2021 has greatly changed the landscape of the betting and gaming industry due to the Covid-19 pandemic and legislative changes in many post-Soviet countries. However, 2022 has also brought some big deals and cooperations, the opening of new markets, as well as the new global changes as a result of the war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SBC CIS <\/strong>highlights some of the most important events of the outgoing 2022 year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n January<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The beginning of the year kicked off with major news that online gaming giant Flutter<\/strong> had acquired<\/a> bingo operator Tombola<\/strong> in an all-cash transaction worth \u00a3402m. Flutter asserts that its latest portfolio addition is set to deliver several \u201ckey strategic advantages,\u201d with a diversification of its products, one such benefit previously pinpointed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since new gambling restrictions came into force in Georgia<\/strong> on January 1, the first illegal sites appeared <\/a>in the country. While Belarus<\/strong> raised<\/a> tax rates for the gambling business by 10%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1xBet <\/strong>has become<\/a> the official betting partner of several Brazilian football tournaments<\/strong>. Whereas, the Responsible Gaming Business Association<\/strong> was established<\/a> in Lithuania<\/strong>, which includes more than half of the representatives of the entire gambling market of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Georgian Adjara Group<\/strong>, which owns Setanta Sports, has acquired<\/a> Setanta Ukraine<\/strong> \u2013 its OTT platform launched in Ukraine in the spring of 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n February<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In early February, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)<\/strong> approved<\/a> the first online betting and gaming licenses, with theScore<\/strong> and Pointsbet<\/strong> getting approval. In its turn, Scientific Games<\/strong> has launched<\/a> large-scale retail and digital sports betting and lottery operations with Azerbaijani Demir\u00f6ren Holding<\/strong> lottery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n iGaming software developer Delasport<\/strong> has expanded<\/a> and signed an agreement with TV Global Enterprises<\/strong>, which is part of the Betcris<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On February 24, Russia<\/strong> invaded Ukraine<\/strong> causing a severe impact on the geopolitical situation in the world. Fierce hostilities are continuing to this day. Due to the beginning of the war, affiliates requested<\/a> to temporarily suspend traffic in Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n March<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to the military invasion, March was full of statements from leading companies to leave and impose sanctions against Russia and Belarus. Among them were Parimatch<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>PokerStars<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>NHL<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>Statscore<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>Favbet<\/strong><\/a>, and many others<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Russian businessman Roman Abramovich<\/strong>, in turn, decided<\/a> to sell his Chelsea<\/strong> Football Club<\/strong> and all net proceeds donated to victims of the war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The gambling industry expressed strong support<\/a> for Ukraine \u2013 they created several charitable foundations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the processes do not stand still and Ukraine adopted<\/a> the newest legal regime called Diia.City<\/strong>, relevant to companies engaged in computer programming, software development, IT consulting, and other types of IT activities. 145 companies have already received residency, including FAVBET Tech<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The largest regional sports broadcaster, Setanta Sports<\/strong>, became<\/a> the title sponsor of FC Dinamo Tbilisi<\/strong>, while Olimpbet<\/strong> acquired sponsorships with several teams in Kazakhstan: FC<\/strong> Tobol<\/strong><\/a> and FC Shakhter Karagandy<\/strong><\/a>, as well as<\/a> FC Kyzylzhar, FC Atyrau,<\/strong> and FC Aksu<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the middle of the month, NuxGame<\/strong> announced<\/a> that it now allows the integration of casino gaming content, and SBC<\/strong> became<\/a> the owner of the Canadian Gaming Summit<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n April<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Parimatch<\/strong> officially announced<\/a> it stopped all cooperation with the Russian Federation. Russia was \u201cunplugged\u201d from the Parimatch\u2019s software and cannot use the Parimatch brand on any platform and in any format. In addition, Sportradar<\/strong> has also suspended<\/a> new investment projects in Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The sports television network Setanta Sports Eurasia<\/strong> signed<\/a> a betting partnership with OlyBet<\/strong>. Cooperation extends to the entire Baltic<\/strong> region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Azerbaijan<\/strong> amended<\/a> the law to ban the advertising of illegal gambling and sports betting. Uzbekistan<\/strong> canceled<\/a> the decision to legalize betting. And the Canadian province of Ontario<\/strong> officially launched<\/a> its legal and regulated online gambling market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3 Oaks Gaming<\/strong> entered<\/a> regulated markets, including Georgia, Sweden, Colombia, Romania, <\/strong>and Malta<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Betting company Bettery<\/strong> announced<\/a> the termination of its operations in Russia. All of its existing accounts were transferred to the Fonbet<\/strong> betting platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n May<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Parliament of Kyrgyzstan<\/strong> in the first reading adopted<\/a> a bill to legalize casinos. However, rallies against these amendments were held<\/a> in Bishkek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Betting company Liga Stavok<\/strong> notified<\/a> the Russian Premier League<\/strong> to cancel its multi-billion dollar contract that was supposed to come into force next season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Latvian Saeima<\/strong> (Parlament) submitted<\/a> legislative amendments to limit