The Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) operating under Brazil's Ministry of Finance has announced a directive requiring licensed operators to include .bet in their domain names, a decision aimed at distinguishing legal gambling platforms from unlicensed offshore competitors.

The decision to implement this requirement followed deliberations within the secretariat regarding whether operators should add .bet or .bets to their URLs. By mandating this change, the SPA intends to enhance transparency for players, ensuring they engage in gambling activities with authorized operators. Moreover, this directive will improve regulatory oversight, enabling authorities to promptly identify irregularities and enforce necessary actions.

This URL mandate forms part of a broader spectrum of measures proposed by the Ministry of Finance to revamp . These measures include stringent payment regulations and the prohibition of betting incentives. Notably, restrictions have been placed on payment methods, ruling out cash, credit cards, bank transfers, and cryptocurrencies for bettig purposes. Instead, bettors are required to fund their accounts exclusively through electronic transfers like Pix, TED, debit cards, or prepaid cards.

Furthermore, recent guidelines have barred gambling operators from offering any form of bonuses or advantages, even for promotional purposes, in response to integrity concerns. Additionally, a prior regulation mandated operators to engage with integrity monitoring bodies such as the International Betting Integrity Authority (IBIA), leading to collaborations with entities like Yolo Group, KTO, Oddin, and Galera.bet.

The Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) was established under the Ministry of Finance on January 31, 2024. It will comprise three sub-secretariats tasked with various functions including regulating the betting market, overseeing issues like corruption and money laundering, evaluating operator authorization requests, monitoring tax collection, and handling administrative sanctions. Additionally, the SPA has appointed as its first President, as confirmed by the .

AC Milan and TG.Casino have joined forces in a new partnership, solidifying the online casino platform as the Official Regional iGaming Partner of the Rossoneri across Europe. The collaboration aims to revolutionize the iGaming industry landscape and enhance fan engagement for football enthusiasts.

By aligning with TG.Casino, a pioneering Telegram-based crypto casino, AC Milan opens up a realm of exclusive opportunities for fans and $TGC token holders. From visits to the Milanello training centre to winning official AC Milan jerseys and enjoying VIP access at the iconic San Siro stadium, supporters can look forward to immersive experiences like never before.

Dean Akinjobi, CEO of Football Media, lauded the partnership as a crucial move for TG.Casino's growth trajectory. Through innovative activation strategies, the alliance seeks to bridge the worlds of Web 3.0, igaming, and tokenisation, offering a unique convergence of technology and sports entertainment.

This collaboration underscores the rising trend of crypto and football partnerships, with and TG.Casino setting a new standard in engaging diverse audiences. Capitalising on Telegram's expansive reach and tailored marketing endeavours, the duo aims to drive the igaming sector to unprecedented heights while enriching the fan experience. The fusion of crypto and football has grown steadily in recent years, with clubs like Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund leading the way with partnerships in the field of cryptocurrency.

In other recent news, AC Milan midfielder , currently on loan to Newcastle United, received a suspended two-month ban and a £20,000 fine from the English Football Association for breaching betting regulations. This penalty comes in addition to a 10-month suspension imposed by the Italian Football Federation for similar offenses. Tonali, known for his talent and troubled by a gambling addiction, bet on multiple football matches, including games involving his own team. Despite facing setbacks, he has actively sought help for his addiction.

The Swedish government has recently proposed to discontinue the Casino Cosmopol land-based casino business of state-owned operator Svenska Spel. In a memorandum filed on 7th May 2024, the government stated that Casino Cosmopol “no longer fulfils its purpose” and highlighted the ongoing challenges for the business to reach profitability.

The government does not anticipate the proposed closure to have any “major impact” on illegal gambling in Sweden. If the measure passes, a condition in for the right to operate land-based casinos would be removed. Consequently, e, located in Stockholm. The closure, expected to occur on or before 1 January 2026, would impact approximately 200 jobs.

Svenska Spel has acknowledged the struggles of Casino Cosmopol. The company shares the government’s assessment of reasons for closure, noting the lack of opportunity to reach profitability as visitor numbers fall with more people opting to gamble online.

Svenska Spel once operated four casino locations in Sweden. The first to close was the casino in Sundsvall in 2020. More recently, the company announced the permanent closure of its casinos in Gothenburg and Malmö due to limited profitability. The decision was announced in January of this year.

Svenska Spel CEO Erik Strand stated, “The movement from gambling in land-based casinos to gambling online accelerated after the reregulation of the gambling market in 2019 and the subsequent pandemic, when Casino Cosmopol remained closed.” He added, “We share the assessment that it is no longer possible to run Casino Cosmopol profitably.”

CEO Ola Enquist also accepted the news but described the move as an “end of an era”. He said, “Although we share the government’s assessment, it is emotional to take part in the bill. If it is adopted, it means that our last casino is closing and that an era is over.”

