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Slovakia cracks down illegal gambling
Slovakia’s Financial Administration has carried out the biggest illegal gambling crackdown ever in the country.
The process resulted in the seizing of five so-called quiz machines seised and 75 gaming machines. Subsequently, tax officers confiscated the accounting documents of 14 companies that ran the businesses.
The combing operation was held last month on June 28–29. In the move, 180 comptrollers and custom officers combed approximately 100 gambling facilities across Slovakia.
“It wasn’t an easy action,” said Ľudovít Makó, head of the Financial Administration’s criminal department, as quoted in a press release.
First, the comptrollers had to visit the facilities and try the machines to ascertain whether their use could be deemed as gambling or not.
“In some facilities the gambling machine was turned off during the investigation, while in the others there were missing internet connections and power supplies,” Makó added.
Customs officers subsequently sealed dozens of facilities, while others were secured for further analysis. The Financial Administration will continue with the inspections.
Quiz machines will be checked
Playing the quiz machines is also considered to be a form of gambling as the players need to answer a simple question, according to Imrecze. However, to prove that they are gambling machines the Financial Administration sent them to the Technical Testing Institute for examination.
If it is proven that the quiz machines were used for gambling, the Financial Administration will adopt further steps. The operators of the machines and the facilities where they are placed would be faced with high fines, the SITA newswire reported.
Moreover, there is a suspicion that the operators did not prevent people under the age of 18 or those drawing material need benefits from gambling.
In addition, the quiz machines often have servers situated outside Slovakia. The law on gambling, however, stipulates that the servers need to be located in Slovakia.
Currently, there are about 800 quiz machines. Most are registered in Bratislava, Trnava and Žilina Regions, Makó said, as reported by SITA.
Accounting seised
As part of the operation, the Financial Administration confiscated the accounting books for 2017 and 2018 of four companies operating the quiz machines and the accounting books from 2018 of companies that run the facilities where the machines were located.
Tax officers will now check whether the documents correspond with the data from the servers of the quiz machines’ operators and whether they tried to evade paying VAT and corporate income taxes.
If the Financial Administration reveals any flaws, the operators would face criminal consequences, SITA reported.
More fines issued
The number of fines for gambling operators who violate the law, as well as their amount, increased in 2017 compared with the previous years.
A total of 210 fines amounting to €378,660 in total were imposed in 2017, which is 153 more than in 2016 and 200 more than the year before. As for the amount, the sum increased by €13,680 (or 3.75 per cent) in 2017 compared with 2016, and by €245,460 (or 184 per cent) compared with 2015, the TASR newswire reported.
“We welcome the fact that the state has the ambition to fight illegal gambling but we have to realise that it cannot erase the legal concerns,” said Dominika Lukáčová, spokesperson for the Association of Entertainment and Gambling, as quoted by TASR.
She continued, saying that the illegal market is a result of excessive regulation and prohibition, with the criminal groups one step ahead of the comptrollers. They can even erase the software used in the machines from a distance to avoid fines.
However, legal gambling operators in Slovakia have never used such practices, Lukáčová added.
Source: spectator.sme.sk
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network

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New Title Boosts Player Engagement and Solves Liquidity Challenges with Bitcoin Lightning Network
THNDR, a trailblazer in skill-based peer-to-peer (PvP) gaming solutions, announced the launch of its latest title, Blackjack, now available on its B2B PvP platform. Designed for iGaming operators and aggregators, this classic game with a skilled twist leverages THNDR’s cutting-edge betting liquidity network and instant payment settlements to redefine player engagement, retention, and monetization in the iGaming industry.
Underlying the new Blackjack title, THNDR’s tech addresses long-standing pain points for operators, including player liquidity gaps and slow payout processes. By tapping into THNDR’s cross-operator liquidity network, the game ensures players are matched instantly, eliminating unfilled wagers and keeping the action flowing. Coupled with real-time payouts, operators can offer their players PvP games in any currency while benefiting from behind-the-scenes settlement with zero delays or chargebacks.
“We’re thrilled to bring a skill version of Blackjack to our PvP platform,” said Desiree Dickerson, CEO and Co-Founder of THNDR. “This isn’t just another game, it’s a powerful re-engagement and monetization tool for operators. By blending skill-based competition with our innovative tech, we’re delivering a solution that keeps players engaged longer, boosts retention, and opens access to a broader market of new users.”
Unlike traditional casino-style Blackjack, THNDR’s version rewards strategy and decision-making, appealing to a growing demographic of competitive players seeking more than chance-based entertainment. Early partners include BetOpenly, Speed Wallet, Maincard, Telobet, and more.
For iGaming operators and aggregators, the benefits are clear:
- Instant Liquidity: Players connect across THNDR’s betting network for a nearly 100% match rate.
