This week in short
Britain produced the week's two biggest stories and they point in opposite directions. The House of Lords Liaison Committee called for a comprehensive ban on gambling advertising across Great Britain and urged the government to abandon its election pledge to encourage growth in the industry. Two days earlier Entain confirmed it is cutting around 400 customer care roles, and chief executive Stella David briefed prime minister Andy Burnham on the effect a rise in Machine Games Duty would have.
The United States prediction markets fight moved up a level. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court and sided with two California Tribes seeking an injunction against Kalshi, Underdog sued Connecticut officials to stop the state treating its sports event contracts as illegal gambling, and Crypto.com and Robinhood asked the Supreme Court to decide whether federal law bars states from regulating those contracts at all. Connecticut had already issued nine cease-and-desist orders, and Polymarket became the first prediction market platform blocked in Lithuania.
In business, OpenBet agreed to buy OmniLogic, which supplies sportsbook technology to lottery operators, for an undisclosed sum. Stake opened its rebranded Engine platform to operators across the industry while agreeing with the Irish regulator to block Irish players and applying for a licence there. Delasport and BETER both cleared Canadian regulators, and Fanatics put a seven-level rewards programme behind its long-running brand campaign.
The big five
Ranked by industry weight.
House of Lords committee calls for a comprehensive ban on gambling advertising in Great Britain
Gaming Intelligence, InterGame, iGaming Expert · 17 SepA report from the House of Lords Liaison Committee has called for a comprehensive ban on gambling advertising across Great Britain, urging the government to abandon its election pledge of encouraging growth in the industry.
iGaming Expert editor Joe Streeter argues the evidence behind the call is flawed, noting that comparable bans elsewhere in Europe have cut channelisation rates rather than improved player safeguarding.
Entain cuts around 400 customer care roles and Stella David briefs Andy Burnham on Machine Games Duty
InterGame, Gaming Intelligence · 16 SepEntain has confirmed it is cutting around 400 customer care roles. Gaming Intelligence reports the operator framed the cuts as a response to increased gambling taxes in the United Kingdom and warned of further risk ahead.
Chief executive Stella David briefed prime minister Andy Burnham on the impact a mooted rise in Machine Games Duty would have on the Coral owner.
Ninth Circuit backs California Tribes against Kalshi, Underdog sues Connecticut, Crypto.com and Robinhood petition the Supreme Court
Gaming Intelligence, Betting Bulletin from SBC Americas, InsiderSport · 15 - 17 SepThe US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed a district court ruling that had denied two California Tribes a preliminary injunction against Kalshi. Underdog has filed a federal lawsuit against Connecticut officials to stop the state classifying its sports event contracts as illegal gambling, after the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection issued nine cease-and-desist orders to leading operators.
Crypto.com and Robinhood have petitioned the US Supreme Court to rule on whether federal law bars states from regulating sports event contracts. Polymarket became the first prediction market platform to be blocked in Lithuania, and an Illinois legislator moved to scrap the state's new prediction market tax, which is already facing court challenges.
OpenBet agrees to acquire OmniLogic, which supplies sportsbook technology to lottery operators
Gaming Intelligence, InterGame · 15 - 16 SepOpenBet has struck a deal for an undisclosed sum to acquire OmniLogic, a provider of sportsbook technology to lottery operators.
Stake opens its rebranded Engine platform to the industry and applies for an Irish licence after blocking Irish players
Gaming Intelligence, InterGame, iGaming Expert · 15 - 16 SepStake is extending its Stake Engine platform to operators across the betting and gaming industry, continuing the spin-out of its igaming technology under a rebranded Engine identity.
Separately, Stake has agreed with the Irish regulator GRAI to make its services unavailable in Ireland and has set out an ambition to enter the market with a licence. iGaming Expert notes the operator recently secured licences in Denmark, Peru and Mexico.
The engagement desk
Gamification, loyalty and retention product.
