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What Can European Markets Learn from the Online Casino Industry in New Zealand and Australia?

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Nuvei is Enriching its Global Instant Payment and Bank Transfer Offering with the Integration of Faster Payments and Instant and Regular SEPA
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It was recently revealed that we may be on the precipice of a crackdown on unlicensed Australian sites, after it was revealed that operators were targeting players without being accredited by The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

However, the really telling number here was the approximate size of the online GGY in the Asia-Pacific region as a whole, with estimates placing this between $65 billion and $90 billion per annum.

This augurs well for markets such as New Zealand and Australia, which are open to operators from across the globe despite prohibiting domestic operators from targeting players. But what lessons can European markets learn from the industry in the Asia-Pacific region?

 

The Importance of a Single Regulatory Framework

Of course, the European iGaming market features the 27 remaining members of the single bloc (amongst others), who despite cooperation on most matters of trade and commerce, operate completely different laws when it comes to online gambling.

In fact, the regulatory frameworks for online gambling are noticeably diverse across the continent, especially when you compare countries in the west with those in the east.

This represents something of a challenge for players and regulators alike, especially when you consider the impact of freedom of movement with the EU. More specifically, the availability of casino games and sports betting varies considerably from one country to another, so those who regularly cross these borders may find it hard to understand their rights and responsibilities as players in real-time.

Conversely, both Australia and New Zealand operate a clear and singular regulatory framework, which is easy to understand for both operators and players alike.

Similarly, these entities are accountable to identifiable and omnipotent regulatory bodies, namely the aforementioned ACMA and the New Zealand Gambling Commission.

At the same time, operators are beholden to clearly-defined and specific laws in the regions, with any licensed online casino in New Zealand subject to the Gambling Act of 2003.

Stakeholders in Australia are also subject to the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 (which was updated in 2017), and the markets in Europe would definitely benefit from this type of single-minded and concise legislative approach.

 

A Clear Approach to the Use of Credit Cards

There’s also no single approach to the use of credit cards by online gamblers, despite calls for all EU member states to follow the example of the UK by banning this practice.

Interestingly, this is also something that the Australian authorities have begun to pursue tenaciously, with the nation’s Parliament hoping to initiate a law that would completely prohibit the use of credit cards and digital wallets for iGaming transactions.

This would extend the provisions already in place in brick-and-mortar casinos throughout Australia, safeguarding vulnerable players and highlighting the adverse effects on consumers across the board.

A thorough investigation is well underway, with the enquiry committee responsible expected to submit its final report by July 30th.

From a European perspective, Germany has already announced a credit card gambling ban, which was approved in 2020 and will prohibit players from funnelling funds in and out of their accounts via this method.

Similarly, Spain appeared poised to amend its own gambling legislation and prohibit the use of credit cards at the beginning of 2020, but the law has yet to be formally enacted and remains at the centre of a debate about how best to protect potentially vulnerable players.

Ultimately, there’s a lack of a clear consensus amongst European markets when it comes to credit card usage, with this partially due to uncertainty and the various counter-arguments put forward by the European Betting and Gaming Association.

This may prove counterproductive over time, with studies highlighting the danger posed by credit cards and the potential for players to accumulate debt relatively quickly.

 

The Last Word

There are some clear takeaways here, with the most obvious being the relatively disorganised regulatory approach in Europe’s iGaming markets and the way in which this contrasts with the legislative measures in Australia and New Zealand.

The lack of a standardised framework in Europe is also at odds with the close and integrated nature of EU member states, which is why the Commission has pledged to help support single bloc countries in their attempts to create far greater cooperation amongst national regulators.

This is perhaps the best lesson that European and EU iGaming markets can learn from Australia and NZ, especially if they want to create a safer and more seamless experience for their players.

 

 

Compliance Updates

CT Interactive announces certification of new games for the Italian market

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CT Interactive announces certification of new games for the Italian market
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CT Interactive is thrilled to announce that new titles have officially received certification for the Italian market, ready to bring a fresh wave of entertainment to players across the country. This certification ensures that the games adhere to Italy’s stringent regulatory standards for fairness, security, and quality, reinforcing CT Interactive’s dedication to providing top-tier gaming experiences.

