Author: Maisie Morrison

TLDR Brazil’s Senate Human Rights Committee held a public hearing on July 2 about online betting. The hearing covered gambling debt, mental health, advertising, and regulation. No representatives from licensed betting companies or industry groups were invited. Senators Eduardo Girão and Damares Alves organized the hearing. Critics say the guest list only included people opposed to regulated gambling. Brazil’s Senate Human Rights Committee, known as the CDH, held a public hearing on July 2. The topic was the impact of online gambling on Brazilian society. Lawmakers looked at several issues during the session. These included consumer debt, gambling addiction, advertising…

TLDR Paradise Co posted casino revenue of KRW477.6 billion (US$308 million) for 1H26, up 5.1% year-over-year. June revenue fell 21.2% year-over-year and 35.6% month-over-month to KRW63.2 billion (US$40.7 million). Table game revenue in June dropped 23.6% year-over-year, while machine revenue rose 16.8%. Paradise Sega Sammy repaid a KRW100 billion (US$64.5 million) loan on March 31, 2026. Paradise Co reported 2025 group revenue of KRW1.15 trillion (US$789 million). Paradise Co reported casino revenue of KRW477.6 billion, or US$308 million, for the first half of 2026. This marks a 5.1% increase compared to the same period last year. The South Korea-based casino…

TLDR The Social Market Foundation wants the government to raise Machine Games Duty on Category B electronic gaming machines above the current 20% rate. Doubling the rate to 40% could raise between £275 million and £458 million a year, according to SMF modelling. Category B machines show higher rates of problem gambling, with 26.5% of casino machine users scoring as problematic gamblers. The Betting and Gaming Council rejects the proposal, warning it could cost tens of thousands of jobs. Regulus Partners estimates up to 70% of betting shops and 90% of adult gaming centres could close if the tax rises.…

TLDR The EU’s MiCA licensing deadline is approaching, forcing crypto firms to seek approval to operate across Europe. Gambling operators that use crypto payments are watching the deadline closely. Binance could lose access to EU markets if it doesn’t secure a license. A shrinking number of licensed crypto providers could limit payment options for gambling companies. Grey market gambling operators, which rely heavily on crypto, may face the biggest disruption. The countdown to the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets deadline is entering its final stage. The effects could reach beyond the crypto industry itself. Gambling operators that use digital asset…

TLDR South Africa’s National Gambling Board is reaching out to foreign regulators to stop offshore betting sites from targeting local players. Licensed operators generated about R75 billion in turnover last year, while unlicensed activity may total as much as R5 trillion. Offshore sites are often licensed in Gibraltar, Malta, the Philippines, and the UK but operate in South Africa without local approval. The board is working with intelligence agencies, telecom regulators, and police to block access to illegal gambling websites. Shoprite’s chief executive says household spending meant for essentials is being redirected toward unregulated betting. South African gambling regulators are…

TLDR The UK government will raise Gambling Commission licence fees by 25%, ignoring pushback from operators. The decision follows a consultation that received 47 responses, mostly from gambling businesses. Personal licences, supplementary licences, licence variations, and single-machine permits are all affected. The Gambling Commission also received an extra £26 million from HM Treasury to fight illegal gambling. The fee hike comes as the regulator loses its Chairman, CEO, and Policy Director within eight months. The UK government has confirmed a 25% increase in Gambling Commission licence fees. The decision stands despite objections from gambling operators. The Department for Culture, Media…

TLDR Kalshi filed a lawsuit against the Ohio Casino Control Commission on June 29. The suit aims to block a planned $5 million fine over sports contracts. Kalshi says the fine process denies its right to a jury trial. Ohio lawmakers are weighing a separate bill to regulate prediction markets. Google banned prediction market ads in Ohio starting June 2, 2026. Kalshi has filed a new lawsuit against Ohio regulators. The company wants to stop a planned $5 million fine. The case was filed on June 29 in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. It names the Ohio Casino…

TLDR Two lawsuits filed in Cole County challenge Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway’s crackdown on “pre-reveal” gaming machines. Tuners Bar & Grill argues the machines don’t meet the legal definition of gambling and seeks class-action status. The Missouri Licensing Advocacy Group says officials are using liquor license threats to force machine removals before courts rule. The lawsuits follow a February federal court ruling against Torch Electronics, which led the company to suspend Missouri operations in April. Hanaway says enforcement has cut the number of unregulated machines from about 25,000 to roughly 7,000. Missouri is now facing legal pushback over its…

TLDR Visualize Group has agreed to acquire eCOGRA, a London-based gaming testing and certification firm. This is Visualize’s second gaming compliance purchase after buying BMM Testlabs earlier this year. eCOGRA will keep its current leadership, including CEO Will Shuckburgh. Visualize plans to extend its employee ownership program to eCOGRA staff. Financial terms were not disclosed, and the deal still needs regulatory approval. Visualize Group has agreed to acquire eCOGRA. The company is a London-based testing and certification provider for the gaming industry. The deal was announced jointly in New York and London. It marks Visualize’s second gaming compliance purchase this…

TLDR French lawmakers approved amendments to the Professional Sports Bill that would set mandatory betting loss limits for adults aged 18 to 25. The exact loss cap has not been set. The government will decide it later after consulting the ANJ, France’s gambling regulator. Around two-thirds of French adults under 25 have placed sports bets, according to regulatory research. The bill also includes measures against sports piracy, which affects a large share of Ligue 1 viewers. Pascal Chèvremont has taken over as ANJ president, replacing Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin after her five-year term. French lawmakers have taken a step toward changing how…