Latest News
Norway’s Gambling Monopoly System Safest for Players, Norwegian Gaming Authority Head Says
Norway decided to retain the long-standing gambling monopoly model as it considered it was the one that would provide the safest environment for local players, Atle Hamar, Director General of the Norwegian Gaming Authority (Lotteri- og stiftelsestilsynet) said during the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) conference in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The important event was opened on October 16, gathering together representatives of the gambling regulators of a number of regulated jurisdictions to discuss the current state and the future of the global gambling industry.
The Norwegian Gaming Authority’s head further said during this year’s edition of the IAGR’s annual conference that they are committed to protecting Norway’s regulated market against gray market operations.
It is important to note that gambling services in the Scandinavian country are currently provided by two state-run entities – Norsk Rikstoto, which is responsible for the nation’s horse racing industry, and Norsk Tipping, which runs different other non-horse racing gambling operations.
While international operators are not licensed and authorized to operate in the country, the local market, just as other Scandinavian markets, has long been particularly luring to a number of online gaming and betting brands.
The potential regulation of international remote gambling operations was previously discussed by Norwegian lawmakers, but it became known late last year that the country would keep its monopoly system.
Norway’s Decision to Keep the Status Quo
Last December, Norway’s Minister of Culture presented a white paper on the state of the country’s gambling industry. According to the report’s findings, there was no need for re-regulation of the local market and that the existing monopoly system had proved to be the most efficient one and that it should be maintained.
Norway is not the only Scandinavian country where regulated gambling services are provided by state-run organizations. Sweden and Finland have been maintaining a similar model for quite some time now. Denmark, on the other hand, regulated its market in 2012 in a manner that opened it for interested international operators. Facing growing pressure from the European Union, Sweden and Finland have also considered scrapping the monopoly model, but it is yet to be seen whether they will eventually part with the long-standing status quo.
Earlier this year, Swedish officials released the results from a probe into the country’s gambling industry. The report recommended the introduction of a licensing system that would allow international operators to operate in a regulated environment. It is believed that Sweden will prepare and enact the necessary legislation by early 2019. Sweden’s gray market has been growing exponentially in recent years and it is believed that it was that trend that triggered the eventual implementation of a new regulatory framework.
Unlike its Scandinavian neighbors, Norway is not part of the European Union, which means that lawmakers will not be facing outside pressure to nix the monopoly system and that it is only up to them to decide when and if it should be nixed.
Latest News
ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO LAUNCHES ULTIMATE SIMULATOR USING MOTION TECHNOLOGY TO RECREATE F1 RACING
- The motion simulators, available as a limited run, are built by Memento Exclusives – Aston Martin Aramco’s sim and show car partner
- The newly developed simulator launch commemorates with Fernando Alonso’s recent 400th F1 race at the recent 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix
- Collectors and gamers can visit f1authentics.com to learn more
Aston Martin Aramco F1® Team is bringing its fans closer than ever to the experience of becoming an F1® driver, with the launch of brand-new motion simulators.
Motion simulators are created by an expert team at Memento Exclusives – the memorabilia specialist based in Motorsport Valley – utilising the same processes as F1® teams, to offer an unrivalled racing experience. Designed to recreate the famous race cars seen on the tracks, these Aston Martin Aramco’s Motion Simulators boast high tech systems which aim to immerse the racer, offering them the chance to experience every twist and turn around iconic racing circuits.
Aston Martin Aramco F1® Team and Memento Exclusives have made simulators available to the public in iconic racing green before, but adding movement to the simulation experience is set to take sim racing to new heights. Each motion simulator has been developed in partnership with the race team at Silverstone, and features haptic actuators, a front pivot configuration and haptic rumble feedback. This advancement offers gamers and racers true authenticity, with the motion of a real F1® car accurately emulated from the moment they jump into the cockpit.
Motion simulators are just one of the ways Aston Martin Aramco F1® Team is innovating with technology in recent times. Lance Stroll has been noted for his sim work over the years and revealed ahead of the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix that he partially rehabilitated a broken wrist by practicing in a simulator. He famously went on to finish sixth in that race. Spanish legend Fernando Alonso, who recently celebrated his 400th Grand Prix at the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix, has also lent his voice to emerging technology with Ai.lonso – offering visitors to the Aston Martin Aramco website the ability to hear selected articles read in his voice in multiple languages.
Barry Gough, CEO & Founder of Memento Exclusives (F1 Authentics) commented: “We are delighted to announce the next phase in our partnership with Aston Martin Aramco; these motion simulators take sim racing to the next level, providing gamers and racers with the closest experience to racing an actual F1 car. This launch, commemorating Fernando Alonso’s 400th Grand Prix and recognising Lance Stroll’s history with simulators, is a testament to this partnership and the technological advancements here at Memento Exclusives, offering new ways for fans to own the moment.”
Matt Chapman, Head of Licensing and Merchandise, Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® Team: “This is a really exciting collaboration with our partner Memento Exclusives, bringing the world of Formula One to life for sim racers, collectors and our fans alike. The look and feel of the motion simulator makes it an immersive experience and the addition of movement builds upon the previous simulators we have collaborated on together.”
Aston Martin Motion Simulators are only available in limited numbers and via f1authentics.com or Memento Exclusives’ private sale service.
