Author: Daniel Williams

Key Moments: Tasmanians incurred poker machine losses totaling $208.27 million in the 2025–26 financial year, surpassing previous records The state government has abandoned plans for a mandatory cashless gaming card, opting for alternative harm-minimization measures The Liquor and Gaming Commission warned that aspects of the revised policy may increase gambling-related harm Record-Breaking Losses Mark a Turning Point Poker machine losses in Tasmania hit $208.27 million for the 2025–26 financial year, according to Treasury data. This figure marks an increase of 6.9 percent from the prior year, narrowly exceeding the previous…

Key Moments: New Zealand has begun accepting Expressions of Interest for its first online casino licensing process. Authorities will award up to 15 online casino licenses through a three-stage competitive process. The Department of Internal Affairs has published market intelligence reports to support applicants. Formal Launch of Online Casino Licensing New Zealand has officially launched the first stage of its regulated online gambling market under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026. The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) is now accepting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from operators. This marks the beginning…

Key Moments: The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has identified an increasing number of fake gambling sites imitating licensed operators. An active website was found impersonating Dragonara Casino’s online brand in St. Julian’s. German authorities reported that 254 illegal online operators left the market by the end of 2025. Regulatory Advisory in Malta The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has raised concerns over a surge in unauthorized gambling platforms disguised as fully licensed operators. According to the latest advisory released on Friday, there is a clear pattern of unlicensed websites mimicking MGA-regulated…

Key Moments: Türkiye identified Curaçao, Malta, the Isle of Man, and Seychelles as major licensing hubs for illegal betting platforms targeting local users. Authorities blocked access to more than 535,000 gambling-related websites and disabled 12,548 servers and connection addresses. Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz estimated the illegal betting market at between $20 billion and $60 billion. Offshore Licensing at the Center of Investigations Türkiye’s General Directorate of the National Lottery Administration (MPI) found that illegal online betting platforms targeting Turkish users rely heavily on offshore licensing. Curaçao, Malta, the Isle of…

Key Moments: Entain urges British sports bodies to end partnerships with unlicensed gambling firms before legal mandates are in place Turnover from illegal operators is projected to surge from £5 billion in 2019 to £16.6 billion in 2025 Separate analyses predict unregulated firms may account for nearly half of gambling advertising spend in 2026/27 Entain Advocates for Preemptive Action Entain has called upon football authorities in the United Kingdom to proactively halt commercial deals with unlicensed betting operators rather than waiting for legislation to take effect. The company is backing…

Key Moments: Svenska Spel delivered a 7% increase in net gaming revenue to €175 million (SEK1.96 billion) for Q2, marking its strongest performance since Sweden’s market restructuring. Q2 operating profit climbed 13% to €55 million (SEK617 million), with the sports and casino segment enjoying an 11% revenue boost fueled by World Cup-driven betting. Digital channels contributed 67% of total group revenue, highlighted by 14% annual growth and 58% of revenue from mobile devices. Q2 Financial Highlights Svenska Spel has delivered its most robust second quarter since Sweden transitioned to a…

Key Moments: 100 percent of surveyed Japanese online game developers currently utilize generative AI Gemini leads with a 94 percent usage rate among developers, followed by Claude at 84 percent and GitHub CoPilot at 76 percent Copyright infringement remains the most significant concern for surveyed game players Prevalence of Generative AI in Japan’s Online Game Sector The latest report released by Japan’s Online Game Association (JOGA) reveals that every Japanese online game developer polled is presently employing generative AI technologies. In the 2026 edition of JOGA’s Online Game Market Research…

Key Moments: Regulators have escalated enforcement against social media influencers promoting prohibited gambling services in Australia Instances of influencers allegedly receiving over $50,000 in cryptocurrency for Rainbet promotions have come to light New restrictions on online gambling advertising are set to take effect from 1 January next year Growing Regulatory Focus on Influencer Promotions A wave of Australian social media influencers has increasingly been embedding promotional content for illegal offshore gambling platforms within what appear to be standard lifestyle and entertainment posts. This approach, which often incorporates brief segments featuring…

Key Moments: New Zealand has opened registration for its online casino license auction through the Government Electronic Tenders Service (GETS). Authorities will offer up to 15 licenses through a competitive bidding process, although they may issue fewer. Licensed operators must meet strict consumer protection rules and ongoing compliance requirements. GETS Registration Opens the Licensing Process New Zealand has taken another step toward launching its regulated online casino market. The government has opened registration through the Government Electronic Tenders Service (GETS). This marks the first stage for companies interested in licenses…

Key Moments: Rio de Janeiro has initiated a comprehensive ban on sports betting advertising in public spaces, effective under Decree No. 58,274. Federal authorities have introduced new rules prohibiting betting ads that promote gambling as a financial solution, with further standardized warnings required on all advertisements starting July 17. Ongoing investigations have scrutinized sports broadcast promotions, leading to marketwide reviews and increased compliance expectations for operators and media partners. Rio’s Sweeping Move Against Public Betting Advertisements This week, Rio de Janeiro took a decisive step by removing sports betting billboards,…