Fanatics ONE Casino Rewards launched with seven levels behind the House Always Rewards campaign
5star.media · 15 SepFanatics has launched Fanatics ONE Casino Rewards and built the next chapter of its brand platform around it. The campaign again stars Taraji P. Henson as Fran, the head of accounting who thinks the house gives back too much, and this time her problem has seven levels.
Responsible-play campaign with Kevin Hart and Nick Jonas paired with a PGA TOUR sweepstakes
5star.media · 14 SepDraftKings has announced a set of initiatives to increase awareness and use of its responsible gambling tools. They include a digital advertising campaign featuring Kevin Hart and Nick Jonas, and a PGA TOUR sweepstakes that rewards customers for engaging with those tools.
Big Brother UK sponsorship renewed for an eight-week run on prime time television
Gaming Intelligence, iGaming Expert · 15 - 16 SepThe Immense Group-owned casino brand has renewed its sponsorship of Big Brother UK ahead of the new series. Immense Group chief marketing officer Marco Trucco told iGaming Expert the association, alongside activations in football and darts, is what separates the brand from what he called the hundreds of white label casino brands on the market.
Helios - Triple Sun collects scatters into three pots to unlock up to three modifiers
Gaming Intelligence, 5star.media · 14 - 15 SepA pays-anywhere slot set in ancient Greece where a trio of divine sun scatters is gathered by three corresponding pots above the tumbling reels, unlocking a bonus game carrying up to three modifiers.
Disco Balls introduces evolving multipliers into the main game
Gaming Intelligence · 16 SepEvolution has launched Disco Balls, a live ball-drawing game whose multipliers evolve during the main game rather than only in a bonus round.
Triplex Studio opened to expand live casino capability
iGaming Expert · 16 SepAmusnet has strengthened its live casino capabilities with the opening of its Triplex Studio, which the developer describes as next-generation.
Movers
Smaller and scaling suppliers and operators that changed shape this week. Company, trigger, source.
| Company | Trigger | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delasport | Cleared to bring its sports betting and casino technology to Alberta, its second Canadian market | Market entry | Gaming Intelligence, InterGame, 17 Sep |
| BETER | Secured Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario approval to enter the Canadian sportsbook market for the first time | Market entry | Gaming Intelligence, 15 Sep |
| FIRST.bet | Victor Arias appointed vice president of LATAM and head of commercial for the region, joining from Pragmatic Play | Hire | Gaming Intelligence, 5star.media, 14 Sep |
| IGT | Adam Chibib, former PlayAGS chairman, to join as chief financial officer in November, succeeding Fabio Celadon | Hire | InterGame, Gaming Intelligence, 15 Sep |
| SciPlay | Josh Wilson to step down as chief executive at the end of October, chief financial officer Oliver Chow taking the role on an interim basis | Hire | Gaming Intelligence, InterGame, 17 Sep |
| Sportradar | ProphetX's former vice president of markets hired into the same role covering prediction markets | Hire | InterGame, 17 Sep |
| Xtremepush | Steve Talbot appointed chief marketing officer at the Dublin-headquartered CRM specialist | Hire | Gaming Intelligence, 17 Sep |
| Catena Media | Martin Zetterland appointed interim chief technology officer with immediate effect | Hire | InterGame, 17 Sep |
| GeoComply | Steven Vo promoted to chief technology officer | Hire | Gaming Intelligence, 14 Sep |
| Polymarket | Rob Eskridge appointed head of US government relations | Hire | Gaming Intelligence, 16 Sep |
| DAZN | Alex Gersh named chief financial officer, one of three leadership appointments reporting to chief executive Shay Segev | Hire | Gaming Intelligence, 5star.media, InsiderSport, 14 - 16 Sep |