Asia
Gujarat Titans’ Inaugural “Titans Rising” BGMI Tournament Crowns Champion, Sets Stage for Future Esports Initiatives
Gujarat Titans is thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of the first-ever “Titans Rising” BGMI tournament, held from October 6th to 27th, 2024. The tournament showcased the incredible talent and passion within the Indian BGMI community, culminating in a thrilling Grand Finale showdown on October 27th. The first ever Titans Rising champions were MOGO Esports.
In a unique gesture that bridged the gap between traditional sports and Esports, the selected players of the 2024 “Titans Rising” tournament will interact and play alongside Gujarat Titans cricket players in a special mixed-team event during the 2025 season. Marquee Esports athletes and gaming content creators like Tanmay “Sc0utOP” Singh, Deepak “Sensei” Negi and many others will be seen collaborating with Gujarat Titans for some exciting content projects in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League. This initiative will not only provide a unique and rewarding experience for the winning team but also create exciting crossover content for fans of both cricket and Esports.
“Titans Rising” was designed to provide a platform for aspiring BGMI players across India to compete at the highest level. The tournament structure featured a tiered qualification system, starting with open qualifiers that were accessible to all. The overwhelming interest and reach of the tournament was evident with 2,048 teams registered for the open qualifiers. These teams battled it out with winners advancing through the pre-quarters, quarter-finals, and semi-finals. The pre-quarter finals saw the qualified teams pooled with 32 invited professional teams, raising the stakes and intensity of the competition.
Fans across the country had front-row seats to the action, as the entire tournament was broadcast live on the official Gujarat Titans YouTube channel. This broadcast generated impressive viewership metrics: 3.2 million views and 287,000 watched hours. Over 50 Million impressions and 2.1 Million engagements were recorded across GT’s YouTube and social media platforms during the tournament. These numbers underscore the significant reach and engagement of the tournament, solidifying Gujarat Titans’ prominent presence within the Esports community.
A substantial prize pool of ₹2,200,000 was up for grabs, rewarding the top-performing teams and players for their skill and dedication. Beyond the team prizes, individual awards such as “Most Valuable Titan,” “Man of the Maps,” and “Best IGL” recognized exceptional individual contributions and further fueled the competitive spirit. Apart from these gratifying accolades, the Titans Rising tournament honoured the hustle of young and aspiring e-athletes with awards like “Rising Titans” and “Rising Titans Squad” that aim to empower those who wish to rise in ranks within the world of Esports.
On the success of the first ever Esport tournament organized by any IPL Team, Col. Arvinder Singh, COO-Gujarat Titans said, “”We’re thrilled by the success of Titans Rising and the enthusiastic response of our fans. As the first IPL franchise to enter the Esports arena, Titans Rising created a unique experience that was enjoyed by a new set of fans while providing another avenue of engagement for our existing fan base. Gujarat Titans shall continue to explore new and contemporary avenues to further enhance engagement with our fans and supporters.”
Gujarat Titans is committed to nurturing the growth of the community and creating opportunities for aspiring players. “Titans Rising” is not just a one-off event but a cornerstone of Gujarat Titans’ long-term Esports strategy.
Industry News
Gaming Corps to launch with lotteries in the USA via EQL games deal
In-demand content provider extends reach into largest iGaming market in the world with its full suite of games made available via iLottery aggregation platform
Gaming Corps, a publicly-listed game studio based in Sweden renowned for creating industry-leading games, has made its debut in the US market through a breakthrough agreement with leading lottery provider, EQL Games.
The distribution agreement will see Gaming Corps’ full suite of games made available to EQL Games’ powerful iLottery Aggregation Platform, developed to provide lottery operators across America with direct access to a portfolio of proprietary and third-party games.
Following the integration, EQL Games’ lottery operator partners will be offered proven Slots, Table Games, Multiplier Games, Mine Games and Plinko Games, as well as titles under Gaming Corps’ innovative and trademarked Smash4Cash™ series.
The deal and integration come at a time of growing demand among online lottery operators in the US for non-traditional content, a format that Gaming Corps has excelled in, especially with its Smash4Cash™ games, which have been a hit with players in global markets.
EQL’s aggregation platform has been developed to allow online lottery operators to quickly and easily access content from multiple game studios simultaneously through one integration and one commercial agreement.
Its iLottery Aggregation platform simplifies the process of adding new games to an online lottery brand across regulated states. In addition to the third-party content provided via its aggregator platform, EQL Games has a portfolio of in-house titles.
This includes games produced under licence with Team USA which were rolled out by several state lotteries for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris this year, with new titles being planned ahead of the Winter Games in Milan (2026) and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles (2028).
Juha Kauppinen, CEO of Gaming Corps, said: “The USA has always been somewhat of the holy grail for game developers like us, which has been further emphasised as markets in several states have become regulated. The potential in the American market is enormous, and the impact for us is a bit difficult to assess, but we have great hopes for the collaboration with EQL Games, which has an impressive platform towards U.S. lotteries.
“We believe it will have a significantly positive impact on our revenues. I would like to personally take the opportunity to thank EQL Games and Brad Cummings for the collaboration, and we are now working hard to complete the integration so that all our games will be offered to EQL’s customers via their platform.”
Brad Cummings, CEO of EQL Games, added: “Including Gaming Corps as a supplier to the EQL Games iLottery Aggregator is an exciting step forward in our mission to offer unique, high-quality content to state lotteries. Gaming Corps’ expertise in iGaming, along with their unique game portfolio, fits perfectly with our vision of enhancing the lottery experience through dynamic and engaging content.”
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