SBC Eurasia Editorial Team is happy to present a quick recap of the gambling industry events, news, regulations, and partnerships that happened last week.
The Eurasian gaming landscape is at a crossroads, with operators facing both unprecedented opportunities and mounting challenges. SBC Summit Lisbon 2025 brought together industry heavyweights to dissect the region’s future. Additionally, another standout panel brought together industry leaders from Georgia and Armenia to discuss the region’s rapid rise as a hub for iGaming innovation and technology.
At the SBC Summit Lisbon 2025, Simon Westbury, Strategic Advisor for 1xBet discussed the launch of the International Player Safety Index – a new SBC initiative sponsored by 1xBet. Additionally, bet365 Partners, Clever Advertising, and Flashscore were among the winners at SBC’s inaugural Affiliate Leaders Awards, a ceremony celebrating the affiliates, operator programmes, and suppliers driving innovation across the global betting and iGaming affiliate industry.
On September 20, the Wyndham Grand Hotel in Tbilisi transformed into a hub of innovation as it hosted FUTURUM GEORGIA by MEXC. For one day, Georgia’s capital brought together three of the most dynamic industries of our time — crypto, iGaming, and artificial intelligence — under a single roof.
LiveScore Group, which operates the LiveScore Bet and Virgin Bet online bookmakers as well as its flagship live sports scores app, announced a partnership with social media platform X today.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved a resolution on gambling licensing, granting the State Agency for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries, PlayCity, the authority to issue new licenses and confirm existing ones. While Australia’s federal government is reportedly returning to previously shelved plans for gambling advertising reform.
The government of Hong Kong has authorised basketball to become a new betting event permitted by the laws of the HK Gambling Ordinance.
After Anutin Charnvirakul assumed the post of Prime Minister of Thailand, the prospects for passing the bill on the creation of integrated resorts came into doubt. While the Malaysian government is planning to take action against Meta due to the spread of illegal gambling advertisements on the platform.
The Curaçao Gaming Authority plans to require licensees to have a real presence on the island by introducing new “local substance requirements.” While the Sri Lankan Cabinet has approved a proposal in the country’s 2025 budget that provides for an increase in the betting tax and a doubling of the casino entry fee for citizens.
Law enforcement authorities carried out an operation that resulted in the arrest of 252 people as part of a campaign against illegal money exchanges in Macau casinos. While South Korean authorities have arrested ten people and dismantled an illegal gambling syndicate based in Cambodia.
Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) has announced plans to introduce a national “cyber shield” in the upcoming Budget Law. While according to the Ministry of Taxation, around 500,000 Danes “have some degree of gambling problems.”
The sweepstake market in California is facing a complete ban. Bill AB 831 now only requires the signature of Governor Gavin Newsom.
Svenska Spel, Sweden’s state-owned gambling group, has confirmed the appointment of Robert Nygren as commercial lead of its online casino and sportsbook units. While Stefan Bomhard, the outgoing CEO of cigarette manufacturer Imperial Brands (brands include Lambert & Butler and Woodbines), has become an Independent Director at Flutter Entertainment.
The global betting company 1xBet has extended its cooperation with Paris Saint-Germain FC, retaining the status of the club’s official partner for the next three seasons. FDJ United has also confirmed it will remain a partner of PSG until 2028, keeping its ParionsSport Point de Vente brand closely connected to the French champions.
The 2025 NFL season kicked off last week and various stakeholders in the betting and gaming space are scrambling to get in on the action, the latest being Better Collective. While EveryMatrix has announced a new partnership with bet365, calling it its “largest ever global casino aggregation deal.”
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