Author: Charles Shephardson

Hungary is seriously weighing the termination of its gambling regulator, the Supervisory Authority for Regulated Activities, known as SZTFH, only five years after it was created. A resolution published in Magyar Közlöny, the Hungarian Gazette, on 31 August 2026 confirmed that the government wants to examine the SZTFH’s operation and review legislation to determine how the authority could be abolished. The government is also exploring how the regulator’s functions could be transferred to bodies operating under direct government control, marking a significant potential shift in Hungary’s regulatory landscape. The Justice Minister has been handed a deadline of 30 September 2026…

Kambi has unveiled a bold new brand identity and strategic positioning built around artificial intelligence and data, adopting the tagline “Powerful Network. Proven Edge.” The new identity reflects the company’s ambition to leverage its network of over 70 partners operating across more than 100 regulated markets worldwide. Kambi reports that its platform processes approximately €17 billion in annual turnover and handles around 1.5 billion bets, underscoring the scale of its operation. That scale creates a powerful feedback loop, with data and activity from operators continuously improving pricing, risk management and product innovation across the entire network. The company pointed to…

Lottomatica has announced to investors that it has agreed terms with Blackstone to absorb CIRSA, creating a significant new force in European and South American gambling. Italian analysts believe Lottomatica has placed a corporate valuation on CIRSA in the range of €2.8 billion to €3 billion, though the figure has not been officially confirmed. The merger is expected to create what the companies describe as “global gambling’s second-largest listed betting and gaming operator” once the transaction is finalised. The combined business is projected to generate income of more than €4.4 billion and pro-forma adjusted EBITDA of approximately €2 billion for…

Pragmatic Play has unveiled Gates of Olympus Pop, the first title in a new series that reimagines its most celebrated slot franchises under a fresh sub-brand. The release transforms the award-winning Gates of Olympus formula into a compact portrait grid, featuring a miniature version of Zeus across a 3×5 layout with tumbling reels. Multiplier symbols carrying values of up to 1,000x are built into the base game, maintaining the high-stakes feel that made the original franchise so popular with players. Landing three or more scatter symbols triggers the bonus game, awarding 15 free spins with the option to extend play…

Fanatics has officially launched a consolidated mobile super app, merging its sportsbook, online casino and prediction market products into a single platform. The new Fanatics Sports and Casino app went live on 2 September, combining all three business arms under one customer account with a shared FanCash balance. The app also integrates directly with the Fanatics ONE loyalty programme, ensuring that activity across all three products contributes to a single rewards ecosystem. Matt King, CEO of Fanatics, said: “Fanatics Sports and Casino gives fans across America one app where the experience travels with them, from betting the game, to trading…

Avanti Studios has named Jonas Ericson as its new Chief Financial Officer, marking the company’s second major C-Level hire in recent weeks. The live casino software supplier combines motion capture technology with real-time cloud-based streaming, positioning itself as a distinctive force in the iGaming space. Ericson spent six-and-a-half years at international payments company and bank Klarna before making the move to Avanti Studios. He initially joined Klarna as Financial Transformation Lead, later progressing to the role of Global Head of Finance during his tenure at the company. Throughout his time at Klarna, Ericson supported the company’s expansion into new international…

Kambi Group has launched a sweeping corporate rebrand that consolidates its sportsbook, AI trading, front-end, and esports operations under one unified identity. The company unveiled the positioning statement “Powerful Network. Proven Edge.” as the centrepiece of the brand refresh, signalling a clear strategic direction for the business. Kambi said the overhaul reflects its growing focus on artificial intelligence, network data, and increasingly dynamic betting products built for modern operators. The rebrand brings previously distinct acquired businesses into the Kambi name, including AI trading platform Tzeract, front-end specialist Shape Games, and esports data company Abios. CEO Werner Becher confirmed that Kambi…

Latin America’s online gambling landscape is being reshaped by tax frameworks originally designed to capture revenue from companies like Netflix, Uber and Spotify. In Mexico, a reform to the Special Tax on Production and Services law, known as the IEPS Law, came into effect on 1 January 2026, pulling internet-based betting into the tax orbit of the Ministry of Finance. The practical result is that a foreign operator can now serve Mexican players by registering with the tax authority, paying the gaming tax and filing monthly reports, without needing a permit from the Secretariat of the Interior, known as SEGOB.…

Star Entertainment has come under renewed regulatory scrutiny after leaked internal records revealed shrinking compliance teams, growing backlogs, and pressure to keep customers gambling. The Sydney Morning Herald cited multiple anonymous sources in its report, with one insider describing the group’s problem-gambling approach as “appalling.” Group compliance headcount fell from 17 to just four this year, while the group risk team dropped from five to two employees. Star’s investigations team nearly halved during the first six months of 2026, and guest support officers warned they lacked sufficient staff to identify customers showing signs of gambling harm. A January memo described…

BGaming is set to showcase its Three Game Worlds strategy at SBC Summit Lisbon, operating from Booth B301 during the September event. The approach is built around three distinct content categories: Casual, Entertainment, and Classic, each designed to serve a specific commercial function for operator partners. BGaming CMO Kate Puteiko describes the overarching message as straightforward: “Our central message is Three Game Worlds. One Growth Engine.” Puteiko is clear that the portfolio is more than a catalogue, explaining that every type of content performs a specific business function within a connected system. Each of the three worlds will have its…