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Nigerian Law Firm predicts businesses will thrive by ‘embracing the community of operation’ at ICE Africa
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The enhanced focus on responsible gambling ahead of this year’s ICE Africa has been hailed by Nigerian legal expert Olafadeke Akeju, Partner at WYS Solicitors, as evidence that the continent’s gaming industry is evolving but that more needs to be done by both regulators and operators working in unison. An ICE Africa Champion, Akeju explores why the idiosyncrasies of each nation matter, the power of community and why the small print needs to be bigger!
What are your key goals in terms of developing Nigeria’s position on the continent?
As an industry consultant with both a regulatory and an advisory background, my aim is to enlighten as much as possible on the existing regulatory, operational and licencing framework in Nigeria and provide adequate information for prospective investors and providers interested in the Nigerian market.
How would you assess the key market dynamics?
We are likely to witness mergers, acquisition and consolidation in the gaming industry in the short term. Also, the stalemate that persists in the regulatory framework and licencing process in Nigeria is getting attention with a view to achieving a sensible resolution.
There is a renewed focus on responsible gaming, in your eyes how do you achieve the balance between social responsibility and enabling business to operate in a competitive environment?
The call for responsible gaming shows that the market is evolving and that the focus is shifting from having an effective licencing process to the assessment of gaming as a business and its impact on the society. Stakeholders have to recognize that business will thrive when it is embraced by the community. The rising general perception that the adverse effect of gaming exceeds its benefit to society, is a pointer that operators and regulators are not doing enough.
A combination of regulatory policies and social responsibility initiatives by operators is required to find the missing balance. Operators must be seen to contribute to the development of the community. Gaming businesses must offer more than employment opportunities and a source of income to be considered socially responsible. No doubt every business has its negatives, but operators must actively contribute to the clean-up of the adverse effect of gambling especially gambling addiction and actively promote self-exclusion. Advertisements aimed at enticing patronage should also include messages condemning addiction and emphasize responsible gaming. It is not enough to have this in small prints of the terms and conditions.
Gaming companies cannot rely on the lack of a regulatory directive on responsible gaming. A knee jerk reaction to impose regulation may erode the industry or prohibit gaming as seen in some parts of the continent. As a consequence, regulatory policies must ensure that all stakeholders collectively protect the vulnerable among us and give fair returns back to players. The industry must not sacrifice moral decency on the altar of profit.
Do you feel regulation can ever keep pace with an industry powered by technology?
Technology drives most human interaction and activities; it is not peculiar to the gaming industry. If legislation or regulation of other sectors keeps pace with technology, then the gaming industry should not be left out.
The challenge with legislation in many African countries is that it pre-dates the online era and sports betting as a business. A number of African countries put regulation in place in the last decade and regulators are still grappling with understanding the operation of technology driven gaming while also required to provide regulation to operators of the business. Also, lack of access to study the operations of sports betting businesses and an independent monitoring/appraisal system makes it difficult for regulators to perform optimally.
The good thing about technology is that it also provides access to resources which regulators and law makers should utilize to learn more about the operation of online gaming while studying the framework in more developed jurisdictions. ICE Africa presents a platform to compare notes with fellow regulators, providers and key stakeholders in the industry.
In Nigeria, changes in regulation of complementary sectors has a positive impact on gaming industry regulation. For instance, the introduction of an aggregator system in the telecoms sector by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) requires all mobile transactions to pass through an aggregation platform. The implication is that gaming regulators can collaborate with the NCC to access gaming related transactions on mobile platforms.
For African countries in the process of amending gaming laws and developing a national gaming policy, the emphasis must be on providing a flexible legislative framework which empowers regulators in consultation with stakeholders to develop policies and introduce processes in response to technological advancement.
WYS works with regulators, government agencies, operators and investors, service providers and suppliers across the gaming and gambling spectrum, what does ICE Africa represent to you?
