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What Can European Markets learn from the UK’s iGaming Sector?
When discussing Brexit in terms of the iGaming market, most experts believe that the UK will shoulder the biggest potential impact.
From the future of Gibraltar to a potential talent drain and exodus of UK firms from these shores, there is certainly a great deal of uncertainty surrounding Brexit and Britain’s lucrative iGaming market.
While the UK market may be disrupted after Brexit, however, it remains relatively robust and a true leader in the global space. Also, there are several lessons that European markets could learn from the UK, including the following:
The Need for Harmonised Rules
According to a recent, EU-wide public consultation on the future of the continent’s fast-growing iGaming industry, the market has reached the point where it must be governed by a harmonised set of rules.
This is definitely the opinion of Sigrid Ligné, who’s the Secretary General of the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) and recently spoke to EURACTIV in a detailed interview.
“Online gambling is a cross-border market”, she said. “Consumption is cross-border as well. Clearly, there is a strong need for harmonised rules, and we believe that there’s good momentum for the EU to assume leadership in this area”.
It is hard to argue with this assertion, especially given the EU’s track record in creating single points of control and regulatory bodies across a wide range of commercial sectors and applications.
For example, the Commission has created standardised rules for both food import standards and financial market regulation in member states, so it is definitely capable of doing something similar in the iGaming realm.
To achieve this, the EU Commission could well follow the template set by the UK, which introduced robust but progressive legislation in the form of the 2005 Gaming Act.
The Labour government of the time also created an omnipotent and independent regulator in the form of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), which provides a comprehensive range of market services and operates as a single point of control in the marketplace.
Of course, creating this type of body to oversee 27 member states may be far more challenging, but it’s something that the EU must move towards if it’s to create a safe market that can scale successfully over time.
Focus on Promoting Responsible Gambling
Thanks to the clearly defined infrastructure of the UK market, the regulator has been able to drive responsible gambling and impose sanctions on operators that fail to protect their customers.
This has been borne out by the huge financial sanctions imposed by the UKGC since 2018, when it announced the safeguarding of potentially vulnerable players as its core strategic objective through 2021.
This has impacted on every aspect of the market, from the decision of operators to partner with responsible gambling agencies and the emergence of independent comparison sites for the most trusted betting sites in the UK.
The regulator has also imposed a diverse range of measures to help raise standards industry-wide, from the banning of credit cards (which are prohibited in some European markets and are still permitted in others) to the imposition of more stringent age verification measures on iGaming operators.
Not only this, but UK operators have invested heavily in responsible gambling tools and technologies, with some of the latest innovations enabling players to track their behaviour in real-time and utilise operator insights to highlight any issues before they become too challenging.
Of course, key stakeholders broached this subject at the latest quarterly meeting of European Gaming body on June 10th, so there are signs that the market may be moving in the right direction as it looks to protect operators and players alike.
Offering Casino Games Under One Roof
As we have already touched on, gambling rules vary wildly from one jurisdiction to another in Europe, with Germany the latest to announce a relatively complex and detailed selection of guidelines.
The approach to slot gaming is particularly interesting, initially because the regulator has imposed a €1 maximum wager limit per spin. This is similar to the proposal put forward by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for gambling-related harm in the UK, although the maximum threshold discussed here is £2.
However, it is interesting to note that Germany and some other European markets require operators to make slots and different forms of gambling available via different Internet domains, unless the site in question houses independent and geographically separate landing pages for each vertical.
While there are genuinely good reasons for this, it can have an adverse impact on the typical online gambling experience, particularly in terms of accessibility and navigating a particular operator’s site.
At the same time, this does not necessarily provide much in the way of protection for vulnerable players, so it may be a rule that regulators look to relax over time.
This is an important lesson to heed from the UK market, whose casino sites are incredibly easy to navigate and responsively designed to open across a wide range of devices.
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7-Eleven selects Jackpot.com as their official lottery partner
Online Lottery Courier Service Jackpot.com Announces Exclusive Collaboration with 7-Eleven, Inc.
Jackpot.com will serve as the official lottery courier service of 7-Eleven, Inc., initially launching in Ohio and Massachusetts
Jackpot.com – the online lottery courier service that allows consumers to purchase official state lottery tickets on their phone, tablet, or computer – announced today an exclusive collaboration with 7-Eleven Inc., the largest convenience store chain in the world, to serve as their official lottery courier service.
As part of the collaboration, 7-Eleven customers in Ohio and Massachusetts will be able to sign up and play lottery games and scratchers on the Jackpot.com app or website. The program will initially be launched in over 600 7-Eleven and Speedway stores in Ohio and Massachusetts, with a special launch promotion that gives 7-Eleven customers a free lottery ticket on their first deposit by using promo code, “7Eleven”.
