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 new service, operated by CMA-CGM and Marfret — French container transportation and shipping companies —, now allows Maltese importers and exporters to connect to Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe), Fort-de-France (Martinique), Houston (US), Veracruz (Mexico) and Puerto Moin (Costa Rica). These five ports come addition to the freeport’s present network to South America, which covers five countries including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Uruguay.

“We are delighted to add this new service to our portfolio, which is a reflection of the confidence of transhipment industry in our port which is ideally positioned in the heart of the Mediterranean”, said Alex Montebello, Chief Executive Officer of Malta Freeport Terminals.

“We are also pleased to note that they will be making use of our upgraded reefer facilities in which we have invested considerably over the past year,” adds Mr Montebello. The Malta Freeport offers 1,582 reefer points at its terminals and will be installing a further 180 reefer plugs across three new platforms, in order to handle more perishable cargo.

In addition, the freeport made a €31m investment in 2018 in 15 Kone Rubber-Tyred Gantry Cranes (RTGs) as well as in other yard equipment, including 67 new tractors and trailers.

The Malta Freeport currently provides network links to 115 ports around the world, 59 of which are in the Mediterranean.

EDITORIAL NOTE: The cover picture of the story has been changed to an aerial shot of the Malta Freeport, originally posted on Wikimedia Commons by Alecastorina93.

The post Malta freeport expands reach to five more ports with new service first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

“We are excited to finally launch Binance.US and bring the security, speed, and liquidity of Binance.com to North America,” said Changpeng Zhao, CEO of Binance. “Binance.US will be led by our local partner BAM and will serve the U.S. market in full regulatory compliance.”

BAM Trading Services will support Binance.US to launch, with a focus on the trading of mainstream cryptocurrencies with liquidity.

“It is an honour to partner with Binance to launch the U.S. extension of Binance, leveraging its tier-one security and technology in tandem,” said a representative from BAM Trading Services. “We are committed to providing a secure and compliant platform, and beginning the start of a fruitful alliance with Binance.”

The post Binance partners with BAM to launch US exchange first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

SOL Networks is an umbrella brand for 15+ projects. The board of Dating.com took this “strategic” decision, during the board meeting in Malta in the spring of 2019. The group plans to expand through mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals, which will be announced in the near future.  

“Countless dating startups have popped up in recent years and we are eager to find ones that are a good fit for Dating.com Group’s ambitious goals,” said Alla Gubenko, board director in Dating.com Group. “Our key markets are Asia and the US, for their growth potential. We would love to make deals with companies targeting those areas in creative ways,” he added.

The company is developing its inorganic investment strategy and is looking to partner with early and late-stage companies in online dating, social interaction and live streaming markets, according to the press release.

Group anticipates expanding markets

Dating.com Group expects the market to grow to $3.74b in developed markets, with future growth expected in developing markets, speakers of the group announced during GDI Singapore Dating Conference 2019 – Global Dating Insights held on 13-14 May, based on research they carried out.

For instance, in China, dating companies have earned around $50m in revenue from mobile application downloads. In India, online dating platform Tinder was the top-grossing app on Google Play and the second-highest on Apple’s App Store at the end of 2018.

“The iPhone’s disruptive potential cannot be overstated. The way people conduct their lives and interact is evolving. Companies must provide creative, tailored solutions to prosper in the next decade,” said Yuri Papadin, Head of M&A and Corporate Development at Dating.com Group.

Focusing on app improvements, the research also revealed that customers are looking for more than “superficial pictures” usually posted on such platforms and the swiping-nature of selecting date parties. Therefore, Badoo — another dating platform — is preparing to switch “swiping” for live streaming after a survey of users found that 68% dislike swiping. Tinder has also partnered with Foursquare to set up “real-life” dates, the press statement says.

“It was great sharing our insights at the GDI conference. Since the market may be cooling a bit, it is more important than ever that companies do their homework and tailor dating platforms to a specific niche,” said Maria Sullivan, the head of the Dating.com Group’s New York office.

Dating.com Group is a global social discovery platform, enabling people from around the globe to connect through the power of shared interests and mutual benefits. Dating.com Group has offices in seven countries and a team of over 500 professionals and over 73 million users.

SOL Networks is an international internet-holding company headquartered in Malta. It specialises in the creation and promotion of websites where users can expand their social and business connections.

The post Dating.com to dip toe in expanding US, Asian markets first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

Through the deal that NetEnt tags as another step in increasing its footprint in New Jersey, a large selection of its casino games will launch in the upcoming weeks, becoming available to Draftkings players.

“We are very excited to have landed a deal with DraftKings. As the world leader in fantasy sports, with a large player base they will add a new dimension to the market and we are confident that their players will enjoy our popular games,” said Erik Nyman, Managing Director NetEnt Americas LLC.

The post NetEnt increases footprint in NJ through DraftKings pact first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

Plume’s launch in the United Kingdom comes less than a year after the introduction of Plume membership in the United States, which is a subscription-based service that includes features such as adaptive WiFi, HomePass and parental controls with customisable profiles.

Plume’s platform snowballed in 2018 through large-scale usage by companies such as Comcast, Bell Canada, Liberty Global, and Samsung. At the same time, by open-sourcing Plume’s device software middle layer called OpenSync, the company expanded through partnerships with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Switzerland, Malta, the Cayman Islands, the Netherlands, and now in the UK.

