Connect with us

Baltics

The importance of reg-tech for new market expansion

Published

2 years ago

on

Reading Time: 4 minutes

 

Mark Chakravarti, Investment Director at SportingWin, talks about the operator’s experience of securing a licence in Bulgaria and how it will now use its in-house regulatory platform to enter additional European markets  

I would argue that a proprietary regulatory platform is the most important thing for operators looking to drive European market expansion.  Without a modern, agile platform that provides the insight that regulators require, licence applications will be drawn out for months and even years.

At SportingWin, we came to learn this the hard way.

When we started the business back in 2019, we identified Bulgaria as being a market of huge potential and one that we were keen to make our debut. Based on our assessment, AGR would hit 20% a year for the next five years, leading to a market value of €500m per year.

We then set about compiling the legal paperwork required by the National Revenue Agency for the licence application – this was a significant task in its own right, but we would soon learn that this was just the very start of the process.

The Bulgarian regulator is one of the most stringent in the world, which of course is a good thing. It ensures that the operators that do secure approval to enter the market are of the highest calibre especially when it comes to responsible gambling.

Under its requirements, operators must be able to deliver certain insights and information to the regulator in real time and this in turn requires a powerful, agile regulatory platform. Ultimately, we took the decision to develop this technology in-house.

While this was the right course of action, it significantly slowed down our licence application process while the regulator and our in-house development team worked together to ensure that it was fully compliant with its requirements.

We eventually reached the point where the National Revenue Agency was happy with the paperwork we submitted and our proprietary reg-tech platform, giving us the green light to enter the market in January 2021. Since then, we have gained incredible traction with players.

As with most operators, we are now looking to take SportingWin into additional markets and our in-house developed regulatory platform will be the foundation for building out our presence across the region. It really is impressive and now that it has been certified in Bulgaria, it can be used elsewhere.

We have identified Romania as our next market and while we have yet to submit our application to the regulator, our proprietary regulatory platform will ensure it is a much easier – and faster – process than that in Bulgaria.

This is for several reasons. Given just how stringent the National Revenue Agency is with its standards and enforcing them, other jurisdictions are happy to approve our platform without subjecting it to the same level of scrutiny again.

The same applies to a lot of the paperwork that we completed as part of our application in Bulgaria – for example, the Romanian regulator is happy to carry this over as well as the technical and software certifications that we were granted.

Of course, local regulators will still carry out their own investigations and will want to test certain aspects of our platforms, tech and software, but much of the hard work has already been done and this will allow us to enter additional markets at pace – we anticipate being live in Romania in H1.

In addition to an in-house regulatory platform, approved paperwork and the experience of having been through a licence application, the final piece of the puzzle operators need is a European trademark for their brand/brands.

We have recently secured this for SportingWin and it really does put us in the driving seat to identify and enter regulated European markets with an incredibly strong brand, superior product offering and a powerful regulatory platform running in the background.

Because of this, SportingWin is an attractive proposition for investors looking to join our success story. Due to the technical foundations we have in place, the investment we secure is pumped into marketing our brand in each country, which in turn allows us to generate significant share quickly.

Despite having been live in Bulgaria for only a year, we have a large and loyal player base and in Q4, generated €500,000 in NGR. This is set to grow significantly off the back of our recently-announced partnership with Pinnacle, allowing us to add a betting exchange to our offering for the first time.

As with most small to medium-sized operators, the team behind SportingWin has a long-term plan for the business and that is to grow it into an exciting acquisition opportunity for one of the power players looking to build their presence in regulated markets across Europe.

Without our proprietary regulator platform, European trademark and growing collection of licences, SportingWin would simply not be on the radar of these organisations, let alone be considered a serious M&A opportunity.

Of course, there is still a lot of work to do before we reach that chapter of our story but given that the founders of SportingWin have built and sold betting businesses before, it is one that I am confident we will write in next to no time at all.

Meanwhile, we will continue to use our regulatory platform to launch our player-favourite brand and superior betting experience into markets across Europe, generating substantial revenues from each of the jurisdictions we target.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Baltics

Push Gaming levels up in Latvia and Estonia with OlyBet

Published

1 week ago

on

July 21, 2025

By

push-gaming-levels-up-in-latvia-and-estonia-with-olybet
Reading Time: < 1 minute

 

Push Gaming continues to grow in the Baltic region thanks to its latest commercial partnership with OlyBet.

The agreement with the number one gaming and entertainment brand in the Baltics now offers Push Gaming’s complete range of popular slots to players throughout Latvia and Estonia. Key titles from the Razor Shark and Retro series are now available, along with highly anticipated releases such as Wild Swarm Triple Hive and Bamboo Ways, due to launch soon.

Launching with OlyBet follows other recent European growth for Push Gaming in Bulgaria, Spain, and Serbia, and maintains Push Gaming’s ambitious strategy in regulated markets.

Andy Bentley, Chief Operating Officer at Push Gaming, said: “Having our content live with market leaders such as Olybet is a key pillar of our commercial strategy. OlyBet provides us with a fantastic partnership and a shared ambition to grow in both regions.

