World News.Week 6

📊🇵🇭 PAGCOR recorded record revenue of $ 1.92 billion in 2024. The Philippine gambling regulator and operator has released a financial report noting a 41% increase in revenue compared to last year. Net operating income amounted to $ 1.46 billion, and net income after government contributions increased by 146%, reaching $ 287 million. The online segment became the main growth drivers of the sphere, providing $ 836 million or 50.3% of all revenues. PAGCOR own casinos brought in $ 567 million, commercial licensees brought in $ 217 million, and offshore operators, banned in December, managed to earn $ 51 million.

📈💰Analysts predict the growth of the online gambling market to $ 169 billion by 2030. According to Mordor Intelligence’s forecast, the iGaming industry can grow by almost 50% over the next five years, reaching $ 169.22 billion by 2030 with an average annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.44% between 2025 and 2030. The integration of VR, blockchain and AI gives an additional impetus to the market. Operators are implementing innovative solutions, including live casinos with real dealers and interactive gaming spaces. Sports betting remains the largest segment of online gambling, accounting for about 51% of the global market in 2024.

💄🇺🇸 NYX and DraftKings have launched a joint campaign for Super Bowl LIX. The NYX cosmetics brand has partnered with DraftKings betting company to present the interactive “The Big Fat Kiss” campaign for the NFL championship game. Users will be able to place free bets by guessing which athletes will kiss their soulmate after the final whistle of the upcoming game. The main prize is $ 60 thousand, as well as other valuable awards for the participants.

🇦🇺 In Australia, gambling operators spent $ 413,000 on lobbying. Over the past two years, gambling and alcohol-related companies have donated $ 1.55 million to political parties. Of this amount, $ 413,000 accounted for the gambling sector. Representatives of the FARE and AGR associations have condemned this practice and are demanding a ban on donations from these sectors.

🇦🇲🤑The total amount of bets in Armenia in 2024 amounted to $ 18.3 billion, exceeding the national debt of the country!

World News.Week 5

💰 Top taxpayers in the UK: According to the Sunday Times, the owners of Bet365 and Betfred took the 2nd and 3rd places in the list of the largest taxpayers in the UK. Fred and Peter Dun (founders of Betfred) paid £273.4 million, and the Coates family (co—founders of Bet365) — £265 million. Christopher Hong is in first place with £339.5 million.

🇪🇸 ICEiGB Barcelona 2025: The conference held last week in Barcelona broke the historical attendance record! The number of participants is expected to exceed 56,000, making this the largest event in the history of gambling. The previous record was set in London with 52,345 participants.

🫰 The most expensive brands in the world: FanDuel and DraftKings were included in the list of the most expensive brands with estimates of $ 7 billion and $ 5.1 billion, respectively.

⚰️ The trial of rapper Tatalu: An Iranian court sentenced the rapper to death for promoting online gambling. The charges were changed to insulting the Prophet Muhammad. The trial took place after his extradition from Turkey.

🎾 Tennis in betting: Entain has named tennis as a key betting market in 2025. 90% of tennis bets are made live, and 60% of them are on men’s matches. Interest in women’s tennis is expected to grow.

World News.Week 4

🔝 Brand Finance: FanDuel and DraftKings included in the list of the 500 most expensive brands in the world FanDuel, owned by Flutter Holding, took 340th place with a value of $ 7 billion, improving its position from 413th place a year ago. DraftKings, with an estimate of $ 5.1 billion, is on the 480th line, having been included in this rating for the first time. Both iGaming giants entered the top 5 brands, whose value showed record growth rates from 2020 to 2025: DraftKings — from $ 18 million to $ 5.1 billion, and FanDuel — from $ 56 million to $ 7 billion. The Brand Finance list is led by Apple ($ 574.5 billion), Microsoft ($ 461.1 billion) and Google ($ 413 billion). The most expensive brand in Europe was Deutsche Telekom, which took 11th place with an estimate of $ 85.3 billion.

⚖️🇺🇸 Cinna streamer threatens to sue clip makers from the X platform. Cinna is preparing lawsuits against the music video makers who used clippings from her Twitch streams to advertise Rainbet. This type of indirect advertising caused a backlash on the X platform, where users marked the tweet as “violating the partnership rules.” The streamer has already contacted a lawyer to prepare defamation lawsuits.

💰 TikTok is blocked in the USA. Starting today, users from the United States are faced with a blocking message when they try to open the app. It says that it is worth waiting for Trump to return to the White House to solve all the problems.

