Balkans
Albanian Socialist Party Pulls Gambling Draft Law from Parliamentary Vote
Update at 15:30 CET (15 Feb. 2024):
Under the direction of the Speaker of the Assembly, Mrs. Lindita Nikolla, the Assembly convened today in the next plenary session.
Under the conditions of holding an abnormal session, caused by the actions of the parliamentary opposition, the session immediately began with the voting of bills according to the agenda.
The session adopted two bills and two project decisions.
The bill “For an addition to law no. 7651, dated 21.12.1992 ‘On official holidays and memorial days'”, as amended, was approved with 74 votes in favor.
The bill “For some additions and amendments to law no. 155/2015, ‘On gambling in the Republic of Albania'”, as amended, was approved with 72 votes in favor. Also, the respective amendments for this bill were approved with 72 votes in favor.
The project decision “For some changes in the Assembly decision no.127/2018 ‘On the approval of the structure, staff, and categorization of job positions of the Institute of Statistics, INSTAT'”, was approved with 74 votes in favor.
The project decision “For the approval of the organizational structure, staff, and classification of salaries of part-time employees of the Central Election Commission”, was approved with 74 votes in favor.
The Albanian parliament was about to vote to reverse a five-year-old ban on online sports betting as the government admitted that it had failed to control the illegal activity. The proposed draft law, which would permit licensing for ten betting companies with prior experience, was scheduled to be voted on Thursday, February 8, 2024, during the plenary session. However, Bledi Cuci, the Chairman of the Socialist Party, unexpectedly withdrew the said law without providing an explanation.
“At the request of the Socialist Party, it was requested to withdraw from the discussion of the draft law on gambling,” the Speaker of the Parliament, Lindita Nikolla, said. “It was approved with 74 votes in favor.”
Nevertheless, the law on allowing online betting activities in Albania shall be returned for a vote in the parliament. After withdrawing from the vote in the session, the parliamentary group of the Socialist Party has decided to modify at least two of the 33 articles.
Among the proposed amendments, the revised draft includes a minimum requirement for foreign shareholders to hold a minimum of 30% stake in competing companies and/or organisations alongside a mandate for substantial experience in the gambling sector across at least three European countries over a period of no less than three years.
Moreover, adjustments to the re-establishment fund have been proposed, with an increase from the initial allocation of 20 million lek to a minimum of 40 million lek. Additionally, several provisions have been also introduced aiming to limit the influence of betting organizers by prohibiting them from sponsoring sports clubs. Furthermore, the roles of the President of the National Football Federation as well as the President of the Olympic Committee in the Licensing Commission have been eliminated.
Additionally, the proposed legislation act is also trying to strengthen oversight with a new clause that mandates state supervision over the activities of concessionary companies responsible for developing and maintaining the central online monitoring system. This oversight will be carried out by the Licensing Commission through regular audits.
Finally, changes were also made in the articles on the winning rate of national lottery players, which was reduced from 80% to ‘not less than 50%’.
This article has been written by Efstathios Pappas – Business Development Associate at Novibet
Balkans
Amusnet Powers BEGExpo’s 15th Edition with its Latest iGaming and Land-based Products
Amusnet is set to be a prominent participant in the 15th edition of the Balkan Entertainment & Gaming Expo (BEGExpo), taking place in Sofia on November 27-28, showcasing its top-tier products across Online Casino, Live Casino and Land-based verticals.
Parallel to the expo, the esteemed casino provider will also participate in the prestigious BEGE Awards 2024, where Amusnet’s CEO, Ivo Georgiev, will be an Honorary Jury member. In this year’s edition, the company has been shortlisted in the following categories: Online Game of the Year and Slot Machine of the Year. Organised by the Association of the Gaming Industry in Bulgaria, the awards celebrate the remarkable impact of companies, organisations, and individuals in driving the positive growth of the gaming industry.
