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Hungary Regulator Implements New Gambling Act Amendments

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Hungarian gaming regulator Supervisory Authority for Regulatory Affairs (SZTFH) issued a decree implementing new technical measures in response to amendments to the country’s Gambling Act.

In February 2022, Hungary introduced legislation aiming to end the country’s sports betting state monopoly system, to be replaced with a competitive licensing process more in line with many of its neighbouring states and implemented by the SZTFH. The previous system had been ruled unlawful by the Court of Justice of the European Union in 2017.

This new regime – which was launched on 1 January 2023 – brought in a number of requirements for applicants looking to launch in the state.

Operators who wish to receive authorisation from the SZTFH must have at least five years of experience offering licensed online gaming in a European Economic Area state. The law also explicitly forbids a business from being awarded a licence if the company has been involved in broadcasting unlicensed gaming within five years of the application date.

The law established a HUF10m (€26,000) application fee for operators. In addition, businesses must have share capital of at least HUF1bn, pay a licence fee of HUF600m – as well as pay a supervision fee and gaming tax amounting to 2.5% and 15% of gross gambling revenue respectively. The supervision fee only applies to a maximum of HUF10m in costs.

As of March, the SZTFH has not yet approved any foreign operators to launch in Hungary, having only issued a licence to state-owned former monopoly Szerencsejáték Zrt, which operates through the Tippmixpro.hu online portal. Three Hungarian land-based casinos are also approved to offer online casino through a tethered licence.

In January 2023, Hungary introduced further legislation amending the country’s Gambling Act by implementing a number of more technical changes in order to facilitate the new gaming market. Previously, the law limited a player to only one balance with an operator. Under the new rules, a consumer may have multiple balances linked to each game.

Among other changes, the legislation also allowed for businesses to provide users with the chance to cash out early if the game is designed in such a way. According to the text, cash out is to be subject to the same rules and restrictions governing the payment of winnings.

The regulator’s decree implements the newly amended Gaming Act on a state agency level. It announces a new safer gambling feature to accompany the roll-out of early cash outs in Hungary.

“The gambling operator is obliged to expressly draw the player’s attention to the fact that the use of this function entails an increased risk of excessive gambling and addiction and this information shall appear in the text of promotion in the same font size as the text,” reads the decree.

“The gambling operator shall also make available to the player on the gambling website the information that the use of that function entails an increased risk of excessive gambling and addiction.”

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CT Interactive Announces Strategic Partnership with Ecasino

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CT Interactive has announced a strategic partnership with Ecasino, a leading online casino platform provider in the Czech Republic. This exciting collaboration means that CT Interactive’s top-performing games are now available on the eCasino platform, further strengthening the company’s foothold in the regulated Czech iGaming market.

This integration delivers added value to eCasino’s diverse player base by bringing CT Interactive’s certified and player-favorite content to the platform. Ecasino is now well-positioned to enhance its portfolio with a wider range of high-quality and engaging games that meet the evolving demands of the local market. Among the best-performing titles now available on eCasino are Lucky Clover, Hot 7s x2, 40 Treasures, Pick the Pig and Big Joker.

“Partnering with eCasino is a crucial part of our European expansion strategy. The Czech Republic is one of our key markets in Europe, and Ecasino’s strong local presence makes them an ideal partner. This collaboration enables us to deliver our certified, high-quality content to a broader audience and further solidify our position in the region’s regulated iGaming sector,” said Martin Ivanov, COO of CT Interactive.

The post CT Interactive Announces Strategic Partnership with Ecasino appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Brightstar Lottery Upgrades Retail Central System for Lotto Saxony in Germany via New Seven-Year Contract

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Brightstar Lottery PLC announced that it will deploy its comprehensive retail central system technology, Aurora, along with advanced cloud-based software for Sächsische Lotto-GmbH (Lotto Saxony) in the State of Saxony, Germany via a seven-year contract. The contract was awarded to Brightstar following a competitive public procurement.

“The quality and reliability of Brightstar’s world-class lottery technology and operational support, along with its team’s knowledge of Lotto Saxony’s business needs are some of the reasons why we have partnered with the Company for 30 years. We look forward to upgrading our central system to Brightstar’s sophisticated platform and the many benefits its components will produce,” said Herr Frank Schwarz, Lotto Saxony Chief Executive Officer.

“This new seven-year contract marks an exciting chapter for Brightstar and Lotto Saxony as we work together to modernize lottery solutions throughout the state. Brightstar’s high-performing central system and peripherals will enable Lotto Saxony to manage its business more efficiently with the confidence in knowing the technology is secure, dependable, and responsible,” said Marco Tasso, Brightstar Chief Operating Officer International and Italy Operations.

An integral part of OMNIA, Brightstar’s player-centric, omnichannel solution for lotteries, Aurora helps drive lottery innovation and profitability. The platform will provide intuitive, user-friendly applications, tools and reporting capabilities to handle Lotto Saxony’s transaction processing, game management and back-office operations. Lotto Saxony will receive key cloud-based Aurora products including, Anywhere, to securely connect external applications to the retail system, and Performance Wizard, to deliver targeted insights and analytics.

The post Brightstar Lottery Upgrades Retail Central System for Lotto Saxony in Germany via New Seven-Year Contract appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Interwetten becomes team partner of SK Rapid

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Yellow and black meets green and white! Interwetten becomes SK Rapid’s new team partner. The online sports betting pioneer and Austria’s most popular football club are starting the new season together. The combination with Rapid coach Peter Stöger, who has been an Interwetten expert for many years and will also remain on the sidelines, makes the partnership a real success.

With more than 24,000 club members and over 220 official fan clubs, the Austrian record champions boast the largest fan base in the country! And with the Allianz Stadium in Vienna’s West Hütteldorf, the Green-Whites boast a modern home! Interwetten is expanding its extensive football commitment to include a traditional club and will now be present at SK Rapid’s home games on a ball display or 3D carpet in the stadium, as well as on the Hütteldorf club’s digital channels.

“We are very pleased about the new team partnership with SK Rapid. The connection to a club with great charisma and passion is a perfect fit for Interwetten. And the best part: With our long-time expert Peter Stöger, we already have Rapid’s coach on board ,” explains Interwetten Marketing Director Dieter Grück , who promises fans a comprehensive experience in addition to betting.

Grück adds : “We are planning various digital activations throughout the season that will offer our customers and Rapid fans unique experiences. This will certainly include exclusive promotions with Peter Stöger. With this, we want to underline our connection with Austrian football.”

SK Rapid Managing Director Steffen Hofmann warmly welcomes the sports betting provider to the green and white partner family. “This partnership is a strong signal and demonstrates the trust placed in our club. Together, we are planning innovative activations and are convinced that the collaboration will be very successful. I am delighted that Interwetten is now part of the large green and white partner family.”

The post Interwetten becomes team partner of SK Rapid appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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