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SOFORT, Klarna’s Direct Bank Transfer Payments Service, Enables UK Gambling Block for Direct Bank-to-Bank Payments
Klarna, a leading global retail bank, payments and shopping service that helps consumers save time and money, be informed and in control of their finances, announced it is enabling banks to extend voluntary gambling blocks to open banking-driven payments powered by its subsidiary, SOFORT, helping protect hundreds of thousands of UK consumers.
UK challenger bank, Monzo, was the first bank to introduce a gambling block in 2018, following demand from customers who wanted help controlling their use of gambling sites. Since then most UK banks have followed Monzo’s lead. However, while gambling blocks are effective for payments made by card, open banking powered payments are often not covered. Klarna’s subsidiary SOFORT became the first provider to integrate the UK’s first Open Banking powered gambling block, developed by Monzo and Truelayer last year, who made the update code public. This will allow Monzo to extend their gambling block to all Klarna-powered, immediate bank-to-bank payments for Monzo’s UK customers. Currently, 400,000 Monzo customers have activated the gambling block.
Klarna Kosma is one of the largest open banking aggregators in the world, providing connectivity to 15,000 banks worldwide. The network powers SOFORT, one of Klarna’s direct bank-to-bank payment methods, which is used by 75,000 merchants across Europe, including some online gambling and gaming sites. Importantly, only immediate payments are allowed to online gambling and gaming sites; none of Klarna’s BNPL or other credit products can be used on gambling or gaming sites.
With the update Klarna has announced, banks connected to SOFORT will be able to identify a payment request from a gambling or gaming company and, if there is a gambling block in place, block that payment, protecting their customers. The update code is available for banks and Open Banking providers to use, and the fix is quick, simple and easy to build.
“We’re calling on banks and other open banking infrastructure providers to make this relatively small update which could help protect hundreds of thousands of UK consumers. Open banking has huge potential to increase competition and reduce costs and as adoption grows the industry must move quickly to make changes which can further improve the lives of UK consumers,” Alex Marsh, Head of Klarna UK, said.
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ELA Games Signs Exciting Partnership with Rootz to Introduce Its Portfolio to New Audiences
Ela Games signs strategic partnership with Rootz
ELA Games is excited to announce its new strategic partnership with Rootz, an iGaming platform that focuses on exciting tech and automation.
Rootz is an all-encompassing iGaming solution built to help operators manage all aspects of their online casinos and power the brands of the future. Some innovative brands in the Rootz portfolio include Wildz, Chipz Casino and many more.
This strategic partnership will see ELA Games’ catalogue being hosted on many of Rootz’s brands. As a result, more players can experience ELA Games’ unique and innovative games like Cash Crab, Joker Cashpot and more. With many of the studio’s games implementing engaging gamification engines, Rootz’s brands can experience increased player acquisition, retention and engagement.
David Fall, ELA Games’ Business Development Manager and spokesperson, commented on the partnership, “We’re proud to announce this significant strategic partnership and are excited about the positive implications it will have on our growth. ELA Games will increase its market presence by being hosted on Rootz’s various platforms, and Rootz will experience increased player engagement from our innovative games. This partnership will prove to be a mutually beneficial one and a meaningful development for our studio.”
Sam Brown, Rootz’s CEO, added, “At Rootz, our players come first, so we’re always thrilled to augment our lobbies with top-quality casino content, like the titles in ELA Games’ catalogue. We’re sure our players will enjoy them, and we look forward to this mutually beneficial collaboration.”
ELA Games continues to experience expansive yet sustainable growth, as evidenced by this recent significant partnership. The studio continues its commitment to producing games with attractive UI and design that enhances the player experience.
The post ELA Games Signs Exciting Partnership with Rootz to Introduce Its Portfolio to New Audiences appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Compliance Updates
Wyoming’s First Mile-Long Racetrack Set to Launch in the Mountain West
The Wyoming Gaming Commission has approved Wyoming’s first mile-long horse racing track for 16 live race dates in 2025, as well as simulcasting and related activities. While the first racing season at Thunder Plains Park will feature temporary structures, the essential components, including barns, racing officials’ tower, video patrol towers, and spectator areas, will be in place.
The track, located 10 miles east of Cheyenne at Thunder Plains Park, will host its inaugural race day on Friday, August 1, 2025, with additional race days to follow on August 2, 3, 8-10, 15-17, 22-24, 29-31 and September 1. Dates are subject to change per the Wyoming Gaming Commission.
With its convenient location along I-80, the track is set to draw racing fans from neighboring states in the mountain west region, as well as local fans from Cheyenne and surrounding areas.