The newly certified games include: 5x Cherry PartyChristmas StormJester JackLucky KiwiMega GnomePiggy CrashStar GirlThe Big ChilliThe New Queen of FruitsTreasure Chase.

These exciting games offer a diverse range of themes, from the festive charm of Christmas Storm to the whimsical adventures of Piggy Crash and Mega Gnome. Whether players are in the mood for the nostalgic appeal of a classic fruit slot like The New Queen of Fruits, or looking for thrilling treasure hunts in Treasure Chase, there’s something for every type of player.

Each game has been developed with a focus on delivering engaging features, rewarding bonuses, and immersive gameplay. With unique mechanics and visually striking graphics, these releases are designed to captivate Italian players and keep them returning for more.

CT Interactive remains committed to enhancing the Italian gaming landscape by consistently providing fresh, exciting content and introducing new ways to play.

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Cryptocurrency

SOFTSWISS Survey Q3’24: 58% Cite Crypto as Key Driver in New Markets

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SOFTSWISS, a tech company and pioneer in crypto gaming with over 15 years of experience, conducted a survey revealing that the majority view crypto as a key driver for growth in new markets. Experts also  analysed this year’s crypto bets to share the latest insights.

Bitcoin recently reached a historic high, getting closer to 90,000 euro per coin. However, during the third quarter of 2024, it faced its sharpest drop in several years. SOFTSWISS experts examine how these market shifts have influenced iGaming performance in the quarterly ‘State of Crypto’ analytics.

A Quarter of the World’s Population Engages in iGaming 

Global iGaming statistics indicate that approximately 26% of the world’s population were ever engaged in iGaming. By 2028, the iGaming market is projected to reach 243.2 million users, with a market volume nearing 130 billion euro, a substantial portion of which is expected to involve cryptocurrency. 

SOFTSWISS data shows that during the 9 months of 2024, the Total Bet Sum, including both fiat and crypto, increased by 43.1% compared to the same period of 2023. Simultaneously, the Total Bet Count showed even more impressive growth, surpassing 44.5%.

An in-depth comparison analysis since 2022 demonstrates fiat bets are rising much more rapidly than crypto. A comparison between the first nine months of 2024 and the same period of the previous year revealed that the Fiat Bet Sum achieved a 50.4% boost. The conservative approach toward payment methods has resulted in Crypto Bet Sum growing at a slower pace compared to fiat and has led to a modest 4-percentage-points (p.p.) decline in the crypto share in 2024.

 

[1] Based on data from ongoing projects[

Potential of Crypto in iGaming 2025

According to the SOFTSWISS iGaming Trends 2025 Report, cryptocurrency is set to remain one of the preferred payment methods within the sector. Based on the company’s survey, 58% of respondents identified crypto as the primary driver of growth in new markets, underscoring its essential role in shaping the industry’s future.

Vitali Matsukevich, Chief Operating Officer at SOFTSWISS, reflects on the possibilities of crypto: “Integrating crypto payments allows iGaming businesses to operate globally, delivering greater speed and convenience. With iGaming’s naturally borderless reach, this expands platforms’ access to a wider international audience, boosting their global growth potential.”

“What is more, crypto transaction fees can be almost three times lower compared to traditional fiat gateways, allowing iGaming businesses to save on processing costs and reinvest that capital”, adds Max Krupyshev, CEO of CryptoProcessing by CoinsPaid.

SOFTSWISS data confirms stable interest in crypto. In the first nine months of 2024, the Crypto Bet Sum increased by 15.2% compared to the same period the previous year. A long-term quarter-by-quarter analysis reveals a consistent growth pattern, though the third quarter of 2024 saw a 9 p.p. decline from the previous quarter. The drop aligns with the decline in the exchange rates of major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum, which occurred in the third quarter.

