Baltics

Denmark in the focus with industry experts, Birgitte Sand, Sissel Weitzhandler and Morten Ronde in Vilnius

Published

6 years ago

April 18, 2019

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Birgitte Sand (Director of the Danish Gambling Authority), Sissel Weitzhandler (Group Compliance Manager at Play’n GO) and Morten Ronde (CEO at Danish Online Gambling Association and Managing Partner at Nordic Gambling) to share their views from all angles about the Danish and Scandinavian gambling industry at the second edition of MARE BALTICUM Gaming Summit, also known as the Baltic and Scandinavian Gaming Summit and Awards.

MARE BALTICUM Gaming Summit will take place on the 9^th of May at Radisson Blu Royal Astorija Hotel and is gathering the gambling industry from the Baltic and Scandinavian regions for a full day of quality learning and networking with like-minded peers, regulators and representatives of the industry media.

Register here or View the Agenda!

Increased consumer spending across sports betting and online casino helped to push gross gaming revenue in Denmark up 5.7% year-on-year to DKK9.74bn (€1.30bn) in 2018, according to official figures published by the Danish Gambling Authority (Spillemyndigheden).

The 2018 total is up by DKK520m on DKK9.22bn reported in the previous year, as the Danish market was boosted by the 2018 Fifa World Cup, which took place from June 14 to July 15 last year.

Meanwhile, a new code of conduct for gaming operators active in Denmark was published last month, with the aim of strengthening consumer protection and lowering the risk of gambling addiction in the country.

Due to come into force on July 1, 2019, the code aims to set limits and offer tools that go beyond regulatory requirements to help protect consumers.

Just recently, Denmark’s gambling regulator has warned its online gambling licensees to be upfront with customers regarding so-called ‘free’ bonus offers.

The statement is reminding online licensees about the Danish Consumer Ombudsman’s February 2016 statement regarding the use of the word ‘free’ in marketing material related to bonus offers if said offer involved a turnover requirement.

At MARE BALTICUM Gaming Summit, Birgitte Sand (Director of the Danish Gambling Authority), Sissel Weitzhandler (Group Compliance Manager at Play’n GO) and Morten Ronde (CEO at Danish Online Gambling Association and Managing Partner at Nordic Gambling) will take part in a special IMGL MASTERCLASS™ which is titled “It’s Hot in the Nordics: IMGL Mega-Panel”, giving you the opportunity to hear first-hand the updates from the Danish regulator.

Birgitte Sand, Director, Danish Gambling Authority

Birgitte Sand is Director of the Danish Gambling Authority. She took up her current position in 2008 after several years of work as a member of the Executive Board of the Copenhagen Tax Center.
Birgitte Sand holds a master’s degree in Law from the University of Copenhagen; 1985.

She started her career in the Danish court of Taxation and moved on to a wide range of different tasks and management positions in the Ministry of Taxation covering legal advice on corporate tax structures and tax on private companies and property, the central IT department and projects regarding leadership, innovation, strategy, change of organizational structures and the development of a nationwide IT salary system. She was for many years also a member of the Board covering the nationwide planning of tax compliance projects.

Since late 2011 Birgitte Sand has been a member of the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) Board of Trustees and chair of the IAGR Membership Subcommittee; she has served as Vice President of the association since October 2013 and served as IAGR President until October 2015.

Birgitte Sand is a frequent speaker at international gambling conferences, where topics like the Danish model for gambling regulation and the Danish self-exclusion system are on the agenda.
The international cooperation is very close to Birgitte Sand’s heart, as well as creating a strong, dialogue-based relationship between regulators and the industry.

In 2017, Birgitte Sand received the award “European Regulator of the Year” from the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL). The prize is awarded to a person whose work with gambling regulation is particularly remarkable and Birgitte Sand received it for contributing to the high standard and regulation of the Danish gaming market and for her remarkable contributions to international regulatory work.

Sissel Weitzhandler, Group Compliance Manager at Play’n GO

Sissel Weitzhandler has since 2011 been in the gambling industry. She is a compliance specialist, managing multiple groups of companies that have successfully secured and maintained gaming licenses in multiple European and non-European jurisdictions. Sissel has vast experience managing technical, legal and regulatory compliance teams and an in-depth understanding in operator and supplier opportunities and challenges. She is dedicated to growing businesses by accessing new and emerging markets while promoting a culture of compliance across organizations with a focus on the remote gaming industry. Passionate about international law, business and relations, and holds a post-grad in War Studies from Kings College London and an undergraduate in International Relations from London’s University of Westminster. Sissel has been in various forums and specialist groups including EU Commission round-table workshops.

Morten Ronde, EO at Danish Online Gambling Association and Managing Partner at Nordic Gambling

Morten Ronde has 19 years of experience from working in the gambling industry.

His background is in gambling regulation. He started his career in the Danish State Lottery and worked later 12 years as legal counsel for the Danish Gambling Authority. During his time as a regulator, he drafted the Danish online gambling reform that allowed for open licensing of betting and online casino operators in Denmark. The Danish gambling model is still considered one of the best gambling regimes in the world and has inspired many countries to adopt similar regulation.

Morten received the ”European Regulator of the Year Award” in 2010 from the International Masters of Gaming Law.

Since 2012 Morten has been working in the private sector of the gambling industry and has been advising clients in all sectors of the industry on regulatory affairs issues.

Morten acts as CEO of the Danish Online Gambling Association (DOGA), a trade association for online gambling operators in Denmark and as Director of Education and Association Development of the International Masters of Gaming (IMGL), the pre-eminent global gambling law network.

Make sure you take advantage of this unique opportunity of learning and networking with the gambling industry in the Baltic and Scandinavian region via the MARE BALTICUM Gaming platform which has been launched in 2018 and is committed to bringing together industry shareholders and government officials from the Baltic and Scandinavian region on a yearly base.

