🔥 The biggest iGaming updates of the week: first results of the year, new bans, and headline numbers

Hello everyone! We’re jumping into the first full working week — let it be productive and free of regulator surprises (although, who are we kidding). There aren’t many news items, but each one is already setting the tone for 2026. Let’s go.

📌 First results of 2025

— According to Similarweb, traffic to legal Russian bookmakers’ websites in 2025 reached 1.11 billion visits.
— In Indonesia, online gambling deposits hit $2.3 billion, despite strict bans.
— The PlayCity regulator blocked more than 2,500 illegal websites and issued fines totaling ₴67 million.
— In Russia, illegal iGaming turnover in 2025 is estimated at ₽2 trillion — the figure speaks for itself.

📌 New laws, initiatives, and taxes

— Belarus increased the tax on player winnings from 4% to 5% and updated regulation: minimum operator reserves, a monitoring center, and the possibility of settlements in cryptocurrency.
— Georgia officially banned participation in iGaming and land-based casinos for more than 40% of the population.
— Zimbabwe sharply raised taxes: from 3% to 20% of GGR and from 10% to 25% on winnings.
— In Argentina’s Santa Fe province, the formation of a regulated market has begun and licenses are being issued.
— In Brazil, up to 51% of the betting market is still controlled by illegal operators.
— New Zealand is launching a regulated online gambling market: 15 licenses and a 16% GGR tax.

📌 Venezuela: all calm

— Despite the U.S. operation in Caracas, Venezuela’s iGaming market has remained stable.
— According to Blask, fluctuations are within normal volatility, and by the end of 2025 the market grew +134.9% YoY, remaining one of the fastest-growing in the world.

📌 Advertising and promotion

— LinkedIn is launching AI-powered job search in five languages — the tool takes into account skills, goals, and regional specifics.
— Google will allow gambling advertising in Belarus starting January 22.
— Meta* continues to run ads for illegal gambling in prohibited jurisdictions despite fines.
— Google updated its rules for prediction platforms and is opening access to advertising products for U.S. operators.

📌 Scandal of the week

— An investigation by Australia’s ABC revealed that licenses on the island of Anjouan were issued through a fictitious regulator. According to authorities, such permits are illegal — another blow to the “offshore showcase.”

* Recognized as an extremist organization and banned in the Russian Federation

👉 And now let’s discuss the main question: how does it feel for you personally to come out of the holiday haze and back into working days?

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⚡️ Blocking update: no mass apocalypse (yet)

The good news: there aren’t many new blocks.
The bad news: the internet is increasingly being shut down not “by list,” but entirely. Here’s what’s happening and where it’s worth staying alert.

🇷🇺 Russia: WhatsApp* under threat of a full ban
Roskomnadzor has officially stated its intention to completely block WhatsApp*. This is not a final shutdown yet, but the signal is extremely clear: the platform is in a high-risk zone, and the “any moment now” scenario is no longer hypothetical.

🇦🇺 Australia: ban over AI content
From 10 January 2026, Grok has been blocked due to the distribution of AI-generated pornographic content. Australia continues to demonstrate a hardline approach: zero tolerance for such formats and maximum pressure on platforms, especially in the context of protecting minors.

🇮🇷 Iran: not a block — a full internet blackout
From 8 January, access to social networks (Instagram*, Telegram, X, and others) was cut off for more than 60 hours. The formal reason was protests and “security,” but in practice it meant a complete shutdown of digital channels.

🇪🇨Venezuela: nighttime censorship mode
In early January, nighttime shutdowns of Instagram* and TikTok were recorded for 6–8 hours, along with website blocks amid protests in Caracas. X (Twitter) has remained blocked since 2024. This is compounded by rolling power and internet outages in certain regions.

📌 The takeaway is simple:
There aren’t many large-scale “new bans,” which is a plus. But more and more countries are moving away from targeted restrictions toward blackouts, temporary shutdowns, and manual control over access.

👉 All new blocks are listed in the “Blocked Services” section.
Update your strategies, track the changes, and stay one step ahead.

* Recognized as an extremist organization and banned in the Russian Federation


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🔥 Working in iGaming: where to go in 2026

iGaming is one of the few industries where the market keeps growing, job openings are updated every week, and real experience is valued more than formal noscripts. Online casinos, betting, affiliate marketing, payments, analytics, product — this is an industry that needs people who can deliver results.

📌 In the new article, we break down the iGaming job market and cover everything specialists and companies need to know:
— which roles are truly in demand;
— why iGaming offers relocation and remote work more easily than most industries;
— which professions are being strengthened by AI and which are gradually fading out;
— where to look for jobs;
— what to expect from the job market in 2026–2027.

🔗 If you’re thinking about a career in iGaming or want to keep your finger on the pulse of the market, this is a must-read. The full version is available here.

✔️ If you’re job hunting, check out our vacancies section.

👉 And a bit of networking in the comments — share what you do and which position or specialist you’re looking for.

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😱 AI in iGaming: Who Will Survive in 2026 — and Who Will Disappear

AI in iGaming is no longer an add-on — it’s a foundational layer. It cuts routine work, speeds up processes, and is rapidly reshaping the job market. And yes, some roles are genuinely disappearing.

📌 In the article:
— which iGaming roles will be almost fully automated by 2027
— which skills (urgent to develop) protect you from being replaced by AI
— how the role of copywriters and marketers in iGaming is changing
— where to look for jobs in affiliate marketing in 2026–2027
— bonus: checklist “How to Find a Job in iGaming in 2026”

👉 If you already work in iGaming or are just considering entering the industry, it’s better to understand the rules of the game in advance.
Read the full article here.

