European Gaming News
Post Event – The second edition of Prague Gaming Summit brings the event to the next level
Reading Time: 11 minutes
Prague – 17 April 2018 – The curtains have closed three week for the second edition of Prague Gaming Summit and the organizers are delighted to announce that the growth of the event was noticeable.
The second edition of Prague Gaming Summit was held at Vienna House Prague on the 29th of March and it was a sold out event. The initial plan included seating of 100 top level delegates, however due to the high demand, the event was extended to 120 delegates.
View the full 2018 gallery here….
The organizing team would once again like to thank the supporting sponsors of the event:
- BetConstruct (Lanyards and Badge Sponsor)
- NetEnt (Main Stage Sponsor)
- SBTech (Registration Sponsor)
- PLANZER LAW (Networking Break and Lunch Sponsor)
- Tal Ron, Drihem & Co. Law Firm (Legal Sponsor)
- BtoBet (Digital Sponsor).
The main highlights of the day
The event started smoothly with delegates starting to network straight away and eagerly waiting for the information to be shared by expert speakers. The delegates were greeted by Betty, Tereza and Christina, who handled the smooth registration and made sure everyone has all the information about the program that has commenced at 9:30 AM (Prague local time).
“Prague Gaming Summit is definitely the most important event when it comes to learning and networking with the experts of the industry from Central European countries. NetEnt is always interested in finding partners that comply with local laws and we have dedicated ongoing efforts in order to provide the best solutions in regulated markets. Being among the delegates who also attended the inaugural edition in 2017, I can say that this year’s event has doubled in participant numbers and has taken the event’s experience to the next level.”
Nadiya Attard – Head of New Sales at NetEnt
“The 2nd edition of Prague Gaming Summit was really an amazing one. In comparison with the first year there was visible improvement and I hope it will continue next year as well. Perfectly organized, nice place for conference and also good panels to discuss. Always good to be here and meet the right persons from industry. See you next year in Prague”
Vladimir Horak – Business Development Manager at Betgenius
The first panel of the event was dedicated for the local market and highlighted the main developments of the Czech Gambling Market. The panel was moderated by Dr. Joerg Hofmann (Melchers Law Germany) who introduced the speakers of the panel. Dr. Hofmann was joined by Jan Rehola (PS Legal), Jakub Kolomicenko (Endorphina), Ivan Sagál (Bird&Bird), Tal Zamstein (Fortuna Group).
Dr. Hofmann started by saying that “30 years ago it was fun to be a regulator, it was fun to be a legislator, because there was no internet. Regulating the gaming industry or supervising the gaming industry was land based only. If something happens, you walk around the corner, you call the police and everything is fine. Than in the 90s, something came up which is now part of our lives. Imagine not having your mobile phone with you or your computer. It is unthinkable how our days are different. There are so many challenges being a regulator today and generations have to learn, have to be ahead of technology, ahead of development.”
He pointed out that regulators have to take into consideration the fast development of internet gaming and create the legislations accordingly.
The panel discussion stressed on legal advice, regulatory advice, supplier perspective and operators perspective about the market in Czechia.
Ivan Sagál (Bird&Bird) has continued with introducing the history of online gambling in Czechia and the new law which has changed the regulatory landscape. He stressed on the fact that the new regulation has brought the online sector into focus which is important for the developments of combating the grey area. The news law also gives a chance for international companies to apply for licenses as the state realized it’s better to liberalize and tax the industry. He also added that the new law is much more modern and captures a much wider scope of services than the previous one by also setting a fair rule.
“The new law is an improvement to the old law, but there is still a long way to go until it’s actually we will be able to say that the new law has brought an improvement of the business environment. So far it is an improvement of the regulatory environment.” added Ivan.
Jan Rehola (PS Legal) has added to the discussion and highlighted the fact that the regulation looks good on paper compared to other EU countries and the regulation of online gambling is very complex.
However, when speaking about practice, according to the new law there are 81 licenses which were issued to 41 entities. Meaning that many of these companies own several licenses. When it comes to online, there are 16 licenses from which 8 were issued for online technical games, 3 online sports betting, 3 online lottery and 2 for online live gaming. The concern is that there is only one foreign operator among the licensed companies (PokerStars) and this should change in the future.
Jan also added that he thinks that the issues is “the way how the regulation is interpreted and how the things that are in the regulatory framework are needed to meet by the operators. The licensing procedure is very formal and it’s not substance oriented and for many operators it’s very hard to meet the requirements. There are unique and the operators are not used to having them there. Some of the large operator don’t understand the terms.”
