Steve Hoare

Swedish state-owned operator Svenska Spel is celebrating a major milestone for its contributions towards public health in the country.

The operator’s independent research council has passed the SEK 100 million (£8m) mark for funding research on problem gambling and harm prevention, while simultaneously observing its 15-year anniversary since its inception in 2010.

In addition, a total of six new projects have been approved to tap into a collective fund valued at SEK 5m for research purposes.

Sara Lindholm Larsson, Research Council Chair, said: “It is a favour and a privilege to be able to contribute to the development of knowledge and evidence in this important subject.

“Through research, we can better understand what drives unhealthy gaming and which interventions really have an effect.”

Anders Håkansson is the researcher who will get the most out of this year’s communal grant, a total of SEK 1m, to explore the future prospects of gambling harm-related care procedures, as well as the suicide prevention.

Another equally valued project is that of Olof Molander, which will analyse the implementation of internet-CBT for gambling disorder and comorbidity.

Elisabet Jerlhag Holm is another stand-out participant thanks to her project researching the correlation between gambling addiction and GLP-1 – a medication first developed against diabetes but which has also shown promise in fighting compulsive behaviours.

Emma Claesdotter-Knutsson will receive a grant of SEK 750,000 to evaluate the effects of family programmes within social services on youth gaming participation rates.

Sabina Kapetanovic will also utilise SEK 750,000 in funding to focus on underage demographics, particularly mid-adolescents and how gambling affects their mental health.

And last but not least, Johan Svensson has secured a SEK 700,000 grant to provide a wider and up-to-date public health perspective on gambling in Sweden.

Anna Johnson, President and CEO of Svenska Spel, concluded: “Passing SEK 100m in research support shows that we are serious about our long-term responsibility.

“The research has provided new knowledge about everything from young people’s gambling habits to how healthcare can be developed – insights that make society better equipped to prevent gambling problems and create safer gambling.”

Ireland’s leading banks have pledged to take stronger action on gambling-related harm with the launch of a new framework designed to standardise support for vulnerable customers.

The Irish Banking Culture Board (IBCB), in partnership with its member banks AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB, has unveiled the Common Commitment of Care for Problem Gambling.

The initiative sets out practical steps to help those affected by gambling addiction, including dedicated support lines, trained staff, voluntary debit card blocking, and referrals to trusted organisations such as Gambling Care and MABS.

A banking response to a growing concern
Research suggests that almost all gambling activity in Ireland is digital, with 90% of transactions occurring online and 99% of those paid for by debit card. The IBCB argues that voluntary card blocking is therefore a critical safeguard, giving customers the tools to regain financial control if they feel that they are losing it.

Meanwhile, a recent ESRI study also estimates that about one in 30 Irish adults suffer from problem gambling. That works out to roughly 130,000 adults in Ireland with a gambling problem.

Marion Kelly, CEO of the IBCB, said: “Problem gambling can cause serious harm to individuals, families and communities. IBCB member banks recognise their responsibility to respond with compassion and practical support when customers reach out for help.

“This Common Commitment of Care ensures that anyone experiencing gambling difficulties will find clear, accessible support to assistance through their bank.

“The introduction of a voluntary card block by AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB will make an important contribution to those experiencing problem gambling and IBCB calls on other financial services players to put in similar measures.”

Political and regulatory backing
The launch event at the Dublin Chamber of Commerce was attended by Minister of State Robert Troy T.D. of the Department of Finance, as well as representatives from the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, the problem gambling treatment organisation Gambling Care, and senior figures from the three banks.

Minister Troy praised the move, stating: “I commend the Irish Banking Culture Board and its member banks for taking this important step to address the issue of problem gambling. By working together to provide meaningful support, the banking sector is contributing positively to consumer protection.

“This Common Commitment of Care is a valuable addition to the broader efforts being made across government and society to tackle gambling-related harms. The Government has committed to tackling problem gambling, through the Gambling Regulation Act and the establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, and sectoral cooperation remains key to achieving our aims.”

