iGaming Regulation in Late 2025: The Latest Legal Shifts Around the World

The global iGaming market continues to evolve at high speed, driven by regulatory changes that reshape compliance obligations, licensing models, and commercial strategy. Over the last six months, several major jurisdictions, including India, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Curaçao, and the United States, have introduced or advanced rules that significantly impact operators, suppliers, and payment service providers.

To help industry participants stay ahead, the legal team at EvenBet Gaming has prepared this overview of the most important regulatory developments of late 2025. Below, we break down what has changed, why it matters, and how operators should prepare for the months ahead.

India: A Landmark Nationwide Ban on Real-Money Online Gaming

In August 2025, India implemented the Promotion & Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, a sweeping piece of legislation that bans all real-money online games, including sports betting, casino-style games, and even traditionally protected “skill games” such as Rummy and Fantasy Sports.

The new law:

• prohibits any online game involving monetary stakes or monetary rewards,
• bans advertising and promotion of such games,
• restricts payment processors and app stores from supporting iGaming platforms,
• establishes a central Online Gaming Authority with powers to enforce penalties, including fines and imprisonment.

The ban applies nationwide, superseding inconsistent state-level laws that previously created a fragmented regulatory framework.

A Shock to One of the World’s Largest RMG Markets

India was home to millions of daily active players and several unicorn-level operators. The sudden, blanket ban disrupts an ecosystem previously thought to be moving toward regulation, not prohibition, and leaves major companies evaluating exits or pivoting to completely free-to-play models.

What can operators expect:

• immediate market barriers, including payment blocking and takedown orders,
• significant compliance challenges for Indian-facing affiliates,
• a rise in enforcement against offshore access,
• short-term market contraction and migration to illegal channels.

For now, India represents a closed market for any real-money iGaming activity.

Brazil: Operational Rules Intensify as the Regulated Market Takes Shape

As 2025 progresses, Brazil continues refining the regulatory structure created by Law No. 14,790/2023, with the Ministry of Finance’s Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA/MF) issuing a sequence of detailed ordinances and technical rules.

Recent SPA regulations introduce:

• a national self-exclusion system mandatory for all operators,
• centralized lists of authorized betting platforms,
• new reporting formats and fee codes for revenue and tax filings,
• stricter rules for local incorporation and beneficial-ownership transparency.

These measures are part of Brazil’s effort to finalize a controlled but competitive online betting ecosystem.

Compliance Burden Continues to Rise

Combined with earlier measures, such as increased GGR taxes, stronger advertising constraints, and local representation requirements—operators face a rapidly expanding compliance landscape.

Brazil is also blocking unlicensed websites more aggressively and auditing operators that do not meet local-presence rules.

Brazil remains attractive due to its massive population and demand for regulated products, but:

• costs are rising,
• enforcement is strengthening,
• and non-compliance is becoming riskier.

Operators with the ability to invest in localized infrastructure and robust AML/KYC systems will have a strategic advantage.

United Kingdom: Regulatory Tightening and a Major Gambling Tax Reform

The UK remains one of the most mature iGaming jurisdictions, but 2025 has brought a wave of new regulatory and fiscal measures affecting both remote and land-based operators.

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has advanced several initiatives, including:

• mandatory financial vulnerability checks for at-risk players,
• onboarding rules requiring customers to set financial limits before first deposit,
• updated Remote Technical Standards for game design, testing, and RNG certification,
• increased scrutiny on marketing practices and affiliate oversight.

The goal is to reduce gambling-related harm while enhancing product transparency and data-driven supervision.

Gambling Tax Reform

The UK has also begun implementing a major Gambling Tax Reform, aligning tax categories and updating the framework for remote gaming duties. Changes include:

• restructuring levies across different gambling verticals,
• adjustments that increase the effective tax burden for some remote operators,
• clearer reporting obligations for multi-jurisdiction operators using UK servers or UK customer funnels.

What can operators expect:

• higher compliance costs,
• stricter affordability assessment expectations,
• intensified enforcement for AML, safer-gambling, and advertising violations.

The UK remains stable but is becoming more demanding, favoring operators with strong compliance infrastructures.

Curaçao: Transition Tensions as LOK Overhauls the Licensing Regime

Curaçao, long known for its relatively light-touch licensing model, is undergoing its most significant regulatory reform ever through the Landsverordening op de Kansspelen (LOK).

Under LOK:

• all sub-licensing through private Master License holders is being phased out,
• the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) becomes the sole licensing body,
• operators must meet higher standards for AML, KYC, cybersecurity, and responsible gaming,
• local presence and beneficial ownership transparency are mandatory,
• periodic audits and fee-payment compliance are strictly enforced.

Regulatory Instability Raises Questions

In September 2025, the entire supervisory board of the CGA resigned, raising concerns about governance during the transition. The CGA assured operators that licensing and enforcement continue uninterrupted, but industry sentiment points to uncertainty around timelines, fees, and inspection procedures.

Curaçao is moving from an accessible offshore jurisdiction to a mid-tier, compliance-heavy licensing environment. Operators with legacy sub-licenses should expect:

• stricter audits,
• higher fees,
• and potentially longer timelines for full approval.

Those considering Curaçao purely for low-cost entry may rethink their strategy.

United States: Fragmented Progress and Increasing Enforcement Pressure

The U.S. remains deeply fragmented in its approach to online gambling, and 2025 has highlighted the tension between legalization efforts and organized opposition.

In mid-2025, a coalition of approximately 50 State Attorneys General asked the U.S. Department of Justice to crack down on offshore gambling websites. Several states issued cease-and-desist orders to high-risk offshore operators.

Land-based casino groups continue lobbying against full iGaming legalization. In some jurisdictions, city councils and regional casino hubs have publicly joined anti-iGaming associations to influence statewide debates.

The argument centers on job loss, revenue declines for physical venues, and increased social care costs related to gambling addiction.

Despite resistance, states like Illinois, Maryland, and Virginia have been exploring bills to legalize online casino gaming. However, political and economic pushback slows their progress.

The U.S. remains a high-potential but high-friction market:

• expect strict enforcement against offshore access,
• expect slow expansion of legal iGaming,
• anticipate heavy influence from land-based stakeholders.

Operational readiness, strong geolocation controls, and conservative compliance strategies are essential.

Conclusion: Toward a Higher-Compliance Global iGaming Market

The second half of 2025 confirms a clear global trend: iGaming regulation is tightening, and expectations of operators are rising across all major markets.

• India has moved from a patchwork of state rules to a sweeping national ban.
• Brazil is building a large, highly regulated market with dense operational requirements.
• The UK is raising both consumer-protection and tax burdens.
• Curaçao is transitioning from an offshore haven to a structured, compliance-driven licensing hub.
• The United States continues its push-pull dynamic, advancing enforcement while debating new legalization.

Despite the challenges, the direction is consistent: regulators want structured markets, better player protection, and reduced financial risk. For iGaming companies, navigating this new landscape requires robust compliance frameworks, legal foresight, and the ability to adapt quickly.

At EvenBet Gaming, we continue to monitor these developments closely so our partners can plan with confidence. The global market may be entering a stricter phase, but with preparation and compliance-driven strategy, operators can still find sustainable and profitable paths forward.