Author: Andrew Fletcher

Bulgaria’s opposition is pushing for stronger language in the country’s proposed gambling advertising restrictions, warning that key gaps could render the reforms ineffective. Assen Vassilev, Chairman of the opposition party We Continue the Change (PP), has publicly called for significant revisions to the latest draft proposal to reform Bulgaria’s Gambling Act. Vassilev argues that several “loopholes” in the current wording could be exploited by gambling operators seeking to maintain a marketing presence despite sweeping new restrictions. On 23 September, Prime Minister Rumen Radev and his cabinet published a draft proposal outlining a package of comprehensive changes to Bulgaria’s gambling sector,…

The UK Gambling Commission has confirmed it will implement a revised compliance framework for land-based gaming machines following a major industry consultation. The consultation paper, launched last year, gathered a total of 1,065 responses from across the industry, covering a significant range of regulatory topics. Areas addressed in the consultation included the Gaming Machine Technical Standards, the Gaming Machine Testing Strategy, and the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice. The Commission confirmed it will proceed with a number of changes, though several modifications were applied based on the feedback received from respondents. The most significant outcome of the process is…

Day two of SBC Summit Lisbon 2026 is underway, with UFC star Charles Oliveira set to take centre stage as the event’s headline guest appearance. The Brazilian mixed martial arts champion is appearing on the Super Stage, which kicks off at 11am as part of a packed conference schedule for the second day. Oliveira’s presence has been billed as a surprise guest appearance, drawing significant attention from the more than 40,000 attendees gathered at the event. The SBC Summit is taking place at Feira Internacional de Lisboa and MEO Arena, running through October 1 in Portugal’s capital city. This marks…

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…