Another week, another wild ride in the gambling industry. The team at Nostrabet analyzed all of the scandals, legislation issues, game launches, and more, so it’s time to find all of the most interesting news. Let’s cut through the noise and get straight to the information that actually matters.
The Authorities in Singapore and Malaysia Arrested 16 Individuals for an Illegal Horse Betting Syndicate
There was a joint police operation between Malaysia and Singapore that resulted in the arrest of 16 individuals. According to the authorities, these people were linked to an illegal horse betting syndicate operating in several places.
Aside from the arrests, the operation also resulted in the seizure of different devices and S$200,000 in illegal proceeds. According to the laws in Singapore, gambling with unlawful service providers may result in a fine, as well as a 6 months jail time. As for operators, these companies can also expect fines of S$500,000.
The Swedish Government is Looking to Outlaw Credit Gambling
Sweden is often in our weekly news because there’s always something going on there. Alongside the local gambling authority’s actions against illegal sites, the Swedish Government may explore the introduction of a new legislation that would introduce a ban on credit gambling. In fact, there is such a ban in place even now, but it is not working properly because users find ways to bypass it.
According to the details, the newly proposed regulation will prohibit players from entering into credit agreements when participating in gambling activities. In fact, operators will also have to refuse bets from players that they know are financing their gambling activities with credit. Companies will also have to discourage players from using credit when gambling.
Even though these new regulations sound interesting, we must see if they will be implemented properly. It will be tough for regulators to keep track of everything.
5 Unlicensed Gambling Sites Will Cease Operations in Michigan
The Michigan Gaming Control Board decided to issue a cease-and-desist order related to 5 unlicensed online gambling operators. Based on the facts, these companies provided unlicensed services to people residing in Michigan.
Most of these sites have accepted deposits and wagers on many different options, including sports betting and casino products. Sadly, none of them had the needed consumer protections mandated by law.
Following the cease-and-desist order, the operators must stop providing their services within 14 days. Those who do not do that will face legal action.
6 Basketball Players in the UK Face Lifetime Bans
It’s been a while since the last reported match-fixing incident, but this does not mean these events have stopped. According to the Gambling Commission’s Sports Betting Intelligence Unit and their investigation, 6 basketball players in the UK were involved im match-fixing. All of them played in the British Basketball League.
All five players were from Surrey Scorchers and were involved in manipulating match outcomes. After the information was revealed, all of them received fines and bans ranging from 10 years to a lifetime.
Betano Will be the FIFA Club World Cup 2025’s Official Partner
Betano has been in the news several times in the last couple of months. The company is involved in many different sponsorship deals and the latest one is with the FIFA World Cup 2025.
The iGaming operator that belongs to Kaizen Gaming will be the official partner of the upcoming competition, which is one of the must-watch sports events in 2025. Some experts were not surprised by Betano’s decision to sponsor this tournament because it also was the official sponsor for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The FIFA World Club World Cup 2025 will run between June 14 and July 13 in the US. We expect this to be one of the most exciting tournaments of the year.
The Philippines is No Longer a Part of the European Commission AML/CFT Watchlist
The Philippines was one of several countries added to the European Commission’s AML/CFT high-risk list. Fortunately, we are happy to announce that the SEA country has finally adhered to international standards for tackling financial crime. As a result, the Philippines is no longer on this list.
In addition to the Philippines, countries like Barbados, Jamaica, Uganda, and Senegal are no longer on it. All of them have improved their security features and provide more protection against international crime.
The Philippines was also removed from the Financial Action Task Force earlier this year. Considering the country’s growing iGaming market, we can expect to see even more investments in this part of the world in the next couple of years.
The Gambling Revenue in New Jersey is Up by 20.5% in May 2025
NJ continues to be one of the most “profitable” states regarding gambling. According to the Division of Gaming Enforcement, the total gaming revenue for May 2025 is equal to $ 614.7 M. This means there is a 20.5% increase from May last year.
The stats reveal that casino revenue is up by 10.9%, and Borgata Atlantic City remains the top-grossing casino.
iGaming is also on the rise, with a 28.5% increase from last year. Unlike other parts of the US, FanDuel is the one that dominates in NJ. DraftKings, BetMGM, and Borgata are very close behind.
The May stats are impressive, especially if you compare them to those for April. Last month, the revenue in NJ was $536.6m, which was just 5% up from last year.
The Regulator in Australia Blocked 7 Additional Illegal Gambling Sites
The Australian Communication and Media Authority decided to take action against illegal online gambling operators. Following an investigation, the authority found several illegal gambling sites offering services to Australian customers. Consequently, it has contacted the country’s internet service providers to block seven sites that breach the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
The sites that are no longer available in Australia are as follows:
- Crown Play
- Fafabet9
- SlotFred
- Smart 93
- CoinPoker
- Vigor Spin
- Casiny
These are just some of the many sites that are operating illegally in the country, so we would not be surprised if there are even more names added to the list in the next couple of years.
Online Gambling Soars in Denmark For April
Denmark is one of the countries where the gambling industry is on the rise, and the stats prove it. According to the latest information from the Danish Gambling Authority, the country’s GGR for April is 11.6% more than that for 2024. An interesting fact is that online casinos are the reason behind the massive increase because they’re up by 21.2%.
Japan Tightens The Restrictions On Illegal Casinos in the Country
Just two weeks after Japan approved a bill to ban online casinos, the country decided to tighten its restrictions on illegal operators even more. In addition to banning these kinds of iGaming sites, the country also decided to focus on websites and social media content that direct users to such casinos.
The big goal is to limit exposure to irregular gambling services because the Government is against those things. In fact, the “reform” in the online gambling sector in Japan happened after the local authorities discovered a lot of celebrities and athletes who were involved with different offshore gambling platforms.
A Technical Fault Has Resulted in the Loss of Public Tips in Norway
According to the Norwegian Lottery and Foundations Authority, there has been a technical error that could have resulted in the loss of many public tips. The issue began in March 2024, but it was not noticed until June 2025. As a result, the director of the authority said that this mistake will most likely result in the loss of many signals that could have helped the authority.
Speaking of these tips, people in Norway can submit anonymous reports, and the Authority can use the information to investigate. While it is true that people can also submit requests via phone or email, those who’ve used the form in the last year or so will most likely be lost. The people in the tech department have restored the process but only managed to recover a couple of complaints.
A Senator in Brazil Has criticized land-based Casinos Due to criminal links
Brazil has become one of the world’s most attractive destinations for gambling and sports betting. The country’s reforms in this department have opened the doors to many operators, including different land-based casinos. Needless to say, not everyone is happy with what’s going on. Eduardo Girao, one of the senators, criticized the legislative bill related to land-based casinos because he believes this could increase criminal activity in the country.
Following the licensing of the online market, there are rumours about legalizing land-based casinos, and this is what the senator is afraid of. To make matters worse for him, Brazil’s president is not expected to “push back” against the law, so it’s most likely a matter of time before it becomes a reality.
With that said, the majority of the population in Brazil seems to be supportive of the legalization of land-based betting. The stats show that 60% think like that, and 58% agree that this would increase tax collection. Speaking of taxes, Brazil’s government increased the tax on operators to 18%, so it seems like the authorities are trying to make the most of the situation.
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