Category: Industry News

  • Super Group Cuts 2026 Guidance on $40m Sports Hit

    Super Group Cuts 2026 Guidance on $40m Sports Hit

    Super Group: Super Group Cuts 2026 Guidance on $40m Sports Hit

    Super Group has lowered its full-year 2026 revenue and earnings guidance after customer-friendly sports results wiped out around $40m in third-quarter revenue, even as its casino division and UK business kept growing. This roundup also covers a federal lawsuit accusing two Louisiana casinos of colluding with police to identify an advantage blackjack player, and a Singapore rule forcing gambling-backed esports teams to rebrand ahead of a major Counter-Strike tournament.

    Super Group Trims 2026 Guidance After Sports Swing

    Super Group has lowered its 2026 targets three months after raising them, with adjusted EBITDA now expected at $700m–$720m against the more than $710m it guided to in August, and the bottom of the revenue range sitting below the earlier target of above $2.55bn.
    The Betway and Spin owner published unaudited Q3 results on 3 November, reporting revenue of $611m, up 10% year on year, alongside a $142m profit.

    Chief financial officer Alinda van Wyk said results that went customers’ way pushed the sports margin below its trailing 24-month average of 13.7%, with management estimating the hit at about $25m of quarterly adjusted EBITDA.

    The revised guidance assumes the fourth-quarter sports margin stays within the company’s normal range.

    Casino offset much of the weakness.
    Van Wyk said casino gross revenue grew 16% and that the long-term sports margin remains within the company’s expected structural range, with iGaming revenue in Africa rising to $205m from $169m and International iGaming revenue reaching $310m from $290m.

    Total wagering rose 11% for casino and 4% for sports.

    The group is backing its casino-led strategy with capital returns.
    Super Group announced a $150m share repurchase programme on 30 October, scheduled to run over the following 14 months, and its shares gained more than 7% over the five days following that announcement.
    For operators and affiliates, the result reinforces a broader pattern this quarter: sportsbook volatility is squeezing margins across the industry, while casino verticals continue to deliver more predictable growth. Affiliates steering traffic toward multi-product brands with a strong casino offering may find those partnerships more resilient to short-term sports shocks than sports-only deals.

    Louisiana Casinos Accused of Colluding With Police Against Advantage Player

    A federal lawsuit has been filed against two Louisiana casinos and several police officers who are alleged to have conspired to identify an advantage blackjack player.

    Eric Michael Temeyer’s complaint names Golden Nugget Lake Charles, L’Auberge Lake Charles and the officers.

    The complaint says the incident began on 2 November 2025, when Temeyer was playing blackjack at L’Auberge.

    According to the filing,
    Temeyer walked to the Golden Nugget, where security again asked for his identification, and police arrived while he was standing outside his vehicle, with the officer handing his licence to a Golden Nugget security employee.

    Later that day a cashier at L’Auberge paid him his chips and addressed him by his first name, which Temeyer says suggested his information had already been shared between the properties.

    The case turns on a narrow but significant point of state gaming law.
    The lawsuit cites a Louisiana statute prohibiting casinos from excluding patrons solely because of their skill level.

    The plaintiff claims that officers unlawfully detained him, confiscated his driver’s licence and gave his personal information to casino security.
    If proven, the allegations raise questions about data-sharing practices between competing land-based operators and the involvement of local law enforcement in commercial exclusion decisions, an issue regulators in other jurisdictions have also scrutinised as advantage play and card-counting disputes recur across the casino sector.

    Singapore Forces Gambling-Backed Esports Teams to Rebrand

    Singapore’s prohibition on unlicensed gambling promotion is forcing esports teams to change their names ahead of PGL Major Singapore
    , one of the biggest events on the Counter-Strike calendar. Teams carrying sponsorship branding tied to betting operators have had to adopt alternative names to compete in the city-state, reflecting Singapore’s consistently strict stance on gambling advertising reaching consumers through sport and entertainment properties.

    The enforced rebranding illustrates a wider compliance challenge for operators that use esports sponsorship as a customer-acquisition channel. Jurisdictions with tight advertising rules increasingly require sponsors to separate team identity from betting-brand visibility, which complicates global activation strategies and forces marketing teams to plan market-specific branding well before major tournaments. Affiliates and media partners working across esports audiences will need to track these restrictions closely, since non-compliant branding risks disqualification or reputational damage rather than simply a fine.

    For more on how operators are navigating regulatory and marketing shifts, see our recent coverage of the Gambling Commission’s open banking black market study, or visit our industry news section for further analysis.

    Sources

  • Wynn Q3 Profit Slides 80% as UAE Spending Continues

    Wynn Q3 Profit Slides 80% as UAE Spending Continues

    Wynn Resorts: Wynn Q3 Profit Slides 80% as UAE Spending Continues

    Wynn Resorts’ third-quarter profit slid 80% to $17.3m as weak table hold in Las Vegas and softer Macau trading cut into revenue, even as the group pressed on with its United Arab Emirates expansion. The results sit alongside a stronger quarter for DraftKings, regulatory clearance for Banijay’s French casino push, and continued resilience at B2B supplier Inspired Entertainment despite higher UK gambling duty.

