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Ukrainian gambling: to be, or not to be, that is (already not) the question
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After significant and protracted deliberations, Ukraine finally legalized gambling activities back in 2020. The Law on the governance of the organization and carrying out of gambling activities became effective almost half a year ago. As of the date of writing this article, already 3 licenses have been granted to online casinos for their gambling activities to be performed in the future.
There is still a number of issues and, despite all efforts, the gambling market seems to be standstill except for the mentioned minor movements by local online players obtaining licenses. As of now, it seems that no big international market players are entering the newly born Ukrainian gambling market. So, let`s discuss whether it is all going somewhere and if that somewhere is in the right direction.
Ukrainian gambling market background
To see a broader picture, one should unveil the historical background of the current gambling market legalization in Ukraine. First of all, it’s worth mentioning that the Ukrainian gambling market has been actually reopened, but not developed from scratch.
The previously operating Ukrainian gambling market was not so much a success story as one might imagine. There were no huge and fancy casinos like in Las Vegas, but rather a market consisting of different establishments, some of them even legal and compliant. They were shut down by decisive moves of the state authorities in 2009 due to the lack of comprehensive regulations and effective control over their execution, which irreversibly led to negative consequences. As a result, the mentioned flaws contributed to the growth of black and grey gambling services markets. Moreover, the lack of strict rules and their enforcement also formed a public opinion that the gambling market was something antisocial and dirty. Ukrainians still remember well those times when slot machine halls literally surrounded public transport stops and were filled with some not exactly wealthy people giving up their last money in pursuit of a snatch.
At that time, Ukrainian authorities decided to use muscles instead of brains and banned all gambling activities instead of introducing reasonable regulation and taking the situation under control. Thus, starting from mid-2009, all gambling operators were forced to leave the wild, but rapidly growing market. However, as one may guess, the Ukrainian gambling ban was not far from the Prohibition in the United States in terms of its results. Ukrainian gambling market simply went undercover, depriving the Ukrainian budget of significant contributions previously made by the industry.
What are the current challenges for the Ukrainian gambling market?
Not so long ago, a logical step was taken by Ukraine and the gambling activities ban was lifted. However, same as in the case with the Ukrainian land market, things are not perfectly smooth and there are still some obstacles in place.
For instance, while three online casinos have already paid for and received licenses, they still can`t fully realize and enjoy the rights of an online casino operator. The reason is that the necessary regulations applicable to certification of the equipment to be used in casinos haven`t been adopted yet. Additionally, there is still a certain lack of clarity in terms of taxation of gambling activities. Some say that a specific volume-based tax will be introduced. However, considering that the licensed operators can`t get any revenues in the absence of the regulations to certify their equipment, the issue of taxation seems to be too far to think about.
Apart from that, one should note that this time Ukrainian government decided to seriously take advantage of the gambling market by imposing comparatively high license fees, financial thresholds, and location requirements (for offline casinos). For instance, the license fee is around USD 1.1 million for online casinos (for 5 years) and USD 10 million for offline casinos if based in Kyiv (additional equipment fees will also apply). Moreover, a gambling operator must have a share capital of at least USD 1.1 million and a deposit account or Ukrainian bank guarantee for USD 1.2 million.
As to the location requirements, under the new legislation, casinos can be opened only at 5-star hotels with at least 150 rooms in Kyiv, 4- and 5-star hotels with at least 100 rooms in other regions, out-of-town resorts with a total area of at least 10,000 m2 or “special gaming zones” within territories to be further defined by the Ukrainian government.
Under the new law, various restrictive regulations of a similar character also apply to betting, slot machine halls, and online poker activities.
Opportunities and additional obligations for Ukrainian gambling operators
It is worth mentioning that there are some opportunities for the new market players. The new law provides that such players may obtain investment licenses. Holders of such licenses will be exempt from license fees for 10 years if they build a new 5-star hotel with at least 200 rooms in Kyiv or 150 rooms in another Ukrainian region.
Ukrainian gambling operators will be also obliged to follow certain gambling standards and policies aimed at preventing gambling addiction. The government plans to launch a state-owned online monitoring system. The system will perform a real-time oversight and control of the Ukrainian gambling industry.
