Author: Charles Shephardson

The Betting and Gaming Council has pushed back firmly against suggestions that the UK’s illegal gambling market poses only a minor threat to consumers and the wider industry. BGC CEO Grainne Hurst responded to ongoing debate this week by writing in PoliticsHome, insisting that the black market “is not a marginal issue” regardless of its current relative size. The dispute was sparked by research conducted by Gaming Compliance International for Derek Webb’s Campaign for Fairer Gambling, which suggested illegal operators account for less than 10% of the UK’s online gambling market. NEXT.io published the findings, which showed the black market…

Just two gambling websites out of 591 analysed have achieved a trusted rating, according to a new cybersecurity study from ScamInfo.ai. The research platform examined 7,185 websites across more than 40 online sectors, positioning gambling as one of the most dangerous categories anywhere on the internet. Gambling and betting domains accounted for 34.7% of all critical-risk websites identified across the entire dataset of analysed sites. Within the gambling category specifically, 6.9% of sites received a critical risk rating, with a further 19.5% classified as high risk by the platform. Only 0.3% of gambling domains, representing just two websites, managed to…

The global betting and gaming industry has produced a string of significant sponsorship agreements this week, with millions of sports fans set to notice the impact. Three brands have made particularly bold moves, with BoyleSports, BetMGM, and Stake each securing deals that expand their reach into new territories and audiences. Irish bookmaker BoyleSports has been elevated from official betting partner to principal title partner of the Northern Ireland Football League, covering both the men’s and women’s game. The three-year agreement marks a genuine landmark moment for the NIFL, as it is the first partnership in the league’s history valued at…

The British Horseracing Authority is expressing confidence that horse racing occupies a uniquely protected position when it comes to gambling advertising scrutiny in the UK. While gambling reform advocates have long pushed for an end to betting sponsorship and marketing in English football, racing’s leadership believe their sport is viewed very differently by parliament. Greg Swift, the BHA’s Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs, made the comments at a British Horseracing Authority press event held this week. Swift was unambiguous in his assessment, stating: “There is a very clear recognition in parliament, even among those who have a view about…

Royal Ascot 2026 has left bookmakers nursing heavy losses following a festival that consistently delivered results in favour of punters across all five days. The prestigious meeting took place from 16 to 20 June at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, with 294,541 racegoers attending across the week. That figure represents exactly 8,000 more attendees than the previous year’s festival, demonstrating that appetite for live horse racing in the UK remains strong. Winners including Ombudsman, Scandinavia and Giovelotto contributed to a punishing week for bookmakers, with 13 favourites in total winning their races. A spokesperson for official Ascot bookmaker partner Betfred confirmed…

A new study has revealed the alarming scale of unlicensed gambling activity in South Africa, with 62% of all gambling taking place via unregulated offshore sites. The YieldSec study paints a troubling picture of a market where the majority of players are being served by operators that fall entirely outside the country’s regulatory framework. The underground gambling market is estimated to siphon off more than $3 billion in gross gaming revenue from South Africa every single year. An estimated 16 million players in South Africa have engaged with unlicensed gambling platforms over the past year alone, highlighting the enormous reach…

The British Gambling Commission has formally invited all licensed operators to submit their views on the most significant burdens currently affecting the sector. The invitation forms part of the Commission’s 2026-2027 business plan, which is designed to encourage innovation while maintaining existing regulatory requirements across the industry. The business plan also incorporates a review of industry proposals that assess the current state of regulations and how effectively they are being communicated to operators. Findings from that review can then be used as a basis for formal advice to the Government, making this consultation an important step in shaping future policy…

Germany has long held one of the worst reputations in European gambling, and the ruling Christian Democratic Union now has a concrete plan to change that. The Economic Council, a business association linked to the CDU, has compiled a reform proposal arguing that the 2021 German State Treaty on Gambling urgently needs legislative change. The document makes the case that the domestic market is in serious trouble and that decisive action from the governing party is now necessary. Germany’s current regulatory framework taxes slot game wagers at 5.3% per play rather than using a gross gaming revenue-based tax model, with…

Prediction market giant Kalshi is reportedly seeking fresh capital at a $40 billion valuation, a figure that would place it among the world’s most valuable private companies. If the round closes at that number, Kalshi’s valuation will have nearly doubled since March 2026, when the company wrapped up a $1 billion Series F funding round that valued it at $22 billion. The growth trajectory has been remarkable, with Kalshi valued at just $2 billion a year ago before climbing to $5 billion four months later and reaching $11 billion by December 2025. Kalshi co-founder and CEO Tarek Mansour confirmed the…

Four senior women at platform provider GR8_TECH have shared their perspectives on what it truly takes to close the gender gap in the iGaming industry. The natural reaction to statistics showing a worsening gender balance in tech might be anger or despondency, but leaders at GR8_TECH are pushing past that instinct. Kate Pozdnysheva, Chief Client Officer at GR8_TECH, built her career across product and technology roles before rising through the ranks to reach the C-Suite. Pozdnysheva argues that when building her teams, she deliberately avoids letting gender factor into her decisions at all, favouring a meritocratic approach instead. “There is…