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Compliance Updates

Greek Aspirations: A Legal Perspective on Soft2Bet’s Entry with General Counsel David Yatom Hay

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In a market as dynamic and heavily regulated as iGaming, making the right move at the right time is crucial. As Soft2Bet sets its sights on the Greek iGaming arena, we had the opportunity to speak with the company’s General Counsel, David Yatom Hay. With an eye for detail and a knack for navigating complex regulatory landscapes, David offers invaluable insights into Soft2Bet’s strategic entry into Greece. In this exclusive interview, we delve into the legal challenges, market prospects, and what it really takes to make a mark in a new territory. Stay tuned as David Yatom unveils the intricate layers of Soft2Bet’s Greek Odyssey.

Can you describe the process and challenges, if any, faced in acquiring the A1 License in Greece?

We have the privilege of closely collaborating with the Hellenic Gambling Commission, and we deeply value their commitment to assisting us in securing this license. Their efficient processes, combined with the expertise of our compliance team, have made our interactions seamless. Our team’s prior experience in securing our recent operating license in Greece further streamlined our recent endeavors. Our compliance professionals have continuously been diligently working on multiple license applications, showcasing their proficiency in securing any license the company sets its sights on.

How do you think this B2B license will change Soft2Bet’s operations within the Greek market, particularly in relation to your recent acquisition of the Greek B2C License?

Securing a license was not only a regulatory obligation for our operations in Greece but also a pivotal step in our long-term company strategy. This move strengthens our B2B approach and empowers us to extend our advanced technological solutions to other operators, including those in the Greek market. With this license, we can cater to both existing and prospective operators in Greece. We pride ourselves on our distinctive products and designs, which give us a competitive edge. We are now ideally positioned to provide these specialized services for operators looking to elevate their offerings, design, user experience, and overall technological operations.

Soft2Bet has a demonstrated commitment to operating within regulated markets across Europe. How does the Greek market fit into your larger European strategy?

Soft2Bet consistently seeks opportunities in regulated markets and remains alert to possibilities for obtaining relevant licenses. While numerous European markets are filled with operators, the Greek market is distinct. It’s competitive but not yet oversaturated, offering Soft2Bet a chance to showcase its gaming expertise. As we move forward, Soft2Bet is committed to broadening its reach to additional regulated markets, emphasizing its dedication to growth and excellence.

Finally, can you share a bit more about the future plans of Soft2Bet, especially in relation to your growth and expansion in other regulated markets?

As mentioned earlier, we continuously strive to secure more licenses and broaden our reach into established and emerging markets. We aim to evolve as a supplier, and the recent acquisition of our B2B license in Greece underscores this strategic vision. Additionally, we remain committed to enhancing our technological capabilities and elevating the gaming experience we offer.

 You mentioned that obtaining this license exemplifies the best of partnerships with HGC. Can you elaborate on the nature of this collaboration?

Soft2Bet is thrilled about the recent B2B license acquisition in Greece, and we have exciting plans for its utilization. Our primary focus is to leverage this license for our B2C operations, ensuring a seamless and efficient process for our own platform.

However, our ambitions don’t stop there. In parallel with our B2C endeavors, we are determined to support and enhance our B2B expansion efforts. Soft2Bet is committed to extending our platform’s capabilities to existing operators in Greece and welcoming any new operators aiming to enter these markets in the future.

What sets us apart from other turnkey providers is our product’s excellence, exceptional design, and player experience including, specifically, our gamification features. These unique qualities not only enhance our own operations but also provide an unparalleled edge to other operators who choose to collaborate with us.

We firmly believe that our services will be a game-changer for operators in Greece, and we are hopeful that they will recognize the value we bring to the table. Soft2Bet is ready to offer top-notch support and expertise to all operators who make the smart choice of partnering with us.

With this recent B2B license, Soft2Bet is poised for an exciting and successful journey in the Greek market, and we look forward to making a positive impact on the industry.