Recent financial results published by Svenska Spel show where Casino Cosmopol sits compared to its other businesses. In 2023, the Casino Cosmopol and Vegas arm posted a 12.0 percent drop in revenue to SEK942m (£69.3m/€80.7 million/$86.9 million). This decline was attributed to a decrease in casino visitors in response to the rising popularity of online casino gaming.

In contrast, Svenska Spel reported growth elsewhere. Revenue from the Tur lottery division climbed 0.6% higher at SEK4.92bn, while revenue from Sport & Casino was up 4.6 percent to SEK2.17 billion. Looking at net gaming revenue per sales channel, casino revenue fell 11.4 percent to SEK473million, while the online sector saw revenue grow 7.2 percent to SEK4.20 billion.

As for the most recent quarter, the closure of the two casino sites hit the Casino Cosmopol & Vegas segment, with revenue down 31.6 percent to SEK169 million. In addition to the closures, the group also reduced the operating hours of its remaining Stockholm venue.

In addition to these challenges, Casino Cosmopol has faced regulatory issues in recent months. In December, the casino was fined SEK2m for anti-money laundering failings after a probe by Swedish regulator Spelinspektionen. Svenska Spel was also warned over the matter.

In a recentreport, the spotlight was cast on the expanding sports betting industry in America. While the industry is experiencing unprecedented growth and profitability, an alarming rise in gambling disorders shadows these successes. Since the Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling, , with six more considering its legalization. This means that over two-thirds of American adults, approximately 164 million people, now reside in a legal sports-betting market.

The American Gaming Association’s report on the industry’s financial performance for 2023 revealed record-breaking revenues for the third consecutive year. The total revenue from reached $66.52 billion, marking a 10 percent increase from the previous record set in 2022.

The sports betting boom is propelled by strategic partnerships involving celebrity influencers, professional sports sponsorships, and media outlets, including television networks, radio, and online platforms. Advertising and marketing campaigns are omnipresent, saturating airwaves and social media sites. Commercials often showcase “risk-free” bets, with former athletes endorsing gambling companies. The advent of online apps has made gambling more accessible than ever. Virtually all betting can now be done from a smartphone. The most popular and straightforward form of sports wager is the money line bet, which is placed on the outcome of a game, match, or race, without any point spread or other factors involved.

Despite the increasing legality and popularity of sports betting, the incidence of gambling disorders is reaching an all-time high. The National Council on Problem Gambling estimates that about 2.5 million adults in the U.S. are severely addicted to gambling, with another four to six million people experiencing mild to moderate gambling problems.

Pathological or “compulsive” gambling is recognized as a diagnosable mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association and the American Medical Association. It is characterized by an obsession with wagers, an inability to cut down or stop, gambling beyond one’s means, borrowing money to finance the habit, or chasing losses by betting more. Like any other addictive condition, a gambling disorder can have severe impacts on a person’s physical and mental health. Newsweek reported last year that the ease of access to new gambling options has corresponded with an increased risk of serious gambling problems, including addiction. This issue appears to disproportionately affect young male adults. Compulsive gambling habits can lead to escalating loans, credit card debt, and pressure to borrow or steal. Alarmingly, among addiction disorders, gambling has a comparatively high suicide attempt rate.

Several state-wide surveys have shown increased numbers in the incidence and prevalence of gambling disorders since 2018. Nearly every state in the U.S. has seen increased demand in recent years for treatment services related to problems caused by gambling.

Currently, there is no federal funding to treat gambling disorders. However, Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut is advocating for change. In January, he introduced the Gambling Addiction Recovery, Investment, and Treatment Act, which allocates federal funds to help prevent, treat, and study gambling addiction.

Senator Blumenthal is not alone in his efforts. Congressman Paul Tonko of New York was the first lawmaker to formally raise concerns when he introduced the Betting on our Future Act last year. This legislation would ban all online and electronic advertising of sports gambling.

Tonko asserts that ads pose a particularly dangerous “threat to young adults unaware of the risks involved in gambling, and to individuals prone to addiction.” Despite most jurisdictions requiring advertisements to include messages that encourage responsible gambling and helplines for problem gamblers, Tonko believes that the sports betting industry has been operating in a “Wild West, largely unregulated environment,” creating a “massive and growing public health crisis involving a known, addictive product.”

As the U.S. grapples with these issues, many nations in Europe are moving to place strict limits on promotions or abolish gambling ads altogether. The experiences of other countries with legal gambling may offer insights into potential future directions for the U.S. Throughout Europe, government authorities are clamping down on gambling commercials, sponsorships, and the participation of celebrities in ad campaigns.

In the U.K., a country with a long tradition of legal gambling, mobile betting became legal in 2005. However, the U.K.'s Committee of Advertising Practice recently banned betting advertisements featuring former sports stars and social media influencers.