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Slovakia: How iGaming sites can build traffic

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Are the Slovaks about to liberalize their iGaming market? Is it worth it to wait for any new laws? This deep-dive into the Slovak market takes a closer look at the reality on the ground and how you can profit from it.

This year in May, the Slovak government announced a planned liberalization of its restrictive iGaming laws.
This change would abolish the current state-owned monopoly on online casinos and it is hoped it will attract foreign operators. The plan is still in its early stages, but the detail released so far suggests the change will come into force in 2019, with a planned 23% tax on revenue.

What this deep dive will cover

We will go behind the headlines and cover the current market situation in Slovakia as it really is.

From the domestic players, to international operators, to the best-performing affiliates, you will see who is making money in the Slovak market right now.

We are also going to look at potential marketing strategies for those who want to build traffic from Slovakia.

Who this deep dive is for

If you are an operator who is considering applying for a licence, then you should read this.

If you are an operator or affiliate who has been scared away from the Slovak market by news reports of IP-blocks, payment processor bans, and €500,000 fines, then you should definitely read this.

But first a legal disclaimer

I am just a Slovak-speaking iGaming/marketing geek and not a lawyer, so none of the information below should be seen as legal advice—it isn’t. These are just my observations on Slovakia and iGaming.

Make sure to get proper legal advice before entering any grey market like Slovakia, Czech Republic or Hungary.

The legal situation today (June 2018)

Only the state-owned monopoly Tipos is permitted to run an online casino, which it does alongside a sportsbook and a lottery product.

Operators with a land-based betting business may also run online sportsbooks, and there are a number of Slovak and Czech betting firms which offer this. These firms currently pay a 27% tax on revenue.

Foreign firms who market to Slovak residents without a licence are named on a blacklist published by the Slovak Ministry of Finance. The list is updated every Monday and can be found here.

The current blacklist is a mixed bag of household names (William Hill, Bet365, Bwin), smaller operators based in the likes of Curacao, and a few affiliates.

As of June 2018, some of the names still on the list have removed any Slovak language options on their site, and yet they still appear there. The blacklist seems to be like the Hotel California—you may check in, but you may never leave.

If the firms do not shut down their websites to Slovak visitors within 10 days of going on the blacklist, Slovak Internet Service Providers (ISPs) must IP-block the website from Slovakia. However, all my technical tests show it is possible to access all the sites on the list while based in Slovakia.

The blacklist also contains IBAN details for each operator. Although there have been some public threats to stop Slovak payment processors from sending payments to these companies, I haven’t heard of this ever happening.

Indeed, there is no mention of any payments ban on the current version of the list.

The Slovak Ministry of Finance also threatens to issue fines to persistent offenders. There is a potential fine of €500,000 for operators and €250,000 for advertisers/affiliates.

Again, we haven’t heard of such fines being either issued or paid. Considering that the Dutch have failed to collect any fines since 2015, it’s probably safe to assume that no international operators have ever paid any Slovak fines.

Proposed changes to the law (by 2019)

The Ministry of Finance has recently proposed ending the state monopoly on online casinos, allowing domestic and foreign firms to seek a licence in the country.

The new proposed tax rate is 23% on revenue. This tax rate might tempt more applications for a licence than the Czech Republic did in 2017 with a 35% tax rate on revenue.

An important note on political risks to new gambling legislation

In general, Slovak political parties see anti-gambling laws as a big vote-winner.

In a further complication, Slovakia has a slightly unstable political climate, with coalition governments ruling almost exclusively since independence. These coalitions of two, three, four or more parties, all with different outlooks on gambling, mean that it’s very difficult to predict what the next government will actually do.

A perfect example of this instability is the recent disagreement between the Bratislava city council and the Bratislava regional government on the subject of banning land-based gambling in the Slovak capital. The next Slovak parliamentary election is due in 2020.

Frankly, basing an iGaming strategy on this proposed law being passed and then staying in place for more than a few months, is highly risky.

