Support for an online gambling prohibition has been gathering momentum in the Philippines over past weeks and months, and House Bill 1876 which would commit that motion to law has polarised the Government. 

Any talk of online gambling whatsoever was conspicuously absent from President ‘Bongbong’ Marcos’ speech. 

Earlier in July, the Philippine Church joined the chorus calling for a total ban on online gambling, with Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines likening it to ‘modern-day slavery’ due to its addictive qualities. 

Opposition to the bill suggests gambling will always exist and regulating the industry is one way of keeping it under control, though President Marcos’ administration is said to be still carefully considering the topic, which is perhaps why why he has remained silent now. 

Good to know: The annual SONA (State of the Nation Address) was mandated by law in the 1987 constitution immediately following the overthrowing of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s father, who had ruled the country from 1965 to 1986 

Last year’s SONA was when the President announced the outright ban on POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators). 

Many expected a similar moment this year though, instead, Marcos expressed his desire to stamp out corruption in flood-control projects and alluded to external threats to the Philippines’ sovereignty.

Speaking at the Batasang Pambansa Complex, he said: “To those who conspired to steal public funds and rob the future of our people, you should be ashamed.”

A portfolio of games from Greentube will be made available to customers in Germany, including the Book of Ra game that was originally launched in 2005 by Novomatic.

Alex Green, Zeal VP of Games, said: “With the popular titles from Greentube, we’re expanding our portfolio with high-quality games our customers already know and love.

“Bringing the ‘Book of Ra’ series to our platforms has been a long-term goal, and we’re proud to have made it happen. We see strong potential in this partnership.”

Greentube signed a similar deal with bet365 in Germany a few weeks ago, which included a range of slot titles made available on the operator’s site.

While many in the industry have complained about how stagnant the German iGaming scene has been in recent years, with laws and regulations moving slowly, perhaps these latest deals could signify the tide changing in the country.

Good to know: The latest figures put channelisation rates in Germany at 50.7% as industry experts push for a regulatory overhaul this year

Julia Schagerl, Greentube Regional Manager, said: “Zeal is a strong partner with a loyal customer base.

“Our games stand for quality, security and entertainment – and this partnership helps us bring them to an even wider audience. It’s a key step in our growth strategy.”

Each casino game offers a specific return to player (RTP), which describes the percentage of wagered money that players can expect to get back from the casino in the form of winnings in the long run. The theoretical RTP is almost always (with very specific exceptions) lower than 100%, with the remainder forming the house edge.

 EXAMPLE

European roulette has an RTP of 97.3% and a house edge of 2.7%. This means that when you wager $100, your statistical expected return is $97.30, and the casino can expect to make $2.70 from your bets in the long run. Of course, your actual winnings for a one-off $100 bet will range from $0 to $3,600, depending on the bet you place and the outcome of the game round.

The RTP is a long-term statistical value. The results of individual game rounds can vary greatly, but the overall results will get closer and closer to the expected RTP with an increasing number of game rounds.

This has two crucial consequences:

• Players can get lucky and win in the short term, even despite the odds being stacked against them. However, if they keep playing, the statistics will catch up with them and they are bound to get into negative numbers sooner or later.
• Casinos can rely on statistics to be profitable in the long term. Individual players can get lucky and win, but casinos generally have a large number of players. The larger this sample size, the more certain casinos can be that their overall returns will be close to the theoretical value that is assured by the house edge.

There are other mathematical aspects of casino games, the most important one being volatility (also known as variance), which relates to how big individual wins are and how often they occur.

One of the most significant conditions that apply to casino bonuses is the wagering requirement. It is the biggest roadblock the casino puts in the way of a player’s ability to cash out winnings from a bonus or free spins.

The amount of wagering required is indicated as a multiplier, such as 30x, 40x, and so forth. The specific number depends on the operator. Players must wager their bonus money, and sometimes the deposited amount, the specified number of times to withdraw their winnings.

