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What is the future for Norway’s betting monopoly?

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What is the future for Norway’s betting monopoly?

Norway currently enforces a strict ban on all online betting run by anyone other than monopoly operator Norsk Tipping. Yet, despite its latest efforts to keep unlicensed operators out, there are still other options available for Norwegians as it isn’t stopping the people from playing at foreign licensed operators should they choose to.

The policy of making Norsk Tipping the sole licensed operator while keeping foreign betting companies off the Norwegian market has been a favoured approach by shifting governments in the country over several decades. 

For the most part, this has been uncontested by the general population. The services offered by Norsk Tipping have typically been satisfactory for most players and with Norsk Tipping’s obligation to return its profit to society, this has been accepted by many as a fair compromise. 

The motivation behind this policy is often said to be a desire to protect players by controlling which types of gambling services are made available. Allocating money from the gambling industry to organisations working towards the greater good of society is also seen as important. 

However, with international betting companies entering the Norwegian market by offering their services online, this strategy is proving increasingly hard to keep up. Several measures have been taken in the last couple of years to ensure that unlicensed operators stay out of the Norwegian market, for example by blocking transactions to gambling sites. Despite being met with criticism, Lottstift shows no signs of giving in to the external pressure.

 

The shift to online complicates matters

Competition among online betting companies is fierce, and considering how difficult it is for one country to legislate online activity without resorting to means more often seen in countries of a far less democratic nature, the challenges faced by Norsk Tipping are getting bigger. 

In addition, as regulation fails to keep international online actors out, many argue that today’s situation in Norway is, in reality, a free-for-all system where companies required to follow strict regulations in most neighbouring countries are given a free pass to target Norwegian players.

A quick look at the Norwegian comparison site Oddsbonuser.nu tells us that a lot of operators are interested in the country and some of these would welcome regulation. 

For example, Kindred Group and Betsson Group – both members of Norsk bransjeforening for onlinespill (NBO). As can be read on their website, “NBO will promote the introduction of a responsible and sustainable licensing regulation of the Norwegian online gambling market”.

Even though regulation is very unlikely at this point, it’s hard not to fall into the pit of ‘what if’. Close at hand is the situation in Sweden, which regulated the gambling market in 2019. 

Sweden had previously followed a similar path, before abandoning its monopoly. Betting companies can now – by obtaining a licence – operate and advertise on the Swedish market, given that they follow regulations set by Swedish authorities, including paying Swedish taxes.

This naturally means tougher competition for state-owned former monopolist Svenska Spel, but also that politicians now can regulate and limit how betting companies can operate, for example when it comes to promotions and bonuses. But even so, recent proposals of further tightening the regulation in Sweden have caused waves amongst the licensed operators in the country. 

The operators and Spelinspektionen, the Swedish Gambling Authority, are worried that this might cause players to move away from licensed operators and that the black market will grow even bigger – making it worse than pre-regulation in the country. With this in mind, Lottstift is likely even more certain that their strategy is better left unchanged.

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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Gaming Corps games suite to roll out with betPawa, which operates in 12 African countries

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Gaming Corps – a publicly-listed game development company based in Sweden – is to bring its premium games suite to more players across Africa after agreeing a partnership with betPawa.

More than 10 million Africans trust and use betPawa as their betting brand of choice, with the operator currently active in 12 countries across the continent. betPawa is on a mission to make betting friendly by providing 24-hour customer support, a user-friendly platform, the lowest minimum stakes and guaranteed and instant payments.

Players at betPawa will be able to enjoy Gaming Corps’ full portfolio of Crash, Mine, Table and Slot titles, as well as a certified Plinko. This will include recent smash hits such as RAMPAGE, Piggy Smash and Raging Zeus Mines, along with Gaming Corps’ renowned games series such as Jet Lucky and Coin Miner.

Gaming Corps is now able to offer more value to players following the launch of its Smash4Cash™ mechanic, which is designed to make the game experience even more unique and bring an even greater chance for players to make the most of bonus rounds.

Mats Lundin, Gaming Corps’ Director of Sales, said: “We are delighted to partner with betPawa; an operator that has established a reputation as a successful and trusted betting brand across Africa.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for us to bring our thrilling games to many more players across the continent, and I look forward to offering even more magnificent games to betPawa’s players as we continue to strengthen our portfolio. Our Smash4Cash™ mechanic is already helping us produce games full of even more excitement, and I’m sure that trend will continue.”

