The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) expresses itself in an op-ed, published today in Sweden’s largest newspaper Aftonbladet, about financial market minister Niklas Wykman’s statement that “It should not be a politically ordered task for a state company to operate casinos”. The minister made the statement in an op-ed in Aftonbladet due to his announcement that the government intends to close Sweden’s last land-based casino, located in central Stockholm.

In a response from BOS, Secretary General Gustaf Hoffstedt welcomes the minister’s principled statement about the inappropriateness of running state casinos. Hoffstedt also reminds the minister that the state continues to do exactly that online and that the same principled stance should also apply online.

-We welcome this principled firm stance on the part of the minister and foresee that a winding down of the state as a commercial operator in the casino market can take place during the mandate period, which extends until 2026, says Gustaf Hoffstedt.

Leading sportsbook goes live with full multi-product offering across key market

Altenar, a leading sportsbook and iGaming software provider, has obtained a B2B licence in Greece, expanding its outreach across another established European territory.

The company, which already has an office in Athens, has secured a licence from the Hellenic Gaming Commission, boosting Altenar’s presence in the country and adding a Greek licence to its already comprehensive portfolio.

Altenar’s expertise reaches more than 50 countries where gambling is legalised and the Greek licence, which is valid for seven years, paves the way for the company to offer its services in a new jurisdiction.

Since the introduction of the new regulatory framework, online betting in Greece has emerged as a success story, with the country undergoing robust growth, as market data shows tax revenues expected to reach €540,000,000 this year and the creation of numerous job opportunities.

Marina Zacharopoulou, Compliance Manager at Altenar, said: “The process of obtaining a licence for Altenar was rigorous, albeit familiar due to our experience with similar procedures in other jurisdictions. While we encountered typical challenges along the way, we navigated them smoothly.

“Achieving a Greek licence holds special significance for Altenar, as a considerable portion of our team is Greek, making it feel like a homecoming. Personally, I believe that Greece’s historical connection to games of chance, evident in the popularity of gambling in ancient times and the presence of deities like Tyche, adds cultural resonance to our licensure.

“Securing our presence in Greece through licensure not only demonstrates our commitment to regulatory compliance but also positions us to capitalise on the country’s expanding market.”

Novibet, a global leader in online betting, has announced that it has selected FullCircl’s identity solutions platform, W2, as its new digital compliance partner. The partnership will help Novibet meet regulatory compliance requirements and ensure its customers gamble in a safe and secure environment.

The solution W2 has designed for Novibet strikes the perfect balance between compliance and customer engagement. A suite of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) solutions provides the bookmaker with access to global sanctions, Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs), and watchlist data from key jurisdictions across South America, North America, and the EU, through a single API access point. Screening millions of records per month for Novibet prevents money laundering at initial onboarding stage, through ongoing monitoring, and at point of transaction. This ensures a swift journey for Novibet’s ever-growing customer base, whilst protecting its reputation.

Giannis Papastamou, Head of Customer Compliance & Group MLRO at Novibet, said: “W2 came highly recommended by DTI Solutions, a leading cyber security integrator to the gambling industry. This collaboration underscores our dedication to maintaining the highest standards of regulatory compliance and ongoing player protection while delivering a seamless and secure gaming experience for our customers. Based on what we’ve seen so far, we’re already keen to explore ways to integrate more of the W2 product suite into our platform.”

Jess Whitehouse, Head of Customer Success, Identity Solutions at FullCircl commented: “We are delighted that Novibet has selected W2 by FullCircl. We’re providing them with a best practice approach to gambling compliance, including non-intrusive identity verification checks that balance the need for customer due diligence (CDD) with frictionless onboarding and superior player experience. I would also like to thank our trusted partner DTI for their role in bringing this partnership to fruition.”