Tal Zamstein (Fortuna Group) has added his view about the market. He highlighted the operations of Fortuna in Czechia and also pointed out the fact that as they operate on several regulated markets in Europe, he can make a good comparison.
Tal pointed out the fact that his company is not challenging the law and that it was a bit difficult at the beginning, but once the audience understood the verification of the players it important and the hard days were over.
Later on he added that his feeling about the current regulatory framework is that “the law is very conservative compared to other jurisdictions and he is not predicting any changes or amendments in the upcoming year.”
The technical requirements for the suppliers was commented by Jakub Kolomicenko (Endorphina), who added that “the biggest issue the suppliers are facing is the limitation of the maximum win”.
He also pointed out that in order to comply with this rule, they have to make the game worse and limit the winnings. Amendments and changes are needed in order to make it attractive for foreign operator, not to mention the hardness of the licensing process.
“The current legislation, from the supplier’s point of view, is that they are not protecting the players, and they are forcing them work from other jurisdictions.”
The audio recording of the panel is available for the registered delegates, who attended the event.
The discussions continued with the second panel which was also moderated by Dr. Joerg Hofmann, who invited Dr. Robert Skalina (WH Partners), Jaka Repansek (Republis Slovenia), Dr. Mag. Klaus Christian Vögl (Fachgruppe Wien der Freizeit- und Sportbetriebe) and Dr. Simon Planzer (PLANZER LAW) to the stage. The second panel discussion focused on the state of the gambling industry in Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and Austria.
The discussion was initiated by Dr. Robert Skalina (WH Partners) who gave presentation about the Slovakian gambling market. He pointed out that some positive changes are expected this year in Slovakia. Many companies are reaching out to the government to ask about licensing after the blacklisting of unlicensed operators started.
“The interesting compare between the Czech and Slovakian market is while both of them are pretty much close for foreign operators on paper and in practice. The only difference is that the Czech law is complaint with EU law and this a general acceptance. The Slovakian law is not considered compliant with EU laws. This is why the Ministry is preparing a new law or amendment to comply. The question is what the basis will be for this new law.”
The discussion continued with Jaka Repansek’s (Republis Slovenia) exciting news about Slovenia who has brought fresh news in regards to the gaming regulation.
It’s about a new amendment which was passed in the government which liberalizes the market with unlimited number of licenses that have some entry criteria. The amendment only tackles the betting sector.
The amendment was vetoed by the Upper Chairman of the Parliament, so the House of Representatives are obligated to pass it again in maximum 30 days.
This is a huge step for the Slovenian market and it might see the end of the monopoly in the country. Most important that it comes during the time of elections.
(The European Gaming Congress which will be held on the 16th of October in Ljubljana is specially designed to also focus on the local market. You can read more about the event here.)
The conversation continued with a report on Austria, by Dr. Mag. Klaus Christian Vögl (Fachgruppe Wien der Freizeit- und Sportbetriebe) who said that he could not recommend applying for a gambling license in Vienna or almost anywhere else in Austria. The demand is high, however the commercial gambling operation laws are so restrictive that you can’t obtain a license.
Dr. Mag. Vögl also added that he receives questions about the market daily, but “To be honest, I must tell people, please forget about this in Austria. Open a sports business, or become a tour guide.”
Dr. Simon Planzer (PLANZER LAW) continued the conversation and gave the insights of the Swiss gambling market, which is currently at an important turning point.
He started mentioning the fact that, Switzerland is a country takes pride in modern democracy and according to their laws, any law passed by Parliament can be challenged by the people in collecting signatures against it. This is because the ultimate legislator in Switzerland is not the Parliament, it’s the voters.
He was referencing about the gaming act which was passed in October 2017 by the Swiss Parliament and was challenged by the people. Thus, the coming into force of this act will be decided by referendum on the 10th of June by the voters. Either the results, it will be a vote of major significance for the online gambling market.
The audio recording of the panel is available for the registered delegates, who attended the event.
“One of the rare moment where you can discuss about Regulation in Eastern part of Europe.“
Catherine CHAUVIN – Area manager at PMU
“This event is characterised by a very personal atmosphere. Always worth to attend.“
Dr. Joerg Hofmann – Senior Partner MELCHERS law firm and former President of IMGL
The event continued with the first networking break of day, during which all delegates engaged into discussions and enjoyed a 30 minutes break from learning.
The 3rd panel of the day focused on the gambling industry in Poland and Bogdan Coman (ROMBET) has managed to get all the insights from Piotr Dynowski (Bird&Bird), Zdenek Lang (Superbet Poland) and Kamil Popiołek (Kancelaria Popiolek).
The panel discussion highlighted the most important challenges operators are facing when entering the market.