This license enables Soft2Bet to offer supplier services to operators in the Greek market. Can you tell us a bit more about the services you plan to offer?

This license allows us to offer gaming and betting platform services – which is the core of our solutions at Soft2Bet. Our tech especially stands out for its unique gamification features, extensive localization, and broad capabilities for personalization – three crucial aspects of modern iGaming solutions, demanded by all operators striving for leadership positions in any given market. These highly gamified, locally relevant solutions that can be adjusted to certain needs and requirements of the Greek audience, are already anticipated in the market and, I believe, will help us secure a decent share among other providers.

Soft2Bet is dedicated to enhancing its technological offerings. How does the acquisition of this license align with your technology roadmap?

We are always working on innovative technologies and unique features that differentiate us from other providers. Our user-friendly platform with wide customization capabilities, combined with our gamification and localization services, sets us apart from competitors. There’s great demand for these products and services, and we are committed to expanding our reach in Europe and beyond, to ensure sustained growth. Our Greek license is another crucial step in realization of this strategy.

As you focus on expanding your B2B engagements, what types of collaborations are you looking to foster in the Greek market?

Our goal is to reach out to both current and prospective operators in the market to provide our technological package. We are eager to collaborate with operators who share our vision of achieving great things and are searching for innovative solutions to elevate their businesses.

Campaign for Fairer Gambling

Crime Still Dominates U.S. Online Gambling – Legalization Increases Total Losses by 261%, Warns CFG

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The Campaign for Fairer Gambling (CFG) releases a supplement to its USA National Online Gambling Report 2024 which exposed that illegal online gambling takes 74% of total gross gambling revenue (GGR) in America. Commissioned by CFG and produced by online market intelligence platform, Yield Sec, the supplement analyzes all 50 states according to their regulatory status and shows that state legalization of online gambling – without the reduction and removal of illegal online gambling – increases total losses for American consumers by up to 261%.

The supplement groups US states into one of three regulatory realities:

• States with no legal online gambling (e.g. California, Texas)

• States with one form of legal online gambling – sports betting (e.g. New York, Florida)

• States with all forms of legal online gambling – sports betting and casino (e.g. Michigan, New Jersey).

The CFG State Supplement #1 demonstrates the effect of GGR per capita (the total marketplace value for legal and illegal online gambling divided by population) as a percentage of average income 2024 to further illustrate the burden across American consumers:

Total online GGR (Legal + Illegal) per capita as a percentage of income:

– USA National: GGR per capita is 0.62% of average income

– States with no legal online sports betting or casino (e.g. California, Texas): GGR per capita is 0.31% of average income

– States with legal online sports betting only (e.g. New York, Florida): GGR per capita is 0.77% of average income

– States with both legal online sports betting and casino (e.g. Michigan, New Jersey): GGR per capita is 1.12% of average income.

The supplement data makes clear that legalization of online gambling, without enforcement against illegal online gambling, increases the total loss and harm. When states legalize online sports betting only, GGR per capita as a percentage of income increases by 148% (from 0.31% to 0.77%). When both online sports betting and casino are legalized, it jumps by 261% (from 0.31% to 1.12%). If legalization truly replaced illegal gambling, the dominance of illegal gambling would diminish – but, the reality is that this is not a zero-sum game.

“Ohio is the alarm bell America needs to hear. Just one year after legalizing online sports betting in 2023, losses for Ohioans had already reached 1.33% of average income per capita to online gambling – the heaviest burden in the country, and more than twice the national average. Across the US, we’re not seeing illegal gambling being replaced, we’re simply seeing total consumer losses grow. In states with full legalization, losses are now 261% higher than where there’s no legal online gambling at all. This isn’t progress, it’s escalation,” states Derek Webb, Founder of CFG.

Ismail Vali, founder and CEO of Yield Sec, added: “Yield Sec surveillance shows that the legal industry is being undermined at every turn by criminal competitors who offer greater value, bigger bonuses, and lower barriers, since they pay no tax, no licensing and exploit all forms of regulation in the absence of sincere monitoring, policing and enforcement against them.