 EXAMPLE

A 100% deposit match up to $100 where the player deposits $100 and ends up with a total of $200.

• If the playthrough is 30x the bonus amount, the player must wager $3,000 ($100 * 30).
• If the playthrough is 30x the bonus + the deposit amount, the player must wager $6,000 ($200 * 30).

Only if the playthrough is met within the specified period can the player cash out their winnings. The amount they can withdraw may or may not be limited, depending on the bonus terms.

 EXAMPLE

For example, a no deposit bonus can come with a max cashout of $100. Any winnings over that amount will be void, regardless of whether you’ve managed to wager them or not.

The top-tier software and solutions provider, powering iGaming and betting operators across the United States, Altenar, expanded its award-winning sportsbook with the addition of a new feature.

Late last week, the company announced the addition of slice markets, a new functionality that enables its partners to deliver new betting experiences.

The company’s partners will offer an enhanced betting experience thanks to the new feature

Altenar’s new slice markets feature allows its partner operators to offer a selection of betting options to their customers.

The creation of a filtered version of existing markets via excluding or adding certain lines creates a more personalized and streamlined experience for the end user.

Thanks to slice markets, operators can offer a customized view that is based on each player’s preferences and betting style.

This, in turn, can also boost customer engagement and retention.

Recently, Altenar agreed to deliver its sportsbook technology for Gamblr Gaming, a crypto-first sportsbook operator.

The deal saw the latter tap into the former’s innovative sportsbook solution, bolstering the experience it provides to its player base.

The new functionality complements Altenar’s product portfolio

Dinos Doxiadis, Altenar’s Director of Product – Sportsbook and Data, shared his excitement about the recently released feature.

“Through the introduction of slice markets, operator partners can now deliver a more focused and relevant user experience, which will help bettors engage faster and in a more meaningful way with the markets they care about,” he said.

Finally, Doxiadis pointed out: “This is another step forward in our commitment to helping build high-performance sportsbook solutions to boost operators’ retention rates and differentiate them in a competitive vertical.”

Altenar’s Director of Product – Sportsbook and Data will be among the company’s team members who are going to attend SBC Summit 2025 in Lisbon this September.

The prestigious event is scheduled between September 16 and 18, and it is expected to attract some of the most important companies from the gaming industry.

The addition of the slice markets functionality to Altenar’s sportsbook is a testament to the company’s dedication to growing its betting offering.

The feature brings more flexibility to operators, while allowing them to deliver personalized offering to their customers.

At the same time, slice markets brings a variety of relevant, preferred bets to sports bettors who can access them seamlessly.

Brazilian betting operator Betesporte will be the first to implement the tool, hoping to mark a significant move toward safer gambling practices in Brazil’s expanding regulated market.

Bettor Sense leverages behavioural science and machine learning to monitor user activity in real time, identifying early indicators of problematic gambling.

The tool aims to enable operators to intervene swiftly and appropriately, reinforcing responsible gambling commitments while maintaining compliance with regulatory standards.

In parallel, Betesporte has also joined Sportradar’s Integrity Exchange, a global data-sharing network that enables betting operators to report suspicious activity directly to Sportradar’s Integrity Services team.

Commenting on the development, Tom Mace, SVP of Integrity & Regulatory Services at Sportradar, stated: “This partnership with Betesporte marks an important milestone for Sportradar’s ongoing mission to help shape secure and sustainable sports betting and iGaming industries.

“Betesporte is taking a proactive step in embracing responsible gaming as a core part of its business. We are confident this will be the first of many partnerships, as the market increasingly recognises the value of using data and technology to protect end users and strengthen compliance.”

Good to know: The launch follows Sportradar’s wider involvement in Brazil’s integrity space, including match-fixing prevention workshops with clubs like Ceará and Náutico

Marcos Pereira, CEO of Betesporte, added: “Betesporte is fully committed to transparency and security across all its operations. The partnership with Sportradar, through the integration of Bettor Sense and the Integrity Exchange, reinforces our dedication to fostering a responsible and ethical betting environment in line with regulatory standards.