The iGaming market in Slovakia today

If you choose to enter this market, you should know what the current landscape looks like, particularly with regards to who the established competition is.

Apart from the state monopoly (Tipos), there are several betting operators with a physical presence in the country, who have a licence to also market a website to Slovak customers.

On top of this, there are plenty of international operators who continue to offer their sites in the Slovak language, including some big names.

Below are the main domestic, government-approved players with sites in the Slovak language.

– Tipos.sk – this is the state-owned monopoly, offering sportsbook, casino and lottery games. The betting odds are reasonably in line with the international market, but as the only licenced company offering online casino in the country, the selection of slot games looks dated and limited.
– iFortuna.sk – offering sportsbook only, this is the online version of a Czech gaming group which has land-based betting shops in Slovakia.
– Nike.sk – offering sportsbook only, the online version of a Slovak gaming group which has land-based betting shops in Slovakia.
– Tipsport.sk – Slovak sportsbook
– Doxxbet.sk – Slovak sportsbook, who also have sites in other countries e.g. Nigeria

On top of these domestic players, there are plenty of international operators which currently offer services in the Slovak language:

– bet365.com (licensed in Gibraltar and soon Malta, offering sportsbook & casino – they are currently on the blacklist)
– kajot-casino.com (licensed in Malta, casino only, currently on the blacklist)
– vulkanbet.com (licensed in Malta, sportsbook & casino, NOT mentioned on the blacklist)
– 1xslot.com (licensed in Cyprus, casino only)
– bohemiacasino.com (licensed in Malta, casino only, NOT mentioned on the blacklist)
– slotv.com (licensed in Cyprus, casino only)

Due to the similarities between Czech and Slovak, it’s easy for Slovak customers to read and speak the Czech language, making websites offering support in Czech a possible option for these customers.

Lots of international sites were scared off the Czech market, but a few still offer this language option, and presumably are of interest to Slovak customers.

Here are a couple you should be aware of: williamhill.com (licensed in Gibraltar, sportsbook & casino); ceskecasino.com (licensed in Curacao, casino only)

Affiliates offering content in the Slovak language

Of course, affiliates also play a key role in Slovakia. Here are the top 5 performing affiliate sites for the Slovak market: mistrcasino.cz; casino-online-sk.com (included on the blacklist); kasino-online-sk.com (included on the blacklist); najlepsiecasino.com; casino-hry.sk.
It’s interesting to note that none of these top-performing affiliates are working with any of the government-approved Slovak-based operators.

 

Written by: Ivana Flynn for Calvinayre.com. Ivana is a Malta-based SEO Consultant dedicated to helping iGaming operators and affiliates improve their organic search rankings. Her biggest professional passion is using SEO to break into new and tricky markets. In her spare time, she bakes, works out and plays with her cats.

 

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

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S8UL Makes History at the Esports Awards 2025, Becomes First Indian Organisation to Win Two Major Honours

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S8UL wins Esports Content Group of the Year for the fourth time, Animesh “8Bit Thug” Agarwal crowned Esports Personality of the Year at the Oscars of gaming

S8UL Esports, India’s trailblazing force in gaming and creator-led entertainment, delivered a landmark moment at the Esports Awards 2025 in Las Vegas. The organisation celebrated a remarkable double win, lifting the Esports Content Group of the Year award for the fourth time, while Co-Founder Animesh “8Bit Thug” Agarwal was honoured as Esports Personality of the Year. The night became even more memorable as S8UL emerged as the first and only Indian organisation to win two separate titles at the Esports Awards, a milestone shaped by the team’s heart, dedication, and years of passion.

Often called the Oscars of the gaming world, the Esports Awards shine a spotlight on the finest global talent every year. For India, S8UL’s double win comes during a remarkable season in which the organisation also competed at the Esports World Cup, standing alongside some of the world’s most premier teams and creators while representing the country on one of esports’ biggest international stages. Winning Content Group of the Year again, in a category stacked with giants like T1, Sentinels, Team Liquid, and Fnatic, reinforces S8UL’s global standing and the strength of its storytelling, creativity, and community-first approach.