To sum it all up, it’s an important aspect that different people might make different conclusions as to the above. Pessimists might claim that this time, the gambling market launch in Ukraine has little chance to become interesting for the largest international market players. However, if evaluated by opportunists, entering the Ukrainian gambling market is definitely worth a shot.
High financial thresholds and strict regulations ensure that the market will not slip into putting dirty slot machines centered around metro stations. It is more likely that the Ukrainian gambling industry will at least somehow resemble what one may observe in wealthy locations like Las Vegas. This puts confidence into the minds of potential investors because the government will not be in a position to cut its own leg by banning a well-governed and budget-supporting industry.
The readiness of the local online casino market players to pay for the licenses which can`t be yet used proves the above statement to be true. It also leads to a conclusion that gambling investors should already be on their way to Ukraine in order to be in a time when the market starts to operate and extreme profits flow into the hands of the few pioneers.
This article has been created with the help of Oleksandr Aleksyeyenko (Partner at Marchenko Partners) and Sviatoslav Henyk (Senior Associate at Marchenko Partners)
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JioBLAST Launches All Stars vs India powered by Campa Energy: A New Era of Creator-Driven Esports Entertainment
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JioBLAST today announced the launch of JioBLAST All Stars vs India powered by Campa Energy, an exciting new creator-led, competitive entertainment format featuring BGMI, that brings gaming icons and fans together on one stage. The high-octane event will take place on 29th–30th November 2025 at NESCO, Mumbai, with registrations open on the JioGames app.
JioBLAST All Stars marks JioBLAST’s debut in India’s rapidly growing gaming and esports entertainment landscape and will headline GamingCon Bharat 2025, one of the country’s premier gaming festivals. Designed for India’s massive gaming audience base, All Stars vs India is a unique format that allows fans to either team up with or take on their favourite creators, transforming audiences into participants in an immersive, interactive show experience.
The tournament is a first-of-its-kind creator-led esports entertainment format featuring two fan-driven competitions, including a Jio Solo Tournament, exclusive for Jio customers to play with their favourite stars and an open Team Tournament for squads across India to play against the All stars.
Speaking on the announcement, Charlie Cowdrey, CEO, JioBLAST, said: “We’re thrilled to launch JioBLAST All Stars vs India, a fan-first, creator-powered format designed to bring India’s next wave of gamers into the spotlight. This is just the beginning of how JioBLAST will redefine competitive entertainment in India – more events, bigger line-ups, and new formats that level up every season. We’re thankful to KRAFTON for enabling us to bring this experience to the BGMI community.”
On the partnership, Megha Raturi, CMO, Reliance Consumer Products Ltd, said: “Campa Energy is more than a beverage; it’s an attitude. By partnering with JioBLAST, we’re tapping into the spirit of India’s unstoppable youth, those rewriting the rules of competition and resilience through gaming. All Stars vs India is a celebration of that unbreakable drive.”
At its core, JioBLAST All Stars represents a new era of competitive entertainment, where creators, fans, and communities converge in a format that celebrates participation. With open online qualifiers for players, JioBLAST is enabling aspiring gamers to share the stage with some of India’s most followed and respected gaming content creators at GamingCon Bharat.
Star-Studded Creator Line-up
- Payal Gaming
- Shreeman Legend
- Soul Regaltos
- Snax Gaming
Fans can qualify through open tournaments hosted on JioGames, leading to the Creator vs Community showcase matches on the main stage. The live event will feature professional production, live shoutcasting, fan meet-and-greets, and exclusive creator-driven content, ensuring a premium experience both on-ground and online.
