The next wave of digital gaming regulation: Countries leading legislative reform

Today, countries are actively modernising their interactive gaming legislation and regulatory frameworks.

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Countries that are modernising their regulatory systems are primarily doing so for several reasons.

The first reason is to ensure the safety of users from their own country. If residents use platforms operating under offshore licenses, they may not be sufficiently protected. For example, in the event of a dispute, users may have to resolve it within the legal system of the country that issued the license rather than in their own jurisdiction. A case that clearly illustrates this situation involved an Austrian user who filed a lawsuit against an operator licensed by the MGA. In January 2022, an Austrian court ordered the platform operator to pay €488,546, but in 2026, this ruling was challenged. The Maltese court refused to recognise the Austrian judgment, citing national public policy and a controversial legal provision. As long as a country does not have established legislation and clear platform regulations, it cannot fully provide legal protection for its own users.

Legislation can also address the issue of responsible user engagement. For example, platforms can be required to provide deposit, loss, activity, and other limits within users' accounts. They may also be required to carry out additional document verification, analyse user behaviour, and implement other measures designed to prevent underage users from accessing gaming websites.

Another reason is financial. As long as users continue using platforms registered in other countries and regulated by foreign authorities, a significant flow of money bypasses the country's budget. This includes tax revenue, income earned by banks from financial transactions, and other potential sources of revenue.

Among the countries that consistently demonstrate a commitment to regulatory reform is New Zealand. The main law governing the interactive sector is already several decades old. New Zealand has never issued online operator licenses, and residents have been able to use offshore gaming websites. At present, the country is losing NZ$750 million because of offshore operators. To redirect these funds toward social initiatives, the government is promoting the Online Casino Gambling Bill. Under the proposed legislation, operators will be required to implement responsible participation limits, monitor signs of compulsive behaviour, introduce mandatory five-minute breaks after every hour-long user session, pay an additional 3.5% sector levy, and regularly submit reports to regulatory authorities.

Finland plans to begin accepting applications from private operators in 2026, with the new licensing system scheduled to take effect in 2027. Veikkaus' online platform monopoly will also be abolished by July 2027. Private operators will pay a 22% tax on gross gaming revenue, while B2B software providers will be required to obtain separate licenses by 2028.

Under the previous financial legislation, the government already collected a 2% tax on activity turnover and a 25% commission on platform exchange revenue. However, there was no modern system for supervising operators. The reforms began in 2026. Operators must obtain licenses under the new system, covering both B2C activities and, by 2027–2028, B2B software operations. Platform advertising will also become more strictly regulated. Company executives will bear direct personal criminal liability for violations of sector legislation. The new law prohibits platform advertising on television and radio between 5:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. One of the most useful changes for users is the introduction of a national self-exclusion register, allowing users to voluntarily exclude themselves from platforms with licensed operators.

Brazil introduced its new interactive regulatory framework on January 1, 2025, after many years of legislative debate. By mid-2026, the country had entered the stage of strict enforcement. Under the new rules, private operators must initially pay a 13% tax on gross revenue, which will increase to 15% in the following years. Verification of all users using official national tax identification numbers (CPF) is also mandatory.

Peru introduced new sector legislation in 2022 but continues to revise it on a regular basis. For example, in 2025, the country introduced a 1% Selective Consumption Tax (ISC). Unlike profit-based taxes, this measure taxes the total amount of every user transaction. The change triggered controversy, and it is expected to be reviewed in the coming years.

Excessively restrictive rules can make licensed markets less attractive for both operators and users. Looser regulations may weaken consumer protection, while stricter rules may encourage users to look for alternative platforms.

However, every country carefully considers these factors. Regulatory reforms are introduced while taking into account each country's own experience, the experience of other jurisdictions, and potential risks. As a result, new developments related to sector regulation and regulatory oversight continue to appear almost every day.