Welcome to this week’s edition of ONSEC iGaming News Weekly Digest, brought to you by the ONSEC team.
This week’s developments highlight the global push-and-pull between government policy, market growth, and the realities of player behavior. From Washington, where Nevada’s Dina Titus is challenging a new federal gambling tax cap, to Brasília’s proposal for retroactive levies, lawmakers are seeking fresh revenue streams—sometimes at the cost of market stability. Europe remains in focus as the Netherlands’ tax hike backfires and the UK faces a gambling data privacy scandal, while Asia sees one of the year’s most radical shifts with Mongolia’s blanket gambling ban. The stakes for operators, regulators, and players are higher than ever as the industry weighs compliance, competitiveness, and consumer trust.
Trends and Analytics
- FanDuel owner Flutter ups profit outlook — U.S. (August 7, 2025 – Reuters) – Flutter Entertainment, the world’s largest online betting firm and owner of FanDuel, raised its full-year profit growth forecast after a strong Q2. Group EBITDA hit $919 million in Q2 (up 25% YoY), beating estimates U.S. results were pivotal: FanDuel’s core profit jumped 54% to $400 million with a 41% sports betting market share. Flutter now expects about 40% YoY profit growth in 2025 and is monitoring U.S. regulatory moves around event wagering. Source: Reuters
- Entain lifts 2025 earnings forecast — UK (August 12, 2025 – Reuters) – Ladbrokes owner Entain plc projected its annual core profit above market expectations, crediting surging online betting during major events. The Women’s Euros and inaugural Club World Cup drove record engagement, with UK & Ireland net gaming revenue up 9% in H1. Total NGR rose 10% constant currency, boosting confidence. Entain raised its online revenue growth forecast to ~7% (from mid-single digits) and sees £1.10–1.15 billion in annual EBITDA. Executives note rising interest in women’s sports and player-prop betting as new revenue drivers. Source: Reuters
- DraftKings hits record $1.5 B revenue in Q2 — U.S. (August 7, 2025 – iGamingBusiness) – DraftKings reported all-time high quarterly revenue of $1.51 billion for Q2 2025, a 37% jump YoY. The U.S. sportsbook and iGaming operator more than doubled its adjusted EBITDA to $300.6 million as active players grew to 3.3 million (+6%). This was only DraftKings’ second-ever profitable quarter, buoyed by a 29% rise in average revenue per monthly player. The company reaffirmed its full-year outlook at the high end of $6.2–6.4 billion revenue, signaling optimism ahead of the NFL season. Source: iGamingBusiness
- Penn Entertainment trims online losses — U.S. (August 7, 2025 – iGamingBusiness) – Penn Entertainment delivered a “steady” Q2 with $1.76 billion in revenue, up 6% YoY. Traditional casino operations were flat, but the interactive division (Barstool Sportsbook, iCasino) posted $316 million revenue. Notably, Penn halved its online losses – the digital unit’s EBITDA loss improved to $62 million from $102 million in Q2 last year. The CEO said Penn is “still work to do” but on track, as the company prepares to rebrand its sportsbook with ESPN this fall. Penn ended the quarter with $672 million in cash and affirmed its retail casino outlook remains solid. Source: Igaming Business
- Betway owner posts record revenue — Global (August 8, 2025 – Yogonet) – Super Group (owner of Betway and Spin Casino) hit an all-time high quarterly revenue of $579 million in Q2 2025, up 30% from Q2 2024. Growth was driven by its broad international footprint: Africa & Middle East contributed 40% of revenue, North America 34%, and Europe 19%. Active customers climbed 21% to 5.5 million. The company is exiting the U.S. market to cut losses, but raised its full-year EBITDA guidance to ~$475 million. Executives highlighted strong sports calendars and cost discipline for fueling “record-breaking” results, as Super Group leverages growth in regulated markets worldwide. Source: Yogonet
Law and Regulation
- Nevada lawmaker fights gambling tax rule — U.S. (August 13, 2025 – Yogonet) – U.S. Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) is leading an effort to repeal a new federal tax change that limits gambling loss deductions to 90% of winnings. Titus warned at a Las Vegas rally that the “phantom income” tax rule (effective 2026) could drive high-rollers and bettors to offshore black markets. She introduced the bipartisan FAIR BET Act to restore full deductions, citing fairness for professional gamblers and Nevada’s economy. Industry experts joined her, arguing the 10% cap would distort tax bills and push U.S. players toward unregulated sites. Source: Yogonet
- Brazil mulls retroactive betting tax — Brazil (August 12, 2025 – Yogonet) – The Brazilian government is evaluating a plan to back-tax sports betting operators for their activities before regulation took effect in 2023. Officials say up to R$12.6 billion (US$2.3 billion) could be raised by charging 135 companies for past profits. The proposal, under review by a Finance Ministry working group, would allow installment payments and target firms that operated during Brazil’s unregulated period (2018–2022). Brazil only formalized betting rules in January and already taxes bets at 12% since April. The debate comes as Congress also considers hiking the current betting tax rate from 12% to 18% to boost revenues. Source: Yogonet
- Dutch tax hike yields revenue shortfall — Netherlands (August 6, 2025 – Yogonet) – The Netherlands’ early-2025 gambling tax increase is backfiring, according to the Dutch regulator (KSA). A mid-year assessment shows H1 gross gaming revenue fell ~25% YoY after the online betting tax jumped from 29% to 34.2%. Tax receipts are now only ~83% of last year’s take, creating an estimated €200 million gap in the budget. Regulators and trade groups warn that heavy new burdens – coupled with strict ad bans and €700 monthly deposit caps – are pushing players to unlicensed sites. The government still plans a further tax hike to 37.8% by 2026, even as legal operators lose market share and call the policy “counterproductive”. Source: Igaming Business
- Mongolia moves to ban all gambling — Asia (August 13, 2025 – GamesHub) – Mongolia’s parliament approved sweeping legislation prohibiting all forms of gambling, both online and land-based. The revised law on licensing, passed in March and affirmed by the new Prime Minister, criminalizes operating or participating in casinos, sports betting, lotteries and even paid “predictions” nationwide. Citizens will be barred from using bank accounts or digital assets for betting, and violators could face fines, travel bans, community service or prison time. The government says the drastic ban aims to combat financial crime and money laundering. It marks a stark shift in Asia, as other countries debate regulation while Mongolia opts for zero-tolerance. Source: Games Hub
- Data privacy push in sports betting ads — Europe (August 11, 2025 – The Guardian) – A British investigation revealed that several online betting firms were secretly sharing customer data with social media giant Meta without users’ consent. Companies including major sportsbooks embedded Meta’s tracking pixels on their sites, transmitting punters’ browsing and spending habits to Facebook. Regulators and privacy advocates are alarmed that these data leaks lead to targeted ads for casinos on users’ social feeds. The UK’s Information Commissioner has opened inquiries, and operators may face fines under GDPR. The expose amplifies calls in Europe for stricter oversight of gambling advertising tech and stronger consumer data protections. Source: The Guardian
Final Words
Whether through tax hikes, retroactive enforcement, or outright prohibition, governments worldwide are testing the limits of how far regulation can go before it drives bettors and operators into unlicensed markets. For industry stakeholders, the message is clear—policy shifts can be as disruptive as technological change, and staying compliant requires constant vigilance. With consumer protection, market integrity, and fiscal goals all competing for priority, the coming months will reveal which of these approaches fosters a sustainable regulated industry—and which risk pushing the game into the shadows.
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