Following some of the most intriguing events we revealed last week, it’s time for Nostrabet’s second weekly iGaming news roundup. There are several topics that definitely deserve more attention, so let’s dive into each one.
Three People From the UK Got Arrested Over Suspicion of Match-Fixing
It seems like match-fixing is very popular worldwide because we have yet another scandal in the last couple of days. On January 27, 2025, a woman and two men from the UK were arrested because of their suspicious betting activity. The reports came in following several bets placed on a boxing match.
According to the investigation (done by the police and the UKGC), the three people have violated Section 42 of the Gambling Act from 2005. If they are found guilty, they will receive up to two years in prison, as well as a fine.
What’s interesting is that this is not the first match-fixing scandal in the UK that took place recently. A famous snooker player was involved in another one a few months ago. On the other hand, boxing is a sport in which match-fixing is becoming increasingly popular. This is one of the reasons why gambling authorities from some parts of the world (like those in Canada) urged betting sites not to accept bets on specific boxing matches.
New Hampshire Will Not Raise the Legal Sports Betting Age
Ever since most states in the US legalized sports betting, more and more people have been participating in it. Every state has different rules regarding the legal sports betting age, most setting it at 21. New Hampshire, on the other hand, decided it should be 18.
Although 18 is the standard legal betting and gambling age in most parts of the world, it seemed to spark some controversies in NH. Consequently, there was a proposal to raise the age to 21, and the local lawmakers had to decide this week. As expected, the committee voted not to pass the new law, meaning that the legal sports betting age remains unchanged.
Aside from New Hampshire, the other places where 18-year-olds can bet on sports are in Wyoming, Washington DC, and Kentucky.
New South Wales May Ban Gambling Ads on Public Transport
Gambling ads are one of the main things that bookmakers and casinos use to attract new people. Every country has different laws regarding them, and Australia is no exception. Speaking of the devil, the New South Wales regulators have decided to take steps and ban gambling ads on public transport in the state.
According to the information, the ban will affect all types of betting, casino and lottery ads. What’s interesting is that the local authorities also recently banned political ads.
The idea behind the changes is to reduce the potential impact on kids and others who see the ads on a daily basis. Keep in mind that Australia is not the first country to ban gambling ads. Bulgaria introduced a similar law a few months ago, but instead of banning ads on buses, the country banned gambling advertisements on TV and added tons of additional requirements for billboards and other places.
Indiana Could Legalize Online Casinos Soon
Gambling and sports betting in the US is booming, and all eyes are set on Indiana. The state has made several attempts to legalize online gambling, and the last one took place on January 28.
The so-called HB 1432 passed the initial voting and will now have to pass the Senate. With that said, there might be a problem because there is another legal change that affects the so-called electronic pull tabs. According to the local authorities, they want to legalize them in bars and taverns so that they can stimulate small business owners.
Another concern about online gambling in Indiana is that it could have a very bad effect on local land-based casinos. Some casino owners have stated their concerns about that, so it will be interesting to see what happens.
Playtech’s Chairman Exits the Company
Everyone knows that Playtech is one of the biggest names in iGaming and is the company behind many top-tier casino games. The brand’s chairman, Brian Mattingley, took the position in 2021 after he left 888 and has helped the brand grow. Unfortunately, it seems like his stay will come to an end because he will be leaving the brand.
The decision was announced a few days ago, but it turned out that he will remain in the company until Playtech appoints a new chairman. While he was a part of the brand, he has helped it achieve several big deals, including one with Caliente, the Mexican iGaming operator.
Brian Mattingley is a big name in the gambling industry and has an impressive CV. As mentioned, he used to be 888’s CEO before joining Playtech. Prior to 888, he also worked for the Gala Coral Group and was the CEO of Ritz Bingo.
Como 1907 Will Collaborate With Playbet.io
Seeing sponsorships between football teams and online sports betting platforms is not uncommon. One of the most recent partnerships is between Como 1907 and Playbet.io. The two announced that their deal would last for a couple of years.
After the collaboration, the iGaming platform will become Como 1907’s official entertainment sponsor. According to the details we have, the club will advertise the site in its stadium.
As mentioned, this is just one of the many partnerships between football clubs and gambling operators. There were several other deals that took place this month, such as the one between Millwall FC and QuinnBet. Boca Juniors also decided to extend its partnership with Betsson, which means the company will remain on the team’s front shirts for several more years.
Northern Ireland Updated its Gambling Regulations
Due to the growing popularity of online gambling in Northern Ireland, the local assembly decided to soften its gambling regulations and make them like those in GB. Although the changes are now live, some assembly members wanted to delay it because they believed the country lacks some of the protection measures in Great Britain.
According to Timothy Gaston, the concerns about the changes to the gambling legislation have their grounds. It seems like Northern Ireland has a lot more gambling-related problems compared to England. Therefore, the country needs to implement some kind of protective measures to make sure people will stay safe.
MGM Resort Had to Pay a $45M Settlement Due to Data Breaches
Data Breaches are a huge problem for every big company, even those in the gambling space. One of the biggest data breaches in this sector took place in 2019 and again in 2023, and it involved MGM Resorts.
Based on the reports, more than 37M people were affected by the breach, meaning that their personal data was exposed. It comes as no surprise there was a big class-action lawsuit against the company. In the end, the federal court agreed with the plaintiffs, which means that MGM Resorts International will need to pay the jaw-dropping amount of $45M.
What’s important to know is that this amount is based on the two separate data breaches. As mentioned, the first one was in 2019, whereas the second one took place in 2023. Aside from the $45M that MGM has to pay, the company also lost more than $100M due to the problems it had to deal with following the attacks.
As for the settlement itself, the lawsuit was in the District Court of Nevada. According to MGM, the money will come from the company’s insurance, which is good news for the brand. The downside is that these security breaches have a terrible impact on reputation, and MGM will need time to recover.
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