Spencer Okach betPawa said: “This partnership with Gaming Corps will allow us to further strengthen our casino offering, and we are very excited to give our players the chance to make the most of Gaming Corps’ first-class games suite.

“We are always looking for ways to make the gaming experience with betPawa even more memorable, and I’m sure Gaming Corps’ ever-expanding list of games will help us do that.”

 

The post Gaming Corps games suite to roll out with betPawa, which operates in 12 African countries appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Low6 launches free-to-play games suite for EUROs

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The diverse array of games equips brands with a multitude of options to attract and retain users throughout the tournament.

Low6, the leading gamification innovator, has today launched its new suite of mobile-first, free-to-play games tailored for the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament.

With the excitement surrounding one of the most anticipated football events, Low6’s latest offering aims to provide sportsbook operators, publishers and brands with dynamic and engaging solutions to acquire and retain users throughout the tournament.

Brands can now access the following suite of games:

  • Brackets – Attracting users pre-event to select which team they believe will advance across each stage of the tournament.
  • Match Day Challenges– Engaging users throughout the tournament with daily interactive retention tools including Bingo, Spot The Ball, Over/Under, Spin-The-Wheel and football scratch card.
  • Predictors – Pick’em style questions to test fans predictions on what they think will happen throughout a game.
  • Trivia – Interactive quiz formats to appeal to a wide audience and test their football knowledge.
  • Fantasy – Immersing the most active fans in next-level fantasy where they can play the manager throughout the tournament.
  •  Arcade –  Fun and fast nostalgic games that keep fans returning to get the top score.
  • FanVote – Simple polls to let fans choose who their player of the match is

The easy-to-integrate fully customisable games come equipped with integrated advertising solutions to best promote operator offers or activate a brand’s partner’s sponsorship. This includes display banner and interstitial formats as well as the ability to service in-app pop-ups, emails and push notifications. Low6’s real-time in-game analytics and hyper-personalised communications can also be leveraged by brands to upsell their wider product offering.

“Brands globally are looking at new and innovative ways of capturing fans attention at sporting events and here at Low6 we’ve developed the perfect play for the Euros” comments Jamie Mitchell, CEO of Low6. “We’ve finely tuned our free-to-play games to provide a winning strategy in not only attracting new users but scoring higher level of engagement throughout the tournament”.

 

The post Low6 launches free-to-play games suite for EUROs appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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UK risks losing safer gambling leadership position – warns BetBlocker.org chief of partnerships

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Pedro Romero, chief of partnerships at safer gambling software provider BetBlocker.org has highlighted the sense of insecurity among Research, Education and Treatment organisations arising from the publication of the UK Government’s White Paper on gambling reform.

Speaking following February’s edition of ICE where BetBlocker and US-based International Centre for Responsible Gambling (ICRG), shared a £41,000 pool which was provided by leading brands Light and Wonder, Flutter, Betsson Group, IGT, Novomatic, Neccton and Playtech Pedro Romero noted: “The main talking points at ICE 2024, particularly in relation to safer gambling, revolved around the publication of the White Paper which has caused so much anxiety.

“It’s concerning that many in the third sector feel alienated from critical conversations about the future of safer gambling and harm minimisation.

“The potential implications of this disconnect are significant, not just for the individuals and communities we serve, but for the UK’s reputation in the field.

“We must find a way to bridge this gap and work together to address the challenges ahead. Otherwise, I fear the UK risks losing its leadership position in advancing safer gambling practices.”

Regarding the £20,500 donation which was presented at ICE he added: “We have earmarked these funds with a dual purpose in mind. Primarily, it will assist with our running costs, which as a small charity is crucial for the sustainability of our operations.

“Additionally, we are excited about a very special project that we’re planning for ICE 2025 in Barcelona. Without giving too much away, it’s a development that aims to pay tribute to both Clarion and the city of Barcelona. We believe it will make a significant impact and we look forward to unveiling it.”

Romero spoke positively about the relocation to Barcelona stating: “ICE 2024 served as a fantastic farewell to London, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in Barcelona.

“While there’s a certain sadness in leaving a city that has been such a great host, the move to Barcelona is an exciting development. It represents a fresh opportunity for ICE to be the global gaming hub in a vibrant, dynamic city. We are very much looking forward to what the future holds in this new location.”

 

The post UK risks losing safer gambling leadership position – warns BetBlocker.org chief of partnerships appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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