This week saw a flurry of regulatory activity across multiple jurisdictions, from Liverpool City Council joining calls to ban gambling ads to the CFTC escalating its battle with states over prediction markets. Meanwhile, the Dutch Supreme Court provided clarity on pre-regulation gambling losses, and Brazil’s ANJL backed new advertising rules while urging a crackdown on illegal platforms.
Regulation & Policy
- Liverpool City Council puts weight behind calls to end gambling advertising — Liverpool City Council has joined the Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA), becoming the latest local authority to back calls for tighter restrictions on gambling advertising as…
- Don’t Expect a Compromise in CFTC’s Prediction Market Battle with States, Lawyers Warn — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has escalated its legal confrontation with multiple U.S.
- ANJL supports new advertising rules for betting but calls for stronger action against illegal platforms — The National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) has expressed support for new advertising rules governing the betting sector in Brazil, while simultaneously urging the…
- FDJ views Supreme Court ruling as fresh start for Dutch gambling reorganisation — FDJ United has welcomed a recent ruling by the Supreme Court of the Netherlands, viewing it as a fresh start for the country’s gambling reorganisation.
- UK Must Ratify Macolin Convention to Help Curb Rise in Sports Corruption, House of Lords Hears — The United Kingdom is considering ratifying the Macolin Convention, an international treaty aimed at combating match-fixing and sports corruption, following a House of Lords…
- Polymarket blocked in another European country — Polymarket, the prediction market platform, has been blocked in Italy by the Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM), marking the latest European regulatory action against the…
- Arizona governor prohibits state employees from using insider information on prediction markets — Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has signed an executive order prohibiting state executive branch employees from using non-public government information to profit from prediction…
- CMS Committee poses series of questions in letter to Gambling Commission over FRAs decision — The Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee has written to the Gambling Commission to question its decision to proceed with Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs).
- Gambling Financial Risk Assessments questioned by UK parliamentary committee — The UK’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee has formally questioned the Gambling Commission over its introduction of Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs) for gamblers, requesting…
- Arrivederci for Polymarket once again as Italy places firm back on blocked list — Polymarket has been placed on Italy’s blacklist of blocked websites for the second time, as the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) takes action against the cryptocurrency-based…
Fines & Penalties
- Swedish court upholds AML fines against three gambling firms — A Swedish administrative court has upheld enforcement measures taken by the country’s gambling regulator against three licensees, affirming fines for anti-money laundering (AML)…
- Dutch gambling regulator upholds Polymarket sanction — The Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has upheld its sanction against the prediction market platform Polymarket for offering illegal gambling services in the…
- Venetian becomes latest Bowyer AML culprit in Las Vegas, agrees to $7.2 million fine — The Venetian has agreed to pay a $7.2 million fine for anti-money laundering (AML) violations linked to gambler Mathew Bowyer, becoming the fourth Las Vegas Strip casino to face…
Deals & Acquisitions
- Banijay’s JOA deal returns spotlight to French iCasino — Banijay Gaming’s acquisition of JOA Groupe, France’s second largest casino operator, has brought renewed attention to the long-standing debate over online casino legalization in…
- Zeal Network buys majority stake in UK Prize draw operator — German lottery brokerage Zeal Network SE has announced the acquisition of a 96.5 per cent stake in SevenCanyon Limited, the operator of digital prize draws in the United Kingdom.
- AK Bets expands Cheltenham and Curragh presence via Pat O’Hare acquisition — AK Bets has significantly expanded its footprint across UK and Irish racetracks through the acquisition of betting pitches from Pat O’Hare, tripling its presence at venues…
Product Launches
- Chippewa Cree Tribe replaces Century Gaming machines at Montana casino — Accel Entertainment, through its Montana subsidiary Century Gaming, has completed a full machine conversion at Northern Winz Casino II in Box Elder, Montana.
Market Launches
- Alberta iGaming Market Set for July 13 Launch as Major Operators Prepare to Go Live — Alberta’s regulated online gambling market is set to launch on July 13, marking the province as the second Canadian jurisdiction after Ontario to adopt a competitive iGaming…
People Moves
- Seneca Resorts & Casinos appoints Lon O’Donnell as senior vice president of gaming operations — Seneca Gaming Corporation has appointed Lon O’Donnell as senior vice president of gaming operations for Seneca Resorts & Casinos, the company announced.
