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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CFTC proposes broader swap definition covering sports event contracts as circuit courts split on prediction markets
The US CFTC issued proposed rules on 9 October defining swaps to include event contracts on sports, politics, culture and weather. Conflicting appellate rulings mean the dispute could reach the US Supreme Court.GamblingiGaming BusinessPhoto: © GamblingNews
Missouri man charged with armed robbery of woman who won $3,200 at DraftKings at Casino Queen
St. Louis prosecutors have charged Ronnell L. Williams, 36, with first-degree robbery and armed criminal action. He is accused of following a slot winner from Casino Queen in East St. Louis and robbing her at gunpoint.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © iGaming Business
Brazil lawyer Luiz Felipe Maia says betting ban erodes investor trust and could be reversed by Congress
Luiz Felipe Maia of Maia Yoshiyasu Advogados told iGaming Business at SBC Lisbon that Brazil's betting ban was politically motivated, and he expects Congress or the courts to overturn it, citing compensation risks and lost revenue.GamblingiGaming BusinessPhoto: © GamblingNews
YouTube extends Masthead ad format to licensed iGaming operators from 21 October
Google has updated YouTube's gambling ad rules so licensed online casino operators can use the homepage Masthead format, previously open to few gambling advertisers such as sports betting. The change takes effect on 21 October.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
PointsBet forecasts 16% H1 FY27 revenue decline to AUD 113m, citing compliance actions and weak sports results
PointsBet expects first-half FY27 group revenue of AUD 113 million, down about 16% year on year, with a normalized EBITDA loss of AUD 6-8 million. It points to compliance actions and adverse AFL results.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
BetMGM Q3 net revenue rises 7% to $710m as adjusted EBITDA more than doubles to $86m
BetMGM reported third-quarter net revenue of $710 million and adjusted EBITDA of $86 million, up 112%, while monthly active customers fell 3%. The company reiterated its full-year 2026 guidance.GamblingGamblingNewsUK gambling tax campaign faces coherence questions as operators voice mixed messages on duty rises
After RGD rose to 40% in April and with MGD possibly doubling in the Autumn Budget, an SBC News analysis says operators warn of job losses publicly while telling investors that scale brings opportunity.GamblingSBC NewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
Report: 448 expired domains were repurposed as offshore gambling sites between January 2024 and May 2026
Research publication Backlinking.com says at least 448 expired domains sold since January 2024 now host gambling content. Cited examples include a Jubilee tree-planting initiative and the former Vote Leave site.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to $385 million after no top-prize winner in Friday's drawing
No player matched all six numbers in the October 9 Mega Millions drawing, lifting the jackpot to $385 million for the October 13 draw. The best prize on Friday was $50,000.GamblingGamblingNewsNew Zealand names 11 operators cleared to apply for 15 online casino licences
New Zealand has identified the operators that passed the auction stage for its new online casino regime, including Betway, Entain, SkyCity and Stake. Each must now submit documents to the DIA for a full assessment before any licence is granted.GamblingSBC NewsBETBY adds Lebull Poland as second Polish partner weeks after market entry
BETBY will supply its sportsbook, managed trading and Betby Games esports product to Lebull.pl. The deal follows its mid-September 2026 Polish launch with local bookmaker Betters.GamblingSBC NewsPhoto: © European Gaming
Swiss Casinos completes ReelLink rollout across all four of its venues
Swiss Casinos says its ReelLink platform, which delivers certified online game content to land-based slot cabinets, is now live at all four of its casinos. The group plans 17 more installations by the end of 2026 and is seeking international partners.GamblingEuropean GamingPhoto: © GamblingNews
UK Player Wins $1M Powerball Match 5 Prize as Jackpot Rolls to $562M
A UK player matched five white numbers in the 12 October Powerball drawing and won $1 million. No one hit the $541 million jackpot, which has grown to $562 million for the next draw.GamblingGamblingNewsBetMGM Q3 adjusted EBITDA more than doubles to $86m, but full-year guidance stays at the lower end
BetMGM, the joint venture of Entain and MGM Resorts, reported a 112% rise in third-quarter adjusted EBITDA and 7% revenue growth. It still expects full-year results at the lower end of its guidance.GamblingSBC NewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
WVU Researcher Links Social Security Payment Days to Rise in West Virginia Gambling
A West Virginia University doctoral student says gambling activity in the state rises when Social Security payments are made, raising concerns about older adults and problem gambling as iGaming grows.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © iGaming Business
The Big Leagues launches UK sports prize draw platform after £500,000 seed round
Former Flutter and Superbet executive Adam Shaw has launched The Big Leagues, a multi-sport prize draw platform for UK fans, backed by £500,000 in seed funding. It combines paid draws with free-to-play prediction games.GamblingiGaming BusinessPhoto: © iGaming Business
Spain's DGOJ reopens consultation on centralised monthly test to flag at-risk online gambling players
Spain's gambling regulator has reopened a public consultation, running to 22 October 2026, on a mandatory monthly automated test that all nationally licensed online operators would run to identify players showing signs of problem gambling.GamblingiGaming BusinessPhoto: © iGaming Business
Former UKGC director Tim Miller launches GamReg Consulting after ten years at the regulator
Tim Miller, who led delivery of the 2023 white paper reforms at the UK Gambling Commission, now runs GamReg Consulting. He discussed financial risk assessments, the illegal market and the Gambling Survey for Great Britain.GamblingiGaming BusinessANJ: French sports betting stakes rise 12% to €11.5bn in 2025, with regulator flagging excessive-risk patterns
France's gambling regulator ANJ reports sports betting stakes up 12% to €11.5bn in 2025, with GGR up 10.4% to €1.7bn. It also found excessive bettors dominate stakes on lesser-known leagues and in-play markets.GamblingSBC NewsIrish Presidency's first draft of EU 2028-2034 budget leaves out proposed common online gambling tax
Ireland's draft negotiating text for the EU's 2028-2034 budget contains no common levy on online gambling, which the S&D group had proposed. The European Parliament still backs the idea, so it could return in talks.GamblingSBC NewsPhoto: © SBC News
Novibet sportsbook chief: player props turnover up 180% in August, two major products planned
Novibet's Executive Director of Sportsbook, Giannos Grivas, says player props turnover grew 180% year on year in August after the World Cup, and that two large products are ready to launch in the coming months.GamblingSBC NewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
Novig releases second Sydney Sweeney ad, targeting political and event-based prediction markets
Sports prediction platform Novig has launched a second commercial with actress and equity holder Sydney Sweeney, criticizing rival markets on politics and wars. The campaign continues to draw criticism from female athletes.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
North Carolina House candidate owns Sanford building reportedly used as illegal slot parlor
A Republican candidate for North Carolina House District 51 owns a Sanford property reportedly housing at least 22 slot machines, according to The Assembly. He says he rents the building out and explained why it was missing from his disclosure.GamblingGamblingNewsPhoto: © GamblingNews
Las Vegas man charged over alleged illegal bookmaking claims entrapment after informant payment is revealed
Unsealed grand jury transcripts show an undercover witness received $5,000 to $6,000 from law enforcement in a Nevada illegal bookmaking case. The defendant's lawyer says this raises entrapment concerns; prosecutors defend the payment.GamblingGamblingNews