Compliance Updates

Isle of Man Sees Unprecedented Demand in Licence Applications From Global Online Gambling Businesses

Published

5 years ago

March 24, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Isle of Man has seen a huge increase in demand from global gaming operators amid proposed changes to regulation and structure in some jurisdictions.

Initial enquiries, sparked by uncertainty about the impact and scope of jurisdictional and political changes, and positive follow-up discussions have seen service providers on the Isle of Man report an uptick in enquiries from businesses wanting to relocate to the Island over the last 12 months.

There has been a thirty per cent increase in demand this year with the number of licensees to be supervised by the Gambling Supervision Commission now at 55 with several more in the pipeline, an increase of 21 in last 12 months, in comparison to 8 licence approvals in 2019.

The recent regulatory changes in alternate jurisdictions, combined with the Island’s handling of Covid-19 and the introduction of a new software supplier licence has contributed to a significant surge in the number of applications as businesses seek strong regulation around player protection providing comfort to banks, PSP’s and investors.

Steve Brennan, Chief Executive of The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission, comments:

“We are exceptionally busy at the minute processing a significant rise in the number of applications for online gambling operators.

We continued to work throughout lockdown, and over the last 10 months, we have received or completed a considerable number of applications. By the time we have closed those out and added recent applications, we will have 60 licences to supervise.”

Speaking on why operators are choosing the Isle of Man, Jade Zorab, Director of Amber Gaming, responded:

“The Isle of Man has proven to be at the forefront of the more notable eGaming jurisdictions over the years. It has a combination of a stable political and economic environment, low tax and advanced IT infrastructure in addition to a cluster of experienced and reliable professional organisations – all of which has created a compelling proposition for eGaming companies both locally and further afield.

“The Island also offers a flexible licensing regime with a pragmatic and efficient regulator, which is especially valuable during a time where there is so much global uncertainty and regulatory changes in several other jurisdictions which brings the prospect of significant operational challenges. Given the Island’s strong reputation and open and innovative approach in the evolving gaming landscape, the future outlook is positive and it is no surprise that the Isle of Man is experiencing an influx of eGaming ventures, which we are proud to support.”

Lyle Wraxall, Chief Executive at Digital Isle of Man, adds:

“A key strength of the Isle of Man is its commitment to the development and continued success of the eGaming companies domiciled here. Digital Isle of Man supports this by striving to build and maintain solid foundations for our Island businesses to flourish, offering quick fire advice and tackling obstacles to ease business decisions and burdens along the way.

We have strong heritage and credentials in the eGaming sector and are renowned for our premium regulation which is becoming more and more important to businesses. As businesses licensed elsewhere seek security and continued business growth, the experience and expertise based in the Isle of Man is the logical next step for businesses to mature and grow.

The Isle of Man has a track record of being a safe and secure place for businesses to grow, and boasts a confident, stable economy, with no market restrictions, ensuring minimal disruption to business progress and opportunities.”

BETER

BETER wins Illinois approval to distribute Setka Cup betting content

Published

20 hours ago

June 2, 2026

Wladimir P.

beter-wins-illinois-approval-to-distribute-setka-cup-betting-content

BETER has received approval from the Illinois Gaming Board to add its exclusive Setka Cup table tennis product to the state’s Sports Wagering catalog, expanding its regulated US footprint into Illinois.

The approval allows licensed Illinois operators to offer Setka Cup content, including live data and live streams, according to the company. BETER said the content is already available to Illinois bettors via bet365, and that additional operator launches are planned.

Illinois is the eighth US state where BETER’s exclusive content is available, the company said, following Florida, New Jersey, Colorado, Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, and North Carolina.

Gal Ehrlich, CEO of BETER, said: “Entering Illinois is another significant step in our US expansion and reinforces BETER’s position as a leading provider of fast-betting content in the world’s most exciting sports wagering market.

“Demand for high-velocity, 24/7 content continues to accelerate across the US, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of that shift. With eight states now under our belt, we have clear momentum and a long-term vision that goes well beyond individual state launches.”

Valeriia Tarchynska, Chief Legal Officer at BETER, added: “Securing approval from the Illinois Gaming Board is a testament to the rigorous regulatory work our team undertakes in every jurisdiction we enter. Each US state has its own framework and requirements, and our commitment to full alignment with those standards is non-negotiable.

“The US remains a strategically vital market for BETER, and we continue to work actively to secure approvals in additional key states. We are building real scale in this market, with much more to come.”

