REGULATORY NEWS. WEEK № 45

🌐 TikTok Confirms Ban on Gambling Advertising, Including Betting, Casinos, and Lotteries

TikTok has reminded sellers and content creators that promoting gambling through TikTok Shop is prohibited, regardless of whether the operator holds a license. The restrictions cover advertising for betting, lotteries, roulette, slot machines, and gambling-related products and services. The ban applies to both videos and livestreams. The platform reaffirmed its position amid growing regulatory scrutiny of illegal gambling advertising on social media.

🇪🇺 European Commission Investigates Meta, Google, and Apple Over Illegal Gambling Advertising

The European Commission has commissioned a study to assess advertising oversight on major digital platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Google, and Apple. Online gambling was identified as one of six high-risk categories for fraudulent advertising. Experts from Open Evidence and Spark Legal will examine advertiser verification procedures and ways of bypassing existing restrictions. The findings will be used to identify vulnerabilities in advertising systems and further improve the EU Digital Services Act (DSA).

🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan Proposes Stricter Internet Controls to Block Illegal Online Casinos

Kyrgyzstan’s financial supervision chief, Kairat Mamatov, has proposed introducing an internet filtering system to restrict access to illegal online casinos and other prohibited websites. According to the regulator, one illegal platform attracts more than 40,000 active users per month, with deposits made through international payment cards. Meanwhile, lawmakers are considering banning gambling through binary options and tightening liability for payment intermediaries facilitating such transactions.

🇬🇷 Greece Refuses to Reduce Higher Taxes on Online Casino Winnings and Steps Up Crackdown on Illegal Operators

Greek Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis has confirmed the government’s decision to maintain higher taxes on online casino winnings, effective since July 1, 2026. The tax rate on winnings between €100 and €500 increased from 15% to 20%, while winnings above €500 are now taxed at 30%, up from 20%. Winnings up to €100 remain tax-free. From January to August, tax revenue from gambling winnings reached €369 million, up 27.3% year-on-year. The government expects to generate approximately €100 million in additional annual revenue while strengthening measures against illegal gambling, including website blocking and tougher penalties.