Welcome to this week’s edition of ONSEC iGaming News Weekly Digest, brought to you by the ONSEC team.
The iGaming industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace, with major M&A activity, record-setting revenues, and bold legislative movements shaping the global landscape. From Betr’s renewed bid to consolidate the Australian wagering market to Macau’s resurgent GGR performance and Denmark’s online casino boom, operators are leveraging post-pandemic momentum and strategic bets on entertainment-led growth. Meanwhile, lawmakers in New Zealand, Brazil, and the U.S. are redrawing regulatory lines, and cybersecurity remains top of mind after fresh disruptions and high-profile arrests. Here’s your essential roundup of key developments driving the industry forward this week.
Trends and Analytics
- Betr Renews Push to Acquire PointsBet: Australian upstart Betr Entertainment returned with an improved all-stock bid for PointsBet, valuing the target at up to AU$1.89 per share including synergies. The proposal – set to open July 31 – matches Betr’s prior share exchange ratio but touts AU$44.9M in annual cost synergies (approx. $0.67 per PointsBet share) and the chance for investors to own a larger, ASX-listed pure-play wagering group. Analysts say a combined Betr-PointsBet would gain scale in a fast-consolidating market, potentially expediting index inclusion and new institutional investment. Source: IGB
- Tourism Surge Lifts South Korea Casino Stocks: Anticipation of Chinese tour groups returning has South Korean gaming shares soaring. Since January, Lotte Tour Development stock spiked over 50%, while casino rivals Paradise Co. and Grand Korea Leisure climbed 28% and 7% respectively. A relaxed visa policy (effective Q3) is expected to further boost visitation. Already 7.1 million foreign tourists visited Korea through May – the highest since early 2020 – positioning the country’s foreigner-only casinos for a robust rebound. Source: Newsnet5
- Macau GGR on Track for Strong Second Half: Macau’s gaming revenue for July (through mid-month) hit MOP18.6 billion (~$2.3B), up 11.6% year-on-year, bringing 2025’s total to MOP132.3B – already 61% of the full-year forecast. Authorities trimmed the official 2025 outlook slightly (to MOP228B), but analysts remain bullish, noting Q3 is off to a “good start” despite being a traditionally slow season. New attractions and events are helping: June’s GGR jumped 19% YoY, fueled by a hit Jacky Cheung concert series that drew premium visitors. Operators expect a continued boost from high-profile entertainment and resort upgrades in H2. Source: IGB
- Denmark Sets Online Revenue Record: Denmark’s gambling revenue reached DKK683 million (~$107M) in May, a 19.6% YoY increase and the country’s highest monthly take of 2025 so far. The growth was driven by online casino’s DKK389M – up a remarkable 39.9% from last year – which now accounts for over half of total gaming revenue. Slots dominate Denmark’s iGaming segment (83% of online casino turnover), but all verticals saw gains, reflecting a robust post-pandemic rebound in both digital and retail play. Source: IGB
Law and Regulation
- Multiple U.S. States Adjust iGaming Approaches: In Maine, Governor Janet Mills has punted online casino legalization to 2026 by taking no action on the tribal-exclusive iGaming bill passed by lawmakers. The delay means Maine’s four Wabanaki nations must wait until the legislature reconvenes. Meanwhile, Massachusetts held its first hearing on a pair of online casino bills that would authorize up to 10 licenses and a 20% tax rate. No vote was taken. Tennessee’s Sports Wagering Council fined five offshore sportsbooks $250,000 for illegally taking bets in the state. Source: LSR + IGB
- New Zealand Advances Online Casino Bill: New Zealand’s Parliament voted 83–39 to send the Online Casino Gambling Bill to committee after a successful first reading. Introduced by Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden, the bill would establish a regulated iGaming market with up to 15 licensed operators, aiming to launch by July 2026. Operators would be selected via auction and required to pay a 12% gross revenue duty plus a 1.24% levy toward gambling harm programs. Source: CDC Gaming
- Brazil Scrutinizes Proposed Gambling Tax Hike: Brazilian lawmakers have convened a joint congressional committee to evaluate the government’s surprise move to raise the GGR tax on gambling operators from 12% to 18%. The 50% tax increase, proposed in June, would push total tax burdens to ~50%. Industry groups warn it could drive players back to the black market. Four public hearings are scheduled, with a vote deadline of October 9. Source: Esports Insider
- UK Watchdog Bans “Youth-Friendly” Slot Ads: Britain’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld complaints against Play’n GO for running online slot ads with child-appealing imagery. The ads featured cartoon figures promoting titles like “Eggscellent Easter” and “Moon Princess.” ASA ruled the ads likely appealed to under-18 audiences and ordered them to be withdrawn. Source: IGB
Hacks and Data Breaches
- U.K. Nabs Suspects Behind Casino Cyberattacks: British authorities arrested four individuals (ages 17–20) linked to the “Scattered Spider” hacking group. The crew was responsible for breaches at MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment in 2023. One arrested teen is believed to be the hacker known as “Bo764/Holy.” The FBI and NCA coordinated efforts to track the crew, which used social engineering and voice phishing to infiltrate companies. Source: Krebson Security
- Flutter Entertainment (Paddy Power & Betfair) User Data Leak
Up to 800,000 customers of Flutter’s brands (Paddy Power and Betfair) had their usernames, email addresses, IP addresses, and device identifiers exposed in a cyber incident. While no passwords or financial data were compromised, this information can be exploited for targeted phishing campaigns aimed at bettors. Source: TechDigest via Flutter Entertainment. Source: Tech Digest - Operation Eastwood Disrupts DDoS Group NoName057(16)
Europol and US agencies disrupted the infrastructure of pro-Russian hacktivist group NoName057(16), which had launched frequent DDoS attacks on political and public targets via botnets. Authorities seized over 100 servers and issued international arrest warrants. Why it matters: With DDoS attack tools disrupted, operators gain short-term relief—but must remain vigilant as other groups could fill the void with similar denial-of-service threats targeting iGaming platforms. Source: The Records
Final Words
As global iGaming momentum accelerates, this week’s developments underscore a delicate balancing act: scaling growth while navigating complex regulations and evolving cyber threats. Whether it’s expanding into new markets, adapting to fresh tax pressures, or defending against sophisticated attacks, success now hinges on strategic foresight and operational resilience. Stay informed, stay agile, and share this digest with your peers—because in a fast-moving industry like ours, insight is your greatest advantage.
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