REGULATORY NEWS. WEEK № 37

🇦🇲 Armenia to strengthen blocking of unlicensed online operators and restrict their advertising from February 2027

From February 8, 2027, amendments will come into force in Armenia revising the current mechanism for combating foreign online casinos and lotteries operating without a local license. The main change concerns technical blocking: access to such websites should be restricted more effectively through telecom operators, while the distribution of their advertising will also face additional limitations. The State Revenue Committee says the reform is needed because the existing administrative tools are insufficient given the widespread presence of foreign platforms on the Armenian internet. Read more

🇧🇬 Bulgaria proposes a complete ban on outdoor gambling advertising and tighter restrictions to close remaining loopholes

Bulgaria’s “We Continue the Change” party has proposed further tightening gambling advertising rules. The initiative would introduce a complete ban on outdoor advertising, including billboards, public transport stops and buildings, except at gambling venues themselves, as well as a ban on product placement in the media. It also proposes limiting the size of betting company logos on adult sports team uniforms and requiring permitted gambling advertisements to dedicate at least 10% of their space to gambling harm warnings. The authors of the proposal argue that the current rules still allow operators to bypass restrictions through sponsorships, sports event branding and other promotional formats. Read more

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan expands the list of territories where casinos and other gambling venues may operate

The Government of Kazakhstan has approved new territories for the operation of casinos, slot machine halls, betting shops and totalizators. In addition to the existing gambling zones near the Kapshagay Reservoir and Burabay, specific areas have been designated in the Almaty, Mangystau, Zhetysu, East Kazakhstan, West Kazakhstan and Abai regions, where casinos and gaming halls will be intended exclusively for foreign citizens and stateless persons. The resolution comes into force on September 11, 2026. At the same time, organizing gambling outside permitted zones, including via the internet and mobile applications, remains prohibited in Kazakhstan. Read more

🇬🇧 The UK awaits an FCA decision that could open the market to prediction markets

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is preparing to publish its position on retail access to high-risk investment products, which could lead to a review of the ban on binary options that has been in place since 2019 and potentially create an opportunity for prediction markets to launch. At present, such products effectively fall under existing restrictions because of their speculative and gambling-like nature. If the rules are relaxed, financial prediction markets would require FCA authorization, while platforms offering markets on politics or sports would need to operate under a UK Gambling Commission license. Read more