Latest Gambling News: UAE, New Jersey Gaming Regulators Sign MOU, and more

Catch up on some of the stories our gambling compliance analysts have covered lately, and stay up-to-date on the latest news.

UAE, New Jersey Gaming Regulators Sign MOU  

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) gambling regulator has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with its New Jersey counterpart to “strengthen the commercial gaming industry”, with an emphasis on cybersecurity, consumer protection and mutual assistance.

The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), the UAE’s federal regulator for land-based and online gambling, signed the MOU with New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) in the UAE on Wednesday (April 30).

The regulators’ joint statement noted that New Jersey’s online gaming industry has experienced “unprecedented growth and revenue increases” in recent times, strongly implying that regulatory collaboration may be a prelude to a substantial online gaming market in the UAE.

“Commercial gaming is a cornerstone of our vision for diversified economic growth, significantly contributing to tourism and foreign investment,” Kevin Mullally, CEO of the GCGRA, said.

“This partnership with New Jersey’s DGE aligns cutting-edge technology with modern regulatory frameworks, unlocking economic potential while prioritising consumer protection and responsible gaming,” he said.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who is travelling with the DGE and other state officials in the region, said the agreement “will drive innovation, strengthen consumer protections, and enhance economic opportunities in both regions”.

The UAE government and gaming regulator have yet to show their hand on the breadth and size of the online gaming segment, but regulatory documents to date have left the door open for a unique regional hub for online gaming expansion.

bet365 Exploring Possible Sale

The Coates family could be considering a partial or complete sale of bet365, according to a story in the Guardian.

The story, which includes no named sources, claims the company has held informal discussions with Wall Street banks and US advisors in recent weeks over the potential sale.

Additionally, the story claims bet365 also held talks with private equity firms to discuss a potential pre-float stake.

Bet365 did not return requests for comment on the story.

News of the potential sale comes just weeks after bet365 announced it will cease targeting the Chinese market, as it shifts to long-term sustainable revenue and targets expansion in the US and Brazilian markets.

Entain Announces New CEO, Strong Q1 Performance

Entain announced it appointed Stella David as its permanent new CEO, effective immediately, on April 29, and released a positive trading update on the same day.

David began her time at Entain in February 2021 as a senior independent director, a role she held until December 2023, when she was named interim CEO until September 2024.

She resumed the role of interim CEO in February 2025, after Gavin Isaacs stepped down after just six months.

In a Q1 trading update, Entain revealed it is performing better than expected thanks to success in the UK, Ireland, Croatia, Brazil and the US.

David said: “Entain’s portfolio of podium positions in attractive and regulated growth markets underpins the structural growth embedded in our business. We are confident that our current momentum and underlying growth will deliver quality and sustainable earnings with a clear pathway to generating over £0.5 billion of annual cashflow in the medium term.”

English Darts Player Fined £17,580, Banned For 11 Years  

An English darts player has been banned from all Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) events for 11 years and fined £17,580 for 12 match-fixing offences between February 2022 and July 2023.

An investigation into Andy Jenkins, who admitted to placing 88 bets on matches between March 17, 2022 and May 4, 2023, was supported by the Gambling Commission’s Sports Betting Intelligence Unit (SBIU).

John Pierce, commission director of enforcement, said: “This case sends a strong and unequivocal message to all sportspeople - if you fix matches, you are likely to be caught and face serious consequences”, in a press release on April 30.

Colombia To Draw Up Online Gambling Blocklist

All Colombian internet service providers (ISPs) will be required to block access to illegal gambling platforms included on a central list maintained by gaming authority Coljuegos, according to an April 23 notice published by the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications (MINTIC).

Coljuegos has previously been able to block several thousand unlicensed online gambling sites in Colombia in collaboration with MINTIC and the country’s federal police.

But a presidential decree published in February gave Coljuegos expanded powers to “directly order” ISPs to block any sites that operate, promote or facilitate illegal gambling, subject to regulatory authority being granted by MINTIC.

That same decree also required value-added tax to be applied to online gambling deposits in Colombia, much to the frustration of licensed operators.

According to MINTIC’s notice, Colombian ISPs will be required to register for access to Coljuegos’ blocklist via a MINTIC portal, download the latest version of it at least weekly and block illegal sites within 72 hours.

In a statement, MINTIC said the effort “seeks to combat the spread of illegal betting platforms and protect people from unauthorised content, ensuring the integrity of legitimate online services”.

Michigan Governor Names New Top Gaming Regulator

Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, has appointed Jim Ananich as chair of the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB), replacing Linda Forte, whose term had expired.

Ananich’s term will expire on December 31, 2028, and he will represent Democrats on the control board. His appointment is subject to approval by the Michigan Senate.

Ananich is currently the president and CEO of the Greater Flint Health Coalition and lectures on state and local government at the University of Michigan Flint. He previously served as minority leader in the Michigan Senate, and served in the House, as well as president of the Flint City Council.

Ananich joined the MGCB during their increased efforts to go after offshore, unregulated online casino and sports-betting operators targeting Michigan residents. On Monday (April 28), the MGCB announced it had sent cease-and-desist orders to the Panama-based operators of SportsBetting.ag and BetOnline.ag for conducting illegal gambling activities in the state.

Since April 11, the MGCB has issued cease-and-desist orders to 39 offshore and unlicensed online operators, including online sweepstakes sites. The control board also opened an investigation into unlicensed sports prediction markets.

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