The Irish government notified the European Commission of plans to establish a mandatory Social Impact Fund requiring annual contributions from licensed gambling operators starting 1 April 2027 [1].
The National Police Board of Finland granted gambling licences to operators 711 and Play North ahead of the launch of Finland's regulated market [2].
The UK Gambling Commission expanded its enforcement strategy against unlicensed operators to directly target their money, assets, and financial infrastructure [3].
Brazil’s Supreme Court is preparing to resume legal proceedings examining the constitutionality of the nation's historic betting ban [5].
A new survey indicates that the proportion of 11 to 17-year-olds in Great Britain gambling with their own money has decreased to 26%, with few accessing age-restricted products. Despite the drop, advertising recall remains elevated, with 89% of respondents remembering gambling ads. The survey and its findings have drawn scrutiny and renewed debate ahead of Safer Gambling Week.
A crackdown on skill games in Pennsylvania has highlighted growing regulatory concerns regarding the emergence of sweepstakes machines across the state. Authorities noted that while traditional skill-based devices are being removed, some operators and manufacturers are shifting toward sweepstakes alternatives.
Finland's forthcoming regulated gambling market continues to expand, with operators 711 and Play North both securing licences from the National Police Board of Finland. The approval establishes Finland as the third licensed operating territory for Belgium-based 711, joining Belgium and the Netherlands.
The UK Gambling Commission has expanded its enforcement strategy against unlicensed operators to directly target their money, assets, and operational business models. The shift moves beyond traditional domain takedowns to disrupt the broader financial networks sustaining the black market. The regulator announced the updated approach at the start of Illegal Gambling Awareness Week.
U.S. Representative Ro Khanna has urged federal lawmakers to ban sports prediction markets, characterizing them as sports wagering platforms disguised as financial exchanges. Khanna argued that these operators circumvent state and tribal gambling regulations, evade local taxes, and undermine consumer protections. He called for federal intervention to address consumer exposure and gambling addiction concerns.
The U.S. House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a congressional hearing to address the growing prevalence of sports betting among college students. Lawmakers and industry experts scrutinized the role of mobile betting apps, targeted advertising toward young demographics, and rising rates of underage and problem gambling. The session highlighted increasing federal oversight on the collegiate wagering environment.
Pennsylvania authorities are reporting widespread compliance following a statewide crackdown on unauthorized skill games. State Police have inspected more than 12,200 establishments since October 14, identifying non-compliant devices in only 68 locations. Enforcement operations against illegal gambling machines remain active throughout the commonwealth.
The Irish government has notified the European Commission of its plans to establish a mandatory Social Impact Fund under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. Starting 1 April 2027, licensed gambling operators will be legally required to make annual contributions to support the initiative.
The European Commission has introduced new articles to the proposed Digital Fairness Act, which aims to update consumer protection frameworks for the digital market. In response, a European gambling trade association warned Brussels that additional layers of regulation do not inherently translate to improved consumer safeguards. The legislative push raises concerns across the industry over potential cross-border regulatory friction.
Brazil’s Supreme Court is preparing to resume its evaluation of the constitutionality surrounding the country's historic betting ban. Magistrates are currently weighing whether to conduct a joint hearing to settle various disputes involving sports betting rules, broader gambling legislation, and municipal lottery operations.
Romania's Federation of Gambling Organisers, FEDBET, has warned that 80% of the country's legal gambling market will be eliminated by year-end due to blocked authorisations. The trade body projects that the number of legal slot machines will plummet from over 43,000 in March to approximately 9,000 by early 2027. FEDBET cautioned that the regulatory freeze will not curb consumer demand, but rather shift it toward unregulated channels.
Data from the UK Gambling Commission reveals an overall decline in under-18 gambling participation, indicating that young people are largely steering clear of licensed operators. The regulator's findings point to the success of stringent age-verification measures and compliance investments made by domestic gambling companies.
South African Trade Minister Parks Tau is considering whether to appeal a court ruling that struck down the award of the national lottery licence to Sizekhaya Holdings. During a parliamentary briefing on the matter, the lottery regulator disclosed that Sizekhaya's ticket sales have fallen well below its licensing bid forecasts.
Romanian gambling trade association FEDBET has called on the government to intervene and protect the country's rapidly shrinking land-based casino sector. The trade body warns that Emergency Government Ordinance 7/2026 has created a licensing limbo that has already impacted approximately 8,500 jobs across retail venues.
The Federation of Romanian Gambling Organisers has warned that approximately 80% of the country's authorised gambling venues and slot machines could disappear by the end of 2026. The association attributes the potential closures to widespread delays in local licensing decisions under Emergency Government Ordinance No. 7/2026. Consequently, operators have been left without a clear regulatory pathway to renew their operating permits.
Lithuania's Ministry of Finance has proposed amendments to the Gaming Law that would mandate player cards and eliminate cash transactions across the sector starting in 2029. The policy would require individuals to obtain a physical or digital player card to gamble either online or at land-based venues. Authorities framed the measures as part of an effort to curtail gambling accessibility and reduce industry-related harms.
The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) has called on gambling operators to review and enhance their anti-money laundering (AML) controls following the release of updated risk guidance. The revised framework highlights heightened financial crime risks, specifically within online gambling and business-to-business arrangements, based on the island's latest National Risk Assessments.
The Pennsylvania State Police reported a 99.4% compliance rate in its enforcement campaign against illegal skill games, with 12,134 of 12,202 inspected establishments removing the devices. Following the expiration of a 120-day safe harbor period on October 14, authorities seized 14 machines and $1,913 in cash. Alongside the ongoing skill game actions, state regulators have also issued warnings targeting sweepstakes operators.
Bulgaria’s Council of Ministers has submitted proposed amendments to the Gambling Act to the National Assembly, aiming to tighten financial and regulatory controls on the sector. The draft legislation includes a ban on gambling advertising, covering the promotion of games, licensed organizers, and associated brands. In addition to marketing restrictions, the bill proposes higher taxes and increased licensing fees for operators.
A US House subcommittee held a hearing to address rising rates of sports betting and problem gambling on college campuses nationwide. Discussions focused on developing policy solutions to mitigate collegiate athlete harassment, prevent match manipulation, and reduce excessive gambling among students.
Brazil’s National Congress President, Davi Alcolumbre, has extended the validity of the country's betting ban by 60 days, moving the deadline for congressional approval to March 4, 2027. Formalized through Act No. 118, the extension grants lawmakers additional time to resolve disagreements over the proposed prohibition amid a congested legislative calendar.
A U.S. federal judge has rejected sports prediction market platform Novig’s request to block New York regulators from enforcing state gambling laws against the company. U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon ruled that Novig's sports event contracts do not qualify as swaps under the Commodity Exchange Act, affirming the state's authority to apply its betting regulations.
KwaZulu-Natal has commenced public hearings regarding a proposed overhaul of its gaming and betting tax structure. Industry operators have raised concerns over the measure, warning that steep tax increases could jeopardize commercial viability and lead to business closures.
A suspected leak regarding the Ballon d’Or has placed renewed scrutiny on Europe’s fragmented regulatory landscape for prediction markets. The incident underscores existing enforcement gaps across European jurisdictions regarding non-sports betting and event wagering.
The European Commission's draft Digital Fairness Act seeks to introduce tighter regulations on video game loot boxes and influencer-led gambling marketing. Proposed measures include mandatory odds disclosures, spending caps on paid loot boxes, youth protections against specific monetization mechanics, and the extension of advertising bans to influencers.
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