Visit Gambling Insider
Australian appetites: Novomatic’s Ainsworth acquisition accelerates
Novomatic has increased its shareholding in Australian supplier Ainsworth to 55.2%, marking a 2.3% rise following the termination of a separate scheme implementation deed. Despite withdrawing its scheme of arrangement takeover proposal due to concerns over shareholder approval, the international giant is maintaining its separate takeover offer of AU$1 (US$0.65) per share.
Ainsworth’s Independent Board Committee has now formally recommended that shareholders accept Novomatic’s bid, deeming it “fair and reasonable” with no superior proposal expected. The company will issue a Target’s Statement in the coming weeks containing detailed analysis of the offer’s fairness.
GambleAware’s grand goodbye: New CEO to guide charity to the (Har)grave
GambleAware has appointed Anna Hargrave as Transition CEO to manage the charity’s final six months before its managed closure. Hargrave replaces Zoe Osmond, who will step down at the end of September after four-and-a-half years leading the organisation.
Hargrave, who has served as Deputy CEO and Chief Strategy and Commissioning Officer since 2021, will focus on completing GambleAware’s “legacy ambitions” while managing the handover to the new statutory gambling harms system. She’s credited with re-commissioning the National Gambling Support Network and bringing a public health focus to the charity’s work.
With her NHS background, Hargrave aims to work closely with new commissioners to ensure current achievements and insights are carried forward into the statutory framework.
Grey gamble: Philippines e-Gaming in the firing line
The Philippines faces a potential return to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list due to unresolved issues with unregulated online gambling, according to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. This warning comes just months after the country was removed from the list in February 2025 following nearly four years of monitoring.
Recent research shows that after the BSP ordered the removal of gambling links from authorised platforms, users migrated to unregulated sites, causing a 40% surge in illegal platform activity and a 70% decline in regulated operator usage. While Remolona expressed hope that regulatory bodies would address the situation, he noted the BSP lacks direct oversight over online gambling operations.
Having only been delisted a handful of months ago, a return to the grey list would be a major setback for the Philippines’ international banking reputation and foreign investment outlook.
Skill or spill: India’s GST gamble goes to the wire
India’s Supreme Court has reserved its verdict in a major GST case affecting online gaming platforms, with tax claims totaling RS 2.5 lakh crore ($29bn) – making it one of the largest disputes in Indian legal history. The Centre has requested additional time to file supplementary submissions, extending the uncertainty for major operators.
The case centres on whether skill-based games should be classified differently from gambling for GST purposes. Industry bodies argue that online skill games are fundamentally distinct from gambling and shouldn’t face the same tax framework. They’ve challenged the Government’s classification of game stakes as “actionable claims” and rejected casino-based tax methods like “House Advantage” as speculative.
The outcome will significantly impact India’s regulatory environment and clarify the distinction between skill-based entertainment and chance-based gambling for taxation.
Executive excellence: Entain ANZ finds its permanent pilot
Andrew Vouris has officially stepped up from Interim CEO to permanent CEO of Entain’s Australia and New Zealand operations, following a global search that ultimately concluded he was the right fit. Vouris took the interim role in June after Dean Shannon’s departure following nearly six years at the helm, coinciding with the completion of the AML/CTF Uplift Programme.
With extensive regional experience from nearly 10 years at Tabcorp and previous roles at Unikrn (which Entain acquired), Vouris brings valuable industry knowledge. He has vowed to foster a “win, but not at all costs culture” while focusing on innovation and customer protection.
His appointment hopes to provide stability during a period when Betr’s Matt Tripp has reportedly considered acquiring Entain’s Australian operations, though Entain would likely retain its lucrative New Zealand partnership with Tab NZ.
