Gambling & crypto news
The gambling industry and crypto: regulation, licensing, operators, payments, digital assets and markets — the stories that matter to the business.
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ANJ: French gambling GGR flat at EUR 5.66bn in H1 2026 as online growth offsets FDJ and PMU declines
France's regulator ANJ reports H1 2026 gross gaming revenue, excluding casinos and clubs, of EUR 5.66 billion, up 0.5%. Online GGR rose 11%, while FDJ and PMU both recorded declines.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
Wildz Group says it is first operator to secure a Finnish iGaming licence ahead of July 2027 market launch
Malta-based Wildz Group says the Finnish National Police Board has authorised it to offer gambling in Finland for five years. The regulator also reported 4 prohibition orders and 6 conditional fines in 2026 so far.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © iGaming Business
ITIA hands Serbian player Stefan Milićević 24-year ban and $70,000 fine for match-fixing
The International Tennis Integrity Agency has banned Serbian player Stefan Milićević for 24 years and fined him $70,000 after finding he fixed six matches between 2022 and 2024 and tried to fix six more.GamblingiGaming BusinessPhoto: © iGaming Business
Podcast: NFL handle flat as prediction markets take a growing share, and a debate on gambling M&A value
An iGaming Business podcast cites H2 data showing NFL sportsbook handle roughly flat this year, with prediction markets taking about 15% of combined handle in regulated states. The hosts also debate whether gambling acquisitions create value.GamblingiGaming BusinessPhoto: © iGaming Business
UK casino chiefs say MGD doubling threatens investment and jobs, as Genting says it is 'itching to invest'
At a London panel, executives from Rank Group, Genting Casinos and the Hippodrome warned that a possible rise in machine games duty from 20% to 40% could hold back investment and cost jobs, and asked for tax stability.GamblingiGaming BusinessPhoto: © SBC News
Kevin Pietersen's Dafabet ambassador deal raises integrity questions for English cricket
Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen, now a specialist mentor for the national side, has become Dafabet's global ambassador. The ECB has reportedly been told he will not promote the brand while on England duty.GamblingSBC NewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
Hacksaw Gaming launches B2B prediction markets platform after MGA licence extension
Hacksaw Gaming has launched a B2B peer-to-peer prediction markets platform for operators, backed by an MGA licence extension covering Type 3 Gaming Services alongside its existing Type 1 authorisation.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
German court rulings could open the door to refund claims over losses at unlicensed online casinos
A string of German and EU court decisions may let players recover money lost on online casinos that lacked a German licence. Germany's Federal Court of Justice is weighing a Tipico case, with a final ruling possibly due in January 2027.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
Nevada's Mike Dreitzer says sports event contracts should be treated like sports bets, criticizing CFTC approach
Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman Mike Dreitzer argued that sports event contracts are functionally the same as traditional wagers. He rejected the CFTC's separate framework and several arguments made by prediction market operators.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © European Gaming
Tom Horn Gaming to release 3 Pots of Aladdin slot with seven Hold & Win configurations
Tom Horn Gaming will launch the high-volatility slot 3 Pots of Aladdin on 22 October 2026, combining Jackpots, Collectors and Multipliers into seven Hold & Win bonus variants. Initial availability is in Latvia and Portugal.GamblingEuropean GamingPhoto: © iGaming Business
Gabon's new gambling monopoly yet to name approved operators or publish fees seven months after applications closed
Gabon's state-owned gaming company GDJ has not published the results of its operator selection, nor the fees and terms for private participation, even though earlier licences became invalid on 7 April 2026.GamblingiGaming BusinessVNLOK presses ahead with Dutch court case against Meta over illegal gambling ads
Dutch trade body VNLOK says it has served Meta with a summons over unlicensed gambling advertising. Chairman Björn Fuchs told the Gaming in Spain conference that a first hearing is expected in late December.GamblingSBC NewsKambi says AI now processes over 70% of bets on its network after World Cup test
Kambi SVP Trading Oliver Lamb says AI trading now handles more than 70% of betting activity across the network, supported by 15 years of data. The company says it ran all 104 FIFA World Cup matches with 100% uptime.GamblingSBC NewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
Gamban warns users about name confusion with Gambana online casino
Gambling blocker provider Gamban says it has no business relationship with Gambana, an online casino run by JJam Holdings Ltd, and urges users to check website addresses carefully after the similar names caused confusion.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © European Gaming
Blask data: Vulkan Vegas edges Tipico in German brand power as online casino interest falls 12%
Blask's data from 13 October 2026 shows Vulkan Vegas narrowly ahead of Tipico in Germany's brand power ranking, while Tipico leads on acquisition and earning potential. Interest in online casino fell 12.26% year-on-year.GamblingEuropean GamingPhoto: © iGaming Business
Cedar Crossing casino in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to open 19 November after decade-long approval fight
The $275 million Cedar Crossing Casino and Entertainment Center will hold a soft opening on 19 November and a grand opening on 5 December, after years of rejections by Iowa regulators. Cannibalisation of existing casinos remains a concern.GamblingiGaming BusinessPhoto: © GamblingNews
Light & Wonder launches Halloween-themed slot Huff N' Puff Haunted Mansion
Light & Wonder has added Huff N' Puff Haunted Mansion to its Huff N' Puff franchise. The slot has a 96% RTP, medium volatility and a maximum win of 5,600x.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
Florida Lottery names its biggest June winners, led by a $15M scratch-off prize in Orlando
The Florida Lottery has published its largest June prizes under the statute allowing winner names to be released after 90 days. Eight players won between $2 million and $15 million, most taking lump sums.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
Venetian Becomes First Las Vegas Strip Poker Room to Mandate Slide Dealing
The Venetian has required its dealers to slide cards across the felt instead of pitching them, aiming to stop hidden cameras from capturing hole cards. South Point, off the Strip, adopted the method in August.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
Betfred's Fred Done warns of shop closures over machine tax plan while family receives £30m dividend
Betfred owner Fred Done has joined an industry letter opposing a possible doubling of machine games duty, even as the company paid a £30m interim dividend. Betfred reported record UK revenue of £996m for the year to March 2026.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
Bryn Kenney sues GGPoker parent NSUS over withheld commissions and a promised 5% equity stake
Poker player Bryn Kenney, a former GGPoker ambassador, has filed a lawsuit against NSUS Group, NSUS Limited and CEO Mansoo Kim alleging breach of contract and fraud. The case is at an early stage.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
UK National Audit Office to examine how UKGC and DCMS handled fourth National Lottery licence
The National Audit Office will investigate whether the fourth National Lottery licence was designed, implemented and overseen effectively, focusing on the UK Gambling Commission and DCMS rather than operator Allwyn. It aims to finish by the end of next spring.GamblingGamblingNewsUK bookmakers urge Chancellor to pause General Betting Duty rise and rule out Machine Games Duty increase
Chiefs of Entain, Flutter UK & Ireland, bet365, Bally's, evoke and Betfred have written to the Chancellor asking him to delay the General Betting Duty increase to 25% and to rule out higher Machine Games Duty at the coming Budget.GamblingSBC NewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
Minnesota player wins $2M Powerball Match 5 prize as jackpot climbs to $600 million
A Minnesota ticket matched all five white numbers with Power Play active in the 14 October Powerball drawing, winning $2 million. No one took the jackpot, which has risen to $600 million for Saturday's drawing.GamblingGamblingNews