Polymarket Faces Bans and Regulatory Scrutiny in Hungary and Portugal

Polymarket Faces Bans and Regulatory Scrutiny in Hungary and Portugal

Key Moments: Hungarian authorities have temporarily blocked access to Polymarket due to suspected gambling law violations. Portugal’s regulator has given Polymarket 48 hours to exit, following unauthorized betting on the Jan. 18 presidential election. The platform remains under mounting regulatory pressure, with restrictions or blocks now spanning over 30 countries. Hungary Issues Temporary Block on Polymarket Hungary’s Supervisory Authority for Regulated Activities has instituted a temporary block on Polymarket for users connecting through Hungarian IP addresses. This action comes as the authority takes steps against the platform’s operator, raising concerns…

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Spain’s Gambling Sector Pushes Forward Amid Heightened Regulation

Spain’s Gambling Sector Pushes Forward Amid Heightened Regulation

Key Moments: Since late 2023, the market has grown steadily, led by strong casino game performance. Licensed operators in Ceuta and Melilla benefit from a 10 percent tax rate, compared with 20 percent on the mainland. Unregulated online gambling now totals €231 million, equal to 16 percent of the legal market. Market Momentum and Casino Performance Spain stands out as a mature yet fast-growing gambling market in Europe. Since the pandemic, the sector has rebounded strongly and adapted to tighter marketing rules. According to Eduardo Morales Hermo, senior advisor at…

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Dutch Gambling Authority Enlisted Banks and Payment Firms in Extended Crackdown on Illegal Online Gaming

Dutch Gambling Authority Enlisted Banks and Payment Firms in Extended Crackdown on Illegal Online Gaming

Key Moments: Records show the Dutch Gambling Authority (Ksa) issued formal data demands to banks and payment providers from 2012 to 2022. Unibet payments and related transactions became a key focus during the company’s unlicensed activity in the Netherlands. Ksa used Dutch administrative law to compel cooperation and access to business records from banks and payment processors. Regulator’s Strategic Use of Payment Data Recently released documents reveal that the Dutch Gambling Authority (Ksa) spent years requesting information from banks and payment service providers. Moreover, these requests often included strict deadlines.…

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UK Gambling Regulator Criticizes Meta Over Lax Enforcement of Illegal Gambling Ads

UK Gambling Regulator Criticizes Meta Over Lax Enforcement of Illegal Gambling Ads

Key Moments: The UK Gambling Commission criticized Meta over illegal gambling ads on Facebook and Instagram. Executives found active ads from unlicensed operators targeting UK users in Meta’s ad library. Similar enforcement gaps have appeared in other countries, raising global concerns. Commission Challenges Meta on Illegal Gambling Ads The UK Gambling Commission has taken a tougher stance on Meta’s handling of illegal gambling ads on Facebook and Instagram. According to the regulator, Meta relies too heavily on reports instead of stopping unlawful ads before they appear. Tim Miller, the commission’s…

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Nevada Challenges Polymarket: State Takes Aim at Unlicensed Prediction Markets

Nevada Challenges Polymarket: State Takes Aim at Unlicensed Prediction Markets

Key Moments: The Nevada Gaming Control Board has filed its first civil enforcement lawsuit against Polymarket in the United States. Polymarket reentered the U.S. market in December 2025 after acquiring a CFTC-regulated exchange, but access for most U.S. users remains restricted. Ongoing legal disputes, including tax classification questions, persist for both Polymarket and Kalshi under differing regulatory approaches. Nevada Pursues Legal Action Against Polymarket The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) has initiated a civil enforcement lawsuit targeting prediction market platform Polymarket, marking the board’s first such case in the United…

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Italy’s Online Gambling Market Achieves New Milestones and Faces Regulatory Shifts in 2025

Italy’s Online Gambling Market Achieves New Milestones and Faces Regulatory Shifts in 2025

Key Moments: Total online gambling stakes in Italy have reached €77.85 billion in 2025. Players’ effective spending has surpassed €3.33 billion for the year. New licensing rules and higher taxes are reshaping the digital gambling sector. Stable Growth Defines 2025 Performance Italy’s online gambling industry recorded a year of robust growth, with casino games, poker, and bingo leading the regulated sector. The market reported total stakes of €77.85 billion. Players’ net spend, calculated as wagers minus winnings, reached €3.3 billion. Market figures highlight the maturity and regulatory strength of Italy’s…

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Sweden Sees Continued Drop in Match-Fixing Alerts, But Vigilance Remains Essential

Sweden Sees Continued Drop in Match-Fixing Alerts, But Vigilance Remains Essential

Key Moments: Spelinspektionen received just two alerts about suspected match-fixing from integrity organizations in 2025 Operators in Sweden filed four match-fixing suspicion reports under new requirements in 2025 Authorities found no suspicious betting activity during the UEFA Women’s European Championship monitored in Switzerland Recent Decline in Reported Match-Fixing Cases Fresh data from Spelinspektionen indicates that suspected match-fixing cases in Sweden continued to decline in 2025. The regulator saw only two alerts from integrity partners during the year, a figure that falls below half of the reports from the previous year…

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Betsson Reports Flat Revenue and Significant Profit Decline in Q4 2025

Betsson Reports Flat Revenue and Significant Profit Decline in Q4 2025

Key Moments: Betsson recorded €304 million in revenue for Q4 2025, nearly matching last year’s results Operating profit dropped sharply by 24.3 percent to €53 million Locally regulated market revenue share hit a quarterly high of 68 percent Solid Revenue Performance Amid Profit Setback Betsson’s preliminary financial report for the fourth quarter of 2025 revealed revenue of €304 million, showing only a minor 1 percent decrease compared to the €307 million recorded in Q4 2024. This steady top-line performance came despite declines across the Nordics and Central and Eastern Europe…

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Kalshi Faces Class Action Alleging Illicit Sportsbook Operations

Kalshi Faces Class Action Alleging Illicit Sportsbook Operations

Key Moments: Plaintiffs filed a class action accusing Kalshi of running an illegal, unlicensed sportsbook. Some plaintiffs admit they have gambling problems and say Kalshi targets vulnerable bettors. The complaint claims Kalshi markets sports wagers in states where betting is illegal. Allegations of Unlicensed Sports Wagering A group of Kalshi users filed a class action lawsuit in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. They claim Kalshi operates as a “shadow” sportsbook and targets people with gambling problems. The plaintiffs include Alexander Hallman, Jeremy Kravetz, Daniel…

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Super Group Streamlines Global Focus as Betway Departs Portugal

Super Group Streamlines Global Focus as Betway Departs Portugal

Key Moments: Betway has withdrawn from Portugal, ending its license as approved by the national regulator. Super Group’s European revenue increased 46% year-on-year in Q3 2025, with notable gains in the UK and Spain. Recent withdrawals from India and the US reflect Super Group’s shift to more profitable markets. Strategic Exit from Portugal Betway has discontinued operations in Portugal after formally requesting and receiving approval to relinquish its local license. According to a statement from the company, “After a thorough review, we have decided to relinquish our licence in Portugal…

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