“Sportradar’s advanced technology enables us to anticipate and prevent risky behaviour, ensuring our bettors have the best possible experience with complete safety. We will continue working tirelessly to protect the integrity of sport and the trust of our users, which remains our top priority.”

Polymarket has grabbed headlines this week with the confirmed acquisition of a rival prediction market platform, QCX, LLC, for $112m. The deal was confirmed on Monday, July 21, by Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan, who hailed this as an opportunity for his company to make its return to the United States.

The deal comes shortly after the US government dropped probes into the platform, essentially leaving Polymarket in the clear.

Resorts World New York City (RWNYC), the leading hotel and casino that is among the bidders for one out of the available three new downstate New York casino licenses, presented its vision to build the largest fully integrated resort in the state this week.

The multi-billion-dollar entertainment hub would house 6,000 slot machines,800 gaming tables, as well as 2,000 hotel rooms.

Business and finance

CVC Capital Partners grabbed headlines this week with an announcement that it would seek to acquire a 100% stake in Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), one of the foremost authorities in testing the fairness of games and products in the gambling industry.

The acquisition will go ahead through a recently-incorporated subsidiary, Avalon Buyer LLC, which is seeking to acquire sole ownership of GLI and several of its associated companies, including GLI affiliates Worldwide Laboratories LLC, and Kobetron LLC.

PointsBet’s ongoing saga involving Australian betting giant Betr and Japanese tech and gaming company MIXI continues as the company’s Board of Directors has, once again, rejected an unsolicited takeover bid by the betting operator.

Betr has been trying to buy out PointsBet and has been engaged in a bidding war against MIXI, which the company has generally considered to be the better option. The latest offer amounted to 3.81 Betr shares for every PointsBet share.

“The PointsBet Directors unanimously recommend that PointsBet shareholders accept the MIXI Takeover Offer, in the absence of a superior proposal,” the statement released by the Board of Directors concluded.

The Nederlandse Loterij, the Dutch Lottery, will be searching for a new chairman after announcing the upcoming departure of its existing chair. Alexander Pechtold has confirmed his exit, as the lottery has startedlooking for a replacement.

Koin, a cashless gaming expert, has announced a newly-created Head of AI and Data Strategy position that has been filled by Hemash Bhatti, a tech veteran with more than 15 years of experience under his belt who has cut his teeth across Fortune 500 brands, helping them build and scale high-impact data and analytics products and best practices.

Evolution has opened its first dedicated live casino studio in Brazil, making an important stride forward in not just the recently-regulated market, but also the entire iGaming market in Brazil. The new studio will host Portuguese-speaking live dealers and bring a series of localized and popular Evolution games locally.

Among the titles that are coming are Blackjack Clássico, Blackjack Illimitado, and Brazilian Blackjack, all blackjack games, with the company also planning to localize XXXTreme Lightning Roulette as well as Crazy Time, one of its best-known and most innovative game shows, along with other popular titles.

BetParx has teamed up with IC360, securing enhanced monitoring capabilities, allowing the sportsbook to benefit from its new partner’s cutting-edge solutions, among which are IntegrityMonitoringDashboard, ProhiBet, and Playbook AI.

These tools are designed to flag suspicious betting activity and notify operators, which can, in turn, send an alert to relevant authorities who can further examine the legitimacy of the flagged contests that may involve all levels of play – from tier-one leagues and games to secondary events and feeder competitions.

Responsible gambling

The latest survey conducted by the National Council on Problem Gambling has indicated that there have been several key trends in gambling behavior across the United States. First, the number of problem gamblers has remained fairly unchanged since 2018, when 7% of the population reported suffering from at least one market of gambling-related harm.

