The World Gaming and Betting Alliance has appointed Maarten Haijer as chief executive, reportedly. The organisation, formed in July 2026 and based in Geneva, includes bet365, FDJ United, Flutter Entertainment and Entain, and plans to launch with its first industry report later this year.
The appointment gives operators in the alliance a named executive as it prepares to engage with regulators and policymakers.
Quarter ended 30 September 2026
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Lottomatica held 34.1% of Italy’s sports-betting spending across retail and online channels in July 2026, according to reported operator data. Flutter followed with 33.4%, while total spending was nearly €212m and stakes reached €1.5bn.
Italy's retail gambling reform has stalled after the prime minister's office reportedly returned the draft decree to the Ministry of Economy and Finance for further review. Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano told a media outlet that any approved decree would retain regional minimum-distance protections; existing concessions are to be extended through 31 December 2026.
Brazil’s MP 1,394/2026 prohibits fixed-odds betting, according to a report discussing the measure and its effects on licensed operators. The report says 85 operators paid R$30 million each for five-year authorisations, totalling R$2.55 billion, and that the government will not refund fees for unused periods. Finance Minister Dario Durigan said investors would have predictability in Brazil.
Brazil's government has prohibited fixed-odds betting through MP 1,394/2026, according to the report. The measure ends authorisations that had been active for 22 months. The government will not refund the authorisation fees or the portion covering the remaining period, the report says.
Bet365, FanDuel and Hard Rock are using AI features to provide bettors with game insights and help building wagers, according to the report. Eilers & Krejcik Gaming analyst Brad Allen said its app testing found Hard Rock’s AI insights well received, while feedback on FanDuel’s AceAI was mixed; the sample was too small to establish broader preferences.
Bet365, FanDuel and Hard Rock are using artificial intelligence on the customer-facing side of their sportsbooks, according to the report. The report describes the tools as providing bettors with game-specific insights and help in building wagers.
Italian online casinos recorded spending of €320 million in October, up 9% year over year, according to the reported market figures. Lottomatica led with a 31.4% market share, followed by Flutter at 27.3%; the monthly total collected exceeded €7.4 billion.
Spending on online casinos in Italy reportedly reached €320m in October, up 9% on the same month a year earlier. The figure is defined as the difference between bets placed and winnings paid. Total monthly stakes reportedly exceeded €7.4bn.