The Consumentenbond is threatening to launch a class action against six legal Dutch online casinos. They are accused of using ‘dark patterns’ to induce players to bet more, reveals CasinoZorgplicht.
The Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa) has struck a blow. It has just imposed a fine of €2.65 million on Betent (the company operating BetCity) for failing in its duty to protect players.
In a context where influencers shape the choices of internet users, the online gambling industry is facing a new requirement. On 21 October 2025, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) took the initiative to launch a Pledge on Responsible Influencer Marketing in Online Gambling, an unprecedented commitment to strictly regulate the use of influencers in the promotion of gambling.
Lamotte-Beuvron, a peaceful commune in the Sologne region of Loir-et-Cher, could well become the future gambling hub of the Centre-Val de Loire region. At the crossroads of horses and forests, this small town of 4,700 inhabitants hopes that a change in the law will remedy what its mayor calls a ‘territorial injustice’.
LeoVegas Group argues that stricter rules actually increase risk. Restrictions on bonuses and games frustrate players and cause them to seek alternatives outside the legal market.
The Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa), the Dutch authority responsible for regulating games of chance, has just announced the forthcoming creation of a new type of operating licence for skill machines.
The European Court of Justice has ruled that the European Commission did not perform its duties optimally in a long-running case concerning the Dutch gambling monopoly. Their ruling is that the European Commission must therefore re-examine its investigation.
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has published its Statement of Strategy 2025-2027, setting out a three-year strategic plan. This strategy lays the foundations for the regulation of gambling in Ireland, against a backdrop of major reform.
In Belgium, direct gambling advertising on football shirts has been banned since 2024. But that doesn’t seem to bother many clubs. They have simply changed the names of their gambling partners to make it look like they are no longer gambling companies. The logos remain, but are now called “news sites”, “sports platforms” or “streaming services”.
For several months now, a wind of reform has been blowing across Austria’s gambling monopoly. Until now, the online market has been dominated by a single licensed operator, but political, economic and legal pressures could well upset this balance.
Meeting in Halle under the aegis of the GGL, regulators from German-speaking Europe are joining forces to regulate online gambling and promote a common model for responsible gambling.
The British gambling authority (UKGC) will introduce mandatory deposit limits for all online gambling platforms from 2026. The regulator wants to protect gamblers from excessive spending and gambling addiction. This measure is part of a broader reform of gambling legislation.
The NCAA, the historical guardian of the integrity of student competitions, is now considering relaxing its rules to allow student-athletes to bet on professional sports.
While Svenska Spel, the incumbent public operator, is calling for tougher rules to provide a better framework for the sector, BOS, the association representing private players, is denouncing a move that could undermine the legal market and give the State monopoly an advantage.
While the European online gambling market is experiencing sustained growth, regulatory fragmentation between Member States is a growing concern for industry players. Maarten Haijer has made a clear appeal: it is time for Europe to harmonise its rules to better protect players and limit the expansion of the black market.
Spain is getting tough on gambling addiction. The government has just imposed explicit warnings, inspired by those used on cigarette packets, to alert gamblers to the real risks associated with online betting and casinos.
The recent announcement that the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) has adopted the first indicators of risky gambling behaviour marks a major step forward in player protection and has been welcomed by BAGO, the Belgian association of online gambling operators.