ICE Africa is a credible initiative that offers networking and learning opportunities for industry stakeholders. The exhibition aspect of the event provides a platform to meet with various product, software and complementary service providers and to compare offerings; this would otherwise be beyond the reach of many operators and stakeholders.
More specifically, the event must be customized to the specific needs of the continent. Despite its obvious similarities, Africa is rife with differences, peculiarities and individualities by countries and regions which must be incorporated into the ICE Africa offering. Effort must be made to continue to identify and address front burner issues on the continent.
Product and service providers participating at ICE Africa must also seize the opportunity to identify Africa’s peculiarities and offer products/services tailored for the African market.
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
This is a Syndicated News piece. Photo credits or photo sources can be found on the source article: Nigerian Law Firm predicts businesses will thrive by ‘embracing the community of operation’ at ICE Africa
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13 gambling company executives in appeal against ATG’s proposal to raise gambling tax in Sweden
BOS – The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling – is today submitting a letter to the government. The letter is signed by 13 gambling company executives and BOS’s secretary general. In the letter, the signatories urge the government not to support the gambling company ATG in their proposal to raise the general gambling tax in favour of a reduction in the tax on horse racing.
As a main argument, the signatories highlight the fact that the level of the gambling tax affects the proportion of consumers who choose to gamble on the legal licensed gambling market, and that too many consumers are already opting out of the safety of the licensed market with its extensive consumer protection.
“Horse betting has a channelisation rate of between 98-99 percent. Online casino, according to the most optimistic estimates, has a channelisation rate of between 72-82 percent. The higher the tax, the greater the risk that the consumer will choose unlicensed gambling, where neither gambling tax nor consumer protection exists. To then lower the gambling tax for horse betting, which already has a very strong channelisation, and raise it for online casino, which has a very weak channelisation, would be completely incomprehensible. At least for those who prioritize consumer protection,” says BOS Secretary General Gustaf Hoffstedt.
You can read the full letter here: Letter to Government on ATG gambling duty
The post 13 gambling company executives in appeal against ATG’s proposal to raise gambling tax in Sweden appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
FBMDS proudly unveils the Momentum Series, a crash gaming collection built to deliver fast-paced thrills, immersive visuals, and strong retention for online casino operators worldwide with the Piñata Rush, Magical Garden and Arctic Jumper titles.
Designed “for emotions” and “born to captivate”, the Momentum Series includes three high-performing titles — Piñata Rush, Magical Garden, and Arctic Jumper — that redefine the crash genre with dynamic gameplay, deep personalization, and stunning 3D environments.
The Momentum Series was created to give players more control, excitement, and emotional connection while providing operators with games designed for longer sessions and better retention metrics. Each title combines intuitive gameplay with high volatility, 97%+ RTP, and a responsive, mobile-first design, ensuring performance across devices and browsers. Players can personalize their experience with auto bets, double bets, and auto cashouts, adapting each round to their individual risk strategy.
Piñata Rush offers a colorful, multiplayer crash gaming experience set in lively Mexican-inspired streets. Players can track others’ progress in real time and enjoy a community-driven atmosphere that keeps engagement levels high. With 97.06% RTP and features such as Multiplayer, Auto Play, Auto Cash-Out, and a configurable Max Bet from 100x to 1000x, this crash game provides vibrant entertainment across Android, iOS, Mac OS, and Windows.
Magical Garden immerses players in a lush 3D fantasy world where serenity meets suspense. This single-player experience blends calm and thrill through Auto Play and Auto Cash-Out functions, allowing personalized strategies and a Max Bet configurable from 100x to 1000x. With 97% RTP, it offers operators a high-performing product with wide cross-platform compatibility.
Arctic Jumper brings adrenaline to the frozen north with a fully 3D single-player experience. Its immersive visuals and smooth performance are enhanced by Auto Play, Auto Cash-Out, and customizable betting options that match each player’s risk profile. Operating at 97% RTP, this title delivers consistent engagement and retention potential for competitive markets.
