Author: Andrew Fletcher

Betfred Co-Founder and Chairman Fred Done has issued a stark public warning that UK betting shops could cease to exist on the high street by 2030. Done made his views known through an op-ed published in The Sunday Times, alongside appearances with the Financial Times over the weekend. His warning centres on a proposal made in June by the Social Market Foundation think tank to double Machine Games Duty from 20% to 40%. The UK Treasury is understood to be modelling potential MGD increases ahead of the first Budget under Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey, due on…

DragonBet has entered a long-term technology partnership with BVGroup, moving its online sportsbook and casino operations onto the BV:360 platform. The migration programme is already underway, with a planned launch date set for the first quarter of 2027, according to both companies. DragonBet joins a growing BVGroup portfolio that includes flagship brand BetVictor, alongside Parimatch UK, Betano UK and talkSPORT BET, among others. The operator will leverage BVGroup’s sportsbook, casino, player account management, payments and compliance capabilities through the agreement. Despite the scale of the deal, DragonBet will retain full control over areas tied to its customer proposition, brand identity…

Italy’s government under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is actively exploring ways to extract additional revenue from the country’s regulated gambling sector for its 2027 budget. The Ministry of Economy and Finance is examining provisional measures that could generate between €400 million and €500 million from Italy’s gambling industry. These proposals have not yet been formally included in the draft Budget Law and remain subject to significant change before any decisions are finalised. The largest share of this potential revenue would come from a three-year extension of Italy’s retail gambling concessions, which are currently due to expire at the end of…

Logifuture, the B2B iGaming provider behind Zoom Sports, Simulate, and Swipe Games, has officially launched with Kenyan bookmaker Odibets. The partnership brings Zoom Sports, a 24/7 virtual football and tennis feed, directly to Odibets’ players across Kenya. Zoom Sports is designed to replicate the look, feel, and structure of live sporting action, making the virtual experience nearly indistinguishable from a real match. The product operates in two distinct formats, offering full 90-minute matches alongside a faster 10-minute Turbo mode for players who prefer quicker-paced betting action. Together, both formats deliver more than two million matches per year, ensuring continuous availability…

DraftKings has formally asked the US Patent Trial and Appeal Board to cancel all 18 claims of a mobile wagering patent filed against it in federal court. The US sports betting giant, operating through its DK Crown Holdings entity, submitted the petition on 17 September, taking direct aim at Interactive Games LLC’s US Patent No. 12,406,284. The patent in question covers a mobile wagering system that combines geolocation controls with how betting and promotional content is displayed on a user’s device. Its functionality includes determining whether a customer is physically located in an authorised jurisdiction, such as a US state…

Hexopay Holdings, the iGaming-focused payments company founded in 2018, has undergone a sweeping leadership overhaul following the exit of founder and former CEO Bryan Blake. Blake’s departure marks a significant turning point for the business, which has provided payment services to iGaming clients since its establishment eight years ago. The reshuffle comes as Hexopay prepares for the appointment of a new chief executive to lead the company through its next phase of development. Blake did not leave alone, with two fellow board members also stepping down as part of the wider leadership transition recorded at Companies House. Andrew Coyne, who…

Amusnet is attending SBC Summit Lisbon 2026 as a Premium Sponsor, showcasing its latest Online Casino, Live Casino, and land-based developments at Stand A411. The event runs from September 29 to October 1, with Amusnet using the occasion to mark its 10th anniversary with a broad and ambitious product showcase. Taking centre stage in the Live Casino presentation is Blackjack Live, the company’s newest title built for a real-time dealer format inside its next-generation Triplex Studio. The game introduces Golden Chips via the Bonus Platform and a progressive Jackpot Cards system, while also featuring side bets including Poker and Pair,…

The Dutch Council of State has ruled that the Kansspelautoriteit, known as the KSA, may lawfully continue operating a monopoly model across certain gambling categories. The decision reaffirms the legal foundation underpinning how the Dutch regulator has long structured licensing across key gambling verticals in the Netherlands. The KSA had already renewed Lotto BV’s three exclusive licences at the start of the week, covering lottery games, instant lotteries, and retail sports betting. Lotto BV is a subsidiary of the state-owned Nederlandse Loterij, making it a government-backed entity that has long held a privileged position in the Dutch gambling landscape. The…

Brazilian betting firms are bracing for significant disruption as reports emerge that President Lula da Silva is planning major moves against the online gambling sector. The President’s increasingly hostile stance toward the industry is creating friction within his own government, where opinions on how hard to push back against betting remain divided. While many Brazilian politicians want to see betting activity curbed, the majority fall well short of supporting an outright ban on the practice entirely. Dario Durigan, Finance Minister since March 2026, has outlined his preference for tighter restrictions on online gambling rather than a full prohibition on the…

The Affiliate Leaders Summit 2026 will dedicate a full conference track to examining how affiliates can keep content visible and attract new audiences in a shifting search landscape. The Content and Discovery track takes place on Thursday, 1 October, bringing together SEO specialists, affiliate experts and performance marketers for a day of focused discussion. Sessions will cover organic search strategy, content planning and paid acquisition, giving attendees a comprehensive view of the challenges facing affiliate marketers right now. The track rounds off three days of programming on the Affiliate Leaders Summit Stage, following Platforms and Performance on Tuesday, 29 September,…