JioBLAST All Stars vs India Registration Details:
- Event: JioBLAST All Stars vs India powered by Campa Energy
- Venue: GamingCon Bharat, Nesco, Mumbai
- Dates: 29–30 November 2025
- Game: Battlegrounds Mobile India
- Registrations to compete: Open until November 14th on the JioGames app
- Team Tournament: Open for all players across India
- Jio Solo Tournament: Exclusive for Jio users
- Total tournament Prize Pool : INR 10,00,000
Gaming enthusiasts can buy GaminCon Bharat 2025 tickets from District by Zomato. JioBLAST is a joint venture between Jio, BLAST, and RISE Worldwide Limited, combining Jio’s 500+ million-strong digital ecosystem with BLAST’s global expertise in esports entertainment and RISE’s leadership in sports and event management. Together, they aim to build India’s most engaging and scalable esports IP ecosystem – from world-class tournaments to creator-driven entertainment formats.
With India emerging as one of the world’s largest gaming markets and the Online Gaming Bill 2025 actively supporting industry growth, JioBLAST is set to accelerate the nation’s journey towards becoming a global esports powerhouse.
The post JioBLAST Launches All Stars vs India powered by Campa Energy: A New Era of Creator-Driven Esports Entertainment appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Rapidly-expanding software provider enters its 13th regulated market following Italian regulator’s approval of Elysium Studios – Driven by Swintt titles
Having previously outlined its intentions to enter more regulated markets throughout 2025, sought-after software provider Swintt has announced that it has now officially been greenlit by Italy’s Agencia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) to offer its slots in the country.
The new certification has initially been granted for Elysium Studios – Driven by Swintt titles, and though further approval is planned for both SwinttPremium and SwinttSelect releases in the not-too-distant future, the provider has already put pen to paper with two of Italy’s leading operators.
Launched in 2024 following Swintt’s acquisition of Elysium Studios, Elysium Studios – Driven by Swintt is a cutting-edge collection of releases that incorporates elements of social, mobile and casino gaming to deliver a more engaging experience that’s custom-made for the modern player.
Featuring inventive themes, innovative features and intuitive, mobile-first game mechanics, some of the biggest hits to come from the collaboration to date include the quirky, folk lore-inspired I Hate Fairytales and the swashbuckling skull and bones epic, Pirate Pledge Hold & Win.
Given both titles boast a cast of characters that includes everything from punk rock princesses to salty sea dogs and a huge selection of rewarding bonus rounds, the two games and many more from the Elysium Studios line-up are certain to prove a popular addition among Italian audiences.
With Swintt’s successful acquisition of ADM certification now paving the way for the provider to enter its 13th regulated market, the decision will significantly expand the company’s European footprint and enable it to form further partnerships with Italian operators in the months to come.
David Mann, Chief Executive Officer at Swintt, said: “At Swintt, our focus has always been on ensuring that our content gets put in front of players in as many regulated markets as possible – and acquiring ADM approval to offer our games in Italy is another significant step on this journey.
“As an established iGaming market with a huge emerging player base, we feel our Elysium Studios – Driven by Swintt line-up can make a big impact in the region and we look forward to being able to roll out our other core line-ups very soon.”
The post Swintt games go live in Italy after receiving ADM certification appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Reading Time: 6 minutes
Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming
Relax Gaming is diving to the ocean floor for Treasure Tumble Dream Drop, an 8×8 cluster-pays adventure in the hit Tumble series starring fearless explorer Scarlett Spinz. Momentum is everything as position multipliers build, cluster wins cascade and a suite of blocker-busting power-ups keeps the action flowing, with a maximum win potential of 10,000x.
Get ready for a fresh, fruity adventure with Amusnet’s newest slot – 20 Bulky Fruits Buy Bonus! This colourful game brings classic fruit symbols to life across 20 paylines, offering plenty of ways to hit winning combinations and enjoy nonstop excitement. The Buy Bonus feature lets you jump straight into the action, unlocking bonus rounds whenever you want for instant thrills.
TaDa Gaming, has added to its renowned TriLuck series with a classic Chinese themed slot game, 3 Lucky Baozhu. Offering multiple ways to win, 1000x max and 97% RTP, this gorgeously colourful game sparkles and crackles with fortune and good luck. The five reels, three rows, 50 fixed paylines grid holds traditional symbols including Caishen god of wealth, lucky red envelopes, lanterns and musical instruments.
Spinomenal has released Demi Gods VII Ultra Mode as part of its hugely successful Demi Gods Series. This is a 5×4 reel 50 lines video slot that takes players on an epic journey through the realm of the immortals, where financial fate rests with the gods. A powerful, surging soundtrack amplifies the gameplay and makes for a thunderous reels experience.
