Gambling industry news
Regulation, licensing, operators, game providers and payments — the stories that matter to the gaming business.
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ACAMS analysis: Southeast Asian gaming sector exploited for fraud, money laundering and trafficking
An ACAMS moneylaundering.com analysis, citing FATF, UNODC and other bodies, says licensed casinos and illegal platforms in Southeast Asia are used to launder criminal proceeds. Crackdowns have often displaced operations rather than ended them.GamblingigamingtodayPhoto: © igamingtoday
Peru betting traffic jumped during the 2026 World Cup, but only 7% of extra visits lasted, study finds
An Apuesta Legal Perú study finds World Cup-driven betting traffic in Peru fell back sharply in August and September. Traffic also concentrated among the top operators, while lawmakers propose raising the ISC rate on online betting to 5%.GamblingigamingtodayPhoto: © igamingtoday
Buenos Aires Province passes school screen law, citing minors' exposure to illegal online betting
Buenos Aires Province's Legislature has approved a law regulating phone and screen use in schools, partly to limit minors' access to illegal betting sites. The IPLyC head says illegal gambling makes up about 80% of the provincial market.GamblingigamingtodayPhoto: © igamingtoday
China's September lottery sales rise 27.3% to RMB67.39bn as sports lottery jumps 73.1%
China's Ministry of Finance reports September lottery sales of RMB67.389 billion ($10.04 billion), up 27.3% year on year, led by a 73.1% rise in sports lottery sales. Instant and video lottery sales fell.GamblingigamingtodayPhoto: © igamingtoday
Indonesia says it removed over 4 million online gambling items from platforms since October 2024
Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid said more than 4 million of 5.15 million removed digital content items were gambling-related. She also cited biometric SIM checks, completed by 31.1 million mobile users.GamblingigamingtodayPhoto: © GamblingNews
Las Vegas Sands Q3 revenue falls 3.5% to $3.22bn, missing analyst consensus
Las Vegas Sands reported third-quarter revenue of $3.22 billion, below the $3.32 billion consensus, as net income dropped to $352 million. The operator again ruled out iGaming and prediction markets and raised its dividend by 20%.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
Decatur, Alabama police arrest five after raid on alleged illegal gambling den
Decatur police raided a home on Hoover Avenue SW on October 20, seizing gambling machines, cash and an assault rifle. Five people were arrested on gambling-related and other charges and released on bond.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © SBC News
IG Group targets UK prediction markets launch as early as Q4 2026 after applying for Gambling Commission licence
IG Group told investors at a Capital Markets Event on 22 October that it plans to launch a UK prediction markets product from Q4 2026, led by its IG Consumer arm. It applied for a Gambling Commission betting licence a week earlier.GamblingSBC NewsPhoto: © European Gaming
iGaming AI support rates are not comparable without shared definitions, vendor executive argues
An opinion piece from an AI player-support vendor says containment, automation and resolution figures measure different things. It calls for a common industry definition with a fixed re-contact window and per-category reporting.GamblingEuropean GamingDawn Butler named Vice Chair of UK Gambling Reform APPG as Machine Games Duty lobbying intensifies
Labour MP Dawn Butler has become Vice Chair of the Gambling Reform All-Party Parliamentary Group, as campaigners and the betting industry lobby the Chancellor ahead of next week's Budget over Machine Games Duty.GamblingSBC NewsPhoto: © igamingtoday
Ohio gives gaming licensees until 30 October to cut ties with sports prediction market operators
The Ohio Casino Control Commission has told sports betting and fantasy sports licensees, and their suppliers, to stop serving prediction market operators offering sports event contracts by 30 October or risk suitability reviews and licence action.GamblingigamingtodayPhoto: © GamblingNews
Pennsylvania lawmakers form Problem Gambling Caucus to push new consumer safeguards
A newly formed Problem Gambling Caucus in Pennsylvania aims to advance safeguards and treat addiction as a public health issue. Priorities include protecting minors, reforming betting advertising and raising public awareness.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © European Gaming
