“We are proud that Betway’s African licensee partner selected us as their Fantasy Sports partner. They have quickly become market leaders in the region, and we are looking forward to supporting them as they expand,” comments Scout Gaming CEO, Andreas Ternstrom.

The agreement is not expected to have a material impact on Scout Gaming’s 2019 revenues but has the potential to have a significant effect on its revenues in future years, depending on the speed of rollout in the region, the press statement says.

Scout Gaming Group is a licensed and regulated provider of B2B Daily Fantasy Sports. The group is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden with development and operations in Bergen, Norway and Lviv, Ukraine. Sales, support and product management is handled from the office in Malta. Scout Gaming is listed on Nasdaq First North Growth Market and the Certified Adviser is Redeye AB.

The post Scout Gaming launches with Betway’s African licensee first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

Through the platform’s proprietary tools, NetEnt expects to concentrate on equipment integrity, player behaviour analysis, integrity checks and improve risk credibility. Due to the integration of LFS, NetEnt sas “rigorous processes” have been put into place aiming to detect advantage play methods like card counting and tracking, roulette prediction, robot play and bonus abuse, outright cheating, collusion and shuffle quality analysis.

“We are committed to maintaining the highest levels of integrity to offer the safest and fairest live gaming experience for operators and players. This involves us constantly reviewing our offering and adding Live Fraud Solutions’ tools to NetEnt Live advances these capabilities to be the most robust possible,” said Andres Rengifo, Director of NetEnt Live.

“As a global industry leader, we are delighted NetEnt has chosen to partner with Live Fraud Solutions. We look forward to working closely with the NetEnt Live team to deliver a product that achieves the maximum levels of integrity,” said Toms Andersons, CEO of Live Fraud Solutions.

In addition, NetEnt went from six to eight decks on its Blackjack tables, as the press release tells BM.

The post NetEnt partners with Live Fraud Solutions first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The NBC offers three product tiers delivering varied customisation, allowing operators to develop a live casino enhancing player loyalty, NetEnt says.

In addition, the new product consists of two different rooms. One containing blackjack tables and one VIP table and the other including the recently launched product Perfect Blackjack, which offers a return-to-player (RTP) of 99.5% and allows customers to “follow, watch and learn flawless strategy,” NetEnt says.

“The Network Branded Casino from NetEnt Live has a range of quality solutions that suit all types of operators and their objectives. The product is fully attuned to their needs, allowing them to benefit from a state of the art live casino product and prioritize what is most important to their brand through new levels of flexibility,” said Andres Rengifo, Director of NetEnt Live.

The post NetEnt launches new live casino product first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

NetEnt is also moving into a new office in the Stanley Building at Kings Cross, which the company tags as a “strategically-important step”. The UK team has also been growing staff-wise and the office is seen to grow further within the next few months, as the press release says. 

“We are delighted to be open for business in the United Kingdom. We need a local presence to better support our valued customers and grow our market share. We have already recruited some key talent and now we begin a period of recruitment for the second wave,” said Andy Whitworth, Managing Director of NetEnt UK Ltd.

“This is a natural next step and an example of our commitment to the local market. The United Kingdom is already our largest market, and we see a short-term opportunity to grow our market share by being closer to our UK-based customers. Our increased presence in the United Kingdom is one of the NetEnt Group’s key strategic initiatives this year,” said Therese Hillman, CEO of NetEnt.

Although the company makes no mention of it, this step comes amid increasing Brexit uncertainty; as currently, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is trying to negotiate a Brexit deal in Brussels. Analysts expect the Brexit to shake up markets, with KPMG recently having forecast that a no-deal scenario could push the United Kingdom toward recession.

Business Malta earlier reported that online gambling company ComeOn has left the UK market, which step the company rationalised as an attempt to concentrate its business on more favourable markets.

The post NetEnt sets up UK company 44 days before Brexit deadline first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

After abandoning the UK market, ComeOn will still hold licences in Malta, Sweden, Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein — Germany’s northernmost state —, as well as a sports betting licence in Poland.

Tagging the UK market as a “very mature” and “highly-competitive” one, ComeOn CEO Lahcene Merzoug says the industry is shaken by “financial risks” and “uncertainty”. Additionally, Mr Merzoug says the “UK-licence has lost its symbolic value”, which used to be a must-have for a firm to be considered as “credible”.

