This week was a bit more packed than usual with the latest iGaming news. We at Nostrabet had to dive deep into everything and had gone through a lot of information before deciding what to include. Fortunately, you do not have to waste that much time because you are about to read all of the most important news for the given week. Let’s get started.
Ghana To Become Africa’s 4th Largest Gambling Market
Kaizen Gaming’s Betano officially launched its position in Ghana on February 5. It seems the company believes the West African country has a bright future in iGaming.
According to Kaizen, Ghana looks promising because its population is youthful and tech-savvy. On top of that, the country has a strong economic environment and offers the right conditions for companies to provide their services.
Based on some surveys, around 70% of Ghanaian youths engaged in gambling. This places the country very close to some of the big names in Africa like Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.
Another factor that could help Ghana become a regional powerhouse in iGaming is the strong adoption of mobile payments. Like other countries, people here use things like MTN Mobile Money, Telecel Cash, Airtel Tigo Money, and so on.
The stats also reveal that Ghana’s online gambling market grew 24% in 2025. The numbers show that the country’s online gross win reached nearly $905M that year.
We will have to wait a while to see whether new regulations will slow the gambling boom in Ghana. Regardless of what happens, the country is slowly becoming a powerhouse, so we expect to see a lot more news about it in the future.
The Indian government has released a classification and regulatory framework that defines online games
India is the world’s most populous country, so it’s no surprise that it is a very important market. After several months of uncertainty, the country finally finalized a regulatory framework to oversee the gaming sector. In fact, this comes a little less than one year after India decided to ban real-money online gambling.
There are many new things worth noting, but perhaps the standout is the establishment of OGAI. The Online Gaming Authority of India will be under the umbrella of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and its HQ will be in Delhi.
The new authority will also be responsible for inquiries and hearing users’ appeals against platforms. All in all, the changes were definitely interesting, so we’ll have to wait to see how the gambling landscape will change.
Brazil Launched Novo Desenrola Brasil
It is finally here, the government in Brazil unveiled the Novo Desenrola Brasil this Monday. Those who wish to be a part of it have to visit the official bank channels, and once they do, they won’t be able to place bets on online gambling platforms for 1 year. All financial institutions will be prohibited from making money transfers to bookmakers.
To make the program viable, the government and banks agreed to lower interest rates on some debts. What’s more, the new program covers default interest on credit cards, personal loans and even overdraft. The entire idea is to give people in debt more opportunities to get out of the mess they are in.
Even though some people were very happy with the new initiative, others think it is not ideal. According to the president of the National Association of Games and Lotteries in Brazil, this initiative could drive local bettors to use offshore sites. We will have to wait and see if this will really be the case.
Meta has not been Fully Compliant with the Dutch Age-Targeting Rules regarding Gambling Ads
In 2023, the Dutch government decided to ban specific types of targeted gambling ads. Well, it seems like Meta was not fully compliant with the rules because some ads breached the age-targeting regulations. This became clear following a joint study between the City University of Hong Kong and the University of Bristol, where they examined over 277 different paid ads.
It became clear that 31 out of these ads targeted the age group, including the most vulnerable one (18-23). This specific age group is actually protected under Dutch law, so every single ad targeted at them is actually non-compliant.
What’s also interesting is that online license holders were more compliant than their offline counterparts.
Stake is Now Available in Mexico
Stake is often considered the world’s leading cryptocurrency casino and it seems like it has launched in Mexico. This happens at a pivotal moment because Mexico is one of the host countries at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The launch in Mexico on Monday means that Stake continues its expansion in LatAm. Instead of using its .com domain, however, there will be a .mx website. Based on the information we have, the site will operate under the Uno Capali’s license with SEGBOB.
Outside Mexico, Stake is available in several other Latin American countries. The site first entered the Colombian market in 2023, and later became available in Peru and Brazil.
Stake’s Director said that Mexico was the obvious choice for its next expansion and that it comes at a really important time. The World Cup is set to begin just a month from now and Mexico will co-host it alongside Canada and the US. This timing will allow Stake to attract many new clients eager to place bets on the football event.
Mexico’s gambling sector is on the rise and Stake is just its latest addition. Players can also find Bet365 and Novibet, as well as other big names. Who knows, locals may get even more operators in the next couple of years.
Armenia Could Become the Next iGaming Hub
Armenia is definitely not the first country that comes to mind when talking about iGaming. However, there have been some changes in the local legislation and its new market structure is really hard to ignore. It is characterized by having a growing B2B presence and a regulated B2C segment.
What’s important to realize is that there is no legal framework for B2B operators. Companies do not have to acquire any specific approvals to operate there. All they need is to follow the general AML and KYC policies.
Due to the way the system works, Armenia has become a popular destination for some of the big companies. Some of the operators decided to choose the country for their back-office functions, risk management, and other key features.
Many statistics indicate that around 20 companies have relocated to Armenia and employ about 1,500 people. In fact, experts believe these companies make a significant contribution to the country’s GDP.
The B2C side, on the other hand, is completely different. All operators who serve Armenian players have to go through a complex, expensive licensing system. Companies must pay around $1.5M annually for a license, and even though it is indefinite, sites must pay that amount every year. There are also additional taxes that make everything more complicated.
Overall, Armenia remains an attractive option for companies offering online betting services. Who knows, it could become the next big hub like Curacao or Malta in the next couple of years.
Buenos Aires to Ban Online Gambling Ads in Sport
Argentina is one of the largest iGaming markets in South America, but not all provinces are open to it. It seems like Buenos Aires is one of them, since Sentaro Malena Galmarini introduced a new bill to ban online gambling ads at sports events. If it becomes a reality, companies won’t be able to have any gambling ads within 100 meters of sports venues.
Even though it may not seem drastic, this legislation could make it hard for some local teams, such as Boca Juniors and River Plate. Both of them are based in Buenos Aires and have Codere and Betsson as sponsors.
Companies that fail to comply will face penalties. Aside from warnings, the fine could reach up to $80K.
Wynn UAE Could Open Later than 2027 Due to the Middle East Conflict
As you know, the UAE is set to become the first country in the Middle East to have a fully operational casino. Construction companies are working on The Wynn Al Marjan Island as we speak, but the conflict in the Middle East could delay the project.
The people behind it are not keen on finishing it right now because of the war there and the risk of further attacks. Iran continues to attack the UAE’s airports and this affects everything, especially the number of tourists. Some estimates suggest that the entire region could lose up to 38 million tourists, which is a really high number.
Considering all of that, it’s no surprise that the people behind the project may delay it a little bit. We’ll have to wait to see how long it will take.
No comments added yet. Be the first!