Author: Maisie Morrison

TLDR Zeal Group has bought UK prize draw operator SevenCanyon in its first move outside Germany. CEO Stefan Tweraser says tougher UK rules would actually help Zeal because of its German regulatory experience. The deal costs £33.9 million upfront, plus up to £4.8 million more if targets are met. SevenCanyon made about £99 million in billings last year, with £30 million in gross gaming revenue. SevenCanyon’s founders will leave within six months, replaced by a Zeal insider named Alex Green. Zeal Group has entered the UK prize draw market for the first time. The German company bought SevenCanyon, a UK-based…

TLDR Betano data shows 71% of bettors expect Argentina to beat England in the semi-final. France are seen as even stronger favorites, with 79% predicting a win over Spain. Kylian Mbappe is the top pick to score against Spain, backed by 60% of users. Lionel Messi leads scoring predictions for the Argentina vs England match, at 34%. Jude Bellingham is slightly ahead of Harry Kane in fan predictions for England’s top scorer. Kaizen Gaming has shared new betting data from its Betano platform ahead of the World Cup semi-finals. The numbers show which teams and players fans expect to shine…

TLDR Rio de Janeiro became the first Brazilian state capital to ban sports betting ads in public spaces under Decree No. 58,274. The city decree followed new federal rules restricting how betting operators can advertise nationwide. Interministerial Ordinance No. 73 bans ads that portray betting as a financial opportunity or income source. A separate ordinance requires new warning labels on betting ads starting July 17. Regulators are investigating broadcasters and operators over ads shown during live sports events, including World Cup coverage. A sports betting billboard near Rio de Janeiro’s Siqueira Campos Metro station was taken down this week. In…

TLDR New Zealand has opened registration through the Government Electronic Tenders Service (GETS) for its first online casino licence auction. Registration only grants access to the platform. It does not let companies apply for a licence yet. The process follows a three-stage system under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026. Up to 15 online casino licences will be issued, and regulators can withhold licences if applicants don’t meet standards. Licences last three years with one renewal option and cannot be sold or transferred. New Zealand has taken its next step toward a regulated online casino market. The government has opened…

TLDR Pure Canadian Gaming has applied to launch its own online gambling platform ahead of Alberta’s iGaming market launch. The company runs 7 casinos across Alberta, including 2 in Edmonton, and has operated in the province for over 25 years. CEO Brad Belhouse says the company will compete on trust and local presence rather than advertising budgets. More than 48 platforms have applied to enter Alberta’s new iGaming market, including BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, and bet365. Alberta officials expect the regulated market to generate about $76 million in its first year. A local casino operator in Alberta is preparing to launch…

TLDR PAGCOR has tightened its probity check system after the Philippines left the FATF grey list in February 2025. The checks are tied to FATF Recommendation 28, which keeps criminals out of casino ownership and management. Reviews are split into three tiers based on risk level, from basic checks to enhanced third-party screening. Licensed entities must report ownership or board changes to PAGCOR within 15 days. Most checks finish within 30 days, but missing paperwork can delay approval or lead to license suspension. PAGCOR has made its probity check process a bigger part of how it runs the gaming industry.…

TLDR Brazil’s self-exclusion registry hit 925,000 users in July, up from 700,000 in June. New betting advertising rules take effect on July 17, 2026. Ads must carry one of three official warning messages from the Ministry of Finance. Operators can no longer use jackpot winner stories or urgency tactics in ads. Live match narration used to push bets during broadcasts will also be banned. Brazil’s regulated betting market is entering a new phase of consumer protection. The Ministry of Finance says close to 925,000 people have now signed up for the country’s self-exclusion program. That number is up sharply from…

TLDR A Swedish court confirmed anti-money laundering fines against Betsson, Snabbare, and Spooniker. The combined fines total nearly 2 million euros. Spooniker, run by Kindred, received the largest fine at SEK 10 million. The investigation focused on players aged 18 to 29 with high deposits. The regulator said all three companies failed to verify where customer funds came from. A Swedish administrative court has confirmed anti-money laundering fines against three gambling companies. The ruling upholds penalties first issued by the regulator Spelinspektionen. The court said the regulator was right to fine Betsson, Snabbare, and Spooniker for gaps in how they…

TLDR Sporting Risk announced a new partnership with Betfred on July 13, 2026. Betfred will add Sporting Risk’s BetBuilder pre-match and in-play markets to its platform. The deal includes Player Props, team stats, and player-based micro markets. These markets run through Sportradar’s Unified Odds Feed framework. The rollout is timed for the 2026 World Cup football season. Sporting Risk has struck a new partnership with Betfred. The deal was announced on July 13, 2026. The agreement brings Sporting Risk’s player-focused betting products to Betfred’s platform. This includes tools built around individual player performance rather than just team outcomes. What The…

TLDR The UK government is preparing a consultation to close a loophole letting unlicensed offshore gambling firms sponsor British football clubs. Everton signed a three-year sleeve sponsorship deal with crypto casino Stake.com, reigniting debate over gambling in football. Stake no longer holds a UK gambling licence after its white-label partner gave up its licence last year. Entain’s CEO pushed ministers to speed up the review before clubs locked in new season sponsorship deals. Everton and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham have not commented on the sponsorship deal. The UK government is getting ready to launch a consultation on gambling sponsorship…