Today’s roundup spans regulatory shifts from the Netherlands to Australia, with new studies and reforms shaping the industry. Fines for underage gambling in Sydney and legal battles in the US prediction market sector also feature, alongside product launches and industry partnerships.
Regulation & Policy
- Over a third of new gambling accounts opened by under 24s, new Dutch study says — The Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has published new research showing that more than a third of new gambling accounts in the Netherlands are opened by people…
- Prediction Markets Weekly Roundup: Appeals Build as CFTC Debates Market Oversight — Federal appeals courts are increasingly becoming the battleground for the future of prediction markets, as the U.S.
- CFTC Prediction Market Roadmap Draws Scrutiny Over Manipulation — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has unveiled a new regulatory roadmap for prediction markets, drawing mixed reactions from industry executives who debated the…
- Australia gets gambling reform bill over the line but leaves neither side fully satisfied — Australia’s parliament has passed the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026, marking the most extensive overhaul of the country’s gambling laws in decades.
- Albania puts tax at heart of sports betting re-regulation — Albania is preparing to legalise and regulate online sports betting after seven years of prohibition, with taxation at the centre of the new framework.
Fines & Penalties
- Sydney Casinos Fined Millions for Allowing 16-Year-Old to Lose ‘Significant Amount’ in 22 Gambling Sessions — Two Sydney casinos have been hit with fines totaling more than AU$2 million after allowing a 16-year-old to gamble at their venues.
- The Star Sydney and Crown Sydney fined for underage entries — The Star Sydney and Crown Sydney have been fined for allowing underage individuals into their venues, according to iGaming Business.
Partnerships
- TaDa Gaming expands African footprint with EuroVirtuals — TaDa Gaming, a multi-licensed content provider, has expanded its reach in African iGaming markets through a new strategic partnership with EuroVirtuals, a distribution partner…
- Sponsor Spotlight: Stake, NFL, and the Premier League — Stake, the online casino and sportsbook brand, is making headlines this week for a new direction in its sports sponsorship strategy, according to SBC News.
Product Launches
- After 28 Years at Caesars, Dan Real Launches an App to Help Problem Gamblers — Dan Real, a former casino executive who spent more than 28 years at Caesars, has launched a new platform called Exclaim Recovery aimed at helping people who struggle with gambling.
- AdmiralCasino.co.uk goes live with Altenar — AdmiralCasino.co.uk, the UK-facing online betting brand operated by Greentube Alderney Limited, has gone live with sportsbook technology supplied by Altenar.
- Updated 1xPartners dashboard: A user guide for your convenience — 1xPartners, the affiliate program behind the 1xBet and 1xSlots brands, has rolled out an updated dashboard designed to give marketers faster access to analytics and a more…
Across the Industry
- Evento no STF debate consensualidade na solução de contenciosos tributários — Um evento realizado no Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF) discutiu a consensualidade na solução de contenciosos tributários, um tema que pode ter impacto direto para empresas e…
- Sistema e-Editais é reconhecido como plataforma oficial de publicações da Receita Federal — O Sistema e-Editais foi oficialmente reconhecido como a plataforma oficial de publicações da Receita Federal do Brasil.
- Ministério da Fazenda e Enap firmam parceria para impulsionar lideranças femininas no setor financeiro — Brazil’s Ministry of Finance has signed a partnership with the National School of Public Administration (Enap) to promote female leadership in the financial sector.
- Receita Federal abre consulta ao quarto lote de restituição do IRPF 2026 nesta segunda-feira (24/8) — A Receita Federal do Brasil abre nesta segunda-feira, 24 de agosto, a consulta ao quarto lote de restituição do Imposto de Renda da Pessoa Física (IRPF) referente ao exercício de…
- Everything But the Penthouses: Seneca Niagara Casino Resort Announces $47 Million Room Renovation — Seneca Niagara Resorts & Casino in Western New York is investing $47 million to renovate all 594 of its hotel rooms and suites, with work beginning in October.
