iGaming
XLMedia expands into Romania with affiliate acquisition
XLMedia‘s Ory Weihs (Group CEO) has reaffirmed his company’s commitment to the igaming industry with the announcement that it has bought a portfolio of Romanian-facing affiliate websites and obtained a licence in the country.
The digital marketing company paid approximately US$1m for the online betting and gambling content websites, the most significant of which is ponturi-bune.ro, a predominantly sports-focused affiliate site that also covers the casino and poker verticals.
Although this year XLMedia has made significant acquisitions outside the igaming space, including Canadian credit card comparison website Greedyrates.ca and mobile performance marketing platform ClicksMob, chief executive Ory Weihs said the Romanian deal demonstrated its continuing commitment to the igaming industry.
“We have quite a lot of activities outside of gambling but still gambling is our biggest vertical and this is a display that we are still very much interested in investing in it,” said Weihs.
“Although this is a smallish deal it shows that even though we’ve acquired assets outside the gambling sector in the last couple of years as well, we’re still very much interested to grow in gambling, especially in regulated markets like Romania, and we expect to make more acquisitions in the future.”
Since 2015, in order to operate in Romania affiliates have been required to obtain a Class II licence from Romania’s National Gambling Office (ONJN). XLMedia was granted a licence in January and there are currently 28 other affiliates holding licences in the country, according to the ONJN’s website.
A number of leading European operators have entered the Romanian market since the new regulatory system was put in place, and the fact that many of its clients are already in Romania was one of the driving factors behind XLMedia’s decision to enter the market, said Weihs.
Ponturi Bune counts large European operators such as 888, Unibet and NetBet among its affiliate marketing partners.
He added that he believes the Romanian market has a lot of potential for further growth. “Of course it is a less mature market than Scandinavia or the UK but it is not necessarily a reflection of the market size.
“It always has been a very active sportsbetting market, it is a growing economy, there are quite a lot of people in Romania, it is in the European union, it is regulated so it has all the characteristics of a gambling market that we are interested in.”
XLMedia and other large affiliates such as Catena and Raketech have been very active in acquiring smaller affiliates over the past 18 months, with the pace of M&A activity expected to continue in the near future.
The post XLMedia expands into Romania with affiliate acquisition appeared first on The Gambling Affiliate Voice.
Source: GamblingAffiliateVoice
Gaming Awards
Groove Wins SBC Award for Women’s Empowerment Initiative of the Year 2024
Groove, a leading iGaming platform and aggregator, proudly claimed the Women’s Empowerment Initiative of the Year at the SBC Awards Latinoamérica 2024, celebrating a strong commitment to championing female talent and leadership.
At SBC Awards Latinoamérica, Groove’s win shines as a testament to how empowerment and inclusion propel the iGaming industry forward.
The award was accepted by Carolina Diniz Flauzino, Groove’s Latin America Business Development Manager, acknowledging Groove’s impactful diversity-driven culture.
Over the years, Groove has spotlighted the exceptional women in roles spanning account management, legal, finance, project leadership, tech, and creative design. From Liz Cohen’s pivotal oversight in account management to Salome Janashvili’s transformative graphic contributions and Sapir Hen’s rise in technical management, Groove’s success story is one written in part by the remarkable women across its global team.
Groove’s progressive tech ecosystem with over 15,000 games from 100+ top providers continues driving innovation with new technology soon to be released including an AI-Assistant, gamification tools, and the immersive Smart Lobby. Each feature is crafted to enhance engagement, supporting Groove’s dedication to transforming iGaming while celebrating its talented team.
As Groove innovates with new AI-driven tools and a suite of gamification features, the company reinforces its core belief: a diverse team, empowered and celebrated, drives real success in a competitive market.
Yahale Meltzer, COO and Co-founder, remarked, “This award showcases the impact of our talented team. From its inception in 2016, Groove has championed women’s leadership, featuring dynamic professionals across roles critical to the company’s growth. We’re proud to bring this recognition home, a tribute to the exceptional women who are instrumental in shaping Groove’s future.”
Brazil
Meridianbet (GMGI) Shortlisted for Exclusive Sports Betting and iGaming License in Brazil
Meridianbet, part of the Golden Matrix Group Inc. (NASDAQ: GMGI), announced that it has been shortlisted for an exclusive sports betting and iGaming license in Brazil.
The application, filed under request number 56.195.600/0001-07, positions Meridianbet among a select group of global operators who will be part of one of the most anticipated market launches in the global sports betting and iGaming industry.
The window for prioritized license applications in Brazil closed on August 20, 2024, with a total of 113 operators submitting their applications ahead of the deadline.
By securing its place in this priority group, Meridianbet has ensured that its license will be processed by January 1, 2025, which is the forecasted launch date for Brazil’s legal sports betting and iGaming market.
Meridianbet’s inclusion on this exclusive list underscores its status as one of the key players in the global gaming industry. With Brazil poised to become one of the world’s largest gaming markets, this license represents a significant opportunity for Meridianbet and Golden Matrix Group.
Meridianbet’s application includes both sports betting and iGaming (online casino) under Brazil’s comprehensive licensing regime, making it one of the few operators positioned to offer a full suite of gaming experiences to Brazilian players. The Brazilian gambling industry is forecasted to generate $34 billion in sports betting turnover by 2028, with an onshore gross win of $2.8 billion, according to a report by the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA).
Aposta Ganha
Aposta Ganha files application for sports betting and iGaming license in Brazil
Aposta Ganha, the fastest-growing Brazilian sports betting and casino site, has completed its license application through the Betting Management System (Sigap) to operate within Brazil’s regulated market.
Gustavo Henrique, Grupo Aposta Ganha’s Legal Head, said: “These are strict security criteria, transparent and demanding responsibility, ensuring greater consumer protection and significantly contributing to the integrity of the market. This new phase fosters fair competition, and we are ready to follow all the procedures to obtain the license.”
Having been operating in the country for the past six years, from 1st January 2025, the company will embrace the opportunity to play a major role in Brazil’s new chapter under the rules of the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) of the Ministry of Finance. With operations in both Brazil and Mexico, the company has always complied with legal requirements, demonstrating to authorities, customers, and society its interest and capability to operate in a regulated market.
As a passionate advocate of Responsible Gaming, only players over the age of 18 years old can enjoy Aposta Ganha’s online platform. These strict legal requirements have always been a foundational feature of Aposta Ganha’s operations, even before the strict measures laid out in the ordinances of the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) of the Ministry of Finance.
Aposta Ganha is now eligible to commence its regulated operations from January 1, 2025, depending only on the SPA analysis to obtain the official license from the Brazilian government.
Grupo Aposta Ganha CEO, Elvis Lourenço:, added “We have built a trusted reputation in the gaming and entertainment market, in addition to respecting the current Brazilian legislation and integrity in betting. Today, we reinforce our commitment to customers and society to continue promoting entertainment that is ethical, safe, and socially responsible.”
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