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Key Moments: Eight casino proposals are competing for three coveted downstate New York licenses State officials initially targeted a Dec. 1, 2025, decision date, with final awards by Dec. 31, 2025 Sen. Joseph Addabbo has indicated that these deadlines may not be met Ongoing Delays for Downstate Casino Licensing The long-awaited process for awarding three downstate New York casino licenses is facing possible additional setbacks, as indicated by a prominent state senator. While the original plan called for the licenses to be granted before the end of the current year,…

Key Moments: Research from Yield Sec shows illegal operators captured over 70% of Europe’s gambling and casino market in 2024 Black market betting across 27 EU countries reached £69.7bn [$81.1bn] in 2024 An estimated 1.5 million UK bettors have staked over £4bn [$4.7bn] annually on unauthorized sites Pressure Mounts on UK Treasury Over Gambling Tax Proposals Rachel Reeves has been cautioned against moving forward with suggested tax increases targeting bookmakers. Concerns have been raised following new findings demonstrating the extent of illicit online gambling activities across Europe. Yield Sec: illegal…

Key Moments: Unlicensed gambling sites captured €80.65 billion in revenue in 2024, representing 71% of Europe’s online market Governments across the EU faced an estimated €20 billion loss in tax revenue from illegal gambling activities in 2024 Advanced marketing techniques enabled illegal operators to outpace licensed companies and dominate consumer engagement Illegal Gambling Surges, Leaving Licensed Operators Behind A new report commissioned by the European Casino Association and released by Yield Sec highlights a dramatic shift in Europe’s online gambling market in 2024. Illegal operators accounted for €80.65 billion ($93.8…

Key Moments: Spelinspektionen has issued new bans against three operators accused of targeting Swedish players without authorization Investigations revealed direct targeting of Swedish consumers by Liquid Entertainment NV via duelbits.com The regulator has expanded its blacklist to include more companies using localized content and advertising Swedish Regulator Steps Up Against Unlicensed Operators Sweden’s gambling authority, Spelinspektionen, has announced further enforcement measures in the ongoing effort to curb illegal online gambling. The agency has imposed new bans on three operators, citing evidence that these firms targeted Swedish users without holding the…

The most recent Freshwater Strategy poll shows Australians’ attitude to a topic sparking heated debate. A sample of 1,061 voters was asked whether they enjoyed watching sports betting advertisements. According to the research, conducted between 16-18 August 2024, 85% of all adults did not favour gambling advertising, as opposed to 15% who did. Of those who place wagers on sports regularly, 58% said they enjoyed watching ads. As for those who bet on sport occasionally, 32% answered affirmatively. Just 11% of the Individuals who used to place wagers, but not…

Grattan Institute, a Melbourne-based public policy think tank, has released its latest report tackling Australia’s forthcoming gambling advertising reform. In addition to a blanket advertising ban, the organization recommends introducing maximum loss limits for pokies and online betting. “Gambling is Australia’s blind spot”, researchers said, as the country was among the first to deregulate gambling. Australians are passionate gamblers, with the highest per-capita gambling losses globally, averaging $1,635 annually per adult. These statistics far exceed the figures for similar nations as the US ($809), and New Zealand ($584). In 2020-21,…

A new countrywide report by Lowell, a credit management company, has revealed that 46% of young gamblers in the UK have used credit to finance their gambling activity. Researchers worked with a representative sample of 1,000 respondents residing in the UK to find out more about their gambling habits and how they impact their financial health. The percentage of young gamblers, aged 25-34 years, resorting to credit to cover their gambling expenses is 2.2 times higher than the percentage of UK citizens of average age (22%). The study also noted…

According to the latest press release by the official website of the New Zealand Government, the consultation period on the gambling harm minimisation strategy is now open. Matt Doocey, the Minister for Mental Health, has embraced the start of Gambling Harm Awareness Week, which takes place in September annually. New Zealanders are welcome to share their opinion and feedback on the three-year strategy by 6 October 2024. The Minister for Mental Health explained that although many consumers enjoy gambling as a recreational activity without any issues, the statistics signal that…

During the past year, the Australian Government has been in a tight spot with expectations to respond to a parliamentary committee inquiry into a total gambling advertising ban. According to health experts, legislators must act firmly and not hesitate to impose a comprehensive prohibition, as public health and well-being must be prioritised over media revenue. Australian online media outlet InSight+ talked to Associate Professor Charles Livingstone, Head of the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University. He stated that a partial ban on gambling and betting ads…

BetStop, Australia’s National Self-Exclusion Register celebrated its first anniversary last Wednesday. In connection with this significant milestone, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) reported that more than 28,300 residents have used the gambling self-exclusion service thus far. The government initiative, introduced by the ACMA, is completely safe and free of charge, enabling consumers to voluntarily block themselves from all legitimate online and mobile providers of gambling services in a few easy steps. They can do so for a period lasting from a minimum of three months to a lifetime.…