Today’s roundup highlights a dynamic period for the gambling industry, with Estonia and Brazil facing potential tax and regulatory overhauls, while Canada clarifies its stance on prediction markets. Enforcement actions, from licence suspensions to insider trading probes, underscore the sector’s evolving legal landscape.
Regulation & Policy
- Review of Estonian online gambling tax to be brought forward — Estonia’s Prime Minister Kristen Michal has instructed parliament to bring forward a review of the phased reduction in online gambling tax, citing concerns over fiscal shortfalls…
- Canadian regulators clarify rules for sports and entertainment event contracts — Canadian securities regulators have issued new guidance clarifying how they view event contracts tied to sports and entertainment outcomes, a move that could affect platforms…
- Canadian Regulators Uphold Event Contract Ban on Sports, Entertainment Predictions — Canada’s securities regulators have reaffirmed that sports and entertainment event contracts are off-limits for prediction markets in the country.
- Ukraine’s gambling harm strategy receives Cabinet of Ministers approval — Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved a national strategy to counter gambling addiction, setting out a nine-year programme of awareness, treatment and enforcement measures.
- Opposition deputy proposes end of regulated sports betting in Brazil — A Brazilian opposition deputy has introduced a bill that would effectively unwind the country’s regulated sports betting market, giving the government just 180 days to reverse…
- Nebraska Voters Will Consider Online Sports Betting After Petition Drives Succeed — Nebraska voters will decide in November whether to legalize online sports betting, after petition drives succeeded in placing two questions on the ballot.
- Ukraine unveils gambling addiction strategy as war recognised as exacerbating harm — Ukraine has unveiled a new strategy to tackle gambling addiction, with the government acknowledging that the ongoing war is worsening the harm caused by problem gambling.
- Brazil legislator plots last 180 days of legal sports betting — Brazil’s legal sports betting market, which only launched in late 2024, is facing a new political challenge as a legislator plots what could be the final 180 days of legal betting…
- Estonia PM calls on review of iGaming tax reduction — Estonia’s Prime Minister Kristen Michal has ordered a review of the tax reduction on online gambling income, citing concerns over fiscal and budgetary shortfalls.
Enforcement & Licence Actions
- Suspension of licences – BresBet Ltd and Bet St George Ltd — The UK Gambling Commission has suspended the operating licences of BresBet Ltd, which runs bresbet.com, and Bet St George Ltd, which operates betstgeorge.com.
Partnerships
- GGBET gets brand boost from Ukrainian basketball finals — Kyiv-based gaming operator GGBET is closing out its sponsorship of the Ukrainian 3×3 Basketball Championship, with the tournament’s final stage taking place this week in the…
People Moves
- EGBA closes Haijer era to welcome new Secretary General — The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is preparing for a leadership change, with Maarten Haijer stepping down as Secretary General at the end of August.
Across the Industry
- Receita Federal e MPF realizam coletiva da Operação Jogo de Sombras — A Receita Federal and the Ministério Público Federal (MPF) held a press conference on the Operation Jogo de Sombras, according to a report from the Brazilian gambling regulator.
- Receita Federal aperfeiçoa o Programa Sintonia, iniciativa que reconhece os bons contribuintes — A Receita Federal do Brasil anunciou o aperfeiçoamento do Programa Sintonia, uma iniciativa que reconhece os bons contribuintes.
- Operação Bomba Oculta bloqueia e interdita postos de combustíveis clandestinos em São Paulo — A Brazilian operation called Operação Bomba Oculta has blocked and interdicted clandestine fuel stations in São Paulo.
- Derek Stevens, Circa Sports CEO, on Prediction Market ‘Thieves’ & Reviving Las Vegas — Derek Stevens, the owner of three Las Vegas casinos including Circa Sports, has publicly criticized prediction markets, calling them “thieves.” In a recent interview with…
- 2026 NFL Season Win Total Odds For All Teams & Best Bet: Back Cowboys to Get Double-Digit Wins — With the 2026 NFL season less than two weeks away, DraftKings has posted season win total odds for all 32 teams, and one standout pick is the Dallas Cowboys to finish with…
- UK gaming hall sector confidence plummets amid government criticism and calls for machine game duty increase — Confidence among UK gaming hall operators has fallen sharply, according to a new survey, as the sector faces mounting criticism from the government and the prospect of higher…
- Kalshi Rockets Toward Football Season, Trump Jr. Stumps for Prediction Markets, Sharp Bettors Set for Huge Paydays in This Week’s Bingos & Busts — Prediction market platform Kalshi is positioning itself for a major push as the NFL season approaches, with the company gaining attention from high-profile figures and sharp…
- Digital Trading Card Boom Raises New Gambling Questions — The booming market for digital trading cards is drawing fresh scrutiny from regulators and responsible gambling advocates, as the line between collecting and gambling becomes…
- Brazilian betting yields £1.2bn in 2026 taxes so far in midst of political storm — Brazilian betting operators have contributed £1.2 billion in tax revenue so far in 2026, according to a report from SBC News.