This year also marked a proud moment for Indian creators who featured among some of the world’s most competitive categories. Payal Dhare, widely known as Payal Gaming, was nominated for Streamer of the Year. She stood alongside some of the biggest names in global streaming including Kai Cenat, Marc “Caedrel” Lamont, Morgan “AngryGinge” Burtwistle, Felix “xQc” Lengyel, Nicholas “Jynxzi” Stewart, and Nick “Lacy” Fosco. The award was ultimately won by Darren “IShowSpeed” Watkins Jr, yet Payal’s presence in a lineup of this scale reflects the growing global footprint of Indian creators and the doors they continue to open. Snax also continued to represent India’s creator and competitive community across the year, contributing to S8UL’s global presence including its run at the Esports World Cup, where the organisation competed in some of the most challenging lineups internationally.

Raj Varma carried the Indian flag into the Esports Content Creator of the Year category, nominated alongside Marc “Caedrel” Lamont, Cody “Clix” Conrod, Alexandre “gAuLeS” Borba, Tarik “Tarik” Celik, Jack “NiceWigg” Martin, and Mark “Ohnepixel” Zimmermann. The award went to Nicholas “Jynxzi” Stewart, yet Raj’s nomination underscored the rise of Indian storytellers who are now being recognised at the highest level of global esports entertainment.

Reflecting on the landmark night, S8UL’s founders shared their thoughts.

Animesh “8Bit Thug” Agarwal, Co-Founder, S8UL, said, “This year’s esports awards nominations were already huge for us. Back to back nominations told us we were doing something right. But winning Content Group of the year, for the fourth time running, its just wild. Lets take a moment to celebrate the huge moment that it is!  And ‘Esports Personality of the year’, that really is a shared victory! The nights our fans have spent watching us, cheering us and all the votes they cast, together we’ve made this happen. Honestly, if you are a wellwisher of Indian Gaming, its the time to rejoice. Seeing Indian Gaming here, its big. I always knew this can happen, but its surreal when it did. Going back home with so much more determination! “

Naman ‘Mortal’ Mathur, Co-Founder, S8UL, said, “This is a proud moment not just for S8UL, but for India. Year after year, our goal has been to show the world that Indian gaming creators can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best. These wins inspire us to push even harder and continue representing India globally.”

Lokesh “Goldy” Jain, Co-Founder, S8UL, said, “S8UL has always been about building a legacy rooted in creativity, collaboration, and community. Winning two awards tonight is a testament to the relentless efforts of our team and the unwavering love of our fans. We will continue raising the bar for Indian esports and creators worldwide.”

As S8UL celebrates a historic night, the moment stands as another reminder of how far Indian esports has come and where it is headed. With creators, teams, and leadership continuously raising industry benchmarks, S8UL’s journey continues to inspire millions across the country, proving yet again that world-class esports culture can grow from the heart of India’s gaming community.

The post S8UL Makes History at the Esports Awards 2025, Becomes First Indian Organisation to Win Two Major Honours appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Red Bull Solo Legends National Final Set to Make Esports History at the Royal Opera House, Mumbai

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Red Bull Solo Legends is stepping into a new chapter as the tournament’s national finals arrive at the breathtaking Royal Opera House, Mumbai on 2nd December.

For the first time ever, the century-old cultural landmark will host an esports event, bringing competitive gaming into a space that has witnessed some of India’s most celebrated artistic performances.

This is a powerful moment for Indian esports. What began in community rooms, cyber cafés, and online lobbies now enters one of the country’s most majestic stages, celebrating the growth of gaming as a modern cultural force.

The journey to the finals has been equally ambitious. Red Bull Solo Legends is a multi-phase tournament, featuring both online and on-ground stages, uniting tens of thousands of solo BGMI players from every corner of the country. From grassroots talent to seasoned pros, competitors battled through a pure solo queue format, proving their instincts, consistency, and clutch ability. Each round brought them closer to the opportunity of facing India’s top BGMI professionals at the finals. The champion of Red Bull Solo Legends will walk away with the title of India’s strongest solo BGMI player along with an exclusive international Red Bull Racing experience.

