The world of iGaming never sleeps, so it’s no surprise that the team at Nostrabet and I have a lot of news to share with you. Some are more important than others, but we believe you need to stay informed. That’s why you are about to see all of the iGaming news from the last week.
A man in England Has Been Arrested for Illegal Gambling Operation
Following an investigation in the UK, it became clear that some people were involved in illegal betting operations. Thanks to the Gambling Commission, it became clear that Haydon Simcock from Stoke on Tent provided facilities for bettors in the UK despite not having a license. Based on the information, he did that between October 2023 and September 2024 and even advertised what he offered.
The investigation revealed that players placed their bets via WhatsApp. Also, Haydon Simcock worked for “The Post Bookmakers,” an illegal bookie in the UK without a license. Despite that, this business thrived because it had over 1,000 customers and several employees.
BC.Game Focuses More on the IPL 2025
BC.Game is famous for being one of the leading cryptocurrency betting operators and a site offering tons of bonuses. The people behind it seem to want to live up to fans’ expectations because the operator launched a special bonus for the 2025 Indian Premier League.
Players who like betting on cricket will have the opportunity to compete for a prize of over $100,000. There will be several different events that will allow people to take part in them. For example, there will be a prize giveaway for those who wager on IPL games. Fans can also expect to find free bets and other rewards.
Chiang Mai, Phuket, Bangkok and Chonburi Will Have Casinos in Thailand
Thailand is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. The country attracts people from all over the world, and the numbers seem to keep going up because the Government approved the legalization of gambling.
As expected, there was a debate as to where to open the casinos, and it seems like the country chose the following places – Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Chonburi. This decision comes just a few months after the decision to legalize gambling. The idea of Thailand is to make the country an even more popular destination in the regional market and the casinos will allow it to compete against the Philippines and Singapore.
Based on the analysis, this move will create more than 40,000 jobs, contributing significantly to Thailand’s GDP. In addition to the casinos, each of these entertainment complexes should have hotels, malls, amusement parks, and more. This is very similar to the situation in Singapore and the Philippines, where these kinds of resorts greatly impact the number of tourists visiting these places.
Despite some potential positives, some people in Thailand are unhappy with the Government’s decision. There are concerns that these casinos could lead to problems with money laundering, gambling addiction, and more. It will be very interesting to see what’s going to happen in the future and whether Thailand will join some of its SEA neighbours and offer casino services.
Bet365 Expands its Presence in the US
A few days after the news about bet365’s expansion in Serbia, one of the most reputable online bookmakers also announced it will operate in Tennessee and Illinois. Following this decision, bet365 is available in 13 US states.
Tennessee residents who want to use bet365 can do so via the independent operator. According to local laws, online bettors must be over 21 to place bets.
In Illinois, bet365 decided to partner with Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort. In other words, besides registering online, people also have access to “on-premise betting”.
Since the operator is new in both states, people who visit bet365’s platform should find new welcome bonuses.
The Gaming Revenue in New Jersey increased by 5.1% in February
The US remains the hottest market for online gambling, and the recent results from New Jersey prove it. According to the stats, the state’s total revenue from gaming was close to $484.8M for February, a 5.1% increase from last year.
If we dive deep into the stats, we will see that online gaming has the biggest increase. The stats reveal a 14% increase from February last year, meaning that it generated $207.8M. The overall iGaming sector’s YTD revenue is up to 17.4%. In terms of individual performance, the Golden Nugget Atlantic City leads the online gambling market in NJ.
If we look at sports betting stats, we will see that revenue was up by 8.9% in February and reached $73.6M. Despite these impressive results, the stats show that sports betting’s revenue fell 17.9% from the same period last year. One of the reasons for the lower stats is January, which is because there weren’t many events that people in NJ could bet on.
Goldwin’s Gaming License was canceled by the Malta Gaming Authority
The Malta Gaming Authority is one of the world’s most popular gambling regulators. It is behind the licenses of many big iGaming companies, and Goldwin was among them. Unfortunately, the latter no longer operates under an MGA license because the regulators decided to cancel it. This decision comes shortly after the MGA decided to change its regulatory oversight approach.
The iGaming site needs to notify its customers about the decision. Moreover, Goldwin must help users withdraw their funds.
The Gaming Industry in the Philippines Has a 25% Growth
The Philippines is one of the hottest gambling markets in Southeast Asia. The local Government has had many problems with illegal gambling operators in the country, which eventually resulted in the banning of all offshore operators. Despite this decision, the Philippine gaming industry has experienced an impressive 25% increase compared to the previous year.
Based on the stats, land-based casinos in the country are responsible for half of that revenue. Interestingly, e-games and e-bingo are the two biggest winners because both of them have a 165% increase. One of the reasons for the huge increase in the popularity of e-games is the reduction in licensing fees. This was a smart move because it allowed unregistered gambling operators to start offering their services legally.
It will be interesting to see if the Philippines will soften its gambling regulations even more, considering what’s happening in Thailand. Gambling is legal in the Philippines, which is one reason the country attracts so many tourists, but once Thailand starts doing the same, it will be harder for the Philippines to continue to be the go-to destination for tourists looking for gambling options in Southeast Asia.
The Danish Gambling Authority Partners With Twitch To Fight Illegal Gambling
The Danish Gambling Authority is famous for its efforts to combat illegal gambling. After several collaborations with companies like Facebook, Google, and even Apple, the regulator partnered with Twitch in 2024. Following the “deal”, people can report illegal gambling content streamed on the platform and thus help the regulator deal with illegal gambling.
New Zealand’s Government Rejected Tab online casino’s bid
New Zealand is one of the many countries worldwide that have made important changes to its gambling legislation. In an attempt to start a regulated gambling market, the country is auctioning 15 online licenses to casino sites. Tab, the brand responsible for sports and race betting in NZ, also wanted to enter the country’s online gambling business, but New Zealand rejected the brand’s $87.2M proposal.
ACMA Blocked Illegal Gambling Websites
The Australian Communications and Media Authority is famous for taking action against illegal gambling operators in the country. It all started in 2019, and since then, ACMA has blocked 1178 gambling sites (as well as affiliate websites). The most recent action happened a few days ago, and it included Crown Slots and Billy Billion.
The ACMA takes action against these sites because they do not comply with the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. It’s also worth knowing that the regulator is responsible for withdrawing many operators from the Australian market because they don’t adhere to strict regulations.
To provide bettors with more information when needed, ACMA has a special website where people can check whether a given operator has a license. There are also different resources that people can use to identify whether a given gambling platform is illegal.
Other Important News
Aside from everything else mentioned so far, there were a few other important news items. For example, Michigan’s iGaming and sports betting industry reports an 18.9% fall in February following the increase in January. Pennsylvania is also on the decline because the stats show a 4.3% decrease from last year.
In addition to the gambling revenues, the UK’s Gambling Commission ordered Corbett Bookmakers to pay close to a $888K penalty for failing to comply with its regulation. Don’t forget to follow Nostrabet and stay tuned for next week’s iGaming news analysis.
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