- Jets vs. Steelers Odds, Picks & Predictions for Friday, August 21 — Kalshi is offering odds on Friday night’s NFL preseason game between the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
- Duffy Riles Kalshi, Novig Starts Fast, Horse Racing Hit with Another Scandal in This Week’s Bingos & Busts — A spat at a Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) meeting, an insider trading controversy in horse racing, and a sports betting editor setting a fine example are the…
- Understanding the Horse Racing Integrity Charges Against Marshall Gramm — Marshall Gramm, a noted horse racing owner and handicapper, is facing charges from the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) that could result in a lifetime ban and…
- New York Sports: Prediction Market Deals Test How Far the State’s Crackdown Can Go — Prediction markets are striking high-profile sports partnerships in New York even as the state pursues one of the most aggressive crackdowns on sports-event contracts in the…
- CFTC Chair Michael Selig Calls Trump Speech Mention Markets Being Offered in US ‘Fake News’ — CFTC Chairman Michael Selig has dismissed as “fake news” claims that mention markets tied to President Donald Trump’s speeches were being offered on US exchanges.
- Paul Gauselmann, founder of Merkur Group, passed away aged 91: the man who built a gaming empire from postwar rubble — Paul Gauselmann, the founder and long-time chairman of the Merkur Group, has died at the age of 91, just before his 92nd birthday.
- The Premier League teams, players and managers traders should watch out for this season — The Premier League season kicks off this weekend, and trading teams are already scanning the fixture list for the teams, players, and managers most likely to move the odds.
- SafeBets Wants To Cull ‘High-Performing Predictors’ from Massive Sports and Politics User Base — SafeBets, a prediction platform that lets users forecast sports and politics outcomes without depositing cash, has set its sights on a massive expansion, targeting 200 million…
- Blask found out how World Cup-themed games competed for players’ attention — Blask, a data analytics firm, has teamed up with game developer BGaming to study how football-themed casino games performed in online casino lobbies during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- From global spectacle to weekly action: how is the new football season reshaping sportsbook strategy? — The return of domestic football leagues marks one of the busiest periods of the year for sportsbooks, and this season arrives with fresh insight following a landmark World Cup.
- As Trump Asks Congress to Pass Clarity Act, Better Markets Analyst Says Bill Will Fail; States and Tribes Will Prevail Over Prediction Markets — President Donald Trump has called on Congress to pass the stalled Clarity Act, a bill aimed at regulating cryptocurrency, but a leading financial policy analyst predicts it will…
- Lawrence Escalante Faces New Lawsuit as Legal Troubles Mount for VGW & Founder — Lawrence Escalante, the founder of online gaming company VGW, is facing a new lawsuit filed by investment group Akru Jessy Capital.
- The Future of Responsible Gambling Revolves Around Wellness Rather Than Restrictions — The future of responsible gambling may hinge on promoting wellness rather than imposing restrictions, according to a recent discussion featured by CasinoBeats.
- SOFTSWISS hosts international Kids Camp for employees’ children — SOFTSWISS, a technology provider for the iGaming industry, has wrapped up the third edition of its international Kids Camp, a summer programme designed for the children of its…
- Weekend Conversation Corner – August, 21 — Focus Gaming News has published its latest Weekend Conversation Corner, a weekly roundup of the top headlines that have shaped discussions across the global gambling industry.
- Bally’s Says Debts Won’t Derail Plans to Open $1.7B Chicago Casino Next Year — Bally’s has pushed back against suggestions that its financial troubles could delay the opening of its long-awaited Chicago casino, which is slated to debut by early 2027.
- Finland football game sparks match-fixing concerns — A fourth-division football match in Finland has raised suspicions of match-fixing, adding to concerns in a country that is currently overhauling its gambling system.
- How is football betting evolving ahead of the new season? — As the new football season approaches, the betting landscape is shifting, with industry leaders pointing to micro-betting and data as the driving forces behind the next evolution.
- Match-fixing alerts in Helsinki derby sparks investigation in Finland — Finnish authorities have launched an investigation into a Helsinki derby after match-fixing alerts were raised, according to iGaming Business.
- Asia Q2 round-up: Macau hit by reduced visitation but Singapore powers ahead — Asian gaming markets delivered a mixed but broadly positive performance in the second quarter, with Macau experiencing a temporary dip in visitor numbers while Singapore continued…
- Better Collective resets US engine against new drags — Better Collective, a major affiliate marketing group in the gambling industry, has reported a solid first half of 2026, with group income rising 7% to €175m (£150m) compared to…
- Bet442: Why the Premier League acquisition battle will be won beyond bonuses — The return of the Premier League is set to trigger one of the most intense customer acquisition battles on the sportsbook calendar, according to a new analysis from Bet442.
- The Premier League’s front-of-shirt ban is largely pointless – here’s why — The Premier League season kicks off tonight, and one notable change is the voluntary ban on front-of-shirt gambling sponsorships.