The post BETER wins Illinois approval to distribute Setka Cup betting content appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BETER

BETER expands US footprint with Illinois approval

Published

21 hours ago

June 2, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

beter-expands-us-footprint-with-illinois-approval

BETER, the award-winning provider of live streams, live data, and odds for esports and sports, has expanded its US presence after its exclusive Setka Cup table tennis content was added to the Sports Wagering catalog in the State of Illinois.

The approval was granted by the Illinois Gaming Board, the regulatory and law enforcement agency responsible for overseeing all licensed casino gambling, video gaming, and sports wagering in the state, and it allows BETER to provide licensed operators in Illinois with its Setka Cup content, including live data and live streams, for the first time.

Illinois marks the eighth US state in which BETER’s exclusive content is now available, following successful launches in Florida, New Jersey, Colorado, Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, and North Carolina.

The content is already available for local bettors via bet365, a long-standing partner of BETER, with additional operator launches planned in the near future.

BETER exclusively delivers 24/7 live streaming, real-time data, and hyper-accurate odds for more than 700,000 fast-paced esports and sports events annually to operators worldwide, offering up to 50 markets per event and an average operator margin of 7.5%+.

Its esports portfolio includes the ESportsBattle product featuring eFootball, eBasketball, eHockey, and eTennis. Its sports portfolio features the Setka Cup table tennis content and the BSKT Cup basketball league.

All of BETER’s exclusive content is underpinned by its Integrity team, ensuring strict adherence to fair play standards through 24/7 monitoring and close collaboration with key sports integrity bodies, including IBIA and ESIC, as well as sports federations.

BETER will also exhibit at SBC Summit Americas for the first time at Stand 813 from June 9–11, marking a major milestone in the company’s expansion across the United States.

Gal Ehrlich, CEO of BETER, said: “Entering Illinois is another significant step in our US expansion and reinforces BETER’s position as a leading provider of fast-betting content in the world’s most exciting sports wagering market.

Valeriia Tarchynska, Chief Legal Officer at BETER, added: “Securing approval from the Illinois Gaming Board is a testament to the rigorous regulatory work our team undertakes in every jurisdiction we enter. Each US state has its own framework and requirements, and our commitment to full alignment with those standards is non-negotiable.

The post BETER expands US footprint with Illinois approval appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Compliance Updates

Armenia Launches Sweeping Gambling Payment Reform

Published

6 days ago

May 28, 2026

Wladimir P.

armenia-launches-sweeping-gambling-payment-reform

Armenia accelerated one of the most aggressive gambling regulatory reforms in Eurasia after approving new measures to control digital platforms, advertising, payments and financial supervision across the betting sector. The strategy promoted by the government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan aims to strengthen legal gambling operations, increase fiscal oversight and tighten control over offshore operators in a market that has expanded dramatically over the past decade.

The reform is being driven by the Ministry of Finance of Armenia led in 2026 by Vahe Hovhannisyan, together with the State Revenue Committee headed by Rustam Badasyan. The main political architect behind the changes is MP Hayk Sargsyan from the ruling Civil Contract party.

The core of the reform focuses on payments and financial monitoring. Armenia plans to block transfers to unlicensed gambling operators, strengthen AML/KYC requirements and connect licensed platforms directly to state monitoring systems operating in real time. Armenia is advancing the software operator selection for its centralised gaming monitoring center, following the legal framework established in early 2024 to connect platforms directly to state systems in real time.

The 2026 update focuses on accelerating the public tender for the private operator, rather than the initial creation of the monitoring infrastructure, with the State Revenue Committee (SRC) leading the technological implementation. The fiscal framework is also becoming stricter. Since July 1, 2025, Armenia has applied a 10% turnover tax on gambling operations, while online gaming license costs doubled in April 2025 and are scheduled to continue increasing annually through 2028.

According to official figures cited by lawmakers, Armenia’s gambling turnover reached approximately AMD 6.3 trillion in 2023, equivalent to nearly €14 billion, while online casino deposits climbed to AMD 811 billion during 2024.

The government also tightened gambling advertising restrictions, limiting promotions to luxury hotels, border checkpoints and authorised operator channels. Armenian authorities argue that the new regulatory model is designed to protect legal operators, reinforce financial traceability and modernise state supervision over one of Eurasia’s fastest-growing digital industries.

The post Armenia Launches Sweeping Gambling Payment Reform appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.