All around the world; a gambling news round-up
The gambling industry never stands still, but October was a busy month – even by the usual hectic standards. Crackdowns on illegal gambling operations, new forays into gambling tourism and plenty of regulatory changes are all underway. Here’s a quick look at some of the stories that have been hitting the headlines.
Sri Lanka sets sights on becoming another Macau
Never a country to sleep on an opportunity for increasing tourism, Sri Lanka has announced the opening of City of Dreams Sri Lanka. This is a $1.2 billion project, comprising a jointly developed hotel, retail, and gaming resort, masterminded by John Keells Holdings and Melco Resorts.
The project signals the island’s ambition to become South Asia’s entertainment capital, with the resort squarely aimed at affluent Indian and Chinese visitors. Alongside the launch came the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act, establishing a single body to manage growth responsibly. Experts say that there’s no reason Sri Lanka can’t rival Macau, if it successfully balances gaming with sustainable tourism.
Philippines crackdown on illegal gaming
Further east the Philippines is proving that enforcement can be as effective as expansion. The country’s Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) reported a 93.6 % drop in illegal iGaming URLs in Q3 2025. How did they do it? A seemingly exceptionally successful partnership with anti-fraud firm Gogolook and its Whoscall app.
Public awareness drives have certainly helped, but swift government takedowns should take most credit for dramatically thinning the ranks of rogue operators. Legitimate operators (such as those in the new PlaySafe Alliance) have also been instrumental in supporting the effort to separate licensed brands from the black market.
Bolivia uncovers an illicit slots den
Another country whose authorities aren't sleeping in the fight against the black market is Bolivia. Here, regulators uncovered a sophisticated underground casino disguised as a restaurant! It lured in customers using WhatsApp and for some time managed to use surveillance cameras to dodge inspectors.
During the raid, 2 slot machines were seized. Bolivian authorities have now completed 61 successful raids and 85 site closures, just this year and destroyed hundreds of confiscated machines to prevent them re-entering the market. But, with online gaming still totally banned and only one legal licence operating in Santa Cruz, the black market remains a challenge. Lawmakers are once more debating reforms that could legalise online play, potentially boosting jobs and tax revenue – if it goes ahead.
Italy; online betting sites drop from 407 to 52
In Europe, meanwhile, the story is more about tidying house than taking down the black market. Italy’s Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) will slash its online betting domains from 407 to 52 when the new framework launches on 13 November.
Each licence holder will now be limited to just one site. This brings to an end the era of white label and skin sites and in the process, completely reforms the online gambling landscape. Mandatory affordability checks and deposit limits will also come into play, marking Italy’s biggest gambling shake-up in a decade.
The licensing process has already raised €365 million for the state. However, the stricter rules are very likely to at least challenge newcomers, if not put them off entirely. Analysts believe that cutting the number of operators should create a cleaner, safer, and more transparent market, but there’s a chance it might plunge a few sites into the unregulated space.
EGBA wins appeal over Dutch licensing dispute
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) won a long-running legal battle against the European Commission this month. The case in question dates back to 2014! It was then that the Netherlands renewed gambling licences for state-run operators, but they did it without holding an open competition.
The EGBA complained that this gave those companies an unfair advantage, but the Commission dismissed the issue in 2020. Now, the EU’s top court has ruled that the Commission really didn’t investigate properly and must take another look. If this new investigation finds wrongdoing, the Netherlands could face pretty large penalties or even be forced to change how licences are granted.
Legal Dutch gambling market losing revenue
While the legal wrangling plays out, the Netherlands faces more problems. The regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), confirmed a 16% drop in licensed iGaming revenue in the first half of 2025 – to the tune of about €600 million. Player numbers ticked up slightly, but average spending fell. Why? Deposit limit rules came into force. It’s probably fair to think a lot of that shortfall went to the illegal sector.
In turn, channelisation (that’s players choosing legal sites over illegal ones) slipped below 50%. Understandably, this has raised very real fears that tighter restrictions are pushing consumers underground. The EGBA’s Maarten Haijer warned that well-intentioned controls could be backfiring.
Finland prepares to share industry with private operators
It’s all being closely watched in Finland, where the state monopoly Veikkaus is preparing to share the field with private operators by 2027. While some industry voices cautioned that vague draft laws and political delays could risk repeating the over-regulation seen in Sweden and the Netherlands, others are much more hopeful.
Executives from Kindred, Entain and Paf urged clearer rules on marketing, deposit limits and taxation before licences are issued. Finland’s challenge is going to be to create total clarity before the new sites go live, ensuring consumer confidence.
Denmark gambling revenue soars by 25%
If Finland represents a cautious step in the right direction, Denmark shows what stability can deliver. The country’s gambling revenue climbed 25.1% year-on-year in August 2025 to DKK 714 million.
Sports betting was by far the standout, up more than 50%. Mobile wagers accounted for over 70% of the total. Online casino play also rose 20%, predictably led by slots. However, land-based slot income dipped slightly, but casino revenue gained modestly for a fifth straight month.
The steady performance highlights how a mature, transparent regulatory model can sustain growth. Denmark has cleverly managed to maintain excellent responsible-gambling safeguards like the long running ROFUS self-exclusion register, while not stifling industry growth.
South Africa to target influencers
Across the equator, South Africa’s National Gambling Board (NGB) has declared social-media advertising its ‘number one issue’. Acting CEO Lungile Dukwana claims that influencer-led promotions often target under-18s and must be curtailed.
With national GGR (gross gaming revenue) climbing to R59.3 billion (up 25% year-on-year) the regulator has enough wiggle room to keep expansion in check by tightening ad rules and coordinating with internet providers to block unlicensed offshore sites. The move echoes many of the stricter gambling controls we’re seeing crop up in Europe.
Curaçao dismisses crisis claims despite board members’ exit
It seems only fitting to end in Curaçao – as that’s what everyone else did. Back in September, the island’s entire Supervisory Board resigned. While it doesn’t sound great, the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) confirmed that its work has continued unaffected.
How? Oversight simply moved from the Ministry of Finance to Justice, apparently a routine administrative shuffle. Licensing and compliance under the new LOK gambling law, which replaces the old master-sub-licence model, remain on schedule. The CGA says its reforms are strengthening transparency and investor confidence, something this particular gambling regulator has been in need of.
Summary
Around the world, there are striking parallels in the gambling industry. From a successful crackdown on illegal operations to the accidental failures of over regulation. There are plenty of lessons for regulators in different countries to learn from one another, perhaps leading to a slightly less dramatic November.