News

Key Moments: The Milli Piyango İdaresi (MPİ) has submitted about 420,000 criminal complaints against unauthorized gambling sites to MASAK. Turkish authorities have blocked 10,519 international gaming servers and 1,473 advertising sites since May. Financial intelligence units have tracked illicit gambling flows totaling Turkish lira 2.2 billion in 2024 and Turkish lira 3.6 billion so far in 2025. National Lottery Steps Up in Major Enforcement Push Turkey’s national lottery office, the Milli Piyango İdaresi (MPİ), has become a central player in Ankara’s expanded offensive against illegal gambling. The agency’s chairman and…

Key Moments: WorldMatch has entered a partnership with Solverde.pt, expanding its presence in the Portuguese online gaming market Players on Solverde.pt now have access to WorldMatch’s collection of slots and innovative gaming mechanics Solverde.pt introduced Crash Games in 2024, maintaining its role as a trailblazer in digital gaming Enhanced Offerings for Portuguese Online Casino Players A new partnership has been established between WorldMatch and Solverde.pt, aiming to reinvent Portugal’s online casino experience. Solverde.pt, supported by more than five decades of experience from the Solverde Group and its portfolio of land-based…

Key Moments: The Dutch regulator KSA has issued a warning to 888 due to inadequate customer service accessibility following its July 2025 market reentry. Players reported long wait times for live chat and problems receiving welcome bonuses, prompting the operator to hire more staff and resolve technical issues. KSA is preparing to introduce stricter oversight on operator influence and may implement new duty-of-care guidelines based on upcoming research findings. Regulatory Warning Challenges 888’s Market Relaunch 888’s reintroduction to the Netherlands’ iGaming sector has encountered early difficulties after the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA)…

Key Moments: Allwyn International AG finalized syndication of $1.5 billion in acquisition financing Deal includes a $1,000 million seven-year Term Loan B and a $500 million six-year Term Loan A Acquisition of approximately 62.3% of PrizePicks is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026 Acquisition Financing Structure Allwyn International AG has completed the syndication for a total of $1.5 billion to fund its planned acquisition of PrizePicks. The financing package consists of a seven-year Term Loan B facility with a principal value of $1,000 million, underwritten by Allwyn…

Key Moments: Betting advertisements accounted for the majority of ad violations in India during the first half of 2025 ASCI investigated 6,117 ads between April and September, marking a 102% year-over-year rise in cases processed Meta platforms hosted 78.9% of all flagged digital advertising violations Surge in Online Betting Ads Triggers Regulatory Concerns The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has issued an alert regarding an escalating number of illegal betting promotions infiltrating digital channels. According to ASCI’s latest half-yearly report, the first half of 2025 saw betting advertisements represent…

Key Moments: DEGEN Studios has hired Danny Gordon as Head of Studio to oversee creative direction and production. Gordon brings previous experience from Four Leaf Gaming, Microgaming, and Entain. The studio is developing several new projects focused on bold game design and innovation. Strategic Leadership for Creative Growth DEGEN Studios has selected Danny Gordon to step into the role of Head of Studio, underscoring the company’s commitment to developing products specifically for gaming enthusiasts. Previously, known for his impactful roles at Four Leaf Gaming, Microgaming, and Entain, Gordon is recognized…

Key Moments: A 2025 study from the University of Bergen surveyed 9,000 Norwegian youths aged 12 to 17 27.7% purchased loot boxes and 15.5% engaged in skin betting in the past year 7.1% of respondents met criteria for gambling problems, while 15% showed problematic gaming Research Uncovers Risky Overlap Between Gaming and Gambling A recent analysis from Spillforsk at the University of Bergen has highlighted a notable correlation between gaming elements – like loot boxes and skin betting – and increased gambling-related challenges among young people in Norway. Demographics and…

Key Moments: Cubeia plans to host a VIP poker showdown with two renowned football players for industry attendees at Stand 2R10 during ICE Barcelona 2025. A special raffle on the event’s opening day will select participants to compete against the football stars and win unique prizes. Cubeia will showcase its expanding Originals portfolio, including Chicken Cross Tower, Multiplier Roulette, Baccarat, Blackjack, and Snakes. Exclusive Poker Showdown with World-Class Athletes Attendees at ICE Barcelona 2025 will have the chance to experience a poker match like no other, as Cubeia brings two…

Key Moments: Andrew Rhodes has stated that growing use of cryptocurrencies among younger people is creating increased pressure around crypto gambling regulation. Rhodes indicated that government decision-making is needed on licensing, noting that a once-distant challenge is now expected within 18 to 24 months. The Gambling Commission has recently suspended nine licenses and has warned operators to expect more enforcement with no advance warnings. Crypto Gambling and Demographic Change Andrew Rhodes, CEO of the British Gambling Commission, has stated during his annual CEO Briefing that governments will soon need to…

Key Moments: Malaysia’s regulator reported that up to 10 percent of Meta’s 2024 revenue originated from ads tied to scams and illegal gambling. Authorities in Malaysia submitted over 157,000 requests for ad removals and nearly 45,000 takedown requests related specifically to gambling content between January and early November 2025. The regulator proposed a new public safety and harm rating system alongside mandatory transparency reports for online platforms. Regulatory Scrutiny Intensifies Malaysia’s communications regulator has escalated its investigation into Meta following reports that the company derived a significant portion of its…