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European Casino Association calls for urgent expansion of Europol remit

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The European Casino Association (ECA) is calling for an urgent expansion in the remit of Europol to tackle the surge of the illegal gambling sector in Europe.

At a recent roundtable event in the European Parliament, ECA Chair Erwin van Lambaart shared a report that the illegal online gambling market aimed at European Union (EU) consumers increased by around 14% year-on-year to €91.6bn (2024: €80m).

The data comes fresh off the European Commission‘s (EC) proposal to reform the mandate of Europol and elevate its data capabilities and remit when it comes to tackling cross-border crime.

As part of the reform proposed by the EC, Europol will push towards more operational capabilities, with its remit being expanded to include bringing down the illegal gambling sector.

MEP Lukas Mandl stated: “Illegal online gambling is not a niche issue, it is a serious cross-border threat that touches on consumer protection, organised crime and the integrity of our internal market.

“Europol is a cru..

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Mexico aims to change structure of unloved Federal Games Law of 1947  

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The Congress of Mexico has received a proposal to reform the Federal Law on Games and Raffles of 1947, targeting greater controls on gambling licences and player protection.

The package of reforms has been proposed by Mexico City deputy Alberto Martínez Urincho, a representative of the governing MORENA party, who has called on lawmakers to support structural changes to Mexico’s governance of gambling.

Martínez Urincho’s principal objective is to amend the Federal Law to recognise “gambling-related harm as a public-health issue, establishing stronger foundations for consumer protections.”

Under the proposal, gambling operators authorised by SEGOB – Mexico’s Ministry of the Interior would be required to “display public-health warnings to consumers across online platforms and at the entrances of land-based gambling venues.”

Once public-health warnings are established, Martínez Urincho has called on MORENA to support an overhaul of ID-verification requirements across Mexico’s approxima..

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Estonia’s safer gambling challenges as act review edges closer

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As Estonia prepares to review its gambling act next year, data has revealed that the country’s self-exclusion list has grown over the past three years by almost 4,000 people.

According to local outlet ERR News, nearly 21,000 people are now on the self-imposed gambling restriction list, up from 2023’s count of 17,203 people. The data further split the restrictions in place by game product, but it is important to note that one person may restrict themselves from multiple verticals.

A person’s written application will determine if they’re added to the self-exclusion list indefinitely, and they must specify a period, six months to three years, after which they may submit a new application to be removed from the list.

20,628 people are restricted in Estonia from games of chance, while 9,767 people have self-imposed sports betting restrictions, which is up by 348 people since the beginning of the year. For lottery products, 5,968 people have restrictions in place.

Measures must be implem..

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Rombet calls on regulator to prioritise transparency and deep institutional reform

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Turbulence in the Romanian gambling market has escalated following the arrest of the regulator’s Deputy General Director over allegations of bribery.

Dan Ghita, Chairman, Rombet, described the latest developments as ‘deeply concerning’ as he spoke to iGaming Expert ahead of his appearance on the ‘Generational Bet: Romania’s Reckoning on Gambling Regulation’ panel at the SBC Summit in Lisbon.

What’s your reaction to reports of the ONJN’s Deputy General Director allegedly taking bribes from companies to accelerate regulatory processes?

Any allegation of corruption involving public officials is deeply concerning because it undermines confidence in the institutions responsible for regulating an important economic sector. We must respect the legal process and see the final conclusions .

From an industry perspective, the key issue goes beyond any individual case. Romania needs regulatory institutions that are independent, transparent and accountable. Businesses that comply with the law..

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Adult Gaming Centres set to feel the wrath of Burnham’s new economic outlook 

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Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs) are set to feel the wrath of a new political agenda in the UK, as Andy Burnham has confirmed his support for the hospitality sector through a 20% cut in business rates, which will be funded by higher taxes on AGCs.

Just four days into his premiership, Burnham is already embarking on sweeping change, and he emphasised his belief that ‘can’t see all businesses as the same’.

Announcing the policy, he specifically picked out AGCs as causing social harm, grouping them in with vape shops as a specific element of the high street that offers very little to the community.

It remains unclear exactly what this tax will look like; however, as Manchester Mayor, Burnham lent his weight to campaigns led by local council members to halt the number of new AGCs opening and grant councils greater powers over planning permission.

Burnham could well be about to toe the line of the Social Market Foundation (SMF), which proposed a doubling of the Machine Games Duty on Cate..

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No leadership, no evidence – how did the Commission decide on affordability checks? 

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Questions have been raised over the direction of the Gambling Commission (GC) in the UK, as it is accused of ignoring any research in its pursuit of stringent affordability checks, or financial risk assessments, depending on which side of the coin you sit.

Peter Marcus, a former Global Head of Gaming Operations for Entain, revealed that he was part of the process during the early stages of the new approach to affordability and stated it was clear that these things were simply unworkable.

He warned that since the departure of Andrew Rhodesas Chief Executive Officer, the GC has essentially stopped listening to industry and to research, marching ahead with a wilful ignorance of the consequences.

Marcus suggested that Rhodes and the GC, under his leadership, had a grasp on the severity of getting affordability checks wrong. However, he now believes that the last two years of research have been ‘a waste of time, as the commission has just pushed ahead regardless’.

There was support ..

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TAB issued $2.7m penalty for spam and telemarketing breaches

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Tabcorp (TAB) has been issued a second penalty in just over a year by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) in relation to spam law breaches.

The Australian regulator announced that TAB has paid over AUS$2.7m (approximately €1.7m) in penalties after multiple spam and telemarketing law breaches were discovered following an investigation.

An ACMA investigation found that between February 2024 and June 2025, TAB made ‘telemarketing calls to VIP customers that included 351 calls to numbers on the Do Not Call Register without consent, 82 calls outside permitted hours, and nearly 4,000 calls without properly identifying itself as the caller and/or the purpose of the call’.

In addition, the operator self-reported that it sent over 217,000 marketing emails and SMS over a 16-day period to customers who had unsubscribed from specific marketing channels.

“The scale and range of these breaches point to serious weaknesses in TAB’s compliance systems.”

ACMA member Samantha Yo..

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

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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..

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Gibraltar grants two prediction markets licences

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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..

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

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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..

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