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Gambling News Roundup: New Regulations, Big Wins, and More
Millions of people enjoy gambling, whether it is a spot on a horse race or the football results. But many of them are at risk of addiction and must be better protected. That’s why the government has announced plans to update gambling rules for the digital age. These include extra powers for the Gambling Commission, curbs on bonus offers, and affordability checks for online slots.
Legalization of sports betting
The legalization of sports betting in the United States has brought a host of new opportunities for gamblers. People can now place bets on a wide variety of games, and some have even made huge profits from their wagers. This has boosted the economy and helped casinos make money. It is expected to continue growing over the next few years.
Several states have legalized sports betting, and many others are attempting to do so. Previously, most people had to travel to Nevada to place bets on their favorite teams and players. But now, sports betting is available in most states and can be enjoyed by anyone with an internet connection.
In addition to boosting the economy, legalized sports gambling is also helping state governments collect revenue. Over the past two years, sports betting taxes have generated over $3 billion in revenues for local and state governments and over $570 million for federal authorities. Some states are putting all of the money they receive from sports betting into general funds, while others are using it to fund programs such as education and law enforcement.
As the demand for legal sports betting continues to grow, many lawmakers are working on legislation to regulate the industry. Some proposals call for a percentage of the revenue to go towards anti-corruption measures in professional sports leagues, while other states are creating categories of licenses with different fees and requirements. In Illinois, for example, the new laws allow sports books to pay a “master sports wagering license” fee of $10 million to be licensed, and they must use official league data to set odds.
Other states, such as Montana and Nebraska, have ballot initiatives to legalize sports betting. In Nebraska, Proposition 27 will ask voters to amend the state constitution and allow regulated sports wagering. The measure has received support from the governor but will require 2/3 of the legislature’s approval to be placed on the ballot.
In Florida, the legislature approved sports wagering via a tribal-state compact with the Seminole Tribe in May 2021. Once the federal Department of Interior approves the compact, retail and mobile sports betting could launch in late 2021.
Legalization of medical marijuana
In the United States, medical marijuana is legal on a state level in 29 states and Washington, DC. However, you can learn more about the same from Focus Gaming News. The Trump administration has signaled a tougher stance on drug enforcement, but limited Department of Justice resources and large marijuana tax revenues in some states may discourage federal interference. Physicians are able to prescribe cannabis to treat nausea and vomiting from cancer chemotherapy and wasting (severe weight loss) associated with AIDS, as well as spasticity from multiple sclerosis. The FDA has also approved synthetic marijuana-derived compounds such as Dronabinol and Cesamet, as well as the oromucosal spray Sativex for multiple sclerosis and cancer pain.
Legalization of online gambling
The legalization of online gambling in the United States is a complex issue. While the activity is largely legal in most areas, it is still subject to state and federal laws that restrict or regulate different aspects of the industry. For example, states have passed laws that allow sports betting while limiting the types of online gambling platforms that can accept wagers. Some states have even banned online gambling entirely. The most recent development in the US has been an attempt to circumvent these state-by-state patchworks by legalizing online gaming at the federal level.
Initially, the movement to legalize online gambling in the US was focused on sports betting. The 2018 Supreme Court decision overturned PASPA, allowing individual states to legalize sports betting in their jurisdictions. In the wake of this ruling, several states enacted legislation to legalize online betting on various sporting events. The most popular sports to bet on are football, basketball, and baseball. However, there are other popular games that can be wagered on as well, including horse racing and video games.
Online casinos and poker rooms are also becoming more accessible in the US. Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware were among the first states to introduce legal online casino games and poker sites. Since then, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Michigan have joined the party, and other states are considering legalization as well.
While some people may enjoy online gambling without any problem, others can be harmed by its consequences. These problems range from financial loss to addiction and even death. In the worst cases, gambling harm and addiction can lead to suicide. As a result, the industry has become more vigilant in its efforts to protect vulnerable players.
In 2022, California will vote on two competing proposals for the legalization of online sports betting. One is backed by FanDuel and DraftKings while the other is supported by California tribes. Both initiatives face an uphill battle. The state has a large Mormon population and many residents oppose the initiative due to religious beliefs. The other major holdout in the US is Hawaii, which has a similar climate and a lack of interest in expanding its gambling regulations.
Legalization of Video Poker
Amid the excitement over the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize sports betting, many states are considering new regulations that could further expand gambling. One example is a bill that would make it easier for gambling firms to monitor the habits of their customers and take steps to intervene when they exhibit problem behaviors. This bill would also allow casinos to sell betting apps and offer a range of responsible gambling products.
The state of South Carolina has a complicated relationship with gambling. Its laws ban most forms of gambling, but video poker is in a gray area because it is not specifically mentioned in the law. It was only able to survive in the state by hiding in a 1986 legislative favor. A tiny amendment in the back of a giant budget bill erased two words in a state statute, allowing video poker players to win jackpots. The state has never formally banned video poker, but it has used suits and lobbying to stymie efforts to pass a ban.
