Regulating the Game returns to Sydney in March 2027 for its seventh edition, bringing together regulators, industry leaders, policymakers and stakeholders for three days of robust discussion, critical analysis and forward-thinking dialogue on the future of gambling regulation and industry practice.
More than a conference, it serves as a platform for meaningful debate and collaboration, empowering participants to challenge assumptions, exchange ideas and help shape the future of the sector.
The event programme will feature the flagship Conference from 8–10 March 2027 at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, alongside Pitch!—the main conference plenary session—on 8 March.
Delegates will also have the opportunity to attend the prestigious Awards Gala Dinner on the evening of 9 March, providing a dedicated setting to celebrate excellence, strengthen industry connections and engage with leaders from across the global regulatory and gaming landscape.
A recent study by Kasinohai examining 50 online casinos serving Finland reveals that advertised wagering terms frequently obscure the true stakes required of players.
In real-money testing between 15 and 30 June 2026, researchers at comparison site Kasinohai registered accounts, deposited real money, and claimed each welcome bonus, recording the terms as presented at the point of claiming and calculating their combined effect across the full offer.
Jari Vähänen
The findings arrive as Finland prepares to move from the Veikkaus monopoly to a licensing system. Under the Gambling Act (Rahapelilaki 10/2026), bonuses aimed at new customers will no longer be permitted once licensed operations begin on 1 July 2027. Draft decrees governing online game features and stake limits were circulated by the Ministry of the Interior on 10 June 2026 and remain open for public comment until 5 August 2026.
Jari Vähänen, Co-Founder and Partner at The Finnish Gambling Consultants, told iGaming Expert on 6 July 2026 that the restrictions pose a particular difficulty for online casinos: “It is particularly problematic for digital casino operations that affiliate marketing and welcome bonuses are prohibited.”
Calculation Basis and Multi-Stage Offers
The study identified two structural features that increased the total stakes required beyond the advertised multiplier.
22 of the 50 casinos (44%) calculated the wagering requirement on the combined value of the deposit and the bonus rather than the bonus alone. On a 100-euro deposit matched by a 100-euro bonus at a nominal 30x requirement, this raises the total stakes required from 3,000 euros to 6,000 euros. A further 15 casinos, or 30%, did not specify which basis applied in the terms available at the point of claiming.
Multi-stage welcome packages compounded the effect. Where an offer was divided across successive deposits, each carrying its own requirement, packages promoted at 20x to 30x reached an effective 40x once completed in full.
The stated wagering requirements varied across the sample. 12 casinos (24%) set requirements at 15x or below, 19 (38%) between 20x and 35x, and 19 (38%) at 40x or more.
Disclosure and Restrictions
22 casinos, or 44% did not state a maximum bet limit in the bonus terms available at the point of claiming. Where a limit was stated, it was commonly around 5 euros per spin. Exceeding the maximum bet is, according to Kasinohai, among the more common reasons a bonus and any associated winnings are voided.
Of the tested casinos 58% applied a cap on bonus winnings, with the lowest tier observed below 100 euros. 37 casinos (74%) restricted which games counted toward wagering, with live casino contributing nothing at roughly a third of the casinos. 8 casinos (16%) set no time limit for completing the requirement.
The study also recorded variation between the casinos: around a quarter offered wagering requirements the researchers classify as favourable to players, and a minority applied the requirement to the bonus alone.
Methodology and Limitations
The research was conducted by Mimmi Malmström, Laura Korhonen and Lilli Partanen. The 50 casinos were selected from those covered on Kasinohai’s own site rather than sampled at random, and hold licenses in Curaçao, Malta, Anjouan and Estonia; many are unlikely to apply for a Finnish license. The findings are a point-in-time snapshot, cover welcome bonuses only, and do not identify individual operators.
Kasinohai has previously described wagering requirements in the 20x to 35x range as reasonable, reflecting prevailing market practice, and states that this classification is under review.
Vähänen mentioned that a further round of legislation is likely, with its direction tied to how the market performs. “If the channelization rate remains lower than expected and the number of problems does not increase, then I expect relaxations, at least affiliates and possibly welcome bonuses, in the legislation,” he said. An empirical record of how bonus terms operated before the reform bears on that assessment.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) and the Guangzhou municipal government have signed an expanded cooperation agreement aimed at substantially establishing a cross-border equine industry zone by 2030.
