Gambling News - Page 2

Rush Street Gaming’s subsidiary, Rivers Enterprise, has completed the capital restructuring of the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, fully taking over ownership and operational control of the property at an enterprise valuation of $991 million. This transaction marks the casino’s transition from a multi-party joint venture structure to sole ownership under the Rivers brand.

The UK government announced a major increase in gambling tax rates in its Autumn Budget, raising the Remote Gaming Duty from the current 21% to 40% starting in April 2026. In addition, a new Remote Betting Duty set at 25% will be introduced in April 2027. The government expects these measures to generate an additional £1.1 billion in tax revenue by the 2029–30 fiscal year.

More than 40 Canadian senators have jointly written to Prime Minister Mark Carney, calling for a nationwide ban on sports betting advertising. In their November 13 letter, the senators compared such ads to tobacco advertising, arguing that they have become a public health issue affecting Canadians of all ages.

Brazil’s new regulations for the online gambling market impose strict compliance requirements, covering areas such as anti–money laundering, customer verification, and technical standards. Operators must pay close attention to these rules to avoid regulatory pitfalls. Detailed reports on these topics can be found on the PASA official website, which helps stakeholders better understand the latest developments.

Germany’s Merkur Group has elevated its long-standing technological collaboration with Slovenian electronic table game specialist Spintec to a new strategic level by acquiring a substantial stake in the company. This investment marks a deepening of the partnership established in 2019, tightly integrating Spintec’s innovative technologies with Merkur’s global distribution network.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine recently stated publicly that he regrets signing the 2021 bill that legalized sports betting. Although he acknowledges that overturning the law is now politically impossible, he remains committed to pushing reforms—restricting prop bets and setting wagering limits—arguing that the current system poses a threat to sports integrity.

Recently, William Hill announced that it will withdraw from the betting markets of 13 countries starting December 2, including 10 major African markets, marking a strategic contraction for the company. At the same time, its retail operations in the UK are also facing risks of shop closures due to a potential increase in gambling taxes, creating broad impacts across the industry.

As competition in the online gaming industry intensifies, player expectations for high-quality experiences continue to rise, making customer satisfaction a key indicator of success. FA CHAI, an Asian game provider, is rapidly expanding its global presence by blending international design with local cultural elements.

Huanlegu Casino is expected to open in April and has recently released detailed plans covering gaming configuration, dining services, and human resources. The casino has received regulatory approval and plans to operate 600 slot machines and 30 table games, emphasizing a smoke-free environment and 24/7 operations. After overcoming legal challenges, the project has restarted and is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the local area.

Recently, the British tabloid "The Sun" launched a campaign called "Save Our Stakes," which was originally just a technical proposal for gambling tax adjustments, but quickly evolved into a national cultural debate.

Florida's House panel recently passed a comprehensive gambling reform bill, which mainly targets illegal gambling activities with increased penalties and clarifies the legal definition of daily fantasy sports. The bill adds new felony provisions related to manipulating sports events and strengthens enforcement measures against illegal gambling devices.

Arizona's sports betting market saw a surprising turn in September, with a significant increase in betting volume year-over-year, but adjusted revenue slid to its lowest point in over three years. Data shows that while consumer spending rose, operator revenue did not increase but instead declined, raising questions about what happened.