Author: Maisie Morrison

TLDR The Prize Competition Council (PCC) has officially launched as a trade association for the UK prize draw sector. The PCC brings together more than 50 operators to promote player protection and responsible standards. The launch follows a voluntary code of conduct that came into effect in May this year. A nine-person board, led by independent chair George McGregor, will serve a two-year term. The UK prize draw market generated £1.3 billion in revenue last year from around 7.4 million active players. The Prize Competition Council has officially launched in the UK. It will act as a trade body for…

TLDR Tim Miller flagged a “disconnect” between the Gambling Commission and operators over financial risk assessments (FRAs). The FRA pilot found a group of players in arrears that operators’ own checks were missing. Miller said the policy is meant to focus on higher-spending customers showing signs of financial distress. The Gambling Commission delayed its decision on full FRA implementation back in May. Miller, who is leaving the Commission after ten years, said tech firms are failing UK consumers by not acting fast enough against illegal gambling sites. Tim Miller, an executive director at the Gambling Commission, spoke at iGB Live…

TLDR Illinois Senate President Don Harmon’s campaign will send $50,000 to charity after receiving a donation from ARB Interactive, the company behind online gambling platform Modo. The Illinois Gaming Board sent Modo a cease-and-desist notice, saying it offered unlicensed casino games to state residents. Harmon’s office says a 15-minute meeting with ARB Interactive representatives did not include talk about gambling business. ARB Interactive disputes the state’s legal position and says its platform follows Illinois law. The company also faces scrutiny in Arizona and a federal lawsuit in California over its sweepstakes gambling model. Illinois Senate President Don Harmon is giving…

TLDR Indiana’s sweepstakes casino ban took effect on July 1, prohibiting dual-currency games. Major operators including Chumba Casino, Stake.us, McLuck, and WOW Vegas withdrew from the state. VGW pulled all of its brands, including LuckyLand Slots and Global Poker. Some operators switched to entertainment-only Gold Coin play instead of leaving entirely. Maine’s similar ban starts July 15, with Louisiana’s ban following on August 1. Indiana’s new sweepstakes casino law took effect on July 1. The law bans online sweepstakes games that use a dual-currency system. The law was signed earlier this year. Operators had several months to prepare for the…

TLDR UK Gambling Commission license fees will rise 25% starting October 1, 2026 The Department for Culture, Media and Sport confirmed the increase after a public consultation Larger operators with gross gambling yield above £100 million will see the biggest cost jumps The hike aims to close the UKGC’s roughly £4 million annual budget deficit The change follows other recent tax increases and comes alongside fresh reform proposals Britain’s gambling operators will pay 25% more for most UK Gambling Commission licenses starting October 1, 2026. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport confirmed the change on June 30. The decision…

TLDR The ASA ruled against Videoslots Ltd, trading as Mr Vegas, over a Facebook ad that ran in February 2026. The ad used cartoon-style tiles including a pink elephant, a robotic shark, candy branding, and a cartoon fisherman. The ASA said the imagery had strong appeal to under-18s, even though age restrictions were set on the platform. Mr Vegas argued the artwork was surreal rather than childlike and was aimed only at verified adult users. The ASA ordered the ad pulled and told Mr Vegas to avoid content that appeals to under-18s in future campaigns. The Advertising Standards Authority has…

TLDR Polymarket filed a federal lawsuit against New Mexico’s Attorney General and gaming board members The company wants a court to rule that federal law overrides state gambling law Polymarket claims only the CFTC has authority over prediction markets The lawsuit follows New Mexico’s earlier case against competitor Kalshi New Mexico rejected Polymarket’s requests to pause enforcement before the suit was filed Polymarket has taken New Mexico to federal court. The company filed suit against Attorney General Raul Torrez and six members of the state’s gaming control board. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court. Polymarket is asking…

TLDR Azerbaijan’s National Assembly passed the first reading of a bill toughening penalties for illegal gambling, including online betting. Fixed fines of AZN10,000 to AZN15,000 would be replaced with fines of up to twice the illegal proceeds earned. Non-repeat offenders could still face restriction of liberty or imprisonment for 2 to 4 years. Repeat offenders would face mandatory prison terms of 5 to 8 years, removing the option of a non-prison sentence. The bill must still pass further stages in parliament before becoming law. Azerbaijan’s parliament has taken a step toward tougher punishment for illegal gambling. The National Assembly held…

TLDR Aristocrat Leisure said growth is coming from new casino openings and expansions across Asia. The company sees future opportunities in Europe and the United Arab Emirates. Land-based slot machine revenue is forecast to grow 3% a year through 2030, according to H2 Gambling Capital. Aristocrat Gaming is focused on efficiency, including supply chain changes and AI use. Half-year net profit after tax rose 8.4% year-on-year to AUD794.0 million. Aristocrat Leisure Ltd held its 2026 Investor Briefing on Wednesday. The Australian gambling machine maker outlined plans for growth across Asia and other regions. CEO and managing director Trevor Croker led…

TLDR S&P Global expects moderate demand for Asia-Pacific gaming over the next 12 months due to fuel costs and regional tensions. Wynn Resorts may see delays at its Wynn Al Marjan Island project in the UAE tied to conflict in the Middle East. Capital spending is expected to rise in 2026 for MGM Resorts, Wynn Resorts, Genting Bhd, and Las Vegas Sands. Las Vegas Sands received a credit rating downgrade linked to its Marina Bay Sands expansion in Singapore. Macau’s gaming revenue is still forecast to grow 5% to 7%, supported by strong visitor numbers. Casino operators across Asia-Pacific are…