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The UK Gambling Commission has released the third annual Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB), providing a detailed overview of gambling participation, attitudes, experiences and consequences across the country during 2025. The latest findings indicate that overall gambling activity remained largely unchanged from previous years, while the proportion of respondents classified as problem gamblers recorded a slight year-on-year decline.

Produced by the National Centre for Social Research and the University of Glasgow on behalf of the regulator, the survey gathered responses from 20,775 adults across Great Britain. Fieldwork took place between January 2025 and January 2026, making this edition one of the largest gambling-focused studies conducted internationally. According to the Commission, the survey now offers three consecutive years of official data covering the period from 2023 through 2025, allowing analysts to examine longer-term developments in gambling behavior.

The report found that 47% of adults aged 18 and older had participated in some form of gambling during the four weeks preceding the survey. This compares with 48% in the previous edition, indicating little movement in overall participation levels. When individuals who only played National Lottery draws are excluded, participation stood at 27%, a figure that also remained consistent with previous surveys.

Problem Gambling Measure Remains Broadly Unchanged

One of the most closely watched findings concerns the share of respondents recording a Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) score of eight or higher. The latest survey placed that figure at 2.4% in 2025, compared with 2.7% reported in the previous year’s results. The Commission described the measure as stable across the three-year period, noting that the first GSGB publication reported a rate of 2.5%.

The regulator also highlighted that comparisons with other gambling-related studies should be approached carefully because of methodological differences. Public discussion often references the NHS estimate of a 0.7% problem gambling rate, but the Commission noted that the GSGB uses a different approach and measurement framework.

The GSGB follows a “push-to-web” model. Researchers initially contact potential participants through offline methods before directing them to complete questionnaires online. This differs from the methodology commonly used in NHS Health Surveys.

Tim Miller, Executive Director for Research and Policy at the Gambling Commission, said: “The publication of the third annual Gambling Survey for Great Britain marks an important milestone.”

He added: “Three years of GSGB provides a richer, more timely picture of the trend in gambling in Great Britain than has previously been available. It helps us understand not only who gambles and the products they use, but also why people gamble, the range of experiences they have, and the consequences gambling can have in people’s lives. This evidence is a vital part of a wider evidence base that informs policy, regulation and wider public discussion.”

Motivations for Gambling and Public Attitudes

The latest edition introduced additional insight into why people choose to gamble. Among those who participated in gambling activities, 84% cited the possibility of winning a large sum of money as a reason for taking part. Gambling being enjoyable was selected by 69% of respondents, while 57% said making money influenced their participation. A further 53% pointed to excitement as a motivating factor.

The survey also examined how gamblers viewed their own activity. According to the findings, 78% of gamblers described their feelings toward gambling as either positive or neutral, suggesting that most participants did not associate their gambling experiences with negative sentiment.

Beyond the headline figures, analysts identified several demographic patterns emerging from the data. Helen Bryce, the Commission’s Head of Statistics, noted that one trend observed across the three years of available data was increasing gambling participation among men aged 55 and older.

Impact on Families and Wider Communities

The survey also explored the experiences of people affected by another person’s gambling. Among all respondents, 43.2% reported having someone close to them who gambled. Of those individuals, 3.3% said they had sought some form of support related to the effects of another person’s gambling behavior.

Among people who had gambled during the previous 12 months, slightly less than 6% reported that they had lied to family members at least occasionally about their gambling activities. The most commonly reported serious consequence linked to someone else’s gambling was relationship breakdown, which affected 3.3% of respondents.

The Commission stated that the growing focus on “affected others” has become an increasingly important part of discussions surrounding gambling-related harm, making these findings particularly relevant for policymakers and researchers.

Miller said: “We encourage researchers, policymakers, industry and the wider public to make use of these findings alongside the interactive dashboard and supplementary reports. As with all official statistics, we remain committed to ensuring GSGB continues to meet the highest standards through transparency, independent scrutiny and ongoing methodological improvement.”

