Workforce cuts, regulatory crackdowns, and shifting betting boundaries: this week reminded the industry that growth always comes with growing pains.

From major operators slashing headcount in response to tax pressures to regulators on both sides of the Atlantic tightening the screws on unlicensed activity, deposit limits, and controversial bet types, the week painted a picture of an industry recalibrating under mounting scrutiny, even as providers doubled down on new market expansions, studio launches, and a packed pipeline of upcoming content.

Let's dive into this week's iGaming Weekly!

Industry Overview

Crypto Casino

• Stake announced it will legally challenge the reversal of an injunction against Brazil's betting ban, a move that could have significant implications for licensed operators seeking market access in Brazil.

Traditional Gaming

• Flutter Entertainment announced plans to cut up to 1,400 jobs (nearly 16% of its UK and Ireland workforce) across Leeds, Dublin and offshore hubs, with new CEO Dan Taylor citing rising UK gambling taxes as the primary driver.

• The NBA has banned certain player prop bets and parlays following gambling scandals, representing a significant restriction on one of the fastest-growing sports betting segments.

• The Dutch gambling regulator imposed a record 37 million euro fine on an unlicensed operator managing over 10 sites, citing inadequate age verification and acceptance of cryptocurrency payments.

• The Spanish government is pushing further towards centralised gambling regulation by introducing nationwide deposit limits and launching a player self-assessment portal through the DGOJ.

Aggregators & Providers

• BGaming expanded its presence in Peru through a new partnership with LaFija.com, bringing its full game portfolio to the operator's platform as part of its Latin American expansion strategy.

• Evolution previewed Game Night, an upcoming live casino game show featuring BATTLESHIP (from its Hasbro partnership), with a first glimpse of the studio setting revealed.

Miscellaneous

• Polymarket has fired its chief marketing officer following a Wall Street Journal investigation that uncovered staged betting videos without transparent disclosures, raising compliance and reputational questions for the leading crypto prediction market.

• Gibraltar granted Revolut's crypto subsidiary a distributed ledger technology permission as the territory diversifies its economy beyond gaming, with three DLT permissions expected to be issued in the same week.

• DraftKings has seen trading volumes soar on its prediction market platform in recent weeks, though it still trails Kalshi and Polymarket in notional volume as the vertical continues to gain mainstream traction.

New Releases

• Hacksaw Gaming: Epic SixSixSix, Coffee Dealer

• Nolimit City: Six Feet Under

• Pragmatic Play: Sweet Bonanza POP, Rat Royale

• BGaming: Noche de Almas, Spider Circus Hold and Win

Upcoming Releases

• Pragmatic Play: Chests Of Cai Shen Infinity, Sweet Loot, Killer Night, Super Golden Spins, Chronos Sands of Eternity, Jewels of Ra, Zeus vs Hades POP, Double Mummy's Jewels 1000

• BGaming: Hot Rocket Mega Potz, Khonsu Merge Up, Wild Cash Gold, Luxury Feast Hold and Win

• Hacksaw Gaming: 3 Adventures of Alice, Supernova Shooting Stars, Buried By Night, Willy Wildwing, Marlin Masters Frozen Frenzy, Ghost Vision

• Relax Gaming: Nuclear Tumble

• Nolimit City: Fire in the Hole 4

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