Press Releases

Videoslots expresses concerns over proposed Government measures

Published

4 years ago

May 4, 2020

Several markets remove covid-19 restrictions - Sweden are doing the opposite

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Videoslots.com, one of Sweden’s leading online casinos, has warned that a one-size-fits-all attempt to protect the country’s players during the Covid-19 pandemic could drive them into the arms of unscrupulous black-market operators.

Lawmakers will this week debate the introduction of forced limits on gambling deposits, as well as restricting bonus offers to SEK100 for customers who will also have to set mandatory time limits on the amount of time they play.

The new rules, which will be discussed on May 7^th, would be in addition to Europe’s strictest gambling regulations. These include a limit on bonuses to first-time customers, interaction with players setting a deposit limit over 10,000 SEK, and ensuring they are not registered with the national Spelpaus self-exclusion program.

According to Ewout Wierda, General Counsel at Videoslots and a former regulator in the Netherlands, the proposed changes would make licensed operators uncompetitive in comparison to illegal operators, who can offer tempting bonuses and limit-free play.

Contrary to the Government’s stated 90% aim, the changes will decrease rather than increase so-called channelization, or the total share of online gambling that takes place on sites regulated by the Swedish license system as opposed to those operated illegally in defiance of it.

A Copenhagen Economics report commissioned by the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling, which includes Videoslots and other tier one operators within Sweden, has found that the online casino industry is already ‘exposed to fierce competition from unlicensed providers.’

The report showed that 40% of players within the market have gambled on unlicensed casino sites (25%), or would consider doing so (15%), with 58% of those players admitting that forced restrictions on bonus schemes are a reason why they choose to avoid regulated online casinos.

Ewout Wierda said: “Videoslots agrees with the licensing objectives and has invested a significant amount of time and money in sophisticated systems to keep a risk-based focus on customers who need protection. Player protection is our number one priority.

“We are therefore increasingly worried about the continued decline in the number of Swedish players choosing to place bets with fully licensed operators. We fear that online casino channelization in the country will soon drop below 70%.

“The changes proposed by the Government will take even more players away from the protection of the licensing system. Our player protection can help society cope with the current virus-related risks, but not if those players who need protection most choose black-market operators.

“Enforcement against black-market operators is needed but is not an alternative for the attractiveness of licensed operators. If the Government really wants to increase protection in online casinos, it needs to act quickly and sensibly. We urge them not to hamper us further by introducing counter-productive laws which will have unintended consequences.”

Social Security Minister Ardalan Shekarabi however has said he is serious about these measures and determined to implement them. In Wierda’s view, this will be a violation of EU law.

He added: “Measures must be taken in a transparent way and must be shown to be a good and consistent solution for a real problem. A discussion about proposals that have already been decided upon is not transparent. The government has no evidence of the need for measures or their effect. Licensed operators on the other hand can show there is no new risk. Forced fixed limits have proven to be ineffective by academic experts, and they are inconsistent with systems focusing on customers who are most at risk.”

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Latest News

William Hill Announced as Official Betting Partner of Qipco Guineas Festival

Published

16 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Alan Campbell

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Leading bookmaker becomes official betting partner of first UK Classic meeting of 2024

William Hill has been announced as the new official betting partner of the Qipco Guineas Festival, the first UK Classic meeting of the season.

It’s the latest addition to William Hill’s spring racing roster, following sponsorship of The Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster, the Punchestown Champion Chase and its status as official betting partner of the Randox Grand National Festival.

The 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas headline the three-day meeting and the leading bookmaker will sponsor 15 races across the weekend with the Jockey Club Stakes, Palace House and Dahlia Stakes among the races now featuring the William Hill title.

Aidan O’Brien’s unbeaten superstar City of Troy is still all the rage for the 2,000 Guineas at 4/6 whereas Karl Burke’s Fallen Angel heads a competitive looking 1,000 Guineas market at 7/2.

“We’re delighted to become the official betting partner of the Qipco Guineas Festival, strengthening our relationship with The Jockey Club on the back of a fantastic Grand National Festival,” a spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said. “It’s brilliant for William Hill to be associated directly with such a prestigious event at Newmarket, the home of the thoroughbred, for this season’s first two Classics. The company has a close connection with the history of the 2,000 Guineas as William Hill himself bred the 1949 winner, Nimbus, who then went on to win the Derby.

“We’re excited to be involved at racing’s key meetings and see the Qipco Guineas Festival as the perfect sponsorship as the British flat season kicks into gear.”

Newmarket – 2,000 Guineas: May 4, 2024

City Of Troy	4/6
Rosallion	4/1
Notable Speech	12/1
Henry Longfellow	12/1
Night Raider	16/1
Alyanaabi	16/1
Ancient Wisdom	16/1
Task Force	16/1
Ghostwriter	16/1
Iberian	20/1
BAR	25/1

Newmarket – 1,000 Guineas: May 5, 2024

Fallen Angel	7/2
Ylang Ylang	4/1
Dance Sequence	5/1
Ramatuelle	10/1
See The Fire	12/1
Content	12/1
One Look	14/1
Pretty Crystal	14/1
Buttons	20/1
Purple Lily	20/1
Porta Fortuna	20/1
Star Style	20/1
BAR	25/1

Gaming

Midjiwan Supports Reforestation Efforts With New Elyrion Tribe Skin In The Battle Of Polytopia

Published

16 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Adrienn Sarkany

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Midjiwan, the award-winning independent studio behind The Battle of Polytopia, is celebrating Elyrion (∑∫ỹriȱŋ) Tribe Week with a brand-new Midnight (₼idŋighţ) skin and donations to support reforestation.

