Author: Andrew Fletcher

Armenia is moving to significantly tighten its grip on online gambling by introducing new measures that directly target websites operated without an Armenian licence. The country’s gambling sector has undergone substantial transformation over the past two years, with reforms going well beyond basic regulatory oversight and touching nearly every corner of the industry. Parliament originally adopted a new regulatory framework in June 2024, which formally came into force on January 1, 2025, setting the foundation for a more structured and enforceable licensing regime. Since that framework took effect, lawmakers have continued layering additional regulations on top of it, including the…

Bet365 has officially launched in Washington D.C., bringing its online sports betting and gaming platform to residents of the US capital. The British gambling conglomerate enters the market with a broad sportsbook offering, covering more than 100 sports with live and in-game betting options available at launch. To mark the occasion, new customers can take advantage of a promotional offer of ‘Bet $10, Get $50 in Bonus Bets’ when opening a fresh account with the operator. Alongside its market debut, bet365 has secured a significant commercial foothold by partnering with Monumental Sports & Entertainment, a major sports management company based…

Entain has written to ten Premier League clubs urging them to sever ties with gambling operators that do not hold a valid UK licence. The Ladbrokes Coral owner confirmed to SBC News that this is the second time in just a few months it has taken such action against unlicensed sponsorship arrangements in English football’s top division. The move comes as the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport closes its consultation on whether unlicensed gambling sponsorships should be permitted to continue operating in the UK. Asia-facing bookmaker 8XBet is identified as a particularly prominent presence among the offending partnerships,…

B2B sportsbook supplier BETBY has unveiled a new product called SlotBets, designed to bridge the gap between casino gameplay and live sports wagering. The company describes SlotBets as an entirely new gameplay category, coining the term “slotbetting” to define what it believes is a distinct and recognisable form of interactive entertainment. The product transforms the traditional sports betting experience into a fast-paced, slot-style format, integrating sportsbook and casino mechanics into a single unified product. Basketball was selected as the launch sport for the SlotBets format, chosen specifically because of the game’s rapid pace and naturally occurring stoppages that suit the…

SBC Summit’s Digital Marketing and CRM Academy is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated educational events in the iGaming calendar for 2026. The Academy forms part of the event’s premium Education+ programme, bringing together some of the sharpest minds in digital marketing and customer relationship management. Delegates can expect a comprehensive journey through agentic CRM campaigns, exploring how automation and artificial intelligence are reshaping how operators engage with players. Sessions will also cover AI-ready advertising strategy, equipping attendees with the tools and frameworks needed to compete in an increasingly technology-driven marketing landscape. Senior marketers from across the…

B2B marketing in the iGaming sector faces a growing number of serious threats as the industry moves deeper into 2026. Marketing leaders are raising concerns about artificial intelligence, content oversaturation, weak attribution models, and short-term thinking that prioritises vanity metrics over genuine business growth. Martin Hodges believes AI is not the enemy, but warns that its misuse is quietly eroding what makes brands memorable and distinct in a crowded marketplace. “I know a lot of people here will say AI, but I believe it’s an incredible tool if used properly,” said Hodges, explaining that speed and thinking time are where…

Alea has signed an exclusive sportsbook technology agreement with FIRST.bet, giving the game aggregator a single, dedicated partner for its sports betting offering. The deal, announced on September 7, 2026, grants operators within Alea’s network direct access to FIRST.bet’s tier-one sportsbook tech stack. FIRST.bet’s technology covers localisation, trading and player engagement, all of which will now be delivered through Alea’s existing partnership infrastructure. Rather than working with multiple sportsbook suppliers, Alea has deliberately chosen a single exclusive partner to maintain consistency and quality across its network. Game aggregation remains the foundation of Alea’s business, but the company has been steadily…

The Gambling Commission has finally ended a leadership vacuum lasting almost 20 months, naming Ruth Evans as its new permanent Chair. Lisa Nandy made the appointment through the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, handing Evans the role after a prolonged period of interim leadership. Evans becomes the first permanent Chair of the Gambling Commission in nearly two years, filling a position that has been without a full-time occupant since early 2025. Charles Counsell had been serving as interim Chair following the departure of Marcus Boyle back in January 2025, with the regulator struggling to fill the position on…

UK Chancellor John Healey is reportedly weighing a significant increase in slot machine taxes as a tough October budget approaches. Treasury officials are currently modelling how much revenue could be generated from various increases to Machine Games Duty, according to a report by The Times. The discussions follow proposals from the Social Market Foundation earlier this year to double the tax on Category B machines from 20% to 40%. Category B machines feature a maximum stake of £2 every 2.5 seconds and are commonly found in betting shops and casinos across the country. Healey faces a demanding budget on 28…

Bulgaria’s centrist political party We Continue the Change has proposed a sweeping review of gambling advertising rules, targeting loopholes left behind by previous legislation. The party has historically been one of the most vocal critics of the Bulgarian gambling industry, consistently pushing for tighter restrictions on marketing over recent years. The draft proposal, reported by the Bulgarian National Radio, calls for a full outdoor advertising ban covering billboards, public transport stops, and all buildings across the country. Land-based gambling venues would be exempt from the proposed outdoor advertising restrictions, representing the only carve-out included in the draft as currently written.…