Industry News
The Most Common Gambling Restrictions in European Countries
It’s reaaly no secret that Europe is a continent of strict laws and regulations. Every country has its own solid attitude towards gambling and gaming. Let’s see what the most common laws are.
Gambling Restrictions in Europe
The whole of Europe can be called a gambling heaven. In the majority of countries it’s legal to gamble in both online and land-based casinos, and to bet on sports and other activities. The biggest markets are the UK, Spain, and Germany. Unfortunately, some countries are against gambling altogether or limit gamblers in some way.
For example, you may not be allowed to play at online casinos, but visiting land-based ones would be totally okay. In addition, some countries allow sports betting only.
The United Kingdom is a country of strict laws and obedient people. All the spheres of the country are under control to various degrees. Gambling has also been under a strict control since 2005 when the Gambling Act was signed. There is a special body which is responsible for the control of lotteries, betting, real and online casinos, etc. The UK Gambling Commission also grants licenses. These licenses are recognized as the most reputable. It basically means that all casinos with UK licenses can be fully trusted.
France isn’t famous for delicious wine and croissants only. It is also a country where the classic roulette wheel was invented. Up until recently, you were allowed to visit numerous land-based casinos but were forbidden to play at online casinos here. The weak gambling activity was further dampened by high taxes for such businesses ‘till 2009. That year the Bill for the legalization of poker, sports betting and horse races betting was passed. The year after, in 2010, the ARJEL was established. The French Regulatory Authority for Online Games is now regulating the whole gambling sphere.
Spain is a legal place for online betting. Mostly legal, anyway. Since 2011 all betting activities are supervised and regulated by means of electronic, interactive and technological systems. The regulation entered into force after the presentation of the Spanish Gambling Act and the General Directorate for the Regulation of Gambling Activities. According to the Act, fixed-odds betting, roulette, mutual sports betting, slots, horse races betting, bingo games, baccarat, poker, blackjack and some other games are legal and can be played by all adults. There is only one strange law about online casinos – if a casino wants to get a license from a Spanish regulator, it should have a website on a Spanish domain – .es. This restriction bars most international online casinos.
Italy is the birthplace of gambling. Venice is known as the first gambling city and as a place where baccarat was invented. Any gambling activity used to be forbidden by the Italian laws as it was considered a criminal activity. Not all gambling is illegal. The games are divided into categories. Games of luck are forbidden, but games of skill are fully legal. In addition to the latter, it was also legal to play state lotteries, sports betting, etc. In 2006 one more legal category appeared – games of chance. They included poker, video poker, and some cash games. The European Commission demanded to change the gambling laws in Italy in 2009. According to the Commission, they used to be too strict. After that, Italy started to issue licenses from AAMS. Only casinos with licenses from Autonomous Administration of State Monopolies can operate in this country.
Germany used to allow only horse races betting. From 2008 to 2012 the federal legislation was against all manifestations of gambling. Everything would be easy if one state, Schleswig-Holstein, hadn’t legalized gambling and started issuing licenses. That was due to the existence of two types of laws in Germany (both with names too complicated to pronounce), and only one of the types was against gambling. That mess ended in 2012 with the signing of German Interstate Treaty. This law prevented the licenses from being issued within the country. All the licenses issued before 2012 have stopped being legal in 2018 only.
Industry News
LiveScore Group Announces Internal Restructuring as Part of Sustainable Growth Strategy
LiveScore Group has announced an internal restructuring process, expected to impact more than 100 existing roles across multiple business locations, including London.
The changes are seen as a difficult yet important step for LiveScore Group, streamlining the business to create improved structures and a pathway to long-term sustainable growth. All impacted employees have been informed and are now subject to a confidential consultation process.
Sam Sadi, CEO of LiveScore Group, said: “On behalf of all Directors of LiveScore Group, and the relevant subsidiary companies, we are saddened by the difficult decision to commence an internal restructure of the business, a process which impacts a significant number of our people.
“Whilst we celebrate our recent period of significant and exciting growth, we must now future-proof the organisation and ensure our internal structures allow us to achieve long-term and sustainable success.
