Author: Maisie Morrison

TLDR A new Ipsos poll shows 91.1% of Ontario gamblers now use legal, regulated platforms, up 7.4% from 2025 Players using only illegal gambling sites dropped nearly in half, from 16.3% in 2025 to 8.9% Before Ontario launched its regulated market in 2022, an estimated 70% of players used unregulated operators Ontario officials say the data proves their regulatory model is working to protect players and fight illegal gambling Alberta is set to launch its own regulated online gambling market on July 13, citing Ontario’s success as a model Ontario’s Regulated Market Shows Strong Growth Four years after Ontario opened…

TLDR NSW Labor is set to debate a proposal at its July state conference to cut poker machine numbers from around 90,000 to 45,000 over the next decade The plan is backed by both left and right factions of the party, as well as the head of Unions NSW, Mark Morey Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne is leading the push, saying the public overwhelmingly wants action on poker machine harm The state government has already introduced reforms including a 6-hour mandatory shutoff window and reduced cash loading limits on new machines AUSTRAC last week ordered a Sydney club to appoint…

TLDR Malaysia gave Facebook a final warning to remove illegal gambling ads or face legal action Over 271,000 takedown requests were sent to Facebook from January to May 2026 81% of all illegal gambling content in Malaysia was found on Facebook Malaysians lost over $640 million to scams in 2025 including gambling-related fraud Malaysia plans to form a new committee involving regulators, banks, and law enforcement to fight online scams Malaysia is putting pressure on Meta to clean up illegal gambling advertisements and scam content on Facebook. Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said the government is prepared to take legal action…

TLDR Puerto Rico’s Senate is reviewing Bill 960, which would allow standalone poker rooms, online sports betting, esports gambling, and electronic lottery games The Treasury, Budget, and PROMESA Commission visited Casino Metro to assess the proposed changes firsthand The bill includes new licensing rules and safeguards against problem gambling and underage play The Gaming Commission and hotel industry groups voiced concerns that the bill may just redistribute existing gambling revenue rather than create new income The Hotel and Tourism Association warned that independent poker rooms could pose security risks and hurt Puerto Rico’s image as a tourist destination Puerto Rico…

TLDR Indonesia’s Communication and Digital Affairs Ministry has blocked access to Polymarket, classifying it as online gambling Director General Alexander Sabar said the platform’s prediction market activities violate Indonesian law The ministry is also tracking Polymarket-affiliated social media accounts to enforce the ban Countries including Singapore, Brazil, India, Taiwan, Thailand, China, and Japan have also restricted the platform The government warned citizens to avoid speculative digital betting, including crypto-related transactions, and said it will work with police to monitor platforms Indonesia has blocked access to Polymarket after the government classified the crypto prediction market as an online gambling service. The…

TLDR US prediction platforms Kalshi and Polymarket are seeing growing trade volumes on Australian political events, including elections, Reserve Bank decisions, and even what the PM says in parliament Nearly US$500,000 was traded on Polymarket for the Farrer byelection alone, with Kalshi handling close to US$100,000 on the same race These platforms operate like financial exchanges rather than traditional bookmakers, letting users buy and sell shares tied to outcomes Australian regulators have already moved to block Polymarket and are monitoring Kalshi, but VPNs make enforcement difficult Federal wagering reforms are expected but questions remain about whether new rules can keep…

TLDR Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill banning online sweepstakes casinos that use virtual or dual-currency systems A second bill creates a new felony offense for manipulating prediction market outcomes Sweepstakes violations will be enforced under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977 Tennessee is among the first states to pass a law targeting prediction market integrity Several other states including Indiana, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Iowa have also enacted sweepstakes bans in 2026 Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has signed two gambling-related bills into law. One bans online sweepstakes casinos. The other makes prediction market manipulation a felony. The sweepstakes…

TLDR A Dublin-based online lottery player won €3,731,996 in the Saturday, May 23 draw using a computer-generated Quick Pick ticket. The winning numbers were 8, 12, 24, 25, 33, and 45, with a bonus ball of 4. This is the third Irish Lotto jackpot win in 2026 and the second in May alone. A separate €8.7 million jackpot was won on May 2 at a Ballymount service station. The winner’s identity remains private as the National Lottery begins the formal prize collection process. A lottery player in Dublin has won €3.7 million after buying a Quick Pick ticket through an…

TLDR A San Francisco judge paused two new state rules targeting how blackjack is played and how dealers rotate in California card rooms The 45-day injunction pushes the next legal battle to late June The judge said the Bureau of Gambling Control likely overstepped its legal authority The state’s own estimates show the rules could wipe out half of all blackjack revenue at card rooms Cities like Bell Gardens and Commerce have declared fiscal emergencies over the expected revenue losses A San Francisco Superior Court judge has temporarily blocked California from enforcing new regulations that card room operators say would…

TLDR Kenya’s Finance Bill 2026 proposes a 20% withholding tax on gambling winnings for both residents and non-residents The bill also includes a 5% tax on deposits and withdrawals from gambling accounts The definition of deposits has been broadened to include chips, tokens, credits, and similar instruments Public participation on the bill opened May 11 and closed May 25, with the bill tabled in Parliament on April 30 Critics warn heavier taxes could push bettors toward offshore or unregulated platforms Kenya is moving forward with plans to impose a 20% withholding tax on gambling winnings as part of its Finance…