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Portuguese Regulator Gives Green Light for Shared Liquidity

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Portuguese Regulator Gives Green Light for Shared Liquidity
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Last Thursday, the Portuguese regulatory authority for online gambling – the Serviço Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos – finally approved the regulations Portuguese-licensed operators will have to comply with in order to join the French/Spanish shared liquidity online poker market.  

 

Two weeks after the launch of the French/Spanish online poker market – and several months after anything was last heard from them – the Serviço Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos (SRIJ) finally approved the regulations for cross-border liquidity sharing that will enable online poker players in Portugal to play against their French and Spanish counterparts.

The regulations came into effect on Friday, but – unlike two weeks ago, when PokerStars´ French and Spanish player pools were combined almost immediately – online poker players in Portugal may have to wait a while longer. PokerStars recently said it was hopeful of adding its Portuguese player pool to the shared liquidity market in Q2, and there has not been any sign yet of a change of plan.

New Regulations Closely Mirror Spanish Laws

As well as addressing the technical specifications that will need to be implemented before Portuguese-licensed operators can start cross-border activities, the new regulations include three changes that bring the regulations closer in line to those issued by the Spanish online gaming regulator – the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ).

The first of these concerns the ridiculous “no networks rule” that prevented many online poker operators entering the regulated Portuguese market and allowed PokerStars to create a monopoly. The rule had been widely criticized by players´ organisation, and – despite the small market size – was considered a primary factor for the failure of the regulated market.

A second significant regulation is one that allows Portuguese-licensed operators to share liquidity with platforms in other jurisdictions that the SRIJ considers to be in compliance with its technical specifications. The jurisdictions do not have to specifically be part of the France/Spain/Italy/Portugal shared-liquidity agreement, and exactly how that may work in respect of online poker is a bit of a guess.

However, where the “anybody can join” regulation may prove to be useful is in the third significant regulation – one which allows sports betting between players. This regulation is not intended to promote P2P betting, but could open the door for cross-border betting exchanges. The extra liquidity would undoubtedly help the struggling ring-fenced betting exchanges in Spain and Italy.

No Timeline Yet for Italian Inclusion in Shared Market

It is not known yet when the Italians might publish their regulations for licensed operators to join the shared liquidity market. Back in October last year, there was a fair amount of anti-liquidity sentiment being expressed due to the potential for gambling addiction and money laundering. There were also concerns that PokerStars´ dominance would force several domestic operators out of business.

However, reports coming out of Italy suggest the country is still intending to join the shared liquidity market. Online gaming website GiocoNews recently quoted Italy´s Undersecretary at the Ministry of Economy and Finance – Pier Paolo Baretta – as saying “the agreement will be respected”. Mr Baretta told the website the “technical verification of the liquidity sharing mechanism” was still being investigated.

It is also not known what format the shared liquidity market will finally take. Whereas it was originally intended to be a ring-fenced market for residents of the four regulated countries, Winamax and PokerStars both appear to be allowing players to register accounts from outside the quartet of regulated markets. Whether this practise will be stopped once Portugal and Italy become full members of the shared liquidity market, we shall have to wait and see.

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ECA and AGEM applaud creation of Association Assembly at ICE Barcelona

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ECA and AGEM applaud creation of Association Assembly at ICE Barcelona
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The news that January’s ICE Barcelona will include a major new feature dedicated to global gaming’s most influential trade associations has been welcomed by organisations in Europe and abroad.

Making full use of the additional space at the Gran Via Fira de Barcelona, the first ICE Association Assembly has been created to enable trade bodies to promote their values and create new opportunities for the gaming community across every sector and geography, including both the Brussels-based European Casino Association (ECA) and the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM), the global trade association for gaming equipment suppliers with its primary headquarters in Las Vegas.

Erwin Van Lambaart, Chair of the ECA confirmed: “Our members are already planning their week in Barcelona and they will be at this historic edition of ICE in great numbers. ICE is a pivotal event for the global gaming community and having a show floor feature which will enable us to engage directly with all sectors is a unique opportunity.

“Traditionally, our association’s involvement at ICE and its Conference program has primarily centred around networking and product development orientation—connecting with our members, regulators, suppliers, and fellow trade bodies. However, ICE 2025 marks a significant milestone. For the first time, the ECA will have the chance to fully interface with the global industry supply chain in its entirety. We are looking forward to this unique opportunity to articulate our vision for the future to a diverse and comprehensive audience, where innovation, responsibility and significant partnerships for guest and customer centricity will have centre stage.”

Daron Dorsey, CEO of AGEM added: “We represent the interests of our gaming suppliers whose well-known brands are global in reach, so to be given the opportunity to explain our agenda and engage with what is a truly international audience of association colleagues on the ICE show floor is invaluable.”

January’s editions of ICE and iGB Affiliate will occupy 120,000sqm of space compared to the 100,00sqm at ICE 2024. In a major endorsement of the opportunities offered by the relocation to Barcelona 72% of the 25 biggest exhibitors will have an increased stand presence at ICE 2025.

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Industry Awards

Blask Wins Prestigious “Startup of the Year” at 2024 Starlet Awards

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Blask, the pioneering AI-powered analytics ecosystem for iGaming, has been named “Startup of the Year” at the prestigious 2024 Starlet Awards. The company earned this recognition for developing a groundbreaking market intelligence platform that has redefined how gaming operators leverage data and market insights.

Award Recognition

The award confirms Blask’s revolutionary approach to market analytics and its significant impact on how iGaming companies access and utilise market intelligence. Powered by AI models including Computer Vision and Natural Language Processing, Blask analyses billions of data points across 2000+ active brands to provide unprecedented market insights.

The Starlet Awards recognition follows Blask’s recent SiGMA Asia Startup Pitch 2024 Award victory. “Winning these awards affirms our belief that innovation and bold ideas can reshape the iGaming landscape. The recognition underscores the impact of our cutting-edge AI technology and our relentless pursuit to transform data into actionable insights”, reflects Max Tesla, CEO and Co-founder of Blask

Blask provides operators with a strategic edge across multiple critical areas. Its real-time market analysis capabilities deliver instant access to crucial market metrics, while the high-granularity data available at one-hour intervals enables swift, informed decision-making. The sophisticated AI modelling system estimates GGR and FTD by analysing a comprehensive range of inputs, including historical data, third-party OSINT data, market performance, competitor metrics, historical brand performance, market reports, and public company disclosures.

Beyond analytics, Blask offers robust brand monitoring and competitor analysis tools, alongside strategic and tactical planning capabilities particularly valuable for market entry decisions and maximising performance during major events. The recently introduced customer profile feature harnesses AI to generate detailed, country-specific user profiles, adding another layer of strategic insight for operators.

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CONCEPT: VERSATILITY AND EFFICIENCY IN SPACES

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The CONCEPT cabinet line has been designed to maximize space in casinos, adapting to any configuration. Its efficient design allows for different bank arrangements, making the most of the available area. This gives operators greater flexibility in organizing their gaming floor.

Additionally, the integrated LED strips in CONCEPT eliminate the need for extra signs or wedges, creating a sleek and attractive visual at all times.

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