PENN opens new $360m Hollywood Casino Aurora
PENN Entertainment has officially opened its new $360 million Hollywood Casino Aurora in Illinois. This new land-based facility replaces the previous riverboat casino, which closed earlier in June.
G3 Newswire
FIRST.bet powers sportsbook launch for 7Games in Brazil
FIRST.bet has launched its sportsbook technology across the Brazilian brands 7Games, Betão, and R7, operated by OIG Gaming Brazil. This partnership enables these brands to expand from casino gaming into sports betting within Brazil's rapidly growing regulated market.
BreakingM&A / Business
Ilitch launches Gaming Division with Ocean Casino and Scarlet Pearl acquisitions
Ilitch Companies has launched Ilitch Gaming, a new division to manage its growing casino interests. This new entity will initially include MotorCity Casino Hotel and, pending regulatory approvals, will add full ownership of Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City and Scarlet Pearl in Mississippi.
BreakingRegulatory
North Carolina debate grows over sports betting tax increase
North Carolina lawmakers are debating a potential increase in the state's online sports betting tax rate, with proposals suggesting a doubling from the current 18%. This discussion is part of broader budget negotiations and has been fueled by political analyst commentary advocating for higher taxation on sports gambling.
Xiaohongshu Bans 40,000 Accounts in World Cup Gambling Crackdown
Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu (RedNote) has banned over 40,000 accounts since early June in a crackdown on illegal sports betting activities ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The platform also conducted more than 12 enforcement actions against organized groups promoting these illicit betting services on its platform.
Alabama-Coushatta Tribe advances Naskila Casino Resort
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe is proceeding with the Naskila Casino Resort in East Texas, marked by a groundbreaking ceremony on June 18th. This development will feature a casino floor, hotel, restaurants, and entertainment facilities.
BreakingRegulatory
SkyCity Adelaide agrees A$21m regulatory settlement
SkyCity Adelaide has agreed to a non-binding A$21 million settlement with the Commissioner following an investigation led by Brian Martin KC. The proposed agreement involves three payments over two years and is pending final documentation.
Maryland blocks Churchill Downs’ $85m Preakness rights acquisition
Maryland has blocked Churchill Downs' $85 million acquisition of the intellectual property rights for the Preakness Stakes and Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. The state is exercising its right to match Churchill Downs' offer to purchase these rights from 1/ST Maryland.
BreakingRegulatory
Former Star executives fined A$1.1m over governance failures
Australia's Federal Court has imposed significant fines and management bans on former Star Entertainment Group executives, Mathias Bekier and Paula Martin, for governance failures. Bekier was fined A$700,000 and banned for six years, while Martin received a lower fine and shorter ban. This action follows a previous A$100 million penalty against The Star for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing breaches.
BreakingM&A / Business
Pure Casino secures court approval for Gamehost acquisition
Pure Casino Entertainment has received final court approval from the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta for its acquisition of Gamehost. The deal will see a Pure subsidiary acquire all outstanding Gamehost shares at C$13.65 cash per share. The acquisition is anticipated to finalize by the end of June, pending remaining regulatory approvals.
Snuneymuxw and Musqueam complete River Rock Casino acquisition
Great Canadian Entertainment has finalized the sale of River Rock Casino Resort to a partnership between Petroglyph Development Group (owned by Snuneymuxw First Nation) and Musqueam Capital Corporation (economic arm of Musqueam Indian Band). This acquisition signifies a significant transfer of ownership of a major casino property to Indigenous-led entities.
BreakingRegulatory
Prediction markets proposal boosts outlook for Flutter and DraftKings
Proposed rules by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) allowing federally regulated prediction markets for sporting outcomes and player performances are seen as a positive development for companies like Flutter and DraftKings. These new regulations could expand the types of betting products available in the US market.
