Author: Charles Shephardson

Conor McGregor has been confirmed as a global brand ambassador for online sportsbook 1xBet ahead of his highly anticipated UFC return on 11 July. The partnership was announced in the build-up to McGregor’s headline fight against Max Holloway at UFC 329, marking the Irishman’s long-awaited comeback to the Octagon. 1xBet wasted no time in expressing their enthusiasm for the deal, issuing a statement that confirmed the scale of the announcement for the brand. “We’re proud to welcome UFC legend Conor McGregor as 1xBet Global Brand Ambassador,” the company said in an official statement released alongside the news. “As one of…

Fernando Morientes, one of European football’s most celebrated strikers and a three-time UEFA Champions League winner, will attend SBC Summit Tbilisi 2026 as an invited speaker. The conference, widely regarded as Eastern Europe and Central Asia’s leading iGaming and sports event, will take place across 15 and 16 July in the Georgian capital. Morientes built his reputation during the golden era of world football, establishing himself as a symbol of professionalism, tactical intelligence, and on-pitch leadership at the highest level. His career was defined by historic victories in European competition, and today he ranks among the most sought-after speakers at…

Luckia president and founder José González Fuentes has built one of Spain’s most distinctive gambling operators by choosing quiet consistency over aggressive expansion. The Galicia-based company consistently ranks among Spain’s leading online gaming brands by market share while simultaneously growing across Latin America, Africa and other parts of Europe. “We live in a time where the focus is on those who make the most noise,” González Fuentes told NEXT.io. “We have always tried to guide ourselves by another logic, quietly building with humility and discretion.” That approach may appear unfashionable in an industry defined by rapid market entries, aggressive mergers…

Everton has signed a multi-year renewal with casino operator Stake, restructuring the arrangement to comply with the Premier League’s upcoming front-of-shirt gambling sponsorship ban. Under the revised agreement, Stake will serve as the club’s official sleeve partner, with its branding appearing on players’ shirt sleeves throughout the 2026-27 campaign. The partnership extends beyond the pitch, with Stake securing a presence across Everton’s official matchday and digital channels throughout the season. Branding will also feature inside the club’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, reflecting the broader commercial scope of the newly restructured deal. Stake’s visibility will stretch further to Goodison Park, the club’s…

SOFTSWISS has unveiled a new brand positioning and refreshed visual identity, reflecting the structural changes reshaping iGaming markets in 2026. The rebrand signals a significant evolution from software provider to a broader technology and growth partner, combining compliance-ready products, regulated market expertise, and expert-led services. Insights drawn from five years of SOFTSWISS iGaming Trends research show operators increasingly expect more than just software from their technology suppliers. According to that research, three major industry shifts stand out: rising market fragmentation driven by local regulation, growing operational complexity, and a move toward long-term partnerships built on trust. SOFTSWISS now holds licences…

The Visualize Group, a private equity firm, has agreed to acquire eCOGRA, a leading testing, inspection and certification provider serving the global gaming industry. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed by Visualize, and the company has not confirmed a specific timeline for when the acquisition is expected to close. eCOGRA will continue to operate under its existing leadership team following the completion of the transaction, with CEO Will Shuckburgh remaining in his current role. Visualize has also confirmed plans to extend its broad-based employee ownership programme to eCOGRA staff, allowing them to participate in the value-creation plan for…

BVGroup and ThrillTech have announced the first UK Community Jackpots payout, sharing a massive prize pool among 501 winners simultaneously. The milestone drop was powered by ThrillTech’s proprietary ThrillPots engine, marking a significant first for the UK iGaming market. The main winner, playing on BVGroup’s flagship BetVictor online casino, took home a life-changing prize of £488,035.59. At the same time, 500 additional players across BVGroup’s portfolio of UK iGaming brands were each notified of a £976.07 share in the Epic Community Jackpot win. The brands involved included BetVictor, Heart Bingo, Smooth Spins, Betano, Parimatch, and TalkSPORTBET, all of whose players…

Judge Richard Darwin of San Francisco Superior Court has invalidated state rules that would have fundamentally reshaped how gambling operates across California’s licensed cardrooms. California is home to 78 licensed cardrooms, according to the state’s Gambling Control Commission, with many municipalities depending on cardroom revenue to fund police, parks, libraries and other local services. The Bureau of Gambling Control, which operates within Attorney General Rob Bonta’s Department of Justice, was found to have exceeded its authority by imposing the restrictions statewide. Darwin accepted the cardrooms’ argument that enforcement powers cannot substitute for legislative authority when it comes to recasting lawful…

DAZN Bet has officially launched its online sportsbook and casino in Ontario, marking the brand’s first entry into the North American market. The platform went live in the province, offering a sportsbook described as tailored to Canadian preferences alongside a full suite of slots, table games, and live casino products. DAZN EVP of Growth Markets Daniel Berthold had told Canadian Gaming Business last December that the company hoped to satisfy all regulatory obligations in Ontario by the first quarter of 2026. After receiving an Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario licence in January, the launch took slightly longer than anticipated…

Austria has officially released its initial licensing conditions for online gambling, opening a public consultation period just days after the triparty coalition agreed on an October 2027 launch date. The draft consultation paper represents the most significant gambling reform the country has seen in 26 years, signalling a major shift in how Austria approaches the regulated online market. Any eligible operator can apply for a licence provided they meet certain requirements, including having a supervisory board, effective anti-money laundering compliance, and strong player protection measures. Applicants must also demonstrate a share capital of at least €10 million, a figure that…