Author: Maisie Morrison

TLDR Macau’s tourism office projects around 10% year-on-year visitor growth this summer Visitor arrivals hit 14.66 million in January–April 2026, up 13.1% year-on-year Mainland China remains the top market, with arrivals up 15.7% Thailand arrivals surged nearly 60%, reaching 88,819 in the first four months South Korea and the Philippines ranked second and third among international markets Macau could see visitor arrivals grow by around 10% this summer compared to last year, according to Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes. She said the office hopes momentum from early 2026 will carry into the peak travel…

TLDR Hanoi police raided digital marketing firm Super Thi Seo Media Services and arrested CEO Pham Ngoc Manh for promoting illegal gambling sites The network allegedly earned VND3.7bn (£105,830) promoting illegal gambling sites in 2026 Police seized VND7bn (£199,714) in cash and assets, plus VND3bn in savings, 29 computers, and 41 phones Cryptocurrency was central to the operation — Manh allegedly used 41 electronic wallets to receive payments The approach mirrors wider regional trends, with Japan also arresting affiliates and payment processors linked to illegal online gambling Vietnam is going after the businesses that help illegal gambling sites find customers,…

TLDR Stake launched a World Cup campaign featuring Sergio Agüero, Patrice Evra, Iker Casillas, and Eden Hazard The “Everything is at Stake” campaign went live on YouTube, Instagram, and X one week before the World Cup Stake is expanding into the Province of Buenos Aires under an IPLyC license The company is also entering Mexico, operating under SEGOB’s permit system via Uno Capali’s license Mexico is a co-host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and the USA Stake, the online betting and crypto casino platform, has launched a new marketing campaign ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.…

TLDR Ciarán Carruthers has been appointed CEO of the UAE’s gambling regulator, the GCGRA He replaces Kevin Mullally, who resigned in November 2024 for family reasons Carruthers previously led Crown Resorts in Australia through a major compliance overhaul The UAE’s first online gaming site, Play971, went live after Mullally’s departure Wynn’s Ras Al Khaimah casino faces a modest delay due to the 2026 Iran conflict Ciarán Carruthers, a veteran of Asia’s casino industry, has been named the new chief executive of the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) in the UAE. He becomes the regulator’s second permanent CEO, taking over…

TLDR Germany’s total World Cup betting turnover could exceed €1 billion Between €300M–€400M may go to unlicensed offshore operators Licensed operators blame a 5% stake tax and product restrictions Germany’s monthly deposit cap of €1,000 is pushing bettors to illegal sites The World Cup will act as a real test of Germany’s 2021 gambling framework Germany’s licensed sports betting industry is worried the 2026 FIFA World Cup will expose a major weakness in the country’s gambling rules. The Deutscher Sportwettenverband (DSWV), which represents licensed online sportsbooks, estimates total betting turnover from German customers could top €1 billion during the tournament.…

TLDR Emma Floyd has been appointed as the UK’s new Director of Sport and Gambling at DCMS, replacing Ben Dean Floyd comes from an energy policy background with little direct gambling experience The sector faces pressure from campaigners pushing for tighter advertising controls Entain has publicly criticised unlicensed operators sponsoring football clubs The Gambling Commission is also searching for a new chief after Andrew Rhodes departed The UK gambling industry is entering a period of uncertainty as a new government director steps into one of the most contested roles in British regulation. Emma Floyd was confirmed on June 8 as…

TLDR Kalshi and Polymarket have updated policies to stop paid influencers from spreading election fraud claims Kalshi asked creators to remove videos alleging misconduct in California’s vote-counting process Polymarket told affiliates that denying election results violates its misinformation terms Federal investigators are looking into trading activity linked to former congressman George Santos and a Kalshi market Donald Trump Jr. serves as an adviser to both Kalshi and Polymarket Two of the largest prediction market platforms are tightening rules for paid promoters after influencers used their affiliate programs to spread unsupported claims about election fraud in California. Kalshi and Polymarket both…

TLDR Army Special Forces soldier Gannon Ken Van Dyke is set for trial on Dec. 7 in a landmark Polymarket insider trading case He is accused of using classified military information to place 13 bets, earning over $400,000 The information allegedly related to the operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Defense lawyers plan to file a dismissal motion by July 31, arguing the case relies on classified info that can’t be fully aired in court A separate case last month charged a Google employee with similar Polymarket insider trading, earning $1.2 million The Case Against…

TLDR Botswana’s Gambling Authority projects P108 million (~$7.9M) in operating revenue for 2025/26 The regulator aims to cut government funding by 50%, from $2.2M to $1.1M Revenue has grown from $215,000 in 2021/22 to $1.8M in 2024/25 Casinos and bookmakers created over 400 jobs by early 2026 Gross gambling revenue is on track to exceed $73M by March 2026 Botswana’s Gambling Authority is forecasting operating revenue of P108 million, roughly $7.9 million, for the 2025/26 financial year. The projection was presented to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Statutory Bodies and State Enterprises. The regulator says the growth reflects a maturing,…

TLDR New York mobile sportsbooks made $204.2 million in May, down 18% from last year Bettors wagered $2.13 billion, but the hold rate fell to 9.6% from 11.3% FanDuel and DraftKings still dominate, but both saw revenue declines Fanatics and Bally Bet were the only two operators to grow revenue The state collected $104.1 million in tax receipts for May New York’s mobile sports betting market brought in $204.2 million in gross gaming revenue in May 2026. That is an 18% drop compared to May 2025. The decline was not about fewer bets. Players wagered $2.13 billion across eight operators,…