    Wynn Resorts Profit Falls Sharply Despite UAE Push

    Wynn Resorts’ third-quarter profit fell sharply as poor table hold in Las Vegas and weaker Macau trading cut revenue.

    The company’s first UAE resort is set to open in September 2027, as revenue slipped 7.9% to $1.69bn across its main markets.
    Despite the quarterly profit decline, Wynn Resorts increased its committed investment in the UAE project to $1.12 billion, underscoring a long-term bet on the Gulf market even as its established Las Vegas and Macau operations soften.

    The results echo the Las Vegas slowdown at MGM and Caesars, yet Wynn is still funding its UAE resort.
    That pattern points to a wider trend among the major US-listed casino groups: domestic land-based softness is being offset by continued capital commitments to new international jurisdictions. For suppliers and affiliates with ambitions in the Gulf region, Wynn’s continued UAE spending, even against a weak quarter at home, signals that the operator sees the market as a durable long-term priority rather than a discretionary project that can be scaled back when results disappoint elsewhere.

    DraftKings Lifts FY27 Guidance on Double-Digit Growth

    DraftKings reported a period of strength in its Q3 2026 results, highlighting a double-digit increase in revenue thanks to healthy customer engagement and higher sportsbook net revenue margin.

    Emboldened by the strong performance, the company introduced an optimistic FY 2027 guidance.
    The contrast with Wynn’s quarter is notable: while the land-based operator struggles with hold variance and Macau softness, DraftKings’ digital-first sportsbook model continues to deliver growth, reinforcing the structural shift of gambling spend toward online and mobile channels. For affiliates, sustained engagement growth at a major US operator points to continued demand for player-acquisition partnerships in regulated states, even as the broader sector faces tax and regulatory headwinds.

    Banijay’s Casino Expansion Cleared by French Regulator

    The French Competition Authority has given Banijay Group the green light to press on with its expansion in the country’s casino market.

    The authority found the deal unlikely to restrict competition, with poker identified as the main area of potential overlap between online and land-based gambling.

    Banijay agreed to acquire JOA Group back in July, the latest in a series of takeovers and mergers which has seen the company emerge as a powerhouse in continental European media and
    gambling. The approval removes a key regulatory obstacle and allows Banijay to proceed with integrating JOA’s casino estate, strengthening its position in the French retail and online poker market at a time when several European jurisdictions are tightening scrutiny of consolidation deals.

    Inspired Entertainment Holds Up Against UK Tax Rise

    With last year’s increase in Remote Gaming Duty, the UK gambling sector was once again put in a position to prove it is resilient.

    Seven months into the new tax regime, this has rung true for some companies like B2B technology firm Inspired Entertainment, which reported Q3 growth in the UK despite the headwinds.
    Inspired’s performance offers a useful data point for suppliers assessing how the UK’s higher duty regime is filtering through to B2B revenue, suggesting that well-diversified technology providers can continue growing even as operator margins come under pressure from the tax rise and the recently announced increase to Machine Games Duty.

    For more on how UK tax and regulatory pressures are reshaping operator strategy, see our industry news section.

    Sources

  • Play’n GO Sale Talks Lead Busy Day for iGaming M&A

    Play’n GO Sale Talks Lead Busy Day for iGaming M&A

    Play'n GO sale: Play'n GO Sale Talks Lead Busy Day for iGaming M&A

    Swedish casino content supplier Play’n GO is reportedly being prepared for sale to a major regulated gaming business, in a deal that could run into the hundreds of millions. The potential transaction tops a day dominated by consolidation and investment signals, with Genius Sports lifting its 2026 revenue guidance past $1bn, Superbet committing €500m to Greece, Super Group eyeing UK market consolidation and affiliate network Raketech setting out where it plans to spend after two difficult years.

    Play’n GO Prepares for Possible Sale

    According to sources close to NEXT.io, the Swedish-founded provider of casino solutions is reportedly preparing the company for sale
    , with a potential buyer drawn from the ranks of major regulated gaming operators. The scale of interest suggests the deal could be valued in the hundreds of millions, reflecting Play’n GO’s position as a long-established supplier of premium casino content across regulated markets.

    A sale of this size would mark one of the more significant supplier consolidations in recent memory. For operators and affiliates, any change of ownership at a content provider of Play’n GO’s scale could affect commercial terms, content roadmaps and distribution priorities across the studios’ existing network of licensed partners, making the identity of the eventual buyer a point of close industry attention.

    Genius Sports Lifts Guidance Past $1bn on Prediction Markets Deals

    Genius Sports has raised its revenue and EBITDA expectations for 2026 after signing partnerships with the two biggest prediction markets companies in Q3 and chipping away at its net loss
    . The improved outlook comes despite the company’s bottom line remaining under pressure, as
    the firm’s Q3 results showed that its net loss year-to-date remains much higher than last year at $147.9m, up 62% from $90m the year
    before.

