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Yet another week, the industry is pulled in two directions. On one side, strong growth stories and major partnerships continue to push the sector forward. On the other hand, regulatory pressure, black market expansion, and rising player risk behaviors are becoming harder to ignore.
This week in the online gambling industry:
- Stake lawsuit in New York names Coinbase in alleged underage crypto gambling case
- Netherlands sees black market growth as legal gambling revenue declines
- BETBY reports 61% GGR growth in strong Q1 2026 performance
- Indonesia blocks 1,000 more accounts in ongoing gambling crackdown
- Survey shows 60% of U.S. bettors chasing losses, raising concern
😄 Ready to catch up with last week as well? Visit our previous edition of the iGaming Recap!
😎 Interested in what the iGaming community is saying? Check out our Opinion Corner!
Here’s the full rundown:
Regulatory & Legal Updates
New Stake Lawsuit Names Coinbase in Underage Gambling Claim, Gambling Insider
Both Stake and Coinbase are accused in a high-profile New York lawsuit. The complaint alleges that Stake’s global crypto casino and its U.S.-facing sweepstakes platform function together to bypass regulatory safeguards and enable underage gambling. Coinbase is accused of providing the financial infrastructure that made the activity possible.
Filed by “John Doe,” the plaintiff, who was allegedly 13 years old at the time, claims he was recruited into illegal offshore crypto gambling through online platforms and influencer-driven marketing.
Indonesia Freezes 1,000 More Accounts in Ongoing Gambling Crackdown, iGB
On 13 April, multiple Indonesian government bodies led by the Financial Services Authority (OJK) coordinated to block 1,000 bank accounts used for online bets, bringing the total to 33,252 accounts blocked since 2024.
Despite severe penalties, punters face prison terms of up to five years and fines of up to RP1 billion ($66,000), the underground industry is still going strong, with PPATK data showing 422.1 million online gambling transactions last year and total deposits of RP36.01 trillion.
Legal Gambling Stagnates in the Netherlands as Black Market Grows, NEXT
The Dutch gambling market is becoming a cautionary tale for regulators worldwide. H2 Gambling Capital expects a further 10% GGR rise for the illegal market in 2026 and a further decline in the channelisation rate for the legal market to 47%, with a decline of total GGR for the legal market of 3%.
According to the KSA, 53% of all money wagered on online gambling in the Netherlands goes to unlicensed platforms, even though 94% of players use licensed operators, meaning a small share of heavy gamblers are driving enormous revenue to black market sites.
Financial Performance & Business Moves
LiveScore Group Narrows Net Loss as Revenue Climbs in FY25, NEXT
LiveScore Group is making progress on its path to profitability. Revenue for the 12 months to 31 March 2025 amounted to £206.3m, surpassing the previous year by 15.3%, driven by growth in B2C online gambling, which posted £185.1m in revenue, 18.3% ahead of FY24.
However, headwinds loom. European turnover fell 29% to £16.3m after LiveScore shut its Netherlands operation in November 2024 under tighter regulatory pressure, creating a £6m headwind during the period. Looking ahead, growth is expected to slow in 2026 as LiveScore’s UK tax bill increased to 40% of GGR in April.
BETBY Posts Record-Breaking March in Strong Q1 2026, SBC News
Sportsbook technology supplier BETBY is reporting a standout start to 2026, with GGR soaring 61% in Q1 and March alone setting a new company record. The figures continue a growth trajectory that saw the company post 179% GGR growth in Q1 2025 and 56% in Q3 2025, demonstrating consistent momentum.
The strong quarter was driven by new partner launches and the continued performance of existing clients, as BETBY expands its presence across regulated markets globally.
Rank Group Reaffirms £100m Operating Profit Target After £205m Q3, NEXT
UK gambling operator Rank Group said revenue for the three months ended 31 March reached £205.4m, surpassing the same period last year by 5%, continuing a similar growth pattern seen in the last six months of 2025.
Rank Group’s Grosvenor Casinos business contributed £95.0m in Q3, with gaming machines emerging as the fastest-growing vertical, up 10%, after around 850 additional machines were switched on across the estate following new legislation.
Technology & Innovation in Gambling
Kambi Calls Google Esports Deal a ‘Strong Endorsement’ of Data Expertise, SBC News
Kambi Group’s esports division Abios has signed a multi-year data partnership with Google, which will see Abios provide its leading esports data coverage to support and enhance a range of Google products and experiences.
The deal enables Google to deliver richer esports experiences for four leading esports titles, League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Dota 2, and VALORANT, spanning scheduling, fixtures, competitive statistics, player and team data, and scoring information via Google Search and the Google App.
DATA.BET Launches In-Stream Live Betting for Mobile, European Gaming
DATA.BET has launched In-Stream Betting, a frontend feature integrated into an existing streaming infrastructure that enables players to place bets without leaving the broadcast, with markets, odds, and a bet slip all accessible within the stream itself.
The product is built with mobile-first behaviour in mind, and the overlay is on-demand; players can switch it on or off at any point during the stream. In-Stream Betting launches first with virtual sports, with plans to expand to additional verticals in the near future.
Responsible Gambling & Player Protection
More Americans Betting on Sports, But Over Half Are Chasing Losses, Gambling Insider
A major new survey paints a picture of growing US sports betting participation alongside rising problem gambling indicators. 27% of Americans now hold an active online sports betting account, up from 22% in 2025 and 19% in 2024, while participation is especially high among younger men, with 52% of those aged 18 to 49 reporting active accounts.
The concerning data, however, lies in behavioural trends: 60% of bettors say they have “chased” a bet, placing a larger wager in hopes of recovering a prior loss, up from 52% in 2025. Additionally, 63% of bettors say they have bet a total of $100 or more in one day (up from 56% in 2025).
The Dutch Gaming Authority has allocated grants to five new projects focused on preventing gambling-related harm: the Anonymous Gamblers Foundation, the Dutch Association for Psychiatry (NVvP), the Trimbos Institute, and the Naast Foundation.
The investment focuses on four areas: expansion of peer support networks; development of clinical guidance on addiction; integration of prevention within existing social and health programmes; and provision of support for affected workplaces and families.
- Big day expected tomorrow for #EU #onlinegambling #regulation, Terence Cassar on LinkedIn
- AFFORDABILITY CHECKS UPDATE FROM GAMBLING COMMISSION, Chris Fawcett on X
- A privilege to listen to the unrivaled experience of Mark Blandford, a true online sports betting pioneer, Nick Hardy on LinkedIn
- Africa’s gambling sector is projected to reach $11.3bn by 2032, iGB on X
Stories from iGaming Forums
- Can data models really beat sportsbook odds? Bitcoin Forum
- CASHOOMO IS A SCAM SITE, Reddit
- Kalshi SUING Montana to prevent being labeled as gambling Bitcoin Forum
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