Author: Daniel Williams

Key Moments: Kalshi raised its federal lobbying expenditures to $1.8 million in the first half of 2026, surpassing its total outlay from 2025 The American Gaming Association committed $1.39 million to lobbying so far in 2026, increasing its spend by approximately 30% over the same period in 2025 Congressional investigations into insider trading on prediction platforms remain ongoing, with Kalshi and Polymarket offering contrasting responses to House investigators Lobbying Efforts Surge Amid Regulatory Debates Prediction markets have become the focal point of an intense lobbying campaign in Washington, with both…

Key Moments: Yggdrasil’s online casino games have been launched on Caesars’, Horseshoe, and Caesars Sportsbook online platforms in Michigan and New Jersey The initial title available is Valley of the Gods, with more games planned for release on Caesars’ platforms in the coming months The company’s debut in the United States follows several years of strategic preparation and earlier agreements in North America and Latin America Yggdrasil Enters US Digital Casino Markets Yggdrasil, a Malta-based supplier of iGaming content, has officially entered the regulated United States online casino market. This…

Key Moments: The trading card market has rapidly expanded, blurring lines with high-stakes gambling activities. Online platforms now sell digital “repacks” resembling instant-win casino mechanics, with minimal consumer protection. Regulators have so far shown limited response to these emerging risks, focusing attention elsewhere. Trading Cards Evolve Into High-Stakes Markets Earlier this year, the explosive growth of the trading card industry in the United States was highlighted, emphasizing the hobby’s similarities to gambling. The surge in popularity of Pokémon, sports, and other collectible cards since the COVID pandemic has driven prices,…

Key Moments: Spain has initiated a public consultation on amending its Remote Gambling Act, with new measures under consideration. The government has approved cross-operator deposit limits, commencing a test phase on September 25 and aiming for full adoption by March 25, 2027. The 2026 Gaming in Spain Conference in October will focus on major regulatory changes, including the new deposit limits and emerging product categories. Regulatory Overhaul on the Horizon A recent Gaming in Spain webinar convened industry leaders and legal experts to dissect the significant regulatory and commercial changes…

Key Moments: PAGCOR has ordered Philippine casinos to strengthen AML and CTF efforts after its 2021-2024 sector review. The assessment identified money laundering as a high risk. Meanwhile, terrorism financing remains a medium-high risk. Future inspections will check whether casinos apply risk assessments in their daily compliance procedures. Regulatory Push for Stronger AML Defenses PAGCOR has instructed licensed Philippine casinos to increase efforts against money laundering and terrorism financing. The directive follows a detailed review from 2021 to 2024. The assessment found that casinos remain highly exposed to money laundering…

Key Moments: A King County Superior Court granted Washington a preliminary injunction against Kalshi on Monday. However, the court delayed enforcement until at least August 5 while both sides submit proposed terms. Meanwhile, similar legal actions have led courts in Massachusetts, Nevada, and Michigan to issue preliminary injunctions against Kalshi. Preliminary Injunction Limits Kalshi’s Activities in Washington A King County Superior Court judge issued a preliminary injunction in Washington’s case against Kalshi, the prediction market operator. The judge found that Washington has a strong chance of winning the case. The…

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…