The regulator indicated that additional reports drawing on the 2025 GSGB dataset will be published throughout the year, providing further analysis of gambling participation, experiences and related outcomes across Great Britain.

A new report from Singapore’s Auditor-General’s Office (AGO) has identified a range of regulatory and governance shortcomings across several public sector bodies, including failures that allowed excluded individuals and casino employees to access gambling facilities despite restrictions designed to prevent such activity.

Published on July 15, the Report of the Auditor-General for the Financial Year 2025/26 reviewed government financial statements along with the accounts and operations of multiple statutory boards, government-owned companies and public entities. Among the most notable findings, according to The Straits Times, were weaknesses in gambling-related controls overseen by the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA), alongside procurement, staffing and levy-related issues involving several ministries.

The audit found that weaknesses in monitoring and screening processes resulted in hundreds of breaches involving casinos and online gambling services between April 2023 and March 2025.

Audit Finds Hundreds of Gambling-Related Breaches

According to the AGO, a total of 419 gambling-related lapses were identified during the review period. These included incidents involving excluded individuals, casino employees subject to gambling prohibitions, and Singapore Pools account holders who should not have been permitted to gamble remotely.

The largest category involved 194 casino special employees who entered one of Singapore’s two integrated resorts despite licensing conditions intended to prevent them from gambling. Under the Casino Control Act 2006, special employees include personnel performing gaming-related duties such as dealers, slot attendants and managers.

The audit found that these employees entered casinos through public access routes on 1,628 occasions between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2025. Investigators noted indicators suggesting gambling or gaming activity may have occurred during some of those visits.

The analysis showed that some employees visited casinos repeatedly, with individual visit counts ranging from one to as many as 148. The cumulative duration of certain visits reached between 11 and 34 hours.

In response, the GRA instructed casino operators at Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa to remind employees about their obligations. The regulator also said it would reinforce these requirements during town hall sessions scheduled for the second half of 2026 and conduct targeted data-driven checks by June 2027.

Excluded Persons Accessed Casinos and Online Betting Services

The audit also highlighted failures involving people who had been formally barred from gambling activities.

During the two-year review period, 120 individuals subject to exclusion orders were able to enter Singapore’s casinos despite restrictions intended to prevent access. Of those cases, 107 were reported by casino operators to the GRA after the entries occurred. Those individuals collectively entered casinos 1,100 times while under exclusion orders.

The remaining 13 individuals entered casinos 108 times without being reported. The audit found that these cases involved people who used identification details that differed from those recorded in exclusion databases.

The AGO also identified 26 individuals who were permitted to enter casinos even though they had already exceeded their monthly casino visit limits. Together, they recorded 102 visits beyond their permitted thresholds.

Further weaknesses emerged in online gambling controls. The audit discovered that 79 Singapore Pools accounts belonging to excluded persons remained active when they should have been closed. During the review period, excluded account holders placed 1,358 online bets worth S$75,800.

The AGO attributed these failures to a combination of data migration problems, incomplete screening logic and other system issues affecting automated checks. According to the report, the GRA and the Ministry of Social and Family Development stated that the identified system errors had been corrected by February 2026.

The report also noted that the GRA had begun investigating potential regulatory offences involving excluded individuals who gained access to gambling services.

The AGO said its findings were intended to improve accountability and strengthen financial governance across Singapore’s public sector, while the affected agencies have committed to corrective measures addressing the identified weaknesses.

South Korean authorities have referred a man in his 30s to prosecutors after extraditing him from the United Arab Emirates in connection with an illegal online gambling operation that investigators say handled wagers totaling KRW10.3 trillion (7.5 billion U.S. dollars).

The Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency’s Metropolitan Crime Investigation Unit announced on July 15 that the suspect, identified only as A, faces charges that include operating illegal gambling platforms. His return marked the first time he had been brought back to South Korea in more than a decade after allegedly remaining overseas while authorities pursued members of the wider organization.