“We’re scaling our collaborations globally to meet player demand, and our thriving relationship with the leading brand in Latvia and Estonia is another important milestone in our progress.”

Tomas Graham, Chief Operations Officer at OlyBet, added: “The added strength of Push Gaming’s slots in our lobby is considerable, and we’re delighted to have them available for our players.

“It is essential for us to offer the best games available to ensure OlyBet provides the best experience possible and remains the first choice in entertainment across each market.”

The post Push Gaming levels up in Latvia and Estonia with OlyBet appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Baltics

HIPTHER Joins Forces with Ace Alliance as Strategic Media Partner – Kicking Off with Ace Alliance Riga 2025

Published

2 weeks ago

on

July 17, 2025

By

hipther-joins-forces-with-ace-alliance-as-strategic-media-partner-–-kicking-off-with-ace-alliance-riga-2025
Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

HIPTHER proudly announces its Strategic Media Partnership with Ace Alliance, the dynamic iGaming media hub under the Revpanda Group. This new collaboration begins with the highly anticipated Ace Alliance Riga 2025, taking place on August 14–15 in the heart of the Baltics.

Ace Alliance has quickly emerged as a force in the iGaming community, connecting professionals through curated events and immersive experiences. HIPTHER, the parent brand behind several of Europe’s most respected media outlets and boutique conferences in Gaming and Technology, is excited to support and amplify Ace Alliance’s vision through its online media outlets.

 

Supporting Real Connections at Ace Alliance Riga 2025

Ace Alliance Riga 2025 is designed for real conversations, real experiences, and real growth. With over 500 iGaming professionals expected, this two-day summer getaway in Riga offers a refreshing approach to networking – blending business and leisure for lasting impact.

From a private Daugava River cruise and executive business brunch to guided cultural walks and legendary parties, VIP ticket holders are treated to high-value interactions in an unforgettable setting. Keynotes from respected industry voices like Alexandre Tomic will further fuel strategic thinking and innovation.

HIPTHER will actively support the visibility and promotion of Ace Alliance’s events – beginning with this Riga edition – across its expansive global media network. In return, Ace Alliance becomes an official Media Partner for HIPTHER’s lineup of exciting conferences.

Zoltán Tűndik, Co-Founder and Head of Business at HIPTHER, stated about the partnership: “At HIPTHER, we thrive on identifying and supporting meaningful movements in the industry, and Ace Alliance is exactly that. Their community-first approach, creative event format, and focus on authentic connections make them a standout new player in the media and events space. We’re thrilled to support their growth and extend the experience to our audiences across Europe and beyond.”

 

Get Ready for a Summer to Remember

With limited VIP passes still available and sponsorship spots quickly filling up, now is the time to secure your place. Stay tuned to HIPTHER’s channels for upcoming announcements, featured stories, and an exclusive discount code for our audience.

Join the experience at Ace Alliance Riga 2025:
👉 https://acealliance.com/events/riga-2025/

Let the networking begin!

The post HIPTHER Joins Forces with Ace Alliance as Strategic Media Partner – Kicking Off with Ace Alliance Riga 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Baltics

Peter & Sons Launches Top Titles on NinjaCasino.se

Published

2 weeks ago

on

July 15, 2025

By

peter-&-sons-launches-top-titles-on-ninjacasino.se
Reading Time: < 1 minute

 

Content deal expands reach in Nordics and Baltics

Award-winning game studio Peter & Sons has bolstered its presence in the Nordics and Baltics via an eye-catching new content deal with Entain-owned NinjaCasino.se, a leading online casino brand in the region.

Peter & Sons’ unique and highly inventive portfolio of weird and wonderful slots is now live on NinjaCasino.se, including player favorites such Barbarossa Revenge, Ghostfather – Awakened, Boom Farm, Gunpowder, Wild Duel, Xibalba, Blood Club, Epic Hellas, Mutagenes, Evil Devil, Dungeon Tower & Potion Power.

Known for their hand-drawn animation style, original cinematic soundtracks, and unique gameplay mechanics, Peter & Sons’ games are some of the most strikingly original on the market today.

With an unwavering commitment to the “anti-boring,” the Maverick Barcelona-based studio builds games that dare to be different, with an emphasis on storytelling, audio-visual excellence and pure playability.

This milestone marks a significant step in Peter & Sons’ European growth strategy and further strengthens its relationship with Entain. The studio continues to expand its reach across regulated markets via strategic partnerships with tier-one operators.

Yann Bautista, Commercial Director and Founder at Peter & Sons said: “We’ve always strived to craft games that stand out not just visually, but in how they play and engage. Ninja Casino has always had a cool, edgy vibe, and that fits our style. This partnership gives us a fantastic opportunity to connect with a new audience that we believe will really appreciate what we do.”

Andreas Larsson, Casino Manager at Ninja Casino said: “We are always looking to enrich our games lobby with content that delivers something different. Peter & Sons is a studio we’ve admired from afar for some time. Their distinctive visual style, innovative game mechanics, and consistent production quality make them a standout developer in today’s crowded market.”

The post Peter & Sons Launches Top Titles on NinjaCasino.se appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Trending