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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has introduced new changes that will affect online casinos, sportsbooks, bingo operators, and land-based casinos nationwide across 2026.

The initial raft of changes took effect in January 2026 and applies to licensed gambling operators in Great Britain, but will have a wider impact on customers and account holders, marketing partners, and those responsible for compliance and risk.

What do these wagering requirement changes mean?

The UKGC outlined these changes in 2025, a formative period for games of chance in Britain, with the November 2025 Chancellor’s Budget widely expected to be detrimental to gambling operators.

As we reported, the budget was not nearly as crippling to gambling firms and the wider commercial sector, but a consultation, published in error and then hastily reinstated, earmarked a possible 30% increase in gambling license fees from the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Labour attacked our pubs, tourism, and hospitality with National Insurance and Business Rates hikes and now they’re hitting gambling with higher license fees.I know Labour MPs are a generally miserable lot, but what is it they’ve got against everyone else having a bit of fun?… pic.twitter.com/buaISjB7Qz— Nigel Huddleston MP (@HuddlestonNigel) January 28, 2026

In the initial changes, published on 19 January 2026, the UKGC set the course of its largest reform for some time.

They included a mandatory cap on wagering requirements for licensed operators, limiting bonus playthrough to no more than ten times the bonus amount. Promotions that combine products, such as sports betting to earn casino spins, have also been banned.

Speaking at an event in Barcelona, UKGC Director Tim Miller also said he was committed to reducing the threat posed by illegal operators in the UK through tighter reforms and highlighted the regulator’s actions in 2025.

“Between April and the end of December 2025 alone, we have:

Issued 592 Cease and Desists to advertisers and operators

Reported 327,964 URLs to various search engines and seen 203,571 URLs removed as a result so far

Referred 839 websites to the search engines for delisting 

Disrupted 627 websites so that they have either been taken down or geo-blocked.

And all of that is without mentioning some of the other actions that our enforcement team takes behind the scenes that we can’t discuss publicly,” said Miller.

What does 2026 look like for these changes?

According to the British gambling watchdog, there are core tenets that drive the changes coming into force in 2026.

They centre on reducing customer harm, improving transparency, and shifting responsibility for internal governance, compliance, and oversight “onto operators.”

From March 2026, reporting thresholds will undergo a change to how license ownership and financing are regulated for global operators.

It also goes back to the UKGC’s furtherance of compliance expectations on multinational groups and the scrutiny of funding sources and governance arrangements to limit illegal sources.

Miller said of the change, “Complex global business structures mean that operator ownership and interests are not always clear and their financing arrangements are not always straightforward.”

Further changes to come for the 2026 UK gambling scene

April 2026 introduces a phased approach to Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) and adherence to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.

“Changes to our LCCP following the introduction of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act ensure operators are clear about the most up-to-date consumer-focused legislation,” said Miller on the compliance.

Gaming Machine Enforcement changes are scheduled for summer 2026, and any highlighted non-compliant gaming machines will be subject to enforcement.

Land-based operators will face fines and regulatory action, indicating the UKGC is making considerable effort to reduce the window for non-compliant devices.

A big year for the UKGC and operator compliance

The Commission’s response to consultations arising from the 2023 Gambling Act Review White Paper, High stakes: gambling reform for the digital age are the bedrock of the 2026 changes.

The roadmap shows a regulator moving to tighten incentives first, then governance, consumer law alignment, and physical enforcement to reform British gambling.

Operators have yet to respond, and market commentators have not weighed the retail and consumer implications, but it will no doubt be a year of change in the UK gambling scene.

Featured image: Canva
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Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont is pushing to tighten oversight of prediction markets, rolling out a bill that would block anyone under 21 from using the platforms or seeing ads aimed at them. The proposal lands as state regulators are already cracking down on companies they say have crossed into unlicensed sports wagering, putting new attention on how these markets operate.

The proposal, Governor’s Bill No. 5038, was sent to the General Law Committee at the start of the 2026 legislative session. It was submitted directly by the governor under Joint Rule 9 and is tied to his budget recommendations.

The bill zeroes in on prediction market platforms that let users buy and sell positions on future events through a bid-ask system. Topics can range from elections to economic indicators. The legislation draws clear boundaries, explicitly excluding sports wagering, online casino gaming, internet games, and traditional securities or commodities trading already governed by existing law.

If approved, the measure would make it illegal for any prediction market platform operating in Connecticut to allow a resident under 21 to register or open a speculative position. Companies would also have to verify a user’s age and confirm the person is physically located in the state before an account is opened or a wager placed.