Investigators said the gambling network generated approximately KRW26 billion in criminal proceeds during its operation. Police believe A personally received around KRW6 billion from those earnings.

Gambling Operations Spanned Several Countries

According to police findings, A allegedly operated online gambling sites using servers located in the Philippines from December 2013 through August 2017. During that period, authorities estimate that the sites processed roughly KRW1.3 trillion in wagers.

The investigation also found that between April 2021 and December 2023, A supplied gambling game credits, commonly referred to as game money, to more than 1,400 illegal gambling sites operating within South Korea. Authorities said those credits facilitated additional unlawful betting activity and accounted for approximately KRW9 trillion in wagering volume.

When combined, police determined that gambling activities connected to A and his organization reached a total wagering value of about KRW10.3 trillion. The organization allegedly earned around KRW26 billion through those operations.

Authorities stated that several members of the organization who had returned to South Korea were arrested while the gambling business was still operating abroad. As law enforcement pressure increased, A allegedly shifted parts of the operation from the Philippines to Malaysia and Cambodia.

Police also accused him of obtaining and using fraudulent passports from other countries while moving between locations in Southeast Asia. Investigators believe these actions helped him avoid detection and evade international law enforcement efforts for years.

International Cooperation Led to Arrest

South Korean authorities ultimately located and apprehended A through international cooperation involving multiple government agencies and foreign law enforcement partners.

The arrest was conducted with assistance from the Pan-Government Joint Transnational Crime Special Response Task Force, an initiative that brings together agencies including the National Police Agency, the Ministry of Justice, and the National Intelligence Service to address organized crime operating across borders.

Working alongside authorities in the United Arab Emirates, the task force secured A‘s arrest in the UAE. He was then repatriated to South Korea through Incheon International Airport on July 4.

Police described the suspect as a major supplier within the country’s illegal online gambling ecosystem. Investigators said he provided game credits to a large number of domestic gambling platforms, helping sustain illegal betting activity across the country.

A police official cited by The Chosun Daily stated, “A was a top supplier in the online illegal gambling sector, providing game money to over 1,400 domestic gambling sites. We plan to pursue pre-indictment seizure and collection of his criminal proceeds and dismantle domestic subordinate organizations in the future.”

Investigation Expands to Wider Network

Authorities indicated that the case remains active and that further enforcement measures are expected. Investigators plan to seek confiscation and preservation of assets believed to be connected to the alleged criminal proceeds generated by the gambling network.

Police also signaled that attention will now turn to individuals and groups linked to the broader operation inside South Korea. Officials said they intend to identify operators and members of smaller domestic gambling sites that received game credits or otherwise participated in the network.

Another police official said, “We will push for confiscation and collection preservation of A’s criminal proceeds before prosecution and expand the investigation to operators and members of domestic lower gambling sites.”

Authorities view the case as a significant action against a cross-border gambling enterprise that operated across several jurisdictions while serving a large network of illegal gambling sites within South Korea. The investigation has highlighted the role of international cooperation in locating and extraditing suspects accused of organizing large-scale online gambling activities from overseas bases.

Entain plc, the operator behind Ladbrokes and Coral, has confirmed plans to cut approximately 500 positions, representing around 2% of its global workforce. The decision comes as the company implements a broader efficiency initiative under the direction of newly appointed CFO Michael Snape.

A spokesperson stated, “As part of our ongoing focus on enhancing Entain’s operational efficiency and agility, we have begun implementing organisational changes which will regrettably impact a number of roles across the group over the months ahead. These changes will help make Entain a stronger, better business and are a demonstration of our strategic focus on maximising shareholder value.”

The reductions will affect corporate functions, including people, finance, and governance, as well as the product and technology teams. Entain emphasized that these measures are part of a strategic efficiency programme rather than a direct response to recent UK tax increases.

