The French government’s initiative to legalize online casinos has encountered significant pushback from various stakeholders, causing officials to halt their proposed amendment to the 2025 budget. This amendment, originally submitted by Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s administration, aimed to bring France’s gambling laws in line with other European Union (EU) countries. However, the intense opposition from
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The University of Alberta has introduced an exciting new microcredential course aimed at providing a comprehensive understanding of the rapidly changing gambling and iGaming landscape. The course, developed by Dr. Fiona Nicoll, is designed to address the needs of professionals across several fields—from regulators and addiction counselors to educators and journalists—by providing critical insights into
Thailand’s move toward legalizing casinos is making progress, with the draft law on entertainment complexes expected to be presented to the cabinet by the end of this year, according to Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat. The bill, which seeks to regulate and legalize casino resorts within Thailand, will then move to the House of Representatives
The French government is moving toward legalizing online casino games in a bold move aimed at bolstering its state finances and curbing illegal gambling. The proposed amendment, part of the 2025 draft budget, suggests introducing a 55.6% tax on online casino turnover, potentially generating significant revenue for the country. Addressing France’s Budget Deficit France’s growing
A new bill aimed at banning online sports betting across Brazil has been introduced by Senator Sérgio Petecão, reflecting growing concerns over the impact of virtual gambling on mental health and financial stability. The bill, officially named Bill 4.031/2024, was submitted to the Brazilian Senate on October 21, 2024, and seeks to halt the rapidly
Massachusetts residents hoping to participate in the state’s online lottery will have to wait until April 2026 due to delays in receiving the necessary funding to develop the platform. Initially projected to launch by the end of 2025, the timeline has now been pushed back, state officials confirmed. During a recent Greater Boston Chamber of
The Canadian gambling industry is experiencing a significant surge in suspected digital fraud attempts, with a staggering 79.3% year-over-year (YoY) increase in the first half of 2024 (H1 2024). According to a new report by TransUnion, the gambling sector, including online sports betting and poker, saw the highest rate of suspected fraud among all Canadian
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has taken further steps to combat illegal online gambling, issuing orders for internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to two more offshore websites. Lucky Block, a cryptocurrency casino and sportsbook, and Rooli, an online casino, were both found to be operating in breach of Australia’s Interactive Gambling
Interwetten Group has officially launched OKTO.CASH, a new cash-to-digital payment solution, for its users in Germany. This development represents a significant step forward for OKTO as it broadens its reach within the German market, enhancing its leadership in cash-to-digital solutions across Europe. Following this initial launch, plans for further rollouts across Europe are already underway.
In a bid to clamp down on illegal online gambling, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is set to release its first comprehensive study of the UK’s black market. Scheduled for publication in spring 2025, the study aims to provide the UKGC with data-driven insights into the scale of unlicensed gambling and inform its strategies for
Illegal online gambling has surged in South Korea over the past few years, with cases tripling between 2019 and 2023. According to the National Gambling Control Commission (NGCC), reported incidents of illegal gambling rose from 13,064 to over 39,000 during this period. Online gambling now accounts for more than 80% of illegal wagers, with the
EGT Digital has announced a significant collaboration with Casino Sanremo, marking another milestone in the Bulgarian company’s expansion across the Italian gaming market. As part of this partnership, EGT Digital now provides a diverse selection of slot games and jackpots for Casino Sanremo’s online betting platform. This collaboration is expected to enhance the casino’s digital
Ireland has taken a significant step forward in overhauling its gambling legislation with the passage of the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 through the Oireachtas. The bill, which has now completed its journey through both houses of parliament, marks a pivotal moment for the regulation of gambling in the country. It sets the foundation for the establishment
Brazil is dealing with a wave of legal action from betting companies following the release of an approved list of operators allowed to continue operating in the country. This list, published by the country’s Department of Prizes and Betting (SPA) in early October, features 96 companies, along with 210 affiliated brands, eligible to operate between
The Rio de Janeiro State Lottery (Loterj) has filed for a preliminary injunction in response to a federal lawsuit seeking to prevent its licensees from offering betting services across Brazil. The case, filed by the Attorney General’s Office (AGU), marks a significant legal conflict between Loterj and the federal government, with the Supreme Federal Court
The UK gambling industry is bracing for potential tax increases as speculation grows ahead of the Labour government’s upcoming budget announcement on October 30. Sources close to the Treasury have revealed that Chancellor Rachel Reeves may introduce higher taxes on gambling operators to help close a £22 billion fiscal deficit. Currently, the UK’s remote gaming
Australia’s Greens party has intensified its campaign to end gambling advertising by introducing a bill to the Senate that seeks a complete ban on gambling ads across all forms of media. The Ban Gambling Ads Bill, championed by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, aims to prohibit gambling promotions on TV, radio, print, and online platforms. This
The Brazilian government has taken decisive action in its efforts to regulate the online betting market by blocking 2,040 illegal betting sites that failed to meet the requirements for licensing. The move, led by Brazil’s Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA), marks a critical step in the preparation for the country’s fully regulated market launch
The Dutch Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit or KSA) has reported significant growth in the regulated gambling market, with the market’s gross gaming revenue (GGR) increasing by 21.2% in 2023, reaching €4 billion. However, the KSA has also raised concerns regarding the country’s channelisation rate, which measures the proportion of gambling activity conducted through legal operators. While
The South African gambling industry experienced unprecedented growth during the 2023-24 financial year, with gross gambling revenue (GGR) reaching an all-time high of ZAR59.3 billion, a significant 25.7% increase from the previous year. This marked a milestone for the industry, driven largely by the explosive growth of the sports betting sector. According to the National