The agreement comes ahead of Conghua Racecourse’s inaugural race meeting on October 31st, 2026, when HKJC is expected to stage five or six races.
The Guangzhou-Hong Kong Equine Industry In-depth Cooperation Zone will be centered on Conghua Racecourse and will support the development of a wider equine industry economic cluster in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Under the agreement, the two sides will promote regular international-standard racing events alongside equine-themed tourism, cultural and sporting activities at Conghua.
The initiative will also extend beyond racing into horse imports, trading and breeding, while supporting the cross-border movement of horses, veterinary medicines and equipment.
Guangzhou authorities will prepare a development plan for the cooperation zone and accelerate supporting infrastructure around Conghua Racecourse. Customs and agricultural authorities in Guangzhou and Hong Kong will also work to improve cross-border procedures while maintaining Conghua’s equine disease-free status.
HKJC said Conghua would be developed as a world-class equine sports and industry demonstration base and a horse-themed culture, sports and tourism destination.
Tourism products are expected to include equine experience tours, multi-destination travel packages and activities connecting HKJC’s three racecourses in Hong Kong and Guangzhou.
The agreement also covers professional training and the mutual recognition of qualifications for workers in the equine industry.
HKJC chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said the introduction of regular racing and related activities at Conghua would support the development of the Greater Bay Area’s equine value chain and events economy.
HKJC and the Guangzhou government signed an initial framework agreement in 2021 to develop the regional equine industry, with Conghua Racecourse serving as the main platform for the cooperation.
1win is capitalizing on this momentum with the expansion of its Markets product, introducing new cryptocurrency prediction markets that allow users to speculate on major milestones across the digital asset sector, one of the fastest-growing categories in prediction markets today.
The new crypto-themed forecasts on 1win Markets allow users to speculate on topics, including:
“Crypto-related forecasts are becoming a natural extension of prediction markets, giving users another way to engage with some of the biggest narratives in the crypto industry. Though on 1win Markets, we have made it an interactive and easy-to-understand format,” said Mike Danshin, CMO 1win Crypto.
1win Markets uses a simple binary format. Instead of selecting from complex betting lines, users answer straightforward “Yes” or “No” questions or choose between clearly defined outcomes. It is a fun and interactive way to think about life events, even for those unfamiliar with classic betting.
This crypto-focused expansion on 1win Markets reflects the growing convergence between crypto communities and binary predictions. Users are increasingly interested in predicting not only sports or political outcomes but also changes across the digital asset industry.
By adding cryptocurrency-focused markets alongside existing categories – sports, politics, technology, entertainment, and global events – 1win continues to broaden the scope of its crypto-driven ecosystem.
Goa has amended its casino rules to bar anyone under the age of 21 from entering designated gaming areas, while introducing an 18 percent annual penal interest charge on operators who delay payment of their recurring license fees.
Under a notification issued by the state Home Department, persons below 21 will not be permitted to enter designated gaming areas where electronic gaming machines, slot machines, or table games are installed or operated within a five-star hotel or offshore vessel. The amendments took effect immediately.
The notification also revised the definition of “designated licensed places/areas” to specify that gaming activities may be conducted only in segregated, access-controlled sections within five-star hotels or vessels. Under the revised wording, a designated licensed place or area refers to a partitioned, access-controlled space in such premises where the licensee is authorized to install and operate electronic amusements, slot machines, or table games.
Alongside the entry restriction, operators who miss the deadline for paying the annual recurring license fee will incur penal interest of 18 percent per annum on the outstanding amount. The measure follows disclosures in the state legislative Assembly that pending casino revenue in Goa stood at INR3.5 billion ($40.7 million), of which INR1.1 billion ($12.8 million) was tied up in court cases.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said recovery efforts were underway and that casino properties could be seized if operators failed to clear their dues.
Goa is one of only two Indian states, along with Sikkim, to permit casino operations. It hosts roughly a dozen onshore casinos located in five-star hotels and six offshore casinos operating on the Mandovi River off the state capital, Panaji. The revised rules apply across both categories of venue.
An investigation by The Straits Times has found that an offshore online gambling platform targeting Singaporean players has been using locally registered companies to process deposits and payouts via PayNow during the FIFA World Cup.
