Category Archives: Betting

Romania lays path to settle gambling ad reforms by early 2026

Romania will begin its review of federal laws and standards related to gambling advertising as of the beginning of January 2026. At the close of 2025, the Senate of Romania authorised a series of legislative proposals to allow advertising reforms to be reviewed by the Chamber of Deputies and associate committees. The decision was authorised …

Simon Westbury on a transformational six months and reshaping 1xBet’s strategy

As the iGaming industry gets its collective feet back under the desk after the festivities of late December, SBC News sits down with 1xBet’s Strategic Advisor Simon Westbury. 2025 was a year of change and ambitions for Westbury, who ended his eight month hiatus in the summer by taking on his role with 1xBet. Chatting …

Odds88: what’s shaping sports betting in 2026?

Will Fyler, Managing Director of Odds88, delves into the major talking points that will shape the sports betting space through 2026, and eleborates on how Odds88 is in the prime position to solve these. The global sports betting space in 2025 has been defined by rapid expansion, tighter regulation and rising expectations from both operators …

Reformists call for advertising intervention as first step to restore trust in UK gambling

The government has been urged to acknowledge the shifting opinions and sensitivities of the British public towards gambling and its presence in everyday life and local communities. The advice headlines new research by think-tank More in Common, undertaking a “public insights” study on gambling policy for the Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA). The group …

Colombia accepts ‘gambling maths’ as VAT shifts to a GGR base

Following months of negotiations, the government of Colombia will apply a new formula to calculate VAT charges on gambling licences. Announced on 31 December by Fecoljuegos, Colombia’s online gambling trade body, the government has undertaken a fiscal correction, confirming that Value Added Tax (VAT) on online betting will now be calculated on Gross Gaming Revenue …

GG.BET pulls plug on UK betting market ahead of April taxes

GG.BET has become the latest bookmaker to opt out of the UK, and although its exact motive has not been revealed, the timing does stand out. A statement posted on the company’s UK domain revealed that it is winding down operations under its UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licence. GG.BET will complete its platform shutdown by …

Sportsbet ruling shines light on Australia’s rocky regulatory road

Flutter Entertainment‘s Sportsbet found itself in the Australian news headlines as 2025 drew to a close, in a development that may be indicative of the direction the country’s betting market is heading in. Several outlets caught wind of a regulatory decision against the company by the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission (NTRWC) in November, …

Kambi signs New Year deal with Mexico’s Pickwin

Kambi looked to end 2025 on a high as it announced a new deal with Pickwin, one of the main players in Mexico’s betting and gaming market. The company is providing Pickwin with its turnkey sportsbook solution, including bet builders, trading capabilities and regulatory compliance functions. The new partners stated a joint objective of creating …

ONJN President pledges return to accountability for Romania gambling in 2026

Vlad Soare has issued a programme of objectives for the ONJN and its governance of Romanian gambling, as the Office remains under extreme scrutiny and awaiting political judgements in 2026. ONJN, Romania’s National Office for Gambling, has set out its programme for 2026 aimed at strengthening compliance enforcement and restoring regulatory standards across the …

Meta acquires AI start-up Manus

Meta has acquired a Chinese-founded artificial intelligence (AI) start-up, Manus, to boost its products for businesses including its advertising arm. The deal is said to be valued between $2-3bn, according to sources with direct knowledge of the transaction. Manus has built a general purpose AI agent that can independently execute complex tasks such as market …