On 26 July 2024, shortly after midday, an email arrived at the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder that would later become part of the proceedings surrounding Bet3000’s German licence. It had been sent by lawyer Dr. Damir Böhm and concerned reports about activity in betting shops previously associated with Bet3000. Dr. Böhm was quite clear about the status of the information. He was passing on what he had been told by people connected with betting intermediaries, not describing something he had personally witnessed, and he expressly suggested that the regulator use its own......
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Compliance & AML
August 3, 2026
UKGC flags higher casino terror financing risk in new report
The Gambling Commission has published its 2026 assessment of money laundering (ML) and terrorist financing (TF) risks across Great Britain's licensed gambling sector, highlighting a more challenging compliance environment for...
Investigations
July 29, 2026
NRW Online Casino Reform Changes Rules for Shared Live Studios
North Rhine-Westphalia has changed the architecture of its regulated online casino market. Licensed concessionaires may now use shared live-casino studios operated by specialist service providers, while the concessionaire formally retains...
Markets & Jurisdictions
July 25, 2026
Thailand blocks 55,000 gambling websites during FIFA World Cup 2026
Thailand has significantly expanded its enforcement campaign against illegal gambling websites by blocking more than 55,000 online URLs within a period of less than six weeks. The initiative forms part...
Investigations
July 23, 2026
Evolution fined £4.75m as illegal operators remain anonymous
The UK Gambling Commission has finally published its settlement with Evolution after genuine Evolution games were found on six unlicensed websites operated by two companies. The Commission says these websites...
Investigations
July 17, 2026
Germany Regulates the Account but Loses Control of the First Click
Germany has constructed one of Europe’s most detailed regulatory systems for online gambling. Licensed operators must verify customers, apply deposit and product restrictions, connect to central protection systems and comply...
Investigations
July 16, 2026
Germany’s gambling compliance economics are starting to look upside down
Germany’s regulated gambling market was built on a clear public policy promise. The legal offer should be attractive enough to channel players away from unregulated alternatives while giving regulators the...
Compliance & AML
July 6, 2026
Illegal online gambling in EU hits €91.6bn, sparking fresh concerns
Illegal online gambling continues to present a growing challenge for regulators, licensed operators and policymakers across Europe. New estimates presented during a roundtable at the European Parliament suggest that the...
Gambling Authorities
July 3, 2026
GGL appoints Christian Hochgrebe as chair of German gambling regulator
Germany's federal gambling regulator has entered a new phase of leadership with the appointment of Christian Hochgrebe as chairman of the administrative board of the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL)....
Gambling Authorities
June 26, 2026
The hidden role of payment systems in gambling regulation
Modern gambling regulation is no longer only about licences, websites, advertising and enforcement letters. Increasingly, the real pressure point sits somewhere less visible: the payment chain. If a gambling operator...
Compliance & AML
June 22, 2026
What happens when compliance becomes a competitive advantage?
For many licensed gambling operators in Germany, compliance is no longer a department at the edge of the business. It has become part of the operating model itself. Licensing, player...
Regulation & Licensing
June 9, 2026
BGC unveils five-point plan to combat UK illegal gambling
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has introduced a comprehensive five-point plan designed to address the growing presence of illegal gambling operators in the United Kingdom. The industry body is...
Industry News
June 5, 2026
BGC warns illegal operators could take £10m during Epsom Derby Festival
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has warned that illegal gambling operators could attract millions of pounds in wagers during the Betfred Derby Festival, one of the most prestigious events...
Gambling Authorities
May 29, 2026
Germany moves to label prediction markets as illegal gambling
Germany’s national gambling regulator is moving toward a stricter interpretation of prediction markets, signalling that such products may increasingly be treated as illegal gambling offers under German law. The development...
Gambling Authorities
May 25, 2026
Finland gambling reform survey shows support for payment blocking
Finland’s planned overhaul of its gambling system has entered a critical phase as new survey data indicates that many citizens support financial restrictions against illegal gambling operators more strongly than...
Gambling Authorities
May 7, 2026
UKGC hires Head of Illegal Markets to tackle unlicensed online gambling
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has launched a recruitment process for a permanent Head of Illegal Markets as the regulator intensifies efforts to combat unlicensed gambling operators targeting consumers across...
Gambling Authorities
April 10, 2026
Ukraine gambling policy debate on military ban and targeted controls
The Ukrainian gambling sector has entered a period of heightened policy debate following a recent proposal by the Ministry of Digital Transformation to introduce a universal restriction on gambling access...
Gambling Law & Taxation
April 10, 2026
Nederlandse Loterij takes legal action against Qbet over illegal gambling
Nederlandse Loterij has initiated civil proceedings against Qbet, widely described as one of the largest unlicensed gambling platforms accessible within the Netherlands. The legal action reflects a broader effort by...
Investigations
January 26, 2026
Meta under scrutiny for illegal gambling adverts on social media
Meta faces growing criticism for its role in hosting and profiting from illegal gambling advertisements on its social media platforms. Industry bodies and regulators in Europe and the United Kingdom...
Gambling Authorities
January 21, 2026
KSA broadens oversight to curb illegal gambling in Netherlands
The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has announced a major expansion of its enforcement agenda for 2026. The authority is shifting its focus from merely targeting unlicensed gambling operators to...
Gambling Authorities
January 20, 2026
UK Gambling Commission urges industry action against illegal gambling
The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) has issued an urgent call for tighter cooperation between regulators and the licensed gambling industry to confront the growing challenge of illegal gambling operations....
Gambling Law & Taxation
January 9, 2026
Luxembourg Advances Bill to Tackle Illegal Gambling
Luxembourg has taken a decisive step to strengthen its approach to illegal gambling with the introduction of a new legislative proposal. The draft bill seeks to modernise the country’s gambling...
Gambling Authorities
January 7, 2026
UKGC reports record compliance actions and declining penalties
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has reported a significant increase in compliance activity for the fiscal year 2024-25, completing nearly 3,000 more interventions than in any previous year. The Commission...
Financial Results
December 30, 2025
Brazil to raise betting tax to 15% by 2028 for revenue growth
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has officially signed a new law that will increase taxation on betting companies operating within Brazil, marking a significant development in the country's regulated...
Gambling Authorities
December 17, 2025
Belgium strengthens measures against illegal online gambling
Belgium has recently reinforced its regulatory framework to combat illegal online gambling by introducing a direct mechanism for blocking unlicensed websites. This move aims to ensure that online gambling within...
Responsible Gambling
December 16, 2025
When illegal gambling losses turn into a refund playbook!
Explore how illegal gambling refund claims unfold, their risks and how addicted players are affected by structured disputes.
Compliance & AML
November 25, 2025
EU illegal online gambling costs €20 billion yearly
A recent assessment of Europe’s online gambling environment highlights the continued rise and influence of unlicensed operators across the European Union. While regulated gambling frameworks were introduced to ensure consumer...