“This is a hard time for all our people, as we say goodbye to colleagues who have played an important role in our journey across recent years.”
The announcement follows on from the recent news that LiveScore Malta Limited (part of LiveScore Group) is to withdraw its LiveScore Bet brand from the Netherlands following recent government tax increases in the market. The announcement includes those impacted by this. There will be no other customer impact in respect of any of the remaining LiveScore, LiveScore Bet or Virgin Bet sites globally.
Industry News
Pronet Gaming Appoints Alex Karaoulis as its New Commercial & Product Strategy Lead
Pronet Gaming, an award-winning platform provider of full turnkey solutions, announced the appointment of Alexandros Karaoulis as its new Commercial & Product Strategy Lead.
With over 14 years of experience in the iGaming industry, Karaoulis brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise that will be instrumental in driving the company’s strategic initiatives forward.
Throughout his iGaming career, Karaoulis has held various senior roles with B2B sportsbook and casino providers, as well as with B2C operators. His extensive background in marketing and sales within the iGaming sector positions him as a true industry expert, ensuring that Pronet Gaming remains at the forefront of innovation in a rapidly evolving market.
“I am thrilled to join Pronet Gaming and excited to fulfill my role in developing and executing sales strategies to drive the company’s revenue growth in key markets,” Karaoulis said.
With a track record in commercial strategies and driving product excellence, Karaoulis’ appointment is invaluable as Pronet Gaming now seeks to expand its footprint to Asia. His vision and deep understanding of the iGaming landscape equip him to navigate the unique challenges and opportunities that the dynamic region presents.
“I want Pronet Gaming to lead the iGaming revolution by providing innovative, culturally tailored solutions that cater to the diverse and rapidly growing demands of the region. Through strategic partnerships, cutting-edge technology, and a deep understanding of local markets, we aim to empower operators to offer world-class gaming experiences that engage players and drive sustainable growth,” he added.
According to Karaoulis, Pronet Gaming is poised to make a splash in Asia by leveraging its advanced technology, flexible platform solutions and deep market expertise while adapting to the unique characteristics of the region.
“The key differentiation point of Pronet Gaming is that we have B2C experience, which greatly aids in understanding the needs of operators and helping them to improve and execute their strategy according to the market. I have worked in B2C roles for more than seven years in my iGaming Career and managed campaigns across various channels, optimised conversion funnels, and learned to use data to improve player acquisition and retention,” said Karaoulis.
Karaoulis acknowledges that the marketing skills he has acquired from B2C experience are valuable in every B2B environment. As he dives into his new role at Pronet Gaming, Karaoulis aims to guide his operator clients on how to better market their own sites, including providing them with advice on effective acquisition strategies, content marketing and campaign structures that appeal to iGaming audiences.
“I also focus heavily on engagement strategies, loyalty programs, bonuses, and personalised offers to keep players active and returning. In my new B2B role, I will advise clients on best practices for player engagement, helping them adopt effective loyalty programs, personalised marketing, and retention tactics that drive player lifetime value to improve the end-player experience for our clients’ sites,” Karaoulis added.
Industry News
Vbet Wins Best Online Casino Operator 2024 at SiGMA Europe 2024
Vbet has been crowned the Best Online Casino Operator 2024 at the highly coveted SiGMA Europe event, cementing its position as a leader in the online gaming industry.
This achievement highlights Vbet’s commitment to providing an exceptional user experience by combining cutting-edge technology with a vast range of options and a secure process. The dedication to creating a responsible, enjoyable environment for players was recognised with this award, making this accolade even more significant. As Vbet continue to expand into new markets, the list of strategic partnerships grows alongside our constant drive to expand its offering. This award serves as a stepping stone on its path to reach more players and set new standards in the industry.
Arman Khachatryan, VBET’s Managing Director, said: “We are incredibly proud to receive the Best Online Casino Operator award at SiGMA Europe 2024. This recognition is a testament to the hard work, passion, and effort of our entire team. Our mission has always been to deliver the highest quality experience in the safest environment possible to our users. This award not only recognizes our dedication to this mission but also motivates us to continue expanding into new markets and territories.”
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