News

The Jamaican Senate has officially ratified the Casino Gaming (General) Regulations 2025, providing the necessary legal framework to operationalise large-scale casino gaming within the country. Approved on 17 April 2026, the legislation moves Jamaica away from a model of small, limited gaming rooms toward high-capital Integrated Resort Developments (IRDs). The new rules establish foundational requirements for licensing, financial reporting, and the prevention of gambling-related harm, effectively activating the Casino Gaming Act of 2010. Strategic Impact of IRD Licensing and Revenue Requirements The shift toward the IRD model signifies a deliberate move to diversify Jamaica’s tourism product without transforming the island […]

The National Gambling Office of Romania (ONJN) has authorised the distribution of €5 million in grants dedicated to the prevention and treatment of problem gambling. The funding, sourced directly from the mandatory annual contributions of licensed operators, represents the largest single allocation of social responsibility capital in the history of the Romanian market. These funds are slated for projects led by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and public health bodies to address rising rates of gambling-related harm across the jurisdiction. Strategic Allocation of Social Responsibility Funds The distribution of these grants follows a rigorous evaluation process designed to ensure that the capital […]

The French gambling regulator, l’Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), has reported that the nation’s regulated gambling market grew by 3% in 2025, reaching a total gross gaming revenue (GGR) of €14.1 billion. This growth was primarily fuelled by the online sector, the state lottery, and a recovery in land-based casino activity. Despite a 2025 sports calendar with fewer major international events than the previous year, the market demonstrated structural resilience and an increasing shift toward digital platforms. Strategic Growth Drivers and Sector Performance The 2025 annual review highlights a maturing market where digital diversification is outpacing traditional retail growth. For […]

The Supreme Court of Chile has issued a decisive ruling requiring internet service providers (ISPs) to expand their blocking efforts against unauthorised online gambling platforms. The order specifically targets mirror sites, alternative domains used by operators to bypass existing blocks, directing providers to prevent access to hundreds of new URLs. This judicial intervention, finalised in April 2026, reinforces a regulatory stance that has intensified since 2023, identifying unlicensed wagering as unlawful under the Chilean Penal Code. Judicial Enforcement and Technical Challenges The Supreme Court’s decision represents a significant escalation in the state’s effort to control the digital wagering landscape. By […]

The Hong Kong Investor and Financial Education Council (IFEC), a subsidiary of the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), has issued a formal warning stating that trading on prediction markets may constitute illegal gambling. The statement, released on 17 April 2026, clarifies that platforms offering contracts on the outcomes of future events, ranging from political elections to sports results, operate outside the Securities and Futures Ordinance. This regulatory stance reinforces the HKSAR Government’s commitment to curbing unlicensed wagering activities that bypass local oversight. Regulatory Implications for Decentralised Platforms The classification of prediction markets as gambling rather than investment products has immediate […]

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has voted unanimously to reopen the application window for mobile sports wagering licences. The decision, reached during a public meeting on 9 April 2026, follows a formal request from global operator bet365 to enter the Commonwealth’s regulated market. This move allows the regulator to assess fresh interest in the state’s remaining licensing capacity two years after the initial market launch. Strategic Market Expansion and Licensing Availability The reopening of the licensing window marks a significant shift in the MGC’s stance, moving from a period of market consolidation to one of potential growth. For operators and […]

In a landmark speech at the 2026 Innovation Task Force launch, CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to overseeing the rapidly expanding prediction market sector. While positioning event contracts as the “new frontier of finance”, Selig issued a stern warning: federal preemption of state gambling laws does not equal a regulatory vacuum. Instead, the CFTC is prepared to take “tough action” against any platform or participant engaging in market abuse, wash trading, or the misuse of non-public information. This proactive stance comes as global prediction market volumes are projected to reach $1 trillion by 2030. Selig emphasised […]

Members of the Hawaii State Legislature have entered a critical phase of deliberation regarding the potential legalisation of various forms of gambling. During recent public hearings, lawmakers scrutinised the balance between generating new state revenue and the potential for increased social harm, marking a pivotal moment for a state that has historically maintained some of the strictest anti-gambling laws in the United States. The discussions centre on whether the introduction of a state lottery, sports betting, or a single integrated resort could provide the necessary funding for affordable housing and Native Hawaiian programs, or if the resulting societal strain would […]

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has officially entered a crucial post-pilot analysis phase for its proposed financial risk assessments (FRAs). In a significant update published in April 2026, the regulator clarified that the data gathered during the testing period supports a more “targeted and proportionate” approach to player safety, countering industry fears of heavy-handed “affordability checks”. According to the Commission, the pilot results indicate that the vast majority of assessments, approximately 97%, can be conducted frictionlessly using credit reference data. This means that for nearly all affected players, the check occurs “behind the scenes” without requiring manual document submission or […]

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has issued a sharp rebuke to a proposal from the European Parliament’s Budget Committee regarding the introduction of a Union-wide online gambling levy. The measure, floated as a potential “own resource” to fund the EU’s long-term budget, has been described by industry leaders as a move that would inadvertently strengthen illegal offshore operators at the expense of the licensed European market. The friction arises from a recent push within the European Parliament, where MEPs have called for a 10% increase in the EU’s long-term budget to support core priorities such as defence, digital […]