence (CADE). The deal covers 100% of Bingão do Brasil, though the financial terms of the transaction were not publicly disclosed. Completion of the acquisition remains subject to approval from CADE, Brazil’s competition authority, which reviews mergers that may affect market concentration. Bingão do Brasil has not yet started commercial…

France remains one of Europe’s most closely watched gambling markets, with online casino regulation continuing to dominate industry debate heading into the second half of 2026. Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, President of French gambling regulator ANJ, has spoken candidly about the challenges surrounding iCasino regulation in the country. Her comments came as part of an exit interview examining the state of the French market, touching on illegal gambling growth, major operator influence, and regulatory balance. Falque-Pierrotin acknowledged the tension between restrictive legal compliance requirements and the unintended growth of illegal operators that such restrictions can encourage. “Indeed, it’s a question that can…

Wildz Group has unveiled Beazt Casino, a new platform built around fast transactions, mobile-first design, and a stripped-back approach to online gambling. Cofounder Lasse Rantala has spoken publicly about the thinking behind the launch, describing it as a return to the core values of the industry. The platform is designed to cut through the excess that has come to define many modern casinos, focusing instead on what players actually want from their experience. Beazt Casino is expected to become available to players before the end of the year, with the Wildz Group building anticipation around its no-frills philosophy. One of…