SBC CIS Editorial Team is happy to present a quick recap of the gambling industry events, news, regulations and partnerships that happened last week.
Groove is attending the inaugural SBC Summit Tbilisi, a conference and exhibition with a focus on Georgia and the wider region. The company is a major investor in Georgia, having been present for a number of years with a full-scale team operating from the capital Tbilisi, as part of the company’s expanding international infrastructure. At SBC Summit Tbilisi, Groove will be showcasing their new data-driven B2B Recommender, which helps operators sift through content and match it most effectively to markets.
Raimonds Elbakjans, former basketball player from Latvia and an evangelist of the youth culture and street sports project Ghetto Games, will be talking about the unlimited perspectives that street sports provide in an exclusive presentation at the SBC Summit Tbilisi. Raimonds Elbakjans’ presentation on “The Untapped Potential of Street Sports” will be a highlight at the Innovation Stage conference, part of the main day of the SBC Summit at the Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace Hotel. This flagship event covers online gaming and sports betting for Georgia as well as neighbouring regions including Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Balkans.
Armenia is set to open its doors to international online casinos as the government of the republic adopts the appropriate legislation. The draft law on permitting the activities of foreign sports betting and online casino companies in the Republic of Armenia was approved by the Finance, Credit and Budget Commission of the National Assembly of Armenia. Under this law, foreign companies must comply with the same licensing conditions as local companies. Those wishing to place bets at online casinos must open a special account in advance. You can only top up this account yourself. This initiative will allow the authorities to increase transparency in the gambling sector.
VBET, an online sports betting and casino brand, has introduced Serhiy Rebrov as its new Brand Ambassador. The former Dynamo Kyiv striker, who also played for Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United in England and Fenerbahce in Turkiye, played 75 matches and scored 15 goals for the national team. He has also been a coach of Dynamo Kyiv, Al Ahly SC in Saudi Arabia, Ferencvárosi TC in Hungary and Al Ain FC in UAE, and gained recognition in 2015 and 2016 as one of the world’s top 50 managers by FourFourTwo. In his role as a Brand Ambassador, Rebrov will be one of the key faces of Vbet, especially in the field of sports betting and football.
ESPN reinforced its commitment to stay an exclusive broadcaster of the Dutch elite football league Eredivisie until 2030 after all 18 clubs approved a deal worth €750 million. The new agreement includes rights to all Eredivisie matches, as well as all matches in the men’s second division and women’s Dutch Premier League from 2024.
Nick “Nickmercs” Kolcheff, who has been streaming exclusively on Twitch for over a decade, has become the latest gaming mega-talent to be lured away by rising rival company KICK. The one-year agreement, worth about $10 million, calls for him to broadcast live primarily, but not exclusively, on the new platform beginning in late October, according to people familiar with the deal.
Betsson prolonged its sponsorship agreement with Greek basketball team AEK BC, deepening its influence in the country’s sports marketing. This is the third consecutive season that the NASDAQ-listed online gambling company has remained a key partner of the club, especially important in its 100th anniversary year. AEK BC announced that it will be renamed AEK Betsson BC, which is in line with the operator’s marketing strategy to diversify its sports partnerships in Greece.
TaDa Gaming has received a critical gaming services license (B2B license) from the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). This event was an important step in TaDa Gaming’s development to provide an exceptional gaming experience to players around the world. TaDa Gaming is a team of experienced game developers committed to creating top-notch original gaming experiences. The company’s portfolio includes online video slots, bingo, table games, fishing and exciting crash games.
Evoplay announced that it closed the first half of 2023 with a new record, thanks to rapid growth and expansion. The growth trajectory of the game development studio continued in the first half of the year, driven by strong product launches and commercial momentum. Evoplay names an increase of the partner network as one of the key success factors in the first half of the year. The number of network partners has increased by 34% compared to the same period last year and includes deals with Sportingtech, Solverde.pt and 7bet. The studio’s GGR increased by 84% year-over-year, the number of bet rounds increased by 104% year-over-year, and content engagement increased by 85% year-over-year with the release of 32 new games.
Softswiss True partner, together with innovative casino game provider TrueLab Game Studios, successfully implemented NFT gamification mechanics into the Victoria Wild West game using True’s online gambling solution. Now, six months after the launch of the project, the team is ready to sum up the interim results. The Wild West themed Victoria Wild West slot game is the first product on the market to fully integrate NFT gamification mechanics. This innovative experience brings together fast-growing areas of iGaming and NFTs, with the goal of increasing player engagement and retention.
REEVO announced its partnership with international brand Cbet.gg, which has quickly gained popularity in the online world by providing sports betting and casino experiences. As part of this partnership, Cbet.gg will integrate REEVO’s diverse range of premium content into its dynamic platform, leveraging REEVO’s state-of-the-art aggregator and unified API for seamless access to leading content providers.
Reevo has recently received a certification in Bulgaria and celebrated the success by partnering with Inbet, Reevo’s first partnership in the region. The agreement provides for the provision of a variety of slot machines and table games.
UFC, the world’s leading mixed martial arts promoter, and Spribe, developer of the innovative social game Aviator, announced a multi-year marketing partnership that will enable Spribe to generate significant revenue during the UFC’s biggest events. Under the terms of the agreement, Spribe will receive prominent branding on select UFC and Fight Night pay-per-view events, including a spot on the world-famous Octagon and brand integration into live television coverage. The agreement also includes the creation of a brand ambassador fund that will further develop partnerships through appearances, content and creative campaigns with UFC athletes.
Spribe and Quantum Gaming became partners to pursue their commitment to continuously delivering high-quality games and services to the iGaming industry. Spribe has a rich history of innovation, starting its journey in November 2018 and in a short time achieving significant industry success. One of Spribe’s key achievements was the release of their flagship game Aviator in January of 2019. The game became an instant hit, capturing the attention of players and establishing the company as an important figure in the industry.
Orbital Gaming signed an exclusive partnership agreement with the Georgian casino asvla.com. Asvla.com, a leading Georgian casino, is distinguished for its unique design and exciting games that skillfully combine excitement and entertainment. With a wide selection of games ranging from exciting slots to classic table games and live dealer games, asvla.com offers a rich experience to suit every gaming preference. Reliability, safety and honesty are the basic principles on which the gambling world is built.
Hacksaw Gaming continued its successful expansion into the LatAm market after the company’s slot machines gained access to the country through a partnership with Betplay. Under the terms of the agreement, Hacksaw successfully debuted in Colombia, bringing its unique gaming content to the online casino operator and its ever-growing audience of players.
Slotegrator has expanded its partner network by partnering with renowned casino slot machine supplier SYNOT Games. SYNOT Games is a leading game developer committed to innovation and excellence. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, they specialise in creating unique slot machines, combining stunning graphics with an optimal level of gaming experience. Their unwavering commitment to the highest quality ensures that players are left delighted and thoroughly enjoy the entertainment.
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