The newspaper reported that Curacao-licensed operator GemBet accepts bets from Singapore through localized website addresses before directing users to its main platform, where customers can fund digital wallets using cryptocurrencies or PayNow.
According to the investigation, players choosing PayNow are instructed to transfer funds to one of three Singapore-registered companies incorporated earlier this year. The businesses include a manpower contracting firm, a cleaning services company and a wholesale trading business, all of which were registered between March and May 2026. The Straits Times reported that all three companies are registered to Housing Board residential addresses. Visits to the listed addresses raised questions over their connection to the businesses, with occupants either saying they were unfamiliar with the company or noting that the registered owner was a full-time national serviceman.
The publication also found that GemBet openly markets itself to Singaporean customers, describing itself as a home-grown betting platform that relocated to Malaysia in 2022. The operator promotes Singapore-specific payment options, including instructional videos showing customers how to make deposits using DBS Bank accounts. GemBet’s website lists AC Milan midfielder Luka Modrić as a brand ambassador and claims to be the official Southeast Asian betting partner of Spanish football club Athletic Bilbao.
Corporate records reviewed by The Straits Times show the platform is operated by Curacao-incorporated Grand Complications NV, which has registered more than 1,900 domain names, many incorporating the GemBet brand. The investigation also identified a Cyprus-based subsidiary, Rockman Enterprises, as handling payment services.
When contacted by the newspaper through the platform’s live chat, a customer service representative reportedly claimed the service was legal for users in Singapore and described the locally registered companies handling PayNow transactions as legitimate affiliates. The operator declined to disclose the number of Singapore customers or the value of bets originating from the country before suspending the reporter’s account.
Website analytics firm Semrush estimated GemBet’s website received nearly 50,000 visits globally during June. The findings come as Singapore authorities continue to intensify enforcement against illegal remote gambling. Earlier this month, police arrested 17 people during coordinated raids across multiple locations, including Yishun, Ang Mo Kio, Pasir Ris and Bukit Batok. Authorities seized more than SG$720,000 ($564,000) in cash, along with mobile phones, computers and other gambling-related equipment.
Separately, the Gambling Regulatory Authority, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Social and Family Development announced on 9th June that more than 3,400 illegal gambling websites, over 260 bank accounts and more than SG$36 million ($28.2 million) in payments linked to unlawful remote gambling had been blocked.
Under Singapore’s Gambling Control Act, individuals who gamble with illegal operators face fines of up to SG$10,000 ($7,800), imprisonment of up to six months, or both. Those convicted of operating or facilitating unlawful gambling services face penalties of up to SG$500,000 ($391,000) and seven years’ imprisonment, with higher penalties applying to repeat offenders.
Pay4Fun has integrated its payment infrastructure with BetConstruct AI, further strengthening the global technology provider’s ecosystem in Brazil.
Through the integration, Betconstruct AI clients will gain access to solutions specifically developed for the betting sector, including Pix payment processing, account ownership validation, transaction monitoring, fraud prevention, and compliance tools aligned with Brazil’s regulatory requirements.
The initiative will allow dozens of operators connected to the platform to access a specialized payment infrastructure designed to meet the demands of Brazil’s regulated betting market, further expanding Pay4Fun’s reach within one of the most relevant ecosystems in the global gaming industry.
The move reflects a growing industry trend: closer collaboration between technology providers and specialized financial service companies to simplify operations, reduce regulatory complexity, and support sustainable growth for operators.
According to Leonardo Baptista, CEO and Co-Founder of Pay4Fun, regulation has raised the bar for the industry and made the selection of specialized partners more important than ever.
“The Brazilian market has entered a new phase of maturity. Today, operators require solutions that go far beyond payment processing. They need partners capable of delivering security, compliance, and operational efficiency in an increasingly demanding regulatory environment. By integrating our solutions with Betconstruct AI, we are expanding access to a financial infrastructure specifically designed to meet the needs of the Brazilian market.”
Globally recognized for its sportsbook, online casino, and operational management solutions, Betconstruct AI serves operators across multiple jurisdictions worldwide. Through the integration with Pay4Fun, the company strengthens its offering for clients operating in or looking to enter Brazil, providing access to a financial infrastructure tailored to local market requirements and regulatory standards.
