Author: Maisie Morrison

TLDR Argentina introduced a bill to restrict online gambling ads aimed at children and teenagers across TV, radio, social media, and apps The bill would ban athletes, influencers, and cartoons from being used to promote gambling to young people Ads linking gambling to success or achievement would also be prohibited under the proposal A separate bill in Buenos Aires Province seeks to ban gambling sponsorships on football club jerseys and at sporting venues Major betting firms like Betsson, Betano, and Sportsbet already sponsor top Argentine football clubs including Boca Juniors and River Plate Argentina is moving to crack down on…

TLDR A D.C. proposal would legalize licensed online casino gaming while banning sweepstakes-style gambling platforms Major operators like DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars Entertainment support the expansion into the D.C. market Anti-gambling advocacy groups argue that easier access to online gambling leads to greater harm Sweepstakes operators warn that a ban could push players toward unregulated offshore sites The bill remains under review with no clear timeline for a decision Washington, D.C. is once again facing a debate over how far to go with gambling. A new proposal would open the door to licensed online casino gaming while cracking down on…

TLDR The UK Gambling Commission has introduced strict new rules including £2-£5 stake limits on slots based on player age Autoplay has been removed and a mandatory 2.5-second delay between spins is now required at all licensed casinos Players can no longer play multiple casino games at the same time under UKGC rules Higher taxes on gambling operators introduced in April 2026 could eventually lower payout rates for players Industry critics warn the restrictions may push UK players toward unregulated offshore casinos The UK gambling market is now one of the most tightly controlled in the world. The UK Gambling…

TLDR Armenia is attracting iGaming companies with its unregulated B2B market that requires no specific gaming license, just standard corporate and AML compliance. More than 20 international firms relocated to Armenia in the past year, some bringing workforces of up to 1,500 people. B2C gambling licenses cost at least $1 million annually, limiting domestic operators to just five licensed companies. Armenia’s Central Bank introduced a formal crypto licensing regime in January 2026, reversing its previous skepticism toward digital assets. A centralized government monitoring system is being built to track every bet, win, and loss in real time across the country.…

TLDR Dutch lawmakers raised concerns about gambling companies re-entering the regulated market through takeovers and complex corporate structures The 888 Holdings case drew attention, operating under a licence held by Godwits LTD (ComeOn Group) while owned by evoke plc State Secretary Claudia van Bruggen said existing rules and the Kansspelautoriteit regulator are sufficient A reliability test and nearly three-year cooling-off period are already in place for licence applicants The government has no plans to introduce new restrictions despite ongoing parliamentary pressure The Dutch government has decided against introducing new rules to stop gambling companies from re-entering the regulated market through…

TLDR AIBM policy lead Jonathan Cohen says prediction markets and sports betting lack adequate consumer protections, especially for young men About 40% of Americans believe sports are rigged, reflecting a broader collapse in institutional trust Cohen warns prediction markets blur the line between gambling and investing, especially when offered on brokerage apps The insider trading controversy around Polymarket and the Maduro capture case has accelerated political scrutiny of prediction markets AIBM is pushing for age-based restrictions, default spending limits for under-25s, and data-driven guardrails across all gambling platforms The American Institute for Boys and Men is pushing for stronger regulation…

TLDR A new bill in Argentina’s Buenos Aires province would ban all betting advertising in sports environments, including team jerseys and stadiums Nine of 30 Primera División football clubs currently carry betting or casino sponsorships on their jerseys The ban would extend to advertising within 100 meters of sports venues and prohibit naming stadiums after gambling brands The legislation focuses on protecting minors and families from gambling normalization in community sports settings Penalties for violations could reach 50,000 fine units, and authorities could revoke or suspend operator licenses A provincial senator in Argentina has introduced a bill that would ban…

TLDR Brazil’s betting platforms saw 98.64% of all visits come from smartphones in Q1 2026, with desktops accounting for just 1.36% The Brazilian iGaming market recorded 6.28 billion total visits in the first three months of 2026 Mobile platforms alone generated 6.19 billion visits, while desktops received only 85.4 million Neighboring countries like Peru (85% mobile), Chile (81%), and Ecuador (72%) still rely far more on desktop access Brazil’s mobile dominance is driven by smartphone adoption, social media habits, and mobile-friendly betting platforms Brazil’s online betting market has become almost entirely mobile, with smartphone usage accounting for nearly 99% of…

TLDR Andrew Rhodes has left his role as CEO of the UK Gambling Commission after nearly five years, announcing his departure on LinkedIn on April 30. His tenure was defined by the push for affordability checks on gamblers, which faced strong opposition from bookmakers, horse racing bodies, and politicians. Rhodes oversaw new online slot stake caps of £5 for over-25s and £2 for 18-to-24-year-olds, along with bans on autoplay features. He managed the first-ever transfer of the National Lottery license, moving it from Camelot to Allwyn in February 2024. Rhodes leaves as the industry faces a Remote Gaming Duty increase…

TLDR UK online casinos are increasingly running slot games at lower RTP settings, sometimes near 92% instead of the expected 96% Game providers build multiple RTP versions into each slot, letting operators choose which payout rate to deploy Rising taxes and compliance costs are pushing operators toward lower RTP variants to protect profit margins Most players have no idea the same slot game can have different payout rates at different casinos Some operators are bucking the trend, keeping higher RTPs as a trust-building strategy to stand out in the market The online casino industry in the UK is going through…