ZEbet and Starcasino have both been cited by the Kansspelautoriteit for allegedly requiring players to wager deposited money before withdrawing it.
Las Vegas, 16 July 2025. After eleven days of breathless suspense, the World Series of Poker Main Event is drawing to a close. Belgian Kenny Hallaert, one of the great stories of this XXL tournament, finished in fourth place.
PokerStars.com is working hard to re-enter the Dutch market. They want to allow players from the Netherlands back in through an alternative path. However, because they do not hold the necessary license, they are currently exploring the possibility of partnering with another legal entity.
Yaspa, a fintech specialising in open payments, has joined the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) as a new associate member. This strategic alliance reinforces the shared ambitions of the two entities: to make secure and fluid payments a pillar of trust in a constantly evolving digital environment.
The Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa) has taken a decisive step: not only is it now identifying advertisements for illegal gambling in newspapers and magazines, but it is also imposing stiff penalties, including financial penalties. Until now, its intervention had been limited mainly to raising awareness and providing advice.
Beneath the familiar appearance of coloured chips, a discreet but formidably effective technology is gradually transforming the gaming industry: RFID, or radio frequency identification. Invisible to the naked eye, these electronic chips inserted into each chip enable gaming establishments to track every bet, every move and every win in real time. It’s a silent signal, invisible to players, but formidably powerful for managers.
For two decades, the National Lottery has been rolling out its famous ‘Cut, Scratch, Win’ campaign at some of Belgium’s biggest festivals. Officially fun, eco-responsible and festive, this operation masks a disturbing reality: a massive promotional campaign for a gambling product, in a context where other operators are simply not allowed to exist.
The Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa) was forced to take action against prohibited betting options. Both ZEbetting and Betca were summoned for a reprimand.
The UK government is considering raising the tax on online gambling from 21% to a record 41%. The move, which would be one of the most aggressive in the UK gambling industry’s tax history, is part of a budgetary strategy to plug a public deficit estimated at more than £30 billion.
Gambling is not just about winning money. Belgian players return mainly because of the feeling of excitement and thrill. Every bet provides a new adrenaline rush. When a player wins, dopamine is released – the “happy hormone” that creates euphoria.
The 2025 World Series of Poker Main Event in Las Vegas saw an unexpected face emerge among the four finalists: Kenny Hallaert, a Belgian professional from Hansbeke. A performance that confirms his status as a poker icon in Belgium.
For the 2025 edition of Wimbledon, the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club has broken new ground. Gone are the suspects spotted solely via the bookmakers’ odds: Wimbledon is now deploying undercover agents (“spotters”) in the stands to track down courtsiders, the live bettors who exploit the time lag between the actual point and its televised broadcast.
The Netherlands has just delivered a damning report: despite clear guidelines on consumer protection in the face of video game monetisation practices, the majority of publishers continue to flout the regulations. A new university study reveals that 90% of popular iPhone games do not comply with legal obligations regarding loot boxes. And the most worrying thing? It’s often the biggest companies that break the rules with impunity.
On 9 July 2025, a tense town council put an abrupt end to plans to reopen the Bagnères-de-Luchon casino. Golden Palace’s proposal was rejected by 10 votes to 9, consigning to oblivion a project that had been two years in the making. It was a slap in the face that the spa had not anticipated.
On 10 October 2025, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) will roll out a new system of financial penalties. The key element: the amount of fines will be directly linked to the percentage of GGY (gross gambling yield) generated by the operator during the period in question. A radical reform designed to strengthen justice, fraud prevention and player protection.
A discreet but far-reaching change has crept into the One Big Beautiful Bill, Donald Trump’s ambitious tax reform plan: from 2026, punters will no longer be able to deduct all their losses, but only 90%. In practical terms, many gamblers will find themselves taxed on ‘phantom income’. This measure, designed to replenish the State’s coffers, is provoking anger, concern and counter-attacks.
Norsk Tipping, Norway’s public lottery operator, is under in-depth investigation after a series of serious technical errors, including the sending of false winnings to 47,000 Eurojackpot players. The regulator, Lotteritilsynet, is denouncing a breach of public trust and repeated breaches of the Gaming Act.
