Oleksandr Feshchenko, CEO of GR8 Tech: "Long-term success is not luck, but preparation and discipline" In an exclusive interview, Oleksandr Feshchenko, CEO of GR8 Tech, discusses the philosophy of winners, lessons from sport for iGaming.

In this exclusive interview Oleksandr Feshchenko, CEO of GR8 Tech, discusses the winning mindset, lessons from sport for the iGaming industry, and why the partnership with José Mourinho is more than just a marketing move.

Read More: sigma.world/news/oleksan...

#SiGMANews #iGamingNews #GR8

São Paulo delivered. Now the journey continues. 🌏
SiGMA Asia is up next, Manila awaits.

🎟 Get your tickets: tickets.sigma.world/sigma-asia-2...

Chile: Supreme Court orders operators to block mirror gambling sites Chile ruling forces telecoms to block unauthorised gambling sites and mirrors, reshaping enforcement and legal risk.

Chile Supreme Court strengthens online gambling enforcement, ordering telecoms to block main and mirror sites, overturning appeals ruling and guiding future blocking as regulation develops.

Read More: sigma.world/news/chile-m...

#SiGMANews #iGamingNews #Chile

Iran - Hormuz crisis pushes Wall Street towards 24/7 tokenised markets Iran-Hormuz tensions accelerate 24/7 tokenised markets. Wall Street turns to perpetual futures, RWA and blockchain to manage global risk.

The future of finance is 24/7.

Iran-Hormuz tensions are accelerating tokenised markets, perpetual futures and blockchain-based trading.

Wall Street is already moving.

Read More: sigma.world/news/iran-ho...

#SiGMANews #iGamingNews #Markets

Senegal’s lottery chairman on navigating Africa’s iGaming market LONASE Chairman Moustapha Camara explains how Senegal balances iGaming growth, innovation, and regulation in Africa’s evolving market.

LONASE’s chairman highlights balancing growth, regulation, and player protection as key to Africa’s competitive, compliant gaming markets.

Read more: sigma.world/news/senegal...

#SiGMANews #iGamingNews #LONASE

Regulatory delays threaten Mexico’s betting boom​ Mexico’s betting industry warns that regulatory delays could derail investment and expansion during the World Cup.

Mexico’s gambling industry is urging faster regulatory reform, warning that outdated laws—unchanged for nearly 80 years—risk leaving the sector unprepared ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Read more: sigma.world/news/regulat...

#SiGMANews #iGamingNews #Mexico

Caesars extends $18B takeover talks with Fertitta Caesars Entertainment extends exclusive talks with billionaire businessman Tilman Fertitta over an $18 billion takeover.

Caesars Entertainment has extended the period of exclusive negotiations with billionaire Tilman Fertitta over a potential $18 billion takeover, according to a report by Bloomberg News.

Read more: sigma.world/news/caesars...

#SiGMANews #iGamingNews #CaesarsEntertainment

At Affiliate Retreat Florianópolis, Valeria Saravia, LATAM Regional Manager at Basher Agency, and Paula Pereira, Head of Affiliates Brazil & Sales at Gambling Affiliation, summed it up perfectly: the right people and thoughtful organisation create meaningful connections. Next stop: Cancún, México.

How design, AI and UX are reshaping the iGaming industry iGaming is shifting toward immersive experiences, AI-driven design, and global talent, with India emerging as a key creative force.

iGaming is moving beyond jackpots toward immersive experiences. iGamity founder Srinivasulu Palle highlights how AI, changing player expectations, and India’s rise are reshaping global game design.

Read More: sigma.world/news/growing...

#SiGMANews #iGamingNews #Design

Dutch gambling market shrinks as black market grows The Dutch online gambling market shrank by 18.5% in 2025 as illegal operators gained ground, according to the KSA’s annual report.

The Dutch online gambling market shrank 18.5% in 2025. Despite 94% of players using legal operators, they generated only 49% of gross revenue—raising questions about where the remaining spend is going.

Read more: sigma.world/news/dutch-g...

#SiGMANews #iGamingNews #Dutch

Beyond retention: What will shape iGaming’s next phase iGaming’s next phase focuses on tech, gamification and engagement as operators rethink retention, competition and player behaviour.

Retention is no longer the end goal in iGaming.
From gamification to personalisation and consolidation, Andrei Beyerbah, CEO and Founder of Gamixter, breaks down what will shape the industry’s next phase.

Read more: sigma.world/news/beyond-...

#SiGMANews #iGamingNews #Gamixter

EU court ruling on iGaming not a threat to bloc unity: Expert As EU court ruling in Germany iGaming case reinforces national control, analysts flag rising cross-border legal risks.

EU Court ruling on Germany iGaming case confirms member states can restrict or ban foreign-licensed operators, reinforcing national regulatory control within the EU framework and the single market system.

Read more: sigma.world/news/court-r...

#SiGMANews #iGamingNews #European

France’s gambling market rose 3% in 2025: Report​ France’s gambling sector expanded 3% in 2025, with FDJ United leading and online betting driving growth, ANJ annual review shows.

France’s regulated gambling market grew by 3 per cent in 2025, reaching a gross gaming revenue (GGR) of €14.1 billion ($16.6 billion), according to the latest annual review from l’Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ).​

Read More: sigma.world/news/frances...