New rules for ads and enforcement

The bill goes further by tightening advertising practices. All ads would need to clearly state that participants must be at least 21 years old. Direct or targeted advertising, including emails and text messages, would be required to include a clear and easy way for recipients to unsubscribe.

It would ban advertising aimed primarily at people under 21 or at college campuses. Ads using imagery, language, or endorsements designed to appeal specifically to younger audiences would be prohibited, along with promotions that contain misleading information intended to push consumers to participate.

Platforms that accidentally allow an underage user would be required to immediately suspend the account, close all positions, return any funds, and block the user from returning until turning 21. Violations could bring civil penalties of up to $10,000 per offense, enforced by the attorney general, with repeat or persistent violations drawing fines of as much as $50,000 each.

Today, DCP’s Gaming Division issued Cease and Desist orders to three platforms conducting unlicensed sports wagering. Learn why Prediction Market Platforms offering “Sports Events” Contracts are illegal:https://t.co/LXLK1tRR0w— Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (@CTDCP) December 3, 2025

The Department of Consumer Protection would be tasked with writing regulations to carry out the law. The bill also orders a study starting July 1, 2026, on how prediction markets affect Connecticut residents, including underage use, ad exposure, problem gambling, and impacts on state wagering revenue, with a report due Feb. 1, 2027.

The proposal arrives after state officials ordered platforms including Kalshi, Robinhood, and Crypto.com to halt what regulators described as unlicensed sports wagering in Connecticut. While the bill carves out traditional sports betting, the recent actions underscore growing concern about prediction-style products that blur regulatory lines. Most provisions would take effect July 1, 2027.

Featured image: Liam Enea via WikiCommons / CC BY-SA 2.0

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Fraudulent Lakeland tax preparer Jeffrey Dixon, who used falsified gambling winnings and losses to defraud the IRS, has been sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison after pleading guilty last summer.

The Florida local pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aiding and assisting in the filing of false and fraudulent tax returns on August 5, 2025 and received his sentence of 57 months in federal prison on February 4, 2026.

As well as prison time, the court also demanded that Dixon forfeit $1,093,552.50 to go towards the proceeds of the criminal conduct and pay restitution in the amount of $12,964,382.00 to the Internal Revenue Service.

Dixon’s fraudulent activities took place between January 2019 and July 2023, where the tax preparer ran a scheme to defraud the IRS. He prepared or helped prepare 458 false tax returns for 319 taxpayers, including himself, using fraudulent figures for gambling winnings and losses. The forged tax returns requested refunds from the IRS that were not actually entitled.

“Tax fraud isn’t a shortcut – it’s a fast track to prison,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “IRS Special Agents work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the tax system and ensure that those who steal from the American public face justice. IRS Special Agents will continue to pursue anyone who thinks they can game the system.”

The effect of Dixon’s fraudulent scheme

If the scheme went ahead as planned, Dixon would have defrauded $42,359,399. The actual loss to the IRS was $12,964,382, paid out to taxpayers including Dixon as refunds or credits applied to other debts. Dixon profited personally in the amount of $1,093,552.50.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, before being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ross Roberts and Jennifer Peresie. The forfeiture of assets is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. Nebesky.

Featured image: Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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The judge ruling on suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez‘s case has denied a motion to compel discovery as the proceedings continue.

On Thursday, February 5, a Florida judge denied a motion from the defense team of Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez to compel the prosecution to provide discovery in the illegal gambling case. Lopez is charged with using his influence as sheriff to collect more than $600,000 in unlawful payments while operating Eclipse Social Club, a now-closed illegal gaming room in Kissimmee where customers could use unlicensed slot machines and other illegal gambling devices. The investigation has already led to the sheriff’s suspension.

Florida sheriff Marcos Lopez was arrested after casino raids exposed illegal gambling operation. Credit: Homeland Security Tampa

Although the judge denied the discovery motion, the defense and prosecution came to an agreement to have the statewide prosecutor’s office send a representative to the defense to access the evidence.

“It’s voluminous, the discovery,” defense attorney Migdalia told Click Orlando. “We may need to go there with terabytes and whatnot. It may be a full day that we’re there, I don’t really know, but that’s what’s going to happen. So we’re going to meet and hopefully we’ll get the rest of the discovery.”

As the court dates proceed, Migdalia emphasized that Lopez is keen for the case to continue and to have his moment in court, although “he understands that this may be a long process.”