| iGaming Leader | Michael Baker-Mosley appointed fractional chief growth officer | Hire | iGaming Expert, 17 Sep |
| Octoplay | Went live with Superbet Group's Napoleon brand in Belgium | Partnership | Gaming Intelligence, 17 Sep |
| Stakelogic Live | Live casino portfolio launched with Casino House in Denmark, delivered through the Relax Gaming aggregation platform | Partnership | InterGame, 16 Sep |
| The Hippodrome Casino | Became Playtech's latest Live From partner, joining Las Vegas venues in the live casino portfolio | Partnership | Gaming Intelligence, InterGame, 15 - 16 Sep |
| Kanggiten | Amigo Gaming slots added to its igaming aggregation portal | Partnership | InterGame, 17 Sep |
| Kerma Games | Joint representation agreed with BGaming for one of BGaming's slots, both companies having Snoop Dogg partnerships | Partnership | InterGame, 17 Sep |
| Play'n GO | Premium slot portfolio launched with CasinoBarcelona.es in Spain | Partnership | Gaming Intelligence, 16 - 17 Sep |
| Better Collective | Its data and technology to be integrated across Yahoo Sports products, with select Action Network coverage distributed in Yahoo's betting content hub | Distribution | 5star.media, 15 Sep |
| GeoLocs by mkodo | Fraud Shield, a fraud detection and player risk management solution, launched | Launch | InterGame, 17 Sep |
| Scientific Games | SCiQ retail technology rollout extended across North Carolina Education Lottery retailers | Launch | Gaming Intelligence, 14 Sep |
| Aristocrat Gaming | Timber Wolf Mega Stampede launched in casinos across North America | Launch | InterGame, 16 Sep |
| CT Interactive | Crown and Orb released, described by chief product officer Dimitar Nikolov as a straightforward game structure with a distinctive visual identity | Launch | InterGame, 16 Sep |
| GAMOMAT | Frooty Troupe - Cirque du Monéy released, closing the Frooty Troupe series | Launch | Gaming Intelligence, InterGame, 15 Sep |
| TaDa Gaming | Lucky Macaw 2 released, a sequel slot with 10 fixed paylines and a 5,000x maximum win on a 3-4-3 layout | Launch | 5star.media, 15 Sep |
| Zitro | Funny Bunnies to be unveiled at G2E Las Vegas | Launch | InterGame, 17 Sep |
| Universal Entertainment | New international subsidiary established to act as a third pillar alongside its existing businesses | Spin-off | Gaming Intelligence, 15 Sep |
| Symplify | Turnaround declared as its 2025 results were released, chief sales officer Christoffer Feldt-Sørensen saying the company is ready to push on with growth plans | Strategy | InterGame, 17 Sep |
| ONLYPLAY | Rebranded, with brand manager Anna Kramarenko setting out what was carried forward from the existing identity | Rebrand | iGaming Expert, 15 Sep |
| WorldGaming | Fresh ICE and iGB Affiliate initiatives announced at its annual media partner day, held at the Hippodrome Casino in London | Strategy | InterGame, 16 Sep |
| Interblock | Confirmed for G2E with what it describes as one of its most comprehensive presentations to date | Strategy | InterGame, 15 Sep |
| BetConstruct | Two separate teams confirmed for SBC Summit and G2E this month | Strategy | InterGame, 15 Sep |
Also this week
Regulation, results and land-based.
Netherlands renews Lotto's monopoly for five years and extends BetCity's igaming licence
The Kansspelautoriteit granted Lotto B.V. a new five-year licence covering Lotto, Eurojackpot, Lucky Day, scratch cards and TOTO Winkel. Entain-owned BetCity also had its igaming operator licence renewed, meaning all eight providers active at the 2021 re-regulation have now been extended.
Gaming Intelligence, 5star.media, InterGame, 14 - 15 SepNew Jersey August gaming revenue falls 5.5% to $615.7m
The Division of Gaming Enforcement reported the total across the state's casinos, racetracks and their partners.
