Prohibited betting options: Kansspelautoriteit reprimands ZEbetting and Betca
The Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa) was forced to take action against prohibited betting options. Both ZEbetting and Betca were summoned for a reprimand.
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.
Despite their popularity and image as light entertainment, scratch card games can be a gateway to excessive gambling. This is particularly true when they are played both at the point of sale and online, or through high-stakes tickets, according to a study conducted by Concordia University (Montreal) at the request of the ANJ.
Since the introduction of stricter Belgian gambling regulations, such as the EPIS system and mandatory wagering limits, many gambling addicts have been trying to get their lives on track. Yet this is far from always successful.
The Ksa has just imposed an injunction under penalty payment on Casinoscout.nl for promoting illegal casinos. The fine amounts to €75,000 per week.
Faced with the growing threat of the black market in gambling, Germany’s interior ministers are calling for immediate reform of the sector and an expansion of the powers of the national regulator, the GGL.
The ANJ is stepping up its fight against gambling advertising abuses. At a conference, the French regulator unveiled a series of ambitious proposals, including a ban on gambling advertising between the beginning and end of sports broadcasts (‘whistle ban’) and tighter controls on sponsorship.