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Baltic regulators panel discussion and round table confirmed at MARE BALTICUM Gaming Summit (Tallinn, Estonia)

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Baltic regulators gather this August in Tallinn at the 3rd edition of the MARE BALTICUM Gaming Summit (live conference).

 

The Baltic online and land-based gambling industry has been hit hard by the COVID-19 lockdowns and tax revenues of the Baltic states have fallen drastically during the first semester of 2020.

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In Estonia, the restrictions imposed due to coronavirus are having a significant impact on gambling tax receipts, to the extent they are paralyzing many activities, including those related to social welfare, financed by the tax and under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Affairs, the ministry says.

Lithuania’s gambling revenue for Q1 2020 has fallen 2.8% year-on-year to €25.9m, with an increased online contribution not enough to offset land-based declines caused by Covid-19.

Despite the decline in revenue, turnover across all licensees was up 13.8% to €296.5m in the three months to March 31. This was due to a significant jump in the contribution from online betting and gaming, which climbed 54.2% to €201.2m, meaning the channel accounted for 67.9% of market turnover in Q1. With Lithuania’s land-based venues closed from 16 March, turnover for the channel was down 20.8% to €94.3m.

The Latvian parliament (Saeima) has passed a bill on June 5 that effectively allows the return of gaming. Under the bill, both online and land-based gaming operations can return to business. As a result, the gambling industry in Latvia is planning to return as of June 9.

All gaming operations in Latvia were banned after a bill introduced on March 22. This was a direct result of the country’s government aiming at reducing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Back in April, the Latvian government updated the bill, effectively banning online gaming with an instant effect.

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At the live edition of MARE BALTICUM Gaming Summit that will be held on the 6th of August in Tallinn at Radisson Blu Hotel Olümpia Tallinn, the Baltic regulators are joining a unique panel discussion and round table discussion to bring the latest information about the outcome of the lockdowns, but also to discuss together with the industry the way forward.

The panel discussion will be moderated by the MARE BALTICUM Gaming Summit Ambassador, Andrius Gabnys (Attorney At Law – Gabnys Law Firm) and will be joined by Sören Meius (Estonian Ministry of Finance), Lolita Sumskaite (Ministry of Finance Lithuania) and Signe Birne (Director of Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection of the Republic of Latvia). More names from the Baltic regulatory bodies will be added in the upcoming weeks.

Make sure to book as fast as possible as the seating is limited! You can choose one of the packages that include either delegate pass or delegate pass and accommodation combo (VIP Package)!

As mentioned in earlier press releases, the conference is going ahead as planned and based on official sources, Estonia has allowed from June 1 for citizens from EU and EEA countries with a slow current spread of COVID-19 to enter the country without the requirement of a 14-day self-isolation period.

You can consult the list that is updated weekly on the following link.

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As in earlier years, the conference will also feature the next edition of the Baltic and Scandinavian Gaming Awards (BSG Awards). Read more here…

MARE BALTICUM – The Baltic and Scandinavian Gaming Summit will once again bring together the leading companies in the Baltic and Scandinavian region for a full day of quality learning and networking with local regulators and industry experts.

You can find more details about the Agenda here or you can register here!

Browse the official event website here: www.marebalticumgaming.com

You can view the photo gallery from the inaugural event on the following link.

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Browse the video archives of the panel discussions which were recorded on the 7th of May at the virtual edition of the conference.

For further inquiries about the 2020 live edition of MBGS and BSG Awards (6 August – Tallinn, Estonia), speaking/attending/sponsoring options, make sure to send an e-mail to Andrada Bota (B2B Sales Executive at Hipther Agency) or subscribe to the weekly newsletter on the following link.

Visit www.marebalticumgaming.com for more details!

For media-related inquiries, please contact Alexandru Marginean (Marketing Specialist at Hipther Agency).

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Baltics

iDenfy and 7bet team up to stop multi-accounting with AI-powered ID verification

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iDenfy’s advanced KYC tools will help streamline the onboarding process for 7bet’s gaming platform, minimizing multi-accounting or promo abuse rates

iDenfy, a Lithuania-based RegTech company specializing in AI-powered ID verification and fraud prevention solutions, partnered with 7bet, a leading Lithuanian iGaming operator offering sports betting and iGaming services. iDenfy’s Know Your Customer (KYC) software will help 7bet’s gamers access the platform quicker while ensuring legal compliance and minimizing fraudulent accounts, such as those who abuse the bonus system or want to overcome bans using multi-accounting.

In 2024, the iGaming industry witnessed a significant surge in fraudulent activities, with overall fraud increasing by 64% compared to previous years. Much of this fraud is due to duplicate accounts, commonly known as multi-accounting. According to Domantas Ciulde, the CEO of iDenfy, e-commerce marketplaces and iGaming establishments are the leading industries for multiple account fraud. This is part of the convenient nature of such services: you can access games or shop multiple items easily online.