Some states have a better relationship with gambling than others, but even the best-behaved states sometimes struggle to enforce their laws. For instance, the state of Kentucky took a hard line against online poker in recent years and attempted to seize 140 gambling domains. The effort was ultimately thwarted by the court, but the state still maintains a harsh anti-online poker policy. The Kentucky Supreme Court might eventually review the case, but it is unlikely that the state will legalize online poker anytime soon.
Another state with a good relationship with gambling is West Virginia, which has launched regulated sports betting sites. In 2023, the state is expected to roll out a broader set of iGaming offerings, including online slots and table games. It is likely that the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes will launch these sites in the state, though they may face some challenges.
The state of California has 78 land-based casinos and 60 poker clubs. It has also dozens of horse tracks, OTBs, casino cruises, and bingo halls. But it has never passed a legalized version of online poker, partly because of the industry’s unpopular image. A bill that would legalize a statewide poker network was defeated in February, but lawmakers are looking at other ways to boost gaming revenues. They are considering expanding land-based casino machines, allowing players to use their mobile devices, and adding a gambling ombudsman to help resolve disputes between punters and companies.
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LazyBar: The New White Label Casino Brand launched on the Extendy Platform
Say hello to LazyBar, Allset Partners’ brand-new online casino brand. Launched only 2 months ago and already available in five major gaming locations in Europe, namely Spain, Germany, Austria, Belgium and Poland, LazyBar is already off to a flying start.
“Our sights are set high and we have ambitious plans for the future. Our goal now, however, is to see LazyBar get to €1,000,000 in GGR by the end of 2024. We also plan to keep growing our list of European GEOs.” — Allset Partners
A peek at LazyBar: 9500+ popular games from over 70 game providers
Traffic to LazyBar comes mainly through media buying teams using Facebook, SEO, email campaigns and PPC.
The Allset Partners team have extensive experience in attracting iGaming traffic which is why creating their own brand seemed like the obvious and logical next step. As a white label online casino solution provider having launched several popular online casinos, Extendy was their primary choice. Launching an online casino brand includes managing all the extensive, major operational processes such as licensing, integrating game providers and payment solutions, as well as integrating all the necessary online casino infrastructures such as a CRM system, player support and VIP player support programs.
When it came to scaling LazyBar, the first step was to attract organic traffic and build a pool of players able to generate profit. Extendy’s CBDO, Ayvar Gabidullin explains that casinos created on the Extendy platform usually experience payouts within 5-6 months.
“When we launched our partner, Allset Partners, we initially determined a list of five countries to which all the traffic would go. However, seeing just how keen and active Allset were, we saw it best to roll out further GEOs. It was then that they really began to perform. The team is already showing results in Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and Poland.
Overall, launching LazyBar in such a short time is a huge achievement for both teams. I am confident that at this rate, Allset Partners will not only achieve their goals by the end of the year, but will surpass them by a significant margin.”
- Ayvar Gabidullin, CBDO Extendy
The post LazyBar: The New White Label Casino Brand launched on the Extendy Platform appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Alinda van Wyk
Super Group Reports Financial Results for Third Quarter of 2024
Super Group (SGHC) Limited, the parent company of Betway, a leading online sports betting and gaming business, and Spin, the multi-brand online casino, announced third quarter 2024 unaudited consolidated financial results.
Neal Menashe, Chief Executive Officer of Super Group, said: “We achieved our strongest third quarter ever, highlighting the phenomenal progress we are making as a business. There is still tremendous potential as we experience super growth across our global casino brands, and particularly in Africa which we have scaled to be our largest region for the second quarter running. Given our continued strong performance and robust balance sheet, we are exploring ways to return excess cash to shareholders, and intend to discuss with the board a possible further special dividend before the end of the year.”
Alinda van Wyk, Chief Financial Officer of Super Group, said: “This quarter was our best ex-US third quarter ever, achieving total revenue of €395 million and Adjusted EBITDA of €95 million. We are focusing on consistent growth in our key markets, while striving to maximize operational and marketing cost efficiencies across the group, which resulted in a margin of 24% for the second quarter in a row – well ahead of our long-term target of 20%. Following the strong performance of the business over the first three quarters and an early look at a strong October, we are increasing our ex-US Adjusted EBITDA full-year 2024 guidance to be greater than €345 million.”
Financial Highlights:
Revenue increased by 13% to €402.9 million for the third quarter of 2024 (constant currency: 15% to €410.9 million) from €356.9 million in the same period of the prior year, driven by growth from the Africa, Europe and North America (predominantly Canada) markets partially offset by declines from the Middle East and Asia-Pacific markets.
Profit for the period was €8.5 million for the third quarter of 2024. Profit for the period of €10.6 million for the third quarter of 2023 included a non-cash charge of €14.2 million related to the change in fair value of option liability.
Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, increased by 60% to €83.9 million for the third quarter of 2024 compared to €52.5 million in the third quarter of 2023.