    The prediction markets tie-ups underline how sports data and streaming providers are positioning themselves at the centre of a fast-growing adjacent sector. For operators and suppliers alike, Genius Sports’ pivot shows how established data infrastructure can be repurposed to capture a new category of volume, even as core profitability takes time to catch up with top-line growth.

    Superbet Commits €500m to Greek Expansion

    The betting operator said the spending will support technology, staff training and sports sponsorships as it seeks to become the country’s leading player
    over a six-year horizon. The scale of the commitment signals confidence in Greece’s regulated betting market as a long-term growth opportunity rather than a short-term land grab.

    Sustained investment of this kind typically translates into heavier marketing and sponsorship activity, which tends to widen the pool of affiliate and performance partnerships available in a market. Operators watching Superbet’s Greek build-out will be assessing how quickly its ambitions convert into visible brand presence and search competition.

    Super Group Eyes UK Consolidation

    The Betway and Spin owner Super Group is eyeing opportunities in the consolidating UK market while continuing to build its presence across Africa
    . The dual-track approach positions the group to capitalise on structural change in a mature regulated market while continuing to expand in less saturated territories.

    UK consolidation among operators tends to reshuffle marketing budgets and affiliate relationships, as brands merge or exit and surviving operators absorb acquired customer bases. Affiliates with exposure to the UK market will be watching which brands Super Group targets, and how quickly any acquired portfolios are folded into its existing acquisition strategy.

    Raketech Targets Nordic and Italian Markets After Cost Cuts

    International iGaming affiliate network Raketech has earmarked Sweden, Denmark and Italy as key markets for investment, though budgets may be tight as it presses on with a cost reduction programme
    . The targeted approach follows a prolonged downturn, as
    the Malta-based firm has been facing difficulties for much of 2025 and 2026, with revenue having dropped across several successive quarters
    .

    Raketech’s selective reinvestment illustrates a wider pattern among affiliates: rather than broad-based spending, networks are concentrating resources on markets where regulatory stability and operator demand justify the outlay. For Sweden, Denmark and Italy specifically, this could mean sharper competition for content and search visibility as Raketech reallocates its reduced but more focused budget.

    The bigger picture

    Each of these stories points to the same underlying trend: capital is being concentrated rather than spread thin. Suppliers such as Play’n GO are consolidating into larger groups, operators like Superbet and Super Group are picking specific markets for heavier investment, and affiliates such as Raketech are narrowing their focus after a period of retrenchment. For partners across the value chain, the practical implication is the same – deal flow and marketing budgets are increasingly being directed at a smaller number of higher-conviction opportunities.

    For more on how operators are navigating market consolidation, see our earlier coverage in our industry news section.

    Sources

  • Flutter Cuts FY26 Guidance as Brazil Ban Bites Q3

    Flutter Cuts FY26 Guidance as Brazil Ban Bites Q3

    Flutter Entertainment: Flutter Cuts FY26 Guidance as Brazil Ban Bites Q3

    Flutter Entertainment has cut its full-year 2026 guidance after Brazil’s gambling shutdown and unfavourable sports results dragged its third-quarter adjusted EBITDA down 25%. The operator’s net loss exceeded $1bn in the period, even as group revenue rose modestly. Elsewhere, Kambi, Super Group and Zeal posted stronger quarterly numbers, while the Dutch regulator took rare direct action against a B2B slot supplier over content appearing on illegal sites.

    Flutter Entertainment posts $1bn Q3 loss as Brazil exit weighs

    Group revenue increased 2% year-on-year to $3.874bn in the first trading period under new Chief Executive Officer Dan Taylor.
    Despite that top-line growth, profitability deteriorated sharply.
    Flutter’s adjusted EBITDA fell 25%, prompting a reduction in its annual financial forecasts.
    The company pointed to the closure of Brazil’s iGaming market as a key factor behind the downgrade, compounding pressure from unfavourable sports betting outcomes during the quarter.

    The scale of the net loss underlines how quickly Brazil’s prohibition has reshaped operator balance sheets across the sector. For affiliates that had built traffic strategies around Brazilian iGaming brands, the shutdown removes a significant monetisation channel and forces a rapid pivot toward markets still open for player acquisition. Operators under similar guidance pressure are likely to scrutinise marketing spend more closely, which could tighten commercial terms for performance partners in the short term.

    Kambi grows revenue 23% despite Brazil and World Cup drag

    Sports betting technology provider Kambi reported a strong third quarter, with revenue up 23% year-on-year to EUR 46 million and adjusted EBITA more than doubling.

    Kambi gained renewed confidence that the shock ban on online gambling in Brazil will not overly impact its 2026 performance, having reported improved revenue and profit during Q3, despite having seen huge growth prospects in Latin America.
    The company also
    narrowed its full-year earnings guidance, citing improved profitability despite challenges in some jurisdictions.

    Kambi’s resilience despite the same Brazilian headwind that hurt Flutter suggests diversification across regulated markets is increasingly the differentiator between operators and suppliers that weather sudden regulatory shocks and those that do not.

