Strife of Brian
Incoming CFTC chair makes Kalshi exit commitment
Brian Quintenz announces he will leave the Kalshi board.
In +More: Connecticut Senate approves sweeps ban.
Turkey makes arrests at payments firm linked with gambling.
Brazilian Senate discusses pitchside gambling ad restrictions.
Your biggest tech problems. Solved.
Fincore delivers technical solutions for the Gaming industry. For over 25 years we’ve helped clients modernise legacy platforms, unblock roadmaps, integrate complex systems, and apply AI to real-world problems. We’ll help you shape the right strategy, and then we’ll roll up our sleeves and deliver it.
Our edge? A world class team with deep domain knowledge, armed with our highly customisable IP toolkit that adapts to your architecture, whether modernising legacy or starting from scratch. That means faster delivery, smoother integration and less risk.
Giving notice
He speaks! Brian Quintenz has confirmed he will depart Kalshi’s board of directors if appointed to chair the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
The rise to prominence of the prediction markets platform has triggered a regulatory tussle between federal and state authorities over supervisory jurisdiction of Kalshi and its rivals.
Clearing a path: Quintenz was nominated to run the derivatives regulator by President Donald Trump, having served on the CFTC from 2017 to 2021.
With strong ties to the crypto sector, he disclosed at least $3.4m in assets, according to documents released by the Office of Government Ethics, and will resign from various positions if confirmed, as per ethics filings.
He said he would recuse himself from matters involving Kalshi for one year. He will also be stepping down from his post as global head of crypto policy at a16z.
Stuck in the middle with you: Kalshi is regulated by the CFTC to offer events-based futures contracts, and is battling several states who have attempted to block the platform under grounds it is offering illegal gambling.
Prediction markets allow users to wager with each other on events ranging from political outcomes to sporting contests.
Kalshi has won early battles in court against Nevada and New Jersey, and continues to serve the states while the litigation over cease-and-desist letters plays out.
Sound of silence: A hotly-anticipated roundtable held by the CFTC to discuss prediction markets was abruptly cancelled with no further detail, however insiders briefed the regulator is meeting with many of the more concerned parties (tribes and land-based casinos) privately.
Further uncertainty for the CFTC awaits as all four current commissioners are to leave, and the agency recently dropped a high-profile fraud case against an online trading platform.
A Senate confirmation hearing for Quintenz has not yet been scheduled.
Introducing Vixio Workspace: Regulatory Intelligence Meets Action
Gaming compliance pros spend up to 95% of their time on admin, not strategy. With 85% facing growing complexity and 77% saying it’s stalling growth, it’s time for change.
Vixio Workspace is your new command centre for regulatory change management. From new sweepstakes rules to AML, to advertising and responsible gambling - it turns regulatory updates into action — no more spreadsheets, silos, or missed tasks.
✅ Real-time dashboards
✅ Actionable checklists
✅ Centralised task tracking & attestation
Streamline workflows, reduce risk, and regain control — all in one intuitive platform.
Smarter gambling compliance management starts here: https://bit.ly/44QGxd0
+More
The Connecticut Senate has unanimously approved a bill that aims to ban sweepstakes casinos, advancing the proposals to the House for further discussion. Connecticut’s legislative session ends on June 4.
Ireland: The Gambling Regulatory Authority has said the country is still on track to issue licenses under its new framework by the end of 2025, disputing media claims that its implementation would be postponed to next year. Separately, the regulator has inked a Memorandum of Understanding with the Belgian Gaming Commission.
Scientific Games is now a licensed gaming-related vendor in the United Arab Emirates after winning approval from the region’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority. Meanwhile, Random State has also received licensing approval from the GCGRA to distribute its eInstant games and bespoke digital-lottery products.
Bangladesh has launched a nationwide enforcement campaign against online gambling and betting platforms, following recent enactment of the country’s Cyber Security Ordinance 2025.
A bill to strengthen Nevada’s legal framework against unauthorized gambling operators now has unanimous approval in both chambers of the state legislature. The bill will pass through the Senate again before entering force, and giving the state’s regulators more powers to tackle operators outside of the state’s boundary.
Norway: The Gambling Authority is investigating Norsk Tipping after receiving information from a bank that a minor transferred large sums of money to the platform. After meeting with Norsk Tipping, authorities said they believed the minor was given access to a customer’s account and did not believe minors had the ability to create their own accounts.
