Ex-William Hill and 888 exec to take reins of National Lottery firm Allwyn UK
Allwyn UK, operator of the National Lottery, is replacing its CEO, Andria Vidler. An interim CEO, formerly a high-level executive at William Hill and 888, will take over.
SBC News
BreakingRegulatory
BOS calls for hard reset on Swedish gambling and regulation
Gustaf Hoffstedt, CEO of Swedish online gambling trade body BOS, advocates for a comprehensive re-evaluation and 'hard reset' of Sweden's gambling market and regulatory framework. He expresses significant concerns with the government's handling of the market since its re-regulation. This signals potential major changes or strong industry pressure for reform in the Swedish iGaming sector.
Labour Chair presses for Tether.bet investigation
Labour Chair Bridget Phillipson is calling for the UK Gambling Commission to investigate the now-defunct and unlicensed betting firm Tether.bet. The site has shut down and is redirecting users, raising concerns about unregulated high-stakes gambling and consumer protection in the UK.
BreakingRegulatory
Brazil Bets Law on death row in Election run-up
São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas is urging conservative political factions in Brazil to support the prohibition of the 'Bets Law' governing gambling. This move signals a significant increase in opposition to the gambling framework ahead of an election year, potentially leading to its extreme conclusion.
Angstrom: Launching Entain’s Seven fantasy football app is “gold dust” opportunity
Entain has launched its new fantasy football app, Seven, leveraging the growing UK interest in stats-led sports engagement. Angstrom, a partner in the venture, views this as a significant opportunity to capitalize on the increasing popularity of fantasy sports. The app aims to integrate with Entain's major betting brands like Ladbrokes.
Szerencsejáték Zrt begins ‘transparency reset’ under Hungary FM watch
Hungary's state-owned gambling monopoly, Szerencsejáték Zrt, is implementing a 'transparency reset' under the finance ministry's oversight, overhauling its marketing structure. The company aims to improve public engagement and transparency regarding funding distribution, ending its long-standing relationship with Lounge Group in favor of a multi-agency model.
Polymarket officially banned in South Korea after month-long dispute
The Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) has officially blocked access to the predictions platform Polymarket in South Korea, following a month-long dispute over its classification as illegal gambling. Polymarket was given an opportunity to respond to the allegations before the final decision was made by South Korean regulatory bodies.
High street slot venue fined £150k amid UK retail gambling debates
Hollard Park Leisure, a UK retail slot venue operator in Leicester, has been fined £150,000 by the Gambling Commission. The penalty was imposed for failing to offer a self-exclusion scheme to its customers, highlighting ongoing regulatory scrutiny of high street gambling venues.
Court rules against Finland's individual slot spin tax treatment
Finland's Supreme Administrative Court has overturned the tax treatment of individual slot spins for online games operated outside the European Economic Area (EEA). This ruling, which changes the Tax Administration's previous approach, impacts how non-EEA online gambling activities are taxed in Finland.
Danish fintech flagged for iGaming AML failures
Danish payments provider Inpay A/S has been temporarily banned from forming new business agreements with iGaming companies following a review by the Danish financial regulator, Finanstilsynet. The regulator identified "serious violations of the Money Laundering Act" in Inpay's internal AML procedures. This restriction highlights ongoing regulatory scrutiny on payment providers serving the iGaming sector.
BreakingRegulatory
Ireland executes full-agency strategy to combat gambling AML
Ireland has launched its first National Anti-Money Laundering Strategy, identifying the gambling sector as vulnerable to money laundering and criminal exposure. This new strategy establishes a comprehensive multi-agency framework to combat financial crime, signifying increased scrutiny and regulatory changes for operators in the Irish market.
The full list of deals as Premier League and bookmakers continue to partner amid ban
Despite an upcoming front-of-shirt gambling sponsorship ban in the Premier League from the 2026/27 season, bookmakers continue to sign new partnership deals with clubs. This suggests a shift in marketing strategy towards other sponsorship tiers, maintaining brand visibility within the league. The article provides a full list of these ongoing partnerships.