“For Amusnet, as an established leading international player, this expo offers a platform to celebrate excellence and connect with industry stakeholders to drive growth in the Balkans. It also strengthens the regional gaming community, which has a very strong legacy and worldwide recognition. We look forward to making a notable impact with our premium slot cabinets, reflecting our mission to provide full-spectrum gaming entertainment for diverse audiences. Additionally, the slot developed in partnership with Hristo Stoichkov further underscores our dedication to delivering exceptional gaming experiences both locally and globally,” said Ivo Georgiev, CEO at Amusnet.
At BEGExpo, the company will officially present the Type S premium slot cabinets in Bulgaria, its first-ever product series for land-based casinos. It results from an impressive investment and two years of relentless dedication to R&D, technical design, construction, software and game portfolio precision. Powered by AMUSeBox, its slot machine multigame offers an exciting mix of signature and new casino titles, an intuitive interface and easy-to-use filters, which allow players to quickly explore a world of engaging Amusnet casino content, including the newest Stoichkov #8, Extra Crown Classic, Virtual Roulettes and more.
Balkans
NOVOMATIC Presents New Gaming Highlights at the BEGE
Celebrating 15 years of BEGE, Sofia Expo will transform itself again into the epicenter of the regional gaming industry from November 27-28. The annual gathering invites the industry’s key manufacturers, suppliers and customers for two days of business and networking. NOVOMATIC, as Europe’s largest gaming technology group, is naturally participating with a first-rate product range and unrivalled offerings dedicated to the Balkan markets.
The appealing DIAMOND X 1.55J cabinet will shine as one of the sophisticated product highlights at the NOVOMATIC stand #2.11, showcasing the latest Linked Progressives, such as CASH FLOOD Link and GODS & LEGENDS Link. Also being presented in the elegant DIAMOND X 1.55J cabinet will be the unique Linked Progressive XTENSION LINK Volume 2, which has quickly become a favourite with operators and players alike, with its clear above-floor average and regular top-floor performances in many casinos across different markets.
Visitors also shouldn’t miss out on the brand-new SUPERIA GAMES Link 1, which comprises 25 classic and recent titles from the renowned player favourites CASH CONNECTION and GOLDEN LINK. Furthermore, the outstanding BLACK EDITION II XL 3.32 will be presented with the exclusive NOVO LINE CASH CONNECTION Edition 4.
The BLACK EDITION II 3.27, with three 27” screens starring the NOVO LINE Edition X4 and Impera Line HD Edition 9, guarantees exciting gaming fun and profitable variety in video slot entertainment.
Visitors can also enjoy an exciting entertainment programme on the NOVOMATIC stand and delicious catering from AdmiralBet Pub.
Miloš Pejić, NOVOMATIC Regional Manager SEE, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming our customers to the extraordinary NOVOMATIC Experience at our stand. Whether you are focused on international markets or the Balkans, our product line up offers the best solution for everyone. We invite you to visit us, meet our team, and discover the best product variety for your needs. See you in Sofia!”
Balkans
CT Interactive Shortlisted in Two Categories at BEGE Awards 2024
CT Interactive has announced that it was shortlisted in two categories for the upcoming prestigious BEGE Awards 2024. The company has been recognised for its exceptional contributions to the online gaming industry by being among the finalists for Online Game of the Year for the innovative and engaging game Doctor Winstein Buy Bonus and Online Provider of the Year.
The BEGE Awards, which celebrate excellence and innovation in the gaming and entertainment industry, will be held on November 27, 2024, at the Club Black & White in the Grand Hotel Millennium, Sofia.
This year’s nominations reflect CT Interactive’s dedication to creating top-tier gaming experiences and its continuous efforts to push boundaries in the online gaming world.
“Being recognised in these two categories is a testament to the hard work and creativity of our entire team. We are thrilled to be among the industry’s finest at the BEGE Awards once again,” said Monika Zlateva, CCO at CT Interactive.
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