Simon Westbury, chair of 1xCare, outlined the organization's focus on enhancing player protection through industry collaboration and discourse in an interview with SBC News. He discussed the current state of responsible gambling and 1xCare's operational approach to influence a more player-centric environment.
SiGMA North America is holding its summit in Mexico City due to the country's growing maturity as a gaming market. This event aims to draw international industry attention to Mexico's evolving iGaming landscape.
Blurify, an iGaming software development company, has launched Openora, an AI-native framework designed to help operators build, extend, modernize, and migrate their platforms efficiently. This open-source, modular solution aims to give operators greater control over their platform technology's evolution and address existing iGaming platform challenges.
SolutionsHub, an iGaming licensing and regulatory services provider, has appointed David Lyons as a Non-Executive Director to spearhead its Irish operations. This move comes as Ireland's gambling regulatory framework is evolving, bringing Lyons' 30 years of experience from PokerStars and VGW to the company.
Canada, now the world's third-largest online gambling market, lacks a national self-exclusion register and a national licensing framework. This allows players who self-exclude in one province to still gamble across provincial borders or with offshore operators, raising concerns about player protection.
Richard Harris has been appointed as the permanent CEO of Rank Group, effective immediately, after serving as interim CEO for the past six months. His appointment follows an executive search process conducted by the company's Nominations Committee.
DraftKings is set to launch its online sportsbook and casino, including the Golden Nugget Online Gaming brand, in Alberta, Canada, on July 13. This expansion marks Alberta as the second Canadian province and 34th North American jurisdiction for DraftKings Sportsbook.
PhilWeb Corporation has secured an exclusive partnership with Pragmatic Play, allowing licensed gaming operators in the Philippines to access Pragmatic Play's gaming services through PhilWeb. This collaboration significantly expands PhilWeb's technology-enabled gaming services business within the region.
Analysts predict a significant boost for South Korean casino stocks in the second half of 2026, driven by an anticipated 25% surge in Chinese tourist arrivals. This expected recovery in Chinese tourism is attracting increased investor interest to the previously stagnant South Korean casino sector.
Macao police have reported a surge in proxy betting services targeting Mainland Chinese gamblers playing baccarat, leading to multiple arrests. These underground rings are utilizing livestreaming to facilitate 'electronic betting' for a wider range of gambling activities.
The Venetian Resort Las Vegas has agreed to a $7.2 million fine for anti-money laundering (AML) violations, making it the latest major casino on the Strip to be penalized in connection with high-roller Mathew Bowyer. This marks the fourth Las Vegas casino to face such fines related to Bowyer's activities, highlighting ongoing scrutiny over AML compliance in the industry.
Online casino gaming is set to launch on Monday in Alberta, Canada. This marks a new and significant market entry for iGaming operators, with many prominent names prepared to go live in the province.
The Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee has formally questioned the Gambling Commission's decision to proceed with Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs). This marks a significant development following the Commission's recent announcement and indicates growing scrutiny over these new measures.
Ammar Awawdeh, a key figure in a major rigged poker game and NBA gambling scandal, has struck a plea deal. This development is part of a larger ongoing investigation that has implicated several NBA players and individuals with alleged ties to organized crime.
Liverpool City Council has joined the Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA), advocating for stricter controls on gambling advertising to mitigate gambling-related harm. This initiative aligns with the council's recently launched Reducing Gambling Harms Action Plan.
Experts believe a compromise is unlikely in the ongoing legal battle between the CFTC and nine states over the regulation of prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket. The CFTC has filed lawsuits against states attempting to block or restrict these platforms, highlighting a significant jurisdictional dispute in a niche but growing market.
44Aces has launched its regulated online casino in Spain, expanding its international footprint. This move adds Spain to a growing list of markets including the UK, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Canada, and Ireland.
High 5 Games has received approval from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) to offer its game content to all licensed iGaming operators in Alberta. This expansion signifies a significant market entry for High 5 Games beyond the province's existing Play Alberta platform.
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) investigated a Lithuanian fintech company, finding it facilitated transactions related to illegal gambling. This action by EGBA underscores the payments industry's role in illicit gambling and highlights ongoing efforts to combat the black market.
Polymarket, a cryptocurrency-based predictions market, has been blacklisted by Italian regulators for the second time, prohibiting its access in the country. This action follows the firm's previous removal from and subsequent re-addition to Italy's blocked websites list by the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM).
AK Bets has significantly expanded its racetrack presence in the UK and Ireland through the acquisition of betting pitches from Pat O'Hare. This move triples its operational footprint across these regions, building on its recent launch in the UK.
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has formally complained to the Bank of Lithuania against Walletto, a payment provider, for allegedly processing payments related to illegal gambling operations. This action highlights a broader European issue with financial institutions facilitating illicit gambling and calls for stronger measures to disconnect these operators from payment systems.
Danish gambling regulator Spillemyndigheden is intensifying its efforts against illegal online gambling by improving cooperation with app store owners to block unauthorized gambling apps. This proactive approach aims to combat the rising popularity of online casinos in Denmark and safeguard consumers.
The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, now owned by Apollo Global Management, has been fined $7.2 million by the Nevada Gaming Control Board for allowing convicted bookmaker Mathew Bowyer to gamble on its premises. This incident occurred when Sands owned the property, making Venetian the fourth Las Vegas Strip casino penalized for this oversight.
Members of the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) reported a significant 34% increase in collective gross gaming revenue (GGR) in 2025, reaching €34.0 billion. The rise was accompanied by a 13% increase in active customer accounts, totaling 43.8 million, while a decrease in Return to Player suggests an improved operator margin.