A unique survey on the state of play in measures against money laundering and terrorist financing in the gambling industry

The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling, BOS, has commissioned the consulting firm Advisense to conduct a unique survey among its member companies this fall to strengthen their work against money laundering and terrorist financing.

The online gambling market in Europe is estimated to 100 billion euros and is rapidly growing due to increased internet usage, smartphones, and new platforms for gaming and betting. With this growth new risks emerge. Challenges are reflected in recent sanctions by supervisory authorities focusing on the need for risk assessment, enhanced customer due diligence, adequate controls and monitoring.

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“The gambling market should be a place for joy, entertainment, and excitement—and the occasional big win. Criminal activities must be eradicated. Our tolerance for money laundering in the gaming industry is zero. Together with Advisense, we are now setting a spotlight on ourselves to identify how we can improve our work against money laundering,” says Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General of BOS—The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling.

“The AML State of Play survey will be an important step to strengthen the ongoing efforts. Online gambling is a high-risk industry for money laundering and terrorist financing both internationally and in Sweden. Extensive measures have already been taken since the Swedish gambling industry was regulated in 2019. The ability to share collective expertise and exchange experiences from both the gaming and financial industries will be of great significance going forward,” says Christine Enström, Managing Director & Head of Financial Services at Advisense.

The results of the survey will be communicated by BOS later this autumn.

The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling—BOS—represents gaming companies and developers of online games targeting Swedish consumers. The association was founded in 2012 to represent the industry in Sweden and abroad.

Advisense is a market-leading expert firm in Europe specializing in governance, risk, and compliance, offering cutting-edge advisory services and tech solutions. Since 2008, Advisense has grown to 450 employees based in Bergen, Brussels, Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Malmö, Oslo, Riga, Stockholm, and Vilnius.

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Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, is thrilled to announce a landmark partnership with prominent Kenyan operator Betika. This exciting collaboration marks a significant milestone in expanding Play’n GO’s exceptional gaming content throughout Africa.

As part of this partnership, Play’n GO will integrate its extensive portfolio of premium casino games such as Book of Dead, Rise of Olympus, and Gemix into Betika’s platform, delivering a superior gaming experience to players across the continent. This move highlights Play’n GO’s commitment to bringing world-class entertainment to new markets in what is a first for the world-famous supplier and underscores Betika’s dedication to offering diverse and high-quality gaming options.

Play’n GO is live in over 30 jurisdictions worldwide and boasts a portfolio of over 350 active world-class game titles.

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Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer at Play’n GO said: “We’re very excited to announce this partnership with Betika, which gives us entry into several new markets for Play’n GO. Betika are one of the leading operators across the entire African continent, and joining forces with an operator of their experience and gravitas is a wonderful opportunity for our business. Betika share our goal of a regulated, sustainable industry, and this announcement marks the beginning of what we believe will be a highly successful partnership.”

Betika has established itself as a major player in the Kenyan betting industry, known for its commitment to providing an outstanding user experience and a wide array of betting options. By incorporating Play’n GO’s renowned games, Betika aims to further enhance its offering and attract a diverse range of players.

“Partnering with Play’n GO is a significant step forward for Betika,” said Peter Stagles, Head of Gaming, Betika. “Play’n GO’s impressive lineup of games is the perfect complement to our platform, and we are confident that this collaboration will set new standards in the African gaming industry. We look forward to working together to deliver exceptional entertainment to our players. This collaboration is expected to bring enhanced gaming opportunities and excitement to players across Africa, marking a new chapter in the continent’s rapidly evolving gaming sector”.

August 2024 turned out to be a record-breaking month for Meridianbet, the wholly owned subsidiary of Golden Matrix Group (GMGI). Known for its global footprint in iGaming and sports betting, Meridianbet has continued to shine across multiple regions, particularly in its B2C operations.

Key Highlights from August 2024:

• Online casino – Meridianbet’s online casino hit a new record, surpassing the 2024 monthly average by 13%
• OSB – Revenue from online sports betting also surged, showing a 9% increase over the monthly average for 2024
• Europe (excluding UK) – August was the best month ever for online casino operations, with revenue 11% higher than the 2024 average
• Americas: The region set a new total revenue record, with growth in online sports and casino revenue reaching 72% above the monthly average
• Africa: Online casino revenue grew by 8% compared to the 2024 average.

Golden Matrix Group continues to build on its reputation as a global leader in gaming technology and services, with Meridianbet operating in 18 regulated jurisdictions across Europe, Africa, and the Americas.