Trade association BOS has said Sweden’s new emergency gambling restrictions are causing “chaos”.

Branschföreningen för Onlinespel (BOS), the Swedish online gaming trade association, has said the new temporary gambling restrictions, introduced in response to a supposed increase in online gambling during the COVID-19 crisis, are causing “chaos.”

BOS general secretary Gustaf Hoffstedt has called on the Swedish Gaming Inspectorate (Spelinspektionen) to provide clarification regarding the new deposit limits, noting that various operators are interpreting them differently. 

There seems to be particular confusion regarding sports betting, because although the vertical is not technically included in the government’s directive, many operators are feeling obliged to include it.

From 2 July a SEK 5,000 (approx. €459) weekly deposit limit for online casino and slots, a SEK 100 cap on bonus offers, and time limits on casino and slots play were introduced. They are set to last until at least the end of 2020. 

Hoffstedt summed up the situation by saying:

“Most of the gaming companies’ lawyers with whom I spoke are of the opinion that the regulation is unworked and poorly written, which has led players to interpret the regulation differently.

“We were many who warned that measures, which were not based on facts and thorough impact assessments, could lead to an aggravated situation for both the licensed companies and their customers.

“The chaos that the gaming industry, like other experts, warned of has now occurred. We are now in a situation where neither the private nor the state-controlled companies know how to act and it is obvious that different actors interpret the new regulation in different ways.

“The question is who really wins this besides the companies that are outside the licensing system?”

Prior to their introduction, both Sweden’s licensed gambling operators and Spelinspektionen voiced strong opposition to the restrictions, which were mainly driven by Minister Shekarabi, arguing that they would simply push players into the arms of unlicensed black market operators.

Notably, the restrictions do not apply to horse racing, and have been welcomed by the former monopoly Aktiebolaget Trav och Galopp (ATG).

AYO.NEWS says:

As we, and many others, have argued time and again, the Swedish situation is now farcical, and entirely politically driven. The only possible result of Shekarabi’s shady crusade is to ruin the business of legitimate operators, while pushing players towards unlicensed offshore operators. 

In June Shekarabi was accused of lying about an increase in online gambling during the COVID-19 crisis, and reported to Sweden’s Parliament Constitutional Committee. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

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Ukrainian lawmakers have approved Bill 2285-D, paving the way for the legalisation of online and land-based gambling in the eastern European country. 

The controversial bill eventually passed, despite some fierce opposition, and will allow for the creation of a fully regulated gambling market, covering online and land-based casinos, online sports betting, online poker, and land-based slot machine halls.

It marks the culmination of a twelve-year fight to legalise gambling since it was outlawed in Ukraine in 2008. 

As to be expected, the legislation is highly focused on preventing fraud and protecting children, with thorough know your customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) requirements, and setting out strict financial rules to ensure the viability of operators and protect customers funds and winnings. 

In common with other regulated markets, there will also be a national self-exclusion register for gamblers, with the option to limit gambling from between 6 months to 3 years.

The Ukrainian gambling market will be overseen by the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries, which comes under the authority of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. Operators’ tax obligations were not clear at the time of writing, but should be made public soon.

Before the legislation passes into law, it will need to be endorsed by the Head of the Secretariat of the main committee and signed by the Chairman of the Committee within ten days. It will then need to be signed by the head of the Verkhovna Rada within five working days, and finally signed into law by the President within fifteen days. 

AYO.NEWS says:

With a population of more than 40 million people, Ukraine clearly holds a lot of potential for gambling operators, though the country still has a lot of problems, including a precarious geopolitical situation, significant corruption, and a struggling economy – which is likely to be made worse by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Still, after over a decade of frustration and several failed attempts to pass legislation, the future is bright for those looking to the long-term. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

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The operator of the Stoiximan and Betano gambling brands has announced it is rebranding to ‘Kaizen Gaming.’

According to the company, the term ‘kaizen’ is a Japanese business philosophy involving small incremental improvements in quality and efficiency, and better reflects its culture. 

Kaizen Gaming will operate the Stoiximan brand in Greece and Cyprus, and the Betano brand in Germany, Portugal, Romania, and Brazil. 

Stoiximan was founded in 2013, and in April this year Athens-listed OPAP became the majority shareholder in the Group’s assets. 

Discussing the rebrand Co-Founder and CEO of Kaizen, George Daskalakis, said:

“This is a big day for us and our people. Κaizen underlines the company’s overall philosophy and unites our course to date with the elements that will mark our future steps: People, Technology, Entertainment, Responsibility, Extroversion, Commitment and Contribution.

