Stake Italy's Country Director, Fabio Angeli Bufalini, discussed Italy's regulated online gambling market, which is undergoing a new phase with a revised concession regime. This regime has reduced licensed domains and introduced stricter compliance requirements, reshaping competition and emphasizing market reliability for players.
Spain's DGOJ is initiating a new consultation process to move away from operator-by-operator gambling risk detection. The first phase of this consultation in 2025 gathered feedback regarding the operational costs and accuracy of the existing model.
France's national gambling regulator, ANJ, has identified excessive risks in French sports betting despite significant market growth. In 2025, sports betting stakes increased by 12% to €11.5bn, with Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) rising 10.4% to €1.7bn.
New Zealand's Department of Internal Affairs has advanced 11 entities to the next stage of its online gaming licensing process. These selections are part of the ongoing iGaming licence auction in the country.
YouTube Masthead access will be available to registered gambling operators starting in 2026. Eligibility for this advertising space, including certification and market coverage, will remain subject to Google's specific rules and requirements.
Greece is aiming to unify player verification processes and enhance the certification for online gamblers, specifically targeting VIP gamblers. This initiative seeks to improve player identification and regulatory oversight of online gambling activities.
Ireland has omitted a common tax on iGaming from the first draft of the EU Budget 2028-2034. The Irish Presidency decided against a proposed review for such a tax during its role as chief negotiator for the budget.
Stake's ability to operate in Brazil has been halted again after a federal court overturned a previous injunction. This decision suspends the resumption of operations for the betting company in the country.
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has issued a direct warning to the UK government regarding potential mass job cuts if Machine Games Duty (MGD) increases to 40%. The BGC states that thousands of casino workers could lose their jobs and venues could close due to such a rise.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has proposed a new rule to regulate contracts traded on prediction markets for sports, political events, and weather. This initiative would exclude traditional sports bets and casino games from the CFTC's oversight.
An EU-wide tax debate has prompted horse racing stakeholders to unite to protect the sport from a potential EU-wide gambling tax. European and Mediterranean racing representatives have approached Irish ministers regarding this issue.
Kalshi is actively seeking partnerships with tribal gaming entities for its prediction market platform. This initiative comes despite ongoing legal challenges from other tribal groups regarding Kalshi's business operations in court.
A potential increase in Machine Games Duty (MGD) to 40% is seen as an existential threat to British casinos. This could lead to up to 3,800 job losses and force some operators to consider closing a significant portion of their venues.
Allwyn UK is collaborating with the Gambling Commission on responsible gaming and player monitoring following calls for National Lottery draws to be included in Gamstop. A British coroner suggested extending Gamstop's self-exclusion scheme to National Lottery draw games.
The Better Gambling Forum is establishing new standards in the industry. Intrepid Partners' Wes Himes discussed the forum's mission following a year of its public health approach to gambling.
A new bill in Peru proposes increasing the consumption tax rate for the online betting sector fivefold to 5%. This potential tax hike is cited as addressing public health concerns and boosting revenue.
France's regulator, ANJ, identified niche betting activity among high-risk players in 2025. The ANJ's report suggests these findings reflect a lower presence of casual bettors in more specialized sports games.
Stake's provisional permission to operate in Brazil until October 25th was overturned by the Federal Court following an appeal. This decision reverses Stake's previous status as the only licensed operator allowed to remain operational in the country for that period.
Over 3,500 Brazilians have lost their jobs following a betting ban imposed by President Lula. This provisional measure banning licensed sportsbooks is causing significant job losses within Brazil's betting industry.
The Dutch trade body VNLOK has taken social media giant Meta to court, drawing praise from its peers in the betting industry. VNLOK's chairman stated that Meta is facilitating a 'digital Wild West' environment. This action highlights ongoing industry and regulatory concerns regarding Meta's practices.
Denmark's overall gambling revenue decreased by 7.1% to DKK678m in August 2026. This decline was primarily driven by a 42.7% drop in sports betting, even as online casino revenue saw a 12.5% increase.
New York sportsbooks may face new regulations that would restrict personalized sports-betting prompts generated by AI. Proposed rules also include requirements for human intervention and outreach to customers identified as at-risk, pending final approval.
The Supreme Court will review Sports Betting Rules concerning Kalshi Contracts, examining the intersection of federal and state authority in gambling regulation. The American Gaming Association (AGA) is supporting New Jersey's appeal in this case.
Stake has been permitted to resume operations in Brazil following a court injunction, but this return is subject to 12 specific conditions. The injunction allows Stake to operate until October 25, while the operator's long-term licensing status remains unresolved.
The federal-state divide regarding sports event contracts has sharpened as the CFTC excludes casino-style wagers from swaps. Concurrently, the CFTC is pursuing federal oversight for event contracts related to sports, politics, and weather.