Player Protection Specialist – Dublin
iGaming Compliance Assistant – Asia
Compliance & Legal Manager – Johannesburg
Turkish payments arrests
Papara over the cracks: The Turkish authorities have detained 13 people as part of an investigation into payments provider Papara over suspected money laundering, illegal betting and establishing a criminal organisation.
Papara provides online money transfers, foreign-exchange transactions and bill-payment services for its 21 million users.
Reuters reported Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya as saying that the authorities determined that the firm was allowing users to open accounts to transfer illegal betting income.
Arresting moment: Local media reported the operation early on May 27 resulted in the detention of 13 suspects, including the company’s owner, Ahmet Faruk Karslı. Authorities also identified over 100 accounts opened through the platform that were used on various unauthorized gambling and betting websites, the statement noted.
The total volume of unlawful betting operations carried out via these channels amounted to TL12.8bn (~$328m).
According to prosecutors, illegal revenues were funneled through Papara and distributed to 274 different bank accounts.
Crypto links: The investigation also uncovered five crypto wallet accounts believed to be linked to ringleaders of illegal betting networks. Authorities stated that Papara was engaged in a covert agreement with these criminal groups.
In addition, authorities seized a wide array of assets. The confiscated property included a yacht, five boats, three safety deposit boxes, 74 vehicles and seven apartments.
The total value of the seized assets is estimated at TL5bn, Yerlikaya told the press..
Previous: Tuesday’s police raids follow a similar operation in March targeting fintech company Payfix and boutique lender BankPozitif.
Checks, balances: As part of the probe, the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund has been appointed as a trustee to Papara by a court decision, following reports from the central bank, the Financial Crimes Investigation Board and other relevant institutions.
The central bank, which has the responsibility for regulating payment firms, said on Tuesday it would implement daily limits to transactions made on the platform.
"In this process, which will be carried out in coordination with the relevant institutions, temporary daily limits will be applied to payment transactions at the institution," the central bank said in a statement.
Rewire your RG Strategy
Founded on over a decade of groundbreaking research in neuroscience and neuroimaging, Mindway AI revolutionises safer gambling solutions. We combine innovative AI technology and deep insights into problem gambling from an expert panel to create secure, responsible gaming environments. Trust Mindway AI for a smarter, safer gambling experience.
Learn more at mindway.ai
Brazil ad tightening
On the sidelines: Brazilian soccer clubs have warned that new moves to limit the pitchside advertising to betting companies that either sponsor the team, the competition or the arena in which the games in played threatens "financial collapse.”
The measures are part of a bill being discussed by the Senate.
A word from our sponsors: In a joint statement supported by more than 50 clubs, they cited an annual loss of R$1.6bn (~$285m) saying the bill would “remove crucial revenue streams. However, Senator Carlos Portinho dismissed the scare tactics, suggesting the clubs were misinterpreting the measures.
“We are valuing sponsorships more and advertising less,” he added. “Whoever has a sponsorship on their jersey can advertise on the billboards.
“Those with naming rights can advertise on the billboards. Those sponsoring the competition can advertise on the billboards.”
Guerilla tactics: He went on to argue that what the Senate was proposing was the prevention of “ambush marketing, which only this sector tolerates.”
“They want to attract clients, regardless of who, and then destroy families,” he claimed.
Other elements of the bill would restrict the use of odds embedded within advertisements as well as set specific times slots for the airing of ads on TV, the radio and online.
Meanwhile, the new rules also prohibit the use of images of athletes, artists and influencers in promotional material. The exception would be retired athletes who have been out of professional sports for at least five years.
That element of the bill was proposed by former soccer star, now turned Senator, Romario.
Calendar
Event highlight: Gaming in Holland has announced its full line-up for this year’s event, including keynotes from Björn Fuchs, newly appointed chair of VNLOK; and Henry Meijdam, who heads the VAN Kansspelen trade association. Also confirmed are speeches from Arjan Blok, CEO of Nederlandse Loterij; Renske Fikkers, head of market supervision at the Netherlands Gambling Authority; and Henk Willem Smits, investigative reporter at Follow the Money. To register, click here.
Jun 5: Gaming in Holland, Amsterdam
Jun 9-12: IAGA, Berlin
Jun 26: Gaming in Spain, Madrid
GuardDog, powered by Underdog, is a pioneering investment fund dedicated to fostering innovation in responsible gaming.
GuardDog supports and accelerates early-stage startups focused on building new and creative solutions to address problem gaming and further responsible gaming.
Ready to be one of the underdogs of responsible gaming?
Visit to apply: https://underdogfantasy.com/guarddog