About the Author

The crypto casino sector continues to evolve in regulated, crypto-friendly jurisdictions, with a focus on enhancing compliance and implementing blockchain-enabled operations.

CryptoCasino.com has launched its rebranded Web3 betting platform, backed by SharpLink Gaming's strategic investment and minority stake in the operating company. The update positions the site as a leading decentralized casino and sports betting destination, emphasizing Ethereum infrastructure alongside planned expansions to Layer 2 solutions and other high-performance networks.

Bluff is set to launch its full platform, combining crypto casino gaming, prediction markets, and financialised entertainment in a unified, on-chain environment.

Polymarket, the decentralized crypto-based prediction market platform, has been blocked in Portugal and Hungary following regulatory determinations that its event-contract trading constitutes unauthorized gambling. The Portuguese Gaming Regulatory Authority (SRIJ) and Hungary’s Supervisory Authority for Regulated Activities issued the restrictions, citing a lack of licensing and prohibitions on betting related to political events. The moves underscore growing European regulatory pressure on blockchain-enabled betting products.

Risk is often treated as a single concept in crypto. In practice, it comes in very different forms depending on whether exposure comes from gambling or investing.

HyperBet has launched a fully decentralized crypto casino platform on the Base blockchain, offering over 1,000 games and integrated sports betting.

BC.Game launches an upgraded crypto sportsbook with faster on-chain bet settlement.

Canadian rapper Drake has been accused of leveraging an online gambling platform partnership to artificially inflate streaming numbers for his music, reigniting debate around celebrity crypto-gambling endorsements and disclosure standards. The allegations, which surfaced across social media and industry commentary between January 6–7, centre on claims that high-visibility gambling content and wager-linked promotions may have been used to drive coordinated play and engagement around specific music releases.

Shuffle.com, a prominent cryptocurrency-only online casino and sportsbook, has disclosed a significant data breach impacting the majority of its users. The incident originated from a cyberattack on the third-party CRM provider Fast Track, compromising sensitive personal data, including full names, email addresses, home addresses, phone numbers, transaction histories, and betting patterns. Operated by Natural Nine B.V. under a Curacao license, Shuffle.com handles substantial volume, processing over $2 billion in monthly wagers across 17 supported cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Litecoin.

Operators shift their focus to licensed markets like Curacao and Malta to strengthen legitimacy.

The Curacao Gaming Authority has implemented stricter regulatory measures for online gambling operators, including those that handle cryptocurrencies. These updates mandate enhanced anti-money laundering (AML) protocols, detailed financial reporting, and improved dispute resolution mechanisms. The changes aim to align Curacao's framework with international standards while preserving its position as a leading jurisdiction for crypto-friendly licensing.

Curacao's new licensing regime imposes direct oversight and enhanced AML/KYC requirements for cryptocurrency transactions.

Hyperbet has launched as the first fully decentralized online casino on the Base blockchain, integrating on-chain gaming with a Curacao-issued international license for regulated operations. The platform, backed by 20 years of traditional iGaming expertise, enables wallet-based access to provably fair games without registration, targeting players in crypto-friendly jurisdictions like Europe and Asia. This debut marks a pivotal step toward mainstream adoption of blockchain-based gambling, bridging transparency of smart contracts with compliance standards to enhance trust in the ecosystem.

A new category of blockchain-driven platforms—known as yield casinos—is quietly reshaping how crypto users approach mobile gambling. Instead of treating casino balances as idle funds, these platforms use a combination of DeFi mechanisms and automated smart contracts to grow a player’s balance in the background. Every deposit becomes an earning asset, and every unused coin is placed into protocols that automatically generate yield, creating an experience that blends entertainment with continuous financial activity.

Malta's MGA tightens AML protocols for crypto casinos, striking a balance between innovation and compliance in a maturing market.

MetaWin Casino has introduced a zero-rake roulette game on the Solana blockchain, allowing players to retain their full winnings without incurring operator fees. This on-chain implementation, verified through smart contracts, integrates with the platform's $MWIN staking system for rakeback rewards. The development enhances transparency in crypto gambling by leveraging Solana's high-throughput network, reducing settlement times to seconds and transaction costs to fractions of a cent.