#SiGMANews #iGamingNews #France

Road splitting into left and right paths with arrows, coin stacks along the sides, and a city skyline in the background.

10. A Strategic Turning Point

The key question is not whether operators can absorb the tax, but whether they continue to invest in the UK at the same level. Is this a turning point for the market? Read more: sigma.world/news/uk-remo...

Two puzzle-piece spheres with question marks: one gold with a dollar sign, the other blackened with fire glowing from within.

9. Risk to Market Competitiveness

As pricing flexibility declines, concerns are growing that regulated operators could lose competitiveness, potentially creating space for black market activity.

8. Pressure on Promotions

Higher taxes could reduce promotional intensity, making it harder to sustain aggressive bonuses and player incentives across the regulated market.

Grey bar graphs with a central gold bar, a ladder leaning against it leading to a glowing door, with coins and papers on the floor.

7. Raising the Bar for Entry

The changes are not about blocking entry, but raising standards. New entrants will need stronger balance sheets, efficient cost structures, and clearer positioning.

Gold scale of justice with sports balls and coins on one side, and coins, playing cards, dice, and a roulette wheel on the other.

6. Shifts in Product Strategy

The higher duty could push operators toward sportsbook and lower margin verticals, where the tax impact is less concentrated compared to online casino products.

UK flag in the background with the country map in the upper-left, and stacks of coins on a checkerboard surface with a rising gold arrow.

5. Strategic Impact on Operators

As tax pressure rises, operators may rethink how they approach the UK market, with decisions increasingly shaped by capital allocation and long term exposure.

Open laptop with a roulette wheel and poker chips on the keyboard, a magnifying glass over a target checkpoint, and a clipboard with a checked tax form.

4. Easier to Tax, Easier to Target

The focus tends to fall on segments that are easier to monitor and tax, making digital casino products a key target in evolving regulatory strategies.

Stacks of coins rising alongside a white arrow, with balanced scales on the right, plus calculators, tax documents, and an official building.

3. How Mature Markets Evolve

Dalal notes this shift reflects a broader trend, where governments prioritise revenue certainty and enforceability over simplifying tax structures.

Downward red arrow with a slot machine showing three 7s, surrounded by poker chips and a broken phone screen.

2. Casinos Take the Hit

According to Oren Dalal, online casinos are feeling the most direct impact, with the higher duty placing pressure on product economics across the sector.

Scale of justice with a sterling coin at the centre and a bag of coins below, with Big Ben and the London skyline in the background.

1. A Shift in UK Tax Policy  

The UK’s Remote Gaming Duty increase from 21 to 40 percent is being viewed as more of a redistribution of tax pressure within a mature market rather than harmonization.

The UK has raised Remote Gaming Duty to 40 percent, but the real impact may be deeper than just higher taxes ⬇️

Alessandro Gherardi, Co-Founder & Director at Fomento.Agency, and Khalil AlBahlawan, Account Team Lead at Gentoo Media, captured the spirit of the SiGMA Affiliate Retreat Florianópolis, where meaningful connections, shared experiences and lasting memories came together.

Industry Reels: The latest iGaming industry appointments and market entries Recapping the iGaming market developments that took place throughout the week by going over industry appointments and product launches.

BAGO states that a financially strong legal sector is a key barrier to illegal supply.
In Belgium, debates focus on tax fairness, market imbalance, channelisation, and regulatory carve-outs that distort competition.

Read more: sigma.world/news/industr...

#SiGMANews #iGamingNews #BAGO

Financial literacy reshapes iGaming behaviour in Philippines Industry experts say financial literacy is transforming iGaming in the Philippines, with players becoming more deliberate and risk-aware.

Rising financial literacy is reshaping iGaming in the Philippines. With 90% financial product awareness, players are becoming more deliberate and less impulsive, driving stronger demand for trust and transparency.

Read more: sigma.world/news/financi...

#SiGMANews #iGamingNews #Philippines

Belgium gambling tax reform exposes market imbalance Belgium’s gambling tax reform has reopened debate over market imbalance as BAGO warns pressure on licensed operators is growing.

“A financially healthy legal sector is a key barrier against illegal supply,” said BAGO. Belgium’s gambling sector debates tax fairness, market imbalance, and unequal rules distorting competition.

Read More: sigma.world/news/belgium...

#SiGMANews #iGamingNews #Belgium

Focus Gaming News supports SiGMA Foundation’s Camino Primitivo adventure expedition for clean water in Guatemala Focus Gaming News supports the SiGMA Foundation Camino Primitivo expedition, raising funds for clean water projects in Guatemala.

Walking for a cause. From 01–08 May, the SiGMA Foundation’s Camino Primitivo expedition will help bring clean water to over 1,000 families in Guatemala, with support from Focus Gaming News.

Read More: sigma.world/news/focus-g...

#SiGMANews #iGamingNews #SiGMAFoundation

Congress probes CFTC on prediction markets, insider trading US lawmakers question CFTC chair on prediction markets, insider trading risks and regulatory gaps as scrutiny intensifies.

US lawmakers sharply questioned Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) chair Michael Selig over market integrity and the rise of prediction markets, as concerns grow about insider trading and regulatory gaps.

Read More: sigma.world/news/us-cong...

#SiGMANews #iGamingNews #Markets