Entain reduces its workforce, Yggdrasil makes its US debut, and Evolution's attempt to acquire Galaxy falls through.

This week has been packed with noteworthy events that made headlines. From significant layoffs to key market entries, it's been an eventful week in gambling news. To kick things off, Yggdrasil achieved a historic milestone by breaking into the United States market. This renowned supplier of online casino games has signed a content partnership with Caesars Entertainment, expanding their reach into New Jersey and Michigan through the operator's websites. As a result, Yggdrasil’s popular games, including successful franchises and titles like the Ancient Egypt-themed 5x5 slot game Valley of the Gods, are now available at Caesars Palace Online Casino, Caesars Sportsbook & Casino, and Horseshoe Online Casino.

The acquisition of Galaxy Gaming by Evolution Gaming has fallen through. This deal, which was first announced in 2024, missed its deadline on July 17, 2026, as the companies were unable to secure two necessary regulatory approvals. Despite this setback, both Evolution Gaming and Galaxy Gaming expressed satisfaction with the situation and affirmed their commitment to continued collaboration to expand their commercial reach. According to Galaxy Gaming's President and CEO, Matt Reback, the company has experienced significant growth since the attempted acquisition. Meanwhile, Evolution Gaming CEO Martin Carlesund mentioned that the transaction's impact would have been minimal for Evolution due to its size. Back in 2024, Evolution Gaming had offered $85 million to buy Galaxy Gaming and will now pay a $5.2 million fee because the deal didn't materialize. In another major industry development, Entain has announced it will eliminate up to 500 jobs, a surprising move after previously asserting there was no plan for immediate workforce reduction. However, it appears this was in the works for some time, as some employees had already been laid off by the time of the announcement. Entain has strongly denied that these job cuts are linked to recent changes in the UK tax regime, dismissing such claims as erroneous. Notably, Entain recently sold a stake in its Central and Eastern European joint venture to partner EMMA Capital.

Two DraftKings employees have recently been embroiled in a scandal over college prop bets. One of them, Samuel Silverman, has already been charged, with potentially up to five people involved. Court records reveal that Silverman enlisted a DraftKings colleague and roommate to place bets on college events. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has intensified its crackdown on illegal gambling websites. In its latest move, ACMA targeted 10 operators, instructing Internet Service Providers to block access to these sites in Australia. The authority has been steadily adding to its list of blocked websites, which now numbers over 1,700. Meanwhile, the French Gambling Authority has ordered the blocking of Polymarket in France. The regulator cited risks to consumer protection, asserting that prediction markets still fall under the country's gambling laws. Polymarket is facing similar challenges in other European countries such as Ireland, Spain, Italy, and Germany. In another development, Kalshi, a competing prediction market platform, is in the spotlight after a long-time teleprompter operator for President Donald Trump was found to be betting on the President’s speeches. This operator is reportedly negotiating with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to resolve the issue. The winner of a $167 million Powerball in Kentucky has found himself in more legal trouble after facing fresh charges related to a suspected hit-and-run that happened months ago. James Farthing, who has a long criminal history, won the Powerball in 2025 and promised to turn over a new leaf. However, since his win, he punched a police officer, faced—and later had dropped—additional charges, and is now under suspicion for the hit-and-run. Kalshi faces further scrutiny in the United States after a Washington judge approved the state’s request to block the platform’s event contracts in that jurisdiction. The ruling will take effect early next month, giving Kalshi time to comply.

Lee Sang-hyeok, better known as Faker to his fans, is a top-tier electronic sports player renowned for his ability to carry an entire game. Recently, he has taken on the role of cyber gambling prevention ambassador and was honored as a Senior Policeman during an official ceremony. Faker has eagerly embraced his new responsibilities, pledging to do everything he can to raise awareness about the dangers of cyber gambling, especially for young and vulnerable individuals. Meanwhile, Ryan Gold, the Arizona Cardinals' director of college scouting, has been suspended amid accusations of engaging in prohibited activities, including sharing private information with third parties in connection to gambling. It's alleged that Gold himself placed parlay bets. His attorney has denied these claims, calling them demonstrably false.

The study highlighted that the number of dealers per casino in Vegas has dropped from 124 in 2010 to just 88 in 2025—a 29% decrease—even though there are now 29 more casinos than there were in 2010. In the latest episode of iGaming Horizon, AI hosts Nate and Mike explore some of the most significant developments in the gambling industry and share their insights on current events. You can listen to the podcast here. Your post has been submitted for review by forum administrators to ensure it complies with our community guidelines. You will receive an email about the outcome within 48 hours.