Author: Andrew Fletcher

Finland’s National Police Board has received 75 applications for gambling licences ahead of the country’s competitive market opening in July 2027. The figure has comfortably surpassed initial insider estimates, which predicted authorities would issue somewhere between 40 and 60 licences in total. Interest was already considered strong back in June, when the number of applications reached 50, but engagement has since climbed well beyond early projections. For context, neighbouring Sweden has issued 89 licences despite having a population roughly twice the size of Finland, making the Finnish uptake particularly notable. The comparison underlines the significant commercial appetite operators have for…

SOFTSWISS Sportsbook has launched a redesigned mobile layout aimed at reducing friction and helping operators convert more traffic into gross gaming revenue. The update focuses on making it faster and easier for players to discover betting content, navigate events and markets, and build bets on mobile devices. Mobile betting is expected to account for 58.3% of the global online sports betting market in 2026, according to Coherent Market Insights. Across SOFTSWISS Sportsbook operators, mobile devices already generate 94% of GGR and 89% of turnover, underlining how commercially critical the mobile channel has become. The redesigned interface introduces dynamic horizontal carousels…

ThrillTech, known in the industry as The Side Bets Company, is set to unveil a brand-new product at SBC Summit Lisbon 2026 this autumn. The event runs from September 29 to October 1 at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa, one of Europe’s most prominent iGaming industry gatherings. ThrillTech will be exhibiting from Hall 2 at Stand B331, where delegates can get hands-on access to the supplier’s latest innovations. The new product adds to the company’s growing portfolio of side-bet solutions, which have become a defining feature of ThrillTech’s position in the market. Alongside the new launch, ThrillTech will also be…

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Roumen Radev has announced a sweeping new package of gambling reforms intended to build on changes introduced in 2024. Speaking at a recent Council of Ministers meeting, Radev informed media that reform texts would be published on 23 September, outlining what he described as a “practically full ban of gambling promotions.” The announcement created immediate tension with a statement made days earlier by MP Stefan Belchev, a member of Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria party and Chair of the Economic Policy Committee. Belchev reportedly told Bulgarian National Television that the measures being drafted were more likely to bring further…

BoyleSports has signed French football legend David Ginola as the face of its latest marketing campaign, designed to promote its new Squad Builder product. The Ireland-headquartered bookmaker launched Squad Builder ahead of the 2026/27 football season, giving customers a fresh way to engage with player performance across major leagues. The product allows punters to select between two and five players, then choose from seven statistical targets, with their chosen players’ performances combining towards an overall squad total. Ginola, who enjoyed spells at Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, speaks directly to camera throughout the campaign to walk viewers through…

Bulgaria’s government has put forward a significant package of gambling reforms for public consultation, targeting advertising, taxation, and financial transparency. Among the most striking proposals is a complete ban on gambling advertising across the country, representing one of the most restrictive measures of its kind in Europe. Authorities have framed the advertising ban primarily as a consumer protection measure, with officials placing particular emphasis on shielding children and young people from aggressive promotional campaigns. The proposed amendments to Bulgaria’s gambling act also include stricter financial reporting requirements, designed to strengthen anti-money laundering processes and crack down on tax evasion. Bulgarian…

Germany’s Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States, known as the GGL, has marked its fifth anniversary by pushing for more adaptable regulatory powers across the online gambling sector. The regulator argues that business models, emerging technologies, and new forms of illegal gambling are all evolving at a pace that current legislation simply cannot match. With around 100 employees now on its books, the GGL has grown into a fully operational national authority capable of overseeing a complex and rapidly shifting digital marketplace. The authority is now looking to the forthcoming evaluation of the 2021 State Treaty on Gambling as…

Despite a profitable first half in 2025, Frankfurt-listed bookmaker bet-at-home has swung firmly into the red for the equivalent period in 2026. The DACH-focused operator reported a net loss of €2.2m for H1 2026, reversing the €1.8m profit it recorded during the same period last year. Gross betting and gaming revenue fell 4% year-on-year to €24.3m, while reported EBITDA dropped sharply from +€2.34m in H1 2025 to -€1.85m this period. Marketing and advertising expenditure rose 26.3% year-on-year to €10.3m, largely driven by the operator’s commercial activity around the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Leadership acknowledged the tournament’s impact, noting its positive…

The online betting industry has changed rapidly over the past few years. What used to be a simple transaction-based experience has evolved into a broader digital entertainment ecosystem, where users expect speed, convenience, variety, and trust from every platform they visit. Today’s players are no longer only looking for a place to place a bet. They want an experience that feels smooth, secure, and easy to understand. This shift has pushed betting-related platforms to focus more on user experience, mobile accessibility, content quality, and responsible engagement. One of the biggest changes is the rise of entertainment-led platforms. These platforms do…

OpenBet has confirmed that Chief Product Officer Nikos Konstakis will be elevated to the role of Chief Executive Officer before the end of 2026. The appointment marks a significant leadership transition for the gambling technology firm, which has seen considerable corporate activity in recent years. Current Acting Group CEO Jordan Levin will step back from day-to-day executive duties and transition into a Chairman position at board level. Levin’s move to the chairmanship ensures he remains involved in shaping OpenBet’s long-term strategic direction rather than departing the company entirely. Konstakis will shift his focus from leading operational and commercial execution to…