Latest News
EGBA: Swedish Government Risks Driving Online Gambling into the Black Market
The Gambling Market Inquiry, established to consider additional measures to those set out in Sweden’s Gambling Act which re-regulated the country’s online gambling market in 2019, has presented its long-anticipated report to the Ministry of Social Security.
The report proposes, among other things, further restrictions and limitations for Sweden’s licensed online gambling companies, including a new customer risk classification and additional marketing restrictions.
While there are proposals in the report which are welcome, including the introduction of gaming supplier licenses for game developers and suppliers, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is concerned that the frequency and scope of regulatory changes in Sweden jeopardises the overall success of the country’s online gambling regulation and its ability to provide Swedes with a safe, attractive and regulated online environment where they can bet.
EGBA supports well-regulated online gambling markets but the constant proposals to change Sweden’s regulation, which was established less than two years ago, is creating policy instability for the country’s licensed companies. EGBA has previously outlined its concerns about the government’s introduction of temporary deposit limits for online casino in Q2 this year, which are now set to be prolonged until next summer. Generically imposed deposit limits, despite being well-intentioned, encourage many customers, including those experiencing problematic gambling behaviour, to exit the regulated market and play on black market websites which allow them to circumvent the limits.
The risks to consumer protection from black market gambling are very real, particularly for vulnerable customers: these websites are readily available, easy to access and do not apply any limits or responsible gambling measures, e.g. self-exclusion registers such as Sweden’s Spelpaus scheme. According to a recent study, 40% of Sweden’s online casino customers, and 34% of sports betting customers, already gamble on unlicensed and black market websites or would consider doing so in future. Given the risk of black market gambling, EGBA, therefore, encourages Swedish policy makers to consider the need for a delicate regulatory balance and the potential cause and effects of further restrictions on the licensed and regulated market in Sweden.
“EGBA members, including BOS, accept their shared responsibility to protect customers, and we are continuously considering what we can do more, but, fundamentally, the best way to protect customers is to ensure they play inside the regulated market with companies who are licensed in and apply the consumer protection laws in Sweden. The cumulative effect of more restrictions on the Swedish market will be less channelling and more unregulated black market gambling. Despite being well-intentioned, this would be clearly counter-productive and will damage the safety of the consumer,” Maarten Haijer, Secretary-General of EGBA, said.
Balkans
EGT Digital’s iGaming platform X-Nave and successful titles to deliver high-quality experience to BetHub’s customers
BetHub and EGT Digital have started their successful partnership, as a result of which the leading Bulgarian operator is now using the iGaming platform X-Nave. Its 4 main modules: CRM Engine, Sport product, Gaming Aggregator and Payment Gateway, enable the betting site to effectively manage all online gaming business verticals and further improve its performance.
CRM Engine provides a wide range of player management tools and bonus features, allowing the operator to create more personalized offerings for its customers, based on their preferences and behavior.
Through X-Nave’s Sport product BetHub will enrich even more the sport content it offers.
The Payment Gateway gives access to numerous payment methods and thanks to the Gaming Aggregator EGT Digital’s slot games are already at the disposal of the website’s visitors. The top-performing titles from Bell Link, Clover Chance, High Cash, Single Progressive Jackpot, as well as the multiplayer game xRide quickly gained popularity among BetHub’s customers.
“We are very glad with our collaboration with EGT Digital so far,” commented Kiril Naldzhiev, CEO at BetHub. “The platform has made the management of our business much easier, and the company’s gaming content has shown impressive results that have not only met but exceeded our expectations.”
Tsvetomira Drumeva, Head of Sales at EGT Digital, also gave a positive evaluation to the cooperation. She said: “Partnering with a prominent operator like BetHub is very valuable for us, as it gives us the opportunity to demonstrate the enormous potential of our developments and consolidate our status as a leader in the local market. I am confident that this is the beginning of a very successful collaboration that will bring a lot of positives to both companies and the players themselves.”
Latest News
THE UNIT SHAKES UP AMATEUR FOOTBALL WITH DRIBBLE
The Unit, a leader in nearshore product development and marketing services for sports betting and iGaming, is playing its part in the revolution of grassroots football in partnership with fantasy football operator Dribble.
Dribble brings a Moneyball sports-analytics approach to the amateur game by presenting players with the chance to track their performance, while connecting with the wider football community to earn recognition for their on-pitch performances.
Players can track their games and see their data, earning points based on how they, and their team, perform in matches. Players vote for their player of the match each gameweek, and profiles and rankings will update automatically after each gameweek.
The Unit, as an experienced supplier in the field of designing and developing robust, scalable platforms, has worked on this innovative product from concept to launch. The beta version of Dribble is now live across five amateur UK football leagues, covering more than 600 players.
Paddy Casey, Co-founder at The Unit, said: “It’s been a pleasure to work with the team at Dribble on this project. At The Unit, we pride ourselves on having the ability to provide bespoke software development services, addressing unique business requirements and challenges.
“By offering the opportunity for amateur football players to become the stars of the show in their own fantasy football leagues, Dribble has brought to market an innovative and exciting platform, which ties in with our background in sports, so it’s been an ideal collaboration.
“We have enjoyed the process of working with the Dribble team and we are proud to have been part of the early stages of their journey. We are sure they will make their mark in the world of fantasy football, and this will certainly shake up the market.”
Kirk Flitton, Founder and CEO at Dribble, said: “In the past six months, we have raised early investment and gone from concept to product. We would not have been able to do so without The Unit, who have been a key part of the journey in making our idea come to life.
“We were delighted to introduce Dribble to football players recently, and we have been assisted through to launch by the expert software development The Unit provides.
“Dribble has been built to help every player tell their football story, and we are extremely excited to see how the platform can grow and develop in the coming seasons in a whole new era for grassroots football.”
With offices in Ireland, Ukraine and Moldova, The Unit has an unwavering commitment to becoming the partner of choice throughout the industry. In addition to its broad-ranging marketing services, the team has solidified its strong track record of building world-class, scalable and efficient products for the sports betting and iGaming sector in recent years.
As The Unit embarks on this period of growth, the company remains committed to delivering exceptional products and services to its clients. With its experienced team, best-in-class product development capabilities, and focus on innovation, The Unit is poised to shape the future of the sports betting and iGaming industries.
Latest News
Stretch Network Crazy Promotion
Stretch Network is thrilled to announce a crazy opportunity to engage and reactivate small- and medium-stakes poker players with the launch of our latest tournament.
Tournament Details:
Name: CRAZY?! [Overlay Edition]
Guaranteed Prize Pool: €11,111
Buy-in: €1
Re-entry: €1
Start Time: 17:00 (UTC+0)
Date: November 24, 2024
Table Format: 8-max
Max Players: 2000
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This event is guaranteed to have an overlay, providing exceptional value and sure to generate excitement within the community.
Collaborate to make CRAZY?! [Overlay Edition] an unforgettable experience for your players.
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