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However, D. Ciulde stresses that from a business perspective, this results in major financial losses, especially since fraud rings use bots and other techniques to bypass weak authentication measures. In regions like Western and Central Asia, sign-up and welcome bonuses are usually prevalent, which caused a decline rate in new signups due to fraudsters attempting to exploit these promotions through multiple accounts.

iDenfy’s newest partner, 7bet, offers a dynamic platform for sports betting and online gaming, focusing on providing a secure and engaging environment for users. Operating in a high-risk sector, 7bet faced challenges managing suspicious registrations, including users who are attempting to bypass KYC checks with duplicate accounts, fraudulent documentation, or automated bots. To detect multiple accounts, blocklisted users, or simply players who are abusing the promo system more efficiently, the iGaming business understood they needed a fully automated solution. As a result, by integrating iDenfy’s innovative solutions, 7bet has implemented a highly scalable and automated player onboarding process that helps to fully reduce the reliance on manual reviews and boost verification accuracy.

By integrating iDenfy’s identity verification software, 7bet benefits from an innovative system that is capable of recognizing, verifying and extracting data from over 3,000 identity documents across 200 countries and territories. This technology supports global compliance while providing 24/7 expert oversight to minimize fraud and system errors. Additionally, advanced biometric algorithms, including facial recognition and 3D liveness detection, ensure that only legitimate users are granted access. The system prevents attempts to use fake images, 3D masks, or other forgeries in the verification process, offering bulletproof authentication and security.

In addition to that, with iDenfy’s passive liveness checks, the company now ensures a frictionless onboarding experience, reducing duplicate account rates as the innovation evaluates the validity of a user’s selfie without requiring them to perform additional actions, such as turning their head. This dual approach, coupled with document verification, not only saves time for the user but also obscures security processes, deterring potential fraudsters from accessing exploitable information. According to iDenfy, this also works as a way to spot underage users who are trying to bypass KYC checks. “Our solution ensures that only age-appropriate, legitimate players access their beloved games, which is the key to maintaining transparent and fair play in this age-restricted sector,” said Domantas Ciulde, the CEO of iDenfy.

Justinas Bakšys, the COO of 7bet, highlighted, “Working with iDenfy has revolutionized our KYC procedure, allowing us to onboard consumers easily while guaranteeing regulatory compliance. Specifically, the passive liveness feature has lowered onboarding friction, giving our users a seamless and safe experience while safeguarding the platform against fraud.”

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Domantas Ciulde, the CEO of iDenfy, added: “We’re thrilled to work with 7bet and bring up-to-date ID verification technology to their platform. Our goal is to deliver secure and user-friendly solutions that build trust while safeguarding the integrity of iGaming operations.”

The post iDenfy and 7bet team up to stop multi-accounting with AI-powered ID verification appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Baltics

Evoplay expands Baltic presence with new Optibet collaboration

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Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has announced its latest partnership with leading Baltic operator Optibet, part of Entain, marking a strategic expansion in Lithuania and Estonia.

Through the agreement, Optibet now offers over 70 of Evoplay’s premium slot titles to its customers in both markets, including popular games such as The Greatest Catch Bonus Buy, Elven Princesses, and Fruit Super Nova.

Optibet, part of global gaming giant Entain, is a trusted operator across the Baltics, providing Evoplay with a solid foundation to grow its presence in the region.

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This exclusive partnership underscores both companies’ commitment to delivering top-tier gaming experiences and increasing engagement within these key markets.

Ihor Zarechnyi, CBDO at Evoplay, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with Optibet, a trusted name across the Baltics, to bring our games to players in Lithuania and Estonia.”

“This collaboration marks an important step in our commitment to expanding in regulated markets and offering tailored experiences that resonate with local audiences.”

Janis Bariss, Entain Head of Gaming Baltics & Nordics, said: “Optibet is dedicated to providing our players with the best in gaming entertainment and partnering with Evoplay allows us to deliver an exciting range of content that adds real value to our portfolio.”

“Evoplay’s innovative approach and diverse game selection will be a fantastic addition to our online casinos in Lithuania and Estonia, and we’re looking forward to seeing the impact it has on our audience.”

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Baltics

Lithuania to Ban Gambling Ads

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The Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday approved restrictions on gambling advertising, set to take effect from next July.

The amendments to the Gaming Law, passed with 73 votes in favour and one abstention, will introduce a ban on gambling advertising starting in July 2025. Exceptions will apply to sports competitions and events, as well as sports sponsorships and broadcasts of sports competitions, which will have a transitional period until January 1, 2028.

Next year’s budget for the Media Support Fund earmarks an additional 4 million euros to compensate media organisations for lost advertising revenue.

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Among other things, MPs backed a proposal from the parliamentary Committee on Budget and Finance to have a transitional period until the end of 2027, allowing up to three betting ad spots of under 15 seconds each per hour on television, radio and online between 06:00 and 18:00 and up to two per hour between 18:00 and midnight.

For online media, betting ads without a direct link to the gaming operator’s website will be limited to 20% of advertising space from 06:00 to 18:00 and 10% until midnight.

The post Lithuania to Ban Gambling Ads appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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