Terminal taxation: the impact of higher Machine Games Duty
This article discusses the impact of higher Machine Games Duty, noting that while gambling tax is easy to collect, increasing the rate does not significantly raise government revenue.
Regulatory
Casino City's Friday Five: Crypto and prediction market updates edition
Casino City's Friday Five edition covered various developments including CFTC's proposed new rules for prediction markets. It also noted Sahara Las Vegas becoming the first Las Vegas Strip casino to announce cryptocurrency-funded gaming transactions.
BreakingRegulatory
Spain orders online gambling operators to match payment methods with account holders
Spain has implemented new rules requiring online gambling operators to verify that payment methods used by players belong to the account holders. These regulations amend existing laws on preventing money laundering and terrorist financing, focusing on the authorization and monitoring of gambling transactions.
Virginia Lottery releases September 2026 casino activity report
The Virginia Lottery released its September 2026 casino activity report. Gaming revenues from Hard Rock Bristol, Rivers Casino Portsmouth, Caesars Virginia, The Interim Gaming Hall Norfolk, and Live! Virginia totaled over $97.5 million during September.
BreakingRegulatory
First Finnish license goes to Wildz Group
The first Finnish license for gambling services has been granted to Wildz Group. Finland's National Police Board issued a formal letter on October 15, allowing Wildz Group to offer services to Finnish players for five years starting July 1, 2027.
Exclusive: Kalshi’s Own ETH Perp Data, Tested Against Spot Prices, Undercuts Its Explanation for $9.81B in Trades
A Gambling Insider investigation revealed that Kalshi's own ETH perp data, when tested against spot prices, undermines its explanation for $9.81B in trades. The investigation analyzed 5.35 million trades and found unusual concentrated activity from traders on Kalshi's ether futures market.
BreakingRegulatory
Brazil lawmakers file 97 amendments to betting ban, seek to restore regulated market
Brazilian lawmakers have submitted 97 amendments to Provisional Measure No. 1.394/2026, which currently bans fixed-odds betting. Several proposals aim to re-establish a regulated market for betting, albeit with stricter controls on online gambling operations.
Kalshi CEO defends prediction markets' transparency amid insider trading cases, regulatory disputes
Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour has asserted that prediction markets possess inherent transparency, enabling the identification of suspicious activity despite increasing trading volumes. His defense comes amidst heightened regulatory scrutiny regarding insider trading cases and jurisdictional disputes over sports-related contracts.
BreakingRegulatory
Louisiana grants DraftKings conditional license extension amid AI and responsible gambling probe
The Louisiana Gaming Control Board has granted DraftKings a conditional license extension, deferring a full renewal. This decision allows investigators to review allegations concerning DraftKings' use of artificial intelligence and its responsible gambling practices.
Genting ‘itching to invest’ further in UK market but wary of looming MGD hike
Genting expresses strong interest in further investment within the UK market but is cautious due to the potential looming hike in Machine Games Duty (MGD). UK casino operators also warn that further reforms could negatively impact businesses, as current land-based reforms are still in effect.
South Korea closes in on $2.3bn illegal gambling operation with UAE arrests
A major South Korean gambling investigation has gained momentum after arrests in the UAE exposed the massive scale of an alleged international betting network.
Entain asks UK government to ‘carefully consider any further gambling tax increases’
Entain has urged the UK government to carefully consider any further gambling tax increases. The global sports betting and gaming group stated that such increases could threaten the viability of many shops, jobs, and livelihoods.
Why one-size-fits-all compliance falls short
The article discusses how a one-size-fits-all approach to compliance is insufficient in the iGaming industry. Diverging regulatory frameworks and rising player protection expectations across different markets necessitate tailored compliance strategies for suppliers.
Gabon’s gambling monopoly faces questions over fees, transparency and control
Gabon's gambling monopoly, La Gabonaise des Jeux (GDJ), is facing scrutiny regarding its fees, transparency, and control. Over six months after existing permissions expired, GDJ has not publicly disclosed the conclusion of its selection process for private online betting operators.
BreakingRegulatory
The Wildz Group becomes first iGaming operator to receive an official licence go-ahead for Finland
The Wildz Group has become the first iGaming operator to receive an official license go-ahead for Finland. Finland's National Police Board granted permission for Wildz Group to offer gambling services for five years, starting July 1, 2027.
Pennsylvania Skill Games Put Businesses in Enforcement Spotlight
Pennsylvania skill games are now considered illegal after lawmakers failed to meet the 120-day deadline. This development places businesses operating these machines at risk of enforcement actions.
DraftKings gets conditional Louisiana licence extension through Feb 19
DraftKings has received a conditional license extension in Louisiana, valid until February 19. Regulators are currently investigating issues related to shareholder suitability and AI-related allegations concerning the operator.
VNLOK: Meta illegal gambling case is a European fight
VNLOK Chairman Björn Fuchs stated that the trade body has evidence of Meta's system failures allowing illegal gambling content to lure audiences. This Dutch challenge against Meta is expected to have repercussions across all European markets.
The DGOJ Participates in the Gaming in Spain Conference 2026 to Address Regulatory Challenges in Online Gaming
The DGOJ participated in the Gaming in Spain Conference 2026. Their involvement focused on addressing regulatory challenges within the online gaming sector.
BreakingRegulatory
Blocked winnings put Spain gambling customers on a six-month clock
Spain’s new payment verification rules block withdrawals for unverified gambling customers, with account closures following after six months. The post Blocked winnings put Spain gambling customers on a six-month clock appeared first on CasinoBeats.
BreakingRegulatory
Wildz Group announces Finland’s first online licence approval ahead of market launch
Wildz Group has announced its approval for Finland's first online gambling license, becoming the initial operator to confirm such approval. This comes as Finland moves towards market liberalization, with up to 75 license applications submitted by the end of September.
SEC approves Cboe event contracts tied to corporate KPIs ahead of Robinhood debut
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved Cboe Global Markets' proposal to list event contracts tied to corporate Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). This approval will allow Cboe to offer derivatives based on the performance metrics of publicly traded companies.
PA Gaming Control Board revokes gambling privileges from eight individuals
The PA Gaming Control Board has revoked the gambling privileges of eight individuals. One incident involved two patrons leaving an 11-year-old unattended for over an hour at Wind Creek Bethlehem while they gambled.
Buenos Aires online betting bill awaits committee support
A proposed online betting bill in Argentina's Buenos Aires province is awaiting committee support to advance. Despite recent discussions, the provincial Chamber of Deputies’ gambling committee has not yet secured the necessary signatures to move the initiatives forward.
Pennsylvania regulator renews Live! Casino Pittsburgh licence for five years
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has unanimously renewed the Category 4 casino licence for Live! Casino Pittsburgh. Operated by Stadium Casino Westmoreland RE, LLC, the licence has been extended for another five years after the board confirmed the operator met all existing requirements.