Quick Navigation
Control was the theme running through this week’s iGaming news. The industry is still expanding, but access to players, advertising channels, data, and regulated markets is facing more scrutiny. That made for a week where growth stories sat alongside tougher questions.
This week in the online gambling industry:
- A bipartisan US bill would require age checks for online sportsbooks and prediction market platforms.
- Greece’s gambling revenue rose 6% in 2025 as online gambling reached 38.8% of the market.
- DraftKings launched shared online poker liquidity across Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
- Blurify released an open-source, AI-native framework for iGaming operators.
- The latest UK gambling survey reported a lower problem gambling rate of 2.4%.
😄 Read last week’s recap to catch up on trends that continued in this week’s headlines.
😎 Explore this week’s Opinion Corner for sharp takes on the debates behind the headlines.
Here’s the full rundown:
Regulatory & Legal Updates
Google Cracks Down on Repeat Gambling Ad Violations, NEXT
Google has updated its Gambling and Games Policy to expand certification requirements for prospective advertisers. The new restrictions could make it harder for black-market operators to keep placing ads after repeated violations.
Starting September 14, Manager Accounts flagged for repeated misconduct will be blocked from applying for new certifications and could have existing certifications revoked. Gambling advertisers must also show “good policy health,” while existing rules continue to require gambling ad domains to be directly owned and controlled by the gambling business.
US Bill Would Require Age Checks for Sportsbooks and Prediction Markets, Gambling Insider
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) has introduced bipartisan legislation that would require online sportsbooks and prediction market platforms to use facial recognition technology to verify users’ ages. The Facial Recognition to Protect Children Act is backed by Kalshi and the parents’ advocacy group ParentsRISE.
The proposal would require platforms to estimate a user’s age when they log in or before they place a bet or trade. Gottheimer’s office said the technology would not store users’ identities or personal biometric information.
Czech Republic Orders ISPs to Block Polymarket, iGB
The Czech Ministry of Finance has added Polymarket to its list of unauthorized internet games, requiring internet service providers to block access to the prediction market platform within 15 days. The ministry said Polymarket’s offering falls under unauthorized gambling activity under Czech law.
Czech officials cited concerns around player protection, market supervision, money laundering prevention and possible misuse of non-public information. The block follows similar action against Polymarket in several European markets.
Financial Performance & Business Moves
Greece’s gambling market grew in 2025, with gross gaming revenue rising 6% year-on-year, according to the Hellenic Gaming Commission. Remote gambling accounted for 38.8% of total GGR, supported by 24 licensed online operators and more applicants moving through the licensing process.
Public revenues from gambling, including taxes, levies and licence fees, increased 11.2% to €1.17 billion. Online operators were the largest contributor, generating €736.94 million, or 63.1% of all sector receipts. The regulator also expanded its enforcement efforts, increasing the number of blocked domains from 9,590 in 2024 to 12,642 by the end of 2025.
Merkur Buys White Hat Studios to Expand in the US, iGB
Merkur Group has agreed to acquire slots provider White Hat Studios as part of its push into the regulated US iGaming market. The deal is subject to regulatory approvals and follows Merkur’s 2025 acquisition of Nevada-licensed supplier Gaming Arts.
White Hat Gaming’s platform and white-label businesses are not included in the transaction and will remain under their current ownership. Merkur said the acquisition will support its operating partners and strengthen its online expansion.
Light & Wonder Keeps 2026 Growth Outlook, iGamingToday
Light & Wonder has reiterated its full-year 2026 guidance, saying it still expects consolidated adjusted EBITDA to grow at a mid- to high-single-digit rate. The company also remains focused on reducing debt and reaching the midpoint of its 2.5x to 3.5x net debt leverage target by the end of 2026.
The company had around $180 million remaining under its share buyback program as of July 1. During the second quarter, it repurchased more than 1.6 million CHESS Depositary Interests for about $134 million. Light & Wonder reported first-quarter revenue of $790 million, up 2.1% year-on-year, while adjusted EBITDA rose 5.1% to $327 million.
DraftKings has received approval from the Michigan Gaming Control Board to offer multi-state online poker in Michigan. The launch allows the operator to combine player pools across Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, with the platform going live on July 8.
The approval adds DraftKings to Michigan’s growing shared-liquidity poker market under the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement. Before joining the compact, Michigan players could only compete against others located in the state.
Technology & Innovation in Gambling
Blurify Releases Open-Source iGaming Platform Framework, European Gaming
Blurify has launched Openora, an open-source, AI-native framework designed for sportsbooks, casinos, affiliates, and prediction markets. The self-hostable framework lets operators build new platform capabilities, extend existing systems, and modernize legacy technology without replacing their full tech stack.
Openora is built with AI at the core of its architecture, including AI-readable project context, development rules and task-specific skills for engineering teams. Blurify said the framework can help operators avoid full replatforming projects and recurring GGR revenue-share arrangements.
Responsible Gambling & Player Protection
Ireland Launches Campaign on Underage Gambling Warning Signs, iGB
Ireland’s Gambling Regulatory Authority has launched a national campaign to help parents and guardians identify early signs of underage gambling. The campaign was developed with the Health Service Executive Addiction Services and will run across video-on-demand, radio, digital audio, and social media.
The initiative follows GRAI-commissioned research showing that adults who gambled before turning 18 were significantly more likely to develop gambling problems later in life. The guidance encourages parents to watch for changes such as mood swings, secrecy around money, and gambling-like activity in video games, including loot boxes.
UK Survey Shows Lower Problem Gambling Rate, NEXT
The latest Gambling Survey for Great Britain reported a lower problem gambling rate of 2.4%, down from the previous annual figure of 2.7%. The third annual GSGB report is based on 20,775 respondents and covers gambling behaviour, participation and attitudes during 2025.
The survey found that 47% of adults had gambled in the past four weeks. That figure fell to 27% when people who only played National Lottery or charity lottery draws were excluded. Online gambling remained ahead of in-person gambling, with 38% of adults gambling online compared with 28% in person.
- €91.6 billion. That’s the estimated size of Europe’s illegal online gambling market in 2025, SCCG Management on LinkedIn
- America’s children should not be gambling, Senator Katie Boyd Britt on X
- Two men in Japan got arrested over a website that didn’t host a single casino game, Adrià Mas Rodríguez on LinkedIn
- 80% of Canadians call sports betting ads a “threat” to youth, Holly Doan on X
Stories from iGaming Forums
- The cash out myth I know, Bitcointalk
- Lesson learned today, r/Onlinegambling
- Are online Casinos more rigged than physical Casinos like in Las Vegas? Bitcointalk
Keep up with news and trends in the iGaming industry. Gambling ‘N Go provides a recap each week. Join our spam-free newsletter to stay ahead. We are a GPWA-approved portal that supports responsible gambling. Check out our guides for beginners and experts to find trusted and reliable games, avoid scams, and responsible gambling practices.
