Regulators worldwide are asserting authority over emerging gambling verticals, with Ireland’s GRAI considering high court action against a prediction market operator and the UK Gambling Commission tightening gaming machine compliance. Meanwhile, Brazil publishes new advertising ordinances, and South Korean casino stocks tumble on fee hikes. In dealmaking, Cirsa acquires historic Casino Figueira in Portugal, while prediction market partnerships heat up ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Regulation & Policy
- Irish gambling regulator considers enforcement action against major prediction market operator — The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) is considering enforcement action against a major offshore prediction market operator, with chief executive Anne Marie…
- Betting in Brazil: Between regulation and silence — Brazil’s federal government has published two new ordinances that reshape the advertising landscape for fixed-odds betting, according to an analysis by Valter Delfraro, Oddsgate’s…
- Arizona Department of Gaming to open application window for limited sports betting licences — The Arizona Department of Gaming has announced it will open an application window for limited event wagering operator licences beginning on August 13.
- Indonesian Gov’t Has Taken Down 3 Million Gambling Sites, But VPNs & Crypto Still Pose Challenge — Indonesia’s government has blocked approximately 3.1 million gambling-related websites and social media posts since October 2024, according to the minister of Communication and…
- South Korean Casino Stocks Tumble on Government’s Fee Hike — South Korean casino stocks have plunged after the government announced plans to increase mandatory contributions to the state tourism fund.
- Gambling Commission tightens UK gaming machine rules — The UK Gambling Commission has announced a tightening of rules governing gaming machines in land-based gambling venues, introducing a new licence condition aimed at removing…
- GRAI confirms prediction markets stirring trouble in Ireland — The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has confirmed that an unnamed prediction markets platform could face legal action in Ireland’s High Court.
- UK affordability check clash looming on the horizon — A major confrontation over affordability checks in the UK gambling sector is approaching, with the Gambling Commission, horse racing interests, betting operators, campaign groups,…
- Another Macolin Convention? Council of Europe plans post-World Cup betting and predictions moves — The Council of Europe is reportedly planning to introduce new regulatory measures targeting betting activity on international sport, with a particular focus on the period…
- Italy tax man expects €800m gambling income boost — Italy’s tax authority, Agenzia delle Entrate (ADE), has projected a significant boost in gambling-related income for the state budget, anticipating an additional €800 million from…
Enforcement & Licence Actions
- UK retail outlet loses licence over missing lottery ticket — A convenience store in the UK has lost its licence after an investigation into a missing National Lottery prize worth £920.
Deals & Acquisitions
- Cirsa expands with acquisition of historic Casino Figueira in Portugal — Spanish gambling operator Cirsa has expanded its footprint in Portugal with the acquisition of the historic Casino Figueira, a land-based casino.
Partnerships
- FIRST.bet integrates with Pragmatic Solutions igaming platform to power strategic sportsbook growth — FIRST.bet has integrated its fully managed sportsbook engine with Pragmatic Solutions’ iGaming Player Account Management (PAM) platform, a move designed to accelerate sportsbook…
- SOFTSWISS, iGB and ICE partner to advance technology dialogue in igaming — SOFTSWISS has entered into a media partnership with iGB and ICE for the Tech Race Summit 2026, an event focused on advancing technology dialogue within the igaming sector.
- LSports becomes official data partner to ADI PredictStreet during FIFA World Cup 2026 – and beyond — LSports has been named the official data partner to ADI PredictStreet, the prediction markets platform that holds the official prediction market rights for FIFA, in a deal that…
- ADI Predictstreet partners with FIRST.bet to expand across LatAm — ADI Predictstreet and sportsbook technology provider FIRST.bet have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at expanding regulated prediction markets across Latin America.
Product Launches
- Underdog Sports Launches Prediction Market on CFTC-Regulated Exchange — Fantasy sports operator Underdog Sports has launched a prediction market on a CFTC-regulated exchange, marking its full pivot into the prediction market sector.
Market Launches
- Greentube strengthens Canadian presence with Alberta debut as market opens — Greentube, the digital gaming division of NOVOMATIC, has entered Alberta’s newly regulated igaming market, securing registration with the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis…
People Moves
- Jim Walker joins British Horseracing Authority board — The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has appointed Dr Jim Walker to its board, effective immediately.
