European Gaming and Betting Association members generated €18 billion in combined online GGR in 2025, a 34% year-on-year increase, with sports betting GGR surging 49% to €8.2 billion, while average return-to-player rates fell to 93.4% as operators offset rising tax costs.
Interpol's Operation First Light 2026 resulted in 5,811 arrests and $293 million in intercepted illicit assets across 97 countries from January to April 2026, with illegal online gambling networks surfacing as a recurring element in multiple national investigations.
MGM Resorts formed a special committee on July 11 to evaluate Barry Diller's $18 billion takeover bid from People Inc., with MGM shares rising to $48.40 as JPMorgan confirmed financing commitment for the deal, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Everton signed a three-year sleeve sponsorship deal with unlicensed crypto casino Stake just as the UK's DCMS launched a consultation on banning offshore gambling operators from British sports sponsorships, raising the prospect that the agreement could be canceled mid-season.
Gibraltar published the Prediction Market Regulations 2026 on July 13, 2026, becoming the first jurisdiction in the world to create a dedicated standalone regulatory regime for prediction markets, licensing ADI Predictstreet and WagerWire under the new framework.
Alberta's regulated iGaming market went live on July 13, 2026, with 50 licensed operators including bet365, FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM, making it Canada's second province after Ontario to open online gambling to private competition.