SBC Eurasia Editorial Team is happy to present a quick recap of the gambling industry events, news, regulations and partnerships that happened last week.
It was a busy week for the SBC Summit Lisbon, which was attended by, among others, the Minister of Economy of Portugal Pedro Reis and the Mayor of Lisbon Carlos Moedas. The summit promises to deliver significant benefits to the city of Lisbon, with SBC committed to hosting the event at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa for the next five years, ensuring a lasting impact on the local economy.
The Summit is estimated to contribute up to €100 million in economic benefits to Portugal’s budget, boosting Lisbon’s hospitality, tourism, and local services industries.
The Eurasia region continues to offer “tremendously fruitful” prospects for the gambling business. In general, gambling in Central Europe and Eurasia is attracting “significant attention from Western markets,” as noted during the global markets panel session at the SBC Summit.
Moreover, at the SBC Summit, Playtech Live CEO Edo Haitin and MGM Resorts International’s SVP and Head of Interactive, Christian Stuart, revealed the details of a collaboration that will bring live dealer game broadcasts from MGM’s Las Vegas resorts.
Digitain has announced that it has successfully received a UK gambling license. This not only strengthens Digitain’s operations but also expands its presence in Europe, further strengthening its position in the gambling industry. While Pragmatic Play has expanded its sportsbook offering in the UK market through a partnership with DAZN Bet.
The Betting and Gambling Council (BGC) has cautioned the government about the significant dangers posed by the unregulated gambling black market, which many Britons may underestimate. Additionally, Entain has supported the Regulus Partners report, which calls on the UK government to “develop a unified policy to combat the growing threat from illegal operators, aimed at increasing revenue and enhancing player protection.”
SOFTSWISS has aimed to ensure “the highest level of security” for its operator partners by launching the Bug Bounty Program. While BetConstruct CEO Vigen Badalyan unveiled the latest innovative product line. The products offer a different approach to the marketplace that leverages the latest trends in technology.
EveryMatrix aims to “strengthen the interaction” between players and operators with the launch of LoyaltyEngine – a cross-vertical loyalty toolkit.
The Netherlands government has presented its 2025 budget, which includes a gradual increase in gambling taxes. According to the tax plan, the Ministry of Finance will first raise the tax rate from 30.5% to 34.2% in 2025, followed by a further increase to 37.8% in 2026. Additionally, Australia enforced stricter classification rules aimed at protecting children from gambling-related content in video games. The new regulations impose mandatory minimum classifications on games featuring simulated gambling or gambling-like elements.
MGM Resorts has confirmed its formal application for a casino license in Abu Dhabi, becoming only the second operator to confirm plans to enter the market. While Melco Resorts & Entertainment has announced the opening of a sales office in Cyprus, home to its integrated resort City of Dreams Mediterranean, with the aim of increasing the number of international tourists to Macau.
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has announced its first major tournament series since GGPoker said it would be acquiring the brand last month. While Grand Casino Luzern has brought Relax Gaming’s slots to Switzerland for the first time after the pair agreed to a content integration deal.
A long-standing securities class action lawsuit against Wynn Resorts and several former executives has reached a $70 million settlement, pending court approval.
Kindred Group – home to Unibet and 32Red brands in the UK – has announced a new front-of-shirt sponsorship deal with Rangers FC. Additionally, Stats Perform has signed a new long-term deal, further expanding its Bet LiveStreams video service. The agreement grants Stats Perform exclusive rights to distribute live video streams of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) and Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) to licensed international sportsbooks outside the UK.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has announced the renewal and expansion of its partnership with SmartSoft.
Gaming Innovation Group Inc has officially changed its name to Gentoo Media Inc following shareholder approval at a meeting held on September 23, 2024.
British bookmaker Betfred has announced the closure of its online betting platform in Arizona, joining eight other bookmakers that have already exited the state.
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