Tax Pressures and Industry Context

The cuts follow higher UK Remote Gaming Duty rates, which rose from 21% to 40% in April 2026. According to Reuters, these changes are projected to increase annual costs for operators by around £200 million. While some in the industry have warned that higher taxes could push consumers to unlicensed platforms, Entain insists the layoffs are primarily aimed at operational streamlining.

Grainne Hurst, CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council, previously highlighted that higher taxes risk handing illegal gambling operators a competitive advantage, as they lack consumer protections, age verification, and tax obligations. Entain has been among the companies actively seeking ways to offset these additional costs through cost-saving measures and strategic asset sales.

In late June, Entain agreed to sell a 20% stake in its Central and Eastern European business to EMMA Capital for approximately €425 million. The phased exit from the region is intended to reduce debt and strengthen the company’s financial position.

The group’s total debt stood at £3.64 billion at the end of 2025, with a market capitalization of £3.68 billion, slightly above net debt. Recent declines in share price, now down 40% over the past year, underscore the pressure on the business to maintain growth and profitability.

Industry Response and Future Outlook

The broader UK gambling industry has seen similar measures in response to higher taxation. Flutter Entertainment, owner of Paddy Power and Betfair, implemented layoffs affecting marketing teams earlier this year. Marketing budgets have also been reduced across multiple operators in anticipation of increased regulatory costs.

Entain’s headcount reduction, alongside asset sales and other cost-saving initiatives, is designed to enhance the group’s operational efficiency while maintaining its competitive presence in the global gambling market. The company is consulting with affected employees to provide support during the transition.

Entain is set to publish its Q2 and H1 results on 13 August, which will likely provide further insight into the financial impact of tax hikes, job cuts, and regional exits.

New Jersey sportsbooks experienced unprecedented betting activity in June 2026, with total wagers reaching $917.2 million, up 16% from the same month last year. This represents the largest June handle in the state’s history. Despite the surge in betting volume, sportsbooks retained only $57.3 million, reflecting a hold rate of 6.24%, nearly half the 11.62% seen in June 2025. Consequently, the state’s tax intake slipped to $12.45 million, down from $13.1 million in June 2025, even with the 19.75% online gambling tax rate introduced in 2025.

Analysts attribute this unusual collapse in revenue to the FIFA World Cup, which began on June 11, 2026. The expanded 48-team tournament created an influx of betting action, with heavy wagers on favorites in group-stage matches. The results favored bettors, and sportsbooks paid out large volumes quickly.

Online Casinos Outperform Land-Based Properties

While sportsbooks struggled to maintain revenue, online casinos in New Jersey saw continued growth. Across 28 active online skins, gross gaming revenue reached $271 million in June, a 17.5% increase from $230.7 million the previous year. The state collected $60.4 million in taxes from internet gaming alone, nearly double the combined tax haul from land-based casinos and sports betting.

FanDuel Casino, operating through the Golden Nugget, generated $62.5 million in June, up 17.2% from June 2025. DraftKings Casino posted $47.1 million (+8%), with BetMGM rising 17.3% to $35.4 million. Other high-performing platforms included Hard Rock Bet at $18.7 million (+38.8%) and BetFanatics at $13.7 million, up an exceptional 276.9%.

In contrast, Atlantic City’s nine land-based casinos reported a slight decrease in revenue, with a combined win of $257.3 million, down 0.7% from June 2025. Borgata remained the top earner at $72.2 million, followed by Hard Rock at $46.2 million and Ocean at $43.5 million. According to New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement’s official report, table games revenue declined 6.4% overall, while slot revenue grew 1.7%.

Sportsbooks Struggle Despite Record Handle

Despite a record $917 million in total wagers, New Jersey sportsbooks retained a significantly smaller portion of those bets. The overall hold rate dropped to 6.24%, compared with the year-to-date average of 8.9%, largely due to high payouts on World Cup matches and NBA Finals action. Online betting accounted for $891.9 million of the total handle, while retail accounted for just $25.3 million.

