Industry News
Online gambling in Europe compared to online gambling in the USA
Online gambling has a wide spread during the past 20 years and it is slowly replacing conventional gambling parlors. Land-based gambling operators have understood the potential of convergence and have slowly implemented games that are similar to what players find in their favorite casinos around the world.
Nowadays, the popular slots games have made their way to all online casinos and it is clear that you can now play your favorite reels whenever you are located. This of course is possible if your chosen casino operator own a license in your jurisdiction. Although you are able to access online casinos, it is not possible for everyone to deposit money due to licensing frameworks.
Online gambling has a set of specific rules and it all depends on where gamblers live and what the rules for online gambling are in that certain jurisdiction.
During the past 10-15 years there have been several licensing framework that have been implements and amendments added all over the world, however we will study 2 specific jurisdictions in this article. The gambling jurisdiction for online gambling in Europe and in the USA.
Even if roller coasters are very popular in America, the regulation of online gambling in UK and Europe are certainly mirroring the ups-and-downs in the region. Gambling associations in the European Union have always suggested that gambling licenses should be controlled by the European Commission, however this never materialized. There have been news about the fact that the European Commission is working to develop a framework for online gaming in the EU, but we are still waiting to find the result.
In the European Union, online gambling is very mixed! Some countries such as Malta, UK (still part of the EU at the time when this article was written), Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Bulgaria, Romania, Sweden and Denmark have clear licensing procedures that are governed by local governments and a have a set of laws that need to be followed by the operators. These markets have understood that in order to attract international operators that are always active and invest in regulated markets such as 888 or many more, there has to be a transparent and competitive law in force.
However, this is not the case for all 28 member states in the European Union, some have chosen to completely ban online gambling licensing and have also resorted to IP blocking and website banning in order to keep out the international operators.
When talking about the USA, it is a totally different slice of cake. In the online gambling industry, Black Friday does not refer to the biggest shopping day of the year or any tragic event that happened on a certain Friday. Black Friday refers to April 15, 2011, the day the United States brought a criminal case against three of the largest online poker companies operating in the country at the time, effectively wiping out the entire industry in America. Since 2011, Americans had lost their right to gamble online but these dark days are over now.
On 14 May 2018, the United States Supreme Court paved the way for individual states to introduce legislation permitting sports betting if they wish so, by striking down a federal law which had effectively prohibited this. This outcome was the result of a long-running attempt by the State of New Jersey to legalize sports betting within Atlantic City, following a non-binding referendum of its citizens in 2011 in favor of this.
The Supreme Court’s judgment has not made sports betting legal in the United States. What it has done is placed the ball firmly back in the courts of the individual states to legalize and regulate sports betting if – and as – they see fit, just as they already do with many forms of non-sports gambling such as casino gaming.
The partial re-opening of the US market has lead giant companies to enter the market and focus establishing their presence accordingly. Most of these companies have developed exclusive websites for the US players and have gone through significant improvements in order to deliver a superior experience. Most notable is 888 NJ, one of the most well-established online wagering operators in the world, and has been providing players with a safe, secure and fair place to wager since it first launched in 1997.
However, fears of becoming a mixed market in comparison with the European Union remain. Some states are not looking to regulate the online gambling licensing procedures. The future of online gambling in the USA is still bleak as there are certain signals about the fact that some stated might opt to block online gambling. It is certainly an interesting story in development since as a US citizen you have the same freedom all around the USA.
We will continue to report around this story of our century in the history book of the online gambling industry.
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.”
Industry News
ICE Barcelona to deliver razor-sharp focus on LatAm and evolving Brazilian Market
January’s first edition of ICE Barcelona will feature a programme of content, discussions and C-suite networking curated specifically to meet the needs of the new regulated market in Brazil and the broader opportunities which exist in Latin America.
Living up to its reputation for being the business-to-business event which is at the forefront of industry developments across both regulation and emerging technologies ICE 2025 will feature a three day program which is dedicated to all aspects of the market in Brazil including regulation, compliance and the adoption of new technologies including the use of biometric recognition in relation to age verification and consumer protection.
Announcing the program and confirming ICE Barcelona’s role as the meeting place for international decision-makers and stakeholders, Clarion Gaming Managing Director Stuart Hunter said: “ICE was recently described in trade media as being the most important gaming event on the ‘planet’ and I believe that the show will live-up to that accolade when we welcome the world industry to our new Barcelona home in January.
“Some industry events place a strong emphasis on the past but for ICE our focus is unashamedly on the future. To this end we have been working closely with colleagues and stakeholders in Latin America to ensure that ICE is on the front foot bringing together the lawmakers, regulatory bodies, thought leaders, operators, innovators and technology providers all of whom have an important role to play in developing the market infrastructure.”
He added: “The importance of LatAm will be evident from the very start of ICE Barcelona when Vicente Fox, the former President of Mexicoheadlines the World Regulatory Briefing taking place Monday 20 January when he will address the topic of ‘Regulation and Revitalisation’ and the requirements needed to balance economic growth with community protection.
“A critic of the populist movements sweeping the region, he will outline his business-centric approach to the development of Mexico, and why he favours casinos as a tax benefit to reduce Mexico’s dependence on unpredictable oil income, and for heling to grow the local tourism industry. The keynote reflects the importance of Latin America as a leading voice in the global gambling industry and represents a major coup for ICE Barcelona.”
“The following day we will be staging a seminar which will cover the very latest business-critical information on the market in Brazil which will be supplemented by sessions focussed on Latin America. On the closing day the LatAm sessions will address the key issue of responsible gambling including the ground-breaking use of biometrics which will be of huge interest to regulators and operators from throughout the world.”
He concluded: “In all of the extensive research that we undertake in order to identify the most important issues impacting the business Brazil and Latin America consistently top the list. By attending ICE Barcelona gaming industry professionals will be able to connect with the main players, learn everything they need to know about doing business in Latin America and find the right organisations to collaborate with. For anyone with an interest in Latin America and in particular the Brazilian iGaming market ICE Barcelona is undoubtedly the place to be.”
For more information on the world’s greatest gathering of gaming professionals and to register: icegaming.com
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