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China cracks down private gambling in WeChat groups during World Cup

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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

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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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MSSA CONFIRMS ITS ENTRY TO WEC25

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Mind Sports South Africa’s President, Colin Webster, today confirmed that MSSA has entered International Esports Federation’s (IESF) 17th World Championships which is to be known as WEC25.MSSA has been a staunch, and loyal member, of IESF since 2009, and has participated in every single IESF World Championship since 2009.

MSSA has always advocated greater inclusion of events for females at such World Championships. With Colin Webster having served on IESF’s Board from 2013 to 2020, the number of events specifically for females has grown in number. It was in 2018 that South Africa fielded the first all female Counter-Strike team at IESF’s 10th World Championships – an act which many see as a forerunner of IESF implementing an all female Counter-Strike event at its 14th World Championships.

It is therefore not surprising that MSSA has thus entered all IESF esports titles on offer at IESF’s 17th World Championships – especially the female events.

The esports titles entered by MSSA are:

  • Counter-Strike 2 (open)
  • Counter-Strike 2 (female)
  • DOTA 2 (open)
  • eFootball (Open)
  • Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (open)
  • Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (female)
  • PUBG mobile (open)0

Colin Webster stated, “This is the largest entry that South Africa has ever made, and MSSA is confident that the 2025 Protea Team will be the strongest team ever to represent South Africa as the Protea Team’.

Colin then added, “The teams that attended both AEC24 and WEC24 have left solid foundations on which to build. MSSA is thus excited to see the performance of the teams that will be selected in March 2025 to represent South Africa”.

The post MSSA CONFIRMS ITS ENTRY TO WEC25 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Groove Prepares to Celebrate a Decade of Innovation at ICE Barcelona 2025

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2025 marks a major milestone for Groove as it prepares to celebrate its first decade of shaping platform and aggregation technology in the iGaming industry. With ICE Barcelona 2025 as the official start of this celebratory year, Groove is ready to showcase its journey of success, technological innovation, and unwavering commitment to empowering operators worldwide.

As the team gears up for ICE Barcelona next week, the excitement is palpable and Groove is gearing up for a second decade of success. Celebrate Groove’s decade of excellence at ICE Barcelona 2025 and witness the beginning of a new era in iGaming innovation.

Since its inception, Groove has revolutionised the iGaming space with its powerful aggregation platform, offering an unparalleled selection of over 15,000 titles and cutting-edge tools designed to drive operator success. From pioneering back-office software and service solutions to building partnerships with over 100 top-tier studios, Groove has consistently delivered on its promise to be a pioneering force in iGaming.

As the premier global gaming exhibition, ICE Barcelona serves as the perfect platform for Groove to launch its 10-year celebrations. Groove’s forward-thinking philosophy has been underpinned by a focus on service, adaptability, growth, and collaboration.

By anticipating industry trends and operator needs, Groove has enabled casino managers to stay ahead of the curve in a fiercely competitive market.

Groove’s newest innovations include AI-powered technology and features that enable operators to enter new markets with confidence, backed by Groove’s deep expertise in market-specific solutions.

Yahale Meltzer, COO and co-founder of Groove, shared his excitement: “Reaching our first decade is a significant milestone. It’s a testament to the hard work, dedication, and innovative spirit of the Groove team and our partners. ICE Barcelona 2025 is the perfect stage to reflect on our journey and set the tone for the rest of this seminal year.”

From its modest beginnings to becoming a global player, Groove’s achievements over the past decade include empowering over 100 operators, driving innovation in every area of platform technology and best-in-class B2B service.

The company’s consistent growth is a result of its focus on collaboration, whether through partnerships with emerging studios like Speedy Tomatoes or its engagement with established tier-1 industry leaders like Sisal.

Groove invites partners, operators, and innovators to join in the celebrations and explore the solutions that have defined its success. “Together, we’ve accomplished so much, but the best is yet to come,” added Meltzer.

The post Groove Prepares to Celebrate a Decade of Innovation at ICE Barcelona 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Kambi Group plc repurchase of shares during 15 January – 21 January 2025

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The objective of the Programme is to achieve added value for Kambi´s shareholders and to give the Board increased flexibility with Kambi´s capital structure by reducing the capital. The Programme is being carried out in accordance with the Maltese Companies Act, EU Market Abuse Regulation No 596/2014 (“MAR”) and other applicable rules.

During the Buyback Period, Kambi repurchased a total of 50,000 ordinary shares at a volume-weighted average price of 122.84 SEK. From the beginning of the Programme, which started on 6 November 2024, until and including 21 January 2025, Kambi has repurchased a total of 490,500 ordinary shares at a volume-weighted average price of 107.69 SEK per share.

During the Buyback Period, Kambi has repurchased shares as follows:

Date Aggregated daily
volume (number of
ordinary shares)
Weighted average
share price
per day (SEK)
Total daily
transaction
value (SEK)
15 January 2025 10,000 119.93 1,199,336
16 January 2025 10,000 125.09 1,250,913
17 January 2025 10,000 123.69 1,236,866
20 January 2025 10,000 124.41 1,244,055
21 January 2025 10,000 121.11 1,211,051

All acquisitions have been carried out on Nasdaq First North Growth Market in Stockholm by Carnegie Investment Bank AB on behalf of Kambi. Following the acquisitions and as of 21 January 2025, Kambi’s holding of its own shares amounted to 490,500 and the total number of issued shares in Kambi is 29,903,619 ordinary shares. Under the Programme Kambi is authorised to repurchase a maximum of 3,127,830 ordinary shares, up to a maximum amount of €12.0 million.

The post Kambi Group plc repurchase of shares during 15 January – 21 January 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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