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Anjouan Gambling regulator hits back at illegal operators and black market claims

iGamingExpertJuly 14, 202609 views

Whether fuelled by the elevated betting engagement of the World Cup or global pressure, the Anjouan gambling regulator has tried to set things straight.

Anjouan Gaming made an abrupt intervention via a statement shared on Linkedin yesterday. The regulator has asserted that its licences are not presented as a means to operate globally.

The Anjouan licensing framework is much maligned amongst more mature iGaming markets. The fact that many regulated markets are grappling with the threat of black market operators has led to Anjouan facing scrutiny.

It feels as if the tensions between the regulated industry and the forces fuelling unlicensed operators in their jurisdiction are at a tinderbox, with a myriad of other players being engulfed in the hostility.

Not least, social media platforms that are awash with aggressive marketing content from unlicensed operators. In the conversations around unlicensed gaming, two jurisdictions are repeatedly mentioned – Curacao and Anjouan.

In retal..

Gibraltar grants two prediction markets licences

iGamingExpertJuly 14, 202605 views

Gibraltar has taken a landmark step when it comes to embracing prediction markets and has become the first jurisdiction in the world to launch a regulatory regime solely covering the prediction markets sector.

The decision builds on the market move to license both ADI Predictstreet and Wire Markets.

As a result of the shift to embracing prediction markets in a regulated way, these two companies will now be regulated under Gibraltar’s new predictions regime.

Travis Geiger, co-founder of WagerWire, stated that the move was a “landmark moment for the prediction market industry”.

“By focusing on market integrity, innovation, and responsible oversight, Gibraltar has established a thoughtful framework that gives operators the clarity they need to build for the long term. We’re incredibly proud to have worked alongside HM Government of Gibraltar throughout this process and excited for what comes next.”

A suprvisory authority will oversee the framework, with Nigel Feetham KC MP, Gibralta..

Kenya’s new gambling regime: dissecting the implications for operators

iGamingExpertJuly 9, 202606 views

Kenya’s Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) has officially gazetted a new set of regulatory laws for operators under the newly formed regime.

We are analysing the new landscape in Kenya as the six regulations came into effect on 30th June and became binding for all gaming operations after a three-day notice period, with the GRA confirming that it has commenced the first licensing cycle since inception.

The six new laws encompass details around licensing, conduct of gambling operators, National Lottery 2026, advertising, the gambling appeals tribunal, and rules facing foreign operators.

Additionally, the regulator has included a transitional 60-day window within which licences issued under the now-repealed acts remain valid, albeit only for sixty days from GRA’s original date of assuming office (30th June 2026), within which time the holders of such licences must apply for the appropriate licence under the new act.

John Mutua, CEO of the Association of Gaming Operators Kenya (AG..

Why the Gambling Commission is failing to alleviate FRA black market anxiety

iGamingExpertJuly 9, 2026011 views

The Gambling Commission’s calls for calm over the impact of Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs) on the growth of the black market seem to be falling on deaf ears, as sources have emphasised to iGaming Expert that industry trepidation is only escalating.

Despite the best efforts of the GC, warnings continue to ring loudly over a lack of clarity when it comes to the implementation of FRAs.

An industry source told iGaming Expert that the move represents a ‘huge windfall’ for the illegal market, as concerns over an exodus to the black market refuse to go away for players who ‘believe they should be able to spend their money the way they want to’.

They added that the government is simply ‘doubling down’ on the stresses placed on the regulated sector by supporting FRAs after previously implementing a significant tax hike on the online gambling sector in November.

Anger from within the industry has been encapsulated by the Betting and Gaming Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Grainne Hurst,..

Gambling Commission looks to calm operator fears with measured approach to FRA implementation

iGamingExpertJuly 9, 202609 views

A day that much of the industry had been awaiting with trepidation is set to arrive today, as the Gambling Commission confirms plans for the implementation of Financial Risk Assessments.

The first stage of implementation will see FRAs implemented by the largest operators, where there is high spend of multiple thousands of pounds over a 24-hour period. For most, this means £5,000 net deposits in a rolling 24-hour period, with it being predicted that only 0.5% of customers will hit these thresholds.

Once fully implemented in due course, Financial Risk Assessments will be applied to customers aged 25 years or older with net deposits exceeding £1,000 in a rolling 24-hour period or £3,000 over a rolling 90-day period; for those under 25, these thresholds will be reduced to £750 in a rolling 24 hours or £2,000 in a rolling 90-day period.

Furthermore, the GC has also underpinned that although the White Paper was put forward during a previous government, it has the full backing of the late..

