SOFTSWISS Releases Annual iGaming Trends 2025 Report (Part 2)
A continuation of the regulatory overview by SOFTSWISS, covering the remaining global regions for the first half of 2025.
The iGN editorial team highlights key regulatory updates across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East:
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom: As of April 9, slot stake limits are set at £5 (ages 25+) and £2 (ages 18–24); starting December 19, bonuses with wagering over 10x are banned; a mandatory levy of 0.1–1.1% of GGR introduced
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands: Proposed universal deposit limits with affordability checks; Google delisted unlicensed operators; “Meld Vals Spel” portal launched for reporting illegal operators
- 🇩🇪 Germany: Baden-Württemberg approved a state monopoly on online roulette and blackjack through Toto-Lotto GmbH, with a progressive tax of 15–25%
- 🇨🇼 Curacao: Over 30 operators licensed by March 31 deadline; first inspections conducted in March; advertising regulations tightened in April
- 🇲🇹 Malta: In June 2025, the European Commission launched proceedings against Malta’s “legal protection” of its operators from foreign lawsuits
- 🇪🇸 Spain: Fines totaling €65.4M issued in H1 2025; 13 unlicensed brands each fined €5M
- 🇸🇪 Sweden: Credit cards will be banned for online gambling from April 1, 2026; the last state-owned casino, Casino Cosmopol Stockholm, to close in January 2026
- 🇱🇹 Lithuania: Near-total gambling advertising ban effective July 1, 2025; minimum gambling age raised from 18 to 21; €4M in media compensation allocated
- 🇮🇪 Ireland: License application process to open in late 2025; online casino licensing expected in early 2026
- 🇮🇹 Italy: New 9-year concession model introduced, with licenses priced at €7M (highest in the EU) plus 3% of net revenue; tender closed May 30, 2025
- 🇳🇬 Nigeria: 5% tax on resident winnings and 15% on non-residents; 5% excise on all gambling services; Google banned all gambling ads from January 8, 2025; regulation handed to states following Supreme Court ruling
- 🇿🇦 South Africa: Online gambling legalization bill submitted to Parliament as a private initiative; GGR expected to hit €3.63B by end of 2025, with 60.5% from betting
- 🇰🇪 Kenya: Betting tax reduced from 15% to 5% in June; use of influencers and religious figures in ads banned; crash game restrictions introduced
- 🇬🇭 Ghana: Repealed the 10% winnings tax introduced in 2024 due to player migration to offshore operators
- 🇦🇪 UAE: In June 2025, The Game LLC (a subsidiary of Momentum) posted job openings for a casino manager, data analyst, and commercial director—signaling preparations for the country’s first legal iGaming operator
📌 The report is based on 53,900+ media headlines and includes expert interviews with leaders from Oddin.gg, BGaming, SBC, SiGMA, Cryptoprocessing, Boomerang Partners, SPRIBE, and Blask.