Global Regulators Advance New Casino Licensing Frameworks

Key Takeaways

• Ontario's AGCO granted fresh iGaming operator registrations, expanding regulated online casino access amid rising market maturity.
• UK Gambling Commission enforces enhanced responsible gambling mandates, mandating real-time spend tracking for new entrants.
• MGA refines oversight policies, prioritizing ESG compliance to facilitate sustainable operator approvals in emerging EU-adjacent markets.
• Australia's ACMA tightens consumer protections, influencing new online casino compliance through mandatory self-exclusion tools.

AbsoluteBet Secures Ontario iGaming Licence for Market Debut

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) awarded AbsoluteBet a full iGaming operator licence on September 5, 2025, enabling the platform to enter Canada's largest regulated online casino market. Owned by Absolute Sports Ltd., a Gibraltar-based company with established European operations under the Gambling Act 2005, AbsoluteBet focuses on integrated sports betting and casino offerings, leveraging proprietary technology to provide seamless player experiences. This approval follows rigorous assessments of financial stability, game integrity via independent audits, and adherence to Ontario's Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming, which emphasize player protection and data security.

The license permits AbsoluteBet to launch casino games from certified suppliers, such as Gaming Corps, targeting a competitive landscape where 50 operators now serve 87 sites. With Ontario's iGaming handle surpassing $82.7 billion in FY 2024-25—a 31% year-over-year increase—this entry aligns with iGaming Ontario's (iGO) push for diverse, compliant platforms. Players benefit from enhanced choices in slots and live dealer games, while regulators gain bolstered tax revenues projected at $1.5 billion annually. Operators must implement Game Sense tools for responsible gambling, with launches expected by Q4 2025, underscoring Ontario's maturation as a global benchmark for new market entrants.

Source: Canadian Gaming Business

UK Commission Mandates Real-Time Controls in New Casino Approvals

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) activated key provisions of its safer gambling reforms on 23 September 2025, requiring all new remote casino operators to deploy real-time net spend and session time displays before issuing their licences. This stems from the amendments to the Gambling Act 2005, enforced through Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP), which target platforms entering Britain's £15 billion online gaming sector. The UKGC, overseeing 179 licensed remote operators, prioritizes vulnerability prevention, building on prior stake limits (£5 for over-25s since April 2025).

For prospective licensees, such as those under Entain PLC or Flutter Entertainment subsidiaries, compliance involves integrating API-driven monitoring tools, which third-party auditors, including eCOGRA verify. In a market dominated by incumbents, this framework eases entry for agile newcomers while deterring non-compliant bids, with non-adherence risking application denial. Players receive proactive harm alerts, reducing addiction risks amid 0.5% prevalence rates. Stakeholders, including the Bingo Association, hail the move for aligning with EU standards, though implementation costs may delay smaller launches until early 2026. This positions the UK as a leader in tech-enabled regulation, fostering trust in new casino developments.

Source: Gambling Commission

MGA Awards ESG Seal to Three New Casino Operators

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) granted its inaugural Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Code Approval Seals to three emerging casino operators—Elmst Limited's Slot Mojo, L.C.S. Limited, and Infiniza affiliates—on September 18, 2025, marking a milestone in sustainable licensing. Under the MGA/CL/2025 framework updates, these B2C remote gaming licences (Type 1, full Class) were issued post-audits confirming 100% renewable energy sourcing, diversity hiring quotas, and advanced responsible gambling integrations like AI-driven deposit limits.

Malta's 300+ iGaming firms, generating 12% of GDP, face intensified scrutiny in a post-Moneyval landscape, where ESG compliance now factors into initial approvals. Slot Mojo, a newcomer with over 8,000 games, exemplifies this by partnering with ROGA for behavioral analytics and targeting EU markets, such as Germany and Sweden. The competitive arena, with 38% channelization to licensed sites, sees these approvals boost player retention via transparent reporting. Regulators anticipate 20% more ESG-focused applications by 2026, enhancing Malta's appeal for ethical expansions. Players gain verifiable sustainability claims, while industry partners, such as SOFTSWISS, report streamlined integrations, driving ethical growth.

Source: Malta Gaming Authority

Australian Reforms Impose Carded Play for New Casino Venues

Australia's Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) introduced the Gambling Legislation Amendment (Pre-commitment and Carded Play) Bill on 22 September 2025, mandating carded access for all new poker machine venues, including casino expansions, effective from January 2026. This federal-state initiative, aligned with the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, requires operators to verify identities via player cards, enforcing preset loss limits and session histories to curb harm in a sector where EGMs account for 50% of the $25 billion annual losses.

For newcomers, such as potential Brisbane Casino affiliates under QOLGR oversight, compliance requires biometric integration and Bet Stop self-exclusion linkages, overseen by the ACMA. In a fragmented market with state-specific taxes (e.g., a 20% Goods and Services Tax in NSW), this level of entry for responsible platforms deters offshore incursions amid 11% online participation. Players, especially those in high-risk demographics, can access real-time insights, potentially reducing their vulnerability by 15%. Stakeholders, including Liquor & Gaming NSW, project $500 million in redirected revenue to harm programs, positioning Australia as a pioneer in mandatory tech safeguards for new casino developments.

Source: iCLG