InterGame, 17 SepDabble pays an A$1.07m penalty in Australia over self-exclusion breaches
The Australian Communications and Media Authority penalised the sports and racing betting app after an investigation found several breaches of the BetStop self-exclusion rules.
Gaming Intelligence, InterGame, iGaming Expert, 16 - 17 SepPolymarket becomes the first prediction market platform blocked in Lithuania
Gaming Intelligence, 16 SepArizona July handle tops $599m and nine new retail licences are awarded
Bettors staked approximately $599.5m on sports and events in July, up 29.3% year on year, with the state collecting approximately $4.9m in event wagering privilege fees. The Department of Gaming has since awarded limited event wagering operator licences to nine local businesses.
5star.media, Gaming Intelligence, 15 - 16 SepMaryland land-based revenue falls 6% in August as sports wagers rise 7%
The state's six land-based casinos took $160.0m, with year-on-year falls in both slot machines and table games, while total sports wagers rose to $465.9m on strong parlays despite a drop in retail betting.
Gaming Intelligence, 15 - 17 SepKentucky July handle up 34% to $216.5m while Missouri falls to $246.8m
Montana's August betting fell 27% year on year to $3.3m and Maine's August handle rose 7% to $49.3m.
Gaming Intelligence, 16 - 17 SepDelaware August handle up 9.9% to $17.2m and the state's share up 52.8%
Its lottery-run structure converted a stronger hold into a 41.8% rise in net proceeds, taking the state's share to $714,609.
5star.media, 15 SepArkansas reports $9.08m in August sports betting revenue, up 11.7%
Tax was $1,180,524 at the constitutionally fixed 13% first tier. August is seasonally the state's softest month.
5star.media, 15 SepPennsylvania Lottery profit tops $1bn for a 15th consecutive year
The profit will be used to benefit older Pennsylvanians.
Gaming Intelligence, 16 SepFive US pro leagues and their players associations ask regulators for a unified crackdown on abusive bettors
The letter went to state gaming regulators on Tuesday.
Betting Bulletin from SBC Americas, 16 SepNew Jersey committee approves a gambling advertising resolution after the Bryce Harper FanDuel incident
The Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee passed it unanimously on Monday.
Betting Bulletin from SBC Americas, 15 - 16 SepAI-generated gambling adverts using Alphonso Davies' family circulate on Instagram
A fake advert showed an AI-generated version of the player's father being arrested with a vault of cash before promoting an offshore casino. His agent Nick Huoseh denied any link, saying "They don't gamble." Level estimated that more than 10,000 such ads appeared online in one 12-month period, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Vinícius Júnior also targeted.
InsiderSport, 16 - 17 SepPAGCOR expects a decoupling decision very soon
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation is closing in on ending its dual role as regulator and casino operator.
InterGame, iGaming Expert, 15 - 16 SepBrazil's SPA publishes an ordinance on igaming payment providers
The Secretariat of Prizes and Bets said the measure is intended to enhance its oversight of the illegal market.
InterGame, 16 SepNew Zealand suspends One Foundation's licence for six days over proceeds mismanagement
The Department of Internal Affairs issued the class four gambling society a six-day operator licence suspension.
iGaming Expert, 14 SepAustria submits draft online gambling legislation to the European Commission
The country is progressing plans to re-regulate its online market and the draft is now with the Commission for review.
Gaming Intelligence, 15 - 16 SepBally's secures a further US$560m for the Bally's Bronx project
The funding came from WhiteHawk Capital Partners and the shares gained more than 7% in New York on Monday.
InterGame, Gaming Intelligence, 15 SepStation Casinos awards employees more than $70m in stock
The Red Rock Resorts-owned operator marked the culmination of its 50th anniversary celebration.
Gaming Intelligence, 14 SepBoracay's first hotel-casino opens
Kaban Hotel and Casino Boracay opened to guests on 16 September, according to a Manila Bulletin report.
InterGame, 15 Sep