The Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 that took place in late March, showcased the forefront of iGaming innovation, with DATA.BET playing a pivotal role as the event’s Microphone & Registration Sponsor. As a leading provider of esports betting solutions, DATA.BET continues to shape the industry with its commitment to compliance and technological advancement. In this post-event interview, we connect with Kateryna Manetska, Legal Counsel at DATA.BET, to delve into the complexities of global gambling regulations and how they impact B2B tech providers.​

Hello Kateryna, thank you for joining us! Can you please introduce yourself to our readers and share more about your work as a Legal Counsel at DATA.BET?

Thank you for having me. I’m the Legal Counsel at DATA.BET, where I oversee legal and compliance matters for one of the leading technology-driven providers in the betting industry.

My role focuses on ensuring DATA.BET’s operations and innovative services comply with applicable regulations while supporting our strategic business goals.

I handle various responsibilities, including drafting and negotiating contracts, guiding licensing and regulatory compliance, and conducting legal due diligence to support our B2B partnerships. I also provide legal advice on commercial strategies, particularly regarding data usage, intellectual property, and risk management – all critical components for a company like DATA.BET. My work ensures we maintain legal integrity while driving growth and innovation in this dynamic industry.

Considering your expertise and latest updates in multiple key jurisdictions, how do you approach the challenges of navigating diverse gambling regulations across the EU, UK, LATAM, and the USA?

Navigating the complex landscape of gambling regulations across the EU, UK, LATAM, and USA requires a strategic and proactive approach.

At DATA.BET, we anchor this approach in three core principles: prevention, localization, and forward-thinking.

Our process begins with comprehensive legal mapping to understand the licensing structures, data usage requirements, and compliance obligations specific to each jurisdiction. The B2B gambling sector often presents nuanced challenges, such as technical certifications or special permits that might not be immediately apparent. To address these, we prioritize prevention by conducting rigorous due diligence and risk assessments to uncover potential regulatory hurdles early.

Localization is critical to our operations. We collaborate closely with local legal counsel and regulatory advisors to ensure the accuracy of our compliance strategies. This partnership enables us to tailor our operations, whether through jurisdiction-specific contracts, tax clauses, or reporting mechanisms, to align with local standards while maintaining consistency across our global network.

Finally, thinking ahead allows us to stay agile in a dynamic regulatory environment. We develop flexible internal frameworks that can adapt to evolving rules, ensuring scalability and compliance as we expand.

With Brazil’s recent regulatory developments, what opportunities and challenges do you foresee for B2B tech providers entering this market?

Brazil’s implementation of regulated fixed-odds betting, effective in 2025, marks a transformative moment for the gambling industry, creating both significant opportunities and complex challenges for B2B tech providers.

The regulated market opens a dynamic gateway for these companies to deliver innovative solutions to licensed operators. With Brazil’s gambling sector projected to grow rapidly, there’s strong demand for advanced data analytics, risk management tools, and scalable platform solutions that enhance operator efficiency and player engagement. At DATA.BET, we see immense potential in providing tailored odds feeds, real-time data services using the list of authorised lists of esports, and compliance-focused technologies that empower operators to thrive in this competitive landscape. The eventual introduction of B2B licensing could further strengthen market trust and encourage deeper partnerships, positioning Brazil as a structured and reliable hub for gambling innovation.

Despite these opportunities, a primary challenge for gambling providers is adapting technical infrastructure to meet Brazil’s compliance standards, even without direct B2B licensing requirements. While odds feed providers incorporated abroad aren’t legally obligated to obtain independent certifications, operators often require systems to demonstrate compliance through certifications like GLI to ensure the entire platform adheres to regulatory mandates. This indirectly pressures esports betting vendors to invest in costly certification processes and tailor their technologies to local specifications.

 When it comes to certifications and licensing for B2B providers, which aspects do you consider non-negotiable for operating across multiple jurisdictions, and which ones fall more into the ‘strategic advantage’ or ‘nice-to-have’ category?

For providers like DATA.BET, certain aspects are foundational to lawful, ethical, and successful operations across multiple jurisdictions. These non-negotiable requirements ensure compliance and sustain our ability to deliver trusted, high-quality services in the competitive gambling industry.

First, compliance with mandatory B2B licensing requirements in jurisdictions where they’re enforced is non-negotiable. These licenses, required in markets such as the UK, Canada, and certain U.S. states, provide legal authorization to supply services and are critical prerequisites for market entry. Without them, operations in these regions simply aren’t viable.

Second, implementing robust KYC, AML, and sanctions compliance procedures is essential. At DATA.BET, we prioritize strict legal frameworks to maintain trust with partners and regulators alike, ensuring our operations remain above reproach.

Third, preserving IP rights through proper registration and contractual protections is crucial. Our proprietary technologies and data solutions are central to our competitive edge, and safeguarding them is non-negotiable. A key differentiator for DATA.BET is our extensive portfolio of official esports data, which positions us as an undisputed, trusted partner delivering reliable products. Protecting this IP ensures we maintain our market leadership and continue to provide unparalleled value to our clients.