The low hold illustrates the difference between betting volume and actual profits. With a higher number of casual and lapsed bettors entering the market for the World Cup, sportsbooks faced high-risk payouts that quickly depleted potential revenue. Analysts note, however, that this surge in active players could have long-term benefits for operators, as newly engaged bettors may remain active post-tournament.

Looking ahead, the tournament’s knockout rounds will likely present more balanced matchups, potentially allowing sportsbooks to recover hold percentages in July. Historically, these stages result in more upsets, breaking heavily favored parlays and increasing operator margins.

Rank Group Plc, owner of Grosvenor Casinos, Mecca Bingo, and Spain’s Enracha Casinos, has confirmed a round of staff reductions as it adjusts to the UK government’s increased Remote Gaming Duty (RGD). The duty, which rose from 21% to 40% in April 2026 following the 2025 Autumn Budget, has prompted operators to implement cost-saving measures across their businesses. While the company has not disclosed exact numbers, the reductions are part of wider efforts to protect profitability and maintain growth.

Richard Harris, now permanent CEO, highlighted that the RGD increase presented “significant cost and taxation headwinds,” and Rank has sought to offset this through headcount reductions, lower marketing spend, and supplier cost optimization. Harris added, “Our expected profit outturn for the year reflects the progress we have made in executing our plan for growth, despite the significant cost and taxation headwinds that we have incurred during the year.”

Financial Performance Amid Regulatory Pressure

Despite the tax pressures, Rank Group anticipates record net gaming revenue (NGR) of £834.1 million for the year ending June 30, 2026, surpassing 2025 figures by 6%. The firm’s online division performed strongly, with like-for-like NGR up 12% in the fourth quarter, while Grosvenor Casinos posted £397.3 million for the year and Mecca Bingo recorded £143.0 million. Spain’s Enracha Casinos achieved £45.3 million, up 7% year-on-year, although it faced a €7.1 million payment fraud incident in December 2025.

The company has also reported that gaming machine revenues at Grosvenor grew 12% in the fourth quarter, bolstered by the addition of over 850 new machines in the first half of the year, following a UK legislative change allowing more on-site gaming terminals, reports City AM.

Rank Group is also addressing compliance matters with the UK Gambling Commission. The company has submitted a £5 million settlement proposal in lieu of a formal financial penalty related to historical regulatory failings at Grosvenor Casinos between November 2024 and May 2025. The Commission is said to be “minded to accept the settlement proposal,” with formal documentation expected to follow.

The settlement, coupled with internal cost efficiencies and strategic measures, aims to allow Rank to navigate regulatory pressures while sustaining investments in digital platforms and customer loyalty programs. The firm has confirmed that promotional offers and player incentives will continue to support user engagement.

Strategic Measures and Outlook

Rank has pursued additional initiatives to maintain operational resilience, including a review of corporate functions and careful management of marketing investments. The company expects underlying operating profit for the year to reach at least £76 million, exceeding prior market projections of £63.7 million.

Harris reaffirmed the medium-term target of achieving £100 million in operating profit, underscoring that the company’s actions, including staff reductions, were intended to strengthen operational efficiency and shareholder value rather than simply respond to tax pressures.

The company is set to publish its full preliminary results for the 2025/26 financial year later this summer, offering a clearer picture of how these strategies are translating into financial performance.

Evolution, the leading live casino supplier, posted its second consecutive quarter of declining revenue for 2026, reporting net revenue of €517.8 million for Q2, down 1.2% year-on-year from €524.3 million. EBITDA reached €341.0 million, maintaining a margin of 65.9%, while net profit edged up slightly to €251.4 million. Earnings per share increased to €1.27.

Despite the modest decline, CEO Martin Carlesund emphasized improvements compared to Q1, citing stronger cost control, improved cash flow, and growth in key markets. “Revenue and margin are moving in the right direction compared to the first quarter, cost control remains strong, cash flow is improving, and we continue to expand in key markets while executing on our product roadmap,” Carlesund said.