The audio recording of the panel is available for the registered delegates, who attended the event.
“Prague Gaming Summit always provides an interesting insight into the gaming licensing submissions, how the situation is now and what to expect for the future. Dynamic, interesting, rewarding and the most important ‘not heavy to digest’ ;). Thanks to all the assistances for the great contributions and of course to Zoltan for the awesome organization and care. Really worth to attend!“
Juan Martin – Sales Manager at Greentube Internet Entertainment Solutions GmbH
The panel was followed by a Complimentary Networking Lunch which was sponsored by PLANZER LAW.
All delegates got the chance to take a one hour break from the learning and enjoy a selected meal while also keeping up with the information shared by attending delegates.
The second part of the day started with the “Innovation Talks Live” panel, which focused on the role of cryptocurrency in the gambling industry and was moderated by Konrad Gill (ViARSys & iGamingRadio)
The panel was shared by Tom Light (SBTech), who started with a clear presentation of understanding what the role of Bitcoin is in the online gambling industry and continued with a shared discussion among the panelist, Max Krupyshev(Cubits) and Bernhard Blaha (Herocoin.io & Herosphere.gg).
The very informative panel which highlighted some important aspects of smart contracts and the use of cryptocurrencies in the gambling industry was follow by a short “fire side” discussion between Dan Illiovici (President of the National Gambling Office, Romania) and Dr. Simon Planzer (PLANZER LAW).
The short panel focused on an important topic, which was titled as “How NOT to do it – Avoiding regulatory failure”
Dan Iliovici pointed out that there are many lessons to be learned from national efforts to regulate gaming, in Europe and beyond. All too often, similar mistakes happen along the road. The session pointed out some of the major legislative and regulatory mistakes the regulators often make.
As most of the regulatory related panels have been exhausted, the education continued with a panel dedicated to Conversion and Retention which was titled “From Conversion to Retention – how do you make a successful gaming operation profit”
The panel was moderated by Tal Itzhak Ron (Tal Ron, Drihem and Co. Law Firm), who was joined by Quirino Mancini (Tonucci & Partners), Jon Peters (Theomobex), Tal Miller (Fibonatix).
Tal Itzhak Ron (Tal Ron, Drihem and Co. Law Firm) also moderated the “Effective Marketing and Communications in the Sports Betting Industry” panel discussion where he has invited marketing and communication experts Michal Shinitzky (Pangea Localization Services), Assaf Stieglitz (odds1x2.com), Tom Light (SBTech) on stage.
The panelists emphasized on the fact that it is vital that all marketing campaigns need to be clear, fair and most important optimized with localization.
“We had a great time at the Prague Gaming Summit! Not only were the discussions very insightful and informative, the schedule was always on point. There were no delays, they were right on time and the sponsors were at the top of their game. We would definitely consider attending the next one!“
Michal Shinitzky – Managing Director at Pangea Localization Services
The agenda continued with the final Networking Break of the day and has finalized with the awaited panel which discussed Responsible Gambling, AML and Gambling Licensing Procedures in the European Union.
The panel was moderated by Pieter Remmers (Assissa), who has unparalleled knowledge of Responsible Gambling implementation and was joined by expert speakers Martin Arendts (ARENDTS ANWÄLTE), Alex Henderson (The Ritz Hotel Casino London), Dan Iliovici(Romanian National Gambling Office – ONJN) and Tom Edmonds (Harris Hagan).
The discussion pointed out some of the main challenges companies are facing when combating AML and also trying to keep track of their Responsible Gambling Programs.
The event finalized at 18:00 and it was declared and the delegates have managed to gain access to quality content which focused on compliance, marketing and responsible gambling.
However, the program wasn’t over at 18:00 as the delegates were invited to join a final networking session, “The Official Networking Party”.
The networking party was held at one of the most popular venue Prague has to offer, NEBE Kremencova, where delegates got the chance to engage in a final networking session in a much more relaxed manner. Not to mention, enjoyed some of the finest beer in the world.
“Prague Gaming Summit 2018 was an excellent event with renowned speakers, interesting content and an impressive number of delegates who represented variety of industry players. There were lots of networking opportunities, both during formal and informal parts of the conference. I am already looking forward to the next year event in which I will surely participate.”
Bartosz Andruszaniec – Legal Advisor at RM Legal Kancelaria Radców Prawnych
The organizing team would like to once again thank each delegate for attending the second edition of Prague Gaming Summit and would also like to let you know that based on the feedback received from the event survey, preparations for Prague Gaming Summit 2019 are already under way.
Make sure you follow the social media channels of Prague Gaming Summit and European Gaming Media to get the latest information about upcoming events and announcements.