- Katarína Polách Klčovská appointed chief executive officer of SYNOT Group — SYNOT Group has appointed Ing.
Across the Industry
- NFL Futures at Kalshi: Rams Top Odds Board as Betting Favorite to Win Super Bowl 61 — Kalshi, the event contracts platform, has listed NFL futures markets for Super Bowl 61, with the Los Angeles Rams emerging as the betting favorite at +488 odds, implying a 17%…
- Jay Cohen’s ‘Odds Man Out’ Details Rise and Fall of World Sports Exchange, the Template for Modern Day Sportsbooks — Jay Cohen, co-founder of the Antigua-based sportsbook World Sports Exchange (WSE), has released a memoir titled Odds Man Out that recounts the rise and fall of his company, which…
- Maria Bobrovskaya, N1 Partners: “This year marked the launch of N1 Duality, a long-term direction that will evolve throughout our conference season” — Maria Bobrovskaya, team lead PR, event, production at N1 Partners, has discussed the company’s N1 Duality booth concept and its participation at iGB L!VE 2026 in an exclusive…
- PGA Tour 3M Open Odds, Picks & Predictions — CasinoBeats has published a preview of the PGA Tour’s 3M Open, which is set to take place at TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota.
- Key Gaming Stocks to Watch This Week as Q2 Earnings Season Begins — The Q2 earnings season is set to intensify for the gaming sector this week, with several major operators scheduled to report their quarterly financial results.
- Arizona Cardinals Exec Appeals Ban for Leaking NFL Draft Selections & Gambling on Games — Arizona Cardinals executive Ryan Gold is appealing his suspension from the NFL after an investigation found he violated the league’s gambling policies.
- FanDuel Co-Founder Nigel Eccles Says Operator Demand Drove BetHog’s Shift to AI Dealers — BetHog, the crypto casino and sportsbook co-founded by FanDuel co-founder Nigel Eccles, is shutting down its consumer-facing operations to focus entirely on its B2B AI dealer…
- Drake Loses Another $1.5M in World Cup Final Bet — Rapper Drake has lost another $1.5 million on a World Cup final wager, continuing a pattern of high-profile betting losses that have earned the moniker the “Drake Curse.” The…
- Pennsylvania’s Online Gambling Surpasses Casino Floors for First Time in Record Fiscal Year — Pennsylvania’s regulated online gambling market has surpassed the state’s brick-and-mortar casino floors in revenue for the first time, according to data from the record-setting…
- Chinese World Cup Online Streaming Platforms a Front for $296M Gambling Network — Chinese police have dismantled a major cross-border sports gambling network that operated under the guise of a World Cup online streaming platform, authorities in Panzhihua,…
- Prediction Markets, Earnings and June Revenue Reports: Gambling Stories to Watch This Week — This week in gambling, prediction markets take center stage as a U.S.
- AI and iGaming: how is the world implementing and adapting? — The intersection of artificial intelligence and iGaming is drawing increasing attention as operators and stakeholders explore how the technology is being implemented and adapted…
- Kresimir Spajic: Allwyn’s all-in on digital — Kresimir Spajic, Chief Executive Officer of Allwyn, has outlined the company’s strategic pivot toward digital operations in an interview with SBC News.
- BGaming hosts second successful TRUE WAYS Online conference — BGaming, the rapidly expanding content provider, has successfully hosted the second edition of its TRUE WAYS online conference.
- Peru as the gambling paradox in Latin America — Peru has emerged as a paradoxical case in Latin America’s gambling landscape, where overregulation and over-saturation are occurring simultaneously across two major jurisdictions…
- DraftKings aims to block Philadelphia consumer protection probe — DraftKings has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Philadelphia in an effort to block a consumer protection investigation launched under a 2024 municipal ordinance.
- White House teleprompter investigated over alleged prediction market bets — A technical assistant who has operated Donald Trump’s teleprompter since 2016 has been placed on leave amid allegations that he used inside knowledge of the president’s speeches…