Building consistency and trust
The IBCB said the Common Commitment of Care is intended to provide consistent standards across the banking sector while directing customers to expert resources such as Gambling Care’s 24/7 helpline and MABS’s debt and budgeting services.

By uniting the country’s largest banks under one framework, the initiative aims to strengthen public trust in financial institutions and demonstrate their role in tackling wider social challenges.

The IBCB and its members said they hope that by collaborating with government, regulators and support organisations, the new framework will contribute to lasting and positive change in how gambling-related harms are addressed in Ireland.

Latvia will restructure its gambling oversight and introduce sharp tax increases across the sector as part of the 2026 state budget, in measures designed to boost revenues and streamline regulation.

Finance Minister Arvils Ašeradens confirmed this afternoon that the Izložu un azartspēļu uzraudzības inspekcija (IAUI), the Lottery and Gambling Supervision Inspectorate, will be integrated into the State Revenue Service (SRS) on 1 April 2026, earlier than previously scheduled.

The move, endorsed by Prime Minister Evika Siliņa’s cabinet, aims to reduce duplication between the two agencies and strengthen fiscal control as Latvia prepares for higher gambling duties.

“The integration of gambling oversight into the State Revenue Service will allow us to establish unified management faster, make better use of our resources and deliver higher-quality services to the public,” Ašeradens told a government briefing.

The government has framed the reforms as part of a broader “tax raid” on adult sectors to secure new revenues for state priorities. The 2026 budget earmarks €565m in additional spending, with €320m for security, €94.8m for family support, and €45m for education, financed through both tax hikes and spending cuts across ministries.

From 1 January 2026, gambling taxes will rise significantly. The annual rate per gaming machine will increase from €6,204 to €7,440, while roulette, card and dice tables will be taxed at €40,440 per year, up from €33,696.

The tax rate for telephone games of chance, betting and wagers will climb from 15% to 18% of revenue, bingo will increase from 10% to 12%, and interactive gambling will rise from 12% to 15%.

According to Finance Ministry estimates, these measures will generate an additional €9.2m, of which €9bn will go to the state budget and €175,000 to municipalities.

The budget also confirms steep increases in tobacco excise duties, with 5% rises planned in 2026 and 2027 and an average 15% hike in 2028, excluding cigars, cigarillos and e-liquids.

Alcohol duties will also be raised, including an additional €15 per 100 litres of absolute alcohol on spirits from March 2026, followed by a 10% increase on all alcoholic beverages, including beer, from March 2028.

A new 10% excise duty has been added to the fiscal package, though observers caution that it may be reconsidered depending on the outcome of the October 2026 elections.

By merging the IAUI into the SRS, the government intends to consolidate licensing, tax collection, enforcement and anti-money laundering oversight within a single authority.

Officials argue that this will cut administrative burdens, eliminate overlapping processes, and provide greater transparency in public administration as Latvia tightens its fiscal regime for 2026–27.

The Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) has moved to strengthen oversight of land-based gambling venues, releasing new duty of care guidance for gaming arcades and casinos.

The regulator said the advice is designed to help operators improve how they protect customers, following a series of site visits earlier this year. Inspectors noted that while arcades generally showed awareness of their safer gambling responsibilities, the way policies were applied in practice often left room for improvement.

Rather than adding new obligations, the KSA has provided operators with practical support – from a handbook and FAQs to awareness posters and a short animation – aimed at ensuring staff are better equipped to handle player protection on the ground.

The package also includes an updated guide to using Cruks, the country’s exclusion register, after repeated requests from operators for clarity.

“Working together” on safer gambling
Explaining the regulator’s position, KSA Chairman Michel Groothuizen said: “Certain key factors of the duty of care are easier to monitor for online providers than in brick-and-mortar casinos. In our conversations with arcade owners, we’ve noticed that they want to do more with the duty of care, but sometimes still struggle with its proper implementation.