- Enhanced Monetization: Instant payouts encourage higher spending and user trust.
- User Acquisition: Skill-based games allow licensed operators to reach a wider market.
- Seamless Integration: The platform can be integrated with just a few lines of code and works with any currency.
The post New Title Boosts Player Engagement and Solves Liquidity Challenges with Bitcoin Lightning Network appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Altenar offers sportsbook advice with ‘Behind The Bet’ webinars
Altenar is launching a series of free online webinars with helpful tips and advice for operators to gain a better understanding of how to maximise the potential of their sportsbook.
In the webinars titled ‘Behind The Bet’, experts from across Altenar’s departments will present their thoughts on a range of topics aimed at educating the audience and helping them optimise their sportsbook offering.
As a leading sportsbook provider in regulated markets around the world, Altenar’s products are tailored to the demands of various regions and are developed based on the localised expertise of the team.
Account managers already play an important role in the business development of existing clients but ‘Behind The Bet’ will allow both current and potential customers to improve their understanding of various markets, regulations and sportsbook products.
The webinars will be held in English, Spanish and Portuguese to cater to the needs of a global audience, with the presentations followed by a question-and-answer session.
The first edition of Behind The Bet will focus on one of the hottest topics in the iGaming industry as Altenar’s Head of Licensing and Regulatory Compliance Magno Neiva and Sales Manager Frederico Caputi discuss the legal landscape in Brazil.
Charlie Williams, Commercial Director at Altenar, said: “The newly regulated market has opened up exciting opportunities for iGaming companies, but there are also many regulatory challenges to overcome in order to maximize market potential. Altenar’s success in highly regulated markets across the globe, and in South America, positions us to deliver a flexible range of products and services to help our clients grow in Brazil.”
Magno Neiva, Head of Licensing and Regulatory Compliance, said: “The Brazilian iGaming market is evolving rapidly, presenting exciting opportunities for operators and providers alike. As one of the most dynamic and promising regions in the industry, Brazil is at the centre of innovation and the new regulatory advancements are shaping the future of online betting and gaming in South America.
“Altenar is proud to be part of this journey, bringing its expertise and cutting-edge solutions to a market that is poised for significant growth.”
This webinar, the first in a series, could not have chosen a more relevant market to explore. Through this discussion, Altenar aims to showcase how its advanced sportsbook and gaming solutions can help businesses thrive in this fast-moving environment.
The first edition of Behind The Bet will be held in Portuguese and takes place on March 12 at 11am (Brazilian Standard Time).
The post Altenar offers sportsbook advice with ‘Behind The Bet’ webinars appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion to promote world’s number one crash game to his fans
SPRIBE, the developer behind the number one crash game in the world, Aviator, has added yet another UFC superstar to its roster of brand ambassadors with Tom Aspinall promoting the game to his fans around the world.
Aspinall is the interim UFC heavyweight champion, actively defending his title and solidifying his place as one of the most dominant forces in MMA today. His championship mindset aligns perfectly with Aviator’s commitment to working with the best, ensuring fans experience the thrill of elite competition.Aspinall will take part in a number of campaigns promoting Aviator to UFC audiences worldwide. He joins other Aviator brand ambassadors like Alex Pereira, Johnny Walker and Merab Dvalishvili.
These brand ambassador partnerships form part of a wider marketing deal between SPRIBE and UFC, which sees Aviator branding appear in and around the Octagon for UFC Fight Nights and Pay Per View events. It also established an athlete ambassador fund for agreements such as this.
The deal will help to build even more momentum behind Aviator, the original crash game now available at more than 4,500 online casinos and with more than 42 million active players a month placing upwards of 350,000 bets per minute.
Its popularity comes down to the simple and easy-to-understand increasing curve format and the high-risk/high-reward gameplay. Aviator is also multiplayer with tons of social interaction built into the experience including a chat function and real-time leaderboards.
David Natroshvili, Founder & CEO at SPRIBE, said: “Tom is one of the toughest and most celebrated fighters in the UFC right now and we are excited for him to join our ranks as an Aviator ambassador.
“He has a large and loyal fanbase that we are certain will love the thrills that Aviator provides and look forward to working with Tom on a number of campaigns over the coming 12 months.
“These brand ambassador deals, and our partnership with the UFC and other sports franchises, show our commitment to ensuring Aviator remains the number one crash game on the planet and that as many people as possible get to play it.”
Tom Aspinall, UFC interim heavyweight champion and Aviator Brand Ambassador, added: “Taking flight in Aviator is just as thrilling as stepping into the Octagon on fight night so I’m excited for my fans to experience what the game has to offer.
“The team at SPRIBE have some great campaigns planned for the coming months which I’m excited to be a part of as we work together to ensure that Aviator really takes flight.”
The post Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion to promote world’s number one crash game to his fans appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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