Thrills & Chills: The World Cup is here

Research evidence excerpt

Thrills & Chills: The World Cup is here

12 June 2026

Thrills & Chills

Entain calls for block on UK trade marks for unlicensed operators. Next.io

reported that Entain identified a regulatory disparity enabling unlicensed

gambling operators to register UK trademarks, thus conferring commercial

legitimacy. This practice, exemplified by a sample of 18 gambling brands,

contradicts Section 33 of the Gambling Act 2005, which criminalizes operating

gambling facilities without a license. Entain proposed reforms, including applying

public policy provisions within trademark law to illegal commercial activities and

mandating a valid Gambling Commission license for trademark registration. The

Intellectual Property Office (IPO) acknowledged Entain's concerns and initiated

discussions, though it highlighted limitations within the current legal framework.

The IPO stated that trademark objections based on public policy or legal

prohibitions pertain to the intrinsic properties of the mark, not the applicant's

actions or usage. The IPO also confirmed the absence of a trademark approval

system comparable to Companies House rules for restricted company names and

affirmed the enforcement of sanctions against Russia, which extend to

intellectual property rights.

Ubisoft Restructuring. Ubisoft has commenced a restructuring initiative, as

reported by Insider Gaming and LesEchos, which could affect ~380 employees.

This action is consistent with efforts to optimize operational efficiency and reduce

expenditures. Media accounts indicate the restructuring encompasses the

closure of studios in Winnipeg (~65 employees) and Belgrade (~100 employees),

a proposed realignment of activities at the Barcelona studio resulting in ~51

redundancies, and modifications within the global Publishing organization,