Meanwhile, the Crypto Bet Count rose by 16.2% in Q3 2024, indicating stable interest in crypto gaming. This combination reveals that while engagement in crypto betting remains steady, the total wagered sum is closely correlated to fluctuations in cryptocurrency exchange rates.

Altcoins Share Growth

The top five most popular cryptos in iGaming have remained stable over the years, with some shifts in the ranking order. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Tether, and Dogecoin are the most popular among crypto players. While altcoins accounted for only 25.1% of bets over the first nine months of last year, their share increased significantly to over 47% during the same period in 2024.

 

Bitcoin’s share dropped by 22 p.p. during the nine months of 2024 compared to the same period of 2023. At the same time, Tether and Litecoin saw the most impressive share growth, with over 8 p.p. and 7.8 p.p., respectively. Ethereum strengthened by 4.9 p.p.

Another impactful trend reveals some casinos, like Rollbit and Shuffle, utilise their own iGaming tokens to boost player engagement. Tokens designed specifically for gaming offer enhanced compatibility across platforms, lower volatility, and exclusive perks for users. Crypto drives the development of new payment methods and business growth.

Vitali Matsukevich summarises: “Crypto offers iGaming operators key advantages beyond lower costs and global reach. Blockchain enhances safety and fairness through transparency and traceability, with each transaction and game result permanently recorded and tamper-proof. Partnering with trusted crypto experts allows operators to harness these benefits, positioning themselves for growth and effectively navigating market shifts.”

The new SOFTSWISS iGaming Trends 2025 Report offers more insights about crypto in the ever-evolving iGaming sector. The visionary report is free to download via the link.

 

About SOFTSWISS

SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 23,500 casino games, the Affilka affiliate platform, the Sportsbook software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.

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Latest News

Sumsub and SoftGamings Forge Strategic Partnership to Enhance Player Verification and Fraud Prevention

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Sumsub and SoftGamings Forge Strategic Partnership to Enhance Player Verification and Fraud Prevention
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Sumsub, a global full-cycle verification platform, and SoftGamings, a leading developer of gaming platforms and turnkey iGaming systems, are pleased to announce a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening the security and compliance features of iGaming solutions worldwide.

This collaboration combines Sumsub’s cutting-edge verification technologies with SoftGamings’ innovative gaming platforms, ensuring smoother player onboarding, enhanced fraud detection, and seamless, secure user experiences. Under this partnership, SoftGamings will integrate Sumsub’s advanced KYC (Know Your Customer) checks, Player Behavior Monitoring, Fraud Networks Detection, and Payment Fraud Prevention solutions into its platform, offering clients enhanced protection against fraud while streamlining the user journey from registration to gameplay.

“Security and reliability are at the core of everything we do at SoftGamings,” said Anna Kiselova, Head of Partnerships at SoftGamings. “Teaming up with Sumsub strengthens our commitment to providing our customers with a platform that is not only feature-rich but also secure and aligned with the highest industry standards. This collaboration ensures that our clients can offer their players a safe and seamless experience, without compromising on performance or speed.”

SoftGamings’ platform currently handles over 50 billion transactions annually, supports 100 million registered players, and boasts an uptime rate among the best in the industry. Through this partnership, SoftGamings aims to provide its clients with an even more secure environment, allowing for faster player onboarding, enhanced fraud detection capabilities, and a smoother user experience overall.

The partnership also promises to empower gaming operators to monitor player behavior more effectively, identify potential risks, and prevent fraud before it happens—all while complying with ever-evolving regulatory requirements.

“We are thrilled to partner with SoftGamings, a company with a long-standing reputation for providing high-performance iGaming platforms,” comments Kris Galloway, Head of iGaming Product at Sumsub. “By combining our industry-leading verification and fraud prevention tools with SoftGamings’ cutting-edge solutions, we’re able to offer iGaming operators across the globe a seamless and secure experience from day one. This partnership represents a significant step forward in simplifying compliance and reducing digital fraud in the iGaming ecosystem.”

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