“We’re thrilled to work with 7-Eleven, the leading retailer of lottery tickets in the country,” said Akshay Khanna, CEO and co-founder of Jackpot.com. “Leveraging our technology and innovation, we can provide additional convenience for their customers, while adding an additional source of revenue. A true win-win relationship for all.”
By launching in Ohio and Massachusetts in 2023 and 2024, respectively, Jackpot.com aims at adding another avenue for player convenience with one of the most widely recognized brands in the convenience-retailing space. With a presence in Ohio, the nation’s seventh-largest lottery market, and Massachusetts, whose state lottery produced $1.2 billion in net profit for the Commonwealth during the 2024 fiscal year, Jackpot.com’s collaboration with 7-Eleven represents an added layer of accessibility for players.
Jackpot.com remains committed to responsible play and has significantly invested in protocols by allowing customers of legal age to set spend limits and limits on daily deposits, all while providing access to local and national responsible gambling resources, self-exclusion, self-suspension and automated notifications that offer help should problematic behavior be detected. Jackpot.com is also the only lottery courier service to launch with an iCap certification from the National Council on Problem Gambling.
To learn more, visit jackpot.com. First-time users can also download the official Jackpot.com Lottery App on the iOS or Android App Stores, where available.
eSports
The World Esports Summit 2024 Is Here!
The IESF World Esports Summit returns this December to Busan, South Korea. Hosted at the Busan Esports Arena (BRENA) from December 5-6, the Summit will bring together prominent figures from Esports, global brands, government officials, and sports executives for a deep dive into the current Esports trends, its rapid transformations, and future challenges.
This year’s theme, “Building Bridges, Not Barriers, Through the Power of Esports,” will highlight the role of Esports in uniting cultures, ideas, and industries. Under the slogan “We Empower Success,” the
Summit provides a great platform for Esports experts to engage in meaningful discussions and sessions, sharing their insights on trends and presenting forward-looking ideas for our industry.
The event, strategically timed at the close of the competitive season, presents a perfect environment for reflection on the year’s biggest events, industry shifts, and the next steps for Esports. Attendees can follow the expert’s perspectives on topics like:
- (R)Evolution in Esports
- East Meets West
- Esports Integrity: The Role of Referees
- The Rise of International Esports Competitions
- (In Korean) Korea’s Secret Sauce etc.
Also, featured at this year’s event are the IESF World Esports Training Camp and the World Esports Referee Academy.
These are very important IESF programs that are aimed at advancing the skills and professional standards of the next generation of Esports leaders.
Join us in Busan for two days designed to inspire, connect, and empower the international Esports community.
Registration for the World Esports Summit is free and open to all interested attendees.
To register, please complete our online registration form: iesf.formstack.com/forms/wes2024_participation_registration
See you in Busan!
eSports
Akhil Sarin CMO at Easygo named as key note at ICE Esports Conference
Clarion Gaming has confirmed that Akhil Sarin CMO at Easygo, the technology powerhouse behind the success of global brands Stake and Kick will headline the Esports & Games Conference (EGC) taking place on 21 January as part of the ICE Barcelona experience. As a key member of the executive team, Akhil Sarin has been instrumental in securing the high-profile partnerships that have accelerated Stake’s growth, including the Stake F1 team, UFC, Drake, and Premier League Everton FC.
Through these strategic alliances he has amplified Stake’s brand presence at the same time as creating unique, immersive player experiences, in the process setting new industry benchmarks.
Announcing the high profile speaker Will Harding, Head of Esports at Clarion Gaming said: “Securing Akhil Sarin as EGC key note at ICE Barcelona represents a remarkable opportunity for our attendees to gain invaluable insight into cutting-edge strategies in digital and influencer marketing .
“Akhil’s expertise with Stake and Kick.com embodies the forward-thinking, innovative approach that defines the digital marketing landscapes. His participation underscores the calibre of knowledge-sharing that we are committed to delivering at ICE and he is sure to both inspire our attendees and elevate their strategic perspective.”
Looking ahead to ICE Barcelona, Akhil Sarin stated: “Collaborating with Clarion Gaming at ICE Barcelona is an exciting opportunity to showcase Stake’s journey and continued focus on bold partnerships and creative marketing strategies that resonate with audiences.”
He added “The EGC is a vital platform for exchanging transformative ideas and shaping the future of gaming and entertainment. I look forward to discussing Stake’s vision and collaborating with industry leaders to inspire growth and innovation across the sector.”
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