    Super Group closes in on full-year profit record

    Super Group has maintained a steady growth trajectory in Q3, with its latest financial report indicating that it is close to surpassing the profit it achieved in 2025, with profit for the nine months ending 30 September 2026 coming in at $350m, up from $218m for the twelve months ending 31 December 2025.
    The company highlighted the strength of its casino-led business model as a buffer against volatility elsewhere in the business, though it also adjusted guidance to reflect customer-friendly sports results during the period.

    Zeal reports 22% revenue growth on back of SevenCanyon deal

    Zeal reports 22% revenue growth following the acquisition of a 96.5% stake in operator SevenCanyon, which led to €10.5 million of revenue over the first nine months of 2026.
    The acquisition-driven uplift illustrates how smaller operator groups continue to use M&A to bolster growth figures even as larger listed operators face downgrades.

    Dutch regulator targets supplier over illegal site content

    The Dutch regulator has used a binding instruction against a B2B game supplier, Endorphina, rather than an operator, signalling that suppliers serving licensed European markets now face scrutiny over where their content ends up.
    This marks a notable shift in enforcement approach, moving compliance responsibility upstream to the content providers themselves rather than focusing solely on operators running unlicensed sites.

    For suppliers and their distribution partners, the implication is clear: licensing agreements and aggregator relationships will need tighter monitoring of where games ultimately surface, particularly in markets like the Netherlands where regulators have shown a willingness to act directly against content providers.

    Readers tracking the wider pressure on Brazil’s market can find further context in our earlier coverage of the Brazil betting ban deepening after Lula’s re-election.

    Sources

  • Sportradar Posts 24% Q3 Growth as Lottomatica Holds Italy Lead

    Sportradar Posts 24% Q3 Growth as Lottomatica Holds Italy Lead

    Sportradar Q3: Sportradar Posts 24% Q3 Growth as Lottomatica Holds Italy Lead

    Sportradar reported 24% year-on-year revenue growth in Q3 2026, with the figure reaching €363m, up from €296m a year earlier. The result underscores the continued commercial strength of sports data and fan engagement products, even as several European markets face tightening regulation. Elsewhere, this roundup covers Lottomatica’s record Italian market share ahead of its Cirsa merger, reported divestment plans at Codere, and concerns raised by Leadstar Media over Finland’s incoming affiliate advertising restrictions.

    Sportradar Q3 Revenue Jumps on US Strength

    Sportradar has reported 24% year-on-year revenue growth in Q3 2026 as the figure reached €363m (Q3 2025: €296m)
    .
    Growth was driven by the firm’s operations in its home market of the US, where revenue surged 47% YoY from €67m to €98m
    . Profitability also improved, with
    Sportradar’s profit rose 20% to €27m as adjusted EBITDA went up 21% YoY
    .

    The scale of US growth confirms that sports data and integrity services remain central to how operators manage pricing and compliance in newly regulated states. For suppliers and affiliates alike, Sportradar’s performance signals that demand for licensed, verifiable data feeds continues to outpace the wider market, reinforcing the commercial case for operators to consolidate around fewer, larger data partners rather than fragmenting supply chains.

    Lottomatica Extends Italian Lead Ahead of Cirsa Merger

    Lottomatica’s status as Italian gambling market leader has been reaffirmed by the group’s latest financial update, as leadership moves to close its all-share merger with Spanish giant CIRSA, maintaining a total online betting market share of 31.7% as of Q3
    . The company has
    reported record online market share in Italy while preparing for a major strategic expansion through its planned merger with Cirsa
    .

    A combined Lottomatica-Cirsa group would command substantial scale across Southern Europe and Latin America, giving the enlarged entity greater negotiating leverage with content suppliers and affiliate networks. Operators competing in Italy should expect increased marketing spend once the merger closes, as the group looks to defend its share against challengers.

    Codere Weighs Splitting Divisions to Attract Buyers

    Reports suggest Grupo Codere is weighing up the divestment of its three core business arms as it continues exploring sale options, with investors looking into separately selling the Codere European, Latin American and US-listed online divisions
    .
    The move comes after there has been a lack
    of a single buyer willing to take on the full group.

    A break-up would allow Codere to court region-specific buyers, each with different appetites for the European, Latin American and US-listed online assets. For affiliates and marketing partners operating across these territories, a change of ownership in any division could bring renewed investment in player acquisition or, alternatively, a period of consolidation and reduced marketing budgets while new owners settle in.

    Leadstar Media Warns on Finland’s Affiliate Ban

    2027 is a significant year for Finnish gambling as Veikkaus’ long-established monopoly on legal online betting and gaming comes to a close, with more than 50 companies registering interest in obtaining a licence and 18 already securing clearance from the National Police Board
    . Leadstar Media has argued that restricting affiliate marketing in the newly opened market could undermine player safety rather than protect it.

    The warning highlights a tension facing regulators as they open previously monopolised markets: without licensed affiliate channels directing traffic to compliant operators, there is a risk that players default to unregulated alternatives or make less informed choices. For performance marketing businesses, Finland’s 2027 liberalisation represents a significant opportunity, but the shape of any affiliate restrictions will determine how much of that opportunity can be captured through legitimate channels.

