GiG plans to acquire 80% stake in 888AFRICA, Evolution's Board votes against Kenneth Dart's bid, Brazil explores betting deposit limit

The largest retail gambling group in Alberta, Canada, Pure Casino, reaffirmed its dedication to the integrity of sports by joining the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA). Bolstering the Association's commitment to fairer sports, Pure Casino will help with the tracking of suspicious betting transactions and safeguarding sports. Considering Pure Casino is the largest brick-and-mortar operator in Alberta, the deal marks a milestone for IBIA as it propels its footprint in the province and in North America.

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) released a new public update, warning that Premier League could drive over $1bn in illegal gambling. The BGC predicted that up to £800m, or a sum of approximately $1.09bn, could be placed with unlicensed betting companies. This, the Council said, continues to affect the results of licensed gambling operators, while stealing tax revenue and putting customers at risk.

Business and finance

GiG Software confirmed its plans to acquire an 80% stake in 888AFRICA. The company unveiled it has agreed principal commercial terms with evoke plc's subsidiary, Virtual Emerging Entertainment Limited, which would enable it to acquire 80% of the shares in 888AFRICA, with the total transaction valued at €16.4m. The aforementioned sum, GiG said, consists of an initial consideration of €6m, as well as a deferred consideration of €10.4m.

Subject to customary approvals and the signing of a Share Purchase Agreement, the milestone acquisition of the stake in 888AFRICA would bolster GiG's operations. The move comes after careful consideration, analysis and benefits prediction completed by GiG.

Going forward, EvenBet Gaming will be known as Evenbeter after the company unveiled a new visual identity and name. Hinting at its recent success and expansion, the overhaul signals Evenbeter's transition from an online poker software provider to a supplier of an ecosystem powering gambling operators with games, technology and solutions. Notably, the company already powers leading gambling operators across the globe and has proven its excellence in scaling up and strengthening the offering of businesses in various markets.

Boyle Sports will engage with football fans and bettors alike thanks to a new sponsorship agreement with Nottingham Forest. Per the alliance, announced earlier this week, Nottingham Forest designated Boyle Sports as its Official Betting Partner. The deal will see the latter benefit from exposure via LED signage at the City Ground. Ultimately, Boyle Sports seeks to bolster awareness of its brand and reach new customers.

In July, the billionaire investor Kenneth Dart increased his ownership stake in Evolution to over 30%. This move triggered a mandatory clause under the current laws in Sweden that permit him to bid for the rest of the business and potentially assume full control. Consequently, an offer of roughly $13.84bn was submitted.

However, Evolution's Board of Directors recently voted against the takeover offer by Dart. According to the Board, the bid was insufficient in value. What's more, the Board of Directors suggested that Dart was fulfilling his legal obligation under Swedish law, adding that the bid was below Evolution's current market value.

Regulation and laws

In Brazil, one Senator proposed the implementation of a monthly betting limit. The initiative is led by Sen. Camilo Santana, who introduced a draft law that proposes a default deposit limit for all bettors of R$80, or $16 per month.

The legislative proposal ties the deposit limit to roughly 5% of the minimum monthly wage in the country and seeks to grant an exception for bettors who are able to prove higher income and match the deposit limit to their monthly earnings but again at a 5% cap of the total. According to the Senator, similar legislation is already applied in certain European countries, and the bill is expected to protect bettors from overspending and gambling-related debt.

Continuing its expansion, Endorphina entered Alberta, Canada, the 59th regulated jurisdiction where the company can now operate. Thanks to the fresh entry, Endorphina can now reach new audiences.

Securing access to Alberta comes after extensive work with the compliance and licensing specialist, Yegor Nikishenko. The accomplishment enables the studio's 200+ games to reach new players in the province, strengthening its global footprint and reaffirming its leadership role in the gambling industry.

Elsewhere, in Nebraska, two online sports betting initiatives have qualified for the November ballot. That's the case for the Online Sports Wagering Authorization Constitutional Amendment petition and the Online Sports Wagering Regulation Initiative petition, both of which obtained certification by the Secretary of State to appear on the upcoming ballot.

The first initiative proposes changes to the state's constitution that would authorize sports betting, while the second seeks to establish the regulatory framework for the activity. If the two initiatives receive approval from Nebraska voters, the state may become the latest one to offer legal online sports betting.

Responsible gambling

At a time when problem gambling continues to be an issue in Pennsylvania, the state is dedicating additional resources. To address problem gambling, lawmakers increased the available resources for the state's helplines in order to deliver help to those who need it most and support gamblers at risk. At the same time, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Services Program in Pennsylvania increased the reach of its programs with the addition of case management services.

A newly released study uncovered an uptick in participation in online gambling among young people in Ontario, Canada. The report by the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) highlighted an increase in the percentage of students who admitted to gambling in the last year.

In the 2025 edition of the study, released earlier this week, 12% of the students admitted to gambling in the last year, compared to 8% recorded by the same survey in 2023. Concerningly, the percentage of young people participating in online sports betting skyrocketed from 1% in 2019 to 10% in 2025. Releasing the study, CAMH once again called for extra measures to protect young people from gambling, including bans on promotions during sports events, among other restrictions.

The voice of the industry

Earlier this week, Casino Guru News published an op-ed report by Vlad Negine, St8's CEO, focusing on why operators need more than aggregation. The expert discusses the growth of games offering by gambling operators thanks to aggregation deals. However, Negine argues that the competitiveness of the present market requires more than just a wide range of games.

Ahead of the upcoming NFL season, many American football fans might find it interesting to learn the NFL gambling rules. In the context of the ongoing expansion of legal betting, the League has set specific rules that seek to safeguard the integrity of games and effectively restrict league officials, players, coaches and other staff from placing bets.

This week, Casino Guru News released a report focusing on the origin and meaning of the 86 casino term. Despite making its way to popular culture and often being referenced in TV shows, movies and hospitality settings, the phrase 86 has an uncertain origin and a number of theories try to explain the term.

Unlike traditional betting on a single outcome of a particular sports event, parlay bets have increasingly become more popular. As the NFL season is approaching, many football fans may be wondering what is a parlay bet and why are parlays so popular.

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