iGaming News & Gambling Industry Updates

Key Points Bulgaria’s parliament rejected proposals to raise the GGR tax from 25% to 30% and introduce a near-total advertising ban, with the government citing the country’s 60% channelisation rate as the central reason. Deputy Finance Minister Lyudmila Petkova warned that any tax increase before addressing the grey sector would drive players toward unlicensed operators […]

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has introduced legislation requiring online sportsbooks to carry out facial recognition age checks before customers can place bets. Representative Josh Gottheimer introduced the Facial Recognition to Protect Children Act on 15 July, with support from eight lawmakers across both political parties. Under the proposal, operators would be required to […]

Evolution CEO Martin Carlesund has insisted the company will not alter its UK strategy after reaching a settlement with the UK Gambling Commission over the availability of its games on unlicensed websites. Earlier this week, the regulator ordered Evolution to pay £4.75 million after an investigation that began in December 2024 found the supplier’s content […]

Aristocrat Interactive has expanded its Canadian presence by partnering with Loto-Québec, bringing its real-money gaming portfolio to the province’s regulated gambling market. This move strengthens the supplier’s position across North America’s government regulated lottery markets as it grows beyond Ontario. Quebec has become an attractive online gambling market in recent years. Loto-Québec’s Espacejeux platform generated […]

Key Points Gambling.com Group officially became Grandstand Limited on 23 July 2026, switching its Nasdaq ticker from GAMB to GRSD. The company now spans sports data, advertising technology, audience monetisation, and Las Vegas entertainment, far beyond its affiliate origins. The rebrand follows a 53% share price collapse in May, a 25% workforce cut, and a […]

Key Points Evolution formally terminated its merger agreement with Galaxy Gaming on 21 July 2026, paying a $5,234,678 breakup fee. Two gaming regulators, including Nevada, had not granted approval before the 17 July contractual deadline expired. Evolution CEO Martin Carlesund had already signalled the outcome weeks earlier, calling the deal “not significant” for the business. […]

Key Points GRAI CEO Anne Marie Caulfield confirmed the regulator could pursue High Court blocking orders against one of the world’s largest prediction market platforms still targeting Irish consumers without a licence. Both Polymarket and Kalshi restricted access to Irish users as of 21 July 2026, with a second platform geoblock confirmed on that same […]

Key Points Reports of youth online gambling rose 74% in the second month of South Korea’s voluntary reporting programme, with 806 total cases logged between May and mid-July 2026. Cases include a 14-year-old who withdrew KRW30 million from a parent’s bank account and an 18-year-old paying 200% annual interest to illegal lenders. Proposed AML changes […]

Key Points The Swedish gambling regulatory body has released a comprehensive map regarding the promotional activities of the unlicensed entities targeting Swedish consumers, naming affiliate link farms, Twitch, Kick, TikTok, Snapchat, Meta, X, and Telegram as their key advertising platforms. The first-ever criminal conviction related to unlicensed gambling activities due to economic offences has been […]

Key Points Dr Ahmad Hesham, former Senior Legal Adviser to the UAE Federal Government and Vice President of the Supreme Administrative Court, joins the GCGRA as General Counsel and Board Secretary. The appointment follows Ciarán Carruthers being confirmed as permanent CEO last month, completing a significant leadership restructure at the regulator. The GCGRA is overseeing […]