Regional Performance Highlights

Europe saw a return to quarter-on-quarter growth of 3.5%, recovering from earlier weakness, supported by game show titles and native-speaking tables. Latin America continued its strong momentum, achieving 26.3% year-on-year growth, driven by the reopening of Evolution’s studio in Argentina and a localized release of Ice Fishing in Brazil. North America also grew 9.5%, aided by the rollout of Monopoly Live across four US states and a second Michigan studio, while Asia remained volatile, with revenue declining 3.7% due to cybercrime impacts. As published in the company’s official report, Africa showed underlying growth of 14.2%, reinforcing Evolution’s strength in both live and RNG offerings.

The company highlighted the continued success of recent product launches. Ice Fishing has become one of Evolution’s strongest performers, alongside Monopoly Roulette and Monopoly Roll’em, part of the Hasbro partnership.

Galaxy Gaming Acquisition Reaches Contractual Deadline

A key strategic development is Evolution’s long-running proposed acquisition of Galaxy Gaming. Originally announced in July 2024, the deal faced prolonged regulatory review and was extended in November 2025 to July 17, 2026. Carlesund noted that the contractual outside date has now passed, allowing either party to terminate the agreement.

“Two years have passed, and Evolution has spent significant time, effort and resources handling the rather large amount of administration required to close this acquisition. Galaxy is a great company; however, due to its size, the transaction is not significant for Evolution. The outcome has no material impact on our existing business, our US operations or our long-term ambitions,” Carlesund said, as reported by G3 Newswire.

While neither company has formally terminated the deal, Carlesund indicated that Evolution is prepared to move on if regulatory approvals are not completed, signaling a potential end to the two-year saga. Analysts suggest the prolonged UK and US regulatory review, alongside Galaxy’s share price trading below the agreed acquisition value, contributed to the delays.

Earlier this week, Evolution resolved a licensing review with the UK Gambling Commission, agreeing to a £4.75 million settlement. The review concerned the availability of Evolution content on six unlicensed UK-facing websites. Carlesund emphasized the matter was resolved professionally and found no broader pattern of unlicensed access.

Federal regulators are investigating allegations that a longtime White House aide used advance access to President Donald Trump’s prepared remarks to place successful wagers on an online prediction market, a case that has drawn scrutiny from both government officials and the platform involved.

The investigation centers on Gabriel Perez, who has operated Trump’s teleprompter since the president’s first campaign in 2016. According to reports citing sources familiar with the matter, Perez allegedly earned more than $100,000 by trading on speech-related contracts offered by prediction market platform Kalshi. The trades reportedly involved wagers on whether certain words, topics, or phrases would be mentioned during presidential appearances.

The White House confirmed Thursday that Perez has been removed from his duties while the matter is reviewed. Officials described the situation as a violation of the ethical standards expected of administration personnel.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president had been informed about the allegations and reacted strongly after learning of them. She described the situation as “unfortunate” and “a disgrace.”

A White House spokesperson also emphasized the administration’s ethics policies, stating, “The White House has strict ethics guidelines that we expect all staffers and officials to follow.”

Regulators Examine Speech-Related Trading Activity

The reported activity came to light after Kalshi identified unusual trading patterns in its “Mentions” market, which allows participants to speculate on whether specific terms will be spoken during public speeches.

According to sources cited in reports, federal investigators with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) reviewed wagers linked to more than a dozen Trump appearances over a three-month period. The speeches allegedly included a primetime address delivered in December, remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, a Medal of Honor ceremony in March, and the president’s State of the Union address earlier in the year.

Investigators reportedly concluded that Perez had access to information unavailable to ordinary market participants because of his role in preparing teleprompter content. Sources indicated that he often reviewed presidential remarks shortly before delivery and sometimes received last-minute edits directly from Trump.

The inquiry also reportedly found instances in which Perez adjusted or exited trades while speeches were underway. Investigators allegedly observed occasions when he changed positions after Trump departed from prepared remarks and skipped language that had appeared in the teleprompter script.