Monthly Active Customers increased by 17% to 4.7 million during the third quarter of 2024 from 4.0 million in the third quarter of 2023.
Cash and cash equivalents was €296.6 million at September 30, 2024, up from €241.9 million at December 31, 2023. This net increase during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was the result of:
Inflows from operating activities amounting to €159.1 million;
Outflows from investing activities of €59.2 million. This was mainly as a result of further investment in tangible and intangible assets of €63.6 million, predominantly due to the capitalization of expenditure on software, issuance of a loan to Apricot Investments Limited of €10.0 million, deferred consideration paid of €2.5 million relating to the 15 Marketing Limited acquisition and cash paid of €2.0 million for an investment in associate. These outflows were offset in part by €9.2 million of consideration received from the sale of the B2B division of DGC, as well as €9.2 million resulting from receipts of interest and repayment of loans receivable;
Outflows from financing activities of €51.9 million, mainly due to dividends paid of €46.1 million and lease payments of €5.7 million; and
A gain of €6.7 million as a result of foreign currency fluctuations on foreign cash balances held over this period.
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EGT Digital is ready to create a stir at SiGMA Europe 2024
EGT Digital is pleased to announce that it will participate in this year’s SiGMA Europe. The company will present a special selection of its latest innovations and top performers at stand 1120.
The iGaming provider will demonstrate its wide range of casino developments, including the 4 jackpot bestsellers Bell Link, Clover Chance, High Cash, and Single Progressive Jackpot, as well as over 120 titles. Together with well-established slots like Sugar Duke, Burning Goals, and Shining Crown, the guests will be able to see and test the newest addition to Clover Chance: the game Sugarville. As its name suggests, it will take players to a world of sweet wins, where the multiplier increases with every subsequent toppling, reaching up to the impressive x128. Adding to this the fact that the mystery jackpot can be triggered at any time, Sugarville definitely has what it takes to become one of EGT Digital’s next irresistible offerings.
Fans of quick wins will be able to enjoy the instant games of the Bulgarian company, which are popular for their attractive original design and mechanics, ensuring highly engaging gameplay.
EGT Digital’s in-house developed “all-in-one” betting platform X-Nave, will also be on display to show its 4 main modules: Sport Product, Gaming Aggregator, CRM Engine, and Payment Gateway. Each can function as a part of the turnkey solution or independently, as they could be integrated with third-party developments.
The new Customizable tournament page will be the main accent in the Sport Product. It enables players to access relevant information and place bets easily. The page is divided into different tabs: Lobby, Matches, Boosted, Outrights, Bet Feed, Teams, Groups, Brackets, Promotions, and Quiz, which provide users with a more personalized and engaging betting experience.
X-Nave’s Gaming Aggregator will demonstrate its extensive array of more than 12,000 titles, including slots, live games, table games, bingo, lottery, Poker, TV games, skill-based games, and crash games from over 110 popular providers. The module will also introduce numerous new functionalities. Among them is the Buy Bonus feature, giving operators one more option to reward players beyond the standard free spin bonuses, as well as the Aggregator inbuild bonus support, enabling bonus management through the Aggregator.
In addition to the option for different types of navigation layouts, allowing operators to be extremely flexible in content arrangement, a new Hot and Cold games category will also be available. It will provide live visualization of the games’ RTP. This way they will be classified as hot or cold, and the players will have the necessary information to make their choice.
The list of novelties at the Gaming Aggregator will be complemented by the Recommendation Engine, which underpins personalized content delivery, product suggestions, and tailored search results. This X-Nave module will also present its Casino as Widget, an innovative solution for implementing EGT Digital’s CMS system into third-party websites, casino verticals, or independent categories.
The CRM Engine will showcase numerous games and tournaments. The operators will become familiar with an array of tools, allowing them to make more detailed player segmentation. They will also be able to learn more about a new AI/ML chatbot and an AI/ML module, which will make a selection of casino games based on visitors’ behavior.
The event visitors will also get acquainted with the Payment Gateway, which will show its rich portfolio of payment methods, including Open Banking. The module now offers a button that makes the repetition of the last successful deposit from the cashier possible, as well as an option to choose a bonus during a deposit. To ensure greater security, the Payment Gateway is now supplied with an option for mandatory two-factor authentication when requesting a withdrawal.
Tsvetomira Drumeva, Head of Sales at EGT Digital, commented: “It is always a pleasure for us to participate in SiGMA Europe and especially now in the tenth jubilee edition, which is expected to be the most attended so far. Here we have the opportunity to gain valuable information about the latest trends in the industry, as well as to hold so many fruitful meetings with current and potential new clients. We can’t wait to welcome all our guests on 12-14 November and present to them our fascinating new products, which can bring even more success to their business. We are also looking forward to the SiGMA Europe Awards, where our Shining Crown Bell Link game is a finalist in the Best Performing Slot Game category.”
The post EGT Digital is ready to create a stir at SiGMA Europe 2024 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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