Baltics
Austria in focus with Julia Kotanko (Associate with Dr. Christian Rapani) at MARE BALTICUM Gaming Summit 2019
Austria may be the home of the biggest gaming machine producer in the world, but it is also the home of the most un-attractive gaming regulation in Europe. There have been many talks around the regulation in Austria and many court decision are yet to be announced, that could set a precedent in order to create a much better climate for the gaming industry.
During the second edition of MARE BALTICUM Gaming Summit, also known as the Baltic and Scandinavian Gaming Summit and Awards, Julia Kotanko (Associate with Dr. Christian Rapani), will take part in the “Gambling industry updates from the D-A-CH region” compliance panel discussion and present new highlights from the Austrian gambling industry.
MARE BALTICUM Gaming Summit will take place on the 9th 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!
About Julia Kotanko
Julia Kotanko has completed her law degree at the Karl-Franzens University in Graz. After graduation she became an associate at an esteemed law firm in Graz where she focused on terrestrial offerings of games of chance in Austria. Since the beginning of 2018 she is a senior legal associate with the law firm of Dr. Christian Rapani, where she has made the move to online gaming offerings. She is continuing her academic career by writing a doctoral thesis at the Vienna University of Economics and Business on the topic of online sports betting.
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
New Survey Reveals 80% of Lithuanians Would Welcome a Ban on Gambling Ads
Eight out of 10 Lithuanians would approve of a ban on gambling ads in the country, a new survey revealed.
The survey commissioned by public broadcaster LRT was carried out by the public opinion and market research company Baltijos tyrimai. It showed that 80% of respondents aged 18 years and over are in favour of a complete ban on gambling ads in Lithuania and just 15% would oppose the move.
It has transpired that approval of the gambling ad ban was greater among women than men – 86% against 72% respectively. The move has also wide support among residents aged over 50 (84%) and by people with greater than secondary education and with monthly household income of up to EUR 1100 (85%). Opponents of the ban often include men (21%), young people under 30 years of age (23%), rural residents (18%) and people with unfinished secondary education (30%). 1115 adult residents of Lithuania were polled on 15-25 March.
In mid-March, parliament began to consider amendments to the law on gambling, which, if adopted, would prohibit gambling advertisements as of 1 January 2025.
Baltics
Lithuania’s Nese enters iGaming with a record sponsorship deal
Nese, Lithuania’s oldest land-based casino operator, has launched Twinsbet – a new iGaming and sportsbook brand with a focus on sports sponsorships. The company entered into a 3-year long, €7.5 million sponsorship deal with the Wolves basketball club and secured the Avia Solutions Group Arena naming rights.
Twinsbet enters the highly competitive Lithuanian market with naming rights to the largest Vilnius indoor arena, title sponsorship of the Wolves basketball club competing locally and in the Eurocup, and celebrity former basketball players, the Lavrinovic twins, as main ambassadors. This sponsorship deal is worth at least €7.5 million for the next three years and may increase to €10 million if certain conditions are met.
Such a sports and iGaming sponsorship deal is among the largest in Lithuanian history. Nese will seek further collaborations with various sports organizations, focusing on both professional and leisure sports activities.
According to Alvidas Paulikas, Nese’s CEO, the company aims for the leading position locally and seeks to become the first Lithuanian operator to expand internationally.
“Twinsbet is centered around the idea that we believe in sports. For this reason, we are heavily investing in and supporting sports, including the Wolves basketball club and the Twinsbet Arena, as well as other collaborations we are currently investigating and are always open to. We plan to support local teams and non-professional sporting activities in new markets that we will enter soon,” says Paulikas.
Andrius Ziauberis, the CEO of both the Wolves basketball club and the Twinsbet Arena, says that the deal with Twinsbet will strengthen both the organization and the entire Lithuanian sports community.
“We are the only top-tier Lithuanian basketball club operating without any support from municipalities, and so this sponsorship deal will pave the way for sustainable growth. Strong teams can inspire generations both on and beyond the court, and this deal builds a solid foundation for an engaging fan experience,” Ziauberis says.
According to the regulator, the total Lithuanian gaming market amounted to €222 million in 2023, a 13 percent increase from 2022. More than 65 percent of the market is online. The total amount wagered exceeded €2 billion for the first time in 2022.
Baltics
Hacksaw Gaming and TOPsport are on TOP of their game with new partnership announcement in Lithuania
Kicking off the month, it’s time to commemorate a brand new partnership with Lithuania’s leading operator – TOPsport! As of the 8th of April, Hacksaw fans will have the opportunity to enjoy the initial selection of our released games, with plans for further expansion in line with market regulations.
TOPsport was founded with humble beginnings back in 2002, they were in fact the first ever betting company to be established in Lithuania. Boasting an impressive collection of 62 betting locations and, of course, their online platform which is home to sports betting and live casino games from various different providers globally. They now welcome Hacksaw classics such as Wanted Dead or a Wild, Chaos Crew and Hand of Anubis to their growing collection.
CEO of TOPsport, Gintaras Staniulis, expressed “TOPsport is excited about the partnership with Hacksaw gaming, which marks a significant step forward in our commitment to providing unparalleled experiences for our customers. We are confident that this collaboration will further enhance our offerings and solidify our position as a leader in the industry.”
TOPsport players can expect exciting narratives, captivating artistic design and an overall gaming experience that will leave them searching for more Hacksaw content. Confident that this will be the case, Hacksaw Gaming CEO Marcus Cordes wanted to say a few words on the new partnership – “A top operator in the Lithuanian market teaming up with a leading provider of innovative games—what a match! We’re thrilled about this collaboration and are optimistic that TOPsport players will soon become familiar with the Hacksaw name.”
Only time will tell, but we’re pretty sure that TOPsport Casino users will find Hacksaw games at the ‘top’ of their new favourite lists.
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