“Today we hold licences in many European countries and given that the United Kingdom has never been a big market for us, it is a wise move to put our focus elsewhere”, the CEO adds.

Although Mr Merzoug does not make mention of the lurking Brexit around the corner, uncertainty has spiked in many industries as pundits seem unable to put their fingers on what would happen to the United Kingdom post-Brexit.

ComeOn’s online gaming portfolio via mobile, tablet and computer includes brands primarily in casino and sports betting.

The post ComeOn leaves UK market 59 days prior to Brexit deadline first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The survey will focus on points such as the business performance in the market; the economic, employment and regulatory issues iGaming companies face; the attractiveness and deficiencies of the local jurisdiction; and how present and future challenges can be overcome.

The group considered it was time to develop a framework that compiles trends, key ratios, statistics and other information useful to the different stakeholders in the remote gaming industry including operators, regulators, policymakers and strategists, on an annual basis.

In addition, once the results of the survey are published, RSM expects respondents to become able to benchmark their responses to the market, through the use of an interactive website.   

“The iGaming sector is a strong contributor to Malta’s economic performance with the direct contribution to the Maltese economy valued at over €1b,” said Vladimiro Comodini, Partner at RSM Malta. 

“We are trying to map the iGaming industry in Malta with the purpose of providing analysis that can help to shape policy and performance and positively contribute towards continued growth in this sector, We strongly encourage operators to participate in the Malta iGaming Survey and in the fora during which the survey results will be presented,”Mr Comodini added.

The survey is accessible through the official website of RSM Malta.

The post RSM Malta launches online iGaming survey first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

“At LeoVegas we are proud to be supporting the largest event of its kind in Malta. The main goal of this collaboration is to show LeoVegas’ commitment to embracing diversity and equality in our workforce” says the press statement by the company that has offices in Malta, Italy and Sweden.

The press statement adds that today LeoVegas has over 400 employees at the Malta office, sporting a truly diverse workforce — be it race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, ability, or sexual orientation —, which contributes to the overall success of the company.

“We are delighted to have LeoVegas supporting Malta Pride for the third year running,” said Clayton Mercieca, Community Manager of Allied Rainbow Communities

“Their strong commitment towards welcoming diversity in the workplace is a message that needs to be spread far and wide. In our work with the community, we have seen employers who were not as affirming and accepting, which led to employees’ wellbeing suffer and their motivation taking a dip as a result,” Mr Mercieca said. “Being simply tolerant is not enough,” he underscored.

Malta Pride is a week-long celebration with different activities, with the main parade and open-air free concert. This year’s theme will be “From Riots to Rainbows – 50 years since Stonewall”.

The post LeoVegas pledges support for Malta Pride 2019 first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

Swedish gambling authority (Spelinspektionen) granted a one-year licence to Aspire Global at the beginning of the year. However, following an appeal involving a number of other licensees, the Swedish administrative court (Förvaltningsrätten) extended Aspire Global’s licence to three years, up until 31 December 2021.

Aspire Global says it welcomes the verdict as it enables further operations in the regulated Swedish market in line with its growth strategy.

The post Aspire Global’s Swedish licence receives extension first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The Spanish online gambling market is making iGaming stakeholders excited, as figures spur optimism. Spanish watchdog Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego reported revenues jumping by 21% to €193.2m in Q1 2019, as compared to the same quarter a year earlier. Behind sports betting, the online casino vertical was the second strongest; generating €67.1m. Big iGaming operators are heading to the market.

SkillOnNet, which operates PlayOJO, has been one of the most recent companies to have obtained a licence in Spain. Additionally, giants such as LeoVegas — seeing further expansion in Malta — and GiG, both having a firm presence in Malta, have also bagged their Spanish licenses lately.

“With such prestigious brands getting in on the action I think the Spanish online gambling market will continue to thrive over the coming months and years,” Bojoko CBO Joonas Karhu tells BM.

The Bojoko chief believes that the Spanish market will affect Malta positively, especially from the perspective of a licencing jurisdiction. “The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is one of the most established and trusted regulators in the world, and online gambling operators and suppliers wishing to enter markets such as Spain will still seek their approval,” Mr Karhu says.

