Tax hikes, ad bans and the black market myth

Weekend conversation corner - 6 November

Welcome to the forty-second episode of season two of Weekend Conversation Corner, brought to you by Focus Gaming News! Join your hosts, Oliver and Charlotte, as we break down the most impactful headlines shaping the global gaming sector this week.

In this episode, we explore Greece's defence of higher online casino player taxes amidst soaring state revenues, alongside the launch of the World Gaming and Betting Alliance (WGBA) to tackle unlicensed operators worldwide. We also dive into Italy's 2027 budget proposals to adjust retail PREU levies and extend concessions, as well as LOGiCO's push to replace Italy's blanket advertising ban with targeted rules. Plus, we cover Sweden's gambling regulator being accused of prioritising punishment over dialogue, and surprising UKGC transaction data revealing that illegal gambling often supplements legal play rather than replacing it outright.

Are rising taxes and strict advertising bans accidentally bolstering unlicensed sites, or is black-market gambling simply an addition to legal play? Tune in as Oliver and Charlotte unpack what these shifting regulatory tides mean for operators and players alike!