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“Nothing personal, just the numbers” 😂

👉 Drop your own caption for this video in the comments — and you definitely won’t get cut this month.

⚡️ 15% discount on gambling creatives from LR PROD

LR PROD is a creative production studio and a 3SNET partner, specializing in high-converting creatives for the gambling vertical. They work with media buying teams, CPA networks, and iGaming brands, helping increase CTR, CR, and ROI through well-thought-out visuals and up-to-date formats.

📌 What they do:
— motion videos for social, UAC, and push
— static banners with a strong CTR focus
— news-style and native creatives
— UGC formats
— actor-based videos tailored to specific GEOs
— deepfakes for scaling

✔️ Full-cycle production: from idea and noscript to final delivery and adaptation for GEOs, traffic sources, and offers.

🎁 For 3SNET partners — 15% off the first order
When contacting the manager, make sure to mention the promo code:

**3SNET-LRPROD**

If you’ve been looking for a studio that truly understands gambling and builds creatives for performance — you’ve just found it.

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⚡️ AI in iGaming: the point of no return has been crossed

AI in iGaming is no longer a trendy toy or an experimental technology. It is already reshaping the entire industry — from game development and UX to marketing, antifraud, and compliance.

📌 The question now is not whether you use AI, but where the line lies between player manipulation and fair engagement — and why AI-first companies are starting to take market share from everyone else.

✔️ In the new article, we break down:
— what new opportunities and risks AI brings to the iGaming market
— how AI helps retain and monetize players
— why regulators are beginning to step in around “emotional AI”
— what an AI-first operational model is and why companies need it

👉 Read this if you work in the industry and don’t want to stay stuck in “manual mode.”

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🔥 What you might have missed over the past 2 weeks

We’ve gathered the latest materials into one quick list — no fluff. GEO overviews, licenses, the betting market, figures from industry leaders, platforms, and useful promo codes. You can skim it in a couple of minutes or dive in for much longer — your call ⚡️


🪄GEO Overviews
📌 iGaming Overview of Spain

🪄Useful Reads
📌How is AI Impacting iGaming in 2026?
📌iGaming Jobs in 2026: Which Roles Will AI Replace?
📌 Most Unusual Events for Betting
📌10 Facts About Casinos and Bookmakers

🪄Platforms
📌Trackier Platform: "Flexibility Based on Transparency"

🪄 Promo
📌LR PROD 15% OFF

🪄 Events
Meet 3SNET at ICE Barcelona: if you spot girls in blue T-shirts — don’t hesitate to come say hi!
📌ICE Barcelona, January 19
📌SiGMA Eurasia 2026

🪄 Companies
📌 Lenkep — iGaming recruitment agency
📌 AdsPower — professional anti-detect browser
📌 GeeLark — cloud-based platform

You can add your company to the 3SNET website and find new clients here.


Drop a comment and let us know what else you’d like to read about — we’ll definitely listen! ❤️‍🔥

📌 What else are you curious about?

⚡️ iGaming weekly roundup: this time with a touch of absurdity

Hello everyone! Kicking off a new workweek — hopefully productive and free of bad news.

📌 Legal highlights
— Denmark is preparing new gambling advertising regulations: integrations into sports broadcasts, ads featuring celebrities, and content targeting young audiences will be banned.
— Austria is extending its state gambling monopoly until 2027.
— Belarus is legalizing crypto banks — an important step for payment infrastructure and the iGaming ecosystem.

📌 Important
— The EU Court has allowed the application of local law in disputes with offshore iGaming operators. This is a major precedent for the market.

📌 Counting money — no saving here
— Paraguay: market turnover in 2025 reached $32.6 million (+22.9% YoY).
— Brazil: bookmakers invested $260 million in marketing over the year.
— Portugal: iGaming revenue in Q3 2025 totaled €297 million (+11.6%).
— France: operators’ marketing budgets in 2026 will grow to €785 million.

📌 Ad platforms & restrictions
— From January 21, Google Ads bans advertising for rummy and daily fantasy sports in India.
— Kick has restricted gambling streams for Russian-speaking audiences.

📌 Scandals, intrigue, investigations
— Donald Trump reported the detention of a player who earned over $400,000 betting on the arrest of Maduro on Polymarket.
— A link to Fonbet was found on the official website of an Orthodox festival in Belarus.
— Estonia exempted online casinos from taxes in 2026 due to a drafting error in the law — instead of reducing the rate, the tax was effectively set to zero.

👉 Now it’s your turn: what good news are you waiting for? Personal, work-related, or from the iGaming world — share in the comments, let’s imagine something positive.

🔗 Subscribe if you want to keep your finger on the pulse of the industry

🔥 ICE has kicked off — and we’re already there!

The conference has officially started, and the 3SNET team is on site, ready for live and productive networking.

Look for the girls in blue 3SNET shirts — come say hi without hesitation: let’s meet, talk, and connect ❤️‍🔥

👉 To make sure we meet, here’s the link to schedule a meeting.

⚡️ — if you’re already at ICE
😂 — if Barcelona is still just a dream

😂 iGaming in Estonia: the tax was canceled… by mistake

In January 2026, Estonia had a rare regulatory fail: due to a single wording issue in the law, online casinos were formally left without a tax for the entire year.

The amendments were supposed to reduce the tax burden, but in the final version the tax was tied only to games of skill — while games of chance (i.e. all classic gambling) simply fell out of the legal text.

The mistake has already been acknowledged, and the law will be urgently fixed. Still, the case is illustrative: even in one of Europe’s most precise jurisdictions, a single line of text can mean millions lost. Regulation is always about the details.

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What do you think — coincidence?
⚡️ — a pure bureaucratic fail
😂 — a bit too convenient, don’t you think?