Author: Charles Shephardson

Finland’s state monopoly operator Veikkaus Group has returned to growth in the first half of 2026, ahead of a major market transition set for mid-2027. The company is preparing to pay approximately €1bn over a decade-long period to retain an exclusive licence covering key product categories in the restructured Finnish gambling market. Licensed gambling operations under the new Finnish framework will officially begin on 1 July 2027, marking a significant shift away from the current monopoly model. While Veikkaus will lose exclusive rights over betting and online casino games, it will retain exclusivity over lottery and slot machine games, scratch…

Flutter Entertainment-owned Paddy Power is conducting a review of its retail estate that could result in the closure of up to 100 betting shops across the UK and Ireland. The review puts approximately 400 jobs at risk of redundancy, though Flutter has confirmed that “impacted colleagues will be offered redeployment opportunities where possible.” The company has attributed the potential closures to a combination of rising energy costs, rents, business rates, and increased gambling taxes affecting its retail operations. A Flutter spokesperson said: “We are incredibly proud of our high street estate, and it remains a key part of our business…

Brazil’s regulated online gambling sector is facing an increasingly hostile political environment, with fresh legislative moves threatening to unravel the framework entirely. Senator Alves has joined a growing number of politicians seeking to end the Bets regime in just the second year of its existence, signalling broad appetite for dismantlement. The bill makes no attempt to hide its intentions, explicitly aiming to dismantle the commercial framework underpinning Brazil’s newly regulated online gambling market. Among its harshest provisions is a near-total advertising blackout that would end sportsbook sponsorship deals and potentially remove several popular online casino products from the licensed market…

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…