Swedish court backs regulator over Betsson AML ruling

iGamingExpertJuly 9, 202605 views

A Swedish Administrative Court has backed the gaming regulator’s findings that Betsson committed ‘serious violations of money laundering regulations’.

Spelinspektionen first brought action against Betsson Nordic Ltd, alongside Spooniker Ltd – a then-subsidiary of FDJ United’s Kindred Group – and Snabbare Ltd – a subsidiary of ComeOn Group, for failing to take sufficient customer due diligence measures in May 2025.

The regulator warned all three and handed them fines of SEK 6.5m, SEK 10m and SEK 5.5m, respectively, for actions that took place in 2023.

In each instance, Spelinspektionen investigated the operator’s processes for a select group of customers and found that they had failed to adequately identify the source of income for large deposits that couldn’t be justified by the consumer’s taxable income.

The operators attributed the funds to previous winnings; however, Spelinspektionen said that this could not be accurately verified, as the funds had been removed from the consumer..

1xBet elevates player protection capabilities with 1xCare

iGamingExpertJuly 7, 2026011 views

1xBet has strengthened its player protection and responsible gambling measures following the launch of the 1xCare initiative.

The operator emphasised that 1xCare will focus on enhancing research, education, technology and player well-being within its business under one framework.

1xCare Chair, Simon Westbury, commented: “Responsible gambling is not a slogan; it is a duty. 1xCare was created to support a more informed, transparent, and sustainable gambling ecosystem – one where player protection and well-being are central.”

The new player protection platform will be centred on four pillars, noted 1xBet.

The research hub will support studies on gambling behaviour, addiction risks, and emerging technologies, with transparent public reporting.

Meanwhile, EduCare will promote responsible gambling education, awareness programmes, and ethical standards across operators, sports, and communities.

The TechShield will be focused on advancing responsible gambling technologies, including tool..

Dominican Republic takes a significant step in gambling framework development

iGamingExpertJuly 7, 202607 views

The Senate Plenary has approved the first reading of the bill regulating games of chance, including lotteries, in the Dominican Republic.

In what would be a significant development for the country’s gambling framework, the new legislative measure seeks to establish rules governing the authorisation, oversight, and supervision of individuals and legal entities that develop, operate, or market any type of gambling or betting activity within the national territory.

Senator Guillermo Lama presented the committee’s report to the Senate plenary and requested that it be included on the agenda for the current session.

The bill, introduced by Senate Vice President Pedro Catrain and Senator Félix Ramón Bautista Rosario, was merged into a single proposal using Senator Catrain’s version as the basis.

The bill states that in recent years, the gambling industry in the Dominican Republic has experienced significant growth across all sectors, including casinos, sports betting shops, lotteries, an..

Stakelogic handed six-figure GC settlement for slot speed violation

iGamingExpertJune 25, 2026017 views

Stakelogic has been ordered to pay a £122,835 regulatory settlement to the Gambling Commission (GC) for breaching responsible product design standards related to the speed of slots.

Minimum online slot speeds have been in place for UK iGaming operators since 2021 and were part of several measures implemented to reduce the overall intensity of gameplay and protect consumers from harm, as research showed fast game cycles were associated with increased player risk.

The iGaming supplier was found to be running its slots faster than the minimum 2.5 seconds time gap. Stakelogic reported to the commission that its Tiger Temple 88 title was breaching minimum time gap standards as it was operating with 1.97 seconds between spins. Tiger Temple 88 was non-compliant from 28 May 2025 to 30 May 2025.

An investigation was then launched by the GC, to which Stakelogic re-tested its entire GB games portfolio, discovering a further 15 games breached the minimum time gap, varying between 0.001 seconds ..

Dutch association to sue Meta for illegal gambling facilitation

iGamingExpertJune 23, 2026017 views

Vergunde Nederlandse Online Kansspelaanbieders (VNLOK) is taking legal action against Meta and has filed a complaint with the European Commission over illegal gambling advertisements appearing on its social media platforms.

Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf has also reported that some of the illegal adverts included images of international football stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Virgil van Dijk.

VNLOK stated that Meta’s measures in tackling illegal gambling ads on Facebook and Instagram are ‘structurally inadequate’, that vulnerable groups are being reached in large numbers and that the company is refusing to enter substantive dialogue.

However, VNLOK also believes other companies, such as Google, as well as relevant banks and game providers, can do more to tackle the activity of illegal gambling operators in the Netherlands, including advertising.

VNLOK: Meta needs to do more

The trade association noted that an average of over 70,000 gambling ads targeting the Netherlands were visible o..