

Press Releases
Sweden urged to rethink restrictions as searches for ‘unlicensed casino’ surges 700%
New BonusFinder data shows 54 unlicensed operators already targeting Sweden and warns new proposals will put players at greater risk
BonusFinder.com has urged the Swedish government to reconsider its proposals to introduce further restrictions on online gambling as a result of the pandemic or risk long-term consequences of a sharp increase in black market activity.
In a formal response to a consultation on the government’s proposals, BonusFinder warned that introducing stricter measures would lead to a long-lasting diversion of players to unlicensed sites and pose a greater risk to Swedish consumers, legal licensees and the licensed market in the future.
BonusFinder has identified more than 54 unlicensed sites targeting Sweden compared to the 65 licensed operators, with the majority offering online casino. The research conducted by using Google Trends also found the number of searches for unlicensed casino brands targeting Sweden to have risen by 305% in the last 12 months.
The study also discovered that in the last 12 months searches for ‘casino utan licens’ (and other similar terms), saw a 710% growth compared to a 173% increase in ‘online casino’.
In March this year, initial BonusFinder research found that almost a third of Swedish online casino players are searching online for ‘unlicensed casinos’, with growing numbers turning to black-market brands due to the market’s restrictive gaming regulations, introduced in January 2019.
The Swedish government’s new plans include the introduction of stricter bonus limits of SEK100 (€8), as well as mandatory weekly deposit limits of SEK5,000 (€458) that would be in place for an initial six-month period from June 1.
Fintan Costello, Managing Director, Bonusfinder.com, said: “We understand the Swedish government has put forward its proposals with the best intentions to protect its citizens, but as our research has shown, the existing restrictive measures have resulted in a large number of players turning to unlicensed operators outside of the legal framework and without any protection. Channelisation rates are falling and unlicensed brands are booming.
“Our message to the government is to seriously reconsider its proposals. More stringent measures would only serve to further fuel the existing black market. The consequences of these actions would be felt for a long period of time as players lost to the illegal offering would not easily return to regulated sites once measures are lifted.”
Latest News
Thunderkick expands popular franchise with Midas Golden Touch 3

Studio unveils Power Recharge and Retrigger Boost mechanics to enhance bonus round
Independent slots studio Thunderkick has launched Midas Golden Touch 3, the latest addition to its successful series that elevates gameplay to new heights with fresh features and greater player control.
The famous King Midas graces the opulent reels once more, where between one and five wilds on a payline boost wins with multipliers from 2x up to 32x. The Gift of Midas feature also returns in the base game, randomly distributing one to five wilds or scatters across the reels.
Similarly to its predecessors, landing three or more scatters in the new release activates the bonus round, this time with five free spins. However, in the third instalment, the number of triggering scatters determines the starting Epic Wild Multiplier: three, four, or five award a 2x, 5x or 10x base multiplier respectively.
Thunderkick has revamped the bonus round with an all-new Power Recharge mechanic, which is activated at the end of every respin sequence, increasing the Epic Wild Multiplier by 1x and adding two extra spins to the meter.
The studio has also introduced a Retrigger Boost, which resets the number of free spins to five and increases the Epic Wild Multiplier by between 3x and 8x when three to five additional scatters land, unlocking 15,000x win potential.
Thunderkick has continued to align with a trend toward heightened player control within gameplay, with the integration of six bonus buy and ante bet options catering to a variety of playstyles and further refining the user experience.
Johannes Polbring, Game Product Owner at Thunderkick, said: “It has been over half a decade since we launched the original Midas Golden Touch, and the brand has continued to resonate with players across the globe since.
“Our goal was to push the boundaries with Midas Golden Touch 3 to make it the most entertaining release to date. By introducing two distinct ways to build the Epic Wild Multiplier, we have delivered a game that harnesses the popular aspects of the franchise while introducing refreshed gameplay to appeal to both new and existing players.”
The post Thunderkick expands popular franchise with Midas Golden Touch 3 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Australia
WATERHOUSE VC SECURES OPTION IN MAINCARD, THE “SHOPIFY OF ONLINE BETTING”

Waterhouse VC, an investment fund specialising in the technology layer of the global gambling industry, has secured an option in Maincard, a “Shopify of Online Betting” platform targeting the launch of fully customisable licensed online betting sites in under 30 minutes.
Maincard targets the $1 trillion iGaming market by replacing months of development work, cumbersome licensing and complex integrations with a subscription-style workflow. Crypto-native founders, influencers and digital communities can spin up branded betting sites, monetise their audiences and retain full upside ownership from day one.
“iGaming still suffers from high startup costs and significant technical and regulatory friction,” said Tom Waterhouse, Chief Investment Officer of Waterhouse VC. “We’re seeing strong potential in platforms that can streamline development, similar to how Shopify revolutionised e-commerce. The sector is ripe for innovation that allows new entrants to focus on player acquisition and retention rather than backend development.”
“Waterhouse VC’s deep domain knowledge and network will accelerate our go-to-market,” said Valerii Makovetskii, Founder and CEO of Maincard. “We’ve developed strong technical foundations with our crypto-friendly payments gateway already powering third-party casinos. The next step is to make launching a betting site as easy as launching an online storefront.”
The investment aligns with Waterhouse VC’s approach of identifying promising B2B technology companies serving the wagering industry and negotiating options to acquire stakes in these businesses.
Maincard platform vision:
- Launch in <30 minutes — drag-and-drop, no code required
- End-to-end compliance — licensing, KYC/AML, fraud, payments, customer support and marketing handled by Maincard
- 15,000+ casino games & 1,000+ sportsbook markets out of the box
Maincard is currently raising USD $3M to scale its sales team and launch multiple brands from the waiting list by the end of Q3 2025.
The post WATERHOUSE VC SECURES OPTION IN MAINCARD, THE “SHOPIFY OF ONLINE BETTING” appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Andy Huang CEO at TaDa Gaming
TaDa Gaming brings social gaming platform to US market

Free-to-play platform goes live with immersive content and multiplayer tournaments
TaDa Gaming, the award-winning content provider, is expanding its social gaming reach with the US launch of its free-to-play platform, Freeslotmatch, bringing a fast-growing library of immersive slots and multiplayer formats to a brand-new audience.
Following its debut in Brazil, the platform now offers US based players the opportunity to explore TaDa Gaming’s popular titles in a fully social, risk-free environment. In addition to the US launch, the company is currently preparing for further rollouts in other countries, with additional markets set to go live later this month.
Players can enjoy fan favourite titles such as Fortune Gems, TriLuck, DARKREEL
and the SurgeReel
series, with crash, table and fishing-shooting games set to follow.
Designed to mirror the thrill of real gaming without any monetary commitment, the platform features a range of tournament features including single-round wins, cumulative wins, limited spins, and more, all powered by a straightforward, intuitive interface that supports fair and accessible gameplay.
Registration is free and open via email, Google, Facebook, Twitter, or Telegram, and the platform is available in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Rewards are delivered directly to the registered email account, allowing players to compete, track their progress and enjoy a seamless social gaming experience.
Andy Huang, CEO at TaDa Gaming, said: “After a successful launch in Brazil, we are excited to bring freeslotmatch.com to the US market.
“The platform hosts over 160 games and combines our most engaging titles with interactive features and tournaments, giving players a space to enjoy and explore our content without financial risk.”
The post TaDa Gaming brings social gaming platform to US market appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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