Author: Charles Shephardson

The debate around artificial intelligence in iGaming has converged on a single question: how closely can technology replicate real human interaction at a casino table. The logic behind that question is understandable, given that live casino built its success on real people, real studios, and genuine player interaction over many years. New market entrants see an opportunity to challenge the cost and complexity of the live model by using AI to deliver something similar but more efficiently. Many companies pursue variations of this strategy, investing in realism, motion capture, and increasingly lifelike avatars with one shared objective in mind. But…

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has filed lawsuits against sweepstakes casino operators Stake and VGW, along with several of their payment partners. The two complaints were filed on Wednesday, 19 August, in Hillsborough County Circuit Court, targeting the operators and five financial technology and payment companies. The state alleges illegal gambling and deceptive conduct under Florida gambling laws and the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Uthmeier is seeking to halt the businesses’ Florida operations and recover gambling losses, restitution, disgorgement, costs, and civil penalties from all defendants. The suits carry penalties of up to $10,000 per wilful violation,…

Johan Svensson’s Raketech has continued its gradual financial recovery in Q2 2026, improving profitability even as revenues fell sharply year-on-year. The Swedish-listed affiliate company recorded quarterly revenue of €5.6m, down 17.6% from the €6.8m generated during the same period in 2025. When factoring in the now-divested Casumba assets, that revenue decline stretches to a far steeper 28% compared to Q2 2025. The longer-term picture is even more stark, with Raketech’s current revenue levels representing a dramatic fall from the €17m the company produced back in Q2 2024. Despite those headline revenue pressures, the company’s underlying profitability has continued its upward…

Almost half of all new online gambling accounts among Dutch consumers aged 18 to 24 were opened by 18-year-olds, according to fresh research from the Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA). The findings form part of a broader package of three new research studies examining gambling habits among young people across the Netherlands. The KSA report analysed 15,761 newly opened online gambling accounts with recorded betting activity during May 2025, tracking player behaviour across the first three months. Of those accounts, 5,244 belonged to young adults aged 18 to 24, with 2,144 accounts, representing 41%, held by 18-year-olds specifically. Notably, 11% of…

QuinnBet (Gibraltar) must pay a regulatory settlement of £609,104 after the UK Gambling Commission uncovered significant anti-money laundering and social responsibility breaches. The Commission identified multiple failures in how QuinnBet identified, assessed, and managed customer risk across its operations over a period spanning several years. Failings were discovered after the regulator conducted a formal compliance assessment of the operator, revealing breaches of Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice requirements and Social Responsibility Code Provisions. Between March 2023 and August 2025, QuinnBet did not have adequate measures in place under LCCP 12.1.1 paragraphs 2 and 3, which relate to risk assessments…

Allwyn UK has confirmed that Andria Vidler is stepping down as chief executive, with Phil Walker appointed to lead the organisation on an interim basis from 7 September. Walker brings extensive industry experience to the role, having previously served as chief commercial officer at 888 and also held the position of UK and Ireland managing director there. Before his time at 888, Walker spent four years at William Hill, where his roles included UK managing director and online managing director, giving him a strong operational background. He has spent the past two years working as a consultant after stepping away…

Africa’s online gambling sector is expanding rapidly across borders, but the responsible gaming frameworks needed to support sustainable growth are struggling to keep pace. Ladipo Abiose, founder of Nigeria-based non-profit GamblePause, says that across the continent “operators are stronger than the regulators,” creating a dangerous imbalance for players. GamblePause has this week launched its dedicated app, putting responsible gaming tools directly into the hands of players who may not otherwise be protected by their local regulator. The app supports more than 40 languages, reflecting a deliberate effort to deliver tailored, localised protection to players across vastly different regions and communities.…

George Daskalakis, the co-founder and chief executive of Kaizen Gaming, is reportedly in advanced negotiations to acquire a minority stake in Bristol City. Daskalakis is working alongside co-investor Sandford Loudon, a financier and banker with significant experience across sports and gaming deals. Loudon’s advisory firm, Oakvale Capital, has been involved in a string of transactions spanning both the sports and gaming sectors in recent years. Kaizen Gaming is the parent company behind gambling brands including Betano, which served as the front-of-shirt sponsor for Premier League club Aston Villa until last season. Aston Villa, it should be noted, were Europa League…

Australia’s Labor government has secured Coalition backing for a significant overhaul of gambling advertising rules, marking a major step forward in the country’s long-running reform debate. The two major parties have agreed to establish a single national register that would allow Australians to opt out of wagering advertisements across online platforms. The opt-out register represents one of the most consumer-facing elements of the proposed legislation, giving punters direct control over the gambling marketing they are exposed to. The reforms would also place strict new restrictions on inducements targeting vulnerable gamblers, a practice that has drawn sustained criticism from welfare advocates…

Allwyn UK, the operator of the National Lottery, has announced that Andria Vidler is stepping down as Chief Executive Officer after two-and-a-half years in the role. Vidler’s departure follows a tenure defined by significant milestones, including Allwyn’s formal assumption of National Lottery management in February 2024 under the fourth 10-year licence. Phil Walker has been appointed Interim CEO of Allwyn Entertainment Limited with effect from 7 September 2026, succeeding Vidler in the top position. Walker brings extensive iGaming and betting industry experience to the role, having held senior executive positions at some of the UK’s most recognisable gambling brands. He…