iGaming Business

Regulatory

ANJ orders ISPs to block Polymarket over illegal gambling concerns

France's L'Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) has instructed internet service providers to block access to Polymarket, a blockchain-based prediction market, citing illegal gambling concerns. This action follows a broader European effort to regulate prediction markets, positioning Polymarket's offerings as unlicensed betting. The ANJ views Polymarket's operations as violating French gambling laws, leading to direct enforcement measures against the platform.

iGaming Business•Jul 20, 2026

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BreakingRegulatory

Paraíba Court of Appeals upholds Pixbet's suspension throughout Brazil

A Brazilian court has upheld the nationwide suspension of betting operator Pixbet by the Paraíba Court of Appeals. The suspension will remain in place until Pixbet can prove it has implemented effective age verification mechanisms, including facial recognition technology.

iGaming Business•Jul 20, 2026

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M&A / Business

Another land-based acquisition for Cirsa as it eyes Portugal expansion

Cirsa has acquired Casino Figueira in Portugal, part of its strategy to expand its international land-based casino operations. This acquisition follows other recent additions to its portfolio, signaling significant growth ambitions for the company.

iGaming Business•Jul 20, 2026

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M&A / Business

'No FOMO': Inside Kaizen Gaming's sponsorship playbook

Kaizen Gaming's CCO, Julio Iglesias Hernando, discusses the company's sponsorship strategy, including Betano's role in the FIFA World Cup and the Tottenham agreement. He also offers his perspective on the industry's understanding of marketing.

iGaming Business•Jul 20, 2026

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Sports Betting

NBA’s Silver backs proposal for US sports betting czar as integrity cases take centre stage

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver supports the creation of an independent commissioner or 'czar' for US sports betting. This initiative aims to address integrity issues and foster collaboration between sports leagues to maintain fair play in the betting landscape.

iGaming Business•Jul 17, 2026

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M&A / Business

Entain to cut 500 roles globally but stresses it's not a reaction to UK tax hike

Entain is implementing a global reduction of 500 roles, primarily affecting operational functions such as HR, finance, product, and technology departments. The company attributes these cuts to an ongoing business review focused on efficiency, not the recent UK remote gambling tax increase.

iGaming Business•Jul 17, 2026

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BreakingRegulatory

New Zealand opens EOI process for iGaming licences as liberalisation process gathers steam

New Zealand has initiated the first phase of its iGaming liberalization by opening Expressions of Interest for operators. This process will be followed by an auction in September and a final application deadline in October, marking a significant step towards a regulated online gambling market in the country.

iGaming Business•Jul 17, 2026

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BreakingM&A / Business

LatAm becomes Betsson's biggest market in Q2 as it eyes further M&A in the region

Betsson's CEO, Pontus Lindwall, revealed that Latin America became the operator's largest market in Q2. The company has secured a €75 million credit facility to fund further M&A activities, focusing on new market entries or technological acquisitions within the region.

iGaming Business•Jul 17, 2026

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Regulatory

Evolution UK operations won't change following Gambling Commission settlement

Evolution's CEO, Martin Carlesund, stated that the company will not alter its UK operations strategy despite reaching a recent regulatory settlement with the UK Gambling Commission. This indicates the settlement's impact is not expected to necessitate significant operational changes for the major supplier.

iGaming Business•Jul 17, 2026

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M&A / Business

Virgin Bet targeting market share gains as South Africa launch gathers pace

Virgin Bet is actively pursuing market share growth in South Africa, with Gail Odgers, the new General Manager for the region, leveraging her marketing expertise. The company reports that its launch in the country has surpassed initial expectations, indicating a strong early performance in this emerging market.

iGaming Business•Jul 17, 2026

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BreakingRegulatory

ANJ fines unnamed operator €500,000 for not identifying high-risk players

France's ANJ has fined an unnamed online betting operator €500,000 for failing to identify and intervene with habitual excessive gamblers, as required by its responsible gambling obligations. The operator contested the decision, citing the absence of a statutory definition for 'pathological gambling' in French law.

iGaming Business•Jul 17, 2026

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BreakingRegulatory

DCMS extends unlicensed gambling sponsorship ban to include non-sport deals

The UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has expanded its ban on gambling sponsorships to include non-sports deals made by unlicensed operators. This move aims to further protect consumers, though white-label agreements are anticipated to be exempt from this extended prohibition.