“Pay4Fun was selected based on the expertise and industry knowledge the company has built within the Brazilian betting market. As the industry continues to evolve, the importance of working with specialized partners capable of delivering security, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance continues to grow,” said Beatriz Lopes, the Brazil Regional Director.
As the first payment institution serving the betting industry to receive authorization from the Central Bank of Brazil, Pay4Fun has developed an infrastructure specifically tailored to the needs of the iGaming sector. The company combines proprietary technology, continuous monitoring, identity verification, fraud and anti-money laundering controls, and robust compliance processes to support operators, platforms, and suppliers operating in the regulated market.
The integration with Betconstruct AI reinforces Pay4Fun’s strategy of expanding its presence not only among operators but also across the leading technology platforms that support the betting ecosystem. By connecting technology, payments, and regulatory compliance, the company is extending access to its specialized financial infrastructure to dozens of operators while strengthening its role as a strategic partner in the development of a safer, more transparent, and sustainable betting market in Brazil.
Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) has reinforced its commitment to responsible gaming through the launch of the “GEG Responsible Gaming Promotional Program: Football World Cup Series”, supporting the Macau SAR Government’s campaign theme, “Learn RG, Keep the Fun Alive.”
Running since April and coinciding with the World Cup season, the initiative brings together local social service organizations, community groups, and youth-focused programs to promote responsible gaming awareness among team members, residents, visitors, and young people. Through a combination of educational events, interactive activities, outreach campaigns, and sporting initiatives, GEG continues to advocate the importance of rational entertainment and healthy participation in sports.
Key activities included the “World Cup Goal Challenge: Clear Eyes, Responsible Plays” campaign, organized with the Sheng Kung Hui Macau Social Service Coordination Office, which engaged team members through interactive games, educational displays, and counseling services. GEG also participated in the “RG Man Competition – World Cup Special Edition” and extended responsible gaming awareness into the community through outreach activities during the tournament period.
In addition, GEG supported several community initiatives, including the “World Cup Forum Theatre Tour – Gambling on the Line,” the “Smart Sight MAX” online campaign launched by the Macao New Chinese Youth Association, and football-themed community events such as the “2026 Responsible Gaming Soccer Competition” and “Let’s Kick! Football Fun Day.” These efforts encouraged participants to enjoy sporting events responsibly while fostering greater understanding of responsible entertainment.
As the first integrated tourism and leisure enterprise in Macau to establish a dedicated Responsible Gaming Team, GEG has maintained a long-standing commitment to promoting responsible gaming across its workforce and the wider community. Since 2008, the company has recorded more than 250,000 participations in responsible gaming training and promotional activities. GEG also actively supports professional certification programs, with nearly 140 team members from more than ten departments obtaining responsible gaming ambassador or advisor qualifications.
Demonstrating its leadership in the field, Galaxy Macau Casino and StarWorld Casino were once again recognized as “RG Model Units” by the Macau SAR Government last year, achieving perfect assessment scores. The recognition highlights GEG’s ongoing efforts to foster a culture of responsible gaming and support the sustainable development of Macau’s tourism and leisure industry.
On July 19, the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford will host the American tournament final, where the world’s new champion will be crowned. The deciding match of the previous edition in Qatar drew a staggering 1.5 billion viewers, but this year is expected to set a new record.
Conor McGregor, an ambassador for the global betting brand 1xBet, has added another layer of intrigue to the year’s biggest sporting event by placing a $100,000 bet on Argentina to win 3-2. The Irish fighter’s prediction is a unique newsworthy moment that can’t be missed.
Conor McGregor has nearly 50 million followers on Instagram and enjoys Hollywood-level fame. He engages people on social media who do not usually stay up to date with football action, so his prediction will help partners expand their target audience. His bet already captured the attention of thousands who weren’t even aware of the final match’s date.
If the fighter’s bet wins, the $100,000 stake will turn into $3,600,000! While few players can afford to wager that much, anyone can make a prediction on a high-odds market.
This case clearly demonstrates that ambassadors’ global influence creates real benefits for the brand and its partners, rather than just abstract value. Ride the wave and monetise the buzz surrounding the World Championship final on the most lucrative terms with 1xPartners!