Beyond these essentials, specific licenses provide strategic benefits that enhance market credibility and facilitate expansion. For instance, obtaining technical certifications demonstrates reliability and compliance with industry standards, which can be a significant differentiator when partnering with Tier-1 operators. These credentials streamline market entry into other regions by signaling trustworthiness and positioning DATA.BET as a preferred partner in emerging markets like LatAm, where regulatory landscapes are still evolving. While not strictly required in every jurisdiction, these strategic assets accelerate business development and strengthen our competitive positioning.

According to your experience, what are the biggest legal misconceptions that operators often have when entering new gambling markets – and what advice would you give them to better prepare?

I’ve noticed that operators often treat licensing as the only requirement for launching in new gambling markets. However, this is only the first step in a complex regulatory landscape. Authorities scrutinize every aspect of operations, including platform functionality, data flows, marketing strategies, affiliate practices, and compliance with responsible gambling mandates. Underestimating this depth of oversight can lead to regulatory violations, financial penalties, or operational setbacks.

To better prepare, operators should adopt a comprehensive legal and technology readiness plan grounded in three core principles: prevention, localization, and forward thinking, as mentioned before. Prevention involves conducting thorough due diligence to identify tax risks, local content restrictions, technical standards (e.g., RNG certification or cybersecurity protocols), and jurisdictional nuances before market entry.

Localization requires collaboration with local legal counsel and regulatory experts to tailor commercial agreements, marketing practices, and data handling processes to meet specific regional requirements. Forward thinking entails building flexible compliance frameworks that can adapt to evolving regulations, ensuring long-term sustainability.

Looking ahead, what trends do you anticipate in the regulation of the iGaming industry, and how should companies prepare to adapt to these changes?

The iGaming industry is undergoing a legal transformation, shaped by technological innovation.

First, government agencies are intensifying enforcement of responsible gambling measures, requiring robust tools like real-time spending alerts, mandatory self-exclusion options, and enhanced player monitoring, particularly in mature markets.

Second, there’s a heightened focus on transparency in data usage, driven by privacy requirements, which demand clear policies on data collection, storage, and processing.

Third, the growing integration of AI-driven tools in betting products, enabling personalized odds, risk management, and player engagement, will prompt regulators to establish guidelines on algorithmic transparency, fairness in automated decision-making, and player protection to prevent biases and ensure ethical use.

Moreover, companies should view technological advancements and high regulatory standards as opportunities, not obstacles. By leveraging modern technologies, like AI for enhanced player protection or blockchain for transparent data management, companies can exceed legal expectations while delivering innovative, player-centric solutions.

Two-year agreement expands Meridianbet and Golden Matrix’s (GMGI) sports sponsorship portfolio across regulated European markets

Meridianbet, the sports betting and iGaming division of Golden Matrix Group Inc., a leading developer and licensor of B2B and B2C gaming platforms, today announced the signing of a two-year exclusive sponsorship agreement with the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta (ASA), the official governing body for water polo, swimming, and artistic swimming in Malta.

Under the terms of the agreement, Meridianbet becomes the exclusive betting partner of ASA, gaining integrated brand exposure across ASA events, digital platforms, and physical venues. The sponsorship includes the launch of the branded national cup competition – Meridianbet Super Cup, as well as LED road signage, scoreboard branding, and apparel sponsorships across Malta’s aquatic sports federations.

“Water polo and aquatic sports are a vital part of Malta’s sporting culture,” said Stefan Pavlovic, Malta territory director at Meridianbet. “This partnership reflects our continued commitment to supporting national sports ecosystems, building long-term brand visibility in regulated markets, and delivering value to fans, players, local institutions and shareholders.”

The ASA partnership builds on Meridianbet’s growing sponsorship portfolio across 25+ international jurisdictions, where it supports sports ranging from football, basketball and MMA to eSports and grassroots competitions.

This announcement also aligns with Meridianbet’s broader ESG strategy. In 2024 alone, the company conducted 293 community engagement initiatives, reaching over 18,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries through education, healthcare, sports, and advocacy programs.

Key Highlights of the Deal:

• Meridianbet named exclusive betting partner of Malta’s ASA (governing body for water polo, swimming, artistic swimming)
• Launch of the Meridianbet Super Cup
• Brand exposure via LED ads, digital platforms, and team apparel

“Fruitferno 20” goes live today, a new 20 payline slot from Hölle Games.

Hot off the heels of the 243-ways Sierra Nuggets and the scatter pays, 6×5 God of Taranis, the Hölle team felt that craving for the old-school slots they do so well. And this title is the epitome of “old school”.

Featuring all the standard fruits any self-respecting player would expect, it also has stacked Seven Wilds on all reels, which if hit will pay out a respectable 2000x stake. Star Scatters award Bonus Spins when they land, and there is of course the accompanying Card and Ladder Gambles to spice up the action.

It’s no surprise it’s part of the Classic Series, and a Fruitferno 40 has already been announced for August. This will be a 5×4 and feature (for the slower children in the class) 40 paylines, promising even more high volatility action as the summer sizzles on!

The game is now available in MGA regions with Sweden, Romanian, Netherlands, Switzerland and others coming soon.