iGaming Business•Jul 16, 2026

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Regulatory

Greece saw a modest revenue rise with land-based dominance in 2025, EEEP reports

Greece experienced a modest revenue increase in its gambling sector in 2023, largely fueled by continued growth in online gambling. Despite this, land-based gambling maintained its dominance in the market.

iGaming Business•Jul 16, 2026

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Regulatory

Winners' taxes struggle to stick across Africa

African markets are facing significant challenges in enforcing taxes on gambling winnings, with some jurisdictions rolling back these policies. This article explores the evolving landscape of winners' taxes across the continent.

iGaming Business•Jul 16, 2026

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BreakingRegulatory

How Kenya's new gambling regulation is creating calm out of chaos

Kenya has introduced the landmark Gambling Control Act in July, bringing much-needed regulatory clarity to its previously uncertain gambling market. This new legislation is expected to create a more stable environment for stakeholders and attract international operators.

iGaming Business•Jul 16, 2026

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Regulatory

Evolution agrees £4.75m settlement in Gambling Commission black market review

Evolution has agreed to pay a £4.75 million settlement following an 18-month Gambling Commission review into its content being offered by unlicensed operators in the UK black market. The investigation identified two specific operators that distributed Evolution's games to UK consumers without holding the necessary licences.

iGaming Business•Jul 15, 2026

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M&A / Business

Rank Group expects FY profit to surpass forecasts despite regulatory settlement

Rank Group anticipates exceeding its full-year profit forecasts despite including a £5.0 million provision in its 2025/26 accounts related to an ongoing review of Grosvenor Casinos' operating license. This positive outlook signals strong underlying performance overcoming a regulatory settlement.

iGaming Business•Jul 15, 2026

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BreakingM&A / Business

Merkur Group expands US operations with White Hat Studios acquisition

Merkur Group has acquired White Hat Studios as part of its strategy to expand its regulated online gaming operations in the United States. This move is a strategic acquisition aimed at strengthening Merkur's position in the US iGaming market.

iGaming Business•Jul 15, 2026

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BreakingRegulatory

Czech Republic bans Polymarket, mandates ISP blocking

The Czech Republic has banned prediction market platform Polymarket, adding it to its blacklist of unauthorised internet games. This decision mandates internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to the site, reflecting the country's focus on stricter player protection measures.

iGaming Business•Jul 15, 2026

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M&A / Business

What Banijay's €32bn bet on a market that doesn't exist reveals about gaming's new value map

This article analyzes the strategic rationale behind Banijay's recent €32 billion deal with JOA, highlighting how advisors view the logic as sound despite the market's current state. It reveals a shift in capital flow within gaming M&A, pointing towards new areas of value creation.

iGaming Business•Jul 15, 2026

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BreakingRegulatory

Germany raises online slot stake limits, operators to track player behaviours following change

German regulators have increased the stake limits for online slots ahead of a review of the 2021 Interstate Treaty on Gambling. This change will also require operators to implement new tools for tracking player behavior, amidst ongoing discussions about deposit limits and channelisation in the market.

iGaming Business•Jul 15, 2026

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M&A / Business

IGT to shutter electronic table games division in 2027

IGT has announced it will close its Electronic Table Games (ETG) division by 2027. This decision will impact a specific segment of its gaming product offerings.

iGaming Business•Jul 15, 2026

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Regulatory

GRAI urges parents to identify early signs of underage gambling in latest campaign

Ireland's Gambling Regulators Alliance of Ireland (GRAI) has launched a new campaign urging parents to identify early signs of underage gambling. This initiative follows research indicating that children who gamble are twice as likely to develop gambling-related problems as adults, highlighting the importance of parental awareness and early intervention.

iGaming Business•Jul 14, 2026

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Sports Betting

Winning after the final whistle: Is the World Cup really worth only 1% of annual operator revenue?

While the FIFA World Cup is projected to generate billions in wagers, industry experts suggest its financial contribution to annual operator Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) may be relatively small. However, operators believe the event yields significant non-financial benefits, such as customer acquisition and brand visibility, extending beyond immediate revenue.

iGaming Business•Jul 14, 2026

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Regulatory

Zeal CEO says stricter prize draws regulation would benefit its UK expansion

The CEO of Zeal Network stated that stricter regulation in the UK prize draw sector would be beneficial for the company's expansion, particularly highlighting the involvement of SevenCanyon (a company Zeal acquired) in developing a voluntary code for the industry. This suggests Zeal is looking to leverage regulatory clarity to grow its presence in the UK market.

iGaming Business•Jul 14, 2026

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