Italy's Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) has finalized 46 applications for its new online gambling concessions, each carrying a €7m fee, totaling €322m in upfront revenue for the state. The Agency for Customs and Monopolies (ADM) oversees the process, with licenses set for issuance in October or November 2025 following rigorous reviews of operator compliance, financial stability, and responsible gambling protocols. This marks phase one of Italy's gambling reorganization, addressing legacy disputes over expiring concessions due in 2026.
Applicants include established European operators like SNAI and Lottomatica, alongside international entrants seeking entry into Europe's third-largest regulated market, valued at €5.5bn in gross gaming revenue (GGR) for 2024. The framework mandates 3% operating fees, €3.7m performance guarantees, and integration with federal anti-money laundering systems. For players, this ensures enhanced protections via mandatory self-exclusion tools and transaction monitoring, while regulators gain €100m annually in fees to fund harm prevention. Industry stakeholders anticipate a 10% GGR uplift in 2026, as the tender reduces black market leakage from 15% to under 5%, fostering a competitive landscape with geographic diversity across EU-adjacent jurisdictions.
Source: SBC News
New Zealand's Gambling (Online Casino) Amendment Bill has passed its first reading in Parliament, introducing a regulated framework for online casinos and authorizing up to 15 operator licenses by February 2026. The Department of Internal Affairs will auction licenses, prioritizing applicants with robust harm minimization strategies, prior regulatory compliance, and technical safeguards against underage access. This addresses a market previously dominated by offshore operators, estimated at NZ$500m (€280m) in unregulated play annually.
Bidders must detail ownership structures, including parent companies like Entain or Flutter, and commit to local partnerships for payment processing and game localization. The bill aligns with the 2003 Gambling Act, imposing a 12.5% GGR tax and mandatory contributions to a Responsible Gambling Fund. Launch timelines target Q3 2026 for initial platforms, with temporary operations possible post-auction. For stakeholders, this curbs illicit activity while generating NZ$60m in yearly taxes; players benefit from verified RNG audits and geo-fencing, reducing risks in an emerging Pacific jurisdiction. Critics note potential market concentration, but proponents highlight Ontario's success as a model, where regulated entry boosted channelisation to 95%.
Source: SBC News
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has updated Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP), requiring all remote operators to prompt customers for deposit limits before their first wager, effective June 30, 2026. This builds on 2024 surveys revealing 40% of players desire easier financial controls, targeting affordability checks in a £7bn online casino sector. Non-compliance risks fines up to 10% of GGR, with the UKGC verifying via operator audits.
Major licensees like Entain and Evolution Gaming must integrate real-time prompts across platforms, linking to self-exclusion via GAMSTOP. Ownership transparency is enforced, with foreign parents disclosing UK subsidiaries. In a competitive landscape of 150+ operators, this levels the field by curbing high-rollers' unchecked spending, projected to reduce problem gambling incidents by 15% per Public Health England models. Players gain empowered budgeting, regulators stronger enforcement tools, and the industry a reputational boost amid EU scrutiny. Implementation timelines include pilot testing in Q1 2026, aligning with broader reforms excluding bonuses but promoting loyalty schemes.
Source: SBC News
Spelinspektionen, Sweden's Gambling Inspectorate, reports online casino channelisation at 72-82% for 2024, below the 90% target, attributing gaps to unlicensed sites offering unrestricted bonuses. The €1.2bn regulated market faces €200m black market leakage, prompting proposals for bonus legalization and loyalty incentives to retain players. A 2025 Gambling Act review, led by advisor Marcus Isgren, recommends criminalizing unlicensed targeting by Q4.
Operators like Betsson and Kindred, under Spelinspektionen oversight, must enhance OASIS self-exclusion integration. Parent firms face stricter reporting on player migration data. With launches staggered through 2026, reforms aim to mirror Malta's 95% rate, benefiting players via certified RNGs and deposit trackers while regulators close enforcement loopholes. Stakeholders expect 5-7% GGR growth, emphasizing responsible tools like mandatory reality checks to sustain trust in this mature Nordic jurisdiction.
Source: SBC News
The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has outlined its 2025 Supervision Agenda, prioritizing duty-of-care for under-24s in the €1bn online casino market, enforcing €300 monthly deposit caps versus €700 for adults. Launched post-2021 Remote Gambling Act, this addresses 20% youth participation rates, with audits targeting 50 major licensees for compliance by March 2026.
Firms like LeoVegas must verify age via ID checks and monitor risk profiles, with foreign owners submitting quarterly reports. Amid 95% channelisation, the agenda closes ad loopholes tempting minors, projecting a 10% drop in youth incidents. Players receive tailored interventions, regulators data-driven enforcement, and operators clearer guidelines, fostering innovation in AI-driven limits while balancing growth in this tightly regulated EU hub.
Source: SBC News
