Author: Maisie Morrison

TLDR Nine European gambling regulators issued a joint warning against unlicensed prediction markets during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Regulators cited risks including fraud, fund blocking, and financial volatility on these platforms Platforms flagged for running 24/7 with no betting limits and minimal age verification Sports federations were urged to check legality before signing prediction market partnership deals Responses vary across Europe — some countries are banning platforms while others are exploring regulation Nine gambling regulators from across Europe have joined forces to warn the public and sports organizations about unlicensed prediction market platforms operating during the 2026 FIFA World…

TLDR Armenia’s parliament passed new online gambling laws on June 17, 2026 Online casino bets grew from $542.6m in 2017 to $20bn in 2025 — a 35x increase Players can self-exclude for 5 years via a mandatory button on all platforms People on pensions, social assistance, or in bankruptcy are banned from participating Online gambling cannot exceed 20% of a player’s declared annual income Armenia’s parliament has passed major changes to its online gambling laws. The amendments were approved in their final reading on June 17, 2026. The new rules introduce some of the strictest controls the country has ever…

TLDR The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Pace-O-Matic’s Pennsylvania Skill machines are slot machines under state law The ruling overturns lower court decisions that had kept the machines in a legal gray area An estimated 70,000 skill game machines operate in Pennsylvania, the largest such market in the U.S. The court gave a 120-day safe-harbor period before enforcement can begin Lawmakers must now decide whether to regulate, tax, or ban the machines before the window closes Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court has ruled that Pace-O-Matic’s Pennsylvania Skill machines are slot machines. The decision subjects them to both the state’s Gaming Act and criminal…

TLDR Finance Minister Magín Díaz has proposed measures to raise DOP40bn–DOP50bn in new revenue Gambling operators are among sectors targeted, though tax structure hasn’t been disclosed yet A national self-exclusion register is planned, which would be a first for the Caribbean Sports betting, online operators, and casinos would each face new licensing fees and levies All licences would run five years, with transfers restricted in the first three years The Dominican Republic is weighing a temporary tax increase on gambling operators as the government looks to raise funds to cover rising public costs. Finance and Economy Minister Magín Díaz presented…

TLDR Gambling operators are losing millions to ad fraud during the FIFA World Cup 2026 betting surge Campaign reports often look healthy but a large share of digital ad spend may never reach real consumers Many operators rely on verification tools that underreport invalid traffic, creating a false sense of security Fake clicks and manipulated impressions corrupt attribution data, leading to poor future spending decisions Affiliate fraud tactics like cookie stuffing let third parties claim credit for customers they didn’t acquire Ad fraud is eating into gambling operators’ marketing budgets during the World Cup, and most companies may not even…

TLDR The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) sent an open letter to major tech platforms demanding action against illegal gambling ads Illegal gambling stakes could grow from £17bn to £33bn within five years Illegal operators make up almost half of all gambling advertising spend in the UK The BGC wants AI investment, better detection, and cross-platform data sharing The illegal black market could take nearly £200m during the World Cup A Growing Black Market Hidden in Plain Sight Britain’s leading gambling trade body is calling out big tech over the rising tide of illegal gambling online. The Betting and Gaming…

TLDR New Jersey total gaming revenue reached $627.1 million in May 2026, up 2% year-on-year Internet gaming was the top performer, rising 11.9% to $276.3 million Online gaming has generated $1.32 billion year-to-date, up 14.4% Traditional casino win held nearly flat at $265.6 million, up just 0.1% Sports betting dropped 16.9% to $85.2 million in May New Jersey’s gambling market brought in $627.1 million in total gaming revenue in May 2026. That is up 2% from $614.7 million in May 2025, according to the state’s Division of Gaming Enforcement. The growth was driven almost entirely by online casino play, which…

TLDR Finland’s tax-free casino market is leading a shift in how gambling operators handle instant payments Real-time Nordic banking rails removed the traditional delay operators used for fraud and compliance checks Operators had to move identity verification to the start of the customer journey, not the end Bank-issued digital IDs are replacing manual document uploads for player verification The Nordic model is becoming a reference point as the EU pushes all banks toward instant settlement Finland has become an unexpected example of how banking infrastructure can reshape an entire industry. Its tax-free online casino market is showing how modern payments…

TLDR The Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) fined Chestoption €3,082,000 for running Vave.com without a license in the Netherlands The site had no age verification, offered autoplay and turboplay features, and accepted crypto payments KSA also works with banks, payment providers, and tech companies to cut off unlicensed operators The Netherlands is preparing a full ban on online gambling ads and bonuses due to rising addiction rates Young people are identified as the most at-risk group, prompting lawmakers to push for tighter rules The Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) has fined Costa Rica-based Chestoption Sociedad de Responsibilidad Limitada €3,082,000 for offering illegal…

TLDR Pennsylvania Rep. Jason Ortitay introduced House Bill 2631 on June 12, 2026 The bill would require online casinos and sportsbooks to use geofencing to block access from K-12 schools Operators already use geolocation technology to keep gambling within state lines The bill was introduced in honor of Ray Mikesell, a man who developed a gambling addiction as a student and later died by suicide Responsible gambling advocates call it a “great starting point” but say more education is needed Pennsylvania lawmakers are taking steps to stop students from gambling online during the school day. A new bill introduced on…