A bill initiated by the N-VA aims to substantially change the tax treatment of land-based casinos in Belgium.
Anyone offering gambling in Belgium is entering a tightly regulated sector. Much attention goes to licences and inspections by the Gaming Commission. But at least as important is the tax side of things. Gaming and betting taxes are not an afterthought.
The picture is worrying. In Scandinavia, the illegal online gambling market is growing despite strict regulation. Belgian figures show a similar trend.
It sounds like a growth story. But behind the figures lies a shadow side. A subsidiary of the French lottery operator FDJ obtained a license on the Comorian island of Anjouan, a place long known as a haven for controversial online casinos.
The unease is palpable. In the Netherlands, trusted gaming brands are disappearing into the hands of unknown gambling companies. Belgium is watching closely but seems to remain out of the line of fire for the time being.
The UK is at a turning point for its online gambling industry. A proposed rise in licence fees, coupled with increased taxation and tighter regulation, raises a worrying question: is the UK’s legal gambling market losing its competitiveness?
Amid a significant global rise in suspicious sports betting, Belgium is conspicuously absent from the new annual report by the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA).
Brazil’s regulated online betting market expanded rapidly in 2025, its first full year of operation after the legal framework came into force on 1ᵉʳ January. According to official data from the Secretariat of Prices and Betting (SPA), licensed operators generated nearly BRL 37 billion in gross gaming revenue, while the state collected around BRL 10 billion in tax revenue.
The Brussels Region is preparing to launch an exceptional call for tenders for a concession for the Grand Casino de Bruxelles, estimated at €750 million, designed to redefine the operation of the country’s main casino.
In the United Kingdom, a new report reveals that illegal sports streams are no longer just violating copyright; they are also becoming a launch pad for unauthorised gambling advertisements.
Finland is preparing to open its online gaming market to competition, and some players are already one step ahead. Among them are the founders of BetCity, who have teamed up with Bragg Gaming Group to launch SuomiVeto, a new online casino.
2024-25 was a financially tumultuous year for the UK Gambling Commission. Its overall expenditure rose by almost half, an unprecedented increase largely attributed to legal costs associated with litigation around the fourth National Lottery licence.
“They pretend to follow the rules, but meanwhile, they earn billions.” While dozens of countries ban gambling advertisements, Meta simply keeps selling them. In India, Malaysia, and the Philippines, among others, Facebook and Instagram are running at full speed in an illegal advertising circuit.
In mid-December 2025, one of the best-known names in online betting, GGBet, began closing its doors to the UK market. The decision marks the end of more than two years in business.
In its ‘2026 Crypto Market Outlook’ report, Coinbase identifies prediction markets as the next sector poised to disrupt the US financial industry. Buoyed by Kalshi’s historic legal victory against the CFTC and record volumes on the elections, this segment is set to emerge from the grey area and merge trading and sports betting in a finally regulated framework.
Since reopening after Covid, Macau has been striving to redefine its global role. Historically a world centre for gambling, the city is now trying to become a comprehensive integrated destination. However, despite massive investment and visitor numbers close to pre-pandemic levels, the road ahead remains fraught with obstacles.
On the seafront of Biscarrosse-Plage, an iconic local entertainment venue is undergoing a profound transformation. Recently taken over by two seasoned professionals in the sector, the Biscarrosse Casino is embarking on a veritable revolution.
