Author: Andrew Fletcher

Avanti Studios, the AI-powered live casino start-up, has entered into a significant multi-market content partnership with major gambling operator Entain. The agreement will see Entain offer Avanti’s full range of content across its portfolio of brands, spanning multiple markets simultaneously. A standout feature of the deal includes a one-month exclusivity period for Avanti’s blackjack product specifically within the Spanish market. Additional Avanti titles set to go live across Entain’s platforms include Toro y Matador, Toro y Matador Turbo, Dragon Tiger and Baccarat. Avanti launched in early 2026, positioning itself as a disruptive new live casino software provider led by industry…

Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society has revealed it blocked more than 13,000 URLs linked to illegal gambling websites during the opening stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Ministry confirmed it took action against a total of 13,888 URLs across the period running from 1 to 18 June, covering the lead-up and first week of the tournament. The FIFA World Cup kicked off on 11 June and is scheduled to run through to 19 July, making it one of the longest and most high-profile betting events of the year. Blocking orders were issued against a mixture of…

SOFTSWISS, a global iGaming software provider with over 15 years of industry experience, has rolled out two significant new features for its Sportsbook platform. The first addition, Fiat Display, allows cryptocurrency players to view their balances, bet amounts, and potential winnings in a fiat currency of their choosing. Importantly, the feature only changes how values appear visually on screen, with players continuing to place bets in cryptocurrency throughout the entire process. Back-office reporting for operators also remains completely unchanged, meaning the update is designed to improve user clarity without disrupting existing workflows. The selected exchange rate is visible in the…

Brazil’s regulated betting market has attracted a major new partnership as Oddin.gg and BETesporte agree to advance esports wagering across the country. Oddin.gg, described as the leading global provider of B2B esports betting solutions, will supply BETesporte with its full suite of infrastructure products. BETesporte is the Pernambuco-based group operating behind the Lance de Sorte brand, which has been rapidly expanding its national footprint in recent months. The deal covers Oddin.gg’s Odds Feed, esports trading and risk management services, data-driven widgets, and its BetBuilder product, giving BETesporte comprehensive coverage of the esports market. BETesporte has been building brand visibility through…

Derek Webb, founder of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, believes the licensed sector has significantly overstated the threat posed by illegal gambling operators in Great Britain. “At under 9% of the total marketplace, the unregulated sector has less impact in GB than in any other major jurisdiction globally,” Webb argued, pushing back against what he sees as exaggerated industry claims. A new report from Gaming Compliance International, shared exclusively with NEXT.io, estimates the UK black market generated roughly £800m in gross gaming revenue in 2025, compared to £8bn from regulated operators. That breakdown puts the UK’s online channelisation rate at…

Brazil has launched a significant new legal mechanism designed to cut off funding to unauthorised online gambling operators through the country’s financial system. Decree No. 13,033, signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on 19 June, creates a formal route to freeze accounts held by unauthorised fixed-odds betting operators. The decree also allows the federal government to pursue forfeiture of those funds and direct confirmed proceeds to the National Public Security Fund for use against organised crime. The measure regulates Article 21-A of Brazil’s fixed-odds betting law, a provision added this year through the Anti-Faction Law. Enforcement powers now…

Gibraltar’s government has begun recruiting a new gambling commissioner and executive director, as long-serving Andrew Lyman prepares to leave the post. The official job posting states the successful candidate will provide “strategic leadership and overall responsibility” for Gibraltar’s Gambling Division. Candidates are required to have at least five years of experience in a senior executive, regulatory, or strategic role within the gambling industry. A strong understanding of the operational, commercial, and regulatory landscape within gambling is also listed as a key requirement for applicants. The role demands significant expertise in gaming taxation and fiscal policy, along with experience engaging directly…

Aloplay has entered the B2B iGaming platform market with a notable distinction: the technology powering it has already been operational for almost five years. While the brand itself is new, its infrastructure has spent years powering leading operator brands across multiple territories, giving it a proven foundation few newcomers can claim. Based in Limassol, Cyprus, Aloplay operates with a team of around 100 employees spread across multiple locations, offering a full end-to-end technology stack. Through a single API integration, the platform connects operators to more than 100 content providers, spanning online casino, sportsbook and game aggregator architecture. Aloplay is available…

Bitcoin and Ethereum have slumped to their lowest levels in years since early 2026, driven by weak market demand, corporate selloffs, and institutional money shifting toward AI. For the major crypto gambling operators that have built substantial businesses around digital currencies, the question is whether this sustained downturn represents a genuine threat to revenues. David Barkwith, who analyses crypto flows at Czech blockchain intelligence business Podproza, told NEXT.io that player behaviour remains fairly inelastic overall despite the price pressure. He said: “Generally most punters that we see are depositing in GBP or USD or CAD – they use crypto more…

SkyCity Entertainment Group has agreed to pay A$21m to resolve regulatory issues stemming from compliance failings at its Adelaide casino operation. The settlement was reached as an in-principle agreement with the Commissioner for Liquor and Gambling in South Australia, announced on 19 June 2026. The fine will be paid across three equal instalments of A$7m, with the first payment due within 28 days of the agreement being formalised. Further instalments are scheduled at one and two years following the initial payment, giving SkyCity a structured path to clearing the financial penalty. The fine forms part of a broader settlement designed…