On september 18, 2025, the Kansspelautoriteit met with the VVCS (Vereniging van contractspelers) to discuss the risks of gambling and match-fixing in football.
The giant Ladbrokes, an emblematic figure in the sector for decades, could close all its physical branches in Belgium, marking the end of a historic model. It’s a decision justified by financial losses and the rise of digital technology, but one that is plunging dozens of employees into uncertainty and arousing the anger of trade unions.
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.
Adam Lopez, 39, a forklift driver from Mattishall in the United Kingdom, felt like a king at the beginning of July. He scratched off a £12.40 ticket, saw the amount appear on his screen, and within seconds, he had more than £1 million in his account. That’s over €1.15 million.
James Hoffman, 42, from Depew, New York, has admitted stealing nearly $450,000 from a volunteer firefighters’ organisation. He used the money to fund his gambling addiction and make luxury purchases.
On Sunday afternoon in Espoo, Finland, a regular football match in Kolmonen, Finland’s fifth division, suddenly took a bizarre turn. Immediately after the final whistle, the police stormed the pitch during the match between EsPa / Renat and FC Finnkurd. They arrested a Brazilian player from Finnkurd.
Artificial intelligence is now at the heart of the gambling industry’s compliance mechanisms. But behind the promise of efficiency and automation, the UKGC is sounding the alarm: these technologies, poorly managed or misunderstood, could undermine the fight against money laundering and the protection of players.
You’d think they’d get the message by now, but no. While millions of fans were glued to their telly for the Premier League opening weekend, gambling adverts were flying around everywhere. Shirts, boards, stadium walls, interviews – everything seemed to be about betting.
During the broadcast of De Avondshow met Arjen Lubach, a popular programme on Dutch television, the topic ‘Who will be the new prime minister of the Netherlands?’ took on a striking gambling angle. Lubach showed a screenshot of Polymarket, a foreign website where people can bet on the next prime minister of the Netherlands.
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.
The debate about gambling advertisements on London’s public transport is in full swing again. The advertisements are particularly prominent in the Underground and on buses. But more and more people believe this must stop.
Imagine: you are 21 years old, playing for a professional club in England, you have worked hard to get there, and then you ruin it all by… betting on football matches. That is exactly what Osmon Foyo, a Dutch footballer who plays for AFC Wimbledon, did. Between October 2023 and March 2025, he placed 252 bets on football matches. And no, that is not allowed.
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.
Imagine: you raise a tax, expecting to bring in millions extra, and then… the whole plan falls apart. That is exactly what is happening with gambling tax in the Netherlands. Minister Eelco Heinen expected gold, but got dust. If the tax rate does not increase in 2026 and remains at 34.2%, the treasury will lose no less than 84 million euros. That’s no small change.
For several months now, the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission (NTRWC), the main authority responsible for regulating online betting in Australia, has been at the centre of worrying accusations of weak oversight, conflicts of interest and close links with the operators it is supposed to supervise.
Las Vegas caused a sensation with its Fabulous 5-Day Sale, an exceptional sales period that transformed the city into a veritable magnet for visitors. Hotels, restaurants, shows and attractions put on unprecedented offers, giving a spectacular boost to local tourism and creating an unprecedented buzz.
