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Gambling News Roundup: New Regulations, Big Wins, and More
Millions of people enjoy gambling, whether it is a spot on a horse race or the football results. But many of them are at risk of addiction and must be better protected. That’s why the government has announced plans to update gambling rules for the digital age. These include extra powers for the Gambling Commission, curbs on bonus offers, and affordability checks for online slots.
Legalization of sports betting
The legalization of sports betting in the United States has brought a host of new opportunities for gamblers. People can now place bets on a wide variety of games, and some have even made huge profits from their wagers. This has boosted the economy and helped casinos make money. It is expected to continue growing over the next few years.
Several states have legalized sports betting, and many others are attempting to do so. Previously, most people had to travel to Nevada to place bets on their favorite teams and players. But now, sports betting is available in most states and can be enjoyed by anyone with an internet connection.
In addition to boosting the economy, legalized sports gambling is also helping state governments collect revenue. Over the past two years, sports betting taxes have generated over $3 billion in revenues for local and state governments and over $570 million for federal authorities. Some states are putting all of the money they receive from sports betting into general funds, while others are using it to fund programs such as education and law enforcement.
As the demand for legal sports betting continues to grow, many lawmakers are working on legislation to regulate the industry. Some proposals call for a percentage of the revenue to go towards anti-corruption measures in professional sports leagues, while other states are creating categories of licenses with different fees and requirements. In Illinois, for example, the new laws allow sports books to pay a “master sports wagering license” fee of $10 million to be licensed, and they must use official league data to set odds.
Other states, such as Montana and Nebraska, have ballot initiatives to legalize sports betting. In Nebraska, Proposition 27 will ask voters to amend the state constitution and allow regulated sports wagering. The measure has received support from the governor but will require 2/3 of the legislature’s approval to be placed on the ballot.
In Florida, the legislature approved sports wagering via a tribal-state compact with the Seminole Tribe in May 2021. Once the federal Department of Interior approves the compact, retail and mobile sports betting could launch in late 2021.
Legalization of medical marijuana
In the United States, medical marijuana is legal on a state level in 29 states and Washington, DC. However, you can learn more about the same from Focus Gaming News. The Trump administration has signaled a tougher stance on drug enforcement, but limited Department of Justice resources and large marijuana tax revenues in some states may discourage federal interference. Physicians are able to prescribe cannabis to treat nausea and vomiting from cancer chemotherapy and wasting (severe weight loss) associated with AIDS, as well as spasticity from multiple sclerosis. The FDA has also approved synthetic marijuana-derived compounds such as Dronabinol and Cesamet, as well as the oromucosal spray Sativex for multiple sclerosis and cancer pain.
Legalization of online gambling
The legalization of online gambling in the United States is a complex issue. While the activity is largely legal in most areas, it is still subject to state and federal laws that restrict or regulate different aspects of the industry. For example, states have passed laws that allow sports betting while limiting the types of online gambling platforms that can accept wagers. Some states have even banned online gambling entirely. The most recent development in the US has been an attempt to circumvent these state-by-state patchworks by legalizing online gaming at the federal level.
Initially, the movement to legalize online gambling in the US was focused on sports betting. The 2018 Supreme Court decision overturned PASPA, allowing individual states to legalize sports betting in their jurisdictions. In the wake of this ruling, several states enacted legislation to legalize online betting on various sporting events. The most popular sports to bet on are football, basketball, and baseball. However, there are other popular games that can be wagered on as well, including horse racing and video games.
Online casinos and poker rooms are also becoming more accessible in the US. Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware were among the first states to introduce legal online casino games and poker sites. Since then, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Michigan have joined the party, and other states are considering legalization as well.
While some people may enjoy online gambling without any problem, others can be harmed by its consequences. These problems range from financial loss to addiction and even death. In the worst cases, gambling harm and addiction can lead to suicide. As a result, the industry has become more vigilant in its efforts to protect vulnerable players.
In 2022, California will vote on two competing proposals for the legalization of online sports betting. One is backed by FanDuel and DraftKings while the other is supported by California tribes. Both initiatives face an uphill battle. The state has a large Mormon population and many residents oppose the initiative due to religious beliefs. The other major holdout in the US is Hawaii, which has a similar climate and a lack of interest in expanding its gambling regulations.
Legalization of Video Poker
Amid the excitement over the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize sports betting, many states are considering new regulations that could further expand gambling. One example is a bill that would make it easier for gambling firms to monitor the habits of their customers and take steps to intervene when they exhibit problem behaviors. This bill would also allow casinos to sell betting apps and offer a range of responsible gambling products.
