Day: ខែ​មីនា 20, 2026

(AsiaGameHub) -   The Kentucky House of Representatives has approved House Bill 904, a comprehensive legislative proposal designed to overhaul sports betting within the state, notably by increasing the legal age from 18 to 21. This bill, championed by Republican Representatives Michael Meredith and Matthew Koch, garnered substantial backing with a 79-15 vote and has now advanced to the Senate for review. House Bill 904 introduces several significant amendments intended to enhance consumer safeguards and maintain the integrity of sports betting in Kentucky, further developing a market that has demonstrated considerable initial growth since its inception. Among its primary stipulations, the bill elevates the legal age for sports wagering to 21, an increase from the existing age of 18. Furthermore, the legislation aims to ban prop bets involving athletes participating in Kentucky collegiate sports. Meredith contended that these restrictions would mitigate the potential for bribery or harassment targeting......

(AsiaGameHub) -   With the 2026 Major League Baseball season's Opening Day nearing, Polymarket secured a landmark commercial agreement with the league this week. Polymarket revealed on Thursday that it has partnered with MLB, becoming the league's sole prediction market exchange partner. This move places MLB alongside the NHL, MLS, and UFC as North American sports leagues that have established commercial ties with prediction markets. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred had previously informed team owners about a potential deal with such an exchange last month. “Our foremost priority is, and always will be, safeguarding the integrity of the game,” Manfred stated. While engaged in a dispute with multiple state regulators, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission has declared it holds sole authority to regulate sports event contracts. CFTC Chairman Michael Selig has repeatedly emphasized the need to foster integrity in derivative markets since his confirmation. Prior to the partnership announc......

(AsiaGameHub) -   An Advocate General (AG) at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has concluded that national gambling licensing mandates within EU member states must be respected, provided they align with EU free movement regulations. AG Emiliou issued this opinion concerning a player-losses lawsuit filed against German operator Tipico at the ECJ in 2024. Germany's Bundesgerichtshof (Federal Court of Justice) referred the case to the ECJ in July 2024. Interpreting the EU's frequently debated Article 56 of the TFEU framework, the AG stated: “If a member state mandates a license for specific services within its borders, and this requirement itself complies with Article 56 TFEU, then national authorities, including judicial bodies, are permitted to enforce this requirement against an operator that has offered services without the necessary license.” A central issue in the case was whether Germany's regulatory structure at the time violated EU freedom of movement provisions. The AG's opinion......

(AsiaGameHub) -   Allwyn International is looking into other acquisition possibilities for a proprietary sports betting technology platform after its Novibet deal fell through. During Allwyn's FY25 earnings call on Thursday, CEO Robert Chvátal fielded questions about the breakdown of the company's proposed Novibet acquisition, which had been announced earlier this month. Allwyn pulled out of the acquisition after receiving feedback from the Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC), with iGB learning that several potential remedies that were examined could not preserve the deal's value. A key element of the transaction was to supply Allwyn with a proprietary sportsbook platform, though Chvátal stated that Allwyn respected the HCC's concerns. He indicated that the group had already begun examining alternative options. "This interest in sportsbook technology remains on Allwyn's radar," Chvátal commented. "We have already begun investigating other opportunities regarding spor......

(AsiaGameHub) -   Saskatchewan’s provincial government has revealed a substantial boost in funding for Indigenous communities, fueled by all-time high gaming revenues. For the 2025–26 fiscal year, a total of $153.5 million will be allocated to First Nations and Métis organizations. This funding increase follows strong earnings reported by key players in the province’s gaming sector, including the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA), SaskGaming properties, and the online platform PlayNow.com. Industry analysts link these gains to gaming facility upgrades, venue expansions, and improved online service offerings—all of which have raised gross gaming receipts. SIGA delivered a standout performance in the 2024–25 fiscal year, generating a record-breaking $378 million in revenue and distributing $146 million in income. This underscores the growing financial importance of gaming operations in supporting Indigenous communities. Online gambling has been ......

(AsiaGameHub) -   Estonian remote gambling operators have thus far voluntarily paid over €1.4 million ($1.62 million) to the Ministry of Finance following a legislative drafting mistake that temporarily eliminated their 2026 tax duties.  These payments, made in February and March 2026, are meant to cover the amounts the government would have received if the Gambling Tax Act had been implemented as initially planned.  ERR News reports that Ministry spokesperson Siiri Suutre said: “February donations—including income tax—totaled roughly €815,000, and as of now in March, about €595,000 has come in. The March number isn’t final, and we expect more donations.”  The tax exemption stemmed from December 2025 amendments that accidentally left games of chance out of the taxable base. This legislative mistake meant remote gambling wasn’t taxed at the beginning of 2026.  MP Aivar Kokk pointed out the error’s impact: “Games of chance a......