Author: Maisie Morrison

TLDR Bulgaria’s government turned down opposition proposals to sharply raise gambling taxes and expand advertising restrictions. Lawmakers approved only a small extra tax on a limited niche area, not the broader hike sought by critics. Deputy Finance Minister Lyudmila Petkova warned that raising taxes too fast could push players toward illegal gambling sites. The Finance Ministry is working on a full rewrite of the country’s gambling law. Bulgaria’s existing ad ban, in place since April 2024, already limits gambling promotion across TV, radio, print, and online platforms. Bulgaria’s government has rejected calls from opposition parties to raise gambling taxes and…

TLDR Resorts World NYC opened an expanded gaming floor with 1,400 new slot machines. The casino is holding a groundbreaking ceremony today for Phase Two of its $5.5 billion redevelopment. Phase Two includes a 400-room hotel tower and a 7,000-seat entertainment venue. Weekly table game revenue has grown from $4.9 million to more than $10.4 million since launch. The finished project is expected to become the largest casino in the United States. Resorts World New York City has opened a new section of its gaming floor. The addition includes 1,400 slot machines as part of its ongoing $5.5 billion expansion…

TLDR Japan’s government panel released a report on illegal online casino enforcement. Website blocking remains an option but was not directly recommended. Most public responses favored blocking illegal gambling sites. Privacy concerns tied to Japan’s constitution complicate the plan. Japan is testing softer measures first, with a review expected this autumn. Japan is considering blocking access to illegal online casino websites. The idea is part of a wider effort to stop illegal gambling in the country. A government panel released a report on the plan Wednesday. The report did not recommend blocking outright, but it said the option should stay…

TLDR Kenya’s High Court has suspended the country’s new gambling licensing regulations. The stay order follows a legal challenge over capital requirement changes in the rules. Petitioners say the final requirements were never put through public consultation. The ruling puts Kenya’s licensed gambling market on hold. A court hearing on the case is scheduled for September 21. Kenya’s High Court has suspended the country’s new gambling licensing framework. The order came from Justice William Musyoka on Monday. The stay targets the Gambling Control (Licensing) Regulations 2026. It followed a case filed by Thomas Buckley Opar Owuor and Ken Brance. Owuor…

TLDR Tabcorp has been fined more than AU$2.7 million by Australia’s media regulator for telemarketing and spam law breaches The breaches happened between February 2024 and June 2025 Tabcorp made 351 calls to numbers on the Do Not Call Register without consent The company sent over 217,000 marketing messages to unsubscribed customers in just 16 days This is Tabcorp’s second penalty from the regulator after a 2025 fine of over AU$4 million Tabcorp Holdings has been fined more than AU$2.7 million by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. The penalty relates to telemarketing and spam law breaches. The regulator announced…

TLDR A Washington judge granted a preliminary injunction against Kalshi over its sports event contracts. The court rejected Kalshi’s argument that federal law blocks the state from enforcing its gambling rules. The judge said gambling law and futures market law are separate legal areas. Washington joins Massachusetts, Nevada, and Michigan in winning similar early rulings against Kalshi. Both sides must submit injunction details by August 3, with the order set to take effect August 5. A Washington judge has ruled against Kalshi in an ongoing legal fight over sports event contracts. The King County Superior Court found that the company…

TLDR Spain’s gambling regulator, the DGOJ, has opened a public consultation on changes to the Remote Gambling Act. Proposed changes include stricter ID checks, a registry for approved software suppliers, and new advertising limits. The Spanish government has approved cross-operator deposit limits, with testing starting September 25. H2 Gambling Capital expects the deposit limits to cut onshore player spending by about €300 million a year. The DGOJ is taking enforcement action against Polymarket and Kalshi, but sports-based prediction betting may still fit current rules. A recent Gaming in Spain webinar looked at several changes coming to Spain’s regulated betting market.…

TLDR UK Gambling Commission operator licence fees will rise 25% starting October 1, 2026. The increase follows a public consultation led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The government wants the industry to fully fund the regulator instead of using taxpayer money. The fee hike adds to other new costs, including a Remote Gaming Duty jump from 21% to 40% in April 2026. Online gambling operators are expected to feel the biggest financial impact from the combined changes. The UK government has confirmed that Gambling Commission operator licence fees will increase by 25%. The change takes effect on…

TLDR Charlotte Emery has left her role as Entain’s UK Chief Marketing Officer after two years. Entain says the exit was on mutually agreed terms and has already started an executive search. The role covers marketing strategy, media spending and brand development for Ladbrokes, Coral, Gala and Foxy Bingo. Emery’s time in the job included a new creative agency for Ladbrokes and a switch in media buying to PHD. The search comes while Entain cuts around 500 jobs worldwide under a cost review led by CEO Stella David. Entain is searching for a new UK Chief Marketing Officer. Charlotte Emery…

TLDR North Carolina sportsbooks handled nearly $590 million in bets during June 2026, a 36.1% jump from June 2025. The Carolina Hurricanes won their second Stanley Cup title in June, driving heavy hockey betting activity across the state. Sportsbook revenue fell 6.8% to about $54.1 million as payouts to bettors rose sharply. The state collected close to $9.7 million in betting taxes for June, bringing 2026 totals to roughly $71.7 million. Starting in July, North Carolina raised its sports betting tax rate from 18% to 23%, with new funding going to college athletic departments. North Carolina’s online sports betting market…