Author: Charles Shephardson

Spain’s narrow 1-0 extra-time victory over Lionel Messi’s Argentina brought a difficult 2026 World Cup to a close for British bookmakers. The final ended goalless after 90 minutes, providing crucial late relief for operators who had endured a punter-friendly tournament throughout. Argentina failed to register a single shot on target until extra time, making the match one of the most forgettable finals in World Cup history. Odds comparison site Oddschecker described the 2026 competition as “a bit of a bloodbath” for operators, with popular selections repeatedly delivering for punters. Eventual winners Spain were the fourth most popular outright selection on…

The eighth edition of Harmony, rebranded as Harmony Predictstreet by BetConstruct AI, took place on July 8 and 9, 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia. Over 300 guests attended the two-day event, including C-level leaders, innovators, operators and decision-makers drawn from across industries worldwide. The new name reflects BetConstruct AI’s major strategic collaboration with ADI Predictstreet, the official Prediction Market Partner of FIFA. Through this partnership, BetConstruct AI has integrated ADI Predictstreet’s prediction market solutions and official match streaming rights directly into its platform. The timing was deliberate, arriving at a commercially critical moment in the sports calendar with the FIFA World…

The Council of Europe has launched a sharp public attack on FIFA, demanding stronger integrity measures following a deeply controversial 2026 World Cup in the United States. Alain Berset, the Swiss politician heading the 46-nation Council of Europe, wrote an open letter to FIFA just hours before the final between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The letter warned that the tournament had raised “question after question” and that the governing body must urgently address a growing crisis threatening football’s credibility. Berset declared bluntly in the letter: “The next crisis has already begun. It has two names: money…

The UK’s problem gambling rate has dipped to 2.4% in the third edition of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain, released on 16 July 2026 by the Gambling Commission. The figure represents a reduction from the 2.7% recorded in last year’s survey, continuing a broadly stable trend across the three years of data collected so far. The commission noted the rate has remained stable over the past three years, with the inaugural 2024 survey recording a figure of 2.5% based on the Problem Gambling Severity Index scoring system. Tim Miller, the soon-to-depart executive director for research and policy at the…

Betsson Group recorded its highest-ever quarterly revenue in Q2 2026, driven by exceptional growth across Latin America and a major boost from the FIFA World Cup. Revenue rose 2.1% to €310.2m for the three months ending 30 June, compared with €303.7m in Q2 2025, representing a sixth consecutive record for the Stockholm-listed operator. On an organic basis, stripping out currency movements and acquisitions, revenue growth came in at a stronger 6.1%, reflecting genuine underlying momentum across the business. Despite the record topline result, profitability took a significant hit, with operating income falling 38.9% year-on-year from €69m to €42.2m, as costs…

Evolution has moved to reassure investors after its proposed acquisition of Galaxy Gaming reached its contractual outside date, triggering termination rights for either party. The merger agreement’s agreed closing period expired on 17 July 2026, meaning both Evolution and Galaxy Gaming are now entitled to walk away from the deal. The transaction was first announced in July 2024 but has been held up by a prolonged and unresolved regulatory review process spanning multiple jurisdictions. The deal had originally been expected to close in 2025 before being extended in November of that year to give regulators additional time to analyse the…

Evolution CEO Martin Carlesund has raised serious concerns about falling channelisation rates in regulated gambling markets around the world. Speaking during Evolution’s Q2 earnings call, Carlesund warned that channelisation levels in certain markets had dropped to approximately 50%, a figure he described as deeply troubling. He argued that higher gambling taxes and increasingly restrictive regulation are the primary forces pushing players toward unlicensed operators in those affected markets. Carlesund was responding directly to analyst questions about the impact of the UK’s increase in Remote Gaming Duty, which came into effect earlier this year. While he pointed to both the UK…

DraftKings has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Philadelphia, seeking to stop an investigation into its sportsbook and online casino operations. The complaint was filed on Thursday, 16 July, by DraftKings alongside co-plaintiffs Crown PA Gaming and Golden Nugget Online Gaming, targeting the city’s Consumer Protection Ordinance adopted in 2024. Philadelphia city lawyers issued a subpoena on 24 April, seeking records covering wagering revenue, customer targeting, promotions, VIP programmes and responsible gambling practices. DraftKings says Philadelphia confirmed on 9 July that it was likely to bring a civil enforcement action, prompting the company to seek a full halt…

Gordon Moody has secured NHS England funding to expand its gambling harm treatment and recovery services under the UK’s new statutory levy system. The charity will use the funding to support its residential, online and community-based treatment programmes, building on its specialist expertise in gambling harm recovery. Gordon Moody becomes one of the first voluntary sector providers commissioned by NHS England following its assumption of responsibility for gambling harm treatment in England earlier this year. The new structure forms part of the government’s statutory levy framework, with third-sector providers now commissioned directly to deliver specialist support to those in need.…

The UK’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee has unexpectedly intervened in Britain’s long-running affordability checks debate, demanding answers from the Gambling Commission. The cross-party committee wants to know what evidence underpins the Commission’s decision to press ahead with new “financial risk assessments” for gambling customers. Lawmakers are also pressing the regulator on whether more or fewer customers will be required to provide financial documents than under current arrangements. Committee chair Dame Caroline Dinenage struck a balancing act, stressing that people experiencing gambling-related harm should receive appropriate protection while warning that regulation must also recognise the industry’s economic contribution. The British…