gambling. Amendments provide for prohibiting persons younger than 21 years from taking part in gambling. At the same time, industry-leading sports betting and online casino operator William Hill<\/strong> reinvigorated<\/a> its sports betting operations in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n June<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Ukrainian Gambling Council (UGC) <\/strong>made<\/a> an official statement on systemic attacks against licensed gambling companies. It was believed that the media war was unleashed by enemies of legalization. Additionally, Parimatch<\/strong> also left<\/a> the market of Belarus<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the middle of the month, the head of the UGC, Anton Kuchukhidze<\/strong>, announced<\/a> that offline gambling establishments were reopened in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Malta<\/strong> was officially removed<\/a> from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)<\/strong> grey list, one year after first being labeled an untrustworthy financial jurisdiction by the global watchdog. However, FATF added <\/a>Gibraltar<\/strong> to its grey list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Parliament of Kyrgyzstan<\/strong> finally voted<\/a> to relegalize land-based gambling and launch online casinos for the first time. The Cabinet of Ministers and the President openly support the legalization of gambling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n July <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Romanian government<\/strong> published<\/a> the country’s new draft Fiscal Code<\/strong>, featuring a tax hike on gambling withdrawals, to as much as 40%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In July, Ukraine celebrated<\/a> two years of its relegalized gambling market. According to CRGL<\/strong>, currently, 19 land-based operators legally operate in the country, 8 casinos and 56 slot machine halls, 17 online operators, 20 service providers, and 4,332 registered gaming equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Slovakian gaming authority <\/strong>announced<\/a> a whitelist for websites run by licensed operators in order to help players recognize which offerings are legal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SBC Summit North America<\/strong> hosted<\/a> the largest and most successful event since its launch in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n August<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n In early August, Flutter Entertainment<\/strong> announced<\/a> it had completed \u20ac1.91 billion acquisition of Italian online gaming firm Sisal<\/strong>. While Ontario<\/strong> issued the first<\/a> license for the land-based casino.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Armenian Digtain<\/strong> expanded<\/a> its client portfolio among global operators and announced a partnership with Pin-Up<\/strong>. In a neighboring country, the Council of Ministers of Azerbaijan<\/strong> amended<\/a> the law on financing the development of physical culture and sports from betting companies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Setanta Sports <\/strong>secured<\/a> an exclusive three-year rights extension in Ukraine with the Premier League <\/strong>to broadcast all 380 games per season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Entain<\/strong> joined forces<\/a> with an investment firm to create a new venture to fuel expansion in Central and Eastern Europe<\/strong> and created Entain CEE<\/strong>. The firm also announced a takeover of SuperSport<\/strong>, a gaming and sportsbook operator in Croatia, for \u20ac600m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n September<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Pinnacle<\/strong> announced<\/a> its entry into the Canadian market. While Parimatch Ukraine<\/strong> and Setanta Sports<\/strong> extended<\/a> their exclusive cooperation until 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the SBC Summit Barcelona<\/strong> remained<\/a> the main and the most important iGaming event of September. The SBC First Pitch<\/strong> and the SBC Awards 2022<\/strong> also were held<\/a> on the second day of the summit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Particular attention was paid<\/a> to the panel \u201cUkraine, CIS & Eastern Europe \u2013 defying the headwinds\u201d<\/strong>. Leading representatives of the industry discussed a wide range of topics, including the tough situation in the region, the challenges, as well as existing regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n October<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Parimatch <\/strong>took another step forward in the Premier League by signing<\/a> a partnership with Newcastle United<\/strong>. In a few days, the Ukrainian company signed <\/a>another partnership with the gaming organization 00Nation<\/strong>. CRGL<\/strong> revoked<\/a> the license previously issued to an owner of the 1xBet<\/strong> brand in the country \u2013 Tvoja Bettingova Companija LLC<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Betsoft Gaming<\/strong> announced<\/a> the launch of its slot gaming titles into the Romanian market with 888casino<\/strong>. BGaming<\/strong>, an online casino development studio, received<\/a> a class II license from the Romanian National Gambling Authority<\/strong>. Following CT Interactive<\/strong>, which also announced<\/a> the release of 20 new slots for Romania. Lately, CT Interactive teamed up<\/a> with Latvian online casino brands synottip.lv<\/strong> and joker.lv.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The number of visitors in the gambling zones of Sochi <\/strong>and Kaliningrad <\/strong>decreased<\/a> by 20% since the beginning of 2022. Playtech<\/strong>, a leading provider of technology to the gaming industry, teamed up<\/a> with PokerMatch<\/strong>, the largest poker room in Eastern Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On January 1, 2023, Albania<\/strong> will reintroduce<\/a> legal sports betting, an activity that in 2018 was banned along with casinos and online gambling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n November<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n At the beginning of the month, the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine <\/strong>decided<\/a> to submit an application to the Verkhovna Rada suggesting abolishing the CRGL<\/strong>. While Belarus <\/strong>planned to increase<\/a> the amount of taxes its government collects from the online gambling sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Parimatch <\/strong>entered<\/a> into a major new partnership with The International 11 <\/strong>runner-up