iGaming News, Trends & Insights

Malta updates VAT and gaming tax rules for 2026.

Yagmur Canel Content Manager

Malta’s New Tax Play: Harmonizing VAT and Gaming Levies for Global Operators

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), in coordination with the Malta Tax and Customs Administration (MTCA), has announced a series of strategic enhancements to the nation’s VAT and gaming tax frameworks. Confirmed in early April 2026, these updates are designed to streamline compliance, reduce administrative friction, and maintain Malta’s competitive edge as the premier global hub for iGaming. The revisions target specific complexities within the VAT treatment of gambling services and the optimisation of gaming tax collection. By providing clearer guidelines on “exempt without credit” services and digital supply chains, the MGA aims to provide long-term fiscal certainty for B2B and […]

KSA mandates transparency for payouts and account closures.

Yagmur Canel Content Manager

No Fees for Leaving: KSA Sets Strict Transparency Standards for Account Closures and Payouts

The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has issued a formal directive to all licensed online gambling providers in the Netherlands, clarifying the legal boundaries regarding player withdrawals and account termination. The regulator confirmed that charging players to close their accounts is strictly prohibited, while also addressing the growing trend of “manual” payouts through customer service. The intervention follows an increase in player reports and industry inquiries. The KSA’s stance is clear: the process of exiting a platform or accessing one’s own funds must not be obstructed by hidden costs or unnecessary administrative friction. Protecting the “Right to Exit” A primary focus of the […]

North Macedonia pauses major gambling regulatory overhaul.

Yagmur Canel Content Manager

North Macedonia Hits Pause on Regulatory Shake-up: Gambling Law Withdrawn from Parliament

The Government of North Macedonia has officially withdrawn the proposed Law on Gambling and Games of Chance from parliamentary procedure. The decision, confirmed in early April 2026, marks a significant de-escalation in what was expected to be the most radical restructuring of the nation’s betting landscape in over a decade. The withdrawal follows intense pressure from both industry stakeholders and European monitoring bodies. The bill, which aimed to introduce stricter distance requirements between gaming venues and educational institutions, as well as significant hikes in licensing fees, will now undergo a period of “further technical and social revision”. Fiscal Impact: How […]

Romanian court upholds ONJN blacklist decision against Polymarket.

Yagmur Canel Content Manager

Court Defeat for Polymarket: Romanian Judiciary Upholds ONJN Blacklist and Regulatory Sovereignty

The legal challenge brought by Polymarket against Romania’s gambling regulator has reached a definitive conclusion. On April 2, 2026, the Romanian courts officially rejected an appeal from the blockchain-based prediction platform, upholding the National Gambling Office’s (ONJN) decision to keep the site on the national blacklist. The ruling marks a major victory for the ONJN and its president, Vlad-Cristian Soare, who has been vocal about closing “regulatory loopholes” that allow platforms to rebrand traditional betting as “event trading”. The court’s decision reinforces that technological complexity does not exempt a platform from national licensing requirements. The Legal Battle: Defending the Licensing […]

Latvia integrates gambling supervision into state revenue service.

Yagmur Canel Content Manager

Latvia Formalizes Regulatory Shift: Gambling Supervision Now Under State Revenue Service (VID)

The Latvian government has issued a formal reminder to all industry stakeholders that, as of April 1, 2026, the functions of the Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection (IAUI) have been fully integrated into the State Revenue Service (VID). This structural reorganisation, announced in late March, marks a significant shift in how the Baltic nation manages the oversight of its betting and lottery sectors. Under the new framework, the VID now holds exclusive authority over licensing, supervision, and the enforcement of statutory regulations for all gambling and lottery operators in Latvia. The government clarified that while the organisational structure has changed, […]

Bulgaria proposes fund to tackle gambling addiction.

Yagmur Canel Content Manager

Bulgaria Proposes New Dedicated Fund to Combat Gambling Addiction Amid Regulatory Shift

Bulgaria is taking significant steps to formalise its player protection infrastructure. The Ministry of Health has officially released a draft regulation for public consultation that would establish a structured fund dedicated to the prevention and treatment of gambling addiction. The move aims to transform the country’s current decentralised approach into a transparent, project-based system. The proposed framework follows recent legislative changes that mandate annual contributions from all licensed gambling operators toward responsible gambling initiatives. These funds, collected by the National Revenue Agency (NRA), are currently split between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The new […]

CFTC files lawsuits against Arizona, Connecticut, and Illinois.

Yagmur Canel Content Manager

Federal Authority vs. State Sovereignty: CFTC Sues Three States Over Prediction Market Oversight

In a landmark legal move, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed separate federal lawsuits against the states of Arizona, Connecticut, and Illinois. The litigation, announced April 2, 2026, alleges that these states are unconstitutionally obstructing federal oversight by attempting to apply local gambling and consumer protection laws to federally regulated prediction markets. The lawsuits mark a significant escalation in the ongoing jurisdictional battle between federal commodities regulators and state-level gambling commissions. At the heart of the dispute is whether “event contracts”, which allow users to trade on the outcome of elections, policy decisions, and economic data, should be […]

ace alliance banner on singapore gambling regulator chairman appointment news

Yagmur Canel Content Manager

Singapore Appoints Commissioner Hoong Wee Teck as New GRA Chairman

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has officially announced the appointment of Mr. Hoong Wee Teck as the new Chairman of the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) Board. Effective April 1, 2026, the Commissioner of Police succeeds Mr. Tan Tee How, who steps down after nearly a decade of leadership at the helm of Singapore’s gambling oversight bodies. The appointment marks a significant transition for the GRA as it enters a new phase of regulatory maturity. Mr. Hoong, who has served as a member of the GRA Board since August 2022, brings extensive law enforcement and operational experience to the role, […]

Banner image for the BGC Safer Gambling Week news.

Yagmur Canel Content Manager

Safer Gambling Week 2026: Dates Confirmed as Industry Targets New Engagement Records

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has officially confirmed that Safer Gambling Week 2026 will take place from November 16 to November 22. The eighth iteration of the annual campaign arrives on the heels of a record-breaking 2025, which saw over 60 million social media impressions and a significant surge in the use of player protection tools across the United Kingdom. The campaign remains the centrepiece of the industry’s commitment to harm reduction, uniting land-based casinos, high-street betting shops, and online operators under a single cross-sector initiative. By promoting tools such as deposit limits, time-outs, and self-exclusion, the 2026 campaign […]

France’s ANJ approves 2026 AML and player protection plans.

Yagmur Canel Content Manager

ANJ Finalises 2026 Regulatory Framework Following March Deliberations

L’Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) has officially published the 2026 action plans for all licensed and exclusive-rights gambling operators in France. Following a high-level college meeting on March 26, 2026, the regulator released a suite of 59 distinct decisions on April 1 aimed at strengthening the industry’s defences against financial crime and enhancing consumer protection protocols for the upcoming fiscal year. The newly published deliberations represent a critical phase in France’s multi-year regulatory strategy. The approved plans cover a broad spectrum of the market, including online sports betting, horse racing, and the land-based casino sector, ensuring a unified approach to […]