The European Gaming and Betting Association said Pierre Tournier became interim secretary general on 1 September 2026. Maarten Haijer left the role after nearly two decades with the association; Tournier previously held senior positions at the Betting and Gaming Council and the Remote Gambling Association.
The change puts Tournier in charge of the association’s work on regulated online gambling issues in Europe.
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The European Gaming and Betting Association filed a formal complaint with the Bank of Lithuania against payment provider Walletto, alleging it processed transactions linked to unlicensed gambling platforms. EGBA said trial payments in its investigation showed Walletto services were used to deposit funds on several platforms, and called for coordinated action across payment providers, regulators and card networks.
Flutter Entertainment said up to 1,400 jobs are at risk in its UK and Ireland division, following staff briefings on 20 October 2026. The division has about 9,000 employees; the company attributed the restructuring to higher betting and gaming duties and expects related costs of $80m-$90m in Q4 2026.
Entain said it has begun consulting on changes to its customer care operation that could remove up to 400 roles across multiple locations. The company said the roles represent part of its approximately 2,000-person customer care workforce and linked the changes to efforts to address higher UK gambling taxes.
Vicky Foxcroft has replaced Baroness Fiona Twycross as the UK gambling minister, according to the report. It says Andy Burnham has announced plans to end the “aim to permit” principle, allowing councils to consider existing concentrations of betting shops and adult gaming centres when assessing new premises; rules are expected in early 2027 after a six-week consultation. The Betting and Gaming Council said 540 betting shops had closed and 4,500 jobs had been lost since the latest Budget.
The Betting and Gaming Council said Vicky Foxcroft, MP for Lewisham North, will become the UK's gambling minister, replacing Baroness Twycross. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport had not confirmed the appointment, the report said.