“As a fifth-generation Wyomingite, being able to bring this track to our state carries a lot of meaning,” said Ryan Clement, managing partner at Thunder Plains. “Thunder Plains sees an incredible opportunity to create a positive impact not only on the Wyoming horse racing industry but also the area’s economy, in terms of new job opportunities and tourism revenue.”
Through partnerships with elite industry veterans and horsemen, Thunder Plains looks forward to bringing high-quality, high-caliber racing to Laramie County.
“We’ve established a strong partnership with 1/ST, North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing, entertainment and pari-mutuel wagering company,” said Clement. “They’ve set the standard for horse safety across the nation, and we’re looking forward to bringing that strong emphasis on safety and track protocols to Wyoming.”
Of the partnership with Thunder Plains, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY’s Senior Vice President Jeff True said he sees exciting opportunities ahead.
“1/ST has a long history of operating premier racetracks and premier racing events across the country. We are thrilled to be entering the Wyoming horse racing market together with our local Wyoming partners, and we look forward to lending our expertise to help grow Wyoming horse racing.”
For all simulcasting operations, 1/ST will leverage the expertise of its affiliates at Monarch Content Management, AmTote International, and PariMAX.
“Our racetrack will be operated with numerous horse safety and welfare protocols in place,” Clement said. “The track itself, being a mile long and eighty feet wide, dramatically improves horse and rider safety. Throughout track design and construction, we collaborated with Dennis Moore, a renowned track surface specialist, to ensure the safest, most high-quality racing surface.”
Moore’s professional history includes designing and building world-class racetracks across the county, as well as consulting on track safety projects at racetracks across the country and around the world. Moore’s projects have included the racing surfaces at Santa Anita Park, Del Mar, Lone Star Park, Remington Park and in Dubai, among others.
Future plans at Thunder Plains Park include building a regional equestrian center and establishing a high-altitude horse training and breeding program.
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CryptoWins Celebrates One-Year Milestone with Birthday Month Bonuses and New Slot Launch: Wild Alaska
This month marks the one-year anniversary of CryptoWins, a cutting-edge cryptocurrency-only casino that has quickly made an impact in the gaming world since its debut.
To celebrate, CryptoWins is rolling out a month of birthday bonuses and gifts for both new and returning players. Earlier this month, players already enjoyed an 80% VIP Match bonus, and the celebration continues with even more rewards, including a 66% match bonus for players who’ve made at least one deposit during the month, as well as a $20 freebie!
To kick off its birthday month, CryptoWins.com has introduced its latest video slot, Wild Alaska, created by Slotland Entertainment. This high-energy 5×3 slot game is packed with adventure and features a max multiplier of 750x, a $20 max bet, and 20 paylines. A standout feature is the Free Spins round, where all winnings are tripled, and Grizzly Wilds become Extended Wilds, giving players even more opportunities for massive payouts.
“This milestone wouldn’t be possible without the support of our incredible players. To show our gratitude, we’ve released a month of exclusive bonuses and a cool new game,” said Michael Hilary, CryptoWins manager. “We’ve built CryptoWins around the values of transparency, fairness, and player freedom. Our provably fair gaming technology ensures every player can verify game results for complete peace of mind, while our no withdrawal limits policy allows players to enjoy our platform to the fullest.”
In keeping with its commitment to providing regular rewards, CryptoWins has continued to deliver ongoing promotions throughout the year, including reload bonuses and cashback offers. The casino also boasts a dedicated VIP loyalty program, designed to reward consistent play with exclusive perks.
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAY GIFT BONUSES:
1/ THANKSGIVING $20 FREEBIE
Available Nov 26 – Dec 1
* $20 free
* Max cashout: 3x
* Valid for: SE all games
* Wager: 37x
* BONUS CODE: BIGTHANKS
2/ 66% LOYAL MATCH
Available Nov 26 – Dec 1
* 66% for players who deposited at least once in November
* Redeem: 1x per day
* Valid for: SE all games
* Wager: 35x
* BONUS CODE: LOYAL66
The future is bright for this forward-thinking cryptocurrency online casino, and players can look forward to even more developments in the months ahead.
CryptoWins, a cryptocurrency casino operated by Slotland Entertainment offers 500+ games from Slotland Entertainment S.A. and eight other game providers: ELA Games, EvoPlay, Felix Gaming, KA Gaming, Rival Gaming, SmartSoft, Spinthon, and Vibra Gaming. Fast deposits and withdrawals are done using Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ether, Monero, Tether, Binance Coin, and USD Coin. Support is available around the clock via live chat and email.
The post CryptoWins Celebrates One-Year Milestone with Birthday Month Bonuses and New Slot Launch: Wild Alaska appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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