- Prague Gaming Summit on Twitter
- Prague Gaming Summit on Facebook
- Prague Gaming Summit on LinkedIn
- European Gaming Events on Twitter
- European Gaming Events on Facebook
- European Gaming Events on LinkedIn
Source: European Gaming News
European Gaming News
Could the Gambling Commission ban wagering requirements?
Wagering requirements; whether you love them or hate them, with the Gambling Review well underway, there’s never been a better time to debate if they still have a place in modern gambling and whether the upcoming review will ban them once and for all. But first, let’s look at their development and why they are a contentious issue in the industry.
What are wagering requirements?
Wagering requirements are a common term and condition attached to a bonus that prevents players from taking a promotion and withdrawing it immediately. They are applied differently by each gambling brand. Some, like PlayOJO, Paddy Power, MrQ and Betfair, have revolutionised the casino scene by offering no wagering bonuses. In contrast, others take the predatory route and list bonuses with up to 100x requirements (the average is around 30x).
The requirement is the amount a player must wager at the casino before any winnings made with a bonus are valid for withdrawal. In the case of a £100 bonus, a 30x requirement would mean a player must wager a total of 100×30=£3,000 before they could withdraw any winnings. Most players would easily decimate their winnings before fulfilling the condition and, as most bonuses expire within 7-14 days, may well be forced to play for periods, or at times, they otherwise might not.
Why do wagering requirements exist?
In the early days of online casinos, bonus hunting among players became widely popular. It led to forums where players shared information on where and how to profit from the best welcome bonuses, earning money from the available offers available and never playing at a site again.
As casinos began to notice players taking bonuses and withdrawing without using them fairly, they combatted the practice with wagering requirements and other terms, such as the ability to withdraw a bonus and any winnings made if an account was suspect of this activity.
However, with no limits or official licensing rules to regulate wagering requirements at that time, things soon got out of hand as operators set high limits that were and still are unattainable to most players. Additionally, in many cases, the terms and conditions were not clearly displayed or explained, leading to the confiscation of bonuses and winnings without players understanding how or why they’d fallen foul of the casino’s rules.
Wagering requirements under fire with UKGC
By 2014, and following a flood of player complaints, the Gambling Commission weighed in, creating the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act which prescribed operators were to advertise their bonus terms and conditions clearly and explain them to players. This led to some reducing their requirements to more feasible levels. However, not all operators followed suit, hence why we’re still discussing wagering requirements today.
More recently, in February 2022, the UKGC set its sights on reforming wagering requirements again, issuing new guidance regarding fair and transparent terms and practices, which acknowledged that wagering requirements could lead to excessive play, not in line with social responsibility rules for operators.
The new guidance rules cited that licensees used potentially unfair terms, with examples including:
- “terms that allow licensees to confiscate customers’ un-staked deposits
- terms regarding treatment of customers’ funds where a licensee believes there has been illegal, irregular or fraudulent play
- promotions for online games that have terms entitling a licensee to void real money winnings if a customer inadvertently breaks staking rules
- terms that unfairly permit licensees to reduce potential winnings on open bets.”
It also stated that the Commission was aware of:
- “terms and conditions that are difficult to understand
- welcome bonus offers and wagering requirements which may encourage excessive play.”
While the guidance did not contain rules for abolishing or limiting wagering requirements, they instructed licensees to review their terms and conditions to ensure they fit consumer protection laws and that; “The LCCP requires rewards and bonuses to be constructed in a way that is socially responsible. Although it is common practice to attach terms and conditions to bonus offers, the Commission does not expect conditions, such as wagering requirements, to encourage excessive play.”
Will wagering requirements be banned?
With the Gambling Review white paper currently overdue and keenly expected by all industry stakeholders, many wonder if it will cover wagering requirements or, more specifically, exclude them from casino practice. The Gambling Review aims to update the 2005 Gambling Act, fit for the modern age, and wagering requirements would undoubtedly slot into the remit of what’s being discussed, which includes greater player protections and affordability checks.
While it’s clear that some big-name operators and affiliates like No Wagering are pioneering the way in bringing zero wagering bonuses to players, many sites have not followed suit. This is despite clear evidence that players favour fairer bonuses (PlayOJO is one of 39 brands operated by the same parent company, it is the only one with zero requirements, and it’s the most successful of all, according to the company).
Realistically, we’re not sure that the new gambling regulations will ban wagering requirements completely (as we covered earlier, they do exist for a reason), but it certainly wouldn’t be beyond the imagination for there to be a maximum cap applied in the view that excessive requirements equate to excessive play.
What’s next for operators and bonuses if wagering requirements are banned?
