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IDnow welcomes agreement on a transition period for online gambling law in Germany

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IDnow, a leading Identity verification specialist, welcomes that Germany’s 16 states have agreed to a transition period incorporating the new and upcoming legal framework by October 15th. This transition clarifies existing and new mandates including, and importantly, age verification requirements for online gambling. The new regime officially enters into effect in July of next year.

IDnow, in its mission is to make the connected world a safer place, is pleased about this decision among the German states. The company looks forward to supporting the operators in order to provide greater safety for users. For IDnow, this ensures better protection for customers under German law as well as clearer rules in regard to responsible gambling.

“This is a big step for Germany’s online gambling industry, and again, it shows the importance of eKYC methods and their need to evolve. In a world that becomes more and more digital by the day, we need to stay vigilant and constantly adapt our security requirements,” says Rayissa Armata, Head of Regulatory Affairs at IDnow. “IDnow strives to contribute to responsible corporate citizenship, ensuring that the social responsibility for this industry can be achieved effectively through innovative methods. This is the strong desire of the federal and state governments within Germany, and IDnow has been and –  will continue to be – an active supporter of those efforts,” she adds.

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“We have developed our products together with our clients – the biggest players in the market – , to perfectly meet their needs. IDnow offers AML compliant video verification, but also an approved automated verification solution. Gambling operators can choose, depending on their security needs, which of those multiple solutions they want to use. All of them fulfill mandatory age verification requirements,” says Oliver Obitayo CSO at IDnow. “To us its more than important that our clients can offer  safe service platforms to customers so underage use can be prevented,” he adds.

After a period of uncertainty, each of Germany’s 16 states have agreed to a transition period for online gambling in Germany before the official start date of July 1, 2021. This transition period is noted by the shared agreement to not punish gambling companies who conform to the new law that will officially go into effect next year.

In January 2020, the German states agreed on an amendment to the State Treaty on Gambling (Glücksspielstaatsvertrag) that also comes into effect July 1, 2021. This date was partly put into jeopardy, as was the process to issue sports betting licenses, in the first half of this year when matters came to a halt due to a court injunction sought by an Austrian gambling operator.

In a welcome development last week, Germany’s 16 states agreed to a transition period for gambling activities. This will allow operators to offer casino style gaming and poker as long as such activities are fully-compliant with the draft for the new Glücksspielstaatsvertrag. Online gambling operators must meet all licensing requirements by an October 15 deadline. This will include an Age Verification (AV) solution for online operators.

Under the new and upcoming regulatory regime, the following changes will be implemented:

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  • It will be possible for German players to play online casino games and online poker under strict regulations
  • A wagering limit of €1 will be placed per spin for slot games
  • The number of licenses for table games will be limited to the number of physical locations for casinos in each state
  • A €1,000 deposit limit will now be implemented across all online gambling verticals in Germany.

With the recent acquisition of Wirecard Communication Services into the IDnow Group, the Munich based company has created additional capacities and possibilities for more flexibility in order to be able to adequately support its customers in every situation.

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Relax Gaming partners with Grand Casino Luzern to launch in Switzerland

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Relax Gaming, the iGaming aggregator and supplier of unique content, has enhanced its European presence by making its debut in Switzerland with leading operator Grand Casino Luzern and its online platform, mycasino.

This partnership with Relax will see the supplier’s award-winning portfolio of games including Banana Town, Money Train and Wild Chapo now available to Swiss players with more titles to follow.

Founded in 2019, mycasino is operated by Grand Casino Luzern, a renowned casino operator in the heart of Switzerland.

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The country’s leading online casino boasts a cutting-edge offering with exclusive titles regularly being added, as well as seamless deposit and withdrawal functionality. With its commitment to safety, innovation, and superior customer experience, mycasino offers a secure and enjoyable online gaming experiences for Swiss players.

The Swiss market marks the twenty-third global jurisdiction that Relax Gaming now operates in after passing the stringent regulatory processes and obtaining approval from Federal Gaming Board (FGB).

This is Relax’s latest step in extending its reach across Europe with further plans to increase its footprint with additional partnerships planned over the continent in the near future.

Martin Stålros, CEO of Relax Gaming, said: “Our continued growth across the globe is something we are all incredibly proud of. The Swiss market presents many interesting opportunities and I believe we have the right content to appeal to the passionate audience.”

Alexia Smilovic Rønde, Chief Regulatory Officer at Relax Gaming, said: “Entering the Swiss market through our prime partnership with Grand Casino Luzern marks another significant step in expanding our presence in high-profile regulated markets.

