Author: Andrew Fletcher

SOFTSWISS has released its 2027 iGaming Trends report, offering one of the most comprehensive looks at the industry’s direction published to date. Co-authored with WorldGaming, formerly known as Clarion, the report also features contributions from Amazon Web Services, bringing significant cross-sector credibility to the research. The report draws on a survey of over 500 industry experts and analysis of more than 480,000 media headlines, making it one of the largest research efforts tracking iGaming narratives and shifts. Running to 155 pages across five chapters, the publication covers global trends, regional outlook, hiring trends, cross-industry analysis, and the long-term direction of…

VNLOK, the Dutch gambling trade body, has formally summoned Meta to court after months of escalating pressure over illegal gambling advertisements on its platforms. The legal action follows a complaint filed with the European Commission in June, which centred on a large influx of gambling ads promoting unlicensed operators to Dutch consumers. Those ads were appearing across both Facebook and Instagram, two of Meta’s most widely used platforms, reaching significant numbers of people in the Netherlands. VNLOK based its European Commission complaint on multiple surveys examining the volume and nature of gambling marketing content circulating on Meta’s platforms. The findings…

Following Brazilian President Lula da Silva’s decree to ban licensed online gambling, market analysis has revealed a dramatic and rapid rise in illegal operators across the country. The numbers paint a stark picture of what happens when a regulated market is abruptly shut down, with unlicensed platforms moving quickly to fill the void left behind. SBC Noticias Brasil reported that illegal iGaming operators had climbed to 575 on 26 September, compared to just 331 recorded the day prior to Lula’s announcement. That single-day jump of 244 illegal operators represents a 74% increase in fewer than 24 hours, underlining just how…

Portugal’s government and Lisbon city dignitaries gathered to welcome SBC and its expected 40,000 attendees back to the Portuguese capital for the third consecutive year. Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas delivered the event’s opening remarks ahead of the official ribbon-cutting ceremony, joined by SBC leadership and key event sponsors. Moedas reflected on his ambition to create a so-called “unicorn factory” in Lisbon, referring to businesses that reach a valuation of at least $1 billion, and confirmed that goal has now been achieved. The mayor revealed that 18 such businesses now operate out of the Portuguese capital, marking a significant milestone for…

Day one of SBC Summit Lisbon 2026 is underway, bringing together some of the biggest names in betting, gaming, payments, and sports for a packed agenda. The event has attracted senior figures including the CEOs of DraftKings and Sportradar, as well as basketball legend Michael Jordan, drawing significant attention from across the industry. Legal, technology, and business experts from a wide range of sectors are also contributing speeches and insights throughout the day’s programme. The undisputed highlight of the morning session came at 12:30pm, when Michael Jordan took to the Super Stage alongside Sportradar CEO Carsten Koerl and DraftKings CEO…

Sportradar AG CEO Carsten Koerl opened a keynote panel at SBC Summit Lisbon by framing the industry’s current moment as one defined by artificial intelligence and rapid change. Koerl noted that today’s fans are no longer anchored to a single point of engagement, moving fluidly between live sport, data, social media, and betting markets. DraftKings CEO Jason Robins reflected on following Michael Jordan as an athlete and now observing him as a sports business magnate, saying: “We all kind of wish we were Michael. We wish we were out there winning championships.” Jordan’s relentless drive to dominate every arena has…

The UK gambling sector has faced mounting regulatory pressure in recent years, with the Gambling Commission intensifying its oversight of licensing and compliance standards. Financial penalties have become one of the regulator’s most powerful tools for holding operators accountable for failures across anti-money laundering and social responsibility obligations. Several major operators have found themselves on the wrong side of the Commission, facing significant fines that have helped reshape how the industry approaches player protection. The William Hill Group received one of the most substantial penalty packages in recent UK regulatory history, with three separate enforcement actions resulting in a combined…

Georgia has formally unveiled the complete terms of its International iGaming Licence framework, with full details published on the GISG website covering licensing, fees, and tax arrangements. The regime was soft-launched in July 2026, developed by Random Systems to bring the government, Ministry of Finance, Revenue Service, regulators, and banking sector under a single unified governance system. The framework’s ambitions were first outlined at SBC Summit Tbilisi on 15-16 July, where Random Systems Supervisory Board Member Vakhtang Katamadze appeared alongside gaming entrepreneur Nika Gigashvili of SMH Holdings. Georgian parliament had already accepted legislation establishing permits for the international provision of…

The iLottery channel is expanding at a remarkable pace, yet one of its oldest product categories continues to lag far behind the overall growth curve. Durba Sinha Roy, VP of iLottery Platform Product, Draw and Growth at Brightstar Lottery, has outlined where she believes the biggest opportunities currently reside within the sector. Despite forming the foundation of most lottery portfolios, draw games remain significantly underrepresented in the online space, pointing to a clear gap in the market. Industry data shows draw games account for only a fraction of total digital lottery sales, even as the broader iLottery channel continues its…

BETB2B has formally integrated PIN Projekt’s flagship poker platform into its ecosystem, giving all partnered brands and operators direct access to the product. The deal means that any brand relying on BETB2B’s technology infrastructure will now be able to offer a fully featured poker solution to its players. PIN Projekt’s platform was built with performance, accessibility, scalability, and player engagement optimisation as core design priorities from the outset. The product also features a mobile-first design and cross-platform functionality, ensuring players can access games seamlessly across devices without compromise. Operators gain access to a portfolio of cash games, tournament capabilities, and…