“We aim to continue in the same way in which we set off, creating “made in Greece” innovation that competes vigorously in the international environment, while maintaining our passion about constantly improving our products and services in order to provide a best in class customer experience. This is Kaizen.”

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Malta-based casino software supplier Playson has extended its Italian reach through a partnership with operator SignorBet. 

The deal will see a selection of Playson’s slot games directly integrated with the popular Italian online casino, including Rome: Caesar’s Glory, Solar Temple, and Solar Queen as well as the provider’s Funky Fruits series and its Timeless Fruit Slots portfolio.

Implementation of Playson’s full suite of engagement tools, including bonus spins and regular tournaments with daily prize drops, is also covered by the deal. 

SignorBet is operated by the Distante Group, which has an extensive retail and land-based casino presence in Italy, with more than 4,000 slot machines across 900 locations. 

Commenting on the deal Business Development Manager at Playson, Lars Kollind, said:

“We are delighted to continue growing our Italian market presence with SignorBet, a prominent online outlet belonging to the highly-regarded Distante Group.

“Our portfolio offers an engaging range of gaming experiences, so this deal will be undoubtedly be followed by further partnerships across the globe.”

While Director at SignorBet, Antonio Distante, added:

“Playson’s immersive collection of games is enjoyed by an extensive international fanbase, so we are thrilled to have the company on board.

“The supplier’s premium quality catalogue matches perfectly with our world class customer offering, and we look forward to cultivating a highly productive commercial relationship.”

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Greentube, the NOVOMATIC Interactive division, has partnered with sportsbook and casino operator STS in the UK. 

The deal means STS’ UK customers will soon be able to play classic Greentube titles like Book of Ra™ deluxe, Lucky Lady’s Charm™ deluxe and Sizzling Hot™ deluxe, along with recent releases like Diamond Link™: Mighty Elephant.

Poland-based STS, which has a growing UK customers base, says the partnership could also open up the possibility of rolling out Greentube content in its other European markets. 

Commenting on the news CFO/CGO of Greentube, Michael Bauer, said:

“STS is the sportsbook market leader in Poland and is now expanding internationally. We are delighted to provide them with our best performing games to fuel their growth in the UK as well as in more markets in the future. Our portfolio has consistently performed well with local players, and this integration will help us to build on that trend by reaching new audiences.”

While CEO of STS, Mateusz Juroszek, added:

“Partnering with Greentube provides us with a host of titles that are already widely popular among both land-based and online players, helping us attract new customers to our platform. We look forward to progressing this partnership and working with Greentube’s team to roll out more of its renowned content across our sites in the future.”

Staying with Greentube, a few weeks ago the supplier’s games went live with Blitz Casino in Belgium.

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Malta-based slot developer RubyPlay achieved a surprising success in the £100K Slots Championship at Lottoland with Quest of Gods. 

As a newcomer, RubyPlay hoped for a good showing in the Quarter Final against the legendary Gonzo’s Quest, but pulled off a dramatic 83% to 17% win. This was followed by an even more unexpected 55% to 45% win against Holmes and the Stolen Stones in the Semi Final. 

The Final round was even more nail biting, with Quest of Gods going up against Holmes and the Stolen Stones. However, despite taking an early lead, Holmes clawed its way back over the week, and eventually pipped the RubyPlay title to win by the narrowest of margins at just 51% to 49%. 

Reflecting on the competition Chief Operating Officer at RubyPlay, Ittai Zur, said:

“As a new player in the slots market it was a great honour taking part in the Slots Championship with Lottoland. We also knew it would give us a good idea of how our games compare in popularity with some of the biggest slot developers, competition that we have a lot of respect for.

“We are delighted with how Quest of Gods resonated with Lottoland players, and to only just miss out on being the Lottoland Slots Champions of 2020 was incredible.”

While VP Gaming & Sports at Lottoland, Anthony Morris, added:

“We knew that Quest of Gods was popular with our players at Lottoland, but to be honest we didn’t think it would do as well as it did against some smash hit content from other major providers. We look forward to more great games from the team at RubyPlay over the coming months and years.”

AYO.NEWS says:

With competition in the slots market so fierce, it can seem like an impossible task for newcomers to break into the market, but RubyPlay has shown that a plucky team with a passion for games can still make an impact and take on the established giants. Hats off to the RubyPlay team. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

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