Balkans

Albania to Re-legalise Sports Betting from January 1

Published

1 year ago

October 27, 2022

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Albania is going to reintroduce legal sports betting as of 1 January 2023, four years after it, along with casinos and online gambling, was made illegal.

The decision, which has been on the cards since the summer, will bring much-needed revenue to the government, which faces a debt of over 90%, increasing pressure to subsidise rising energy costs, and calls to support the vulnerable amid the global crisis.

Effective as of the start of next year, sports betting games will now be legal, and it is estimated that some €17 million will be collected in tax each year.

All gambling, except a handful of licensed casinos, was prohibited as of 31 December 2018. Hundreds of betting shops and gambling sites were shut down, and efforts were made to block online sites.

However, gambling continued throughout the country in illegal betting and gambling shops, with arrests occurring almost weekly.

Momentum to legalise sports betting has been growing since August when a coalition of sporting stakeholders petitioned the government to ask for the reinstitution of regulated and supervised sports betting, arguing it can bring much-needed revenue to one of Europe’s poorest countries.

“We are not proposing to open the entire range of gambling, including electronic casinos or bingo halls. Our proposal includes total fiscal transparency, league-regulated online sports betting,” the petition states.

Stakeholders suggest that revenue generated from sports betting be used to support the country’s athletes. The petition specifies that betting should be allowed via certified operators, including local and international brands. In addition, they suggest an age limit and a maximum bet limit.

“The regulation of sports betting by law is a practice followed by many Western countries. In these countries, the income from sports betting is used to develop sports and sports infrastructure and to support the youth,” they argued.

Prime Minister Edi Rama commented on the push stating that if the decision goes ahead, extreme conditions will be imposed, and all revenue will go to sports, culture and youth.

“We will look at this very positively; we will set extreme conditions…these are guaranteed by large international companies, which operate worldwide and operate in the European Union area.”

He added: “I have been obvious that these revenues, which we calculate to be many times more than what we contribute every year, go to sports, culture and youth, but very clearly and dedicatedly, the lion’s share, the sport will take it.”

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Balkans

Expanse Studios Launches in Bulgaria with Inbet

Published

7 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Alan Campbell

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Expanse Studios, a leader in online gaming innovation, has secured a Bulgarian iGaming license and is now live on Inbet’s website. This expansion brings Expanse Studios’ popular game offerings including turn-based strategies gamified for iGaming, classic slots, traditional card games and the highly-acclaimed ones like Titan Roulette, Clown Fever Deluxe, Wild Icy Fruits, White Wild Whale and Joker Poker to Bulgarian players.

Diverse Gaming Portfolio Now Available to Bulgarian Players

With the Bulgarian market entry, Expanse Studios introduces a versatile gaming experience to Inbet’s platform. The offerings include a dynamic range of games tailored to diverse player preferences:

Turn-based strategy games: Leveraging gamification, these games transform traditional strategy gameplay into engaging iGaming experiences, suitable for both novice and experienced players.
Classic slots: Players will enjoy a variety of themed slots that combine traditional gameplay with modern graphics and sound.
Traditional card games: A selection of popular card games offer something for every card game enthusiast.
Titan Roulette: This standout feature, known for its immersive experience and innovative design, continues to be a favorite among roulette players.

Commitment to Quality and Compliance

Expanse Studios not only cultivates a diverse gaming library but also adheres to stringent regulatory standards to ensure a secure and fair gaming environment. The acquisition of the Bulgarian iGaming license is a testament to Expanse Studios’ commitment to compliance and excellence in the gaming industry.

The partnership between Expanse Studios and Inbet marks a significant milestone in Expanse Studios’ expansion efforts. By combining Expanse Studios’ innovative gaming solutions with Inbet’s established market presence, both entities are set to offer a superior gaming experience to players in Bulgaria and potentially beyond. As Expanse Studios continues to develop and release new games monthly, Bulgarian players can look forward to a continually evolving and enriching gaming landscape.

Balkans

Wazdan marks Croatian market entry with PSK partnership

Published

2 days ago

April 24, 2024

George Miller

Wazdan marks Croatian market entry with PSK partnership

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Wazdan, the gain-focused developer behind some of the world’s most rewarding casino game experiences, has entered the Croatian market after signing with PSK, a leading operator in the country.

The provider is taking some of its most acclaimed slots live with the operator, including player-favourites such as 9 Coins™ 1000 Edition, Hot Slot™: Magic Bombs, Burning Stars 3™, which will become available to Croatian players for the very first time.

A prominent operator in the country since 1998, PSK is part of the internationally-known Fortuna Entertainment Group. With over 900 employees and a constantly growing player base, the brand is set to enrich its content offering with Wazdan’s titles.

Croatia marks the newest market entry for Wazdan, which further boosts its impressive European performance as a result of this deal. More partnerships in the country are expected to be announced in due course.

Radka Bacheva, Sales and Business Development at Wazdan: “Croatia is a country that boasts a fantastic amount of potential, so we’re delighted to be entering the market for the very first time with PSK, a top-tier operator.

“We’re bringing a range of our top-performing titles to its platform, and are excited to see the reception from Croatian players towards our mechanics. We’re confident this will be the start of a successful collaboration.”

Martina Pehar, Group Product Specialist at PSK said: “It’s an honour to welcome Wazdan to the Croatian market for the first time as part of this deal – we’ve seen the reception to their dynamic slots across the world, and we’re thrilled to be bringing them to our players.

“Wazdan bring a fantastic collection of their titles to our platform, including standouts such as Power of Gods: Hades and Clover Lady, that we’re sure our customers are going to embrace. We look forward to seeing the results!”

Balkans

Anakatech Incorporates GameArt’s High-Quality Slot Titles into Cutting-Edge Platform

Published

1 week ago

April 18, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Anakatech, a developer of platforms and comprehensive solutions for the iGaming sector, has entered into a partnership with GameArt, a developer of high-quality HTML5 slot games for both online and land-based casino operators. As per the deal, GameArt’s games are now integrated on Anakatech’s gaming platform.

Anakatech offers complete casino solutions with a portfolio of innovative online and mobile games. Through this collaboration, Anakatech enhances its platform by integrating GameArt’s exceptional games, further enriching the gaming experience for its partners and players alike.

Yauheni Charniuk, Account Manager at GameArt, said: “We are delighted to partner with Anakatech as this collaboration enables us to bring our high-quality online slot games to Anakatech’s partners and clients. We look forward to many years of working together!”