Author: Charles Shephardson

The Dutch gambling trade body VNLOK has declared the country’s regulated market is at a “dangerous crossroads” following a damning assessment of recent tax policy outcomes. A joint report from the Ministry of Finance and the Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) revealed gambling tax increases generated just €2m in additional revenue in 2025, falling dramatically short of a €108m target. Officials acknowledged that a declining tax base had significantly reduced the expected revenue gains stemming from the increased tax rates introduced last year. The report noted it was difficult to isolate the precise impact of higher tax rates due to simultaneous…

Georgia’s parliament is actively considering legislation that would establish a dedicated licensing regime for online gambling operators targeting customers outside the country. The proposal, initiated by members of the ruling Georgian Dream party, would introduce three new permit categories covering online casino, internet slots, and sports betting services. Each licence would run for a five-year term and would be aimed exclusively at foreign players, according to GBC, with Georgian citizens prohibited from accessing the platforms. Operators securing a licence would be required to conduct all activities through dedicated domains, ensuring a clear operational separation from any domestic-facing services. Annual permit…

Kenya’s gambling operators are racing to secure licences before a June 30 deadline under a sweeping new regulatory regime now facing a legal challenge. The deadline represents the most significant regulatory transition Kenya’s gambling sector has experienced in more than half a century, reshaping the entire industry landscape. Last year, the Gambling Control Act 2025 replaced a framework dating back to the 1960s, establishing the Kenya Gambling Regulatory Authority to replace the Betting Control and Licensing Board. Peter Maina Karimi was appointed in February as the new regulator’s director general, tasked with overseeing the licensing transition and the new regulatory…

New research using open banking data suggests the £150 net-deposit threshold for financial risk checks may be catching too many low-risk gamblers. The study was published in the journal Addiction and carried out by researchers Robert Heirene from the University of Sydney and Philip Newall from the University of Bristol. Researchers reanalysed open banking data from 424 UK gamblers, combining transaction records with self-reported Problem Gambling Severity Index scores to simulate real-world impacts of the Gambling Commission’s financial vulnerability check regime. Over a 12-month period, roughly two-thirds of at-risk gamblers and nearly half of those classed as low- or no-risk…

Spanish bettors will face new deposit restrictions spanning all licensed operators in the country, introduced through a royal decree approved on Tuesday 23 June. The decree establishes a daily deposit limit of €700, a weekly limit of €1,750, and a four-week limit of €3,300 across all licensed platforms simultaneously. Prior to this change, individual operator limits stood at €600 daily, €1,500 weekly, and €3,000 monthly, meaning players could previously multiply their allowance by holding accounts across multiple operators. The Directorate-General for Gambling Regulation, known as the DGOJ, will oversee a centralised deposit control system tracking player activity across the entire…

Multiple UK gambling charities have yet to receive any statutory levy funding, despite the new system launching on 1 April 2026. The prevention-focused charities transitioned to a new funding model that included a competitive application process for a £12 million pot. Nearly three months after that transition date, several organisations have not received a single penny of the promised money. Other charities only received their funding relatively recently, with continuing delays around technical aspects of finalised bids, including setting KPIs to assess the work. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities had stated the first tranche of funding would be…

TrafficStars, recognised as the world’s leading adult advertising network, has confirmed that betting is its second-largest advertising vertical by revenue and activity. The network is now sharing real-time performance data for the first time in its history, capitalising on the surge in online betting activity that accompanies the Football World Cup. This live data reveals the best-performing GEOs and ad formats for betting advertisers, giving operators actionable intelligence on what is actually delivering results right now. TrafficStars has packaged these insights into a concept called the Traffic World Cup, where the top-performing traffic GEOs compete against each other in parallel…

Sportsbook and iGaming solutions provider Digitain has appointed Dario Jurčić as its new chief commercial officer for Europe and Africa. Jurčić’s primary remit will be to accelerate growth across key regions on both continents as Digitain pushes further into regulated markets. He will also oversee Digitain’s expanding commercial operations within its current and soon-to-open European hubs. The structure is designed to support the company’s progress across key regulated markets, including the United Kingdom. Digitain secured a betting licence alongside sportsbook and platform certification in the UK back in February, marking a significant milestone for the business. Jurčić brings considerable industry…

Blask data reveals the US sweepstakes casino segment is fracturing at its peak demand levels, with no single brand able to dominate in any state. Indiana becomes the seventh US state to enforce an explicit legislative ban on sweepstakes casinos when new laws take effect on 1 July 2026. According to Blask, Indiana was one of eight states where sweepstakes brands accounted for more than half of all measured iGaming demand in May 2026. Across all 50 US states combined, sweepstakes casinos held a 23.5% share of iGaming demand, a significant footprint despite mounting legislative opposition. Market pioneer Chumba Casino…

Entain has published new research showing the vast majority of UK adults cannot tell the difference between legal and illegal betting promotions on social media. A YouGov survey commissioned by the Ladbrokes and Coral owner found that 74% of adults struggle to identify unlicensed betting promotions circulating online. The poll covered 2,017 adults in Great Britain, with fieldwork carried out between 12 and 18 May, coinciding with rising expectations around World Cup betting activity. Only 10% of respondents said they found it easy to recognise a licensed betting advert when scrolling through their social media feeds. Eight in 10 adults…