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Measures for a safer gambling market – CEO call from the gaming industry

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The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS (Branschföreningen för Onlinespel)) has today published the following open letter:

The Ministry of Finance’s proposal for placing further restrictions on the Swedish gambling market has been met by strong and unanimous criticism. All stakeholders in the gambling industry (state and private), as well as sports clubs, the Swedish Gambling Authority, and international and national media have all stated that the proposals are unrealistic and how they play into the hands of the unlicensed market. The Minister for Public Administration then chose to adjust the proposals somewhat, but only to improve conditions for state-controlled companies. Now a new report shows that implementing deposit limits on online casinos alone would mean that almost half of all bets would end up being placed with unlicensed companies. The entire Swedish gambling industry has been beset by uncertainty, with many customers abandoning licensed companies and moving instead to unlicensed companies. If we don’t start to cooperate and introduce long-term measures grounded in facts, we risk turning back the clock to what the market looked like prior to re-regulation.

Recently, the independent research firm Copenhagen Economics published a new report describing how deposit limits would affect online casinos. The report, which is based on turnover data, consumer surveys, interviews, and international research, shows that the channelization for online casinos will fall from an already low 75% to an even lower 52-63% if deposit limits come into force. This means almost half of all bets will be placed with unlicensed companies.

Neither the Ministry of Finance nor any other stakeholder has presented facts to support the underlying assumption that gambling in general – and play on online casinos in particular – have increased during the covid-19 crisis. In its recent report to the Swedish government, the agency responsible for the Swedish gambling market also confirms it hasn’t detected increased gambling during the coronavirus pandemic.

The government is aware of the alarmingly low percentage of online casino players who now play within the licensed Swedish system. The government has also seen data from the Swedish Tax Agency that show gambling on horse races – and not online casino gambling – has increased during the coronavirus crisis.

We share the government’s view that protection for and of players is of the utmost importance. We agree that this work must continue and that together we can create a sustainable gambling market with strong consumer protections. But the work must be based on facts.

The Ministry of Finance has the opportunity to implement a number of fact-based measures that would improve consumer protections without damaging the important channelization. On the contrary, the channelization would benefit with these measures, which would also strengthen consumer protections.

Expand licensing requirements

Introducing licensing requirements for companies that supply games as well as the companies that provide customers, so-called B2B licenses, would increase the Swedish Gambling Authority’s ability to regulate the market and prevent the black market from targeting Swedish gamblers. The measure would promote the channelization and is therefore welcomed by the licensed gambling industry as well as gambling addiction organizations.

IQ campaign for the gambling industry

There is very little awareness about Spelpaus, the central self-removal register, as well as other regulated consumer protection measures. The Swedish Gambling Authority and the Swedish Consumer Agency should be tasked with increasing public awareness about these tools. Systembolaget’s IQ campaign could serve as inspiration for a proactive information portal.

Gambling companies’ data is part of the solution

The digital gambling industry collects and processes large amounts of data on customers’ gambling behaviour. The Ministry of Finance should instruct the Swedish Gambling Authority to request regular reports, with anonymized data, on customers’ gambling behaviour in order to increase understanding about gambling habits and identify any systematic problems. The gambling companies have this data and already share it with researchers.

Great strides have been made in machine learning and artificial intelligence. Computers are capable of handling huge amounts of data and identifying the patterns required for increasing understanding and providing the basis for decisions. The gambling industry is also making progress in this area and sees great opportunities for improving our ability to detect and stop harmful phenomena such as problem gambling, match fixing, and money laundering. The Ministry of Finance has a golden opportunity to initiate a strategic collaboration in this area together with authorities, researchers, the gambling industry, and gambling addiction groups.

Sharing of data between companies

The EU’s strict data protection laws are generally a good thing. We share the view that each individual should own their own data. Having the opportunity to share personal data between gambling companies as well as between gambling companies and authorities would make it easier to quickly identify and prevent gambling problems or fraudulent activities. Today, every gambling company can make these discoveries on their own but can’t share the information in a simple and legal way.

Risk ratings for players, not products – and with support from actual data

Addictive and unhealthy behaviour by individuals is individual and is easy to track in the gambling industry thanks to the large amount of data that is continuously collected from all players. Any future risk classification system must be based on the conditions and actions of the individual.

Extend the Swedish Gambling Authority’s mandate

The government must clarify the Swedish Gambling Authority’s mandate to ensure the integrity of the licensing system and in so doing strengthen the all-important degree of channelization.

Extend the Duty of Care to more industries

The challenges we have in society are rarely isolated to one individual stakeholder or industry. In order to curb increased indebtedness stemming from gambling, the lending market – and the instant lending market in particular – also need to take responsibility for lowering excessive debts. Today, the gambling industry can access information about a customer’s liquidity, but it’s hard to determine whether the money is borrowed or earned. A central self-removal register like Spelpaus should be considered for instant loans.

Stockholm 2020-06-08

Pontus Lindwall, CEO, Betsson AB
Henrik Tjärnström, CEO, Kindred Group
Gustaf Hagman, Group CEO, LeoVegas
Therese Hillman, VD, NetEnt AB
Ulrik Bengtsson, Group CEO, William Hill Plc
Lahcene Merzoug, CEO, ComeOn
Alexander Stevendahl, CEO, Videoslots
Tomas Backman, CEO, Hero Gaming
Henric Andersson, CEO, SuprNation
Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General, Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS)

Industry News

Blackstone to List Spain’s Cirsa Shares in Madrid Early 2025

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Private equity investor Blackstone plans to list shares of Spanish gambling company Cirsa in the first half of 2025 in an initial public offering.

Blackstone would raise between 700 million euros and 1 billion euros,floating between 20% and 25% of Cirsa.

