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The week brought a mix of tax changes, product momentum, and new questions around oversight. Prediction markets kept gaining attention, and operators continued adjusting to a market where compliance, technology, and revenue pressure are increasingly connected.
This week in the online gambling industry:
- North Carolina raised its sports betting tax.
- Prediction markets topped $50 billion in June trading volume.
- Playtech lifted expectations after a stronger-than-expected first-half performance.
- Greece is looking for a cybersecurity partner to strengthen iGaming oversight.
- Report finds a large gap between celebrity marketing spend and responsible gambling investment.
😄 Revisit last week’s recap for the updates that led into this week’s stories.
😎 Read this week’s Opinion Corner for the debates behind the headlines. We cover trending social media posts and provide our expert commentary.
Here’s the full rundown:
Regulatory & Legal Updates
North Carolina Raises Sports Betting Tax, Gambling Insider
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein has signed the state’s $34 billion budget into law, raising taxes on sports betting operators and creating a new levy for prediction market platforms. The sports betting tax will increase from 18% to 23% of gross wagering revenue.
The law also introduces a 6% tax on net trading revenue generated by prediction market operators such as Kalshi. The measures take effect on January 1, 2027. However, the budget does not create a licensing or regulatory framework for prediction markets.
Germany Introduces Tiered Stake Limits for Online Slots, NEXT
Germany has raised the maximum stake limit for licensed online slots for the first time since regulating the market. The change took effect on July 1, replacing the previous flat €1-per-spin cap with a tiered system based on age and player risk.
The €1 limit will remain in place for players under 21. Adults aged 21 and older can now stake up to €3 per spin, while players with no signs of harmful gambling activity over a 90-day period can access a maximum stake of €5.
Italian Bill Proposes New Levy on Domestic Football Bets, iGB
A new Italian parliamentary bill would impose a 2% levy on all domestic football bets placed in the country. The measure would apply to both retail and online wagers on matches organized by the Italian Football Federation and its affiliated professional and amateur leagues.
If approved, the levy would take effect on January 1, 2027. Licensed betting operators would pay the charge quarterly to the FIGC, which would distribute the funds across youth development, women’s football, grassroots football and problem gambling prevention.
Financial Performance & Business Moves
Prediction Markets Surpass $50 Billion in June Trading, Gambling Insider
Prediction markets generated more than $50 billion in trading volume in June, according to a new Macquarie Equity Research report. The surge was driven largely by World Cup activity, with sports now accounting for roughly half of all prediction market volume.
Kalshi remained the sector’s leading platform, generating approximately $33 billion in monthly volume and increasing its market share from 57% in May to 65% in June. Macquarie said June’s activity points to an industry running at an annualized rate of more than $500 billion.
Playtech shares climbed nearly 18% after the company said its first-half performance had exceeded analyst expectations. The supplier expects adjusted EBITDA of more than €155 million for H1 2026 and at least €270 million for the full year.
The upgraded outlook was helped by Playtech’s B2B partnership with Hard Rock Digital in Florida, especially its Past Motor Racing slots-style product. Analysts at Peel Hunt maintained a Buy rating and raised their target price to £6.90.
Philippine Gaming Outlook Improves as Online Play Recovers, iGamingToday
The Philippine gaming sector could return to GGR growth as visa rules ease and online gambling begins to recover, according to S&P Global Ratings. The outlook follows a difficult first quarter, when PAGCOR said GGR fell 15.9%, mainly due to a sharp contraction in electronic gaming.
Electronic games dropped 22.4% year-on-year, while licensed casinos remained the largest revenue source with ₱44.5 billion, or 50.1% of total GGR. The e-gaming sector generated ₱39.9 billion, or 45.6%.
Technology & Innovation in Gambling
Xpoint Rolls Out New Tool to Detect Coordinated Betting Fraud, NEXT
Xpoint has launched a proprietary pattern-analysis engine designed to help betting and gaming operators identify organized fraud. The tool analyzes historical location data to detect coordinated behavior that may not appear during individual geolocation checks.
The engine can flag groups of users who repeatedly appear together across locations, especially when some accounts have previously been linked to location spoofing. Xpoint said the system works in the background, helping operators spot bonus abuse and promotion farming without adding extra friction for legitimate players.
Greece Seeks Cybersecurity Partner for Online Gambling Oversight, SBC News
Greece’s gambling regulator, the EEEP, has launched a tender for a specialist legal and technical partner to strengthen oversight of the country’s online gambling market. The project focuses on secure player identification, KYC processes, anti-money laundering safeguards and cybersecurity controls.
The contract is valued at €28,500 excluding VAT and will run until the end of 2026 or until 190 consultancy hours are completed. The tender comes as Greece prepares broader reforms that would expand the EEEP’s powers.
Responsible Gambling & Player Protection
Report Finds Wide Gap Between Gambling Marketing and RG Spending, Gambling Insider
The U.S. gambling industry spent an estimated $520 million on celebrity and athlete partnerships in 2025, according to a new audit by communications firm 5W. That was about 8.7 times more than the roughly $60 million spent on responsible gambling programs and communications.
The report estimated total marketing and advertising spend at $3.9 billion, with responsible gambling accounting for just 1.5% of the total. The audit reviewed 30 operators across sports betting, iGaming and land-based casinos, analyzing more than 47,000 media articles, regulatory filings, ESG disclosures and AI-generated search responses.
Dutch Regulator Pushes Back on Income-Based Gambling Limits, iGamingToday
Dutch Gambling Authority chair Michel Groothuizen has warned against using gambling regulation as a tool to decide how much people can lose based on their income. He said online betting has become easier to access through smartphones, making stronger consumer safeguards necessary.
His comments come as the Netherlands considers major gambling reforms, including a ban on online gambling advertising and bonuses, a minimum age of 21 for higher-risk online games, and a single deposit limit across all licensed operators.
- Eswatini just dismantled an online gambling syndicate, Sisekelo Dlamini on LinkedIn
- AC Sparta Praha, Betano extend partnership until 2029, Yogonet on X
- New Zealand’s online casino licensing process is about to begin, Oren Dalal on LinkedIn
- The Wall Street bank has warned employees to limit their betting to sports, Financial Times on X
Stories from iGaming Forums
- The current state of crypto gambling market, Bitcoin Forum
- Trying to claim 100% bonus from 1xbet, Reddit
- Lawmakers proposes social media contributes to gambling treatment, Bitcoin Forum
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.