Macau Slot's sports betting concession renewed for one year
Macau's government has renewed Macau Slot Co. Ltd.'s sports betting and instant lottery concession for an additional year, extending it until June 5, 2027. Macau Slot remains the sole authorized operator for football and instant lottery in the region.
BreakingRegulatory
New Mexico Attorney General sues Kalshi over sports event contracts
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has sued prediction market platform Kalshi, alleging it is operating as an unlicensed sportsbook by offering contracts on sports events. The lawsuit claims Kalshi has not obtained necessary approvals from the state's Gaming Control Board, violating New Mexico's gaming laws.
BreakingRegulatory
Brazil authorities expand probe into illegal and sophisticated betting network with multi-state raids
Brazilian authorities have expanded their investigation into an illegal online betting network, conducting multi-state raids across Pernambuco, São Paulo, and Ceará. This operation, named 'Conto da Sorte,' targets financial and gambling-related crimes and is led by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Rio Grande do Norte.
Vyking Ventures invests in PlayAIO
Vyking Ventures, the investment division of Vyking, has made a strategic investment in PlayAIO, an iGaming technology company specializing in data analytics and artificial intelligence. This move aligns with Vyking Ventures' strategy to back businesses developing technology across data intelligence, automation, payments, and digital gaming infrastructure.
PopOK Gaming secures Swiss market certification
PopOK Gaming has obtained certification to provide its online casino games to licensed operators in Switzerland. This marks a significant move for the company's European expansion into a highly regulated market.
BreakingRegulatory
Pennsylvania Supreme Court classifies Skill Games as Slot Machines
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has classified skill gaming machines as slot machines, subjecting their operators and manufacturers to the state's Gaming Act. This ruling is expected to significantly impact the estimated 70,000 skill game devices currently operating in Pennsylvania.
BreakingRegulatory
Greek online gambling market faces shake-up
Greece's online gambling market is set for an overhaul with new international operators entering the sector, intensifying competition against existing dominant brands. These changes coincide with the government's efforts to legislate against illegal gambling and implement a new tax regime for online casinos.
Korean casino industry calls for regulatory reform ahead of Osaka IR launch
South Korean casino operators are urging regulatory reforms to boost their competitiveness, fearing that the upcoming Osaka Integrated Resort in Japan will attract tourists and investment away from South Korea. Industry leaders voiced these concerns at a recent roundtable discussion.
BreakingRegulatory
Existing offshore operators eligible for NZ online licences
New Zealand's Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 will allow existing offshore operators to apply for the country's first online gambling licenses. This move, confirmed by Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden, will enable major international brands to enter the regulated NZ market despite ongoing legal challenges.
ThrillTech secures Gibraltar B2B supplier licence
ThrillTech has been granted a B2B supplier license by HM Government of Gibraltar, enabling the company to offer its jackpot and mystery reward solutions, including its ThrillPots product, to operators licensed in Gibraltar. This expands ThrillTech's regulatory reach into a key iGaming jurisdiction.
BreakingRegulatory
Audit Court prosecutor pushes for full transparency on owners of licensed betting operators in Brazil
A Brazilian Federal Audit Court (TCU) prosecutor is pushing for full transparency regarding the ownership of licensed betting operators, challenging the secrecy surrounding licensing files. This move could lead to stricter disclosure requirements for companies operating in Brazil's newly regulated fixed-odds betting market. The TCU will review the Ministry of Finance's authorization criteria and procedures.
Booming Games and World Sports Betting forge strategic partnership
Booming Games has partnered with World Sports Betting (WSB) to expand its presence in the African market. This deal will see WSB integrate a selection of Booming Games' premium gaming content onto its platform.
Alberta operator Gamehost gets final approval for takeover of Pure Casino Entertainment
Alberta-based operator Gamehost has received final court approval for its acquisition of Pure Casino Entertainment. This allows Pure's subsidiary to proceed with purchasing all outstanding common shares of Gamehost, following an earlier acquisition of Gamehost by Indigenous Gaming Partners in March.