NEXT.io iGaming Digest – 23 May 2025

📈 Affiliate growth strategies, Codere Online’s Nasdaq fight, and Kalshi gets hit with more cease-and-desist orders.

Meanwhile, EU digital laws could shake up gambling compliance, and Louisiana joins the betting tax hike club.

Here are the top stories shaping iGaming today.

💬 Join the iGaming Telegram Community to discuss them!

1. Alina Famenok on When Affiliates Should Scale

Already Media CEO Alina Famenok shares her blueprint for sustainable affiliate growth, emphasising that scaling too early can backfire while waiting too long can mean missed opportunity.

In her guest post for NEXT.io, Famenok outlines the core pillars of readiness: a committed team, efficient operations, strategic clarity, and robust tech.

Words from Alina Famenok: “The most successful affiliates are not the ones who scale the fastest but those who take the time to prepare.”

➡️ Read Alina’s guide to scaling with intention.

2. Codere Online Fights Nasdaq Delisting Over Filing Delays

Codere Online is pushing back against a Nasdaq delisting notice after delays in filing its 2024 annual report.

The Spanish operator cited complications with a new auditor but remains confident it will file its Form 20-F by 30 May.

A hearing has been requested, and the company is seeking to extend its trading suspension stay.

➡️ See how Codere Online plans to keep its Nasdaq listing.

Want to connect with iGaming C-Levels without distraction?

➡️ Ask us about the NEXT Retreats happening in Cyprus and Mexico this Autumn

3. Arizona Issues Cease-and-Desist Orders to Kalshi, Robinhood, and Crypto.com

The Arizona Department of Gaming has ordered Kalshi, Robinhood, and Crypto.com to halt their prediction market operations, calling them unlicensed sports betting.

Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour has previously challenged similar actions in federal court. Arizona becomes the seventh state to issue such warnings.

➡️ Follow the legal storm brewing around prediction markets.

4. EU Digital Regulations Could Reshape Gambling Compliance

Wiggin LLP’s Ted S. and Tamás Szigeti, PhD break down how the EU’s Digital Services Act, Accessibility Act, and AI Act will impact gambling operators.

These rules will affect everything from ad transparency and user interface design to AI-driven customer tools, even for non-EU companies targeting European users.

➡️ Learn what operators need to know to stay compliant in the EU.

5. KSA to Enforce Full Ban on Sports Sponsorships

From 1 July, the Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) will enforce a full ban on gambling-related sports sponsorships.

This includes team logos, athlete partnerships, and stadium naming rights.

KSA chairman Michel Groothuizen warned operators not to exploit legal loopholes to sidestep the new rules.

➡️ Read how Dutch operators must now rethink their marketing playbook.

6. Louisiana House Approves 21.5% Sports Betting Tax Hike

The Louisiana House of Representatives passed a revised version of House Bill 639, raising the tax rate on online sports betting from 15% to 21.5%.

Proposed by Rep. Riser, the bill also introduces the SPORT Fund, aimed at supporting university athletics.

➡️ See how Louisiana’s tax move compares to other US states.

Which of these stories will impact the industry the most? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

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