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The importance of reg-tech for new market expansion
Mark Chakravarti, Investment Director at SportingWin, talks about the operator’s experience of securing a licence in Bulgaria and how it will now use its in-house regulatory platform to enter additional European markets
I would argue that a proprietary regulatory platform is the most important thing for operators looking to drive European market expansion. Without a modern, agile platform that provides the insight that regulators require, licence applications will be drawn out for months and even years.
At SportingWin, we came to learn this the hard way.
When we started the business back in 2019, we identified Bulgaria as being a market of huge potential and one that we were keen to make our debut. Based on our assessment, AGR would hit 20% a year for the next five years, leading to a market value of €500m per year.
We then set about compiling the legal paperwork required by the National Revenue Agency for the licence application – this was a significant task in its own right, but we would soon learn that this was just the very start of the process.
The Bulgarian regulator is one of the most stringent in the world, which of course is a good thing. It ensures that the operators that do secure approval to enter the market are of the highest calibre especially when it comes to responsible gambling.
Under its requirements, operators must be able to deliver certain insights and information to the regulator in real time and this in turn requires a powerful, agile regulatory platform. Ultimately, we took the decision to develop this technology in-house.
While this was the right course of action, it significantly slowed down our licence application process while the regulator and our in-house development team worked together to ensure that it was fully compliant with its requirements.
We eventually reached the point where the National Revenue Agency was happy with the paperwork we submitted and our proprietary reg-tech platform, giving us the green light to enter the market in January 2021. Since then, we have gained incredible traction with players.
As with most operators, we are now looking to take SportingWin into additional markets and our in-house developed regulatory platform will be the foundation for building out our presence across the region. It really is impressive and now that it has been certified in Bulgaria, it can be used elsewhere.
We have identified Romania as our next market and while we have yet to submit our application to the regulator, our proprietary regulatory platform will ensure it is a much easier – and faster – process than that in Bulgaria.
This is for several reasons. Given just how stringent the National Revenue Agency is with its standards and enforcing them, other jurisdictions are happy to approve our platform without subjecting it to the same level of scrutiny again.
The same applies to a lot of the paperwork that we completed as part of our application in Bulgaria – for example, the Romanian regulator is happy to carry this over as well as the technical and software certifications that we were granted.
Of course, local regulators will still carry out their own investigations and will want to test certain aspects of our platforms, tech and software, but much of the hard work has already been done and this will allow us to enter additional markets at pace – we anticipate being live in Romania in H1.
In addition to an in-house regulatory platform, approved paperwork and the experience of having been through a licence application, the final piece of the puzzle operators need is a European trademark for their brand/brands.
We have recently secured this for SportingWin and it really does put us in the driving seat to identify and enter regulated European markets with an incredibly strong brand, superior product offering and a powerful regulatory platform running in the background.
Because of this, SportingWin is an attractive proposition for investors looking to join our success story. Due to the technical foundations we have in place, the investment we secure is pumped into marketing our brand in each country, which in turn allows us to generate significant share quickly.
Despite having been live in Bulgaria for only a year, we have a large and loyal player base and in Q4, generated €500,000 in NGR. This is set to grow significantly off the back of our recently-announced partnership with Pinnacle, allowing us to add a betting exchange to our offering for the first time.
As with most small to medium-sized operators, the team behind SportingWin has a long-term plan for the business and that is to grow it into an exciting acquisition opportunity for one of the power players looking to build their presence in regulated markets across Europe.
Without our proprietary regulator platform, European trademark and growing collection of licences, SportingWin would simply not be on the radar of these organisations, let alone be considered a serious M&A opportunity.
Of course, there is still a lot of work to do before we reach that chapter of our story but given that the founders of SportingWin have built and sold betting businesses before, it is one that I am confident we will write in next to no time at all.
Meanwhile, we will continue to use our regulatory platform to launch our player-favourite brand and superior betting experience into markets across Europe, generating substantial revenues from each of the jurisdictions we target.
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London-based video virtuals and instant win games specialist Highlight Games Limited today announces that its flagship soccer products are now live online in Romania with the Fortuna Entertainment Group.
Highlight’s premium SOCCERBET games which feature genuine archive footage from some of the biggest leagues and teams in football are now available to Fortuna’s online customers in Romania via its Casa Pariurilor and Fortuna Romania brands. Available iterations of the product include Italian Football featuring Serie A, Spanish Football featuring LaLiga and English Football featuring English Premier League teams.
Steven Holmes, CEO, Highlight Games said: ‘I’m delighted to see our SOCCERBET portfolio go live with FEG in Romania. This launch represents another significant milestone in our expansion across regulated European markets, and we look forward to building on our partnership with Fortuna and bringing even more compelling content to its customers in the months ahead.’
