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Ohio lawmakers are betting big on regulated online poker, while India’s Supreme Court is inching toward a possible crackdown on betting apps. Add a million-dollar penalty in Australia and explosive user growth in India, and you’ve got an iGaming week packed with legal battles, market shakeups, and digital expansion.
This week in the online gambling industry:
- Ohio lawmakers introduced a sweeping bill to legalize online casinos and poker.
- India’s Supreme Court put betting apps under the spotlight.
- Unibet paid AU$ 1 million for violating Australian self-exclusion laws.
- New Jersey’s casino revenue slipped, but iGaming roared ahead.
- Pragmatic Play expanded into the Netherlands, while Games Global launched a U.S.-exclusive with BetMGM.
- Spain cracked down on identity theft tied to gambling accounts.
- The Dutch KSA warned operators: sports sponsorships are about to be banned for good.
😄 Didn’t catch last week’s action? Head over to last week’s iGaming Recap for the full scoop.
😎 Want to know what’s lighting up LinkedIn, Reddit, and X? Tap into this week’s Opinion Corner for the hottest takes.
Here’s the full rundown:
Regulatory & Legal Updates
Ohio Lawmakers Introduce Separate Bills to Regulate Online Gambling, Ohio Capital Journal
Ohio legislators are advancing efforts to legalize and regulate online gambling with the introduction of Senate Bill 197 and a forthcoming House counterpart. The Senate proposal, led by Republican Sen. Nathan Manning, would permit online casino games, poker, and horse race betting through the state’s four casinos and seven racinos. The bill establishes a minimum gambling age of 21, mandates identity verification, and sets participation limits of $500 and five hours per week per user.
The legislation imposes a 36% tax on online gambling revenue, rising to 40% for operators outsourcing to management firms, and requires significant upfront licensing fees, $50 million for direct operators and $100 million for those using third-party management companies. Only Ohio casino or racetrack operators would be eligible for internet gambling licenses, each limited to one platform.
India Supreme Court Issues Notice to Centre on Plea to Ban Betting Apps, NDTV
The Supreme Court of India has agreed to examine a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a nationwide ban on “illegal” betting apps and stricter regulation of online gaming and fantasy sports. The plea, filed by a prominent social activist, argues that the proliferation of such apps threatens the welfare of youth and vulnerable populations, calling for comprehensive legislative action to protect citizens.
The activist referenced a series of suicides in Telangana linked to gambling debts and an FIR against celebrities for promoting betting platforms. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N.K. Singh issued a notice to the central government, requesting a formal response, but stopped short of involving state governments at this stage. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the regulation of online gambling across India.
Unibet Pays AU$ 1m After 100,000 Breaches of Australian Gambling Law, SBC News
Unibet has paid an AU$ 1 million penalty after an investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found the company had breached self-exclusion rules under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. The breaches involved more than 100,000 instances where Unibet failed to close accounts of customers registered with the national self-exclusion register, BetStop.
The ACMA’s investigation revealed systemic failures in Unibet’s compliance processes, leading to a significant number of affected customers. The penalty serves as a warning to other operators about the importance of adhering to federal gambling laws, particularly around player protection and self-exclusion mechanisms.
Financial Performance & Business Moves
1xBet Grows Active Players in India by 68%, YOGONET
1xBet has reported a remarkable 68% increase in monthly active users from India in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous quarter. This surge is attributed to a series of strategic moves in content, product development, and marketing, including the expansion of its game library with over 50 new titles and exclusive partnerships with leading developers. Notably, the introduction of innovative features like the Trigger Bonus system and popular new games such as Crash and dynamic slots have played a decisive role in attracting new users.
The brand has also focused on enhancing its Live Casino offerings, launching exclusive tables and interactive game shows tailored for the Indian market. Regular tournaments, such as the Indian Casino League, have further increased player engagement, drawing over 14,000 participants for a substantial prize pool.
New Jersey Casino Revenue Falls 5.1% in Q1, Gambling Insider
New Jersey’s casino industry experienced a 5.1% decline in total gaming revenue in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year, reflecting ongoing challenges for land-based operators. While traditional casino gaming in Atlantic City saw revenues dip, the state’s overall gaming market remains buoyed by strong growth in internet gaming. Online casino operators posted a 25.2% year-on-year increase in April 2025, with internet gaming revenue reaching $908.4 million year-to-date, a 21% rise over 2024.