Browse the official event website here: www.marebalticumgaming.com

Baltics

Lithuania to Ban Gambling Ads

Published

18 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: < 1 minute

The Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday approved restrictions on gambling advertising, set to take effect from next July.

The amendments to the Gaming Law, passed with 73 votes in favour and one abstention, will introduce a ban on gambling advertising starting in July 2025. Exceptions will apply to sports competitions and events, as well as sports sponsorships and broadcasts of sports competitions, which will have a transitional period until January 1, 2028.

Next year’s budget for the Media Support Fund earmarks an additional 4 million euros to compensate media organisations for lost advertising revenue.

Among other things, MPs backed a proposal from the parliamentary Committee on Budget and Finance to have a transitional period until the end of 2027, allowing up to three betting ad spots of under 15 seconds each per hour on television, radio and online between 06:00 and 18:00 and up to two per hour between 18:00 and midnight.

For online media, betting ads without a direct link to the gaming operator’s website will be limited to 20% of advertising space from 06:00 to 18:00 and 10% until midnight.

Baltics

Genome launches SEPA instant payments, adding another valuable feature for iGaming companies

Published

2 weeks ago

October 29, 2024

George Miller

Genome launches SEPA instant payments, adding another valuable feature for iGaming companies

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Genome (UAB Maneuver LT) has introduced SEPA Instant Transfers for all its clients. Companies can now make instant euro payments within seconds to optimize cash flow and improve operational efficiency across the Eurozone.
Additionally, SEPA Instant Transfers can be used for batch Transfers, making mass payments even more effective for companies, particularly the iGaming businesses.

“SEPA Instant Transfers enable quick payments in the Eurozone, improving cash flow and scheduling flexibility for business partners – a very crucial feature for modern-day companies that conduct operations online,” explained Genome’s CEO, Daumantas Barauskas.

SEPA Instant Transfers will be priced the same as regular SEPA Credit Transfers, ensuring users enjoy the convenience of instant transactions without any additional costs.

The feature has gone live shortly before the SiGMA Europe conference that Genome’s team will be attending. Businesses can learn more about SEPA Instant Transfers and other iGaming services Genome provides at booth #3102 or by booking a meeting.

“SEPA Instant Transfers is not the only service Genome offers iGaming companies. For one, they can streamline their financial operations with our API for mass payouts and B2C2B payments. We are currently developing the incoming payment notifications service via API (API for pay-ins). This feature will notify iGaming companies about client pay-ins in real-time. We also provide contactless physical and virtual Visa Business cards for media buying and other corporate expenses, with the added convenience of Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Garmin Pay compatibility. Additionally, a dedicated IBAN account simplifies B2B transactions, and the Genome iOS and Android apps ensure real-time financial management anytime, anywhere,” concluded Daumantas Barauskas.

Baltics

iDenfy Partners with Confindo to Enhance Security and Prevent Loan Fraud

Published

2 months ago

September 10, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

iDenfy, an AI-powered identity verification, compliance and fraud prevention solutions provider, has partnered with Confindo, a leading provider of IT solutions specialising in customer relationship management (CRM) tools for group companies and external partners. This collaboration will help Confindo manage third-party risks and ensure proper fraud and breach prevention while building a seamless and secure verification experience.

The rise in digital transactions has made robust security measures more critical than ever. With security challenges like forged documents and synthetic identities, particularly in the financial and lending sectors, companies increasingly seek advanced solutions to protect their customers. Spending on information security and risk management products and services is expected to grow by 14.3% this year, reaching more than $215 billion. However, many companies operating in the financial sector see fraud as a top priority on the list, where even a single breach can have significant legal and reputational consequences.

Confindo, a dominant player in the consumer lending market since 2018, recognised the importance of securing its platforms against potential threats. Brands under the “Confindo” name, like Lenders, Bancovo, Comparar Prestamos mainly serve as intermediaries for consumer lending services. Consequently, the business is best known for representing over 20 banks and creditors in Lithuania and processing more than 10,000 inquiries monthly. As the business experienced a high volume of requests and new registrations, it required a new trusted Know Your Customer (KYC) vendor to help safeguard its operations, especially in this expansion stage across Europe.

According to Confindo, its recent operations in Latvia and upcoming launches in two new markets also showed a need for extra automation measures in its customer onboarding process. Before partnering with iDenfy, the IT and financial service provider aimed to build a conversion-optimised verification workflow that could remove the hassle around the application onboarding process. Among several identity verification providers, Confindo selected iDenfy for its reliable and efficient identification verification solution. The new software, already trusted by other platforms under Confindo’s management, stood out for its smooth integration with existing systems and provided a comprehensive global document base for more efficient scaling into new markets.

iDenfy’s ID verification solution is designed to automatically recognise, verify and extract information from over 3000 identity documents across 200 countries and territories. This comprehensive approach helps Confindo ensure that all possible safety measures are in place to prevent fraudulent loans, a key concern in the rapidly growing consumer lending sector.

It is worth mentioning that iDenfy is ranked as the top 1 identity verification solution in customer satisfaction on G2, boasting an average of 4.9 stars and over 70 reviews in 2024. This recognition underscores iDenfy’s commitment to providing high-quality, reliable services and prioritizes online user identification security.

“We chose iDenfy because their solution is not only trusted and tested but also perfectly aligns with our commitment to ensuring the highest level of security for our customers,” said Eitautas Bartuškevičius, CEO of Confindo.

Domantas Ciulde, CEO of iDenfy, said: “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Confindo in their mission to enhance security within the consumer lending space. By integrating our ID verification solution, we’re helping them create a safer, more reliable platform for their users across multiple countries.”