Trump himself has frequently acknowledged his tendency to move away from prepared text while speaking publicly.

“You know, when you go up here, you take a big chance, especially me because I go off teleprompter about 80% of the time,” Trump said during remarks to the Detroit Economic Club in January.

Kalshi Reported Activity to Federal Authorities

Kalshi stated that it identified the suspicious transactions internally before referring the matter to regulators.

“Our surveillance team promptly flagged and referred these trades to the CFTC, and we are cooperating and assisting regulators,” Kalshi Head of Enforcement Robert DeNault said.

The company later explained that its monitoring systems detected trading patterns that differed from normal market behavior. Kalshi said market makers also raised concerns, leading to a deeper review. According to reports, the platform discovered that the account holder worked for the federal government as a teleprompter operator.

Kalshi reportedly froze the account and restricted access to more than $90,000 connected to the trades while investigators reviewed the matter.

The company maintains policies prohibiting users from trading on information acquired through their employment. It recently strengthened compliance requirements by requiring users to disclose their workplace information.

DeNault previously explained the principle behind those rules, saying, “If you have information by virtue of your job or your employment, something that you have a legal duty surrounding, and you have an obligation not to take that, misappropriate it for yourself.”

Settlement Discussions Reportedly Underway

Reports indicate that Perez has met with regulators and acknowledged at least some of the trading activity during interviews with investigators. Sources familiar with the matter cited by ABC News said federal prosecutors in Manhattan were notified during the review but declined to pursue a criminal case.

The CFTC is reportedly discussing a potential settlement that could require Perez to surrender profits linked to the trades and agree not to engage in similar activity in the future.

The investigation arrives as prediction markets face growing attention from lawmakers and regulators. In March, the White House circulated an internal memo warning staff members against using nonpublic information to participate in prediction markets. Additional restrictions followed elsewhere in government, including a Senate ban on staff participation in such trading activities.

Recent enforcement actions have also focused on alleged insider trading involving event contracts. The Department of Justice has brought cases against a U.S. special forces soldier accused of using sensitive information to trade on contracts related to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and a Google employee accused of trading based on internal search data. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty.

The controversy also emerges amid continuing debate over prediction markets in the United States. Trump has expressed mixed views on the industry, criticizing the concept at times while also arguing that the country risks falling behind if companies such as Kalshi and Polymarket are prevented from operating.

“Well the whole world, unfortunately, has become somewhat of a casino, and you look at what’s going on all over the world in Europe and every place they’re doing these betting things. I was never much in favor of it. I don’t like it conceptually, but it is what it is,” Trump told reporters.

Coin of Lightning 2 is the latest release from TaDa Gaming.

Zeus returns with a new jackpot wheel in play

TaDa Gaming has taken its returning Greek-mythology coin collector back to Mount Olympus, going live with Coin of Lightning 2 on July 2, 2026. The sequel arrives roughly a year after the original Coin of Lightning, a title the previously flagged as a retention driver in markets such as Italy.

keeps the Zeus-and-thunder theme but reworks how top prizes are distributed

The headline addition is the trademarked Power of Wheel feature, making its debut in this release. Built on a five-reel, three-row grid with 20 fixed paylines, the game keeps the Zeus-and-thunder theme but reworks how top prizes are distributed.

TaDa is distributing the title globally in more than 15 languages and over 100 currencies, positioning it for the same broad operator rollout as its recent Hit the Cash entries.

How the collection loop reshapes the payout flow

Coin of Lightning 2 runs on a cash-collection structure that builds value across the first four rounds before a fifth-reel collect symbol gathers everything at once. That design front-loads anticipation into the base game rather than gating the largest rewards behind a separate free-spins round, a familiar rhythm for players who followed the original.

the feature stacks multiple win chances within a single round

The Power of Wheel engine changes the ceiling. When the collection bonus triggers alongside the Power of Wheel coin, the wheel spins across ten segments carrying Grand and Major jackpots, plus Minor, Mini, and bet-multiplier values, converting the triggering coin into whatever prize lands. Because additional Power of Wheel coins can appear on subsequent spins, the feature stacks multiple win chances within a single round.

