Global New Casino Licensing Expands in Regulated Markets

Key Takeaways

• Gibraltar's new Gambling Act 2025 imposes stricter substance requirements, compelling operators to establish a local presence to maintain sustained market access.
• Ontario iGaming welcomes Points Bet's expanded casino offerings, signaling deeper international operator penetration in Canada's premier regulated province.
• Australia's AML/CTF reforms mandate comprehensive compliance for casinos, elevating standards ahead of 2026 implementation to curb financial crime risks.
• Malta Gaming Authority advances player protection with new self-exclusion tools, reinforcing its role in global responsible gambling innovation.

Gibraltar Enacts Comprehensive Gambling Act 2025

The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA) activated the Gambling Act 2025 on October 1, replacing the 2005 framework to enhance oversight and substance in the remote gambling sector. This overhaul mandates that operators demonstrate tangible local operations, including offices, staff, and tax contributions, while introducing personal licensing for senior executives, akin to the UK's model. The GRA, as the Gambling Commissioner, gains expanded enforcement powers, including fines, inspections, and license suspensions, with a six-month transition period ending April 2026 for legacy licensees to reapply.

Existing operators, numbering over 30 remote gambling firms, must adapt swiftly; non-compliance risks market exit. Parent companies like 888 Holdings and BetVictor, long-established in Gibraltar, face scrutiny on AML/CTF and marketing approvals, affecting affiliates and creative agencies. In a competitive landscape dominated by B2B platforms and EU-facing B2C brands, this act positions Gibraltar as a high-compliance hub, potentially deterring smaller entrants but attracting premium operators. Launches are slated for Q2 2026 post-transition, benefiting players through fortified protections and regulators via streamlined appeals tribunals. Stakeholders anticipate reduced black-market infiltration, with industry GGR contributions—around 20% of Gibraltar's GDP—bolstered by enhanced credibility.

Source: iGaming Business

PointsBet Bolsters Ontario Presence via Playson Partnership

On October 21, PointsBet, owned by Japan's MIXI Inc., integrated PlaySon's Hold and Win series—including Coin Strike and Thunder Coins XXL—into its Ontario iGaming platform, marking a strategic casino expansion. Distributed through Light & Wonder's aggregation platform under a January 2025 global deal, this partnership adds over 50 titles to PointsBet's portfolio, targeting Ontario's iCasino-heavy market where it operates as the sole Canadian casino jurisdiction.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) oversees this development, ensuring compliance with Registrar's Standards for game integrity and player protections. PointsBet, entering Ontario in 2022 post-regulation launch, leverages its sports betting roots—generating CAD 1.2 billion in annual handle—to capture casino share amid 50 registered operators and 88 sites. This move addresses competitive pressures from incumbents like BetMGM, with immediate launches via seamless API integration. Players gain diverse, RNG-tested content, while regulators enforce AML and responsible gambling standards through iGaming Ontario (iGO). Implications include accelerated market maturation, projected at CAD 2 billion GGR by 2026, fostering innovation without diluting safeguards.

Source: Canadian Gaming Business

Australia Mandates AML/CTF Reforms for Casino Operators

Australia's federal government announced on October 23 that sweeping Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) reforms will compel casinos and gaming venues to implement full customer due diligence from March 2026, ending exemptions for non-remote operators. AUSTRAC, the national regulator, will enforce these under the updated AML/CTF Act, requiring identity verification, transaction monitoring, and suspicious activity reporting—mirroring obligations for online bookmakers.

Affected entities include land-based giants like The Star Entertainment Group, under NSW's Independent Casino Commission (NICC) remediation, and Crown Resorts, navigating Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) suitability reviews. In a landscape with AUD 25 billion in annual casino GGR, these changes address systemic risks exposed in 2024 inquiries, during which penalties exceeded AUD 1 billion. Operators must invest in tech upgrades by Q1 2026, or face non-compliance fines of up to AUD 22 million. Players benefit from reduced laundering exposure, regulators from unified oversight, and stakeholders from a cleaner sector—potentially attracting ethical investments amid emerging markets like Queensland's policy shifts.

Source: Asia Gaming Brief

Malta Gaming Authority Launches Global Self-Exclusion Portal

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) unveiled an enhanced self-exclusion portal on October 7, enabling players to block access across all MGA-licensed operators via a centralized database, building on its 2018 framework. This tool, integrated with affiliate monitoring, supports indefinite or time-limited exclusions and aligns with EU harm minimization directives, complementing certifications such as ISO 27001 for data security.

Over 500 licensees, including Evolution Gaming and Kindred Group, must adopt the portal within 90 days; non-compliance risks fines of up to €600,000. Malta's market, generating €1.5 billion in quarterly GGR, faces intensifying competition from emerging EU hubs, yet this innovation underscores its leadership in responsible gambling—mandating a 0.2% GGR allocation to prevention. Parent firms emphasize behavioral analytics partnerships, with implementations by year-end. Players access safer environments, regulators enforce via audits, and the industry mitigates addiction risks, projecting 15% uptake in voluntary exclusions and bolstering Malta's appeal for ethical operators entering new jurisdictions.

Source: Gambling Insider