News

In a new data update published on 21 April 2026, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has admitted that tracking consumer engagement with illegal gambling sites is becoming increasingly complex. While the regulator’s 21-month trend analysis shows fluctuating rather than sustained growth in black market activity, the rise of anonymising technologies is forcing a significant recalibration of how the UK measures its illegal sector. The Online Safety Act and the VPN Surge The most striking revelation from the report is the impact of the Online Safety Act, which came into full effect in July 2025. Following its rollout, the UKGC observed a […]

In the KSA Annual Report 2025, published on 20 April 2026, the Dutch regulator provides a comprehensive look at a year that fundamentally altered the local iGaming landscape. The data confirms that the era of rapid expansion has ended, replaced by a phase of stagnation and stabilisation driven by aggressive regulatory intervention. In the report, titled “Protecting Against Gambling Harm”, the KSA emphasises that its mandate has evolved. The focus is no longer merely on monitoring financial losses but on a broadened view of gambling harm that accounts for damage to mental health, personal relationships, and social well-being. Key Financials: […]

The Netherlands’ gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has overhauled the evidentiary requirements for involuntary gambling exclusions. In a KSA policy shift announced on 21 April 2026, the authority has increased the weight given to the professional judgement of legal administrators. This change significantly accelerates the protection process, reducing the timeline to activate a client’s Cruks registration to just two weeks. Speeding Up the Shield: From Six Weeks to Two Previously, the involuntary registration path was a bureaucratic bottleneck. Administrators were required to provide exhaustive documentation and proof of harm to the client’s estate, a process that often took up to six […]

Gamecheck will exhibit at SBC Summit Malta 2026 as founder James Elliott takes to the Risk, Regulation & Resilience stage.  SBC Summit Malta 2026 is one of those events where the industry conversation for the coming years gets set. This year’s theme is ‘The Future of Play’, and as far as Gamecheck is concerned, the future of play has to be the future of fair play. Gamecheck will exhibit at SBC Summit Malta 2026, where founder James Elliott will address the fake game network on the Risk, Regulation & Resilience stage. The summit runs from 28 to 30 April 2026 […]

Google has released its 2025 Ads Safety Report, revealing an unprecedented escalation in the policing of gambling-related content. Published on 16 April 2026, the report confirms that the tech giant blocked or removed a total of 8.3 billion ads globally last year. Within the gambling and games sector, 270.7 million ads were blocked for direct policy violations, while a further 123.9 million were restricted, making the vertical the third-largest category for restricted content across Google’s global network. Strategic Shift to AI-Driven Intent Detection The 2025 report marks a pivotal transition in Google’s enforcement methodology, moving from traditional keyword filtering to […]

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 […]