📱 Kick announces possible purchase of TikTok in the USA. According to the Supreme Court’s decision of January 10, 2025, TikTok is obliged to transfer its business in the United States under the jurisdiction of an American company. Blogger MrBeast has already negotiated the purchase of the platform, and Kick posted a screenshot of a letter of intent to purchase TikTok, commenting “beat you to it @MrBeast.” Experts consider this a hype on a hot topic, despite TikTok’s estimated business in the United States at $ 40−50 billion.

👀🇧🇪 Belgian football clubs circumvent ban on gambling sponsorship. Despite new restrictions from the regulator, clubs have found ways to continue advertising online operators. For example, Bruges and Charleroi have replaced the Unibet logo with the logo of the Unibet U-Expert news app. Standard Liege, Cercle Brugge and Antwerp clubs have also adapted their sponsorship agreements to the new conditions.

World News.Week 3

🎉 Stake acquires VinderCasino!

Stake has announced the purchase of the licensed VinderCasino operator in Denmark. The full terms of the deal were not disclosed, but this is a step in the company’s strategy to enter regulated markets around the world. The deal is awaiting approval from the Danish gambling regulator. We remind you that Stake has already successfully entered several new markets.:

🔥 SOFTSWISS gets a license in Peru!

The SOFTSWISS gaming aggregator has confirmed compliance with the new market requirements and received a license in Peru from the GLI laboratory.

💼 Kambi and Stake are teaming up!

Provider Kambi has partnered with cryptocurrencies Stake to launch online sports betting in Brazil. This collaboration will also open up Stake’s access to Kambi betting software in other markets.

🇹🇭🎰Thailand is on its way to legalize gambling!

The Thai government intends to finalize legislation legalizing online gambling within a month.

🖥 ARPU is the key to success in iGaming in 2025!

According to Atlaslive’s research, average revenue per user (ARPU) will become the most important indicator for online gambling businesses. Forecasts show that Australia and Oceania will lead the way with an ARPU of $1,859, which is almost twice as high as the European level. In South America, ARPU will grow by 9.29% due to technological progress and regulatory changes.

👀🇳🇬 An unusual incident in Nigeria!

In the Bet9ja PPS, the bettor was left without pants after he could not pay for the bet. The cashier “punished” the customer by taking off his pants and hitting him with a wire. This incident quickly went viral on the internet!

World News.Week 2

🌐 Four new anti-POGO bills have been introduced in the Philippine Parliament. The creators of the 30 amendments believe that criminal organizations have already exploited gaps in the current legislation and may revert to offshore iGaming.

💳 Latam: Digital payment service AstroPay has launched a multicurrency wallet! Once viewed as a minor player in Latin America, the company now seeks to establish itself as a global fintech solution. AstroPay has offices in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Uruguay.

➡️ The multi-currency wallet will be accompanied by a payment card and a personal savings account.

➡️ The new application features an interface similar to Wise but includes a network of merchants that accept AstroPay payments, such as Rappi for food delivery.

➡️ In Brazil, the company has partnered with #PIX for quick transactions.

➡️ AstroPay applies a fee for B2C transactions but intends to provide favorable exchange rates for international transfers.

🎰 Seven casino resorts in the Philippines will join the CasinoPlus platform. The provider has signed an agreement with integrated resorts to enhance iGaming in the country. With the introduction of Philippine Inland Gaming Operator (PIGO) licenses, the market is evolving. CasinoPlus offers technology and access to a player base while sharing revenue with casino operators. According to Pagcor, iGaming has emerged as the leading growth sector, with GGR reaching $605.1 million over three months, marking a 464.4% increase from the previous year.

⚠️🇰🇷 Actress Han Seo Hee’s mother has received a suspended sentence for running illegal iGaming operations. The court imposed 120 hours of community service and prohibited her from gambling. Between 2022 and 2023, she managed seven illegal websites in South Korea. Prosecutors sought an 18-month prison term, viewing her actions as a repeated offense. Han Seo Hee has publicly distanced herself from her mother, stating that she is not involved in her activities.

World News.Week 52

📱Google is updating its online gambling advertising policy in Brazil! From January 1, 2025, operators who do not have a government license will be prohibited from advertising on the platform. This is a significant change for the industry!

🇯🇵 Rock, Paper, Scissors is an inspiring slots game! This popular game in Japan has become the basis for the creation of video games and slot machines. For example, PG Soft’s Hood vs Wolf slot features a Rock, Paper, Scissors bonus mini-game where players can win up to 15 free spins!

