As the week concludes in the bustling gambling industry, Casino House Group News provides a concise recap of the key happenings, spotlighting notable regulatory updates and major business developments. A newly released study by Ipsos revealed that the majority of online gamblers in Alberta and British Columbia are using offshore and unregulated platforms. Commissioned by the Canadian Gaming Association, the study found that although most players in these provinces are aware of PlayAlberta as a regulated site, many who registered on unregulated platforms were unaware that these operators are not permitted in their region. Following the recent SBC Awards Europe, Casino House Group earned the prestigious Casino Affiliate of the Year award. The 2025 SBC Awards Europe took place at the Hilton Malta in San Ġiljan, Malta on June 12, celebrating top operators, suppliers, affiliates, and game developers. This week, the rapidly expanding and reputable iGaming software provider, NuxGame, launched its updated sportsbook solution, NuxGame Sportsbook. The enhanced solution offers a variety of useful features that benefit gambling operators while also increasing customer engagement and retention.
Business and finance
A new report from the Campaign for Fairer Gambling (CFG), titled CFG State Supplement #1, highlights the growing expansion of gambling across the United States and warns of increasing consumer losses. This publication supplements the CFG's USA National Online Gambling Report 2024. This week, PointsBet's Board of Directors rejected Betr's bid and instead approved a competing offer from MIXI and MIXI Australia. The executive team determined that the MIXI proposal provided superior value, considering Betr's offer less favorable in comparison. Kaizen Gaming's premier betting and casino brand, Betano, has partnered with FIFA to become the Official Partner of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in South America. This strategic partnership follows their previous collaboration for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, announced in 2022. International Game Technology, a leading global gaming company, has announced that its lottery division, IGT Lottery, has been renamed Brightstar Lottery. This rebranding coincides with the company's continued global expansion and growing partner portfolio. The name change takes effect immediately, ahead of the anticipated sale of IGT's Gaming and Digital Business to Voyager Parent, LLC, expected to conclude by July 1, 2025. Cirsa, a leading Spanish gambling company owned by Blackstone, announced on Wednesday its plan to launch an Initial Public Offering (IPO) to raise up to €460 million on the Madrid stock exchange. Although the exact date and number of shares remain undisclosed, Cirsa plans to offer €60 million in secondary shares and €400 million in newly issued shares. The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC), a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing manipulation and fraud in esports, announced that Thunderpick has joined as its latest Anti-Corruption Supporter. This partnership reinforces Thunderpick's commitment to maintaining the integrity of esports and protecting it from betting-related threats such as fraud and match-fixing.
Regulation and laws
In the United States, efforts to combat sweepstakes casinos persist. Connecticut lawmakers recently adopted a stringent stance by passing legislation that effectively bans sweepstakes social casinos, positioning the state as the second, after Montana, to enforce such a ban. Signed into law by Governor Ned Lamont, Senate Bill 1235 will take effect on October 1, 2025, demonstrating the state's commitment to addressing the legal ambiguities in which many of these casinos operate. In a similar move, New York's legislature approved an anti-sweepstakes bill, SB 5935, which is now pending approval from Governor Kathy Hochul. If signed, New York would join Connecticut and Montana in prohibiting these casinos. Meanwhile, in Michigan, the Michigan Gambling Control Board (MGCB) has taken enforcement actions against five websites, issuing cease-and-desist letters for operating illegally under the state's Lawful Internet Gaming Act, Michigan Penal Code, and the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act. These sites have been given 14 days to adhere to the MGCB's directives. Louisiana is also cracking down, with its Gaming Control Board issuing 40 cease-and-desist letters to unlicensed gambling operators, some using the sweepstakes casino model, providing them with a 14-day compliance window. Internationally, Sweden is proposing legislation to ban gambling with credit cards, aiming to protect gamblers from excessive debt. This draft bill would prohibit credit card payments if it is immediately apparent at the time of purchase. In Japan, authorities are collaborating with international regulatory bodies to reduce illegal gambling targeting Japanese customers. Reports indicate outreach to major gambling jurisdictions such as the Isle of Man, Gibraltar, Malta, and Curacao to curb this activity.
The voice of the industry
Earlier this week, Casino House Group News had the chance to interview Relax Gaming's CEO, Martin Stålros. During their conversation, Stålros discussed the evolving landscape of jackpot products following the Dream Drop, among other pressing topics. In recent developments, Casino House Group News published an in-depth analysis of Brian Christopher Slots, YouTube's most beloved gambler, also known to fans as BCSlots. This analysis explores who Brian Christopher is, how he generates income, and how he became the prominent face of original games. In the latest episode of Safer Gambling Talks, Casino House Group's Head of Sustainable & Safer Gambling, Šimon Vincze, was joined by Duncan Garvie, the Founder and Trustee of BetBlocker. Garvie discussed the effects of the black market, highlighting predatory practices within the gambling industry and cautioning that users involved in the black market effectively forfeit all their rights.
