The UK Government is preparing to strengthen its powers to tackle businesses and premises suspected of being connected to organised crime, money laundering and other forms of illicit activity on the country's high streets. The proposed measures would significantly extend the period for which certain premises can remain closed while investigations are carried out and would give local authorities greater control over the expansion of gambling venues. At the centre of the propos

The share of Brazil’s online betting activity taking place through illegal operators declined during the first half of 2026, although unlicensed platforms continue to represent a substantial portion of the country’s betting market. A new study, “Sizing and Combating the Illegal Betting Market in Brazil,” estimates that between 38% and 44% of online bets were placed with illegal operators during the first six months of 2026. This represents a decline from the 41% to 51% range

Ireland's financial sector is facing a growing money laundering threat, with new industry research indicating that illicit financial activity has increased significantly over the past two years and that criminal networks are increasingly turning to digital channels to move and conceal their proceeds. The findings highlight the growing challenge for financial institutions as criminals move away from traditional cash-based methods and increasingly exploit digital payments, fint

The United States has significantly narrowed its beneficial ownership reporting requirements, removing the obligation for companies created under U.S. law to disclose their beneficial ownership information to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. The change represents a major reduction in the scope of the Corporate Transparency Act's reporting regime and shifts the focus of the remaining requirements towards certain foreign companies operating in the United States. Under