📊🎄 87.28% of online gamblers play during the Christmas holidays! The survey showed that many gamblers use gambling as a way to relax and earn money for gifts. Interestingly, 49% of gamblers spend more money on gambling during the holidays.

📈🎾 48% of offensive posts about tennis players come from bettors! The Threat Matrix system has recorded 12,000 offensive posts among 2.47 million posts about tennis since the beginning of the year. The data has been transferred to media platforms and law enforcement agencies.

🎮🔫 Riot Games allows bookmakers to sponsor League Of Legends and Valorant teams! Starting in 2025, league participants will be able to enter into sponsorship agreements with approved betting companies.

World News. Week 51

🇦🇺 In Australia, Spotify inserts gambling ads between children’s songs! According to The Guardian, one Spotify user was surprised when an advertisement for the local gambling operator Sportsbet appeared between children’s songs. After the media outcry, Sportsbet suspended its advertising contract with Spotify until the circumstances were clarified. Politicians also use this case as an argument in favor of a complete ban on gambling advertising in the country.

📱Sportsbet promotes its platform through filters on Snapchat! The Sportsbet operator is launching themed filters for photos on Snapchat with a call to register on the platform. This has raised concerns, as Snapchat’s main audience is young people, including children under the age of 18. Despite Snapchat’s claims about age restrictions, many children circumvent them by providing false information.

🇧🇷 VBET operator acquires Brazilian business Parimatch! In the Growe linkedin, there was an announcement about the transfer of the Parimatch customer base to the VBET platform. The brand will operate under a new corporate identity. Parimatch has been added to the list of companies allowed to operate in the Brazilian market after October 1, 2024, and is likely to receive a local license from January 1, 2025.

🍕🎰 Pizza Hut has been criticized for promoting online casino bonuses! An advertisement has been spotted on the British Pizza Hut website offering customers up to 300 free spins when ordering pizza. The incident caused a scandal and raised questions about the regulation of gambling advertising. The advertisement was promptly deleted, but the public continues to discuss the ethical aspects of such proposals.

World News. Week 50

🇦🇪 The first national lottery is being launched in the Emirates! The United Arab Emirates is preparing to hold a pilot drawing of the first national lottery in the country’s history. The operator will be The Game LLC, and control over the conduct of the draws is entrusted to the General Directorate for the Regulation of Commercial Gambling (GCGRA). The pilot drawing with the main prize of $27.2 million will take place on December 14. Lottery tickets are available to all adult residents of the UAE, and scratch cards with prizes up to $272 thousand can also be purchased.

⚽️🇬🇧 English Premier League and iGaming: 11 of the 20 Premier League clubs are sponsored by gambling companies. In the 2024/25 season, the clubs earned $179 million on sponsorship contracts with operators such as Stake and Hollywoodbets. Despite ethical disputes, such partnerships remain an important source of income for teams. However, the Premier League plans to reduce the placement of gambling ads on equipment by the 2026/27 season. The total value of sponsorship deals has reached a record $1.68 billion!

🐇 Hare hunting betting: In the UK, there are more frequent cases of betting on hunting hares with greyhounds. The organizers use the drone to broadcast the hunt, and viewers can place bets online. However, this business violates gambling laws, and law enforcement agencies have launched an investigation.

📉🇦🇺 Tabcorp is cutting 200 employees: One of the largest iGaming operators in Australia has laid off about 10% of its employees as part of cost-cutting measures. The cuts affected all divisions except Sky Racing. Tabcorp aims to create a more efficient organization that is able to respond more quickly to market changes.

🏥📊 Ludomaniacs bring operators up to 60% of their income: World Health Organization (WHO) in a new report stated that 1.2% of adults worldwide suffer from gambling addiction. Such players are the main source of income for the industry. The organization recommends limiting advertising, introducing self-locking tools, and strengthening industry regulation.

World News. Week 49

⚽️🇸🇪 Paddy Power compensates for bets on Alexander Isaac’s goal. After canceling Isak’s fourth goal in the Sweden — Azerbaijan match (6-0) due to offside, Paddy Power decided to pay out winnings on all bets on his goal. The company stated: “The payment is fair! No restrictions on the amount of the bet, cash payment.”