“With this new guidance, supplemented with informational materials for employees, we’re giving them new tools to do so. In this way, we’re working together to ensure that players are optimally protected even at brick-and-mortar providers.”

Dutch market under pressure
The release comes at a time when the Dutch gambling market is undergoing sweeping change. The Remote Gambling Act (KOA) is being reshaped by Legal Protections Secretary Teun Struycken, with new safety rails set to tighten rules for online and retail providers alike.

July also saw the introduction of a blanket ban on sports sponsorships, further limiting operator visibility in the country. Enforcement has been stepped up too: in April, the KSA handed out a €734,000 fine to an unnamed operator for failing to comply with player protection standards.

Meanwhile, taxes on gambling companies have also been increased, though the regulator has acknowledged this has had less impact than restrictions and fines when it comes to curbing risky practices.

By publishing its new guidance now, the KSA is signalling that its focus on player protection will extend beyond the online space, with arcades and casinos expected to raise standards in line with the regulator’s wider crackdown.

Italy is preparing to overhaul its defences against illegal gambling as the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) sets out plans for a national “cybersecurity shield” in the forthcoming Budget Law.

The measure, revealed by Italian gambling news source AgiproNews, will require any business offering public internet access to install anti-illegality software on devices ranging from PCs and kiosks to tablets. Developed jointly by ADM — Italy’s Customs & Monopolies Agency — and state-owned tech hub SOGEI, the software will automatically block connections to unauthorised gambling domains.

“The software will be made available for download to all operators and relevant authorities, creating a national safeguard against illegal gaming domains,” AgiproNews has reported.

ADM to lead mutli-stakeholder project
ADM will draft the implementing regulations, while inspections by both the Guardia di Finanza and ADM will ensure compliance. Fines will be levied against non-compliant operators, with heavier penalties — and potential criminal charges — if devices are found in “closed browsing” mode designed to funnel users directly to illegal betting sites.

The move follows a ruling by Italy’s Constitutional Court which struck down the Balduzzi Decree’s blanket ban on gaming devices in public venues, arguing the measure was disproportionate and unduly restrictive to business freedoms. Even so, ADM has stressed that so-called “totems” and closed-circuit devices dedicated exclusively to gambling remain prohibited.

MEF: New Regime needs better protection
The MEF is keen to stress the economic weight behind the reform. Italy’s gambling industry generates an estimated €21bn in gross income, delivering around €8bn annually to the state through duties and taxes.

New online protections are considered critical to securing the government’s updated licensing regime, under which operators must pay €7m per licence. So far, ADM has approved 46 applications.

The reforms reflect a market in transition. While Italy remains Europe’s fourth-largest regulated gambling market, MEF officials highlight that online gambling alone is now worth roughly €1bn per year, with rapid growth accelerating the need for robust digital protections.

As noted that the new online regime requires operators to adhere to a new compliance charter, mandating that operators promote responsible gambling tools for players to control time and spend and offer in-play warnings on high-risk games.

Italy is no stranger to Black Market encroachment

Yet exposure to the black market remains high. In 2023, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) estimated that Italy faced around €1bn in illegal activity, as offshore operators exploited the country’s strict Dignity Decree, which banned advertising and sponsorship. The restrictions have fuelled demand for “quick-deposit” skin sites, many of them hosted abroad.

The Meloni government has signalled it wants to repeal blanket bans, instead moving towards a modernised framework for marketing and sponsorship. A new mandate is expected to reach parliament later this year, shaped by recommendations from Serie A, Italian media and the Ministry of Sports. Negotiations are ongoing between Sports Minister Andrea Abodi and Serie A president Ezio Simonelli.