    For more on how regulators across Europe are approaching market reform, see our recent coverage of the Malta Gaming Authority’s scaled-back licence reforms, or visit our industry news section for further analysis.

    Sources

  • GiG Software CFO Exits as Macau Revenue Falls 10%

    GiG Software CFO Exits as Macau Revenue Falls 10%

    GiG Software: GiG Software CFO Exits as Macau Revenue Falls 10%

    GiG Software’s chief financial officer, Phil Richards, has left the B2B technology supplier just days after the company published its Q3 2026 results, the latest in a run of executive changes across the sector. This roundup also covers a 10% fall in Macau’s October casino revenue despite a rise in visitor numbers, Clever Advertising’s acquisition of the Pickswise sports betting content brand, Sweden’s ban on offshore operator Duel.com, and growing European Commission scrutiny of Meta’s gambling advertiser verification.

    GiG Software CFO Departs Days After Q3 Results

    The Chief Financial Officer of GiG Software has left his role just days after the business released its Q3 2026 results, with Phil Richards’ departure confirmed by GiG, which noted he took up the position in July 2024.
    Richards himself confirmed the move, saying he will be joining an engineering software development company.

    Leadership turnover at a listed B2B supplier so soon after a results release tends to draw scrutiny from investors and partners alike. GiG Software’s business model depends heavily on operator trust in its platform and affiliate technology, so the timing of the exit, rather than the departure itself, is likely to be the point of interest for the market. Suppliers in this position typically move quickly to reassure partners that strategic direction and financial reporting remain stable through the transition.

    Macau’s October Casino Revenue Falls 10% Despite Higher Footfall

    Macau’s casino industry recorded a sharp drop in gross gaming revenue in October, with GGR down 10% even as visitor numbers rose during the National Day Golden Week holiday period, traditionally one of the territory’s busiest stretches. The disconnect between footfall and spend suggests that recovery momentum in the world’s largest casino hub is losing pace, adding to a run of underwhelming monthly results.

    For operators and suppliers with exposure to Asian land-based and VIP segments, sustained softness in Macau signals that broader consumer spending patterns, rather than one-off disruptions, may be weighing on the market. This matters for companies weighing capital allocation between Asian land-based expansion and online growth markets elsewhere.

    Clever Advertising Acquires Pickswise to Expand US Reach

    iGaming marketing company Clever Advertising has agreed to acquire the Pickswise sports betting picks brand from Spotlight Sports Group, for an undisclosed sum. The deal is designed to strengthen Clever Advertising’s position in the US market by adding Pickswise’s content and audience to its existing affiliate portfolio.

    The acquisition is a clear example of consolidation within sports betting content and affiliate marketing, a trend that has accelerated as US operators compete for high-intent traffic ahead of major sporting calendars. For operators, deals of this kind concentrate valuable organic search real estate and referral traffic under fewer owners, which can shift negotiating leverage on commercial terms and raise the bar for smaller independent affiliates trying to compete for the same keywords.

    Sweden Bans Duel.com Over Unlicensed Operations

    Sweden’s Spelinspektionen has imposed an immediate ban on Immortal Snail LLC, the operator behind offshore gambling brand Duel.com, after concluding it continues to target Swedish players without a local licence. The regulator stated the ban was imposed to protect consumers, arguing the operator has persisted in reaching the Swedish market despite lacking authorisation.

    The action reinforces Sweden’s continued channelisation push against unlicensed operators, a trend mirrored in several other European markets this year. Affiliates and marketing networks that have historically promoted offshore brands in regulated territories face growing legal and reputational exposure as regulators step up enforcement, making verified licensing status an increasingly important due-diligence step for traffic partners.

    EU Gambling Ad Report Increases Pressure on Meta

    Dutch trade body VNLOK is stepping up its scrutiny of Meta and comparable Big Tech platforms following a new European Commission study flagging weaknesses in how advertisers are verified on major platforms. The research identified several fields used by criminals to run fraudulent online marketing campaigns, raising questions about the robustness of current verification systems for gambling-related advertising.

    Platform-level verification failures carry direct implications for licensed operators and affiliates, since weak controls can allow unlicensed or fraudulent advertisers to compete unfairly for the same paid channels. Tighter EC-driven verification standards could eventually mean stricter compliance checks for legitimate gambling advertisers too, adding friction but potentially levelling the playing field against bad actors exploiting the same networks. Readers following related licensing moves may also be interested in Betsson France’s recent ANJ poker licence approval.

    Sources

  • LaVie Resort & Casino Launches Online Platform in Manila

    LaVie Resort & Casino Launches Online Platform in Manila

    LaVie Resort & Casino Launches Online Platform in Manila

    International Entertainment Corporation (IEC) will launch a self-operated online gaming platform for its LaVie Resort & Casino in Manila in mid-to-late November 2026, taking direct ownership of the technology after running an earlier phase through a third-party partner. The move makes LaVie one of only two Philippine land-based casinos building an online arm internally, putting it in the same category as Solaire while rivals rely on external platform providers.