Bonuses are one of the most important factors for players in picking between casino sites, and they make players feel lucky to score something for free straight off the bat (even if the wagering requirements mean this is not really the case).
If wagering requirements are banned, operators unwilling to offer bonuses without wagering requirements will have to return to the drawing board and reimagine rewards, especially welcome offers. Alternatively, they could begin competing based on other USPs, such as focusing more on the casino product to pull in the punters by offering unique games, making space for indie developers, having instant withdrawals, or gamified loyalty benefits and better loyalty clubs.
Moreover, it would present a fantastic opportunity for remote operators to move away from the tired system of matched deposit bonuses towards more exciting and fresher ideas like promo wheel spins, mystery gifts on first deposits, prize draws and so on. With brands including PlayOJO, Paddy Power, MrQ and Betfair already doing this, operators do not lack a blueprint to success, just the gumption to embrace a new model.
Bulgaria
Betway Bulgaria officially launches, offers live and bet-builder options
Another company has officially launched its activities in the growing niche of online betting in Bulgaria. But here we are not just talking about another operator licensed by national institutions, but about a leading brand worldwide. Betway is one of the largest bookmakers in Europe and globally, and the fact that it already offers its services in Bulgaria speaks positively about the development of the gambling business in the country.
Indications of an increase in the size of the industry appeared last year, when several operators received a permit to operate under Bulgarian jurisdiction. It is unlikely that this process will end with the official launch of betway bulgaria, rather the brand entering the country can be perceived by international operators as a positive assessment of the market in Bulgaria. What can we find at Betway besides the obvious – increased competition and of course more choice for consumers?
What do we find in the sports section?
Sports betting – this is the leading sector of the company, which started operations in 2006. The brand is associated with a number of teams in Europe such as Tottenham, Atletico Madrid, Leicester, Alaves, Belenenses, Werder, etc. Of course, the top championships in Europe are present in the latest betting platform, but that’s not all. Betway offers the opportunity to make predictions at less popular UEFA championships. The fans of the Bulgarian championship have options too. All matches of the First League are present in the bookmaker’s menu, and are offered with dozens of choices for each of them.
Real-time bets and long-term combinations
Live bets are a big thrill for many players. This option is present at Betway, and this also applies to the mobile version, of course. It is not difficult to detect current events – they come first when loading the platform. And with them the bookmaker really comes up with interesting offers, some of which are rare on the Bulgarian market. The outcome of the bets become clear in literally seconds if the next goal market or one of the performance options is selected.
In addition, the company accepts predictions with a much longer horizon. It is now standard to bet on who will be the champion in England, Spain, Italy or Germany. However, there are also specific markets and selections for certain teams – will Barcelona take the trophy this season, will Liverpool reach the final in at least one of the tournaments in which it participates, etc. And if users don’t find what they’re looking for in these offers, they can always turn to the betting menu. The bet-builder is still limited to one match, from which we can choose two or more selections until the desired odds are formed. This is the most appropriate way to optimize the bet according to personal preferences and therefore it is increasingly preferred by the players.
Betway’s first steps on the Bulgarian market are impressive. And this is just the beginning, we can expect even more in the near future.
European Gaming News
EveryMatrix inks RGS Matrix agreement with Wild Boars
EveryMatrix announces the second RGS Matrix partnership with Wild Boars, newly launched gaming studio that aims to bring creative storytelling and a fresh feel to the gaming industry.
Launched in 2019 as EveryMatrix sixth standalone solution, RGS Matrix enables gaming development teams to distribute, manage, and report upon a proprietary game product portfolio.
This ‘out of the box’ remote gaming server was built on an open architecture and caters for outstanding player experience, consistent deployment, and quicker content integration.
Mathias Larsson, Managing Director of RGS Matrix, says: “This is our second RGS Matrix agreement and it brings me a lot of joy to know that our solution starts gaining momentum in the market. Our remote gaming server aims to help the new generation of game builders by providing all the means to create, design, distribute and manage games.
“The team of Wild Boars is experienced, skilled and highly creative. I am looking forward to seeing their games live and appreciated by players in many countries.”
Oleksandr Yermolaiev, Managing Director of Wild Boars, comments: “We truly believe that choosing a right partner is crucial for success. For us, RGS Matrix and its remarkable team is just that partner. We are excited to use EveryMatrix solution, focus on what we do best and bring our innovative games to a wide range of operators, territories and players. RGS Matrix is dashing ahead and we are happy to join the ride.”
RGS Matrix powers slots and table games, and is currently certified for Malta, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, Spain, Denmark, Romania, and Colombia, with many jurisdictions to come in the upcoming years.
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