31 Jul 2025
As we move into the second half of 2025, the world of casinos, both land-based and online, has been buzzing with important developments. From regulatory shift in the UK to global expansion, compliance crackdowns, and live casino innovation, July has been anything but quiet.
Let’s dive into the stories shaping the casino landscape this month:
- UK: Regulation and Advertising in Focus
- Regulatory Tightening and Money-Laundering Alert
- MPs Relaunch Gambling Inquiry
- Advertising Enforcement by ASA
- Global Casino Market Updates
- UK Firms and Market Listings
- Las Vegas Sands Shines in Q2
- Crypto Casino Accolades
- Thailand’s Casino Legislation Stalled
- Australia’s Star Entertainment in Financing Crisis
UK: Regulation and Advertising in Focus
Regulatory Tightening and Money-Laundering Alert
- On 10 July, the UK Gambling Commission announced a stronger methodology for calculating and imposing penalties on operators who breach regulations: a move aimed at increasing enforcement impact.
- Then on 18 July, HM Treasury raised the casino industry’s money-laundering risk level from “low” to “medium,” citing a 26% rise in suspicious activity reports year-on-year and rising vulnerabilities in remote casino spaces.
MPs Relaunch Gambling Inquiry
On 22 July, Parliament’s APPG relaunched a formal inquiry into the hold-up in implementing 2023 White Paper reforms. Spotlighted issues include delayed launch of the gambling ombudsman, stalling affordability checks, and questions over whether the Gambling Commission has sufficient authority.
Stakeholders and consumers are invited to submit evidence by mid-September 2025.
Advertising Enforcement by ASA
- On 16 July, the ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) upheld a complaint against Play’n GO: its cartoon-style ads (a bunny, anime princesses, robot DJ) were found to breach CAP Code rules for attracting potential child audiences, even though they displayed 18+ icons.
- Another case saw LiveScore Bet ads unintentionally appearing in an under-18 version of its app. The ASA rules this breached targeting rules under CAP Code rules 1.3, 16.1, and 16.3.13; even though LiveScore attributed it to a malfunction now fixed.
Global Casino Market Updates
UK Firms and Market Listings
Spanish casino operator Cirsa, owned by Blackstone, began its IPO around 9 July targeting a €2.52 billion valuation.
They operate casinos and gambling platforms in Spain, Italy, Morocco, as well as Latin America. Cirsa entered Portugal and Puerto Rico last year.
Las Vegas Sands Shines in Q2
Q2 2025 results saw Sands beat expectations: revenues hit $3.18 billion, up to 15%, with Singapore jumping 36% and Macau rising 2.5%. Sands’ share value increased by 4–4.6% following the report.
Crypto Casino Accolades
On 24 July, MetaWin, a crypto-casino platform, was named “Best Crypto Casino of 2025” by Casinos.org, an independent casino content website. MetaWin was praised for combining blockchain transparency, provably fair gaming, and live dealer formats.
Thailand’s Casino Legislation Stalled
Thailand’s long-anticipated casino bill, backed by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and proposing entertainment complexes with casinos, is officially withdrawn as of 7 to 9 July, as it “needs more studies.”
Australia’s Star Entertainment in Financing Crisis
In Australia, Star Entertainment Group faces a looming July 31 deadline to complete a $4 billion joint venture stake sale or risk large repayments.
As part of its efforts to generate much-needed funds, Star agreed to sell its 50% stake in Queen’s Wharf, also known as the Destination Brisbane Consortium, to its joint venture partners for $53 million.
However, in late June, those joint venture partners revealed plans to withdraw from the agreement made in March to acquire Star’s share in the development.
July 2025: A Pivotal Month for the Industry
July 2025 was a month of industry activity marked by regulatory tightening and market shifts. In the UK, regulators are tightening controls while lawmakers push for overdue reform. Globally, casino brands are expanding and crypto continues to make waves.
For those tracking the casino sector, one thing’s clear: the future of casinos like Genting Casino, especially live ones, is being shaped by a mix of innovation, compliance, and accountability.
This article is meant to provide information and not to encourage gambling in any way. Remember, when gambling, the house will always have an edge. No wins are guaranteed, and all outcomes are random.
Never try to chase losses by gambling more. Always play responsibly and within your means.
