The gambling industry has experienced a busy week, marked by significant developments and surprising announcements. Casino House Group News is here to provide a brief overview of the key highlights. The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has raised concerns about illegal betting on the Grand National, estimating that ÂŁ9.4 million ($12.11 million) might be wagered through unregulated operators. The BGC anticipates that as much as ÂŁ250 million ($322 million) will be placed on the main event, suggesting that if their estimate holds true, around 4% of the total wagers would be directed towards black-market operators. In other news, Playson, an innovative content provider and iGaming content supplier, has formed a new partnership with Fenikss. This agreement supports Fenikss's growth in Latvia by expanding the reach of Playson's popular games, such as Royal Coins 2: Hold and Win, Royal Joker: Hold and Win, and Book of Gold: Multichance, to new audiences. In the United Arab Emirates, Xpoint has partnered with The Game LLC to enhance security and geolocation services. This collaboration is poised to benefit The Game LLC, the first licensed lottery operator in the UAE, by strengthening its service offerings. Moreover, Casino House Group has announced community trials for Droodles, aiming to gather user insights. This initiative is part of an agreement with The Digital Wellness Center, which has introduced the novel cognitive microbreak tool Droodles to Casino House Group's online community.
Business and finance
Star Entertainment Group, Australia's struggling casino operator, has agreed to an enhanced offer from Bally's Corporation after unsuccessful attempts to secure new funding and refinance its debt. Bally's intends to acquire a 56.7% stake in Star Entertainment in exchange for AU$300 million ($180 million). This week, as part of the agreement, Star received an initial AU$100 million to support its operations and settle outstanding debts. An additional AU$200 million from Bally's will follow once Star's shareholders and relevant regulatory bodies approve the takeover bid. In a separate development, gaming content provider BETER expanded its global presence through a collaboration with Turbo Stars, a leading casino and sports platform B2B provider. This partnership allows Turbo Stars access to BETER's innovative, industry-leading fast betting content for esports and sports. Meanwhile, despite legal challenges in the United States, Kalshi, the rapidly growing online prediction market platform, bolstered its leadership team by appointing Sara Slane as the new Head of Corporate Development. Slane, who previously served as Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at the American Gaming Association (AGA), brings a wealth of experience. In 2019, she founded her consultancy firm. With her extensive expertise and varied skill set, Slane is expected to play a critical role in Kalshi's future growth.
Regulation and laws
Kalshi has brought on a key expert with extensive experience; however, the platform is currently under scrutiny from Maryland's gambling regulator. This represents the sixth legal challenge for the sports and politics prediction platform, which is already facing similar issues in states like Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois, and Montana. Globally, the Netherlands Gambling Authority, known as the Kansspelautoriteit, has shut down 20 gambling apps since the beginning of the year. This industry-wide crackdown is the regulator's latest effort to limit the reach of unlicensed gambling apps. In Ontario, Canada, the emerging B2B gaming provider Playnetic has obtained a license from the province's gambling authority, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). This license is a critical step for the company as it looks to expand its presence in the province. Meanwhile, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB), the state's gambling regulator, announced that it has issued cease-and-desist orders to illegal gambling websites. More than a dozen operators have received such directives and have been given 14 days to comply with the regulator’s demands. In Louisiana, a newly proposed bill has put the state among those targeting sweepstakes, labeling them as illegal gambling. This move has encountered resistance from the Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA), which argues that categorizing sweepstakes as unregulated gambling that should be halted is a reckless simplification.
Responsible gambling
In Australia, BetStop, the country's unified self-exclusion program, recently reported its latest figures for the third quarter of 2024/2025, announcing it has exceeded its goal with a total of 40,121 registrations. However, this total includes registrations from those who opted for temporary self-exclusion, which can be completed and lifted, so it does not reflect the current number of active participants. Meanwhile, in Europe, the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC), the regulatory authority for gambling in Greece, has intensified its commitment to responsible gambling through a new partnership with Mindway AI. This collaboration has allowed the commission to utilize Mindway's innovative self-assessment tool, Gamalyze.
The voice of the industry
This week, Casino House Group News published a thought-provoking opinion piece featuring Ivan Kurochkin, the Partner and Head of Consulting and Eastern Europe Desk at 4H Agency. He discussed Lithuania's new regulations on gambling advertising and responsible gambling, which include an almost complete ban on gambling ads anticipated to take effect over the next three years. In the latest episode of Safer Gambling Talks, Simon Vincze, Head of Sustainable & Safer Gambling at Casino House Group, conversed with Dr. Mary Donohue, CEO of The Digital Wellness Center and a Digital Psychologist. They explored the benefits of microbreaks in helping players refresh their minds and maintain self-control. Additionally, Casino House Group News released an analysis on professional gamblers, investigating the controversial topic to determine whether these individuals are mavericks or charlatans. The publication also featured an interview with Henry McLean, Co-founder and Commercial & Marketing Director of 4ThePlayer. McLean discussed the company's efforts to innovate and improve its products, sharing insights on enhancing player experiences and delivering captivating and inventive games.