Today’s roundup spans regulatory delays in Italy, new tax regimes in Romania, and market expansions in Canada and Portugal. Meanwhile, enforcement actions and corporate restructuring highlight the evolving landscape of gambling worldwide.
Regulation & Policy
- Government rejects draft land-based gambling reforms in Italy — The Italian government has rejected a long-awaited draft reform of the country’s land-based gambling regulations, according to reports.
- British Gambling Commission assessment flags casino terrorist financing risk level and white label concerns — The British Gambling Commission has published its 2026 risk assessment on money laundering and terrorist financing vulnerabilities in the licensed gambling sector, raising the…
- Massachusetts House bill could allow historical horse racing machines at Raynham Park — The Massachusetts House of Representatives has approved a proposal that would allow historical horse racing (HHR) machines at Raynham Park and Suffolk Downs, pending negotiations…
- Indiana counties to vote on inland casino expansion in November — Voters in three Indiana counties will decide on November 3 whether to allow inland casino gambling in their communities.
- Romania rolls-out new customer winnings tax regime — Romania has introduced a new tiered tax regime on customer gambling winnings, effective from 1 August 2026.
- Denmark invites new land-based casino bids to renew declining retail GGR — Denmark is opening the door for new land-based casino operators, inviting bids as the country looks to refresh its retail gambling sector.
New Licences
- PopOK Gaming expands regulated market footprint with Portugal certification — PopOK Gaming, a supplier of online casino games, has secured certification for the Portuguese market, adding another regulated jurisdiction to its growing list of approved…
Fines & Penalties
- Former Congressman George Santos fined and banned from trading over Kalshi market manipulation — The U.S.
- CFTC Fines George Santos $35K for Manipulating State of the Union Prediction Market — The U.S.
Deals & Acquisitions
- Ilitch Gaming completes acquisition of Ocean Casino Resort — Ilitch Gaming has completed its acquisition of Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, taking full ownership of the property.
- Betsson completes €64.5m Rhino acquisition as Canadian presence grows — Betsson has completed its €64.5m (£55.2m) acquisition of Rhino Entertainment Group’s B2C business in Canada, a deal that also brings a portfolio of technology assets to bolster…
Partnerships
- BetConstruct AI partners with Podium and BetMakers to expand its racing offering with AdVantage — BetConstruct AI has announced a new partnership with Podium and BetMakers Technology Group to bring AdVantage, a fully managed horse and greyhound racing solution, to its network…
- Aardvark Technology integrates Logifuture’s product suite — Logifuture has announced a strategic partnership with Aardvark Technology, a sportsbook platform provider with a strong presence in South Africa and an expanding footprint in…
- FeedConstruct keeps landing basketball betting data deals — FeedConstruct, the streaming and data rights arm of Armenian betting technology firm SoftConstruct, has signed a partnership covering Nicaragua’s two top basketball leagues.
Product Launches
- Circa Sports Offers Record $30M for Survivor, Millions & Grandissimo Pro Football Contests — Circa Sports has announced a record $30 million guaranteed prize pool for its three pro football contests: Circa Survivor, Circa Million VIII, and Circa Grandissimo.
- Station Casinos tests Apple Pay funding for slot machines in Nevada — Station Casinos has started testing a new payment method that allows customers to fund slot machines using Apple Pay linked to a debit card.
People Moves
- SoftConstruct’s Karine Hakobyan becomes latest IMGL member — Karine Hakobyan, General Legal Counsel at Yerevan-based technology firm SoftConstruct, has joined the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL), an international non-profit…
- SoftConstruct’s general legal counsel Karine Hakobyan joins the IMGL — Karine Hakobyan, general legal counsel at SoftConstruct, has joined the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL), a professional association for gaming lawyers.
Across the Industry
- UK Treasury calls out Betfred after claims tax is to blame for 132 retail betting shop closures — The UK Treasury has publicly pushed back against Betfred’s claim that higher gambling taxes are a key reason behind its decision to close 132 retail betting shops.
- PGA Tour Wyndham Championship Odds, Picks & Predictions: Can Cameron Young Repeat? — The PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship, the final regular-season event of the year, tees off Thursday at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina.
- Flutter Entertainment ceases trading in London — Flutter Entertainment, the gambling operator behind FanDuel and Paddy Power, has officially ceased trading on the London Stock Exchange.
- WSOP Patch Wars: How Poker’s New Owners Decide Which Rivals Get Seen on TV — The World Series of Poker Main Event final table kicks off today, Monday, August 3, and this year the action isn’t just on the felt—it’s on the players’ chests.
- Kalshi’s Penny Parlay is the Worst Bet in America — and the Smallest Bettors are Buying it — Kalshi’s penny parlays are the worst bet in America, according to new research by Gambling Insider.
- Treasury denies fault as tax raises blamed for Betfred closures — Betfred, the UK’s largest bookmaker by shop count, has announced the closure of more than 130 of its high-street betting shops, sparking a public dispute with HM Treasury over the…
- Sportradar revenue boosted after Polymarket and Kalshi deals but firm swings into the red — Sportradar, the Switzerland-headquartered sports technology company, has reported a 19% year-on-year increase in revenue to €378 million (£324 million) for the second quarter of…
- SOFTSWISS Sportsbook sees 3x activity surge at FIFA World Cup 2026 — SOFTSWISS, a provider of online gambling software, has reported a threefold surge in betting activity on its Sportsbook platform during the FIFA World Cup 2026.
- Missouri sports betting revenue falls 36% in June as World Cup cuts sportsbook hold — Missouri’s regulated sports betting market saw a sharp drop in revenue in June, with gross gaming revenue falling 36% to $13.7 million from $258.3 million in wagers, according to…
- Gaming Stocks Update: Star Entertainment Rallies While Rush Street Plummets — Last week was a mixed one for gaming stocks, with The Star Entertainment Group rallying while Rush Street took a sharp downturn.
- Macao Casino Revival in the Cards as Tourist Numbers Balloon — Macao’s casino industry is showing signs of a revival as tourist numbers surge, following a slump in the second quarter that operators blamed on the World Cup.
- Prediction Market Hearings, Earnings and Football Lead the Gambling Stories to Watch This Week — This week in gambling news is set to be dominated by courtroom drama, corporate earnings, and the unofficial start of the football betting season.
- SBC Summit’s new masterclasses bring hands-on training to delegates — SBC Summit is introducing a new series of hands-on masterclasses for its 2026 edition, designed to give betting and gaming professionals practical training they can apply directly…
- Why Nigel Eccles is going all in on AI live dealer — Nigel Eccles, the co-founder of FanDuel, is making a major push into AI-powered live dealer gaming, arguing that established live casino operators are falling behind on innovation.
- Flutter brings nearly three decades of London stock listing to a close — Flutter Entertainment, the gambling giant behind brands like Betfair and Paddy Power, has officially ended its nearly three-decade run on the London Stock Exchange.
- SBC Stock Ticker: Playtech and Evolution on the up while MGM hinders Entain progress — July brought notable stock movements for major gambling companies, with Playtech and Evolution seeing gains while Entain faced headwinds partly attributed to MGM’s influence.