Sports betting, however, saw the sharpest contraction, with gross revenue dropping 14.8% in April and a 17.6% decline year-to-date. Despite these sectoral declines, New Jersey’s total gaming revenue for the first four months of 2025 stands at $2.12 billion, up 3.1% from the previous year, largely due to the digital segment’s robust performance. The state collected $59.8 million in gaming taxes in April.
Pennsylvania Gaming Revenue Hits $558.7m in April, Up 10.7%, PA Gaming Control Board
Pennsylvania’s gaming industry reported robust growth in April 2025, with total revenue reaching $558.7 million, a 10.7% increase compared to the same month last year. This surge reverses the temporary slowdown observed in February and continues the positive momentum seen in March. The standout performer was the iGaming sector, which saw revenue jump 31.3% year-on-year to $227.7 million, led by online slots that generated $169.5 million, a 34.5% increase.
While digital gaming thrived, retail slots revenue dipped slightly by 1.2% to $203.1 million, coinciding with a reduction in the number of operational slot machines. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board highlighted that tax revenue from iGaming alone reached over $100 million for the month, reinforcing the sector’s significance for state finances.
Technology & Innovation in Gambling
Pragmatic Play Expands Partnership with Starcasino for Newly Launched Dutch Platform, Gambling Insider
Pragmatic Play has broadened its partnership with Starcasino, bringing a comprehensive suite of slot and live casino games to the operator’s newly launched Dutch platform. Dutch players can now access popular Pragmatic Play titles such as Gates of Olympus, Big Bass Bonanza, and Sugar Rush 1000, alongside the exclusive Starcasino Bonanza slot, which features bespoke branding and assets from Starcasino.
This expansion aligns with Starcasino’s strategy to deliver a top-tier online casino experience in the Dutch market, complementing its established presence in Belgium and Spain. The deal follows similar recent agreements with other major providers, reflecting Starcasino’s commitment to offering a diverse and engaging gaming environment.
Games Global Launches Gold Blitz Ultimate in the US with BetMGM, Asia Gaming Brief
Games Global has announced the exclusive U.S. launch of Gold Blitz Ultimate, the third installment in its successful Gold Blitz franchise, available first to BetMGM players in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Jersey. Building on the popularity of its predecessors, Gold Blitz Ultimate introduces enhanced gameplay features and a new bonus round designed to elevate the player experience.
Following a two-month exclusivity period with BetMGM, Games Global plans to roll out Gold Blitz Ultimate to its broader network of U.S. operators. Both companies have expressed confidence that the new title will match or exceed the strong performance metrics of previous Gold Blitz games, further solidifying their positions in the competitive U.S. iGaming market.
Responsible Gambling & Player Protection
Spanish regulators and financial institutions are intensifying efforts to combat identity theft in the online gambling sector following a renewed warning from the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ). The DGOJ has reported a persistent rise in complaints from residents who received fines related to gambling accounts they did not control, with criminals exploiting current ID verification and payment processing systems.
In 2024 alone, Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs recorded 7,700 incidents of identity theft linked to online gambling and related payment liabilities. The issue is partly attributed to regulatory gaps, as current rules do not require payment methods to be strictly personal, enabling the use of fake or third-party accounts. Authorities are now urging greater vigilance among operators and financial service providers to prevent fraud and protect consumers.
KSA Tightens Enforcement of Sports Sponsorship Ban, Gambling News
The Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) has announced it will intensify enforcement of the upcoming ban on sports sponsorships by online gambling operators, set to take effect on July 1, 2025. This move marks the end of a two-year transitional period following the broader 2023 ban on non-targeted gambling advertising in public spaces. The new regulation will prohibit sponsorship agreements involving athletes, teams, competitions, shirts, and other promotional materials, aiming to protect young adults and vulnerable groups from gambling-related exposure.
KSA Chairman Michel Groothuizen emphasized that the regulator will take a firm stance against any attempts to circumvent the new rules, drawing on lessons from other jurisdictions where operators have sought creative workarounds. The KSA is actively engaging with industry stakeholders to clarify expectations and ensure a smooth transition.
- A bunch of online gambling sites that sponsor Premier League clubs have shut down in the UK, Olivia Solon on LinkedIn
- Despite gambling being illegal, online gambling apps are booming in India, Groww on X
- UK gambling revenue tops £1.45 billion in Q1 2025, Roman K. on LinkedIn
- Africa’s gambling industry is seeing rapid growth, CNBC Africa on X
Stories from iGaming Forums
- Gambling ads become part of daily life, Bitcoin Forum
- The One Time I Almost Cried Over A $1.20 Win, Reddit
- How gambling addiction develops, Bitcoin Forum
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