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The crackdown of online gambling by Governments of multiple countries

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There is no doubt that online gambling has emerged as a common yet amazing way of entertainment. In fact, it can be said that the internet becomes popular due to gaming, especially gambling games.

Some people think both gambling games and adventure games are different. However, the law seems like it does not support them. 

Till now, there are some countries that are debating on whether to allow gambling games for several years or not. However, some data showed that the gambling industry had impacted severely. So, let’s talk about this in detail.

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The biggest impacts

The recent share price graph indicates that some companies’ values are now going down, revenues from sports betting are now vanishing, and there is a great sense of uncertainty. It is true that the gambling industry is now facing a short-term crisis. 

Sport betting companies like Betgenius and Betradar try their best to keep it up with Russian table tennis and Myanmar U21 football. On the other hand, bet365 moved into FIFA games. But the truth is it has become a sector with no products. It is like selling empty beer glasses, hoping people will fill them.

If we talk about one of the biggest gambling sites of the UK, now all the gamblers are shifting from offline port betting to the online casino games. The major reason behind this is the recent lockdown restriction imposed by the government. 888Holding informed that the company had been severely affected by this event.

It has canceled or postponed some events like Grand National and the Premier League. The company used to earn 16 percent of the total revenue from sports betting.

Now gamblers are moving to alternative products. That means they are now shifting toward online poker and casino games. 

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However, governments are also taking steps to prevent people from getting addicted to the game during this lockdown time. As per a report, the government has considered ordering online gambling companies to set the daily betting cap at £50.

Online sports betting comes with a higher rate of gambling disorder, around 2.5 percent. However, online casinos, bingo, and slots are attracting more potential addicts, with around 9.2 percent of customers who spend their money on gambling products having the problem. 

However, the government’s advice for setting a cap on daily betting has gone unanswered.

On the other hand, 888Holding has informed that it is trying its best to identify signs of the problem in gambling among the customers. The company informed that the board had recognized that. 

Now people are spending their time at home. On the other hand, economic uncertainty is also rising after the COVID-19 breakout. That’s why it is the primary duty of 888Holding to keep an eye on safe gambling. Besides, the company is trying to prevent gambling-related issues.

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Online gambling situation in other places

Ukraine is also taking the necessary steps to control the online gambling industry. For a few days, Ukraine has intensified its process to find unauthorized online gambling companies. Ukraine is now trying its best to regulate the online market.

The Cyber Police of Ukraine, recently stated that it had built a team with the Strategic Investigation Office located in Kiev to find out all the online casinos running illegally. Some are running their casinos as legitimate IT development companies.

As per the report, the illegal casinos generally target customers of Ukraine and other countries having a monthly income of about USD 1 million. The government has cracked down some online casinos and detained some computers and documents. Now, the authority is trying to trace down the illegal online gambling operation.

In January, the authority busted a Kyiv-based online casino service operating disguised as a software company. The authority arrested around 50 IT staff, serving more than 300K gamblers across the world. The authority also has cracked down other illegal land-based gambling operations, which were giving access to slot machines.

To reduce such activities, the NBU- National Bank of Ukraine has issued a notice reminding the payment processors, associated businesses, and local merchant banks that even though the government has updated the law, the gambling activities still remain illegal. The NBU is now following a strict observance.

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The crackdown of online gambling in Ukraine has led to the shutdown of the Ukraine Poker Open, which was planned to begin on 26th January in Kyiv. Along with that, Full House, the host of the Ukraine Poker Open, was also shut down. During the same time, the authority raided the Favbet office, a local bookmaker.

The company was serving local gamblers through different websites. The websites were offering sports betting, casino games, poker, and slots. A few years ago, Luck Land LLC, parent of Favbet company, was accused of tax evasion. 

The company was doing that by selling lottery tickets through different land-based venues. But later, the local courts didn’t approve the further investigation as there was no sufficient information.

Situation in Spain

In Spain, all online gambling service providers are advised to reduce marketing efforts. This way, the authority can prevent gambling operators from taking advantage of gamblers during this lockdown time.

The country’s Council Ministers had been advised by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs to eliminate gambling advertisements till the end of the lockdown. Some bookmakers can use anxiety and concern factors of people to do business. 

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Pablo Iglesias, Spain’s government official recently issued an order informing that the decision was taken to keep problem gamblers protected. As per the report, the ongoing lockdown due to coronavirus outbreak is extended to 12th April, and it can be extended further if the community transmission rate increases more.

Around nine gambling companies in Spain, after the announcement, informed that they would support the anti- coronavirus efforts as well as the initiatives. Spain is now taking strict action to prevent online gambling companies from exploiting the current situation. 

Conclusion

The governments of different countries are now trying their best to reduce online gambling activities. It will also be good if they can limit the public advertising of gambling. Limiting the betting limits can be an effective way, but some online gambling companies in the UK are not considering this as an effective method. It may not stop people from betting.

