News

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 […]

In a global first for regulatory technology, Ukraine has officially integrated its gambling licensing process into Diia, the state’s flagship digital services portal app. This move, spearheaded by the Ministry of Digital Transformation in collaboration with the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (KRAIL), marks a complete shift away from paper-based bureaucracy toward a transparent, automated, and paperless ecosystem. The launch on the Diia portal allows gambling operators to apply for, renew, and manage their licences entirely online. By removing the “human factor” from the initial stages of the application, the Ukrainian government aims to eliminate corruption risks, […]

In a landmark move for North American player safety, iGaming Ontario (iGO) has officially introduced BetGuard, the province’s highly anticipated centralised self-exclusion (CSE) system. The announcement was made during the Discovery 2026 conference, marking a pivotal shift in how Ontario manages gambling harm prevention. BetGuard is designed to provide a “one-stop” solution for players who wish to take a break from gambling. Instead of having to register for self-exclusion on every individual operator’s platform, a process that was previously fragmented across dozens of licensed sites, players can now opt-out of all regulated iGaming activities in Ontario through a single, unified […]