COVID-19 has showcased just how severe a global pandemic can be. As well as causing social situations that are difficult to contend with, several industries also struggled due to the unforeseen ramifications of COVID-19.

However, this is not to say that there were no benefits to the pandemic. Sure, none of us wants the same thing to happen again, but those in lockdown were able to explore avenues of entertainment that they may not have considered before.

Despite the enjoyment, many obtain from online casinos, the results of the pandemic affected the world online casinos in different ways.

The Negative Impact of COVID-19 to Online Casino Businesses

Many will already know the awareness of gambling responsibility. In some countries, the Government has stepped in and placed limits on how much can be spent on online. For example, Sweden has seen a limit of 5,000 Swedish crowns a week.

Understandably, this measure has been put in place to ensure that there are not any financial implications for individuals once the lockdown is lifted. Still, it does mean that businesses will see a significant drop in income as a result.

The Positive Impacts of COVID-19 to Online Casino Businesses

Every business has had to deal with obstacles relating to the pandemic, but many online casino platforms have seen more interaction as a result of the lockdown, especially online casinos in the UK.

Firstly, despite the concern about those becoming addicted to online casinos, many people set themselves a realistic budget and enjoy gambling responsibility.

Given the lockdown measures in place, more people have adopted online casinos, as they can offer an experience that can be tailored to emulate the real thing in some instances. The crossover over to online gaming casinos in the United Kingdom meant that the userbase for various platforms increased dramatically.

One of the most popular platforms as of April 2020 for online casinos and other forms of betting is bet365.com, boasting an astonishing 20,883,957 users. However, the industry has a whole has seen several online casino platforms embraced as people find new ways of enjoying their favourite games.

Impressive numbers have also been seen with SkyBet with 15, 977,119 users and William Hill with 12,912,724.

In some instances, the online casino could be enjoyed via an app, whereas those searching for a more immersive experience are trying out the solutions that virtual reality can offer.

In short, people have found that the world of online casinos is much different from their original iteration many years ago. As well as offering a more immersive experience, there is also social interaction that makes playing casino games at home more fun.

Of course, responsibility needs to be at the forefront of each transaction. Still, many of the leading platforms have measures in place to ensure users are enjoying casino games without there being financial implications.

Real-world casinos will remain to be popular, but the pandemic has meant people have had to peek behind the curtain of online gaming and are pleasantly surprised by what they unearth.

According to a report in El Pais, gambling companies will no longer be permitted to appear as front-of-shirt sponsors for La Liga clubs next season.

Spanish Minister of Consumer Affairs Alberto Garzón has proposed a series of measures which will toughen up regulations on betting companies, including restrictions to sponsorship agreements and advertising exposure. Currently, eight clubs in La Liga feature a gambling company as a main shirt sponsor.

The ban follows the approval of laws as part of Spain’s “Royal Decree on Advertising” which currently permits a four-hour advertising window for betting companies, but does not authorise any exposure out of the timeframe.

In addition to the ban on shirt sponsorships, the new decree will prevent gambling companies from being allowed to sponsor stadium names nor any other aspect associated with the teams.

Garzón had altered the wording of the ruling to state that “sponsorship in sports T-shirts or equipment will not be admissible”, with gambling companies already banned from featuring on youth shirts.

Award-winning provider of sportsbook services will join the sponsors’ list at MARE BALTICUM Gaming Summit (live conference).

The 3^rd edition of MARE BALTICUM Gaming Summit and BSG Awards will be held on the 6^th of August in Tallinn at Radisson Blu Hotel Olümpia Tallinn, and will address burning questions of the industry in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany.

Launched in 2018, MARE BALTICUM Gaming Summit, also known as the Baltic and Scandinavian Gaming Summit & Awards offers the opportunity for both new companies and veterans, to learn about industry insights and compliance update, while also being part of a group that is at the forefront of the gambling industry in Baltic and Scandinavian region.

The Summit approaches all regulatory and compliance related aspects of the mentioned markets, and also highlights some trending topics of the gambling industry.

Order your Delegate Pass or VIP Package (Delegate Pass +Accommodation) now!

Our team is are honored to announce that in 2020, we will have the support award-winning provider of sportsbook services, Altenar as the PEN, PAPER AND PAMPER SPONSOR of the event.

As mentioned above, Altenar is a provider of sportsbook services to licensed gaming operators. Ranging from “software-only”​ product offers to the provision of a fully managed sports betting platform stack, Altenar offers proven stability coupled with flexible and personalized service.

Their software is developed and operated in-house, whilst being powered by premium quality data feeds.

You can view their latest video on the following link:

As mentioned in earlier press releases, the conference is going ahead as planned and based on official sources, Estonia has allowed from June 1 for citizens from EU and EEA countries with a slow current spread of COVID-19 to enter the country without the requirement of a 14-day self-isolation period.

You can consult the list that is updated weekly on the following link.

MARE BALTICUM – The Baltic and Scandinavian Gaming Summit will once again bring together the leading companies in the Baltic and Scandinavian region for a full day of quality learning and networking with local regulators and industry experts.

You can find more details about the Agenda here or you can register here!

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

You can view the photo gallery from the inaugural event on the following link.

For further inquiries about the 2020 live edition of MBGS and BSG Awards (6 August – Tallinn, Estonia), speaking/attending/sponsoring options, make sure to send an e-mail to Andrada Bota (B2B Sales Executive at Hipther Agency) or subscribe to the weekly newsletter on the following link.

For media-related inquiries, please contact Alexandru Marginean (Marketing Specialist at Hipther Agency).