New gambling regulations across seven jurisdictions have introduced revised compliance requirements for operators and financial intermediaries this week. The legislative changes cover payment processing, licensing validity, and revenue reporting standards.
Regional Regulatory Changes
In Brazil, Ordinance 1766 establishes liability for payment service providers, banks, and advertisers handling transactions for unlicensed gambling companies. Payment processors must block unauthorized transfers within 24 hours or assume a portion of the operator tax obligation, while advertising liability applies automatically. President Lula subsequently issued Decree 13,033, granting authorities the power to freeze funds held by unregistered operators and transfer them to the National Public Security Fund. Across Africa, Uganda implements a 30 percent gross gaming revenue tax alongside a 15 percent withholding tax on player winnings starting July 1, requiring all transactions to route through a mandatory state payment gateway in a market where GDP per capita stands at $724. Tanzania introduces a 5 percent excise duty on all wagers, covering both land-based and online platforms, effective with the July 1 financial year.Bangladesh replaces its 1867 colonial gambling statute with the Gambling Prevention Act 2026, which criminalizes the organization, promotion, and technical support of unauthorized gambling activities. In Europe, the UK Gambling Commission issued a warning to Spribe regarding its licensing status between May 28, 2021, and October 30, 2025, though the developer retains permission to operate within the British market.
Estonia reduced its gambling tax rate from 6 percent to 4 percent, resulting in only two new license applications. Meanwhile, Armenia revoked the operating license of Shangri La, the nation’s largest casino, following an inspection that identified falsified revenue records for March 2026.