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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
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Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024: Exclusive Insights with SWC Europe Cup Champions NEF, ISMOO and STARTIIK
Summoners War, a popular mobile role-playing game, has captivated millions with its turn-based monster battles. Boasting over 220 million total downloads across platforms, Summoners War has cultivated a loyal and passionate fanbase.
To celebrate this dedicated community, the Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024 in Hamburg on 30th November invites fans to engage in exciting activities and connect with the community, with top players NEF and ISMOO headlining this sold-out event. We caught up with NEF, ISMOO and STARTIIK, the top three winners of the SWC 2024 Europe Cup, to dive into their strategies, the influence of AppGallery, and the upcoming meetup.
What key strategies helped you win the Europe Cup and advance to the World Finals’ Semi-Finals match?
NEF: A lot of preparation involved strategizing with my friends and anticipating my opponents’ moves. Additionally, having favourable RNG in critical moments played a crucial role in my success.
What was your turning point in Summoners War that influenced you to start competing professionally?
NEF: Throughout my Summoners War journey, I have met so many incredible people who have really helped shape my experience and push me to grow. Watching ISMOO’s energetic performance on the big stage, gave me the motivation to chase my own dreams and got me to where I am today!
How does it feel to be part of the Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024 and what are your thoughts on AppGallery’s Summoners War campaigns and offline events?
NEF: I am thrilled to be a part of meetup! Being involved in this vibrant community has been such a rewarding experience. I appreciate the variety of Summoners War campaigns that AppGallery offers, catering to all kinds of gamers, regardless of budget. Attending Gamescom last year was a phenomenal experience. The energy was electrifying, and it was amazing connecting with fellow gamers who share the same passion!
What key lessons from your past World Finals experiences have contributed to your success in reaching the World Finals’ Semi-Finals again?
ISMOO: Competing in past World Finals has been a crucial step towards my success in the Semi-Finals. It has taught me to stay composed and avoid costly misplays, even when the stakes are high. I have also learned to better analyse and adapt to opponents’ strategies, enabling me to make smarter decisions and perform more consistently under stress.
Reflecting on your 8-year journey, what key moments shaped your path in Summoners War?
ISMOO: One of the highlights was meeting all my in-game friends from Summoners War, including NEF, that I had only interacted with online. It was incredible to finally meet them in person and getting to know each other better!
Another unforgettable moment was competing in SWC World Finals 2022 in Korea. It was my first time traveling to Asia, and playing live on stage was such an exhilarating and surreal experience.
How does it feel to be part of the Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024 and what are your thoughts on AppGallery’s Summoners War campaigns and offline events?
ISMOO: It feels amazing to be part of this meetup. Reconnecting with the community and meeting so many new people has been a blast! Incredibly grateful for the multiple events that AppGallery has hosted and invited me – It is truly an honour and excited for future events!
What key lessons helped you win second-place at the Europe Cup and advance to the World Finals’ Quarter-Finals match?
STARTIIK: I spent a year focusing on mastering drafts and learning which monsters counter certain meta picks. My Europe Cup preparation involved studying my opponents and analysing their playstyles. However, the World Finals demanded a completely different approach. Preparing for LADRILLO-OS was manageable while LEST’s unpredictability made it more challenging.
As a first-time Europe Cup player, what elements of your gameplay surprise opponents, and does their underestimation give you an edge?
STARTIIK: As a first-timer competitor on stage, many opponents underestimated me despite having experienced my strengths in previous matches. The real challenge lies in proving yourself as a worthy competitor who can handle pressure and deliver consistent results. My fast-paced cleaving strategy has always been my focus but the addition of Lora to my roster this year has strengthened my second-turn gameplay, allowing me to explore new strategies.
How has your AppGallery experience been, and how do its Summoners War campaigns and cashback benefits enhance your gameplay?
STARTIIK: My experience with AppGallery has been great! Installing it on my Android device was a breeze, and navigating the app is intuitive and straightforward. The enticing campaigns and cashback deals have been a great bonus, enabling me to grab some excellent discounts on in-game packs.
