In Namur, a young poker player from Bertrix reminded us that success is not just a matter of chance, but of patiently acquired discipline. At 23, Esteban Devresse won the Opener, a major tournament.
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.
The President of Finland has officially ratified the new gambling law, sealing the end of the state monopoly. From 1 July 2027, the market will be opened up to competition for online casinos and sports betting.
At the Annual Gaming Industry Event in Amsterdam on 16 January 2026, Michel Groothuizen, chairman of the Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa), gave a speechin which he presented the Dutch regulator’s new roadmap for the coming year.
Under the guise of the name Casino 888, a website full of information about Belgian law and the illegality of playing on unlicensed sites redirects Belgian players to illegal sites.
The National Lottery closed 2025 with unprecedented results. Total bets reached €1.666 billion, a historic record for the Belgian public operator.
On 15 January 2026, the Belgian Gaming Commission (GC) published an update to its blacklist of illegal gambling sites.
ICE Barcelona has cemented its status as a major global gaming event: the 2026 edition will be held from 19 to 21 January at Fira Barcelona Gran Via, with a focus on innovation, regulation and networking.
The logo is disappearing from the shirt, but the money remains. Premier League clubs are still working with gambling companies that have no license. And the British government is letting it happen.
In the world of offshore casinos, dodging fines is child’s play. By using volatile legal structures that they liquidate at the slightest sanction, they make recovery impossible and continue their activities with impunity.
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.
Since February 2025, the BetBlocker blocking software has been available in French. The impact was immediately visible in French-speaking countries.
Under the leadership of New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, ambitious legislative proposals seek to regulate or ban certain gambling-like practices at the heart of platforms such as Roblox.
Gambling companies are disappearing from Belgian professional football but are gaining ground in the amateur leagues.
On 15 January 2026 in Luxembourg, the Court of Justice of the European Union handed down a major ruling on online gambling: when a player participates in online games of chance offered without a licence in their country, which law applies and before which courts can they take action? The answer given by the European judges significantly strengthens the position of players against foreign operators and their managers.
A German player has been awarded a refund for most of his losses after sports betting operator Bet3000 allowed deposits well above the legal limit.
With major sporting events approaching in 2026, the French gambling market is set to experience rapid growth. The French National Gaming Authority (ANJ) is strengthening its control measures to regulate operators’ practices and protect players.
