Author: Maisie Morrison

TLDR Angola’s Institute of Games Supervision (ISJ) opened a 30-day licensing window for gambling operators. The transitional regime took effect on July 1, following a Circular presented on June 29. Operators can secure provisional approval while the government finalizes rules under the Gaming Activity Law. The rule covers operators whose licenses lapsed before or after the law took effect, if they notified the regulator. Angola’s gambling revenue grew 75.1% over the past year, with parafiscal revenue up 24% in February. Angola’s gambling regulator has given operators a short window to get their paperwork in order. The Institute of Games Supervision,…

TLDR Illegal online gambling in the EU generated an estimated €91.6 billion in 2025. EU governments missed out on about €22.9 billion in tax revenue. More than 6,200 illegal gambling websites are targeting European players. The European Casino Association shared the data at a European Parliament roundtable. Officials are discussing stronger cross-border enforcement, including changes to Europol’s role. Illegal online gambling aimed at people in the European Union brought in an estimated €91.6 billion in 2025. The figure was shared at a roundtable held at the European Parliament this week. The data comes from the European Casino Association and was…

TLDR Laurence Escalante has resigned as CEO and Executive Chairman of sweepstakes casino operator VGW, effective immediately. The move follows six months on leave after Western Australia Police charged him with family-violence and drug-related offenses. Acting CEO Mats Johnson will run the company while VGW searches for a permanent chief executive. The resignation comes less than a year after Escalante completed a $2.3 billion privatization of VGW. VGW still leads the U.S. sweepstakes market, though its top brands have lost market share amid rising competition and new state regulations. Laurence Escalante has resigned as CEO and Executive Chairman of VGW.…

TLDR A Polymarket user placed a $409,000 bet that Vladimir Putin will leave office by December 31, 2026. The bettor, known as ZnotluvuiSamez, has a history of large wagers tied to the Ukraine war. The market still gives the outcome only around an 11% chance. Putin is not scheduled for another election for several years, so the bet does not match any planned vote. Ukraine has stepped up drone strikes on Moscow, drawing more attention to political betting markets. A single bet worth roughly $409,000 has put one of Polymarket’s political contracts back in the spotlight. The wager predicts that…

TLDR U.S. gambling companies spent $520 million on celebrity and athlete partnerships in 2025, compared to just $60 million on responsible gambling programs. Total marketing spend across the industry reached $3.9 billion, with responsible gambling communications making up only 1.5% of that. Only 4 of 12 publicly traded gambling operators disclose responsible gambling spending as a percentage of their marketing budgets. BetMGM ranked first across sports betting, iGaming, and land-based casino categories for responsible gambling communication. AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini cite companies with more responsible gambling content more often when answering questions about player safety. A new audit…

TLDR Prediction markets could grow into a $1 trillion industry by 2030, according to a Bernstein estimate. Kalshi currently leads the prediction market space, with Polymarket as its main rival. ProphetX was approved last month as a Designated Contract Market and Derivatives Clearing Organization. 365Prediction has a similar application pending with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Lawmakers and courts are still working out rules for the industry, including sports-related contracts. Prediction markets are drawing new competitors even as the rules around them stay unsettled. Two newer companies, ProphetX and 365Prediction, are trying to carve out space in a market currently…

TLDR NSW Labor is preparing tougher poker machine rules ahead of the next state election The plan includes a moratorium on new poker machine licences Clubs earning over AU$20 million from machines would face higher taxes Mandatory facial recognition in gaming rooms is part of the proposal The state plan follows new federal rules limiting gambling ads on TV New South Wales is preparing a tougher set of rules for poker machines. The changes are expected to become part of the state Labor Party’s platform for the next election. The issue was a main topic at NSW Labor’s annual conference…

TLDR Philippine gross gaming revenue fell 15.9% in the first quarter of 2026 S&P Global Ratings says easier visa rules and an online gambling recovery could support growth Electronic games dropped 22.4% as inflation tied to Middle East wars cut consumer spending The Philippines extended visa-free entry for Taiwanese passport holders through June 2027 Pagcor expanded anti-money laundering rules covering banks and e-wallets in e-gaming The Philippines’ gaming industry may return to growth this year. S&P Global Ratings points to easier visa rules and a recovery in online gambling as the main drivers. The outlook follows a weak start to…

TLDR Sands China was named to the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Indices for the sixth year in a row. The company sits on both the World Index (fifth straight year) and the Asia Pacific Index (sixth straight year). Sands China says it is the only integrated resort operator listed on both indices at the same time. Parent company Las Vegas Sands made the World and North America indices for the seventh consecutive year. The news follows a June placement in the top 1% of the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook. Sands China has been named to the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Indices for…

TLDR Brazil’s Senate held a hearing on July 2 about the rise in betting advertising during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Senator Eduardo Girão called for the repeal of Brazil’s Betting Law, citing harm to families and public health. Brazil’s Ministry of Health reported that gambling disorder treatments through the public health system rose 140% between 2018 and 2025. Over 25 million Brazilians gambled in 2025, and 4.4% showed symptoms of gambling disorder. Officials discussed new consumer protection rules, including spending limits and better monitoring of betting platforms. Brazil’s Senate met on July 2 to discuss the rise in betting…