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“Switzerland is truly a staple of European jurisdictions and is known for its high regulatory standards, which we are pleased to have successfully met. We will be looking forward expanding our presence in the coming months.”

Wolfgang Bliem, CEO at Grand Casino Luzern, said: “The partnership with Relax Gaming marks an important step for mycasino.

“Their innovative approach and diverse game portfolio perfectly align with our commitment to maintaining our leadership in the market. We’re thrilled to be the first online casino in the Swiss market to partner with Relax Gaming and continue providing top-tier entertainment to our players.”

Established as one of the industry’s leading B2B suppliers, Relax Gaming was awarded GGA’s Product Launch of the Year in February 2023 for Dream Drop Jackpots. Money Train 3 names the 2023 CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards amongst its 6 Slot of the Year titles, while the brand also won the award for Skill Games Supplier at the 2023 EGR B2B Awards along with the Innovation in Mobile award at the 2023 SBC Awards.

Relax Gaming provides more than 4,000 online casino games, from its high-performing proprietary slots to a significant, varied library of content from hand-picked third-party studios via its partnership programmes.

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The post Relax Gaming partners with Grand Casino Luzern to launch in Switzerland appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Thunderkick enters Hungary with LVC Diamond brand Vegas.hu

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Partnership marks studio’s first foray into Hungarian market

Independent slots studio Thunderkick has launched its games with Vegas.hu, an online casino operated by Las Vegas Casino (LVC) Diamond, marking its debut in the Hungarian iGaming market.

Hungary is the third new market entered by Thunderkick in 2024 – following the announcement that its games would go live in Canada and Colombia – highlighting the provider’s commitment to targeted global expansion.

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Vegas.hu is a pioneering platform having become the first legal online casino established in the country in 2017 and has since established itself as one of the most successful and highest-grossing brands in Hungary.

The partnership, which commenced in early August, saw a collection of Thunderkick’s games integrated onto Vegas.hu, including fan-favourites Midas Golden Touch 2, Beat the Beast: Dragon’s Wrath, and Gods of Rock! Reborn.

The game developer has already reported early success among its titles, with this strong performance emphasising the quality of Thunderkick’s product portfolio, which continues to resonate with players across the globe.

Fredrik Ekholm, Head of Sales at Thunderkick, said: “We are dedicated to enhancing Thunderkick’s presence on our home continent, and the debut of our slots in Hungary reaffirms this.

“Since becoming the nation’s first regulated online casino, Vegas.hu has built a reputation as an industry leader, and we are excited to partner with the prestigious brand as we look to expand our European player base.”

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Brigitta Szenczy, Head of Gaming and Studio at Vegas.hu, added: “At Vegas.hu, we have a history of providing exciting gaming experiences to Hungarian players through a portfolio of best-in-class titles.

“Thunderkick’s cutting-edge slots are sure to resonate with Vegas.hu players as we continue diversifying our content offering.”

The post Thunderkick enters Hungary with LVC Diamond brand Vegas.hu appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Octoplay goes live in Slovakia with an exclusive partnership with Nike

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Octoplay continues its expansion in Europe by going live in Slovakia with a strategic partnership with Nike, the largest betting company in the country. This move marks Octoplay’s third major market milestone in the last four weeks, following its entry into Denmark and obtaining a license in Greece.

Octoplay will launch a portfolio of 10 games, including the title Eggsponential, exclusively on Nike’s platform in Slovakia. The partnership goes beyond game integration, with Octoplay set to deliver a bespoke version of its opt-in jackpot solution, Jackpot Hunt. This collaboration demonstrates both companies’ commitment to long-term market growth and innovation.

Nick Vuchev, Commercial Director at Octoplay, stated: “Our partnership with Nike marks a significant step in Octoplay’s expansion into regulated European markets. We’re excited to introduce our games exclusively in Slovakia through the country’s largest operator.”

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Robert Vizvari, Chief Revenue Officer at Niké, commented: “We’re thrilled to be the first to bring Octoplay’s premium products to players in Slovakia. Through this collaboration, we’re offering the high-quality, engaging content Octoplay is known for, exclusively on our platform. This partnership not only enhances our portfolio but also reinforces our commitment to providing our players with the best gaming experiences in the market.”

This partnership highlights Octoplay’s rapid expansion across Europe’s regulated markets. Already holding licenses in the UK, Sweden, Malta, Ontario, Greece, and Romania, Octoplay continues to strengthen its position in the iGaming industry through strategic partnerships and market entries. This latest collaboration with Nike, a major operator in Slovakia, further exemplifies Octoplay’s commitment to growth in key regulated markets.

The post Octoplay goes live in Slovakia with an exclusive partnership with Nike appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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