The post Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024: Exclusive Insights with SWC Europe Cup Champions NEF, ISMOO and STARTIIK appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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DSWV further expands its network: performanceLiebe and Kerberos Compliance become new partners
The German Sports Betting Association (DSWV) is pleased to announce the addition of two new partners as of December 2024: performanceLiebe and Kerberos Compliance. With this step, the association is underlining its commitment to an innovative and future-oriented sports betting industry.
“We are very pleased that performanceLiebe and Kerberos Compliance have joined.”says DSWV President Mathias Dahms.
“Both companies ideally complement our partner network and offer our members valuable services. With their expertise, we can further strengthen the competitiveness of the German sports betting industry.”
Rainer Naranjo, Managing Director of performanceLiebe emphasizes: “We see the collaboration with the DSWV as a great opportunity to use our expertise in link building for the sports betting industry. Through targeted search engine optimization measures and the creation of relevant backlinks, we can help to increase the visibility of DSWV members.”
Christian Tsambikakis, Managing Director of Kerberos Compliance, adds: “Compliance with the complex money laundering regulations is of central importance for companies in the sports betting industry. We look forward to contributing our expertise to the cooperation with the DSWV and helping its members to meet their compliance requirements even more efficiently and reliably.”
performanceLiebe is the leading link building agency since 2009 with more than 200,000 link sources in over 50 countries, specializing in the sports betting industry. With innovative link building strategies, performanceLiebe ensures more traffic and higher rankings in the search engines.
Kerberos Compliance is a leading provider of compliance solutions that helps companies meet the complex requirements of the Anti-Money Laundering Act and the GDPR. With customized solutions and in-depth industry knowledge, Kerberos Compliance ensures maximum security and transparency.
The post DSWV further expands its network: performanceLiebe and Kerberos Compliance become new partners appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Nazara & Lysto sign LOI to launch “The Growth Protocol”
Nazara and Lysto have signed a Letter of Intent to launch The Growth Protocol, an L1 infrastructure layer, purpose-built for digital marketing and growth applications on the blockchain.
The Growth Protocol is a purpose-built L1 blockchain and a collaboration between Nazara Technologies FZ LLE, a 100% owned subsidiary of Nazara Techologies Limited that is India’s only publicly listed gaming company, and Lysto, the gaming world’s one-stop shop funded by leading VCs like Hashed, SquarePeg, Tiger Global, Distributed Global, Beenext, and prominent angels like Balaji Srinivasan, Sandeep Nailwal, Jaynti Kanani, Bobby Ong, and T.M. Lee.
Designed to revolutionize the digital marketing landscape, The Growth Protocol aims to bring greater transparency, equity, and monetary benefits to all participants in the Web3 marketing ecosystem. By leveraging blockchain technology, the protocol empowers users through decentralization to take control of their digital identities and participate in decentralized, trustless interactions.
The Growth Protocol makes its public debut at India Blockchain Week, a significant event for the Web3 community globally. Alongside a private testnet launch, the team released a proof-of-concept loyalty dApp for game marketing, showcasing the practical application of Web3 technology in the gaming industry.
Speaking at IBW, Nitish Mittersain, CEO and Jt. MD of Nazara, shared his vision for innovations in the gaming sector and expressed his enthusiasm for bringing Nazara’s game marketing to the Web3 space. Speaking at India Blockchain Week, Nitish said, “We are very happy to innovate on new and upcoming technologies such as web3, VR & AI and look forward to integrating our games with releveant web3 technologies that can add value to our players.”
Sadiq Ahamed Shaik, CEO of Lysto, and Founder, The Growth Protocol, said, “The Growth Protocol is a platform for developers and all marketing roles. Our team is working with developers to launch a series of growth applications on the L1 blockchain, empowering users through decentralization for marketing and growth initiatives.”
The Growth Protocol team, composed of experienced professionals previously at Microsoft and Google, is actively engaging with Web3 developers, key opinion leaders, and marketing professionals at India Blockchain Week, fostering collaboration and innovation.
The Web3 community at IBW is invited to meet the team in person, join the test net launch, and participate in rewarding quests. For those who won’t be at IBW are welcome to connect with The Growth Protocol through their website and social channels on X or LinkedIn and more.”
The post Nazara & Lysto sign LOI to launch “The Growth Protocol” appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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