Endorphina has released its newest Halloween title, 3 Witch Pots. The slot features 5 reels, 4 rows, and 40 fixed paylines. This Halloween addition to the Endorphina slots portfolio takes players on a mystical journey to help a skillful witch’s lair.
Witness the downfall of John, a man of order, a devoted father, a loyal husband and a pillar of routine. Nolimit City’s latest release, Disorder, unearths the twisted origin story of Mental and Mental II. This highly anticipated slot falls under the extreme themed category of Nolimit City slots such as Serial and Disturbed.
BGaming invites players to saddle up and head to the Wild West in the brand-new Wild Wick online slot. The game is the latest to be developed in collaboration with Strmlytics, a leader in live-streaming data analytics. Wild Wick introduces players to a charismatic bounty hunter inspired by classic Western Heroes from Clint Eastwood’s Man with No Name and Terence Hill’s Lucky Luke to the animated cowboys of the Soviet cartoon Treasure Island.
Stakelogic is closing out spooky season in style with Soul Slayer, a gripping slot experience where every spin becomes a battle for survival. Set in a world consumed by demonic forces, Soul Slayer challenges players to embrace their inner warrior and strike back with precision, fury, and Wild-filled rewards.
Red Rake Gaming presents Get the Coins!, a slot that combines gold coins with Major, Minor, and Grand prizes in a dynamic, fast-paced experience. This release offers rapid gameplay and an exclusive Mini-Game that delivers unique reward opportunities in every session. With its 3×3 reel format, each spin can generate coins and trigger the “Get the Coins!” Mini-Game with collectible coins whenever at least one coin appears on each reel.
Spinmatic announced the launch of Elemental Fusion, a revolutionary title that fuses the mechanics of Video Slots with the engaging features of Plinko games. This innovative product release highlights Spinmatic’s commitment to developing unique and compelling gaming experiences for the igaming market.
Amusnet has released 20 Golden Coins: Reel Fishing, a next-generation video slot that combines the charm of the game classics with the thrill of modernity. This 5-reel, 20-payline release brings the joy of fishing to life with vibrant visuals, engaging features and a soundtrack that fully immerses players in a sunny day by the water.
Evoplay has launched Sky Sentinels, a new slot that lets players decide their fate under the Egyptian sky. Every spin offers a choice between the Sun and the Moon. The radiant Sun guides wins from right to left, while the mysterious Moon moves them from left to right, each creating a unique way to play and win.
Million Games has announced the launch of Gatsby Gold, a 5×3, 243-ways video slot that combines the elegance of 1920s art deco with dynamic modern gameplay. The game offers 243 ways to win, a 96.3% RTP, and a maximum payout of 8,100x the bet, making it as rewarding as it is stylish.
Evoplay has launched Young Deer Song, a festive high-volatility slot that takes players deep into a mystical forest where nature’s creatures lead the way to great rewards. As the moon rises over the treetops, the reels come alive in this Christmas themed title with the fox, owl, raccoon, and wolf, each carrying their own charm and fortune.
Take to the skies and soar like an eagle, then swoop in and grab big wins by spinning the reels of Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme from Booming Games. This action-packed, feature-filled slot is a wild adventure with a chance to win up to 10,000x. Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme is a 5×3, 25-fixed payline slot.
Squid Gold X2 by 18Peaches invites players to dive deep into a world of mystery, magic and forgotten riches. Set within a sacred castle filled with ancient relics and hidden chambers, every spin feels like a step deeper into the unknown. The legendary golden squid is said to guard untold fortunes, and only the bravest adventurers will uncover its secrets.
With Swintt having already opened the way to a world of wonder in the original Lucky Fortune Door, this month the award-winning software provider is back in action again with Lucky Fortune Door Wild – an exciting reboot that gives players even more ways to win! Like its SwinttPremium predecessor, Lucky Fortune Door Wild is a five-reel slot that can be played with either five or ten paylines.
The post Week 45/2025 slot games releases appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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