The state of South Carolina has a complicated relationship with gambling. Its laws ban most forms of gambling, but video poker is in a gray area because it is not specifically mentioned in the law. It was only able to survive in the state by hiding in a 1986 legislative favor. A tiny amendment in the back of a giant budget bill erased two words in a state statute, allowing video poker players to win jackpots. The state has never formally banned video poker, but it has used suits and lobbying to stymie efforts to pass a ban.
Some states have a better relationship with gambling than others, but even the best-behaved states sometimes struggle to enforce their laws. For instance, the state of Kentucky took a hard line against online poker in recent years and attempted to seize 140 gambling domains. The effort was ultimately thwarted by the court, but the state still maintains a harsh anti-online poker policy. The Kentucky Supreme Court might eventually review the case, but it is unlikely that the state will legalize online poker anytime soon.
Another state with a good relationship with gambling is West Virginia, which has launched regulated sports betting sites. In 2023, the state is expected to roll out a broader set of iGaming offerings, including online slots and table games. It is likely that the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes will launch these sites in the state, though they may face some challenges.
The state of California has 78 land-based casinos and 60 poker clubs. It has also dozens of horse tracks, OTBs, casino cruises, and bingo halls. But it has never passed a legalized version of online poker, partly because of the industry’s unpopular image. A bill that would legalize a statewide poker network was defeated in February, but lawmakers are looking at other ways to boost gaming revenues. They are considering expanding land-based casino machines, allowing players to use their mobile devices, and adding a gambling ombudsman to help resolve disputes between punters and companies.
Firesand, a leader in iGaming security services and software, has developed a cutting-edge Anti-Account Fraud solution to safeguard iGaming operators and platform providers from escalating credential-based cyber threats.
Firesand Shield is a best-in-class product that has been designed to address the growing complexity of account fraud that has impacted the global iGaming industry in recent times, which in some cases has resulted in loss of business, damaged reputation and regulatory fines. Common examples of account fraud include credential stuffing, dictionary attacks, and common password exploitation.
The new solution provides proactive, intelligent detection and prevention against the full spectrum of account compromise techniques, without relying on user-disruptive CAPTCHAs or blunt blocking mechanisms, to ensure the end user experience remains uninterrupted.
Unlike legacy or bot-only detection tools, Firesand Shield leans on the company’s specialism as a penetration testing service provider to focus on attack patterns, regardless of whether the source is human, bot, or hybrid, offering unmatched insight and agility in protecting operator user accounts and platform integrity. It includes in-depth attack analysis and reporting to provide greater transparency and clarity over the source of each security vulnerability.
With a product upgrade roadmap that includes geolocation anomaly detection, VPN usage analysis, and AI-powered behavioural profiling, Firesand Shield is set to offer operators and platforms significant peace of mind to stay ahead of security threats as they evolve.
Chris Blake, Director at Firesand, said: “Account fraud is a growing threat to the global iGaming industry. There have been multiple cases in the previous year alone where user data has been breached, leading to a detrimental impact for businesses targeted.
“Firesand Shield has been designed to support operators and platform providers of all sizes to sharpen their security capabilities as these attacks become more common and sophisticated. Underpinned by our superior iGaming security excellence, we are well positioned to further strengthen online systems on a global scale.”
With a proven track record of developing bespoke security platforms for a range of industries, Firesand brings unmatched credibility and expertise to the iGaming space, combining technical solutions with practical, actionable defence capabilities for high-risk digital environments.
The post Firesand launches Firesand Shield to combat rise in iGaming account fraud attacks appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Industry Awards
Soft2Bet Named Acquisition & Retention Partner and Industry Innovator of the Year by SBC Europe Awards 2025
Soft2Bet has secured two major wins at the SBC Awards Europe 2025, being recognised by excellence for Acquisition & Retention Partner of the Year and Industry Innovation of the Year. Its flagship brand Betinia also earned a Silver Award in the Casino Operator of the Year category, highlighting a company’s ability to create performing brands in saturated and highly competitive key markets.
The awards recognise the continued success of Soft2Bet’s powerful turnkey solutions and Motivational Engineering Gaming Application (MEGA), which has played a central role in driving player engagement and retention across key markets. During the last 12 months, the impact of Soft2Bet’s cutting-edge gamification solutions for casino and sportsbook has played a major role in enhancing customer experience, loyalty, and engagement, delivering ROI-driven performance that goes beyond retention. MEGA was key in achieving a 128% retention uplift for Campobet in Denmark and 106% for Betinia in Sweden, further proving the solution’s impact.
