Author: Maisie Morrison

TLDR Macau casino revenue averaged about MOP729 million ($90.2 million) per day from October 5 to 11, according to UBS. That was down from about MOP1.0 billion per day in the first four days of Golden Week, but above September’s daily average of MOP602 million. Mass-market daily revenue rose 35% to 38% month-on-month, while VIP volume rose 40% to 45%. Analysts expect October to average about MOP777 million per day, roughly flat year-on-year. Casinos need about MOP744 million per day for the rest of October to meet that forecast. Macau’s casinos brought in an average of about MOP729 million, or…

TLDR Hong Kong is combining financial surveillance, AI tools, intelligence sharing, and law enforcement to fight illegal online gambling. Banks, stored value facilities, licensed corporations, and virtual asset trading platforms must monitor and report suspicious transactions. The Securities and Futures Commission released a Regtech guide in November 2024 to support anti-money laundering work. Promoting illegal betting can bring a fine of up to HK$5 million and seven years in prison. The Ping Wo Fund will continue offering gambling prevention programs and counseling services. Hong Kong authorities have set out a plan to fight illegal online gambling and the money laundering…

TLDR Two large Polymarket traders took opposite sides of Thursday’s Seahawks vs. Broncos game in one transaction on Oct. 13. BreakTheBank spent $213,879 on 500,528 Broncos shares at 42 cents each. surfandturf paid $290,000 for 500,000 Seahawks shares at 58 cents each. BreakTheBank leads Polymarket’s weekly profit leaderboard with $2.13 million, while surfandturf lost about $718,000 this week. The game kicks off at 8:15 p.m. ET on Oct. 15 in Denver, with the market giving Seattle a 57% chance on Wednesday. Two of the biggest sports traders on Polymarket have taken opposite sides of Thursday night’s NFL game between the…

TLDR Betfred reported a pre-tax profit of £64 million ($84.59 million) for the 52 weeks ended March 29, 2026. The bookmaker plans to close 132 UK betting shops, about 10% of its retail network, with around 600 jobs expected to go. Retail turnover reached £544 million, compared with £451.7 million from online gambling. Betfred will end its Super League sponsorship at the close of the 2026 season, citing higher taxes and wage inflation. Remote Gaming Duty rose from 21% to 40% in April 2026, after the reporting period ended. Betfred reported a pre-tax profit of £64 million ($84.59 million) for…

TLDR Lawyer Luiz Felipe Maia says Brazil’s betting ban is politically motivated and will be reversed. President Lula announced the ban in late September through a provisional measure. Maia estimates the ban will cost Brazil BRL15 billion ($2.99 billion) in yearly revenue. The Attorney General’s Office is seeking BRL3.6 billion in damages and health costs from operators. Maia warns the ban could push 30 million bettors to illegal gambling sites. A well-known Brazilian lawyer says the country’s new ban on betting will not hold up. Luiz Felipe Maia, of the firm Maia Yoshiyasu Advogados, believes Congress and the courts will…

TLDR New Zealand has named 11 operators that won the right to apply for online casino licences, including Betway, Stake, Entain and SkyCity. The licence auction drew 32 bidders, ran for 10 rounds, and each right to apply cost NZ$15 million. Betway owner Super Group won three rights to apply, the most allowed for a single operator. Up to 15 licences are expected to be issued, and the regulated market is planned to launch in 2027. From December 1, 2026, operators without a licence application can no longer offer online gambling in New Zealand. New Zealand has named the operators…

TLDR A West Virginia University PhD researcher believes video lottery revenue may rise on days Social Security benefits are paid. Matt Mullis is studying daily machine-level revenue data from 2024 and 2025. The research focuses on “Hot Spots,” small venues with a few slot-like video lottery machines. About 71 million Americans receive monthly Social Security benefits. A 2023 study found adults 65 and older face lower gambling-problem risks and often gamble to relax. A doctoral researcher at West Virginia University believes gambling activity in the state may rise when seniors receive their monthly Social Security benefits. The work is still…

TLDR Blockchain.com has applied to the CFTC for Futures Commission Merchant and Designated Contract Market licenses. The licenses would let the company run prediction markets for U.S. users. The firm also wants to offer crypto derivatives to American customers. Blockchain.com already offers prediction markets and perpetual futures outside the U.S. The company has more than 44 million confirmed accounts in over 70 countries. Blockchain.com has filed for federal licenses that would let it run prediction markets in the United States. The Dallas-based crypto company is the latest large digital asset firm to seek a place in the event contract business.…

TLDR An S&P Global Market Intelligence survey found 70% of U.S. prediction market users traded sports event contracts. Only 10% of respondents traded on a prediction market in the past year, while 44% had never heard of them. Sports far outpaced financial (36%), political (33%) and entertainment (26%) contracts. About 61% of prediction market traders are under 35, and 66% are men. 55% of prediction market traders bought or sold cryptocurrency over the past year. Sports remain the most popular category on U.S. prediction markets, according to a new consumer survey from S&P Global Market Intelligence. The findings come as…

TLDR PAGCOR says about 40,000 people were added to its gambling exclusion program in the last six months. Before Alejandro Tengco became chairman and CEO, the program had about 1,700 exclusions. Gamblers can exclude themselves, and family members can also apply on their behalf. Approved bans last at least one year and cover all PAGCOR-licensed land-based and online casinos. A 24/7 hotline opened in April to help people with information and applications. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp, known as PAGCOR, says about 40,000 people have been added to its gambling exclusion program in the past six months. Before Alejandro…