Author: Daniel Williams

Key Moments: 46% of Italian students have reported regular participation in sports betting and casino gaming Sweden has the lowest prevalence of gambling among students at approximately 8.2%, while Croatia and Hungary report over 30% Poland has classified over 26% of users as problem gamblers, while Romania’s rate is 7.1% Gambling Trends in Southern and Balkan Europe Governments in countries such as Greece and Italy have chosen to maintain gambling activities under strict regulatory frameworks. The most recent findings show high levels of youth engagement, particularly in Italy, where 46%…

Key Moments: Regulatory penalties totaling $160 million have impacted the global gambling industry in the first half of 2025. European regulators have imposed over €36 million in Anti-Money Laundering fines between March 2024 and March 2025 targeting gambling and payment firms. Licensing, ongoing compliance, and operational costs for gambling operators have risen dramatically, with Tier 1 markets like Malta costing up to €600,000 annually. The Price of Compliance in Today’s Gambling Industry The past six months have exposed the true cost of failing to meet regulatory standards in the gambling…

Key Moments: The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement has released proposed responsible gaming regulations open for public comment until mid-November. Operators must appoint a Responsible Gaming Lead and monitor 10 specific player behavior triggers to identify at-risk players. Governor Phil Murphy signed bills to ban sweepstakes casinos in August, and a new bill has been introduced to prohibit micro betting in New Jersey. Proposed Regulations Target Responsible Gaming Practices The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) has proposed rules that make responsible gambling mandatory for all licensed operators.…

Key Moments: Fitch Ratings revised SJM Holdings’ outlook to negative due to sluggish earnings and delayed cash flow at Grand Lisboa Palace. SJM’s leverage is projected to increase to about 8 times in 2025 from 7 times this year, improving to 5 times by 2027. Quarterly results showed only 1% revenue growth and a 3% EBITDA margin at Grand Lisboa Palace, both falling short of expectations. Fitch Adjusts Credit Outlook Fitch Ratings has changed its outlook for SJM Holdings’ long-term foreign currency issuer default rating (IDR) from stable to negative.…

Key Moments: The Community Advisory Committee is scheduled to vote on the Caesars Palace Times Square casino proposal next Wednesday morning at the Times Square Alliance building. Over 175 speakers addressed concerns during the final public hearing, expressing both opposition and support for the $5.4 billion development. Caesars has committed to creating 3,000 construction jobs, the lowest among competing bids. Community Voices Diverge Over Times Square Casino Plan Residents and Broadway theater workers gathered Thursday to voice their strong opposition to the proposed Caesars Palace casino in Times Square. As…

Key Moments: Matt Holt has been appointed as CEO of Gaming Compliance International. GCI’s technology can monitor over two billion transactions in certain jurisdictions each day. A MegaXcess case study identified an 84% drop in illegal online gross gaming revenue in the Philippines for Q1 2025 compared to the same period two years earlier. Leadership Transition and Industry Background Matt Holt, recognized for his leadership in sports betting integrity, has returned to the forefront of the industry by becoming chief executive officer at Gaming Compliance International. Holt’s prior experience includes…

Key Moments: The Netherlands Gambling Authority (Ksa) has introduced new guidance to enhance duty of care procedures in slot halls and casinos. Operators have received practical tools, detailed instructions, and answers to frequently asked questions, along with a separate manual for identity and Cruks checks. Despite these efforts, only 49% of gambling revenue is attributed to licensed operators, with regulators and industry criticizing current policies for driving players to unlicensed platforms. Enhanced Expectations for Casino Operations The Netherlands Gambling Authority (Ksa) has rolled out a set of new guidelines intended…

Key Moments: Century Entertainment International Holdings confirmed the resignation of Fan, Chan & Co. Limited as auditor on 15 September, appointing Crowe (HK) CPA Limited in its place. The company is diversifying into new sectors such as premium camellia seed oil distribution to supplement its gaming business. Plans for a joint venture with PAGCOR include a 51 percent stake for Century Entertainment and a finalized agreement within the next 30 days. Audit Oversight Shift Reflects Business Realignment Century Entertainment International Holdings has transitioned to a new auditor, Crowe (HK) CPA…

Key Moments: Choplife Gaming has paid 17 billion Rwandan francs ($11.7 million) in taxes to Rwanda since 2022. Rwanda raised its gross gambling revenue tax from 13% to 40% and increased the withholding tax on winnings from 15% to 25% this year. Choplife Gaming’s tax remittance reflects its ability to navigate recent regulatory changes in the local gambling industry. Significant Tax Remittance by Choplife Gaming Oluwatosin Ajibade, also known as ‘Mr Eazi,’ announced that Choplife Gaming has remitted 17 billion Rwandan francs ($11.7 million) in taxes to Rwanda since 2022.…

Key Moments: August casino visitation in the U.S. dropped 5.4% year-over-year, staying 17.5% under August 2019 levels. Gross gaming revenue has stayed steady as per-visit spending increases and operators enhance efficiency. Pennsylvania exceeded 2019 visitation figures, while Illinois and New Jersey saw sharper declines. Continued Slump in Casino Visits Offsets by Steady Revenue The number of patrons at U.S. casinos decreased further in August, following the ongoing trend of reduced foot traffic since the pandemic. According to Jefferies Equity Research, this decline has not affected overall revenues, as gamblers continued…