In 2024, the number was 8%, but the NCPG noted that 38 states and the District of Columbia had regulated their gambling industries by that time. Conversely, the number of gamblers in sports betting dropped to 23% from 26% in 2021, when the NCPF conducted another similar survey.

Another report, by US News, has weighed in on the debate about problem gambling and gambling-related harm in the United States. According to the survey, 30% of the people who participated said that they now carry debt because they participate in gambling activities.

One in four people also confirmed that they have skipped on a bill as they chose to fund their gambling habit instead. The survey seeks to shed light on gambling behavior and add to the body of evidence that analyzes real-world gambling behavior by consumers.

We have a detailed article where you can learn about all the different types of casino bonuses available in online casinos. Still, below, we’ll briefly look at the most common kinds of casino bonus deals and how they work:

• Welcome bonus – The welcome bonus is the most common type of promo in online casinos. As the name implies, these bonuses are added to your casino account once you join the website. Welcome bonuses can be deposit match deals, free spins, or a mix of the two.
• No deposit bonus – No deposit bonuses are casino bonuses that can be claimed without a deposit. Casino operators frequently provide these bonuses to encourage new members to play. Such incentives are sometimes offered to registered members as a token of appreciation.
• Free spins – Free spin bonuses are the simplest to comprehend because they don’t directly involve money. Operators give them upon sign-up, as reload bonuses, for promoting new slots, etc. Depending on the deal, the spins may be for a single slot machine or multiple online slots at the casino.
• Cashback – Just like regular cashback, you get this casino bonus as a share of your daily, weekly, or monthly losses or wagers. The cashback percentage drastically varies and may be affected by various factors, including your VIP status, deposited amounts, and total losses.

The closure, which is taking place ahead of schedule, forms part of the company’s broader business planning and operational strategy.

In a statement, SJM confirmed that all gaming tables currently at Casino Grandview will be redeployed to its other casinos. Customers with outstanding chips, deposits or cash rebates linked to Grandview will be able to redeem these at Casino Casa Real starting from 31 July.

The company stated that it would retain all local staff directly employed by SJM and reassign them to other locations within its casino network. For employees working at Casino Grandview who are not directly employed by SJM, the company will prioritise them for available positions and offer support where applicable to ease the transition.

Good to know: The Gaming Law, amended in 2022, sets out compliance expectations for all operators in Macau and SJM has reiterated its alignment with government objectives for a healthy and sustainable gaming sector

SJM also pledged to manage the closure in full compliance with legal requirements and to ensure an orderly wind-down process.

The company emphasised its ongoing commitment to the development and stability of Macau’s gaming industry, as well as its responsibilities to the local workforce and community.

The deal positions Stake as the official betting partner of Team Vitality’s CS2 team. The agreement will see branding appear on the front and collarbone of the team’s jerseys, while both organisations will collaborate on content activations, digital engagement campaigns and exclusive fan experiences.

The announcement comes as Team Vitality’s CS2 squad continues a strong competitive run, having secured the ESL Grand Slam and Blast Austin Major earlier this year.  

IEM Cologne has become one of the most-watched CS events globally, with last year’s tournament attracting over one million viewers.

Stake has been expanding its presence across sports and gaming sectors, recently launching Stake Engine, a platform aimed at supporting iGaming developers. 

Good to know: According to the company, Stake Engine processes over 10 billion wagers monthly

This latest partnership adds esports to Stake’s growing portfolio of international sponsorships, which also includes relationships in Formula 1, MMA and football.

Team Vitality joins a wider trend of esports organisations forming partnerships with betting firms, as operators seek exposure to younger digital audiences through live events and content-driven campaigns.

Stake’s entry into the CS2 space comes after its recent exit from the UK market and amid ongoing market-specific expansions, including new leadership appointments in Italy and Brazil. 

For Team Vitality, the partnership represents further global recognition following recent title wins and a growing international fanbase.