Latest News
Casino and gaming tech shine at the Southern Gaming Summit
The Southern Gaming Summit, held at Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi, has showcased a host of new casino and gaming technologies and products. The summit was a meeting place for industry insiders and leaders to discuss the latest relevant issues affecting the industry.
Duncan McKenzie, General Manager of IP Casino, said: “I always get a kick out of people who come here for the first time. We always exceed what they expect to see. They expect to come here and see riverboat gambling and they see beautiful casinos and facilities and wonderful restaurants.” said.
The summit attracted plenty of tourism interest as well. Milton Segarra, CEO of Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast, said: “People want to visit a destination and the destination has to be strong and diversified. The gaming industry is important to being a successful destination.” It was Marlin Torguson who started the first casino in the state 26 years ago when he brought Casino Magic to Bay St. Louis immediately after Mississippi first legalised gaming. Only a few states were in the casino business at that time, as opposed to today when more than 40 states allow gambling in some form.
Torguson spoke at the summit: “I think we need a lot more non gaming items and properties with more non gaming things to do and we definitely need more air service.”
The Summit concluded with a ceremony to induct several prominent people into the Mississippi Gaming Hall of Fame.
Latest News
BGC Publishes New Code Handbook on Fifth Anniversary
STANDARDS body The Betting and Gaming Council has published its first Code Handbook, comprising 20 Codes covering 100 measures all members commit to as part of the industry’s continued drive to raise standards.
The new Code Handbook – published to mark the BGC’s fifth anniversary – collates every voluntary commitment BGC operator’s sign up to as a condition of membership, including the BGC’s overarching Code of Conduct.
While three of the Codes have now become part of License Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) for members, the vast majority of these commitments go beyond license requirements set by the independent regulator, the Gambling Commission.
As well as these measures – which have already been implemented across the BGC’s diverse and growing membership – the BGC is also working closely with government and the regulator on over 50 additional workstreams to further raise standards following the publication of the White Paper last year.
Those include frictionless enhanced spending checks online, an industry Ombudsman to improve customer redress and expanding the scope of the Bank Transfer Block project to offer customers even more control of their spending.
The vast majority of the measures are around safer gambling, including core pledges on advertising and messaging, the promotion of safer gambling tools and signposting help and support to those who need it.
These measures apply across the diverse membership of the BGC, including land-based operators like casinos, which are a pillar of the hospitality and tourism sector, bookmakers on hard-pressed high streets and world leading online gaming operators.
Betting and Gaming Council CEO Grainne Hurst said: “I am delighted to announce this new Code Handbook, which comprises over five years of determined work to raise standards, across the board.
“It is also entirely fitting that we publish this landmark new Code Handbook on our fifth anniversary. The BGC was founded as the industry’s standards body, and this Handbook draws together our sector’s combined efforts, under the leadership of the BGC, to raise standards on safer gambling in the UK.
“With 20 Codes covering 100 measures, which all BGC members follow as a condition of membership, this comprehensive document should rightly be seen as the concrete demonstration of our member’s determination to deliver world-class standards.
“This Code Handbook is also not the final word on this work, because the commitment to raising standards does not stop for the BGC, or our members.
“That’s why we are working with the regulator and government on over 50 additional workstreams which will raise standards even further as part of the White Paper reforms.
“Taken alone, neither the recently published White Paper on gambling reform, or existing license conditions set by the Gambling Commission, can deliver the world class standards our industry strives for.
“It takes independent determination on behalf of our members, and collective ambition by the BGC to deliver that. This Handbook is the result of that determination and ambition.
“We are determined to deliver the foundations for a sustainable sector, built on stability, growth and diversity, ensuring our members set the global standard for our world-class industry.”
The BGC stressed these incredibly high standards are only found in the regulated sector, unlike the growing unsafe, unregulated gambling black market.
A recent study commissioned by the BGC found 1.5m Brits are annually staking up to £4.3bn with unsafe, illegal, unregulated black market operators, which don’t pay tax, don’t contribute to the economy or sport and do not hold the same rigorous high standards on safer gambling.
The Code Handbook includes measures like the whistle-to-whistle ban on TV betting commercials during live sport before the 9pm watershed, which led to the number of such ads being seen by children at that time falling by 97%.
Latest News
Continent 8 renew global agreement with Playtech to support ongoing iGaming expansion and growth
The renewal marks the continuation of a 20-year partnership, providing Playtech with Continent 8’s best-in-class managed and professional services in the regulated iGaming and online sports betting space.
