Global bans, regulatory shake-ups, and the future of the UK Gambling Act
Weekend conversation corner - 13 November
Welcome to episode forty-three of the second season of Weekend Conversation Corner, brought to you by Focus Gaming News!
Join your hosts, Oliver and Charlotte, as they break down another momentous week across global gaming regulation and policy:
- Bulgaria's Sweeping Restrictions: The Council of Ministers has submitted Gambling Act amendments that propose a comprehensive ban on gambling advertising and affiliate marketing, coupled with substantial licence and tax fee increases.
- Brazil's Ongoing Prohibition Battle: The Senate has extended Provisional Measure No. 1,394/2026—suspending online gambling for another 60 days—as debates over public health pacts and Supreme Court legal challenges unfold.
- Romania's Regulatory Shake-up: Following an audit uncovering regulatory liabilities between €630m and €900m, the ONJN is convening its Consultative Council to tackle outdated legislation, licence monitoring, and addiction treatment.
- UK Reform and Black Market Tracking: The newly formed Gambling Policy Commission has commenced a major review of whether the Gambling Act 2005 remains fit for purpose, while the British Gambling Commission has rolled out a new Illegal Gambling Index combining seven behavioural indicators to monitor unlicensed play.
With modern innovations like AI, prediction markets, and cryptocurrencies moving at breakneck speed, is the UK truly on the brink of scrapping and completely replacing its twenty-year-old Gambling Act?
Tune in as Charlotte and Oliver unpack all the details, discuss what these regulatory shifts mean for operators, and help you stay ahead of the curve.