Across the Industry
- Major US Banks Threaten to Fire Staff Over Finance & Politics Prediction Market Trades — Major US banks have warned employees that they could face termination if they engage in prediction market trades related to finance and politics, according to unnamed insiders…
- VIP Hosts Scrutinized Again After FanDuel’s Bryce Harper Video Message Sent to Gambling Addict — The role of VIP hosts in the sports betting industry has come under renewed scrutiny following an incident involving FanDuel and a personalized video message from Philadelphia…
- You Turned the Korean Stock Market into a Gambling Den, Opposition Leader Tells President — South Korea’s political landscape has been rocked by accusations that the country’s stock market has been transformed into a "gambling den," with the leader of the main opposition…
- Bryce Harper FanDuel Video Shows ‘Conversations Need to be Had’ Regarding Online Sports Betting — A video featuring Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper, recorded for a FanDuel VIP bettor, has resurfaced amid a Pennsylvania lawsuit against FanDuel and DraftKings.
- Kalshi Offers Better Odds Across the Board Than DraftKings for Upcoming World Cup Games — Kalshi is offering more favorable odds than DraftKings across a range of markets for upcoming World Cup games, according to a comparison published by CasinoBeats.
- Sponsor Spotlight: The name of the game? Football! — Sports sponsorship activity in the betting and gaming sector continues at pace, with a new edition of Sponsor Spotlight focusing on football-related deals.
- Kansas casino revenue remains flat year-over-year in June — Kansas casino revenue remained nearly flat year-over-year in June, according to a report from the Kansas Lottery.
- Ammar Awawdeh Strikes Plea Deal in Betting Scandal as Terry Rozier is Denied NBA Return — Ammar Awawdeh, a defendant in a rigged poker games and NBA gambling scandal, has reached a plea deal, according to CasinoBeats.
- Complaint filed against European fintech over alleged illegal gambling payments — The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has filed a complaint against a Lithuanian fintech company, alleging it processed payments linked to illegal online gambling…
- Maryland sports betting handle rises year-over-year in June — Maryland’s sports betting handle rose 29.6 per cent year-over-year in June, reaching $523.3m, according to the Maryland Lottery and Gaming.
- Norway vs. England World Cup Odds, Picks & Predictions: Bet on Both Teams to Score — Polymarket has posted odds for the upcoming World Cup match between Norway and England, with England listed as a -184 favorite to advance and Norway as a +182 underdog.
- Michael Jordan, Carsten Koerl, and Jason Robins to open SBC Summit 2026 — SBC Summit 2026 is set to feature a landmark leadership keynote session that will bring together three of the most influential figures in global sports business: basketball icon…
- Surprise, surprise: the rest of the world are banking on England to lose to Norway — The article discusses betting patterns ahead of a World Cup quarter-final match between England and Norway, noting that international punters are largely backing Norway to win,…
- EGBA names and shames Lithuania fintech over black market deposits — The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has publicly called out a Lithuania-based fintech company for facilitating deposits to black-market gambling operators,…
- New Hampshire sports betting handle decreases in May — The New Hampshire Lottery has reported a slight year-over-year decline in the state’s sports betting handle for May, with total wagers reaching $60.9m.
- Interpol Operation Leads to 5,811 Arrests, $293m Seized Across 97 Countries as Gambling Links Surface — Interpol’s latest global anti-fraud operation has resulted in 5,811 arrests and the seizure of $293 million in illicit assets across 97 countries, with illegal online gambling…
- Chinese Woman Admits to Marrying 14 Men in Las Vegas to Fund Gambling Habit — A Chinese woman, Jiaying Chen, has admitted to marrying as many as 14 men in Las Vegas to obtain funds that she then gambled away at local casinos.
- Official statement of the Association of the Gaming Industry in Bulgaria: BEGE will take place, facts speak louder than rumors — The Association of the Gaming Industry in Bulgaria (AGIB) has issued an official statement confirming that the Balkan Entertainment and Gaming Expo (BEGE) and the Eastern European…
- Adult Film Star Annie Knight Distraught As Fiance Relapsed To Gamble Away $30,000 — Australian adult film star Annie Knight has revealed that her fiancé, Henry Brayshaw, has relapsed into gambling addiction, losing over $30,000 in the past three months.
- Weekend Conversation Corner – July, 10 — Focus Gaming News has launched a new weekly feature titled "Weekend Conversation Corner," with its first edition dated July 10.
- Responsible gaming strategy contributes to TaDa Gaming’s successful iGB L!VE 2026 — TaDa Gaming reported a successful appearance at iGB L!VE 2026 in London, attributing the outcome to its responsible gaming strategy and sustainable growth approach.