AI solution for better home security

Upon entering the United Kingdom, the company also launched its security offering for US and UK members called Advanced IoT Protection, which is an AI-powered security service designed to protect home IoT devices.

Plume uses AI to identify all devices connected to a home network, detects anomalies in device behaviour, and immediately quarantines devices that have been compromised to prevent a breach from spreading to other devices connected to the home network, the Plume press statement describes. The cloud-solution continually learns patterns of normal device behaviour across a large population of similar devices to spot abnormalities in real time and immediately act to protect users, the company says.

“The ever-increasing demand for smart home performance coupled with the proliferation of IoT devices means connectivity and security are merging and must be addressed jointly and comprehensively,” said Fahri Diner, CEO and co-founder of Plume. “Leveraging our scale as the operator of perhaps the largest software-defined-network in the world, our learnings gathered from a vast population of connected devices uniquely positions Plume to offer the most effective anomaly-based protection of IoT devices.”

The post Plume enters UK market, launches AI security tool first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

NetEnt earlier announced it had signed customer agreements with several gambling operators in the state and is preparing to launch its games as soon as the market opens, according to a press statement by the company. A formal market opening date has not yet been announced by the PGCB, however.

“We are very pleased to be in the first round of approved vendors to conduct online gaming in Pennsylvania. This fits well with our strategy to be live with our products on the first day of market opening,” says Erik Nyman, Managing Director of NetEnt Americas LLC.

NetEnt also signed an agreement with Parx Casino in Pennsylvania, as Business Malta earlier reported. NetEnt games will be delivered via the GAN platform.

In October 2017, the Pennsylvania state legislature approved a bill that allows online casino gambling. The state has a long tradition of gambling on the land-based side.

Pennsylvania is the second US state to regulate online casino, and with almost 13 million people, it is the fifth largest state by population.

NetEnt Americas LLC is a US subsidiary of NetEnt AB, providing gaming solutions to online casino operators. NetEnt is listed on NASDAQ Stockholm (NET–B) and employs 1,000 people in Malta, Stockholm, Kiev, Krakow, Gothenburg, Gibraltar and New Jersey

The post NetEnt grabs conditional licence in Pennsylvania first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The B2B betting firm is currently hiring for some positions for its new Philadelphia-based hub, including customer support and risk management roles, which will initially house a headcount of approximately 30. Kambi sees Philadelphia as the “best location for the business given the current prominence of sports betting regulation on the East Coast and its proximity to current and prospective customers,” the press statement says.

“The opening of a US office has long been part of our plans, and we have taken the time to carefully weigh up a number of different options to ensure we settled on the right location,” says Max Meltzer, Chief Commercial Officer of Kambi.

“In Philadelphia, we have found a city that ticks all the boxes – great proximity to customers, a people passionate about sports and high performing local universities. The team we are building will tap into that local talent and ensure we can provide an even greater level of service to our customers,” he adds.

Kambi reported Q4 revenue growth of 14%, and it powers some sportsbooks on the US East Coast, including Rush Street Interactive and DraftKings in New Jersey and Parx Casino in Pennsylvania. DraftKings launched its sportsbook offering in New Jersey last year following the repeal of PASPA in May and is the current market leader in online sports betting in the state.

Beyond presence in many other countries, Kambi is also licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority, and also has operations in the island country.

The post Kambi eyes opening office in Philadelphia first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The agreement is valid for an initial five years, with the possibility to extend for two additional five-year terms. Kindred (previously Unibet Group) will offer customers an online sportsbook and casino experience under the Unibet brand, as well as a Unibet sports betting lounge at Mohegan Sun Pocono, according to the press release.

“We’ve aligned with one of the best online casino and sport book operators in regulated online markets which will allow us to offer best in class experience to our existing customers as well as attracting new ones,” says Aviram Alroy, Vice President of Interactive Gaming at Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment. “Introduction of the Kindred offering to the market is a great positive for Mohegan Sun as well as the state of Pennsylvania,” the vice president adds.

“We are excited and proud to extend our US footprint into one of the largest US states to regulate both online sports betting and casino. Finding a strong partner who shares Kindred’s dedication to customer experience and values has been critical, and I am delighted that we have found just that in Mohegan Sun Pocono. I am confident that Kindred and Mohegan Sun Pocono will offer customers in Pennsylvania a truly great online sports betting and casino experience,” says Manuel Stan, Senior Vice President of Kindred US.

Mohegan Sun Pocono is owned by Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment and located outside Plains, Pennsylvania, offering services such as hotel, food and shopping, gaming and entertainment. By combining Mohegan Sun Pocono’s full destination experience with Kindred’s digital customer experience and data analysis capacity, the companies expect to create a “unique and robust offering” in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania will be the second state that Kindred Group has entered, following New Jersey. Kindred Group has vowed to keep investing in expanding its US operations where market conditions support a sustainable business model.

The post Kindred inks deal with Mohegan in Pennsylvania first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

“DraftKings is a young and dynamic company that has blazed a trail in recent years with its best-in-class technology and extensive knowledge of sports,” says James Stern, Chief Business Officer responsible for America and Land-based at Evolution Gaming.

“DraftKings was first to market in New Jersey with online sports betting, just a couple of months after filing for its licence with the New Jersey regulators. We very much look forward to working with DraftKings on this project,” he adds.

Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Boston, MA, DraftKings offers daily fantasy sports contests across 11 professional sports in eight countries including the US, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.

The post Evolution Gaming seals US live casino deal first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.