- Bally’s Chicago faces $3.8m payment dispute with former contractor — Bally’s Chicago is facing a payment dispute with a former contractor, MGM Excavating, which has filed mechanics liens in Cook County Circuit Court.
- Congressman calls for scrutiny of betting on Little League World Series games — A U.S.
- Nevada gaming revenue rises 2.1 per cent in July — Nevada’s casinos generated $1.4 billion in gaming revenue in July, a 2.1 percent increase compared to the same month last year, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB).
- Menominee Tribe revises plans for proposed Kenosha casino — The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin has revised the site plan for its proposed casino in Kenosha, Wisconsin, a project that remains under federal review.
- SBC reveals the 2026 SBC Hall of Fame Class — SBC has announced the five individuals who will be inducted into its Hall of Fame class of 2026, recognizing their achievements and influence in the industry.
- US Serviceman & KPMG Employee Face Insider Trading Allegations — Federal prosecutors have filed a new round of criminal charges against individuals accused of using insider information to trade on prediction markets, according to a report from…
- Prediction Markets Weekly Roundup: Kalshi’s State Battles Grow as Industry Expands — Prediction markets faced another turbulent week, with Kalshi’s legal battles in Connecticut and Montana escalating and federal authorities reportedly launching insider trading…
- DSTPLAY calls for public support in European iGaming Excellence Awards 2026 — DSTPLAY, a game developer, is asking the iGaming community to vote for its nomination in the Rising Star in iGaming – Best Game Developer category at the European iGaming…
- The Illusion of Poker’s All-Time Money List: When Gross Earnings Mask Net Realities — The Hendon Mob All-Time Money List, the widely cited ranking of professional poker players’ career earnings, may not tell the full financial story, according to a new…
- Weekend Conversation Corner – August, 28 — This week’s Focus Gaming News Weekend Conversation Corner offers a roundup of the most significant headlines from the past seven days, distilling the key stories that have shaped…
- Allwyn backs new National Lottery CEO as ‘right leader’ despite MP’s criticism — Allwyn, the operator of the UK National Lottery, has publicly backed its new CEO Phil Walker, describing him as the ‘right leader’ for the business.
- From Sydney to Berlin: The Rise of Women’s Basketball on the Global Stage — The 20th FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup is set to take place in Berlin from September 4 to 13, 2026, marking a significant milestone for the sport.
- Sponsor Spotlight: Surprise move in Italian football — A new round of sports sponsorship deals has been announced across the global betting and gaming industry, with a particular focus on Italian football.
- United for Impact: “We believe that the igaming community has a strong voice and real influence” — 1spin4win, a game provider, is marking its fifth anniversary by launching United for Impact, a charity campaign supporting healthcare initiatives for children in Kenya.
- DSTGAMING calls for public support across four categories at European iGaming Excellence Awards 2026 — DSTGAMING, a supplier in the online gambling industry, is asking the iGaming community to vote for its nominations in four categories at the European iGaming Excellence (EiGE)…
- Federal Authorities Prepare New Batch of Prediction Market Insider Trading Cases — Federal authorities are preparing a new wave of insider trading cases tied to prediction markets, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.
- Sweden licensed market reports 5% increase in turnover for Q2 — Sweden’s licensed gambling market saw a 5% increase in turnover during the second quarter of the year, according to newly released figures.
- Beyond the big match: how 24/7 content is reshaping sports betting — The modern sportsbook is no longer just about the big match.
- Eswatini gambling probe expands as police investigate organised crime — Police in Eswatini have widened their investigation into illegal gambling, with the probe now reportedly looking into alleged connections to politicians, government officials,…