A rumored tax hike that may be introduced during the November budget reading in the United Kingdom is already making waves. Only recently, Fred Done, Betfred's founder and boss, said during an interview for the BBC that if the tax hike passes, nearly 1,300 Betfred shops may have to be closed.
This week, the EGR Operator Awards 2025 designated Casino Guru as the winner in the "Casino Affiliate" category. The glamorous awards ceremony took place on October 22, 2025, at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London, the UK. This year's edition of the EGR Operator Awards marked the prestigious event's 20th anniversary.
Casino Guru was also shortlisted in the "Best Affiliate 2025" category for the upcoming SiGMA Central Europe B2C Awards. The much-anticipated awards are set to take place on November 3-4.
There are three weeks left to vote for the upcoming AffPapa iGaming Awards LATAM 2025, which recognize excellence in the iGaming industry across Latin America. Ahead of the inaugural edition LATAM edition of the AffPapa iGaming Awards, Casino Guru is proud to confirm its nomination in multiple categories. AffPapa iGaming Awards LATAM 2025 are scheduled to take place on November 26, 2025.
In Indiana, Horseshoe Indianapolis casino workers announced a strike for union representation. Some 200 dealers and dual rates employees decided to launch a strike, requesting Teamsters Local 135 to become their bargaining representative.
Business and finance
The stock of Playtech, the leading technology company, powering gambling operators across the globe, took a hit after it was uncovered that the company commissioned a damaging report against its competitor, Evolution. While the identity of Playtech remained hidden for several years following the release of the damning report, which resulted in billions of damages to Evolution, the latest unmasking resulted in a hit for the former's stock on Tuesday, which dropped to £224.50 from £349.50.
This week, Brightstar Lottery announced a new multi-year exclusive licensing deal with Avanti Licensing, Inc. Under the terms of this strategic alliance, Brightstar Lottery will develop and distribute new games based on Avanti's famous humorous greeting cards.
Nederlandse Loterij, the Dutch Lottery, confirmed that its Chief Financial and Risk Officer, Jet Roos-van Aerssen, decided to step down from her role. Aerssen succeeded Arjan Blok after he was promoted to CEO of the Dutch Lottery last year.
Northern Lights Gaming confirmed the promotion of Chris Loftus to the role of CEO. The senior-level change comes after Andrew Goodale decided to step down from the CEO position following eight years at the helm of Northern Lights Gaming. Loftus is equipped with significant knowledge and a range of skills, after spending close to two decades in the gaming sector, making him an excellent fit for the position.
Evoke, the leading betting and gaming company behind famous brands such as William Hill and 888, confirmed several changes to its C-suite. Notably, the company named Mark Summerfield a Non-Executive Chair of the Board following Lord Jon Mendelsohn's exit. In addition, Evoke appointed Anne de Kerckhove as Deputy Chair of the Board.
Regulation and laws
In Canada, the Senate pushed a new draft law for tougher regulations on gambling ads. The bill calls for the establishment of a national-level regulation for gambling advertisements in an effort to enhance customer protection. While a blanket ban on gambling ads is possible, it seems unlikely and sportsbooks may simply face enhanced restrictions.
Amid regulatory scrutiny of CFTC-regulated (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) exchanges in the United States, the leading gaming and betting company, DraftKings, has bought a CFTC-regulated exchange. While testing the ground for prediction markets, the company already has a solid presence in sports betting across the country. Per DraftKings' latest announcement, it acquired Railbird Technologies Inc., and wholly owned subsidiary Railbird Exchange, LLC.
Responsible gambling
The leading software and solutions provider, powering betting and gambling operators across the globe, SOFTSWISS, reaffirmed its commitment to responsible gambling by becoming a Platinum Partner of the Responsible Gambling Summit 2025. Led by the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation, the prestigious event is taking place in South Africa between November 13 and November 14, 2025.
Ygam, the UK's leading charity focused on preventing gaming and gambling harm among young people, hit a major milestone by reaching five million young people. The charity's industry-leading programs helped protect millions of children and young people across the country, while initiatives such as training, guidance and advice made Ygam a trusted source of information for families.
A massive FBI operation against Mafia-controlled betting outcomes resulted in the arrest of 34 people, raising concerns about NBA integrity. At least three NBA insiders are suspected of leaking private information to gambling syndicates.
The voice of the industry
This week's round of interviews saw Casino Guru News discuss a hot topic with Denis Kosinsky, COO of NuxGame. The executive spoke about the dangers of using artificial intelligence (AI), acknowledging that AI should never be used to push players beyond their limits.
Earlier in the week, Casino Guru News released the latest edition of its iGaming Crossfire debate format, featuring Michael Baker-Mosley, CMO at iGP, and Olga Levshina, CCO at BGaming. The duo answered head-to-head challenging questions regarding the future of the gambling sector and addressed a number of interesting topics.
This week, Casino Guru News published an interesting analysis that focused on the casino mogul who has helped build Las Vegas, Steve Wynn. The comprehensive report offers highlights of Wynn's career, key life events and interesting facts.
Casino Guru News also had the opportunity to sit down and talk to 4H Agency's CEO & Senior Partner, Ilya Machavariani. In an interview, the executive recognized the role of Eastern Europeas a "fast follower rather than a global leader in adopting new technologies."