Tapping into the Elyrion Tribe’s nature magic abilities, every purchase of an Elyrion item in the game will plant one real-world tree from April 22-28 2024. Midjiwan has teamed up with The Canopy Project, an organisation that works with global partners to reforest areas in urgent need of rehabilitation, combining The Battle Of Polytopia’s themes with a desire to make real change in the world. Previous years of Elyrion Tribe Week have resulted in the planting of over 12,000 trees.

The Elyrion Tribe is a mysterious group of elves, dedicated to defending their woodland home with their unique magic and connection with nature. Players using the Elyrion tribe have the ability to enchant animals into Polytaurs and summon powerful Fire Dragons.

Christian Lövstedt, General Manager at Midjiwan, commented:

“This is a hugely exciting partnership, allowing players to support the planet and contribute to reforestation whilst also accessing brilliant new content to use in The Battle Of Polytopia.”

Alongside donating to The Canopy Project, The Battle Of Polytopia also boasts a brand-new skin for the Elyrion Tribe! The Midnight skin allows players to create graves, build crypts, and summon demons in dark forests, all in service of the mysterious Shard of D’Naeh.

The Midnight skin re-skins the entire Elyrion Tribe as the Midnight Cult. Everything the Elyrion Tribe is all about – nature, enchantment, and sanctuary – is turned on its head, corrupted into a dark, twisted dystopia of itself.

Midjiwan has already invested €250,000 in solar power projects in rural areas around Africa, and other charitable projects. The studio continues to seek opportunities to combine its in-game creativity with real-world benefits. The Battle of Polytopia is available on Nintendo Switch, the App Store, Google Play, PC, and Tesla cars.

Bitcoin

Should iGaming Be Worried About 2024 Bitcoin Halving?

Published

16 hours ago

April 25, 2024

George Miller

Should iGaming Be Worried About 2024 Bitcoin Halving?

Reading Time: 2 minutes

In its LinkedIn newsletter, ‘The SOFTSWISS Special’, SOFTSWISS, a global tech expert with over 15 years of experience in iGaming, delves into the impact of Bitcoin Halving on the iGaming realm.

The recent historical moment of Bitcoin Halving took place on 19th April 2024. SOFTSWISS, a pioneer in crypto-friendly iGaming software, shares its insights and forecasts for how this event may shape the future of iGaming, shedding light on potential opportunities and challenges for industry stakeholders.

What is Bitcoin Halving?

The Bitcoin halving is a scheduled event that occurs approximately every four years or every 210,000 blocks. During this event, the reward for mining and verifying new blocks is reduced by 50%, resulting in miners earning only half the number of BTC per mined block.

Since its launch in 2009, Bitcoin’s mining reward has halved four times, occurring in 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024. The recent April halving reduced the reward to 3.125 BTC per block. Such events are crucial for Bitcoin’s scarcity and inflation control, ensuring that the total supply never exceeds 21 million coins and aligning with its deflationary principles.

Historically, each halving event has resulted in a rise in Bitcoin’s price. This is attributed to the reduced supply and increased scarcity, although other market factors have also influenced these outcomes.

Exploring the Impact of Bitcoin Halving on the iGaming Industry

To provide an in-depth analysis of the Bitcoin Halving impact on iGaming, SOFTSWISS invited Bradley Peak, blockchain expert and tokenomics adviser, to share its anticipations.

Bets rise: The halving is expected to lead to an increase in Bitcoin’s value. If the trend of impressive price surges persists, Bitcoin-friendly iGaming brands could see a positive impact.
Crypto adoption increase: Implementing crypto-friendly models has the potential to boost player trust and transparency in iGaming. Additionally, it could rejuvenate unique gaming experiences like provably fair games and decentralised casinos.
Regulatory frameworks improvement: The recent Bitcoin halving could prompt regulatory bodies to reassess their stance on cryptocurrency gambling. This could lead to new regulations ensuring fairness, responsible gambling, and anti-money laundering measures in the crypto-driven iGaming sector.

Bradley Peak, blockchain expert, comments on the recent changes: “Any transformation will not be without its challenges. It is important to adapt – invest in employee learning and development, onboard crypto processing, and make sure your platform remains secure in the process.”

Explore the influence of the 2024 Bitcoin Halving on the iGaming industry in the fourth edition of The SOFTSWISS Special newsletter on LinkedIn.

About SOFTSWISS

SOFTSWISS is an international tech company supplying software solutions for managing iGaming projects. The expert team, which counts over 2,000 employees, is based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides one-stop-shop iGaming software solutions. The company has a vast product portfolio, including the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with thousands of casino games, the Affilka affiliate platform, the Sportsbook Platform and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS was the first in the world to introduce a Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution.