Latest News
China cracks down private gambling in WeChat groups during World Cup
Online gambling was banned by the Chinese government in 2015. But the FIFA World Cup in Russia triggered a sudden growth of online gambling activities, especially in WeChat groups.
The Chinese authorities are cracking down such illegal gambling operations. The government is concerned that online lotteries, driven by profit, may give access to underage teenagers or create other management loopholes, while others complain about the inconvenience of going into a lottery store and said the ban has prompted many to bet in WeChat groups or go to foreign websites.
“Always illegal”
During the World Cup this year, mobile apps and websites selling the lotteries have flourished, with some topping the app store list, including the Tiantianaicaipiao, Renrenzhongcaipiao and Caipiaocaipiao.
After the official clampdown, however, such platforms and those backed by Weibo and Tencent have suspended operations, CNR reported. Many such websites come up with this notice when one tries to log on: “System is under maintenance and upgrade.”
“Purchasing lotteries online has always been illegal. Relatively lax supervision by authorities led to a spike in recent years,” Adrian Geng, the CEO of Sina Caitong, told the Global Times.
Operators are willing to take risks because of the allure of huge profits, Geng added.
In 2015, eight central government agencies banned online lottery, citing risks to buyers’ interests.
Under lottery management rules, no entity shall carry out the business of sale of lottery via internet without the approval of the Ministry of Finance. All sports lottery tickets are sold offline through branches run by the General Administration of Sports.
If lotteries were sold widely online, underage teenagers who are not allowed to bet would get access. Income from online sales cannot be identified at a provincial level as Chinese lottery sales are province-based, Geng explained.
As of June 20, the National Sports Lottery Center suspended thousands of sales terminals involved in online ticket sales in many provinces, Xinhualuncai, a WeChat account specializing in lottery, reported. The number of suspended machines was expected to reach more than 6,000 on June 21, the report said.
Geng said that meeting social responsibility, rather than making money, is the ultimate goal of the National Sports Lottery Center. “That’s why the center wouldn’t use the FIFA World Cup to advertise itself for more revenue.”
Total sales of China’s sports lotteries in the week from June 18 to 24 stood at 11.83 billion yuan ($1.7 billion), while it was only 1.6 billion yuan a week before the World Cup, data released on sporttery.cn, official website of lottery SMG, shows.
Not market-driven
Even though online lottery is banned, Chinese gamblers still have many options to taste the thrill of betting.
Xue, a PhD student based in Shanghai, said that many of his friends use private gambling in WeChat groups, in which one person is the “banker” and provides winning and losing rates.
“Mobile payment on Alipay and WeChat allows us to gamble in private with small amounts of money more conveniently. We don’t have to choose online lottery,” Xue told the Global Times.
“I feel everyone is betting this year during the World Cup. Even many people who don’t watch soccer matches are into it,” he said.
Foreign gambling websites also illegally sneak into the Chinese market in an effort to take a share of the spoils, which results in huge outflow of capital of Chinese citizens, Chen Haiping, a researcher at the Gaming Research Center of China with Beijing Normal University, told the Global Times.
Some stores or groups on platforms such as Taobao, WeChat and QQ have also been found claiming that they are commissioned to sell lottery, according to Nandu Daily.
Lottery is seen as a welfare project in China. Its issuers are not motivated by the market, only routinely raising funds to meet the financing gap of the government for good causes, Chen noted.
But the trend of internet, said Chen, is irresistible and the lottery has already developed into an industry involving tourism, amusement and culture. There has been talk of opening online lottery services inside Chinese government circles in recent years, but since different interest groups are involved, the progress has been slow.
Source: globaltimes.cn
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
Latest News
EveryMatrix Selects Cevro AI to Provide Operators with Fully Integrated empathic AI Support Agents
Reading Time: 2 minutes
A partnership that transforms player support with cutting-edge AI agents purpose-built for iGaming, delivering faster resolutions, personalised experiences, and seamless integration into the EveryMatrix platform at scale.
EveryMatrix today announced a strategic partnership with Cevro AI, the leader in AI agents for iGaming customer support. This collaboration sets a new benchmark for player experience, as operators gain access to advanced generative AI agent systems built and fine-tuned for the iGaming industry capable of resolving complex player support issues with human-level empathy, precision, and speed.
Cevro AI’s agent platform is built on a series of domain-tuned large language models specifically trained on real iGaming workflows, player behaviours, compliance rules, and operator processes. According to the company, this domain focus allows the AI to “be best in class” and “perform like a seasoned support agent that understands players from day one,”
Kevin Furlong, Group CPO, EveryMatrix, said: “We are constantly investing in technology that helps operators grow and scale with confidence. Generative AI is now at a point where it can make a real difference. With Cevro AI, our operators gain intelligent, empathic agents that support players around the clock and drive real business value through deep integration across the EveryMatrix ecosystem.”
With native-level fluency in 100+ languages, Cevro AI autonomously connects to the EveryMatrix Player Account Management (PAM) platform and back-office to take action and instantly process requests, handling withdrawals, deposit issues, bonus requests, and account-related tickets with personalisation and a natural, conversational tone. The Cevro agents are trained with trust-layer controls, ensuring full alignment with responsible gaming (RG), GDPR and operator compliance requirements.
Chaim Heber, CEO of Cevro AI, added: “For us, partnering with EveryMatrix is a significant moment for Cevro AI. It’s proof that empathic AI is ready for the biggest operators in the industry. Our mission is to help brands deliver support that feels human at any scale, and this partnership accelerates that vision in a meaningful way.”
Nige Roberts, Founding Sales Lead at Cevro AI, commented: “Empathic AI is the future of iGaming support. EveryMatrix recognised that instantly. This partnership accelerates that future worldwide.”
The post EveryMatrix Selects Cevro AI to Provide Operators with Fully Integrated empathic AI Support Agents appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
Bet It Drives Season 3 Premiere: Eman Pulis on Legacy, Risk, and Why Rome Changes Everything
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Rome wasn’t built in a day. Neither was SiGMA World.
But when Eman Pulis rolls through the Eternal City in Season 3 of Bet It Drives, he’s not just another iGaming founder with a war story. He’s the gladiator who fought COVID, broken rules, outplayed industry skeptics—and came out building schools in Ethiopia while running eight conferences across three continents.
“Now I’m free,” Eman says, quoting Hans Zimmer’s Gladiator soundtrack—his victory song for after SiGMA Central Europe wrapped and the chaos settled. Free from the rules that almost sank him. Free to build tribes, not just teams. Free to prove that legacy beats profit, every single time.
Season 3 of Bet It Drives, powered by GR8 Tech and hosted by Yevhen Krazhan, CSO, launches where champions are made: on the road, in motion, with no script and nowhere to hide. Rome sets the stage. Eman brings the empire.
In the episode, Eman reveals:
- The COVID gamble that saved SiGMA: How 14,000 people walked through doors that were supposed to stay shut—and why he’d do it again
- Why Rome, why now: The strategy behind planting the flag in Europe’s second-biggest gaming market (and why Malta stays in the picture)
- From beach in Phuket to existential crisis: The moment everything felt too perfect—two weeks before COVID hit
- 350 people, 8 offices, one tribe: How a multicultural team became SiGMA’s secret weapon across Manila, São Paulo, Cyprus, and beyond
- Business is done between people, not brands: The mantra that turned boozy Malta meetups into a global events empire
- Politics or impact? Why helping millions through the foundation beats governing 400,000 people in Malta
- The “zoom out” rule: Crisis survival advice from someone who almost became redundant overnight
“We covered a lot of ground—literally and figuratively,” said Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech and host of Bet It Drives. “And Rome was the perfect place to kick off Season 3. The city represents where the industry is right now—ancient foundations, modern chaos, and endless opportunity.”
Season 3 keeps the momentum rolling with upcoming episodes featuring Valentina Diaco and Karolina Pelc—two more amazing leaders with stories worth hearing.
Watch or listen to Season 3, Episode 1 with Eman Pulis on:
The arena is open. The conversations have started. Season 3 of Bet It Drives is here—and it’s just the beginning.
The post Bet It Drives Season 3 Premiere: Eman Pulis on Legacy, Risk, and Why Rome Changes Everything appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
Logifuture partners with Sportradar as “Zoom Soccer” becomes part of OneFeed offer
Reading Time: < 1 minute
Rising star iGaming supplier Logifuture has partnered with Sportradar to integrate its flagship virtual product, Zoom Soccer, into Sportradar’s innovative OneFeed ecosystem — enhancing its portfolio with a fully immersive, always-on football experience.
Zoom Soccer seamlessly integrates into sportsbooks, delivering a continuous RNG-based feed of ultra-realistic football events 24/7. Sections are always filled with engaging football content, providing operators with a reliable solution during periods when Tier-1 or Tier-2 real football events are scarce or not taking place.
Recreating the world’s most popular leagues — including Zoom EPL, Zoom La Liga, Zoom Serie A & more — the product delivers 30,000+ additional monthly events for players to enjoy. Each match is modelled on real-world team strengths and league dynamics, ensuring authentic, data-driven outcomes that mirror genuine football excitement.
Fully GLI-certified, Zoom Soccer has proven to boost sportsbook turnover by up to 30%, helping operators reduce the volatility of sportsbook revenues and maintain consistent engagement throughout the year.
By joining Sportradar’s OneFeed — a hub that aggregates multiple feed providers into a single plug-and-play solution — Zoom Soccer becomes instantly accessible to Sportradar’s global network of operators, bypassing complex integration processes and accelerating time to market.
Niccolò Cassettari, Chief Business Development Officer at Logifuture, said: “Zoom Soccer is a great addition for Sportradar’s clients, allowing them to deliver engaging football content 24/7. Users are no longer limited by the scarcity of Tier-1 events — we’ve recreated the most popular leagues, ensuring the same betting experience as real matches. All this, powered by RNG logic, helps fight the volatility of sportsbook revenues and ensures steady returns for our partners.
“This integration perfectly aligns with Logifuture’s vision of creating innovative, scalable solutions that keep sportsbooks active around the clock. We’re thrilled to bring Zoom Soccer to Sportradar’s OneFeed and confident it will become a key driver of engagement and growth across multiple markets.”
The post Logifuture partners with Sportradar as “Zoom Soccer” becomes part of OneFeed offer appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
Latest News2 months ago
Announcement: 25th September 2025
-
Latest News3 months ago
GR8 Tech’s Bet It Drives Wraps Season 1 with Stephen Crystal—From Las Vegas Legends to Global Gaming Leadership
-
Latest News3 months ago
AI-Powered Gamification Arrives on Vegangster Platform via Smartico
-
Latest News4 weeks ago
JioBLAST Launches All Stars vs India powered by Campa Energy: A New Era of Creator-Driven Esports Entertainment
-
Latest News2 months ago
The Countdown is On: Less Than 3 Months to Go Until The Games of The Future 2025 Kicks Off in Abu Dhabi
-
Latest News3 months ago
Adidas Arena Set to Welcome the 2026 Six Invitational
-
eSports3 weeks ago
CS:GO Betting Gains Momentum in the iGaming Sector
-
Latest News3 months ago
LiveScore Group announces transformational partnership with X and xAI to drive the future of integrated sports media and betting


You must be logged in to post a comment Login