Author: Daniel Williams

Key Moments: More than 100 Labour MPs have urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to significantly raise gambling taxes in the upcoming November budget. Analysts warn that the proposed tax hikes could lead to the closure of thousands of betting shops and put up to 30,000 jobs at risk. The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) claims the sector contributes £6.8 billion annually to the UK economy and employs 46,000 people. Politicians Push for Steep Gambling Tax Increases High street betting shops in the UK are facing an uncertain future as political pressure…

Key Moments: GamCare has reported that referrals for financial guidance in 2025 have already surpassed the entire volume recorded in 2024. The total amount of gambling loss debts for 2025 to date has doubled compared to 2024, reaching £5 million. August has marked a new monthly record, with 198 referrals for financial support relating to gambling. Record Increase in Requests for Financial Support GamCare, a gambling support organization in Great Britain, has observed a sharp rise in individuals seeking financial advice connected to gambling losses in 2025. So far this…

Key Moments: Vietnamese authorities have convicted 43 individuals for participating in a cross-border illegal gambling syndicate involving over US$3.8 billion in crypto transactions. The operation used cryptocurrencies such as USDT and Ethereum to facilitate wagers, with around 20,000 registered users and more than 25 million gambling accounts. Law enforcement began investigating alleged money laundering, and an Indian national suspected of leading the network remains at large. Convictions in One of Vietnam’s Largest Gambling Cases A court in Ho Chi Minh City has concluded its proceedings in a major illegal gambling…

Key Moments: LiveScore Group unveiled a partnership with X and xAI to deliver real-time social media content, AI-powered insights, and interactive betting features for African sports fans. This collaboration targets prominent markets including Ghana, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Egypt, enhancing user engagement through new digital experiences. Industry leaders from LiveScore Group and X emphasized the transformative potential of integrating live social content, AI-driven insights, and interactive community features for fans. Strengthening Digital Betting in Key African Markets LiveScore Group has introduced a strategic partnership with X and xAI, aiming…

Key Moments: Police arrested two individuals for managing a website that promoted and facilitated access to an overseas online casino. An estimated 670 users placed bets totaling around ¥70 billion, generating significant commissions for the site operators. The arrests marked the first enforcement action under Japan’s new online gambling advertising regulations, enacted in June 2025. Initial Arrests in New Legal Landscape Authorities in Japan have detained two suspects for allegedly running Onkaji Hissho, a website that steered Japanese users to an international online casino. This is the first instance where…

Key Moments: Ontario’s online gambling handle reached CA$8.14bn in August, setting a new record Revenue climbed to $334.8m, ranking among the highest months since launch Active player accounts increased by 7%, exceeding 1 million users Market Overview Ontario’s regulated iGaming sector achieved its strongest month yet in August, with online casino and sportsbook activity reaching unprecedented heights. Total betting handle hit CA$8.14bn, establishing a new peak since the market opened in April 2022. This figure marks only the second time that monthly wagering has surpassed the $8bn benchmark, just ahead…

Key Moments: Raketech completed the sale of its Casumba assets for a fixed EUR 12 million. Additionally, the company structured the payments to be spread through December 2029, without any upfront cash Under IFRS 9, Raketech measured the agreed consideration at a fair value of approximately EUR 7 million at closing, thereby highlighting credit risk and the deferred payment structure The transaction was signed and closed on 24 September 2025, resulting in a non-cash disposal loss of about EUR 10 million in Q3 2025 Divestment Supports Platform-Focused Strategy Raketech Group…

Key Moments: Spelinspektionen has released an updated risk assessment for money laundering in Sweden’s gambling sector The approach aligns with both national and European risk evaluation standards Regulators now consider land-based commercial casinos to carry greater risk, prompting a review of previous regulatory exemptions Revised Risk Assessment Released Spelinspektionen, the entity responsible for regulating gambling in Sweden, has issued a comprehensive update to its risk assessment regarding money laundering within the Swedish gambling market. This latest evaluation supersedes earlier assessments and incorporates updated information on the methods, or threats, that…

Key Moments: PAGCOR’s contributions helped government income for January to August 2025 exceed non-tax revenue goals set by the Treasury. The Bureau of the Treasury reported PHP 3.09 trillion (US$52.5 billion) total revenue, a 3.07 percent increase from the same period in 2024. Online gaming license fees reached PHP 69 billion (US$1.17 billion) during January to July 2025, with PHP 14.72 billion (US$250 million) directed to the Universal Health Care Law. Performance from January to August 2025 The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) played a pivotal role in boosting…

Key Moments: Spelinspektionen levied a SEK 60,000 penalty against Kalamba Games for supplying software to unlicensed Swedish operators Quickspin faced a warning and a SEK 650,000 fine after its games appeared on unlicensed sites Proposed amendments to the Swedish Gambling Act could change the requirements for excluding Swedish players from unlicensed gaming offers Regulatory Action on Non-Compliance Spelinspektionen, the Swedish gambling authority, has taken decisive action against two gaming providers for breaching regulations related to the supply of software to unlicensed operators. Kalamba Games and Quickspin both received regulatory warnings…