BreakingM&A / Business
Bally’s Intralot one step closer to evoke buyout
Bally's Intralot has moved closer to acquiring evoke, owner of William Hill, 888, and Mr Green, after a majority of eligible shareholders agreed to the £243.1m buyout bid. This development follows initial talks in April and the bid's unveiling in June.
Brentford FC sign five-year Hollywoodbets deal despite operator losing front-of-shirt deal
Brentford FC has extended its partnership with South African operator Hollywoodbets for another five years, making them the club's official betting partner. This renewal continues their long-standing relationship, despite Hollywoodbets no longer appearing on the front of the club's shirts due to evolving Premier League sponsorship rules.
Bally’s group confident in UK operations despite not moving “as quickly as expected”
Bally's Corporation reported a 20.5% revenue increase in Q2 2026, reaching $792.23m, attributing this growth to strong performance in its land-based casinos and online segment. The company expressed confidence in its UK operations, despite slower-than-expected progress, following its acquisition of evoke and its William Hill brand.
BreakingM&A / Business
Fortuna Entertainment closes TOPsport Lithuania takeover
Fortuna Entertainment Group (FEG) has finalized its acquisition of a 70% majority stake in Lithuanian betting and gaming operator TOPsport. This strategic move strengthens FEG's commercial presence and market leadership in the Baltic region across both retail and online channels.
BreakingRegulatory
Bookmakers concerned about Burnham’s Aim to Permit plan
Bookmakers are expressing significant concern over UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham's proposed plans to remove the 'Aim to Permit' rule, which he links to targeting betting shops and 'dodgy businesses'. This potential regulatory change could drastically impact the retail betting and gaming industries. The initiative follows Burnham's public comments on social media targeting various retail sectors.
Door opens for prediction markets in Bulgaria
Bulgarian online operator inbet has partnered with B2B supplier Predikto to launch prediction markets, marking the first such offering in the country. This deal signifies the introduction of prediction market technology to rival traditional betting in the Bulgarian market.
Nummikoski calls time as Veikkaus Oy Deputy CEO
Velipekka Nummikoski is stepping down as Deputy CEO of Finland's state-owned gambling operator, Veikkaus Oy, after 14 years. His departure comes as Finland's gambling market prepares for a significant transformation, including potential liberalization. Nummikoski has held executive roles since before the current Veikkaus structure was established.
“Premier League a key battleground” – Inside Entain’s anti-black market betting campaign
Entain is spearheading an anti-black market betting campaign ahead of the 2026/27 Premier League season, focusing on the potential ban of unlicensed company sponsorships. This initiative comes as the DCMS consults on new rules to restrict unlicensed operators from advertising in English football, aiming to differentiate regulated operators and protect consumers.
BetConstruct to offer free sportsbook access in push for new partners
BetConstruct is offering free access and discounts to its new "The Purest Sportsbook" platform and other services for a limited time. This initiative aims to attract new partners and expand its B2B client base, leveraging its position as a major international supplier.
BreakingM&A / Business
Dart’s Candle Lake makes modest Evolution mandatory takeover offer
Kenneth Dart's investment vehicle, Candle Lake, has made a mandatory cash offer of SEK695 per share to acquire all outstanding shares in Evolution. This offer was triggered after Candle Lake's stake in Evolution exceeded 30%, valuing the company at approximately SEK131.7bn (£10.21bn). Candle Lake now holds or controls 31.56% of Evolution.
PlayCity: Ukraine moves on vision of data-driven regulation of gambling
Hennadii Novikov, appointed Head of Ukraine's new gambling and lottery oversight agency, PlayCity, is spearheading a data-driven regulatory overhaul. This initiative aims to transform the country's stalled gambling sector, which was previously deemed an economic and security threat by the Council of Ministers.
Grandstand stands by 2026 targets to end Gambling.com profile
Grandstand (formerly Gambling.com Group) has reaffirmed its full-year revenue guidance of $165m–$170m, aligning with its new commercial model aimed at diversifying beyond traditional affiliate marketing. This announcement coincides with the company's first financial results release under its new identity on Nasdaq (GRSD).
Oddschecker confirms data breach but “situation contained”
Oddschecker, a prominent betting odds comparison site, has confirmed a data breach. The company stated the situation has been contained, though details regarding the extent or type of data compromised were not immediately specified.