    The Hong Kong-listed operator, which trades under stock code 01009, confirmed the plan in a stock exchange filing on its Phase Two online gaming business.

    What happened

    International Entertainment Corporation will launch its own LaVie Resort & Casino Manila online platform in mid or late November, with live baccarat streamed from the resort for Philippine players only.

    The company said in a stock exchange filing on its Phase Two online gaming business that the platform will carry the LaVie Resort & Casino Manila name and will be open only to legally eligible registered players in the Philippines.

    The new platform follows an earlier phase of the business.
    The platform operates under the name LaVie Resort & Casino Manila and is described as the company’s Phase Two Online Gaming business, following the launch earlier this year of Phase One, a partnership with Philippine online gaming leader DigiPlus Interactive Corp.

    Where the first phase was run together with other Philippine online operators, the second will be run by IEC alone.

    The offering extends beyond standard electronic games into remote access to the physical casino floor.
    The new platform will allow eligible registered players physically located in the Philippines to access live-dealer table games and physical slot machines located in a designated area of the Manila property approved by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

    IEC will own and control the platform, gaming software and related technology, while providing and maintaining the gaming tables, slot machines and other equipment.

    The rollout is not yet complete across every vertical.
    The platform remains under integration and subject to final testing and evaluation, the company said in an October 30th filing.

    IEC said commercial operations for electronic bingo, online poker and specialty games had not yet commenced.
    Access controls will also restrict the platform to domestic traffic, with the operator blocking non-Philippine IP addresses and VPN access.

    Why it matters

    Taking the platform in-house changes the economics of IEC’s online business. Running its own technology stack rather than sharing revenue through a third-party aggregation deal gives the operator more control over margins, player data and product roadmap.
    According to AsGam, the new step makes LaVie one of only two Philippine land-based casinos building an online arm internally, the other being Solaire, while Newport World Resorts, Okada Manila, Hann Casino Resort and NUSTAR Resort Cebu went online with platform provider PhilWeb.

    That split illustrates a wider strategic choice facing integrated resorts entering online gaming: build proprietary technology or lean on an established aggregator for speed to market. IEC’s decision to go it alone for Phase Two, after using DigiPlus infrastructure for Phase One, suggests the operator judged its first phase sufficient to justify the investment in direct ownership.

    For suppliers and affiliates tracking the Philippine market, a self-operated LaVie platform signals a potential new direct partner for content and acquisition deals, rather than one routed through an aggregator relationship. It also reflects how quickly land-based operators in Asia are moving to capture digital demand once regulatory frameworks allow remote access to physical casino inventory.

    The bigger picture

    The online push comes as IEC’s core Manila business continues to grow.
    Hong Kong-listed International Entertainment Corp has reported a 50.6% year-on-year increase in group-wide revenue to HK$852.5 million (US$109 million) in the six months to 30 June 2026, primarily driven by the expansion of its gaming operations at Manila’s LaVie Resort & Casino.

    LaVie and its associated New Coast Hotel Manila are in the midst of a US$1 billion to US$1.2 billion transformation into a full-scale integrated resort, a requirement under an agreement with gaming regulator PAGCOR to receive a provisional casino license.

    The Philippines has become one of the more active Asian markets for integrated resorts experimenting with online extensions of land-based licences, alongside wider regional scrutiny of casino revenue following soft results in Macau. The LaVie launch adds another data point to that trend, and is worth watching alongside other regulatory and market-entry stories in our industry news section.

    Sources

  • Gambling Commission Data Muddies UK Black Market Debate

    Gambling Commission Data Muddies UK Black Market Debate

    Gambling Commission: Gambling Commission Data Muddies UK Black Market Debate

    The UK Gambling Commission has published its first open banking study of the illegal gambling market, finding that 91% of people with repeated payments to unlicensed sites also gambled with licensed operators during the same period. The data, released on 28 October, lands in the middle of a Budget-week argument over whether rising gambling taxes are pushing players towards the black market.

    What happened

    The UK Gambling Commission has put payment data behind the debate on the black market, with a report published on 28 October that tracks spending through open banking rather than surveys alone.
    The analysis drew on a dataset gathered by YouGov, covering
    Open Banking transactions from 38,000 individuals between July 2018 and July 2026, shared with informed consent and used anonymously for research.
    Licensed transactions were flagged using
    an algorithm developed by Yaspa, with the analysis supported by the Commission’s collaboration with Warwick Business School.

    Within that larger sample, the Commission isolated a much smaller subset directly tied to illegal operators.
    The report identified 3,426 transactions involving suspected illegal operators, linked to 179 individuals.
    Among this group,
    91% of those with repeated detected illegal gambling transactions also used licensed operators, and researchers found no substantial decline in licensed gambling transactions after consumers first engaged with illegal operators.
    A narrower slice of 122 repeat users showed little change in behaviour either side of their first illegal payment, with
    licensed transactions averaging 24.8 in the month before their first illegal payment and 23.7 in the month after.