“The Momentum Series represents FBMDS’ evolution into crash gaming — a genre built on emotion, timing, and control,” said Renato Almeida, Director at FBMDS. “With Piñata Rush, Magical Garden, and Arctic Jumper, we’re delivering fast, flexible, and emotionally charged experiences that empower both players and operators.”
FBMDS brings a winning portfolio of innovative iGaming solutions, blending tradition with cutting-edge technology to deliver engaging, reliable, and profitable gaming experiences for operators worldwide. With a focus on slots, table games, video bingo, and now crash games, FBMDS empowers partners to scale and succeed in competitive markets.
The post Momentum Series: A Crash Gaming collection crafted for emotions in your online casino appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
- Sunny feel-good vibes for everyone: Cozy Coast now available for iOS and Android
- New trailer highlights entertaining storytelling, merge-2 puzzles, and diverse gameplay elements
- Upcoming updates with new events and challenges for long-lasting fun
A beach adventure with heart: InnoGames, one of Germany’s leading developers and publishers of mobile and browser games, today launches Cozy Coast worldwide, bringing sunny feel-good moments to smartphones and tablets. The game is now available for free on the App Store and Google Play Store. Players in selected regions have already explored the Mediterranean island of Calista and experienced the captivating story of the two protagonists Mia and Elara. The unique mix of merge-2 puzzles, exploration, and heartfelt moments is clearly resonating with players, earning 4.8 on the App Store and 4.6 on Google Play out of 5 stars.
With today’s launch, InnoGames expands the game’s language support. Alongside the existing languages German, English, and French, Cozy Coast is now also available in Italian, Polish, Portuguese, and Spanish.
New Features, More Events: Regular Updates for Lasting Fun
In Cozy Coast, players accompany best friends Mia and Elara on a journey across the picturesque Mediterranean island of Calista. For Mia, the island is filled with childhood memories, but its former charm has faded. Together, they set out to restore the island. The gameplay centers on merge-2 mechanics: By skillfully combining items, players fulfill the wishes of island residents, collect resources, and restore buildings to unlock new areas of Calista. Along their journey, Mia and Elara encounter interesting characters, discover secrets, and explore the environment.
Check out the trailer on youtube: youtube.com/watch?v=hpacBlPfio4
Since the initial launch of Cozy Coast in selected regions, the development team has steadily expanded the merge-2 adventure. Customizable portraits, 3D decoration events, special quests with unique rewards, and advanced challenges for experienced players ensure there’s always something new to discover. The holiday season has also arrived: players can earn daily rewards, including the festive avatar “Winter Elara”.
Key Features of Cozy Coast
- Merge items: Strategically combine items to create new and higher-value objects
- Restore the seaside promenade: Renovate abandoned buildings to unlock new areas
- Adventure in paradise: Follow best friends Mia and Elara as they discover hidden places and uncover the secrets of a corporation with questionable intentions
- Characters with personality: Meet fascinating characters. Every encounter comes with a story – sometimes touching, sometimes mysterious, but always full of emotion
- Fresh challenges every day: Participate in competitive, daily, weekly, and seasonal events like exploration quests, puzzle collections, decoration and special story-driven missions to receive exciting rewards and enjoy lasting gameplay
- A personal touch: Use portrait customization to bring individuality and personality to every adventure.
- Unwind in a Mediterranean setting: Experience stress-free gameplay paired with a captivating story of friendship, courage, and hope
- Free to play without restrictions: Available worldwide on iOS and Android (except in Russia and China)
Cozy Coast is available on the App Store for iOS and on Google Play for Android.
For the latest news about the game, visit the official website or follow Cozy Coast on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
The post Cozy Coast Launches Worldwide: Beach Adventure from InnoGames Now Available appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
13 gambling company executives in appeal against ATG’s proposal to raise gambling tax in Sweden
Momentum Series: A Crash Gaming collection crafted for emotions in your online casino
Cozy Coast Launches Worldwide: Beach Adventure from InnoGames Now Available
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