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Why the Swiss voted to ban offshore gambling websites
The Swiss people have voted in favour of banning foreign-based gambling sites, which could prompt other countries follow suit As well.
For starters, Switzerland had proposed to ban foreign-based gambling sites with a new Gambling Act. In line with the countries law, a citizens’ referendum was held on June 10, 2018, for its approval or rejection. In the referendum, 72.9 per cent of Swiss voters supported the new gambling law – in other words, an overwhelming majority of the people were with banning offshore gambling websites. As a result, from next year onwards, only Swiss-certified casinos and gambling companies will be able to operate in the country – both offline and online.
Passed on September 29, 2017, the Swiss Money Gaming Act substitutes the existing gambling law which deals with casino games and betting lotteries. Under the new Act, the overall ban on online gambling is abolished. However, the only licensed land-based casinos in Switzerland can run gambling websites for the people in the country. Essentially, the Act bans foreign-based gambling sites.
The government maintains that the Act will help deal with gambling addiction as well as allow taxation on gambling revenues. The taxes collected from gambling revenues will be used for anti-gambling purposes, the government insists. On the other hand, not everyone supports the Act. According to Mobile Casino Hub, the changes introduced by the Act will “censor the internet”.
The Opposition Opines
The Young Liberals, the Green Party, the Pirate Party and the Digitale Gesellschaft all backed a petition for changes in the June referendum. Organisations had 100 days from October 2017 to gather 50,000 signatures, which would allow changing the referendum. Despite that opponents managed to gather all necessary signatures, however, they did not do so in schedule, and so the referendum remained unchanged.
According to the Young Liberals, the Swiss economy will be affected by these changes. In a statement posted on the party’s website, representatives said that the block of foreign sites in favour of domestic companies is not reasonable. Additionally, the freedom of business and information will also be affected after the law is enforced.
Young Liberals criticised the government’s decision, saying they set a “dangerous precedent” which allows for a further limitation of the Internet. All the act does, opposing organisations say, is removing unwanted competition.
In the end, Young Liberals proposed an alternative, which they dubbed a “sensible solution” – foreign-based betting sites should be regulated and subject to taxation.
Enforcement of the Swiss Money Gaming Act
Enforced next year, the law will be one of the most severe laws in Europe. While it will enable online betting, the law will ban all foreign-based gambling sites. The Act introduces other changes in gambling – it changes the legislation of poker tournaments outside casinos and even tackles non-taxable wins from games outside casinos.
Under the Act, small-scale poker tournaments outside of casinos are no longer illegal. However, they will be limited in terms of buyin and amount of participants. Additionally, small-scale poker tournaments are subject to a license.
The most controversial element of the Act—the ban of foreign-based sites—was heavily disputed over the past several months, with opposing organisations saying it puts a limit on the freedom of the Internet and interferes with personal rights. Despite severe criticism, the government maintains that such measures are necessary to protect Swiss players from unregulated gambling on foreign sites.
Help Fight Gambling Addition
Swiss players spend nearly 250 million Swiss francs on unregulated betting sites abroad, paying nothing to the Swiss government. With the enforcement of the Act in 2019, this “hemorrhaging” will be stopped. The government has said that not only will taxes from gambling revenues be used for anti-gambling purposes, but they also will be used to fund anti-addiction programmes.
Will Other Countries Follow Suit?
An important question emerges after the Swiss decision to ban foreign-based gambling sites – will other countries follow suit?
Currently, the UK government is trying to deal with problem gambling. Despite that UK has a self-exclusion scheme; it has been failing for years due to the liberal gambling market, which allows all sorts of gambling operators to offer services on UK ground.
Nevertheless, Norway is currently pushing for a ban on all foreign-based gaming companies. Several Norway organisations pushed for legislation that will block foreign betting operators, grant extended authority to the Lottery Authority, etc.
Essentially, these measures will block all sites belonging to foreign-based operators, creating a poker ban (Norsk Tipping—Norway’s national lottery and future gambling monopoly—does not offer poker). The proposed measures were accepted on May 7, 2018, and are likely to be adopted soon.
Source: techfinancials.co.za
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network

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Paysecure wins “Best Online Payment Service 2025” at SiGMA Americas Awards
Paysecure has been named Best Online Payment Service 2025 at SiGMA Americas Awards, held during the opening night of the SiGMA Americas event at the Transamerica Expo Center in São Paulo.
The awards ceremony, hosted by BetConstruct and held on April 7th, brought together leading names in the iGaming, fintech, and digital payments industries to celebrate excellence and innovation. The Best Online Payment Service award, presented in association with Megaposta, recognized companies offering outstanding online payment infrastructure. Paysecure was selected among strong contenders including Online IPS, Nuvei, Payment.Center, and Payku.
Paysecure’s solutions include its unified payments hub, designed to simplify operations for merchants in various sectors, Host-2-Host integrations, cashier services, and plug-in modules for seamless deployment on external platforms. With PCI DSS certification, a focus on 360-degree user trust, and advanced tech capabilities, Paysecure empowers merchants to optimize their payment operations with full control and transparency.
“This award is a testament to our mission: delivering payment technology that is smart, secure, and scalable”, said Viktoriia Degtiarova, Co-founder and CCO of Paysecure, who attended the ceremony alongside Sridhar Sethuraman, Co-founder and COO.
“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized at SiGMA Americas, especially amongst such outstanding peers.”