    The study also pointed to elevated harm indicators among illegal-site users.
    Britain’s Gambling Commission found that 45% of people it caught paying illegal gambling sites scored as problem gamblers, against 6% of licensed-site customers.
    The regulator was careful to frame the limits of its own data, stating plainly that
    the panel data is not nationally representative and cannot give a definitive picture of the illegal market, nor can it measure the market’s size or show that illegal sites cause the harm.
    Methodologically,
    a payment firm’s categoriser sorted the transactions, with any payment carrying a gambling probability above 50% counted as gambling, and only accounts that support open banking were included, so cryptocurrency payments are left out.

    Why it matters

    The findings cut against a simple industry narrative that higher taxes or tighter affordability checks drive players wholesale out of the regulated market and into unlicensed hands. Instead, the Commission’s own reading, as reported alongside the study, is that illegal gambling supplements rather than replaces licensed play for most repeat users identified. That complicates the argument that every pound lost to tax rises or friction becomes a pound diverted permanently to the black market.

    At the same time, the data gives operators and the Betting and Gaming Council fresh ammunition on harm. The gap in problem gambling scores between licensed and unlicensed customers is stark, and it reinforces calls for stronger action against illegal sites rather than further restrictions on the regulated sector.
    The report landed in Budget week, with the sector still absorbing earlier increases, including online gaming duty at 40% since April 2026, and the Betting and Gaming Council has linked those costs directly to the black market.
    As one trade report put it,
    the new data cuts both ways for that argument, and neither side can claim the report settles the question.

    For affiliates and performance marketers, the study reinforces the commercial logic of steering traffic toward licensed brands rather than ceding search visibility to unlicensed alternatives. The Commission’s parallel research has already identified a specific risk here:
    the Commission’s Phase 3 Consumer Voice research, released on 20 October 2026, named searches for sites ‘not on GamStop’ as a main path to the illegal market.
    That keyword pattern is a direct SEO and compliance concern for any affiliate network operating in the UK, since it signals demand that licensed partners cannot legally capture through conventional channels, leaving unlicensed operators to compete for that search intent instead.

    The bigger picture

    This is the latest instalment in a broader regulatory push to quantify a market that has long resisted precise measurement.
    The regulator published the third phase of its research project into illegal gambling, finding among other things that using gambling websites that would not ask for much personal data was a key push factor, second only to customers searching for sites not covered by the GamStop self-exclusion scheme.
    Separately,
    the findings drew criticism from Betting and Gaming Council’s CEO Grainne Hurst, who accused the GC of pressing ahead with the implementation of financial risk assessments without addressing fundamental concerns identified during the Commission’s pilot study.

    The debate sits alongside other recent tax and budget pressures covered on this site, including the rise in Machine Games Duty to 25% in the UK Budget, which has sharpened industry arguments over competitiveness against unlicensed operators. With the Commission continuing to publish incremental, caveated studies rather than a single definitive market-size figure, operators and affiliates should expect the black market argument to remain unresolved well into 2027, shaping both lobbying positions and compliance spend in the meantime.

    Sources

  • Polymarket Hack Drains $2.7m From User Wallets

    Polymarket Hack Drains $2.7m From User Wallets

    Polymarket hack: Polymarket Hack Drains $2.7m From User Wallets

    Polymarket halted trading on its international platform on 29 October after hackers drained roughly $2.7m from more than 700 user accounts, in the second security incident to hit the prediction market operator this year. The breach originated not from Polymarket’s own systems but from a compromised third-party website monitoring script, underscoring how vendor dependencies can expose even well-funded platforms.

    What happened

    Polymarket briefly halted trading on its international exchange on Thursday, October 29, after users reported unauthorized withdrawals from their wallets, with blockchain analytics firms estimating that attackers took about $2.7 million from 710 wallets.

    Hackers drained approximately $2.73 million from 737 Polymarket accounts through 985 withdrawals in about an hour.

    The exploit traced back to DebugBear, a website performance monitoring tool used on Polymarket’s site.
    For users who had Polymarket open during a short window, the script used their active sessions to sell trading positions and move funds out of their wallets.

    Polymarket removed the compromised code, cleared its caches, paused trading and relayer actions, and reset active login sessions.

    The incident affected Polymarket.com, its cryptocurrency-based international exchange, not Polymarket US, which operates separately under US financial regulation.

    In response, the company halted trading on its international platform, saying it had fixed the issue and that trading resumed at 3 p.m.
    Polymarket also moved to make affected traders whole.
    The company said it was returning $3.9 million in total: $2.7 million for stolen funds and another $1.2 million to cover losses linked to the trading pause.

    A person familiar with the matter said the company referred the matter to UK authorities.

    This is not an isolated event for the platform.
    Polymarket previously suffered a security breach in May that resulted in approximately $700,000 in cryptocurrency being stolen after hackers compromised a six-year-old private key used for internal operations.

