New Zealand has named the operators cleared for the second stage of its licensing process for online gambling. Eleven brands, including Entain, SkyCity, Stake, and Betway, are now eligible to apply for the 15 available online licenses under the new regime.
Summary based on reporting by SBC News, which retains all rights to its text and images.
One email each morning with the stories that moved the betting industry — regulators, operators and market moves, summarised. Free for industry professionals.
No spam, no bonuses — just industry news. Unsubscribe any time.
The Gambling Commission's first open banking study into black market activity revealed that 91% of repeat illegal site users continue to bet with licensed operators. The research linked unlicensed platforms to a high concentration of gambling harm. These findings challenge the betting industry's argument that tax increases and regulatory pressures primarily drive players offshore.
Spain's gambling regulator, the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ), has outlined its regulatory perspective on prediction markets during the MERGE Madrid 2026 event.
Italy's government is planning tax increases, altered lottery commissions, and adjusted concession fees to generate approximately €1.9 billion ($2.13 billion) from the gambling sector between 2027 and 2029. A draft budgetary plan submitted to Brussels projects €718 million annually from gambling in 2027 and 2028, alongside €478 million in 2029. The fiscal measures form part of broader state revenue targets led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration.
The Federal Court of Australia has ordered The Star Entertainment Group to pay AU$260 million ($182 million) for breaches of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws. The ruling comes in below the AU$400 million penalty proposed by financial intelligence regulator AUSTRAC. Justice Moore determined the reduced penalty after factoring in prior enforcement penalties and mitigating circumstances.
Georgia’s Parliament has passed legislation permitting domestic casinos to organize and host international gambling tournaments. Introduced by lawmakers from the ruling Georgian Dream party, the bill secured final approval following a 73-5 vote. Lawmakers finalized the measure across two plenary sessions, during which adjustments to baseline regulatory thresholds were debated and approved.