New Casino Licensing Advances in Key Markets

Key Takeaways

• Regulatory enhancements in the UK and Malta prioritize responsible gambling and compliance, easing new operator entry while strengthening player protections.
• Community advisory committees in New York advance downstate casino bids, signaling potential for three new integrated resorts by late 2025.
• Brazil's SPA outlines a 2025-26 agenda focused on self-exclusion platforms and addiction prevention to support the growth of the emerging market.
• Ontario's i Gaming sector continues to expand robustly, with infrastructure enabling sustained operator onboarding and player engagement.

Avenir Casino Bid Advances in New York Community Review

Silverstein Properties' Avenir proposal for a $7 billion mixed-use resort in Manhattan has progressed through its second public hearing before the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) on September 9, 2025. The six-member CAC, appointed by the New York State Gaming Facility Location Board, heard from over 300 speakers during the five-hour session at the Javits Center, focusing on economic impacts, job creation, and community benefits. Led by Silverstein, a prominent real estate developer known for the World Trade Center redevelopment, and partnered with Rush Street Gaming for casino operations, the project includes 1,000 hotel rooms, 12 bars, and extensive gaming space.

This milestone is crucial for New York's downstate licensing process, authorized in 2022 for three full-scale casinos amid competition from eight bids, including those from MGM and Caesars. The CAC must approve by a two-thirds majority by September 30, 2025, following zoning and environmental reviews. Approval would position Avenir as a frontrunner in Manhattan's dense market, generating an estimated $7 billion in taxes and 3,800 permanent jobs while adhering to the New York State Gaming Commission's integrity standards. For players, it promises enhanced entertainment options; regulators gain revenue for public services; stakeholders benefit from union labor commitments and local safety partnerships.

Source: iGaming Business

UK Casinos Gain Expanded Gaming Machine Entitlements

The UK Gambling Commission implemented legislative changes effective July 22, 2025, allowing converted casino premises licenses to increase gaming machine allocations from two to five per staff-controlled gaming table, as per The Gambling Act 2005 (Premises Licences and Provisional Statements) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025. This reform, part of broader land-based updates, enables operators to vary licenses via licensing authorities to designate table gaming areas, boosting machine entitlements without altering core premises plans.

Backgrounded by the Gambling Act 2005's framework, which previously limited small casinos to 80 machines, the changes address post-2005 market dynamics where 58 UK casinos operate under converted licenses. Rank Group, owner of Grosvenor and Strangeways brands, stands to benefit, having reported strong Q3 2025 revenues from its 55 venues. The competitive landscape features major players such as Genting and Caesars, with the reform expected to be fully implemented by early 2026. Implications include diversified revenue streams for operators entering or expanding in the £2.9 billion land-based sector, enhanced player choice with more slots alongside tables, and a regulatory emphasis on compliance to prevent harm. Licensing authorities must ensure updated plans reflect mandatory conditions, fostering sustainable growth.

Source: Gambling Commission

Malta Gaming Authority Bolsters 2025 Oversight Priorities

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) announced enhanced regulatory oversight on February 21, 2025, outlining 2025 supervisory priorities including stricter compliance monitoring, anti-money laundering enhancements, and responsible gambling integrations for new licensees. As the EU's leading igaming hub with over 500 operators, the MGA's framework—governed by the Gaming Act (Cap. 583)—now mandates real-time risk assessments and unified reporting for market entrants, building on its B2C and B2B licensing classes.

Ownership structures for new operators must demonstrate robust financials and effective player protection through tools such as self-exclusion portals. In Malta's competitive ecosystem, which hosts 10% of the global online gambling market, this facilitates smoother entry for brands from Asia and Latin America. Launch timelines typically span 3-6 months post-approval, with full compliance by Q2 2025. For players, it ensures safer environments; regulators achieve better enforcement against illicit activities; and industry stakeholders gain clarity on evolving EU standards, such as GDPR alignment. The priorities also support cross-border collaborations, such as the recent UK-MGA MoU, promoting geographic diversity in regulated markets.

Source: Malta Gaming Authority

Brazil SPA Prioritizes Responsible Gambling in Regulatory Agenda

Brazil's Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) published its 2025-26 regulatory agenda on April 16, 2025, emphasizing a national self-exclusion platform and addiction prevention guidelines to bolster the nascent iGaming market, which was launched in January 2024. Under Federal Law 14.790/2023, the SPA oversees operator licensing, with over 100 entities approved, focusing on vulnerable player support amid rapid growth to $3.2 billion GGR in H1 2025.

New entrants, often backed by international groups like Betsson or Flutter, must integrate RG tools from launch, with ownership transparency via public registries. The competitive landscape features local partnerships with payment firms, such as Pix, for seamless access. Implementation timelines include Q2 2025 for the self-exclusion system and Q3 for advertising modernization. This aids market entry in an emerging jurisdiction with 200 million potential users, reducing black market risks. Players benefit from harm mitigation; regulators enforce balanced frameworks; stakeholders see stabilized growth, aligning with global trends in Ontario and Malta for ethical expansion.

Source: iGaming Business

Come On Group Enters Danish Market with Casinostuen Launch

Come On Group debuted Casinostuen on September 10, 2025, a casino-first brand tailored for Denmark under the Danish Gambling Authority's (Spillemyndigheden) remote gaming license framework established in 2012. Owned by European Entertainment Partners Ltd., the platform integrates in-house games from Come On's studio, live casino via Evolution, and We Spin streaming, positioning it against incumbents like Royal Panda in a market valued at DKK 7.5 billion annually.

Regulatory approval on August 15, 2025, ensures compliance with 28% GGR tax and RG mandates like deposit limits. Launch strategy emphasizes localized content and retention programs, with a full rollout expected by Q4 2025. In Denmark's mature yet competitive Nordic scene, it targets mobile-first users, enhancing player options with exclusive titles. Implications include diversified choices for consumers, revenue for regulatory funding of prevention, and industry growth through tech partnerships, reflecting trends in Ontario's private iGaming model.

Source: Gambling Insider