SBC CIS Editorial Team is happy to present a quick recap of the gambling industry events, news, regulations and partnerships that happened last week.
Swedish Gaming Authority (Spelinspektionen) announced it had issued three gaming software licenses (B2B) for a period of five years. Programutvecklarna i Norrköping AB, Skill On Net and Synot Games will become the first licensed software providers in Sweden from 1 July 2023. The purpose of introducing B2B licensing requirements is to promote the development of systems to prevent illegal gambling.
The EU urged regulators and industry bodies to perform an increased level of due diligence when conducting financial transactions with high-risk countries. The prompt follows the update by the European Commission (EC) of the terms of reference for the High Risk Third Country Directive in December 2022. The Directive defines high-risk third countries with strategic deficiencies in the area of combating money laundering (AML) and the financing of terrorism (CFT). The gambling business, along with banking and insurance, is recognized as a high-risk sector, which requires the respective companies to be particularly vigilant in relation to high-risk transactions involving third countries.
In Georgia (Sakartvelo), as a result of new gambling regulations, almost 1,5 million people were banned from gambling. Additionally, 4,901 individuals were listed as addicted. Among these, 34 were registered by the court order, while 4,867 were self-registered. According to the new legislative regulations, citizens under the age of 25, socially vulnerable individuals, public employees, individuals blacklisted by courts and those who apply to the Revenue Service to request self-restriction are banned from gambling starting from March 2022.
In Belarus, 1xBet announced that it will no longer accept bets through virtual betting sites on its current domain (1xbet.by) and encouraged its customers to apply for refunds. In its statement, the company said that the funds can be received both in cash and in non-cash form.
Betera, the leader in the Belarussian gambling market, announced their partnership with FC Juventus, one of the strongest and most titled clubs in Italy. Betera has received the status of an official betting partner in the CIS region and will run unique promotions for customers, including a number of exclusive content campaigns and special contests for customers. The contract is valid until the end of the 2023/24 season.
Evoplay believes Latin America will become the next global gaming titan. In a recent interview, the company’s CEO Ivan Kravchuk told SBC CIS about the markets where he sees the biggest potential for growth and how their football-themed games are gaining popularity among the players in the region.
Sportradar released its financial results in 2022. According to the company, revenue in 2022 increased 30% year-on-year and amounted to €730.2 million. Previously, the revenue was projected to be between €718 million and €723 million.
EGT Digital continued its winning streak in Georgia. Well-known local operator Betlive added 18 of the most popular EGT Digital’s games to its portfolio, as well as five single progressive games, enriching the selection of games for players on its betting site.
Playson partnered with Romanian operator LasVegas to further expand its presence in the region. The agreement will allow Las Vegas to provide a wide range of Playson’s games to its growing customer base, giving players the opportunity to experience a variety of slots with different themes and mechanics.
Playtech, a global leader in gaming technology, announced their strategic partnership with DAZN Bet, an innovative new sports betting provider. DAZN Bet aims to transform sports betting by creating an integrated and engaging gaming experience for players, in partnership with a global media and daily sports platform. Both companies intend to expand into new markets, bring new and innovative content to an increasingly diverse consumer base, and improve gaming experience for fans.
CT Interactive signed a strategic agreement with Leris. The partnership will allow CT Interactive to expand its product reach in Slovakia and Czechia and further diversify the content of the slots available on the Leris platform. Through this agreement, Leris customers will be able to take advantage of CT Interactive’s online slots pack. This pack includes games like Fire Egg, Bombay Gems and Cascading Treasure Chase and over 200 slot machines.
Wazdan announced that it has partnered with iGaming content provider Livespins. The company said it is excited about this partnership as players will be able to watch their favorite streamers play exciting games from Wazdan, including their most exciting slots such as: 9 Coins™, Power of Sun™: Svarog, Hot Slot™: 777 Rubies, Magic Spins™, and Burning Sun.
Pragmatic Play, a leading content provider in the iGaming industry, partnered with leading Swiss operator Swiss Casinos to further expand its presence in the regulated market. The supplier’s entire range of slot machines is now available at Swiss Casino, giving players access to over 300 top-notch games. These include the new The Knight King™ and Cowboy Coins™, as well as the Swiss market-tested, multi-award-winning player favorites Sugar Rush™ and Gates of Olympus™.
Betfred, the UK’s largest retail bookmaker, extended its technology agreement with Playtech to meet growing customer demand for new betting products and services. As part of the expanded partnership, Betfred will install more Playtech Self-Service Terminals (SSBTs) in its stores, up 50% over the past two years.
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