News

Key Moments: Swedish prosecutors have charged an influencer from Östergötland with promoting unlicensed online casino gambling and concealing significant funds from authorities. This marks the first prosecution in Sweden for illegal gambling promotion by a public figure, with the investigation tracing offenses back to 2021. The trial at Linköping District Court begins on 17 November and is scheduled to last seven days. Landmark Prosecution Targets Streaming Promotion of Unlicensed Gambling A prominent influencer from Östergötland is set to become the first person in Sweden prosecuted for promoting unlicensed casino gambling,…

Key Moments: Veikkaus has forecast up to 31 layoffs as Finland prepares for a multi-license market in 2027. The company plans to create between 22 and 28 new positions to strengthen its competitiveness. The National Police Board is investigating Veikkaus’ recent advertising activity on Meta platforms. Transition to a Competitive Gambling Landscape Veikkaus, Finland’s state-owned gambling operator, will begin several organizational changes ahead of major gambling reforms planned for 2027. This reform will end Veikkaus’ monopoly. As a result, private operators will soon be able to apply for Finnish gambling…

Key Moments: The Japanese government has maintained its timeline to open the IR licensing process by April. Only three integrated resort licenses are intended to be selected within a year, though the final number may be lower. Ongoing uncertainties among prefectures, especially after developments in Yokohama, could affect how many licenses are ultimately granted. Shifting Landscape of Integrated Resort Applications The Japanese government’s plan to kick off the integrated resort (IR) licensing process by April has experienced repeated delays, but remains on track. Authorities intend to choose three licensees within…

Key Moments: Prediction markets like Kalshi could shift from federal oversight to navigating fifty separate state gambling commissions if reclassified as gambling. Markets focused on topics such as inflation, employment, or Federal Reserve decisions would likely disappear under gambling regulations. Reclassification would fundamentally alter user access, tax treatment, and the structure of available markets. Potential Regulatory Overhaul Prediction markets have long operated in a unique space, functioning as financial platforms where users can trade on questions resembling wagers. Operators such as Kalshi present themselves as venues for trading contracts tied…

Key Moments: Playtech has been identified as the company that funded Black Cube’s “prohibited markets” report against Evolution. Court proceedings confirmed Playtech paid approximately £1.8 million for the covert investigation and report. Evolution intends to add Playtech as a defendant in its ongoing defamation lawsuit, which may continue into 2026. Legal Pursuit Unveils Source Behind 2021 Report After years of speculation, it has been disclosed that Playtech orchestrated the 2021 report accusing Evolution of operating in restricted markets. This revelation ends a prolonged period of industry rumors and legal challenges…

Key Moments: The Ukrainian register of excluded gamblers is set to launch in December 2025 as part of nationwide responsible gambling measures. Citizens will be able to self-exclude or block family members from gambling via the PlayCity platform and the Diia app. PlayCity aims to refresh Ukraine’s lottery market, with early projections exceeding UAH 10 million ($242 million) in licensing revenue. Nationwide Exclusion Register Readies for Rollout The Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation has confirmed plans to introduce a national register for excluded gamblers in December 2025. This milestone initiative…

Key Moments: Crypto casino gross profits reached $81.4 billion in 2024, reflecting a three- to fourfold surge from two years prior Qzino affiliate program introduces a daily 50% revenue share and tokenized rewards for partners Qzino’s launch phased roadmap features MiniApp pre-launch, a full platform debut in fall 2025, and tokenized affiliate incentives Evolving Affiliate Models in the Crypto iGaming Sector The global iGaming market, particularly in the crypto-casino segment, is experiencing rapid expansion. Data from Yield Sec indicates that crypto casino profits soared to approximately $81.4 billion in 2024,…

Key Moments: The Michigan Gaming Control Board reported a 3.1% drop in total online gaming revenue in September 2025. Online sports betting adjusted gross revenue plunged 61.3% month-on-month, while igaming adjusted gross revenue slipped only 1.5%. September generated over $51 million in taxes for Michigan, led by online casinos. September Sees Revenue Contraction Across Verticals The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has announced that online gaming revenues for September 2025 took a step back following an extended period of robust growth. Both the online casino and sports betting sectors reported…

Key Moments: Cejuego voiced “deep concern” regarding new gambling restrictions introduced through unrelated legislation The latest amendment aiming to reinstate annulled advertising provisions was filed just 15 minutes before the deadline Cejuego called for rigorous, transparent reform with input from all stakeholders, instead of piecemeal changes Regulatory Amendments Spark Sector Criticism The Spanish private gambling operators’ association, Cejuego, has expressed significant alarm about the government’s handling of recent gambling regulations. The organization criticized authorities for attaching new restrictions to the industry through amendments added to unrelated laws, particularly the Customer…

Key Moments: BOS releases a comparative analysis of gambling regulations in Sweden and Denmark, conducted by Nordic Legal. The report identifies higher and steadier channelisation in Denmark, though recent threats to this position are noted. Sweden is unlikely to achieve a 90 percent channelisation target without significant regulatory reforms. Overview of the Comparative Report The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) has published a comprehensive study comparing Swedish and Danish gambling regulations. Independent law firm Nordic Legal executed the analysis, which examines the effectiveness of rules governing the gambling…