SBC Eurasia Editorial Team is happy to present a quick recap of the gambling industry events, news, regulations and partnerships that happened last week.
Evolution CEO Martin Carlesund revealed the situation for the firm in Georgia is “stable” with its studio currently operating at around 60% capacity, a level that it hopes will remain after significant disruption caused by union strike action. While Kazakhstan’s Committee for the Regulation of Gambling Business and Lotteries has added 1,820 internet resources to its list of banned sites, as they were identified as unlicensed online casinos.
At the SBC Summit in Lisbon, Thomas Donson, Head of Trading at DATA.BET, discussed with SBC’s Content Director Ted Menmuir the differences in the needs of esports users and clients of traditional sportsbook platforms.
Additionally, SBC is raising the bar with Brazilian DJ megastar Alok headlining the unmissable INFINITY Rio party on 27 February at SBC Summit Rio 2025. Building on the incredible success of the first INFINITY edition in Lisbon, Alok’s world-class talent, global fame, and electrifying sets will ensure yet another unforgettable night of high-energy music, creating an extraordinary closing experience as the industry’s biggest party, INFINITY, makes its Brazilian debut in Rio.
The Senate of Brazil has “partially delayed” the Commission of Inquiry (CPI) investigations aimed at reviewing the laws, standards, and protections of the Bets regime. While Sportradar has signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement with the Brazilian Ministry of Finance, through the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting.
In 2023, the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic approved amendments to the Czech Gambling Act and the accompanying Act on Gambling Tax. Ivan Kurochkin, a partner at 4H Agency, observes a year of profound changes for Czech gambling, with a total of 65 new rules overhauling licensing requirements, promoting safer gambling, strengthening enforcement measures, and adjusting taxation.
Superbet Group has become a new operator to join the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA). While Nigeria has taken steps to significantly shift its gambling framework through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UK.
The French government has withdrawn “proposed amendments” to the 2025 budget to pass laws and launch the online casino market. While following lobbying from the government of Malta, the European Commission (EC) has announced the extension of Italy’s new tender for online gambling concessions.
iGaming Ontario (iGO) has once again reported total wagers of over CAD$18bn in its second quarter of 2024-25 fiscal year report (Q3 2024), with online casino having an 86% share of the Canadian province’s total wagers. While Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has seen a strong period of growth, recording a 42% year-on-year revenue growth in the first nine months of 2024.
Better Collective revised its 2024 forecast, reducing the expected full-year revenue from €395–425 million to €355–375 million ($418–450 million to $376–397 million) and EBITDA before special items from €130–140 million to €100–110 million ($138–148 million to $106–116 million). Additionally, Better Collective has announced that it will enter an optimization process to improve group performance following major acquisitions and shifts in key market outlooks.
Betsson achieved its eleventh consecutive quarter of growth with its third-quarter 2024 results, generating group revenues of €280 million, up 18% on its 2023 results of €237 million.
Kindred Group has submitted a request to delist its Swedish Depository Receipts (SDRs) from the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange following the completion of its acquisition by Groupe Française des Jeux (FDJ) and the initiation of a buyback procedure for the remaining shares.
Caesars Entertainment has completed the sale of the intellectual property rights to the World Series of Poker (WSOP) brand to NSUS Group, the parent company of GGPoker. While Cherry AB is reportedly shifting towards the sale of its online gambling subsidiary, ComeOn Gaming.
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou announced the launch of easyBet.net. Synonymous with low-cost airline easyJet ,the venture marks the entry of an easy® brand for sports betting audiences. While Aristocrat Gaming has been granted permission to operate in the United Arab Emirates following approval from the official General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA).
Las Vegas Sands has announced it will spend $8 billion on its new integrated resort tower in Singapore. The project will be a fresh change from the core expansion of its Marina Bay Sands portfolio.
Sky Sports and BBC have announced a five-year extension for broadcasting the Women’s Super League (WSL). While Tabcorp and 1/ST CONTENT have linked up with The Jockey Club of Turkiye (TJK) to deliver domestic Turkish Racing to Australian fans via Sky Racing.
Stay tuned for more news this week and subscribe to our Telegram channel!