“SBC Europe Awards recognition is a testament to the vision of our technology and its impact on building strong brands, long-term player relationships, and product excellence that goes beyond retention. MEGA continues to lead the European, Nordic and North America market in creating unique experiences that combine innovation, a strong regulatory framework, high performance results from the start,” – stated Oksana Tsyhankova, CMO at Soft2Bet.
Earlier in 2024, Soft2Bet was also recognised at the SBC Awards, winning in Innovation in Mobile and Innovation in Casino Entertainment categories. Soft2Bet now holds 19 licences across 12 jurisdictions and continues to expand both its B2B and B2C footprint in Europe and beyond. With brands like Betinia, CampoBet, Don.ro, Tooniebet, and Quickcasino, the company remains focused on delivering innovative, localised, high-performance iGaming experiences.
The post Soft2Bet Named Acquisition & Retention Partner and Industry Innovator of the Year by SBC Europe Awards 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
There are affiliate networks, and then there’s MegaList – a performance-first, hype-last kind of operation built for casino and sportsbook brands that prefer results over buzzwords.
In an industry that sometimes feels like it’s powered by vague metrics and recycled content, MegaList steps in as the “Mega Map” – a practical, data-driven network guiding both players and operators to higher ground. Less “look at our reach,” more “here’s your conversion rate.”
So no, this isn’t just another logo-stamped brand promising traffic and delivering bounce rates. This is a carefully engineered affiliate engine built on smart SEO, qualified leads, and just enough caffeine-fueled obsession with results to make even the most skeptical operators pay attention.
The iGaming Affiliate World: Why It (Still) Matters
Let’s be honest – the affiliate space in iGaming has had its fair share of bad actors and empty promises. But when done right, affiliate marketing is still one of the most effective and efficient ways to connect licensed operators with the right players.
Players want fewer popups, more clarity. Operators want actual ROI, not vague impressions.
Enter: the data-driven affiliate network.
It’s simple:
- Informed players make better choices.
- Strategic affiliates deliver better traffic.
- Everyone wins. Except, of course, the shady operators who preferred it the other way.
Meet the MegaList Brands
These aren’t vanity microsites. Each MegaList brand has a specific mission, actual humans behind the content, and a reputation for, well… telling it like it is.
MegaCasinoList
Let’s face it – players don’t need another affiliate promising “top 10 casinos” based on whatever ad paid the most. They need honest, transparent, expert-backed reviews.
That’s where MegaCasinoList comes in – a platform that filters out the noise and delivers legit info on licensed casinos, security, fairness, and gameplay. Slots? Live dealer games? Payout speed? Yep, it’s all in there, and it’s all vetted.
They work with reliable operators only, because – and here’s a crazy idea – not every shiny site deserves your deposit.
MegaTipsList
If you like sports predictions that read like a 20-page legal document, you’re in the wrong place.
MegaTipsList is built for bettors who want real insights, fast reads, accurate tips, and actual value. It delivers predictions, sports news, and timely promotions – minus the fluff and with none of that “win guaranteed” nonsense.
Designed for bettors who like to stay informed without needing a PhD to understand the odds.
MegaBetList
For the practical bettor who just wants the facts: which sites are legit, which ones pay fast, and what to expect before placing your first wager.
MegaBetList reviews betting platforms with a clear, no-nonsense voice. It’s not trying to dazzle; it’s trying to help people bet smarter – and it’s doing a pretty solid job of it.
From licensing to promotions to usability, everything is covered – and everything is filtered through what actually matters to sports fans.
Why This All Matters (And Why It’s Working)
The iGaming world doesn’t need more noise. It needs better filters, smarter partners, and affiliates that actually care whether the traffic leads somewhere useful.
That’s where MegaList comes in – not to impress with buzzwords, but to perform, to scale, and to make sure both operators and players are on the same page for once.
And if we may drop in a little vision while we’re at it:
“At MegaList, we believe informed players and strategic operators shape a stronger, smarter iGaming industry.”
For once, a statement that isn’t just inspirational filler.
So the next time someone pitches you an affiliate network, ask one thing: “Do they have a plan, or just a landing page?”
MegaList has both, and a track record to prove it.
Explore MegaList’s network:
🔗 MegaAffiliatesList.com
The post Meet MegaList: The Rising Force in iGaming Affiliation appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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