Supporting modifiers add texture without overhauling the loop. Blue Lightning instantly collects standard coin and jackpot prizes, the Purple Expand variant covers a full reel with coins, green and orange split mechanics multiply individual coins, and a red respin locks coins for one more spin. With a medium-volatility profile and a 3,000x max win, the math sits in accessible territory rather than the extreme-variance zone. In selected jurisdictions, Extra Bet and Bonus Buy options let players upgrade the wheel or jump straight into the feature.

A trademarked feature slots into a busy release calendar

The launch reflects TaDa’s strategy of iterating on proven performers while attaching a new proprietary mechanic. Sean Liu, Director of Product Management, said the game “builds on a proven player favourite game while adding genuine novelty with our trademarked Power of Wheel™ bonus feature,” adding that the layer:

delivers retention for operators while the randomly triggered bonus feature keeps players engaged and on high alert.”

Coin of Lightning 2 lands amid a dense output stretch that has also seen Supernova Galaxy, Lucky Cerol 500, and Ottoman Treasures reach players in the same period. For an emerging studio expanding across Latin America, Africa, and Europe, the Power of Wheel debut signals a template the developer can carry into future Hit the Cash titles as it continues scaling its distribution footprint.

Tasty Bonanza Max Scatter is the latest release from Booming Games.

Max Scatter symbols turn the trigger itself into the top prize

Booming Games has added Tasty Bonanza Max Scatter to its catalog, the second entry in the studio’s Max Scatter series and a candy-themed cascade slot built around instant scatter payouts. The release wraps a familiar sweets aesthetic around a scatter-pays grid where wins form when eight or more matching symbols land anywhere on screen.

can award instant prizes ranging from 100x when one lands alongside at least three scatters

What separates this title from the wave of similar cascade slots is the Max Scatter symbol itself. Rather than serving only as a trigger, these symbols can award instant prizes ranging from 100x when one lands alongside at least three scatters, up to the full 15,000x maximum when four Max Scatters combine with four or more scatters.

An instant-win route that can skip the bonus round

The core hook reshapes how the top prize is delivered. In most cascade slots, the largest payouts arrive only after the free spins round builds through accumulated multipliers. Here, the Max Scatter engine can hand out the ceiling directly from the base game, and if the maximum win is awarded through Max Scatters, the free spins are forfeited entirely.

a single combination can resolve the whole session

That design adds tension to every spin outside the bonus, since a single combination can resolve the whole session. When the free spins do arrive, triggered by four or more scatters for 10 spins, random multipliers between 2x and 100x land on special reels. These values stay in place until a cascade sequence ends, then combine and apply to that chain’s total win, a compounding structure that suits the game’s high-volatility profile and 96% RTP.

Players can lean into the features through the BOOST+ side bet, which raises the stake by 25% to improve bonus-trigger frequency, or buy in directly. The standard Bonus Buy costs 100x, while a Super Buy at 500x seeds starting multipliers between 15x and 100x.

A franchise strategy built on iterating top performers

The release fits a clear pattern in Booming Games’ 2026 output. The studio has leaned heavily on extending its best-performing lines, recently launching Booming Buffalo Hold and Win Extreme 25,000 and Sacred Buffalo within its buffalo series, alongside second entries in franchises such as Greedy for Gold. Tasty Bonanza Max Scatter continues that approach as the second title carrying the Max Scatter name.

a great example of how we’re innovating within one of our top-performing franchises,”

Director of Games Craig Asling framed the launch in those terms, saying the game “is a great example of how we’re innovating within one of our top-performing franchises,” adding that the new Max Scatter mechanics target “players looking for top-quality entertainment and high-stakes gameplay.”

For US players, the slot is available at social casino MegaBonanza, where it can be played using Gold Coins or Sweeps Coins.