With 64 of the country’s finest solo BGMI contenders taking the stage, 32 qualified finalists, 24 top-tier pros, and 8 Chaos Agents, the Royal Opera House will echo with a new kind of intensity.They will compete across 5 matches to determine the first-ever Red Bull Solo Legends champion. As spectators walk in, they’ll be part of a one-of-a-kind atmosphere where strategy, instinct, and pure solo skill unfold inside one of Mumbai’s most exquisite architectural treasures.

Red Bull Solo Legends will feature some of India’s prominent BGMI athletes including Jonathan Amaral (Jonathan Gaming), Tanishk Singh (Admino), Rudra B (Spower), Sahil Jakhar (Omega), Raghuraj Singh (Slug), Mohammed Owais Lakhani (Owais), Sohail Shaikh (Hector), and Paridhi Gupta (Noob Pari) and many more. These players, known for their exceptional skills, will compete against each other, bringing their unique strategies and gameplay styles to the forefront. Esports thrives on pressure, audience energy, and unforgettable moments. The Royal Opera House, known for its grandeur and legacy, offers a stage worthy of the stakes. The contrast is striking in the best way, with ornate balconies and vintage chandeliers watching over India’s sharpest digital athletes as they fight for the title of the country’s strongest solo BGMI player.

Built between 1909 and 1915 and inaugurated by King George V, the Royal Opera House is India’s only surviving opera house, restored lovingly after decades of closure. From theatre to classical music to film screenings, its stage has embraced every form of performance. On 2nd December, it will embrace competitive gaming for the very first time, welcoming India’s esports community into its history.

Red Bull Solo Legends has been created to celebrate individual excellence in BGMI. Every rotation, every fight, every decision rests on the player alone. Hosting the finals in a venue that represents mastery, legacy, and performance adds a rare emotional depth to the competition, turning every clutch into a moment that will be remembered long after the final circle closes.

Tickets will be exclusively live on Swiggy Scenes 21st November onward.

Matches will also be broadcast live on the Red Bull Game On YouTube channel for fans from across the country: youtube.com/@RedBullGameOn

The post Red Bull Solo Legends National Final Set to Make Esports History at the Royal Opera House, Mumbai appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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eGaming Integrity Shortlisted for Tech Supporter of the Year Award

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eGaming Integrity has been shortlisted for the Tech Supporter of the Year award at the Digital Isle Tech Awards 2025, which recognise organisations making a significant contribution to the Island’s technology sector through collaboration, capability-building, and practical support.

eGaming Integrity provides compliance and internal audit services that help digital businesses strengthen their regulatory readiness and operational resilience. Its integrity-as-a-service model combines monitoring tools, risk assessments, and regulatory guidance to support both new and established operators. The firm also contributes to broader industry development by delivering workshops, best-practice resources, and advisory support aimed at helping early-stage and growing companies navigate compliance and security requirements.

Companies working with eGaming Integrity report improvements in governance, data protection, and audit preparedness, along with increased confidence when launching products or expanding into new markets. The firm’s partnerships with accelerators, incubators, and industry bodies have helped foster a more open and collaborative environment across the Island’s tech community.

Emma Shilling, Director of eGaming Integrity, commented: “We’re delighted to be shortlisted. Our focus has always been to support licence-holders and technology businesses in meeting the Island’s high standards. This recognition reflects the hard work of our team, the value of expert led technical solutions and the value of clear, practical guidance for organisations across the sector.”

Public voting for the awards is now open and closes at 2pm on 27 November 2025.

Members of the public can vote by selecting a finalist in each category at: digitalisleofman.com/tech-awards/

Winners will be announced at the Digital Isle 2025 event on 27 November.

 

The post eGaming Integrity Shortlisted for Tech Supporter of the Year Award appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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