Author: Andrew Fletcher

Meta is reportedly developing a predictions app called “Arena”, according to anonymous sources cited by the New York Times, marking a significant potential expansion for the social media giant. The app would be downloaded and used separately from Facebook and Instagram, distancing it from Meta’s existing social media platforms while still operating under the company’s broader umbrella. Unlike established predictions platforms Kalshi and Polymarket, Arena users would operate on a video-game style points system rather than placing real-money bets on events. However, sources familiar with the matter told the New York Times that Meta has not ruled out eventually introducing…

The Spanish government has approved a new joint deposit framework designed to prevent players from circumventing limits by holding accounts with multiple operators. The measure was adopted by royal decree at the Council of Ministers on 23 June 2026, marking another significant step in Spain’s ongoing regulatory overhaul of gambling. Under the new framework, players face a daily deposit ceiling of €700, a weekly limit of €1,750, and a four-week cap of €3,300 across all licensed operators combined. These figures represent a modest increase on the previous per-operator limits of €600 daily, €1,500 weekly, and €3,000 monthly, but crucially apply…

SBC Summit Tbilisi 2026 will bring together more than 2,500 industry professionals across two days of conference sessions, networking, and business opportunities. The event is held in partnership with SMH Global and takes place at the Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace on 15 and 16 July. The summit is focused on the future of gaming across Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and broader emerging markets in the region. Day one of the conference agenda explores the key drivers of regional growth, from market entry strategies to the practical application of AI across operations. The opening session, Regional Growth Lab, examines what…

Georgia is advancing a package of legislative amendments that would establish a dedicated licensing regime for operators serving customers outside the country. The proposal has been submitted under an accelerated parliamentary review process, signalling strong political intent to push the changes through quickly. Central to the plan is a firm legal distinction between foreign and domestic gambling participation, separating the two markets at the licensing level. Operators obtaining the new international licences would be permitted to offer online casino games, slot products, and sports betting services exclusively to foreign citizens and stateless persons. Georgian citizens would be explicitly excluded from…

Bet365 has paid out an extraordinary £30m through its popular ‘Sub On Play On’ promotion during the opening 11 days of the 2026 World Cup. The feature allows customers to keep their player bets active even when their chosen player is substituted off during a match. If a player is taken off before delivering the desired outcome, the bet transfers automatically to whoever replaces them on the pitch. The promotion has proved a massive hit with bettors, offering guaranteed action for the full duration of any match regardless of substitutions made by managers. Bet365 confirmed it had paid out roughly…

The gambling industry faces growing pressure to detect signs of harm earlier and deliver more meaningful interventions as expectations around player safety continue to evolve globally. The Player Protection Symposium at SBC Summit will examine the tools, policies, and partnerships operators need to strengthen their player protection efforts across regulated markets. Taking place on Wednesday, 30 September, the symposium will bring together operators, regulators, responsible gambling specialists, and technology providers for a series of expert-led discussions. The event will focus on three key areas: balancing regulatory objectives with efforts to combat the black market, the role operators play in safeguarding…

Jesper Eliasson, Director of Åland-based gambling firm Paf, has spoken out about the growing threat of illegal gambling across Europe’s regulated markets. Eliasson gave the exclusive interview ahead of his scheduled appearance at the SBC Summit in Lisbon, taking place from 29 September to 1 October 2026. Paf was founded on the Åland Islands, a self-governed part of Finland, and was among the earliest pioneers of iGaming, launching its first online market back in 1998. The company has since expanded significantly across Europe, operating around 10 brands with licences held in Spain, Sweden, Estonia, and Latvia. Paf was also one…

EveryMatrix has launched a dedicated Lottery division designed to develop digital-first technology, features, and functionality for the global lottery industry. The new business unit will expand the company’s lottery product capabilities and support what EveryMatrix describes as a long-term investment commitment to the segment. EveryMatrix brings more than a decade of experience supplying tier-1 lotteries with its proven turnkey platform, sports betting technology, casino content, and related services. The division will offer a range of lottery-specific products including numbers games, pool sports, and a wide selection of best-performing eInstants aimed at modern digital players. Nikolina Gabelica, who joined EveryMatrix three…

The relationship between financial prediction behaviour and problem gambling has become an increasingly prominent topic within responsible gambling discussions globally. Research has long suggested that individuals who engage heavily in financial speculation can exhibit patterns that closely mirror those seen in problem gamblers. The appeal of predicting outcomes, whether in markets or in betting, taps into the same psychological reward systems that drive compulsive behaviour in vulnerable individuals. Financial tools and trading platforms have grown dramatically in accessibility, meaning more people than ever are exposed to speculative behaviour from a young age. The rise of commission-free trading apps and spread…

Ukraine’s gambling regulator PlayCity has expanded its growing network of platform partnerships by adding Kick to its list of approved collaborators in the fight against illegal gambling advertising. The move reflects PlayCity’s ongoing commitment to tackling the widespread growth of black market gambling promotions that continue to circulate across major digital and social media platforms. Kick joins an already extensive roster of platforms that PlayCity works with to identify and eliminate unauthorised gambling advertisements targeting Ukrainian users. The existing list of partners includes some of the biggest names in digital media, including TikTok, Meta, YouTube, Google, Twitch, and Viber, all…