Hippos ATG Oy has announced that it has secured a five-year gambling licence in Finland, becoming the second operator to publicly confirm approval ahead of the country’s regulated online gambling market opening on July 1, 2027. The joint venture between Swedish gambling operator AB Trav och Galopp (ATG) and Finnish horse racing association Suomen Hippos plans to offer horse racing betting, sports wagering and online casino games. The announcement follows Wildz Group’s confirmation of its Finnish licence on October 15. […]

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Maine could launch its regulated online casino market in the first quarter of 2027, Gambling Control Unit Executive Director Milt Champion said, citing pending regulatory reviews and preparations for operator licensing. The timeline remains provisional, with further changes to the proposed rules potentially delaying the launch. Governor Janet Mills allowed legislation LD 1164 to become law without her signature in January, making Maine the eighth US state to legalize online casino gambling. The state would join Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New […]

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Philippine gaming operator DigiPlus Interactive Corp. has withdrawn from New Zealand’s online casino licensing auction following a review of market conditions and investment opportunities. The company confirmed the decision in an October 14 disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, having previously submitted an expression of interest in August. “After further market analysis and determination of market values, the company has decided to abstain from the final rounds of the New Zealand auction on the right to apply for an online […]

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Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) expects the gambling sector to contribute approximately €1bn towards the government’s 2027–2028 funding plans, as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration prepares its next budget. The proposed revenue forms part of a broader fiscal program targeting between €7bn and €8bn from several industries, with the final measures still subject to parliamentary decisions and ongoing discussions over public spending. The government is examining several ways to increase revenue from gambling businesses, including adjustments to online […]

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Blockchain.com has applied to US regulators for permission to operate a prediction market and offer cryptocurrency derivatives to American customers, seeking to expand its services beyond the international partnerships it currently uses to provide these products. The digital asset platform has submitted applications to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for two licenses covering exchange operations and derivatives brokerage. The company told CNBC that it wants to offer event contracts and cryptocurrency derivatives to retail and institutional customers in the […]

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New Zealand has identified 11 entities eligible to apply for online casino licences following an auction that attracted 32 bidders and concluded after 10 rounds. The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) announced the results on October 13, confirming that each successful application right carries a fee of NZ$15 million (US$8.4 million). The government has made 15 licences available under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026, with each covering one brand for an initial three-year period and a possible five-year renewal. […]

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The UK Gambling Commission has highlighted the risks posed by illegal gambling operators after the UK’s latest National Risk Assessment identified an increase in illegal casinos targeting the British market. In its 2026 money laundering and terrorist financing risk assessment, published on 30 July, the Commission said illegal gambling sites targeting British consumers are not supervised by the regulator and do not operate within its regulatory framework. The warning highlights an important distinction for players encountering casinos licensed overseas. Seeing […]

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Century Entertainment International Holdings has disclosed that it was informed in April that its Philippine strategic partner, World Platinum Technologies Inc. (WPT), had lost key gaming accreditations, while maintaining that alternative regulatory arrangements have allowed its online gaming operations in the country to continue uninterrupted. The Hong Kong-listed company outlined the developments in its annual report for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, which was released on September 25. The filing provides additional detail on the status of the […]

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Finland’s National Police Board has received 75 gambling licence applications as the country prepares to open its competitive gambling market on July 1, 2027, marking a substantial increase from the 50 applications recorded earlier in the year. The National Police Board confirmed that it had received 75 applications as of September 22. The regulator had reported 50 applications in June, while the total was still described as approximately 50 during August. The latest figure means another 25 applications reached the […]

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Queensland has granted The Star Gold Coast another six months before a planned suspension of its casino licence takes effect, moving the deadline from September 30, 2026, to March 31, 2027. The decision gives The Star Entertainment Group additional time to complete outstanding remediation work and keeps independent oversight of the property in place. The casino had faced a 90-day licence suspension beginning September 30. The latest decision represents the seventh time authorities have deferred the suspension, which followed compliance […]

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