The investment fund has hired Barclays, Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley as global coordinators, according to reports.

Cirsa, Blackstone, Barclays, Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Blackstone acquired Cirsa, which operates casinos and betting shops across Spain and Latin America, in 2018 for an undisclosed sum.

In 2021, a Spanish newspaper reported Blackstone was considering a Cirsa IPO in a deal that would value the company at around $3.4 billion.

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Industry News

Betsson’s Customer Service Team Nominated for Award at the CX Exchange Awards 2024

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Betsson Group’s Customer Service team has been shortlisted for the “Best Customer Experience” at this year’s prestigious CX Exchange Awards 2024.

Melissa Zalbeigi, Director of Customer Service Operations at Betsson Group, said: “We are honoured and excited to be nominated for this award. It’s a privilege to be recognised alongside industry leaders and to compete against such esteemed companies. This nomination is a testament to our team’s dedication to providing exceptional customer service.”

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Industry News

Quixant to Exhibit at ICE 2025

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Following a strong showing at G2E 2024 in Las Vegas, where Quixant highlighted its expanded range of processors and graphics configurations for its QMAX 3 hardware platform and launched the IQ Connect, the company looks forward to continuing its tradition of showcasing breakthrough technology at ICE. From cost-effective and powerful options like the IQ range, to the robust and reliable IQON range, all the way to the maximum power and performance of the QMAX range, Quixant’s Intel and AMD-based platforms span a spectrum of power, performance and cost requirements to meet the unique needs of gaming businesses worldwide.

Known for its customisable design and easy serviceability, the QMAX 3 sets new standards in gaming hardware. Launching the enhanced offering to the European market for the first time at ICE, the product now features processor options that include a budget-friendly Celeron for cost-conscious projects, alongside higher-performance Intel Core i5 and i7 options. The product also allows customers to choose configurations with or without a discrete GPU (dGPU), enabling them to tailor graphics capabilities to project needs. This flexibility empowers game developers to strike the ideal balance between performance, power and budget, making it an unparalleled solution for diverse market demands.

Returning to ICE by popular demand, Quixant’s IQ 2 platform is designed to offer powerful, cost-effective performance for a range of gaming applications. It is proving to be the ideal solution for delivering high-quality gaming experiences at a budget-friendly price.

Also to be highlighted at the Quixant booth are its embedded Software Suite solutions, which provide game developers a comprehensive toolset to optimise the game development process, simplify deployment, ensure compliance and maintain robust security. The solutions allow developers to focus on creating immersive player experiences, in the confidence that the technical aspects are covered by Quixant’s range of solutions.

Quixant’s newly launched IQ Connect 1 will also be showcased at the booth, a platform which was designed for the North American route and distributed gaming market and other markets that require a JAMMA connector. Equipped with advanced JAMMA expansion capabilities, it is an ideal fit for cabinets and kiosks requiring JAMMA connectors, seamlessly integrating flexibility, power and affordability into one solution. The product is positioned to elevate gaming experiences in cost-sensitive markets without sacrificing performance.

Mark Price, SVP Sales & Operations, EMEA & RoW for Nexteq PLC, the parent company of Quixant, shared: “We have always been about empowering our customers to focus on creating unforgettable gaming experiences. With ICE moving to Barcelona, it is a new era, and we are eager to support our customers with game-changing technology, robust supply chain solutions, and our embedded Software Suite that comprehensively addresses power, performance, security, and regulatory compliance. Our goal is to make it simpler, faster, and more cost-effective for gaming leaders to bring their vision to life.”

Price continued: “ICE 2025 arrives at a pivotal time for the gaming industry, particularly in Latin America. With Brazil’s sports betting legalization set to take effect this January and land-based gaming legislation advancing, regional growth opportunities are growing. As we prepare to meet with our LatAm customers and prospects at the show, we are committed to supporting this expansion with adaptable, cost-effective hardware solutions designed to help clients succeed in these evolving markets.”

Price concluded: “To help our customers stay ahead in Brazil as the regulatory landscape unfolds, Quixant has partnered strategically with Novatrade to ensure a secure supply chain with stock held in Brazil. This partnership simplifies regulatory compliance and reduces costs for both Quixant and its customers. With local operations and a bonded warehouse, we can defer import duties and taxes, while dual stock locations in Brazil and Taiwan allow for quick fulfilment. Additionally, issuing local invoices in Brazilian Reais makes the purchasing process seamless for our customers.”

Michael Minor, SVP Sales & Operations, North America for Nexteq PLC, said: “Our focus at Quixant has always been to drive innovation in gaming technology, equipping our global customers with the solutions they need to excel in a highly competitive industry. With each new generation of products, we aim to empower our customers to create even more memorable gaming experiences, backed by technology that is as adaptable as it is powerful. With the introduction of solutions like the enhanced QMAX 3, the IQ 2, and the IQ Connect 1, we are positioned to empower our global partners with the technology and flexibility they need to succeed in this dynamic landscape.”

Minor continued: “We are thrilled to bring the IQ Connect 1 to ICE, giving industry professionals another opportunity to experience how this innovative platform complements our product portfolio. The product is a transformative addition for the North American market. By combining the compact and high-performance design of the IQ 2 with advanced JAMMA functionality, we have created a platform that stands out for its versatility, power, and cost-effectiveness.”

Whether a traditional game developer, or you are looking to move from the online gaming world to the land based space, Quixant have highly adaptable, specialist gaming solutions. As the team prepares to engage with industry leaders at ICE 2025, they are excited to discuss how their solutions can address shifting market needs.

Attendees can find Quixant at stand 3F42, where they are invited to explore how Quixant’s powerful and adaptable platforms and extensive support services drive efficiencies and industry success in this rapidly evolving market.

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