SBC Eurasia Editorial Team is happy to present a quick recap of the gambling industry events, news, regulations, and partnerships that happened last week.
Lithuania’s gambling market recorded gross gaming revenue (GGR) of €65.7m in Q1 2026, a 6% increase year-on-year driven primarily by online activity. However, Lithuania has reaffirmed the use of ‘mandatory player cards’ as the cornerstone reform of its overhaul of gambling laws to be fully implemented by 2029.
Finland’s open betting market will launch on 1 July 2027, but with 13 months left, there are still many questions that industry stakeholders want answered. Additionally, a survey of 1,000 Finnish residents showed that blocking payments to unlicensed gambling sites is widely seen as the most effective standalone measure to combat illegal gambling.
After a nearly 20-year standstill, Kazakhstan is set to shift its stance on gambling regulations. Local reports suggest the country is looking to boost its economy by expanding gambling zones as global instability escalates.
The Kyiv City Commercial Court has officially declared Premier Palace Casino bankrupt and initiated a 12-month liquidation process, concluding that the business was beyond rehabilitation.
The latest preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice (CJEU) has continued to accelerate momentum against the application of Article 56A – the legal order used by Malta courts to deny the accountability of foreign rulings on domiciled iGaming businesses.
The second working meeting of the Balkan Gaming Federation (BGF) in Belgrade outlined both the next institutional step in building the federation and its first major strategic topic: a coordinated regional response against the growing illegal gambling market.
Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs has announced the launch of a new funding programme aimed at supporting research into gambling-related disorders. While Grupo CIRSA seeks new opportunities to achieve organic growth, profits, and a strong balance sheet.
A fresh report from the Financial Times (FT) has revealed that hedge funds have made at least $2.3bn (£1.7bn) by shorting the stocks of publicly listed online gambling companies in 2026.
Digitain has obtained a licence from the Danish gambling regulator, marking another significant milestone in the company’s expansion across regulated European markets. While bet365 has officially launched in France after securing approval from the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ).
PopOK Gaming is reinforcing its expansion plans in Europe through a new strategic partnership with Tipico in Germany.
Meridian Holdings named Dejan Petković, a former football player and the most beloved foreign player in Brazilian football history, the Company’s Global Brand Ambassador.
Crystal Palace has confirmed a deal with US-based AI firm Temporal, which will replace current front-of shirt sponsor NET88 from the 2026/27 season. While Betway advert featuring Arsenal legend Thierry Henry was cleared following a complaint from a researcher at the University of Bristol.
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