Portugal’s Economy Minister Manuel Castro Almeida said the government plans to present legislation this summer to address unregulated gambling. He said the proposal would cover oversight, sanctions, prevention and public awareness, and invited stakeholders to contribute ideas.
Operators may face updated oversight and sanctions if the government’s proposed legislation proceeds.
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Five industry figures outlined approaches to illegal gambling in Argentina, arguing that website blocking alone is insufficient. Their proposals include targeting payment providers, advertisers, affiliates and intermediaries, combining financial and internet-provider blocks with criminal penalties, and co-ordinating regulators, licensed operators and the courts. The speakers also said success should be measured by keeping players in the regulated market.
Focus Gaming News put the question of the most effective strategy against the clandestine gambling market to five industry figures in a new edition of its «5 Líderes – 1 Pregunta» series. The panel was made up of Fernanda Batistella, a lawyer and partner at Maia Yoshiyasu Advogados; Ezequiel Domínguez, director of the Lotería de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires (LOTBA); Eliane Nunes, head of revenue and commercial growth at Atucha; Karen Sierra-Hughes, vice-president for Latin America, the Caribbean and Spain at Gaming Laboratories International (GLI); and Cristina Romero de Alba, a partner at Loyra Abogados.
Dutch regulator KSA is seeking agreements with major technology platforms to curb illegal gambling advertising on social media and is prepared to consider legal action if talks fall short, according to remarks by chair Michel Groothuizen. He cited hundreds of thousands of illegal gambling ads, some aimed at self-excluded players or minors.
The Dutch gambling authority KSA is seeking agreements with major technology platforms to counter the spread of illegal gambling advertising on social media, and says it is prepared to consider legal action if talks do not produce sufficient results. The position was set out in a contribution published on the KSA website by its chair, Michel Groothuizen, and.
The chair of the Dutch gambling regulator KSA has suggested authorities prepare for possible legal action against social media platforms that fail to tackle illegal gambling advertising. Michel Groothuizen said the KSA would keep seeking voluntary cooperation while preparing potential legal measures, warning that proceedings could take years and have uncertain outcomes. He said European regulators have a joint task force with Google and Meta that is working on an EU-wide whitelist of licensed operators.
The chair of the Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has suggested that authorities should prepare for possible legal action against large social media platforms that fail to tackle illegal gambling advertising, while continuing to seek voluntary cooperation. Michel Groothuizen made the suggestion in a piece published on the regulator's website.
Lotto Hessen management spokesperson Martin Blach said Germany needs consistent enforcement against illegal gambling, in an interview. He said the GGL estimates the online black market at around 23%, while other studies put it above 50%. Investigators suspect five people offered online gambling commercially and as a group from July 2021; stakes for July 2021 to the end of 2023 allegedly totalled €5.8bn.
Martin Blach, spokesperson for the management of Lotto Hessen, said Germany needs consistent enforcement against illegal gambling, in an interview with games & business reported on 16 October 2026. Blach said a state treaty on gambling is of little use if the state does not act against illegal play, according to the report.
Reportedly, Cyprus' National Betting Authority has urged stronger action against illegal gambling as the ninth Safer Gambling Week begins. The authority called for prevention measures and technology to detect risks early and protect players beyond regulatory compliance.