Beyond former Osceola sheriff Marcos Lopez’s involvement

Lopez’s wife, Robin Severance Lopez, has already pleaded guilty to money laundering, earning a sentence of 24 months of probation. Another individual linked to the case, Krishna Deokaran, also pleaded guilty to money laundering after being accused of owning and operating several illegal casinos in Osceola and Lake counties. He now faces up to five years in prison, with his sentence still to be decided.

Deokaran is prepared to testify that he gave a tour of the Eclipse Social Club to the Lopez couple in 2022. He allegedly also later gave an envelope full of cash to Lopez in the parking lot of the sheriff’s office.

Prosecutors said Deokaran was prepared to testify that he gave a tour of the Eclipse Social Club to Marcos Lopez and his wife in 2022.

Later that year, Deokaran allegedly gave an envelope full of cash from the casino proceeds to Robin Severance Lopez in the parking lot of the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office that was intended for her husband, court records show.

Featured image: Lake County Courts
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The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots will go head-to-head in Super Bowl LX, opening up plenty of opportunities to bet via prediction markets.

For many, half of the fun of big sporting events like Super Bowl LX is betting on outcomes, and there’s plenty to choose from on prediction market giants Polymarket, Kalshi, and Gemini this weekend. The obvious one is, of course, the winner itself, with the Seattle Seahawks the favorites heading into the weekend at 67.6% across Kalshi, Polymarket, and Gemini at the time of writing.

DeFi Rate reports that over $2.7 million (just a fraction of what is expected to be wagered on the Super Bowl across all gambling avenues) has already been wagered on the outcomes, underlining the huge amount of activity across the board with prediction markets.

What to wager on prediction markets during Super Bowl LX

The nature of prediction markets means there’s plenty more unique bets to wager on besides the obvious, with both Kalshi and Polymarket offering bets and props on a number of topics, from national anthem length to Gatorade color.

Right now, six markets stand out for their volume and liquidity, offering a snapshot of how expectations are forming as the game approaches.

Most Valuable Player

The Super Bowl MVP market is once again dominated by quarterbacks. Sam Darnold leads the board with a 44.2% implied probability, trading around +126. Drake Maye is next at 26.7%, priced near +275. The pricing follows a familiar pattern. Five of the past six Super Bowl MVP awards have gone to quarterbacks, and traders are clearly leaning on that history.

One Kalshi trader can win over $8,200 on Sunday if Mack Hollins wins Super Bowl MVP.

Hollins was the Patriots’ leading receiver in the AFC Championship. pic.twitter.com/n6MK4Hl61Q

— Kalshi Sports (@KalshiSports) February 5, 2026

Among non-quarterbacks, Jaxon Smith-Njigba has emerged as the most popular alternative at 14.5%, trading in the mid-teens. Kenneth Walker III follows at 8.1%. Longer shots are also getting some action, with Rhamondre Stevenson and Rashid Shaheed both priced under two cents for bettors hoping for a surprise performance on the biggest stage.

First song

Entertainment props are pulling in heavy interest as well. The market for the first song performed by Bad Bunny has been especially active. “Tití Me Preguntó” is the clear favorite, leading with a 52.8% probability across both platforms. “BAILE INOLVIDABLE” sits far back at 15.1%, with “NUEVAYOL” close behind at 14.2%.

Half-time performers

Halftime-related markets are busy even with some details already locked in. Charlie Puth is set to sing the national anthem. Green Day will open the ceremony alongside Brandi Carlile for “America the Beautiful.” With that settled, attention has shifted to potential guest appearances during the halftime show, where Cardi B is the heavy favorite at 60.5%, ahead of Rauw Alejandro and Karol G.

What will announcers say?

Markets tied directly to the broadcast are expected to surge on game day. Attendance props, including celebrity sightings, are already trading despite some outcomes feeling close to guaranteed. Announcer word markets are shaping up as one of the most popular live bets. Kalshi limits this category to NBC’s Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth, while Polymarket counts any on-air mention. “Safety,” “MVP,” and variations of “Comeback” are all trading above 94%.

Advertisers

Advertising markets round out the list of high-activity contracts. Kalshi’s “Who will appear in a Big Game ad?” market features names like Sydney Sweeney, Timothée Chalamet, and Harry Styles (although we know there won’t be any prediction market ads). Brand appearance contracts look even more decisive. State Farm, Toyota, and Salesforce are all trading above 98 cents, with Liquid Death, OpenAI, and Hims & Hers also priced as near-locks by the market.

Featured image: Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

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