Betsson posts record Q3 revenue of €326.5m, but EBIT falls 31% on higher gaming taxes
Betsson's third-quarter revenue rose 10% to a record €326.5 million, led by casino and Latin America. Operating profit fell 31% to €46.1 million as gaming taxes rose and B2B licence revenue dropped.GamblingEuropean GamingPhoto: © SBC News
BETBY becomes 'powering sponsor' of MOVE Cup rapid chess tournament in Barcelona in January 2027
Sportsbook provider BETBY has signed on as powering sponsor of the MOVE Cup, a rapid-play chess event in Barcelona on 19-20 January 2027 with a €300,000 prize fund. Magnus Carlsen is the first confirmed player.GamblingSBC NewsPhoto: © iGaming Business
YouGov poll: 90% of UK betting shop users link visits to other high street spending or activities
A YouGov poll of 1,475 UK adults, publicised by Entain, found most betting shop customers combine visits with local spending. It lands as the sector faces shop closures, job cuts and a possible Machine Games Duty rise in the budget.GamblingiGaming BusinessPhoto: © iGaming Business
Casinos Austria names Andreas Bierwirth CEO of Austrian Lotteries as concession re-award nears
Andreas Bierwirth will take over as CEO and chairman of Austrian Lotteries on 14 March 2027, succeeding Erwin van Lambaart. He inherits the task of defending the group's position as Austria's gambling market is opened to competition.GamblingiGaming BusinessPhoto: © European Gaming
Wazdan launches €4M Seasonal Drop network promotion running from Halloween to Valentine's Day
Wazdan has started Seasonal Drop, a three-stage network promotion with a €4,000,000 prize pool that runs from 23 October 2026 to 14 February 2027. The supplier funds the campaign and provides operators with marketing assets.GamblingEuropean GamingRomania's new PM faces gambling tax, ONJN regulator and problem gambling funding decisions
Romania's new Prime Minister, Lula Niculescu, takes office as the government seeks to meet a 5.2% of GDP deficit target. Gambling taxation, the troubled ONJN regulator and a suspended €5m harm-prevention grant programme are key issues.GamblingSBC NewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
ACMA warns AFL players Mitch Robinson and Rhys Mathieson over promotion of illegal gambling services
Australia's media regulator has issued formal warnings to two former AFL players who promoted an unlicensed gambling brand, and reminded influencers that advertising illegal services can lead to enforcement action.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
AGRI: Ontario problem gambling estimate reaches nearly 130,000 since online casino launch in 2022
Research from the Alberta Gambling Research Institute estimates 129,736 Ontario residents show signs of problem gambling, up from 43,000 in 2018. Researchers link the rise to online casino legalization and urge more study of its health impact.GamblingGamblingNewsFDJ United's nine-month revenue falls 5.6% as Dutch and UK weakness and higher gaming taxes weigh
FDJ United reported a 5.6% drop in nine-month revenue to €2.57bn and a 2.8% fall in GGR to €6.26bn. Underperformance in the Netherlands and UK and a €62m rise in its tax bill drove the result, and the group has set out a four-pillar recovery plan.GamblingSBC NewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
Utah files new state complaint against Kalshi, seeking up to $61.2M and a block on event contracts
Utah Attorney General Derek Brown has sued Kalshi, an affiliate and two Susquehanna trading firms in state court, alleging breaches of gambling law and seeking up to $61.2 million in restitution and other remedies.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
Stifel: Prediction market taker volume grew 27% in September, trailing 43% rise in sportsbook handle
Stifel data shows US prediction market taker volume rose 27% month over month in September, while regulated sportsbook handle grew 43%. Smaller platforms made little headway against the dominant operators.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © iGaming Business
UK industry reacts to Flutter's plan to cut up to 1,400 UK&I roles amid remote gambling tax rises
Flutter's plan to cut up to 1,400 roles in its UK&I division has drawn mixed reactions. Executives and analysts cite tax increases, but also consolidation, AI efficiencies and competition from challenger brands.GamblingiGaming Business