He argues that being “dually licenced”, which essentially means that recognised by the MGA and by the regulator of the country a business is planning to enter, is a strong signal for players and other potential partners that an iGaming company operates to the highest possible standards.

“As markets such as Spain continue to regulate and show signs of growth, I think new operators and suppliers will enter the fray and will look to the MGA for licensing in addition to obtaining permits from the regulators in the markets where they launch,” Mr Karhu says.

Swedish reregulation ups the ante

However, another nation is believed to claim its stake at the European competition, holding strong cards in hand, as the recent reregulation of the Swedish market makes it an ever more attractive destination for iGaming firms.

“Bojoko supports the licensing and regulation of gambling in all markets around the world as it is the best way of ensuring that operators and suppliers are doing the right thing and that, ultimately, players are properly protected,” Mr Karhu says. “Online gambling is a hugely popular activity in Sweden and since the market reregulated at the start of the year we have seen all the major operators from the United Kingdom and beyond obtain the necessary licences to launch their brands in the country,” he adds.

Sweden is often seen as one of the most stringent markets when it comes to how operators can market their brands to players, which has caused some difficulties to companies, but generally, Mr Karhu believes that operators have adapted well and the market is growing nicely.

Mr Karhu further adds that the Swedish rerelugation will rather add to the importance of Malta. “I think this will have a positive impact on the Maltese online gambling industry. Malta is recognised as a leader and an authority in global online gambling and as markets continue to regulate and reregulate, the MGA will still to play a central role in the sector,” the business chief says.

In terms of the online gambling businesses based in Malta, Mr Karhu underscores that as most of these companies are multinational operators and suppliers he does not see them relocating to Sweden any time soon. Malta is considered as the world’s iGaming village and is expected to keep attracting companies and talent to its shores.

Expanding markets in EU, US

Additional European markets are expected to regulate the online gambling industry, which is seen to further establish the sector as a reputable, trusted and highly professional one. “We can clearly see the benefit of licensing and regulation in established markets such as the United Kingdom and Malta. Indeed, regulators such as the Gambling Commission and the MGA will continue to lead efforts to better safeguard players,” Mr Karhu says.

“I also expect Malta and the MGA to play a part in helping craft rules and regulations in new markets, as well as playing a central role in general conversations about how the iGaming sector can continue to move forward while properly protecting consumers,” he adds.

Overseas, the United States is also putting on the gloves, as a handful of states have already opened up, while another handful of states is working on regulating the market and would be opening up soon. “The United States is one of the most interesting online gambling markets in the world as more and more states license and regulate the activity. But it is very much a new industry and there is a lot to be learned from Malta and the MGA,” Mr Karhu maintains. He adds that he expects the MGA to “play a role in helping lawmakers craft rules and requirements, as well as to assist European operators looking to launch in the USA for the very first time.”

Although the opening up US market is foreseen to grow bigger than the European in the upcoming years, Mr Karhu does not believe the two giants would become competitors. “I do not really see it as one competing with the other. The United States is a new market that a lot of European operators and suppliers are keen to enter because of the huge potential on the table. The likes of Betfair, William Hill and PokerStars are already live, for example,” the Bojoko chief elaborates.

“I think European operators and suppliers — as well as regulators such as the MGA — can play a central role in how the US market evolves and expands simply because of the wealth of experience they have when it comes to working successfully in a highly-regulated industry,” he adds.

Only time will tell how European iGaming brands will resonate with players in the United States and whether any of the big US brands will decide to launch for players in Europe. “All things considered, I think the opening of the US market is great for Europe and great for the wider industry,” Mr Karhu concludes.

The post Spanish, Swedish markets may solidify Malta’s iGaming position first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has granted an Interactive Gaming Manufacturer Conditional License to NetEnt, through its subsidiary NetEnt Americas limited liability companies (LLC).

Pennsylvania represents the second large US state for the regulation of online casino, and the state has a long tradition of gambling, according to the press release sent to BM.

Therefore, NetEnt has signed customer agreements with several gambling operators in the state and had been preparing to launch its games.

“I am very pleased that the market in Pennsylvania has now opened. We are one of the few online casino suppliers offering our games right from the start, and I am convinced that our award-winning online casino games will be much appreciated by players in Pennsylvania”, said Erik Nyman, Managing Director NetEnt Americas LLC.

The post NetEnt games go live in Pennsylvania, US first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.