    Why it matters

    A second breach within months does more than cost Polymarket money. It tests the credibility of a sector that has spent 2026 pushing hard into territory that overlaps with regulated sports betting and gambling. Prediction markets have been courting mainstream sports and media partners, and any platform asking operators, leagues or affiliates to integrate with it needs to demonstrate it can secure customer funds reliably.

    The fact that the breach came through a third-party vendor rather than Polymarket’s core infrastructure is a reminder that supply-chain security is now a commercial issue, not just a technical one. For affiliates and media partners building traffic around prediction markets, repeated security incidents create reputational risk by association. Operators evaluating partnerships or white-label arrangements with prediction market platforms will likely factor incident history into due diligence alongside licensing and compliance questions.

    The timing is also awkward. Polymarket and rival Kalshi have been expanding their footprint in sports-adjacent markets, including tie-ups with major leagues, at precisely the moment regulators in several US states are scrutinising whether such products should be treated as gambling. A high-profile hack, even one resolved within an hour and fully reimbursed, hands ammunition to critics who argue the sector lacks the consumer protections long required of licensed betting operators.

    The bigger picture

    Prediction markets have had a turbulent few months commercially and legally. Kalshi’s valuation has climbed sharply even as it fights legal battles in multiple US states, and the sector’s push into live sports markets has unsettled established sportsbook operators, as covered in Tenstar Media’s report on the NBA prediction markets deal. Security now joins regulation and litigation as a recurring theme for the category.

    For an industry still working out how prediction markets fit alongside licensed gambling, repeated operational failures at a leading platform add weight to arguments that these products should face comparable oversight to regulated betting and casino operators, including safeguarding of customer funds. How Polymarket handles its investigation, reimbursements and any regulatory follow-up in the coming weeks will shape perceptions of the wider prediction market category among operators deciding whether closer integration is worth the reputational exposure.

    Sources

  • Betsson France Secures ANJ Online Poker Licence

    Betsson France Secures ANJ Online Poker Licence

    Betsson France Secures ANJ Online Poker Licence

    Betsson France has become the ninth operator licensed by France’s gambling regulator to offer online poker, after securing approval from the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) to launch a Playtech-powered platform. The licence also permits Betsson France to share player liquidity with poker operators in Spain, Italy and Portugal, extending its regulated presence beyond sports betting for the first time since entering the French market.

    What happened

    The board of France’s Autorité nationale des jeux adopted two decisions on 15 October 2026.

    The regulator licensed Betsson France for online poker and approved shared tables with Spain, Italy and Portugal, subject to conditions.

    Betsson France had applied for the poker licence on 22 June 2026.

    The licence runs for five years, until 15 October 2031, and is renewable.

    The second ANJ decision authorised Betsson France to take part in the international liquidity-sharing system set out in an agreement signed in July 2017 by the regulators of France, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
    Betsson will run the new poker product on Playtech’s established iPoker network rather than building its own platform.

    The poker approval builds on an existing foothold in France.
    Betsson France has held an online sports betting licence since 21 September 2023.

    That sportsbook product launched in the third quarter of 2024 through a venture involving gaming veteran Nadir Ounissi, who holds the title of partner at Betsson France.
    Ounissi described the poker licence as marking
    “an important milestone for Betsson in France.”

    Asked whether the move anticipated a wider opening of France’s market to online casino games, Betsson said the launch was
    “based on the French poker market as it stands today, rather than expectations of future regulatory change.”

    Why it matters

    The licence adds a second regulated vertical for Betsson France in a market where product options remain tightly restricted.
    France’s competitive remote licensing framework covers online sports betting, horse betting and poker, with online slots and other casino games not authorised.
    Within that narrow set of permitted products, winning a poker authorisation is a meaningful commercial step rather than a routine licence renewal.

    For Playtech, the deal extends the reach of its iPoker network into another regulated jurisdiction, reinforcing the platform’s position as a go-to supplier for operators entering ring-fenced poker markets. For Betsson, cross-selling poker to an existing sports betting customer base in France offers a low-cost way to lift lifetime value without the acquisition spend of a standalone market entry.

    Affiliates with French-facing traffic gain another regulated poker product to promote within a betting operator’s ecosystem, rather than a separate standalone poker brand. That matters for keyword and content strategy in a market where casino-style offers cannot legally be advertised, narrowing the available player-acquisition angles to sports betting, horse racing and poker content.

    The bigger picture

    France’s online gambling regime remains one of Europe’s most restrictive, with casino games excluded entirely and poker liquidity ring-fenced unless operators secure specific cross-border approvals of the kind Betsson has now obtained. The move sits alongside a broader pattern of operators methodically working through licensing processes market by market, similar to the recent licensing approvals granted to ComeOn and SuomiVeto in Finland, rather than relying on rapid multi-vertical rollouts seen in more liberalised markets.

    For Betsson, the French poker licence reflects a steady build-out strategy that mirrors its approach elsewhere in Europe, adding verticals incrementally once a local sports betting base is established. With nine operators now holding poker authorisations in France, competition for the limited regulated player pool is set to intensify, particularly among those able to offer cross-border liquidity through agreements such as the Spain-Italy-Portugal pool Betsson has joined.

    Sources