Weekend Conversation Corner – November, 06

Welcome to the newest instalment of our Focus Gaming News Weekend Conversation Corner, your brief yet insightful look into the week’s most significant headlines that have captured global interest. We’ve meticulously distilled the week’s rapid succession of events into a sharp, digestible summary, focusing on the pivotal stories that have defined narratives, swayed policies, and fueled vital discussions. Join us as we cut through the extraneous noise to deliver a condensed overview of the week’s essential developments, ensuring you’re well-informed on what truly impacts our fast-paced world. Stay informed, stay inspired, and keep gaming on. We wish you a fantastic weekend ahead!

Greece defends higher online casino taxes as gambling revenue climbs

Greece has defended its controversial increase in online casino player taxes, effective July 1, citing a surge in state revenues and bolstered efforts against illegal gambling. Winnings between €100 and €500 are now taxed at 20 per cent (up from 15 per cent), and over €500 at 30 per cent (up from 20 per cent), while the first €100 remains tax-free. Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis stated the additional income supports public services and funds stronger action against illegal gambling. Data from the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) shows taxes withheld from winnings reached €369.4m in the first eight months of 2026, a 27.3 per cent year-on-year increase. Specifically, July and August alone saw €91.3m, up 73.1 per cent from 2025. Online gambling GGR climbed 13.1 per cent, with tax revenue from online players rising 38.5 per cent to €273.8m. The government expects €100m annually from 2027, addressing concerns about players migrating to unlicensed sites with parallel enforcement, including criminal complaints against influencers promoting illegal services and a recruitment drive for enforcement staff. Penalties for illegal gambling now include fines up to €2m and prison sentences.

Maarten Haijer, WGBA: “Every safeguard designed by a regulator or licensed operator only works if people stay in the licensed market”

The newly established World Gaming and Betting Alliance (WGBA), led by Maarten Haijer, aims to integrate licensed-operator data into international gambling policy debates. WGBA will complement national and regional associations by globalising their market knowledge, with an immediate priority on combating the illegal gambling market, where consumers are unprotected. In an exclusive interview with Focus Gaming News, Haijer stresses that cooperation on website/advertising blocking, payment channels, and cross-border enforcement is crucial against illegal operators. He advocates assessing tax and regulatory frameworks based on how much gambling activity remains within the regulated market, warning that severe restrictions or high taxes can inadvertently push consumers towards unregulated platforms. Haijer identifies the illegal market, regulatory fragmentation, and industry credibility as the top challenges for the global sector.

Italy budget bill raises gaming taxes and extends licences

Italy’s 2027 budget bill proposes significant changes to the retail gambling sector, leaving online gambling taxes unchanged. From January 1, 2027, the PREU levy on AWP machines will rise from 24 per cent to 25 per cent, and on VLTs from 8.6 per cent to 9.6 per cent. Maximum slot-machine stakes will double from €1 to €2, with payouts increasing from €100 to €200.

Crucially, existing betting, slot, VLT, and bingo concessions, set to expire in 2026, will be extended until the end of 2029. The bill also introduces a formal licensing system for esports and LAN gaming venues offering skill-based games without cash prizes, prohibiting gambling within these facilities. These measures are projected to generate around €952m in 2027 and nearly €2bn by 2029. The proposals are now under parliamentary scrutiny.

Moreno Marasco, LOGiCO: “Consumer protection requires effective and targeted rules, not a blanket prohibition”

LOGiCO president Moreno Marasco criticises Italy’s 2018 blanket gambling advertising ban, stating it has weakened the visibility of licensed operators while illegal alternatives remain exposed. In an exclusive interview with Focus Gaming News, he argues the ban hasn’t reduced harm but made it harder for consumers to identify legal entities. Marasco proposes replacing it with a qualitative ban on aggressive, deceitful, or misleading advertising, allowing responsible communication. He welcomes AGCOM’s updated guidance but seeks further clarity on brand references and prevention messages. Beyond advertising, Marasco highlights tackling illegal gambling by targeting payment infrastructure, enhancing evidence-based consumer protection, and improving European regulatory coordination as crucial priorities for a sustainable legal market.

Swedish gambling regulator accused of prioritising punishment over dialogue

An industry-backed legal review, commissioned by the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) and prepared by Nordic Legal, claims Spelinspektionen‘s enforcement style is significantly more punitive than other Swedish regulators. The report highlights that Spelinspektionen’s anti-money laundering (AML) investigations often focus on small samples of customer accounts (typically 5-15 files) rather than broader compliance systems, unlike the risk-based approach of authorities like the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority.

The review also found Spelinspektionen imposes comparatively high financial penalties, with seven of nine AML sanctions between 2022-2025 amounting to at least 50 per cent of the maximum available, contrasting with lower percentages from other regulators. BOS argues a more collaborative approach would benefit the licensed gambling market, intensifying the debate over enforcement effectiveness.

UKGC data reveals illegal gambling is often an addition, not a substitute

New UK Gambling Commission research offers a rare, direct view into consumer interaction with unlicensed gambling operators, using anonymised Open Banking transaction data. The study found no notable decline in legal gambling activity after consumers engaged with illegal sites, suggesting illegal gambling is often supplementary to licensed gambling rather than a direct replacement. This aligns with earlier Consumer Voice research. Crucially, consumers using illegal operators were more likely to fall into moderate-risk and problem gambling categories, indicating a higher risk of gambling-related harm. The regulator described this project as a “powerful proof of concept” for leveraging financial transaction data to better understand illegal gambling, despite caveats like the dataset not being nationally representative. This unique approach provides meaningful insights into the black market.