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New KSA Campaign: Get Your Life Back on Track, Take a Gambling Break

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The Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) launched a new awareness campaign to draw attention to the gambling stop. With the campaign “Pick up your life again, take a gambling stop,” KSA is aiming to increase attention to the risks of gambling and make the Cruks register more well-known.

Insights

The campaign is a follow-up to the pilot campaign from 2023. This pilot yielded many valuable insights, for example that more people are attracted to the word gambling stop. This name is therefore used in the new campaign.

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Positive effect

The campaign focuses primarily on young adults who (possibly) no longer have their gambling under control. That is one of the reasons why the campaign is largely running via social media instead of traditional (mass) media. The focus is on the positive effect that a gambling stop has on the life of a person with gambling problems. The powerful moments of young people who pick up their lives again can be seen in online videos, social ads and social posts (Google, YouTube, Meta and Snapchat).

The post New KSA Campaign: Get Your Life Back on Track, Take a Gambling Break appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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EGBA: Record Participation As European Safer Gambling Week Expands to 26 Countries

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The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) announced record-breaking results from its fourth annual European Safer Gambling Week, held 18-24 November. The initiative – which included a social media campaign and events programme – demonstrated the broader European sector’s strengthening commitment to safer gambling through new levels of participation and expanded geographic reach.

The campaign saw record engagement with 195 partners actively participating – a 20% increase from 2023. Eight national gambling authorities participated, more than double the previous year, by either joining the social media campaign or speaking at the various events.

The campaign’s reach also expanded significantly to 26 countries – a 30% increase from 2023 – with partners in Croatia, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine joining for the first time, reflecting the growing pan-European dimension of the campaign. This was helped by social media graphics being made available in the local languages of 27 countries.

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The social media campaign reached 3.1 million users across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X platforms, generating 1169 social media posts – a 67% increase from the previous year.

A cornerstone of this year’s campaign was its comprehensive events programme, featuring 20 specialised events – an 11% increase from 2023. The events attracted record participation with 4500 registrations and 3000 attendees. Key discussions explored trends in AI, problem gambling prevalence reporting and innovations in safer gambling tools and messaging. The events featured 105 speakers, including senior representatives from gambling authorities in Belgium, Denmark, France and the UK.

The initiative builds on EGBA members’ year-round commitment to safer gambling, which in 2023 resulted in 67 million safety messages sent to their European customers. This dedicated week amplifies these ongoing efforts while encouraging greater collaboration between operators, regulators and harm prevention organisations.

“The success of this year’s edition reflects the sector’s deepening commitment to player protection. The significant increase in participation, especially from health organisations and regulatory authorities, demonstrates the common purpose and growing unity in our approach to safer gambling. Through this collaboration, we’ve reached a record number of Europeans with crucial safety messages during the campaign. Together, we’re making gambling safer and we already look forward to building on this success in next year’s edition,” said Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA.

The post EGBA: Record Participation As European Safer Gambling Week Expands to 26 Countries appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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CT Gaming to Participate in ICE Barcelona 2025

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CT Gaming is going to participate in ICE Barcelona 2025, which will take place from 20 to 22 Jan 2025.

“It is always a pleasure to kick off the year at ICE. This year is particularly special as we explore a new location, which we anticipate will bring fresh connections and exciting opportunities,” said Biser Bozhanov, Director of Business Development and Strategies at CT Gaming.

Positioned at stand #3C56, CT Gaming will present an impressive lineup of its signature products alongside exciting new additions, including the multigame Diamond King 4.

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“We are eager to showcase our latest offerings and engage with clients, colleagues, and industry professionals to gather their valuable feedback. This year’s selection is a strong testament to CT Gaming’s enduring legacy and commitment to excellence,” added Bozhanov.

Among the products displayed at stand #3C56 will be the slot cabinet NEXT, known for its ultimate comfort and functionality. This cabinet comes with 27″ or 32″ high-definition screens, an optional premium stand, a USB phone charger, a bill validator with a stacker and an enlarged CMS panel for seamless operation. Other representatives from the slot cabinet family are EZ Modulo 32/32/32 and EZ Tower. Both of these cabinets combine sleek designs with advanced technology set to deliver an unparalleled gaming experience.

Alongside the slot cabinets, the company will showcase its staple multigame titles, such as Diamond King 3, Mermaid’s Quest, Tower Link and the newest addition to the multigame portfolio – Diamond King 4. With 40 exciting games, 20 of which are linked to a progressive jackpot, the multigame takes player engagement to new heights. Unlike previous versions, players can now win any of the three jackpot levels directly from the base game, while the cascading white and pink diamonds promise thrilling rewards at every turn. Designed with the next generation of players in mind, Diamond King 4 features enhanced graphics, modern themes and an immersive experience that’s perfectly in sync with today’s gaming landscape. The newly conceptualized linked progressive jackpot, Diamond Tree Deluxe, presents an elevated reward experience with its upgraded features.

Last but not least, CT Gaming will unveil the latest updates to its Casino Management System – Rhino, designed to enhance operator functionality and player engagement.

The post CT Gaming to Participate in ICE Barcelona 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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