Erik Klems, Group RNG Product Manager, Fortuna Entertainment Group added: ‘We are excited to introduce Highlight Games’ SOCCERBET products to our Romanian customers. The combination of authentic archive football footage and innovative gameplay brings something genuinely fresh to the market and perfectly complements our existing portfolio. At FEG, we are committed to offering players the best and most engaging experiences available, and this partnership with Highlight Games supports that mission. We anticipate a strong reaction from players and see great potential for continued collaboration.’
The post HIGHLIGHT GAMES LIVE IN ROMANIA WITH FORTUNA ENTERTAINMENT GROUP appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Finland is preparing to usher in a new era for its gambling industry, with a comprehensive reform that transitions the country from a state monopoly to a regulated, licensed market. According to updates received by Nordic Legal, the Administrative Committee of the Finnish Parliament has completed its report, confirming the core elements of the reform. While the legislation has yet to be formally published, it is expected to pass without further amendments.
This reform marks a significant shift in Finland’s gambling landscape and introduces a well-defined roadmap that operators and suppliers should begin preparing for now.
Key Milestones in Finland’s Gambling Market Reform
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B2C licence application opens: March 1, 2026
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Opening of the gambling market: July 1, 2027
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B2B licence application opens: July 1, 2027
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B2B licence requirement enforced: July 1, 2028
In addition to these regulatory changes, the Finnish government is reportedly exploring mechanisms for enhanced player protection. One such initiative under consideration is the introduction of loss limits that would apply across all licensed operators, signalling a strong commitment to responsible gambling.
Nordic Legal: Your Strategic Partner for Finnish Market Entry
With deep expertise in the Nordic gambling sector, Nordic Legal is uniquely positioned to assist operators navigating the Finnish licensing process. Drawing on experience in Denmark and Sweden, the firm brings regulatory insight, a streamlined methodology, and local expertise to ensure clients are well-prepared for this market transformation.
Why Choose Nordic Legal?
1. Familiarity with Your Business
For existing clients operating in Denmark or Sweden, Nordic Legal leverages its existing understanding of your organisation and technical infrastructure. This continuity accelerates the process and avoids duplication of effort.
2. Regulatory Expertise
Years of engagement with Danish and Swedish regulators allow Nordic Legal to anticipate regulatory expectations, resolve potential issues early, and smooth out the application journey.
3. Proven Nordic Methodology
Nordic Legal applies a tested framework to each licence application, including:
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Reusing existing documentation where possible
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Mapping technical and certification requirements in advance
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Aligning responsible gambling strategies with Finnish standards
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Co-managing projects through your current contact and our Helsinki team
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Constructive engagement with regulatory authorities when needed
Finland Licence Application Package
To support a seamless entry into the Finnish market, Nordic Legal offers a comprehensive application service that includes:
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Translation of all required documents
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Step-by-step application guidance
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Completion of application forms
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Full project management
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Direct communication with the Finnish Gambling Authority on your behalf
Operators aiming to enter the Finnish market are encouraged to begin preparations early. Nordic Legal’s package ensures that you will be ready when the application process opens in 2026.
Thinking of Entering the Finnish Market?
Whether Finland is part of your expansion strategy or you need a clearer understanding of how the new legislation affects your operations, Nordic Legal is ready to help. With expert knowledge of the requirements, the process, and the business context, we provide the guidance and support you need to move forward confidently.
For more information about our Licence Application Package or a personalised assessment of the Finnish market, please contact Nordic Legal directly.
The post Finland Finalises Gambling Reform Framework: Market Opening Set for 2027 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Gamblers Connect is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with NuxGame, a premier B2B software provider specialising in API-first, modular iGaming solutions.
This collaboration is designed to significantly enhance NuxGame’s brand visibility and solidify its authority across the critical regulated and emerging markets our operator network serves. NuxGame, which has been successfully developing and expanding operator projects since 2018, offers comprehensive Turnkey Casino and Sportsbook Platforms.
The company’s technical strength is unmatched, featuring a massive aggregated content library of over 16,500 games from more than 130 studios, alongside advanced, market-specific tools like its Telegram Casino Software and specialised Sweepstakes Casino Platform.
Gamblers Connect will showcase how NuxGame’s modular, API-first architecture allows clients to quickly launch a fully branded platform, easily scale into complex verticals like crypto, and benefit from full compliance support, including their Romanian Class II B2B Licence and GLI-19 Certification.
By offering transparency around risk management and a comprehensive support system, Gamblers Connect will de-risk the initial onboarding process for operators.
This strategic alliance underscores NuxGame’s commitment to delivering technical excellence and our dedication to providing our audience with trusted, high-value industry partners.
Gjorgje Ristikj, Founder of Gamblers Connect, said: “Our partnership will leverage Gamblers Connect’s high-authority platform to connect NuxGame directly with decision-makers seeking fast, scalable, and compliant software solutions. Our cooperation will focus on delivering expert content and deep technical insights into the platform’s core advantages.”
The post NuxGame & Gamblers Connect Enter a New Partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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