Land-based reorganisation moved to 2026
Despite the urgency, wider structural reform has slipped. The second phase of Italy’s gambling reorganisation has been pushed back to August 2026, a delay blamed on complex negotiations with regional authorities and ADM’s need to complete the Lotto Italia tender, awarded to a consortium of Brightstar, Allwyn and Novomatic

Key settlements are required on compensation terms for provinces and municipalities that host gaming outlets, alongside new licensing conditions for franchise networks and an expected revision of land-based gambling taxes. The fiscal and regulatory changes are likely to dominate talks between Rome and regional governments over the coming year.

2026: Year of technical upgrades for Italian gambling

2025 is recognised as year of regulatory revisions and settlments for Italian gambling. Moving into 2026, it will likely be a year of technical adjustments and settlements for both online and land-based incumbents, as the government moves in a new direction that recognises and values the economic contribution of the gambling sector.

Italy’s policy shift reflects a balancing act: securing billions in state revenues, tightening oversight of a fast-growing digital market, and settling disputes with provinces and franchise operators, while giving Serie A and national media a lifeline after years under the Dignity Decree’s advertising blackout. Whether the “cyber shield” can hold back the black market tide will be the first real test of the MEF’s new regime.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs of Spain has raised the alarm at teenagers’ exposure to gambling, deemed “a worrying scenario for all Spanish authorities.”

Concerns are raised following the publishing of the 2024 ESTUDES Survey, which provides insights on behavioural risks and addictions in secondary schools across Spain.

According to the study, almost one in five teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18 (19.8%) admitted to having gambled for money, with the average age of initiation beginning at approximately 13.9 years.

Of those who gambled, a majority of 19% did so in physical venues such as bars and cafés, while 9% responded that they had gambled online.

Among the most concerning findings, a near one in four teenagers (24%) who engage in gambling admitted having played Type III games such as slot machines, cards and other high-risk formats.

Type III games are recognised as the highest risk games category impacting customer behaviour. However, within many of Spain’s autonomous provinces Type III games can be serviced by cafés and bars as ‘recreativos’ – in-venue terminals with fixed jackpots.

The data reveals a clear gender divide. By the age of 17, nearly one in five students are involved in gambling, with boys more than twice as likely as girls to take part. While many gamble infrequently and spend modest amounts, 3.7% of teenagers already show signs of problematic behaviour, rising to 5.5% among boys.

When placed alongside other risky behaviours, gambling remains under-addressed. The ESTUDES survey shows that only 48.4% of students recall receiving information on the dangers of gambling, compared with more than 70% who recall prevention training on alcohol and tobacco use.

This educational gap is seen by authorities as one of the most pressing concerns, particularly given that gambling begins at almost the same age as drinking and smoking.

In response, the Ministry has called for an urgent strengthening of prevention policies in schools, with greater emphasis on educating young people about the risks of gambling and early signs of problematic behaviour.

Authorities have also flagged the need for tighter checks on retail points where underage gambling typically occurs, including cafés, lottery shops and small venues that continue to provide easy access to minors.

The Ministry concluded that without stronger action at the educational and retail levels, the current trajectory risks embedding gambling into adolescent habits in the same way tobacco and alcohol once were, but with potentially hidden consequences that emerge later in adulthood.

The findings of the ESTUDES survey are required by Spain’s federal government and its commitment to uphold the United Nations 2030 Agenda (UN2030) – which contains the charter to reduce social inequalities by investing in education and public health.

In wider developments, Spain seeks to position itself as the most sophisticated EU member state in supervising gambling behaviours, tasking the Directorate of Gambling (DGOJ) with building a dedicated AI-driven monitoring system to detect risk patterns.

Last week, the DGOJ launched its first public consultation on the framework since 2023, outlining a model that will apply more than 60 behavioural variables from frequency and stake size to deposit timing and cash-out habits — to identify players at risk.

The system aims to unify standards across operators and enhance consumer protections, underlining Spain’s ambition to combine education, prevention, and cutting-edge technology in tackling gambling harms.