🪙🇩🇪 Bet-at-home and Happybet are looking for buyers. Two operators focused on the German market have announced the possible sale of their assets. Happybet, owned by Playtech, recorded significant losses and began winding down operations in Austria. Bet-at-home is also considering a sale due to legal and financial issues, despite an 8.9% increase in GGR in 2024.

📱 KICK is tightening its policy on casino streams. From February 1, 2025, KICK users will be able to stream gambling games only from those platforms that require players to complete identification. This should help prevent minors from gambling.

💔 A Betfair VIP client has lost a court case for a refund of £1.5 million. The Court of England and Wales dismissed Lee Gibson’s claim that he was a problem gambler and that the operator “knew or should have known” about his problem.

🎧 Sportradar has introduced an AI-based product for audio advertising that allows you to create personalized campaigns using generative AI.

World News. Week 48

ℹ️ 🥊 Mike Tyson has become the hero of the new crash game by Jogo Global. Gambling developer Jogo Global has introduced Mike Tyson’s Crash, a new crash game created in collaboration with Radar Zero. The game conveys the atmosphere of the ring and allows multiple players to compete in real time. The product is already available in some gaming aggregators and promises to attract both Tyson fans and fans of gambling entertainment.

👀 GGL reports a decrease in advertising by illegal operators in Germany. Google’s new measure has significantly reduced the amount of advertising by illegal operators through Google Ads. However, SEO continues to provide illegal companies with good organic traffic.

🃏 Poker is officially recognized as an intellectual sport. The International Association of Intellectual Sports (IMSA) has recognized poker as a strategic discipline, along with chess and bridge. This was made possible thanks to the efforts of the World Poker Federation (WPF), which has been a temporary member of IMSA since 2022. The recognition of poker highlights its status as a game that develops mental skills.

💥🇮🇹 Stake is launched in Italy under the Idealbet brand. The company acquired a license for €7 million and is preparing to take a leading position in the Italian iGaming market by 2025. As part of the expansion, Stake will integrate its platform and add exclusive games to the Idealbet portfolio.

👀 The Argentine FC Deportivo Riestra is being checked for illegal betting. The club signed the blogger Spread as a striker, but replaced him after 50 seconds in the first match. Now the club is waiting for verification.

World News. Week 47

🇺🇸♠️ PokerStars strengthens the team of ambassadors in the USA. Jason Kuhn, a professional poker player with a total tournament winnings of $58 million, and Caitlin Komeski, a media star and winner of the Global Poker Awards, became part of the PokerStars Team Pro.

☄️🇹🇷 17 people, including celebrities, have been detained in Turkey in the case of illegal gambling. Among the suspects are singer Serdar Ortach, TV presenter and actor Mehmet Ali Erbil, former footballer Batukhan Karadeniz and media influencers Ibrahim Yilmaz, Muzaffer Zorbey Ercochlar and Sefa Kaner Sarycham. The Istanbul Prosecutor General’s Office has issued arrest warrants for 21 people suspected of promoting illegal online gambling through social media. The police are continuing to work on the detention of the remaining defendants. Earlier, the Turkish Football Federation imposed fines and forfeiture of points for promoting illegal operators.

🇮🇹 SiGMA Europe Conference moves to Milan

The SiGMA Europe conference will be held in Milan from next year and will now be called SiGMA Central Europe. The event will take place from November 23 to 26, 2025 at the Fiera di Milano Exhibition Center. Milan offers better transport accessibility and a wider choice of hotels, which will make the conference even more comfortable for participants. Malta will now host a more niche event, SiGMA Euro—med, scheduled for September next year.

📊 New York sets records for sports betting. Consumers in New York spent a record $2.32 billion in October, the largest amount of online sports betting in a single month in the United States. However, due to weaker retention, revenues fell. Despite record rates, monthly revenue was about $35 million below the state’s historic high.

World News. Week 46

🇰🇷 A campaign has been launched in South Korea showing the life of 16-year-old Do-yoon Park, who is gradually becoming addicted to gambling. The video has garnered more than 4.3 million views and highlighted the importance of the problem of teenage ludomania. The campaign was initiated by the agencies Cheil Worldwide, Toss and the national police.

📱 Kalshi and Polymarket at the top of the App Store. Against the background of the US presidential election, Kalshi and Polymarket apps have become the most downloaded on the App Store. Kalshi took the first place, and Polymarket took the second place. The volume of bets on elections on Polymarket exceeded $3.6 billion! 🔝🇺🇸

🪧 On December 4, Google will update personalized advertising policy, excluding social casino applications from the gambling category.

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