REGULATORY NEWS. WEEK № 38

🇲🇩 Moldova Plans to Introduce a 6% Tax on Gambling Account Deposits and Lottery Ticket Purchases

The Moldovan government has approved its draft tax policy for 2027, which introduces a new 6% “vice tax” on gambling and lotteries. Unlike conventional taxes on winnings or operators’ revenue, the tax would be applied directly to the amount deposited into a gambling account and, in the case of lotteries, to the ticket price. The operator or payment-accepting company would be responsible for withholding the tax and transferring it to the state budget. The Ministry of Finance expects the measure to generate approximately MDL 500 million in additional revenue in 2027. The proposal must still be approved by parliament before it can take effect. Read more

🇧🇷 Brazil Establishes a Procedure to Confiscate More Than R$1 Billion Frozen in Accounts Linked to Illegal Betting Operators

Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security has established a separate procedure for transferring funds frozen in the accounts of unlicensed betting operators to the state. The potential value of these assets exceeds R$1 billion, or approximately $190 million. After receiving the relevant materials from the SPA, the National Secretariat of Public Security (Senasp) initiates administrative proceedings and notifies the operator, which is given time to submit objections and supporting documents. Once the administrative stage is complete, the case is referred to the Attorney General’s Office for court proceedings. The funds may be permanently confiscated and transferred to the National Public Security Fund only after a court ruling. Read more

🇰🇭 Cambodia to Suspend Online Gambling Broadcast from All Land-Based Casinos Starting in October

The Cambodian government has ordered the temporary suspension of online gambling operations organized and broadcast from licensed land-based casinos beginning in October 2026. Authorities said such operations make it more difficult to monitor funds of unknown origin and create infrastructure that could be used for technology-enabled fraud. During the suspension, the relevant government agencies have been instructed to develop a stricter legal framework, introduce a digital monitoring system, and train specialists. The authorities will then decide whether this format should be permitted again. Read more