“It is a vicious cycle: failing to deal with crime causes loss from theft. Across the country, legalization without enforcement against illegal operators, only gives criminals another edge. The outcome is predictable: legal revenue collapses, tax income shrinks, and criminals walk away with hundreds of millions. If states want to make the money they should, enforcement against crime must come first and always – to reduce and remove illegal gambling’s appeal and availability.”

The post Crime Still Dominates U.S. Online Gambling – Legalization Increases Total Losses by 261%, Warns CFG appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Compliance Updates

DraftKings to Introduce Transaction Fee in Illinois

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In response to the recent and prior sports wagering tax increases passed by the Illinois state legislature on all mobile and online sports wagers placed with licensed operators, DraftKings Inc. announced that it will implement a 50-cent transaction fee on all mobile and online bets placed in Illinois through DraftKings Sportsbook, effective September 1, 2025.

“Illinois has been an important part of our growth, and we’re proud to have contributed meaningfully to the state through tax revenue, job creation, and a sustained investment in responsible gaming tools and resources. We are disappointed that Illinois policymakers have chosen to more than triple our tax rate over the past two years, and we are very concerned about what this will do to the legal, regulated industry. Meanwhile, Illinois continues to fuel the rapidly growing illegal industry, which pays no taxes or fees and provides none of the consumer protections that regulated operators offer,” said Jason Robins, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of DraftKings.

The post DraftKings to Introduce Transaction Fee in Illinois appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Africa

Uganda: National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board and Uganda Police- Rwizi Region Deepen Ties in Enforcing the Gaming Law

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The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) recently held a high-level stakeholder engagement with the Uganda Police Force Officials in Rwizi Region. The engagement, hosted at Lake View Hotel in Mbarara on May 27, 2025, brought together District Police Commanders (DPCs), Officers in Charge of Criminal Investigations (OCIDs), local leaders, the media and other technical stakeholders from across the region.

The engagement focused on aligning enforcement strategies, enhancing compliance and deepening the understanding of Uganda’s gaming laws under the Lotteries and Gaming Act, Cap 334. In his opening remarks, NLGRB CEO Mr. Denis Mudene emphasized the strategic collaboration between the Board and the Uganda Police Force in enforcing gaming law to protect citizens, end underage gaming and maintain public order.

“Gaming is not a money-making venture. It is a leisure activity or entertainment, and we encourage only those of legal age to participate responsibly,” Mr. Mudene said.

Mr. Mudene raised concerns over the growing trend of children using parents’ phones to gamble online. He warned parents against registering SIM cards under their names and passing them on to minors, as this facilitates undetected underage gambling.

“93% of gambling happens online, mostly by corporates. However, when a phone registered in a parent’s name is used by a 15-year-old, they pass all verification checks,” he explained, urging responsible digital parenting.

In response, the Mbarara City Mayor, Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi, commended the Board’s efforts in bringing regulatory oversight closer to communities. He raised alarm over the prevalence of unlicensed betting operations and children misusing school fees or resorting to theft to fund gambling.

“As you enforce the law against illegal operators as well as those with minors in their betting shops, remind them of what the law says and apprehend them. This sets an example to those who think they can break the law and get away with it.”

The Deputy Regional Police Commander Rwizi Region, Senior Superintendent of Police Bosco Bakashaba, reaffirmed the Uganda Police Force’s commitment to upholding the law in partnership with the NLGRB.

“We shall offer total support to reduce offenses and illegal operations. Gaming houses that admit underage individuals or operate without licenses, especially in villages, will face legal consequences,” SSP Bakashaba asserted.

He pointed out that crime intelligence and informants are key tools in detecting and shutting down illegal slot machines and unauthorised betting centres.

“Gaming is like a razorblade, used correctly, it’s useful. Used wrongly, it causes harm,” he concluded.

The post Uganda: National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board and Uganda Police- Rwizi Region Deepen Ties in Enforcing the Gaming Law appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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