This year, Paysecure exhibited at Booth N115, showcasing its orchestration platform, global PSP coverage, and market-specific solutions tailored for LATAM and beyond. To learn more about Paysecure and its payment orchestration platform, contact the team at: paysecure.net/contact-us/
The post Paysecure wins “Best Online Payment Service 2025” at SiGMA Americas Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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ACR POKER’S NEXT HIGH STAKES ADVENTURE TAKES PLAYERS TO MONTENEGRO FOR PRESTIGIOUS SUPER HIGH ROLLER SERIES
Two $110,000+ Montenegro packages available during ACR Poker’s Main Satellite on Sunday, April 27th
The next chapter of ACR Poker’s High Stakes Adventure is taking shape. Two players are set to win their way to stunning Montenegro in Southeast Europe to compete against top poker pros and high stakes legends for huge prizes during the prestigious Super High Roller Series, scheduled for May 13th to 27th.
Through ACR Poker’s Main Satellite on Sunday, April 27th at 2:05pm ET, the High Stakes Adventure: Montenegro is guaranteeing two all-inclusive packages, each covering $110,000 in tournament buy-ins / entry fees, plus added business-class airfare, and a 5-night stay at the luxurious Maestral Resort & Casino.
“The High Stakes Adventure is all about creating opportunities for players to escape the ordinary and play alongside poker’s elite in incredible destinations,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. “I can still feel the energy from my deep run in Montenegro last year, and I’ve got a good feeling this event is going to be just as unforgettable. If you missed your chance to win a South Korea package earlier this year, this is your chance to get in the game.”
Moneymaker is no stranger to the high-stakes scene in Montenegro, having won last year’s Triton Poker Super High Roller Series $25,000 buy-in event for $903,000. Meanwhile, fellow ACR Pro Nacho Barbero also made waves this year during the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Jeju, finishing 7th in the $100,000 buy-in Main Event, earning $946,000, plus cashing in four other events.
The High Stakes Adventure: Montenegro package winners will have the flexibility to split their $110,000 buy-in budget across multiple events or go all-in on a single high-stakes tourney. Off the felt, players can look forward to exploring Montenegro’s rich history, stunning landscapes and vibrant culture.
This latest satellite follows the success of ACR Poker’s High Stakes Adventure: South Korea earlier this year, where two $110,000 packages were awarded to players for the Super High Roller Series Jeju. Players looking to follow in their footsteps and compete for the Montenegro packages can buy into the Main Satellite for $2,650 or qualify for less through satellites running on ACR Poker this month.
For more details on the High Stakes Adventure: Montenegro, visit the promo page at ACRPoker.eu.
The post ACR POKER’S NEXT HIGH STAKES ADVENTURE TAKES PLAYERS TO MONTENEGRO FOR PRESTIGIOUS SUPER HIGH ROLLER SERIES appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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BetBrothers Introduces Platform Dedicated to Safer Betting in Regulated Markets
BetBrothers announced the launch of its affiliate marketing platform, dedicated to providing detailed information and analysis of regulated sports betting operators. With the core mission of “Connecting Players with Safer Bets,” it will focus on developing and managing affiliate websites within regulated markets, starting with Spain and Greece.
BetBrothers sets itself apart by partnering exclusively with operators who hold valid licenses within these jurisdictions. This strategy ensures full compliance and promotes a safer betting environment for players.
“Licensing isn’t just a checkbox for us. It’s a baseline. By working only with licensed partners in each market, we not only ensure compliance. We’re taking an active role in promoting a safer betting environment and a player-friendly iGaming ecosystem,” said Borja Imbergamo, Head of Growth & Strategy at BetBrothers. “We are confident that this dedicated approach will resonate with both players and operators who value fair play and responsible experience.”
The platform is founded and managed by a team of seasoned professionals with deep expertise in sports betting, affiliate marketing, and product development. The team behind BetBrothers has 25 years of combined experience in the industry.
BetBrothers content strategy is centered around providing players with clear and reliable insights in sports betting operators and their offerings. The team aims to become a compass for players, guiding them towards betting options offered by reputable and licensed brands. This player-first approach prioritizes user safety and promotes sports betting as an enjoyable form of entertainment.
Imbergamo added, “We established BetBrothers with a clear vision. To build a trustworthy bridge between players seeking entertainment and operators committed to the highest standards of user safety and regulation. We believe that the future of affiliate marketing in this industry lies in responsibility, transparency, and a commitment to safer betting experience.”
BetBrothers adopts a strong product-centric approach. The brand’s strategy goes beyond typical formats, building features and content that are engaging and useful for the players. This commitment to product innovation aims to significantly improve the user experience and offer more than just basic operator reviews. In addition to editorials, BetBrothers will also incorporate user-generated content to highlight real player experiences. This blend of expert-driven analysis and player feedback will provide a more well-rounded view of the betting market.
The brand aims to become an authority for responsible affiliate marketing. Offering valuable resources for players to help them make informed choices while delivering high-quality, compliant traffic to its operator partners. BetBrothers team plans a steady expansion into other regulated markets in the near future.
About BetBrothers:
BetBrothers is an affiliate marketing platform operating in the sports betting industry. Founded by seasoned industry professionals, its core mission is “Connecting Players with Safer Bets.” The platform builds and manages affiliate websites that exclusively promote licensed operators within regulated markets. BetBrothers is committed to responsible gambling, transparency, compliance, and creating a safer online betting environment for players.
The post BetBrothers Introduces Platform Dedicated to Safer Betting in Regulated Markets appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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