Today, Continent 8 Technologies, the trusted partner and provider of global managed hosting, connectivity, cloud and cybersecurity solutions to the regulated iGaming and online sports betting market, and Playtech, one of the leading platform, content and services providers in the industry announced the extension of their global partnership agreement. This renewal underscores both companies’ shared commitment to serving and shaping the ever-growing regulated online gaming market.
The recently signed multi-year contract further extends the two-decades-long collaboration between these leading global entities, allowing Playtech to further utilise Continent 8’s comprehensive suite of managed and professional services. This development enables Playtech to maintain its focus on innovating and delivering top-tier online gaming software and live dealer technology to prominent retail and online brands across various gaming verticals. These verticals include land-based casinos, online operators and government-approved lotteries. In addition, Playtech operates B2C brands, leveraging its cross-platform expertise to deliver a direct-to-consumer offering.
Shimon Akad, COO at Playtech, stated, “Continent 8 have been our hosting and connectivity partner since the onset of our journey, 20 years ago. Renewing our agreement is a testament to the joint work and success we’ve built together, and I look forward to continuing our strong collaboration for years to come.”
Michael Tobin, Founder and CEO, Continent 8 Technologies, shared, “Playtech is one of the most recognisable brands in the industry, and we are excited to be a part of their continued success through this expanded strategic partnership. I’m incredibly proud of our 20-year partnership as we have grown and supported each other over the years.
“As the leading iGaming and online sports betting data centre and global network solutions provider, we take pride in consistently delivering carrier-grade connectivity and performance to our customers, ensuring exceptional and unrivalled user and player experiences.”
Watch the Playtech testimonial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY6UKaQsSyM
Continent 8 will be at SiGMA Europe, from 11-14 November 2024. Visit Stand 2048 to discuss your infrastructure, cloud and cybersecurity requirements.
Aquisitions/Mergers
OKTO Acquires Aplauz CH GmbH and Expands in Swiss Market
OKTO has announced the full acquisition of Aplauz CH GmbH, the Swiss subsidiary of Aplauz Financial Services Ltd. This strategic acquisition strengthens OKTO’s presence in the Swiss market, enabling the company to expand its customer base and introduce innovative payment services in the market while maintaining and enhancing the existing infrastructure of Aplauz CH GmbH in the region.
Under OKTO’s ownership, Aplauz CH GmbH will continue to deliver its Aplauz prepaid payment service through online merchants and retail distribution partners, now rebranded as OKTO.VOUCHER. The transition will be seamless, ensuring uninterrupted service for all partners and consumers.
Aligned with its growth strategy, OKTO also introduces OKTO.CASH to the Swiss market—a fast, direct cash-to-online payment solution already established across multiple European markets, including Romania, Greece, Czech Republic, Germany, Cyprus, Italy and Serbia.
Aplauz CH GmbH, now under OKTO’s leadership, holds the necessary regulatory approvals from the Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO) VQF to offer both OKTO.VOUCHER and OKTO.CASH services in Switzerland.
Thanos Mondanos, OKTO’s Head of Business Strategy, said: “Welcoming Aplauz CH GmbH into the OKTO Group marks a significant step forward in our international growth strategy. This acquisition reinforces our commitment to expanding in high-potential markets like Switzerland, allowing us to deliver a stronger portfolio of payment solutions that meet evolving customer demands. We are confident that Aplauz CH GmbH’s established presence, combined with OKTO’s innovative payment technologies, will create substantial value for both users and partners in the region.”
Mathias Wratschko, Senior Distribution Manager at OKTO, said: “This is a pivotal moment for OKTO, our Swiss partners and users. Through the acquisition of Aplauz CH GmbH, we’re set to elevate both transaction volumes and customer experience in Switzerland. By expanding the rebranded OKTO.VOUCHER service and launching OKTO.CASH, we’re enhancing Swiss payment options in a way that promises substantial revenue growth for our partners and increased satisfaction for consumers.”
Goran Abramović, Director of Aplauz Financial Services Ltd., said: “We are thrilled with the successful sale of our Swiss consumer business and have every confidence in OKTO’s capacity to drive further growth in this segment within the Swiss market. Aplauz Financial Services remains fully committed to supporting the Swiss market by continuing to provide our cutting-edge voucher issuing technology platform to OKTO and offering ongoing technical support to our valued partners. We look forward to seeing the positive impact OKTO will bring to this evolving market.”
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