Author: Charles Shephardson
Charles Shephardson is passionate about tech and iGaming. His work mainly covers the latest developments in the iGaming and blockchain space, with a focus on news stories, reviews and guides.
SOFTSWISS, a global iGaming software provider with over 15 years of industry experience, will host a LinkedIn Live panel on 25 June 2026 at 14:00 CET. The session, titled Prediction Markets for iGaming: Risks and Opportunities, will bring together experts from SOFTSWISS and NEXT.io to explore one of the most discussed emerging verticals in the industry. Prediction Markets have attracted significant attention across iGaming, with global trading volume exceeding 55 million euro in 2025 alone. Operators are increasingly asking difficult questions about product positioning, risk management, liquidity models, and regulatory compliance as interest in the vertical grows. The panel will…
The Dutch government has announced sweeping reforms to its regulated online gambling market, including a complete prohibition on advertising and bonuses. Justice and Security State Secretary Claudia van Bruggen unveiled the proposals on 12 June 2026, citing rising addiction and gambling participation since the market opened. The Netherlands launched its regulated online gambling market on 1 October 2021, and ministers now say young adults face growing exposure to gambling-related debt. Van Bruggen’s package of reforms would prevent licensed operators from advertising online gambling or offering any inducements to customers. That prohibition would extend to free bets given to players when…
The Isle of Man has found itself at the centre of a damaging international investigation after Bloomberg published a detailed report on the jurisdiction’s online gambling history. For years, the island marketed itself as an ideal base for online gambling operators, offering low taxes, minimal regulatory burden, and a government eager to diversify a declining economy. That strategy has now produced serious consequences, with allegations emerging that parts of the gambling sector became entangled with international criminal networks. King Gaming, an online casino business once celebrated as a model investor, sits at the heart of the controversy after ministers granted…
7bet has selected Comtrade Gaming as its technology partner to support a major push into Northern and Eastern European markets. The strategic agreement will see 7bet deploy Comtrade Gaming’s advanced iGaming platform to establish operations in Latvia and Estonia. Beyond the Baltics, the partnership also positions 7bet to enter the newly regulated Finnish market when it officially opens to licensed operators. Comtrade Gaming is widely regarded as a leading B2B iGaming platform provider, delivering enterprise-level technology solutions for operators across multiple regulated jurisdictions worldwide. The deal brings together 7bet’s established regional presence and Comtrade Gaming’s proven platform capabilities, which are…
Flutter Entertainment has confirmed plans to delist its ordinary shares from the London Stock Exchange, making the New York Stock Exchange its sole primary trading venue. The gambling giant set out its formal plans in a statement released on 12 June 2026, with the LSE delisting scheduled to take effect on 3 August. Flutter had been linked with a potential LSE exit for several weeks prior to the announcement, with speculation building steadily across the industry. During its Q1 results announcement, the company revealed it was undertaking a formal review of its London listing, prompting widespread market speculation. Reports emerged…
Gambling Commission director of enforcement and intelligence John Pierce has issued a stark warning that AI-powered compliance systems are failing operators when it matters most. Speaking at the Gambling Anti-Money Laundering Group (GAMLG) Conference in London, Pierce told delegates that AI tools were “too often” not meeting anti-money laundering standards required by the regulator. Pierce was clear that the Commission is not opposed to the use of AI and new technologies for AML purposes, but stressed that operators must confirm effectiveness before any rollout. “We aren’t ideologically against the use of new technology in your processes,” he said. “But you…
The Netherlands Gambling Authority, known as the KSA, has fined online gambling operator 711 a total of €886,000 for failing to meet its duty of care obligations. The fine followed a KSA investigation into 10 separate player files, which uncovered that 711 had not done enough to protect users from gambling-related harm. All 10 files revealed breaches of the Netherlands’ Gambling Act, with the violations said to have occurred between 2022 and 26 June 2024. This marks the first publicly announced financial penalty from the KSA since 10 March, when Fortaprime SRL was fined €1.8m and Novatech received a record…
Better Collective has launched its artificial intelligence betting product Playbook in Brazil, targeting one of its most important football markets globally. The Copenhagen-based sports media group said Playbook will help users create customised betslips from sports-related content, accessible through regulated sportsbook partners. The Brazil rollout marks another significant test of the product outside the United States, where Better Collective first launched Playbook last September ahead of the NFL season. Better Collective said the product will initially focus on football in Brazil, with distribution primarily running through X, Telegram and Discord. Co-founder and co-CEO Jesper Søgaard said: “We have seen strong…
BETBY, the Tier 1 B2B sportsbook provider, is rolling out a major new version of its eTennis title ahead of the Wimbledon tournament this summer. The upgraded product forms part of BETBY’s award-winning proprietary esports feed, known as Betby Games, which powers virtual sports content for operators worldwide. The new eTennis experience has been designed to deliver a faster, deeper, and more engaging virtual tennis product at one of the most significant moments in the global tennis calendar. Coverage spans both Men’s and Women’s tournaments across all four Grand Slams, including the Australian Open, Roland-Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open.…
The Gambling Commission has issued a firm warning to UK gambling operators, urging them to take their anti-money laundering obligations far more seriously. The regulator described the alert as a “wake up call” for the industry, signalling growing concern over compliance failures across the sector. Money laundering remains one of the most significant regulatory risks facing the UK gambling industry, with operators expected to maintain robust financial crime controls. The Commission has consistently increased scrutiny of how operators detect, assess, and report suspicious financial activity across their platforms. Operators are required under UK law to implement effective anti-money laundering programmes,…
