Lotteritilsynet, the Norwegian lottery and gambling regulator, has distributed NOK30million (€3million) to various voluntary groups in view of the adverse financial impact of Covid-19.

The regulator initiated a crisis fund during the virus outbreak to help government relief programs and provide direct funding to voluntary organizations to help them continue their working during Covid-19 pandemic.

The fund intents to keep the voluntary services running in the face of a slump in operating income during the pandemic.

Lotteritilsynet Director-General, Gunn Merete Paulsen, said the regulator granted funds to 379 of the 400 applications it had received.

He said: “We are planning batch payments as the applications are received so that the organisations that apply receive the money as soon as possible.”

The Direccion General de Ordenacion de Juego (DGOJ) – Spanish Directorate for Gambling Regulation – has recently published its latest quarterly report on online gambling in the country, referring to the period January to March 2020. 

According to figures from the regulator, the Spanish internet gaming sector recorded a strong performance during the three-month span, with all verticals contributing to increased revenues both on a year-on-year (12.5%) and on quarter-on-quarter (18%) basis.  

In the first quarter, Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) reached barely €218m, with sports betting leading the way. Despite the suspension of sporting events in the country from mid-March, this vertical contributed with €111m, accounting for 51% of the total while recording a yearly growth of 8.7%. 

The sports betting revenue was primarily driven by in-play betting with €61.3m up to March, as well as fixed odds betting; which accounted for €46.3m and rose 13% compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

Casino, poker, and bingo… on the rise as well

The online casino segment recorded a GGR of €78m, up 16% year-on-year. The biggest rise within this vertical was Live Roulette, up 35% to contribute with €18.5m, but Slots remain the largest contributor with €43.2m – 55% of the total revenue for casino. 

Poker, a vertical that has enjoyed a worldwide boom during the sports suspension, increased its contribution to the Spanish online gambling revenue to €24.2m in the first quarter, with 13% growth in inter-annual terms. 

The remaining verticals, bingo, and contests (where players pay to participate in a prize draw) experienced likewise inter-annual growth; 15% the former and almost 50% the latter, but their contributions remain residual: just above €3m for bingo and less than €2m for online contests. 

Investment in marketing by online operators reached €118m, up 28% from the previous year, led by the 46% increase in spending on bonuses awarded as both welcome offers and prizes, which represents more than a third of the marketing investment in the quarter. However, more than 50% of the marketing spending as a whole remained focused on advertising, as it reached €59.5m on a rise of 24% year-on-year.

Half of the internet operators offer sports betting 

The primacy of sports over the rest of online gambling segments also reflects in the number of companies running sports betting websites – legally – in the country. In March, out of the eighty operators licensed by the Spanish regulatory body, half of them offer betting on sports.  

Aside from the tasks of supervision and regulation, the Direccion General is also in charge of blocking gambling websites operating in Spain without the license. The illegal online operators should be avoided as they do not offer the necessary security guarantees and, on top of that, in many cases are fraudulent companies. 

To stay away from unnecessary risks, one can always use the services of sports betting comparison sites, such as Miscasasdeapuestas. In this portal, you will find analysis and listings of the best betting bonuses and online bookmakers operating in Spain legally; that is, with licensing by the regulator.

Singular has been awarded “Rising Star in Baltic Sports Betting Technology” at the Baltic and Scandinavian (BSG) Awards 2020 in Tallinn, Estonia.

Traditionally, the MARE Balticum Gaming Summit features the BSG Awards with the gala night moved online this year. Professionals from the sports betting field attending the Gaming Summit casted their vote for the companies that have made a substantial contribution to the industry in the passing year.

“We take particular pride in winning an award that highlights the technology of our Sports Betting Solution. Deep in its DNA, Singular has always been and continues to be a tech company working with gifted people and stellar technology to deliver an outstanding experience.” says Darko Gacov, Singular’s co-founder.

At the end of 2019, Singular released the 4th generation of their Sports Betting Platform that has given player personalization a new flavour. Accompanied by a pro-trading functionality and powerful risk management, the solution has positioned Singular as innovation leader within sports betting. The new upgraded solution has facilitated entry into three newly regulated markets for Singular. Details to be announced after the brands go live later this autumn.

The MARE Balticum Gaming Summit was the first live conference since lockdown measures and travel restrictions were lifted for the majority of the European countries. Adapting to the circumstances the event took a hybrid approach giving the community in the Baltic region an opportunity to meet in person, but also connect with the rest of the iGaming community online.