Author: Maisie Morrison

TLDR Google will stop allowing gambling ad promotion in Croatia starting October 7, 2026. All existing gambling advertiser certifications will be revoked, and no new applications will be accepted. The change follows Croatia’s own tightened gambling advertising laws that began in January 2026. Lawmakers say current rules still leave loopholes, particularly around sports sponsorships. The Croatia Football Federation’s partnership with Kalshi has drawn criticism over gambling-style branding. Google will stop letting affiliates and media outlets use its ad services to promote gambling content in Croatia. The change takes effect on October 7, 2026. The company confirmed the update by revising…

TLDR São Paulo’s top football clubs met with betting companies on September 11 to discuss a proposed advertising ban. Bill 560/2025 would stop betting operators from advertising at events inside São Paulo city. Violations could bring fines up to R$50,000 and event suspensions of up to two years. Sponsorship deals with betting firms bring Corinthians, Palmeiras and São Paulo about R$350 million a year combined. Clubs worry the city-only rule could put them at a financial disadvantage against teams elsewhere in Brazil. Football clubs in São Paulo are speaking out against a new bill that could limit betting advertising in…

TLDR Stake has geo-blocked Irish users following talks with the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI). The exit comes two months after Ireland launched a new licensing system for gambling operators. Prediction market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket have also blocked Irish users in recent weeks. The GRAI says it is working with operators to ensure Irish customers get refunds on deposited funds. Stake was banned in Nigeria days earlier and lost its UK licence back in March 2025. Stake has blocked access to its platform for users in Ireland. The move followed discussions with the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland,…

TLDR LeBron James signed a two-year, $8 million deal with Polymarket to make weekly NFL picks. The Polymarket ad campaign also features Sue Bird, Reggie Bush, Derek Jeter, Eli Manning, Rajon Rondo, and Richard Sherman. James previously promoted DraftKings and once criticized how betting affected the integrity of sports. Rival Kalshi has signed deals with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bryson DeChambeau, and Lionel Messi, plus five MLB teams. The legal fight over sports event contracts continues in court, with a possible Supreme Court ruling ahead. LeBron James has signed on with Polymarket. The deal makes him the newest professional athlete to team…

TLDR KSA head Michel Groothuizen says the Netherlands cannot fight illegal gambling alone and wants EU-wide cooperation Half of every euro Dutch gamblers spend goes to illegal operators, costing the country over €500 million in lost tax Illegal sites have impersonated Dutch suicide prevention service 113.nl and urged banned gamblers to bypass their exclusion Dutch regulators have sued sites including Skyhills and blocked prediction market platform Polymarket Lawmakers remain split on an ad ban and raising the gambling age to 21 The head of the Dutch gambling regulator says the Netherlands cannot fight illegal gambling on its own. Michel Groothuizen…

TLDR Thailand is considering a 0.01% tax on gold transactions to fight money laundering tied to organized crime and illegal gambling. The Bank of Thailand supports the proposal and wants better tracking of gold transactions nationwide. BOT already requires reporting on physical gold withdrawals of 2kg or more, cutting large withdrawal requests sharply. Thailand’s illegal gambling market is estimated at 1.1 trillion baht, or £25.1 billion, per year. The Financial Action Task Force released a report on money laundering risks tied to online gaming and casinos. Thailand is looking at a new tax on gold transactions. The plan would apply…

TLDR New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs suspended the license of charitable gaming trust One Foundation for six days over accounting failures. The DIA recovered NZ$11.5 million (US$6.7 million) for community organizations through a wider review of the Class 4 gambling sector. Investigators found some operators used gambling proceeds meant for community grants to cover society expenses, including gaming machine purchases. New Zealand’s Class 4 gambling sector generates more than NZ$1 billion annually in proceeds. The DIA released new financial guidance to help operators meet their accounting obligations going forward. New Zealand’s gambling regulator has taken action against a charitable…

TLDR Argentina’s tax agency ARCA reported ARS106.6 billion ($70.5 million) collected from online betting and gaming taxes between January and August 2026. August alone brought in ARS16.975 billion ($11.2 million), slightly below July’s ARS17.798 billion ($11.8 million). The tax is based on player deposits, not total revenue earned by betting operators. Tax rates range from 2.5% to 15% depending on whether an operator is registered, domestic, or foreign. Argentina’s total national tax revenue for August reached ARS20.509 trillion ($13.6 billion), up 33.5% from August 2025. Argentina has collected ARS106.6 billion, or roughly $70.5 million, in taxes on online betting and…

TLDR Myanmar authorities arrested 7 suspects, 2 men and 5 women, in Yangon and Mandalay Regions. The arrests targeted senior agents linked to online gambling networks, including one tied to Ibet 789. A senior Ibet 789 agent was arrested at Yangon International Airport on September 2. Officials seized 13 mobile phones, 1 computer, 1 tablet, and 3 vehicles across the operations. Legal action has been opened against all 7 suspects as investigations continue. Authorities in Myanmar have arrested 7 people accused of running or supporting online gambling operations. The arrests took place across Yangon and Mandalay Regions. Officials said the…

TLDR Crane NXT CEO Aaron Saak says gaming remains a key market for the company’s payment hardware business. The company holds a strong market share in gaming payment hardware through its CPI segment. Saak described the payment hardware industry as an oligopoly with only one or two competitors. A redesigned US$20 bill could drive an equipment upgrade cycle across cash handling industries. Crane NXT reported second quarter net sales of $493.2 million, up 22% year over year. Crane NXT chief executive Aaron Saak says the gaming sector remains one of the most important markets for the company’s payment hardware business.…