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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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Everything you need to know ahead of Saturday 29 November, when Red Bull’s one-of-a-kind League of Legends tournament ‘Red Bull League of Its Own’ is set to make its grand return.
Taking place in the iconic SAP Garden in Munich, reigning champions and esport titans T1, along with some of Europe’s most celebrated teams – G2 Esports, Karmine Corp, NNO Old and Los Ratones, will go head-to-head in an unmissable end-of-year showdown.
Red Bull League of Its Own 2025 is set to light up Munich’s SAP Garden, turning the state-of-the-art arena into an electrifying esports stage in the heart of Olympic Park. 11,500 fans will fill the stands, with countless more watching online, as international icons and Europe’s elite face-off in this year’s ultimate League of Legends clash. Red Bull League of Its Own is all about pushing the action to the limit, delivering high-energy matchups, unexpected twists, and the possibility of mixed rosters that keep every game fresh. All matchups will be played in a Ultimate Fearless best-of-1 format, keeping every game high-stakes and unpredictable.
The 2024 Red Bull League of Its Own delivered an unforgettable spectacle in Paris’ Accor Arena as T1 swapped roles, Los Ratones stunned after causing an upset, and Rekkles made a triumphant reunion on stage. This year’s edition aims to raise the bar even higher, promising elevated competition and moments that will captivate the global League community once again.
Returning as the official Monitor Partner for 2025, AGON by AOC will once again deliver high-performance gaming monitors to ensure contestants get the ultimate gaming experience. Razer makes its debut as the official Chair Partner of Red Bull League of Its Own, bringing the Razer Iskur V2 – an ergonomic chair built for comfort, durability, and focus – to keep players at their best throughout every match. MSI also joins as the official Gaming PC and Laptop Partner, while KFC comes on board for the first time as an event partner.
With record viewership last year, Red Bull League of Its Own 2025 promises unforgettable clashes, daring strategies, and moments fans will talk about long after the final match.
See below for full event details, timings, and where to watch.
Schedule:
- -15:00 CET – Opening Ceremony
- -15:15 CET – G2 Esports vs NNO Old
- -16:00 CET – Los Ratones vs Karmine Corp
- -17:00 CET – G2 Esports vc Karmine Corp
- -18:00 CET – T1 vs Match 3 Winner
- -19:00 CET – T1 vs NNO Old
- -20:00 CET – T1 vs Los Ratones
Talent:
- -Eefje “Sjokz” Depoortere – Host
- -Keltoum “Giniro” Baddaje – Host
- -Robert “Dagda” Price – Caster
- -Aaron “Medic” Chamberlain – Caster
- -Joe “Munchables” Fenny – Caster
- -Daniel “Aux” Harrison – Caster
- -Jona “JustJohnny” Schmitt – MC
- -René “MasterPlay” Geigenberger – MC
On-Site Streamers:
- -Caedrel
- -Kameto
- -NNO Old (NoWay, Tolkin, Agurin, Karni, and Broeli)
- -Ilha das Lendas (Baiano, Tay, Brucer, and Pedro Bosco)
Where To Watch:
- -Fans can tune in to Red Bull Gaming’s YouTube and Twitch channels at 3 PM (UTC+1).
- -YouTube: youtube.com/live/mNV9ZU_YunA
- -Twitch: twitch.tv/redbull
The post Legends Collide and the Stage Ignites at Red Bull League of its Own 2025, Munich appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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1xBet has signed a partnership with the VALORANT roster of esports powerhouse MIBR, becoming the first-ever official betting partner in the Riot Games ecosystem.
Under this partnership, 1xBet and MIBR will focus on creating a new, immersive fan experience, strengthening the team’s global fanbase, and boosting overall engagement with VALORANT.
MIBR’s VALORANT roster currently includes players from the United States and Brazil. Over the past few years, the team has been a regular competitor in VCT Americas, and in 2025 they qualified for VALORANT Masters Toronto — the only Latin American team to do so. Later that year, MIBR also earned a spot at VALORANT Champions 2025, finishing in the Top 5 worldwide.
Beyond their esports success, MIBR continues to expand its media presence through collaborations with leading Brazilian influencers such as Sacy, producing original entertainment content, and hosting watch parties during major tournaments — all helping the organization remain one of the most talked-about and fan-favorite names on the regional scene.
Among the team’s stars is Erick ‘Aspas’ Santos, widely regarded as a VALORANT legend in Latin America. In 2025, he set the VCT Americas record for the most kills in a BO3 series and became the first player in VALORANT Champions history to surpass 1,000 kills across tournaments (2022–2024). Outside of competition, Aspas is a three-time Prêmio eSports Brasil “Athlete of the Year” winner and a massive fan favorite — during VCT Americas 2024 Kickoff, he became the most-mentioned player on Twitch chats, with over 11,300 mentions.
1xBet is one of the most recognized brands in esports betting, regularly supporting major global tournaments and sponsoring top-tier teams around the world.
Simon Westbury, Strategic Advisor at 1xBet: “This is a historic step for 1xBet — becoming the first official betting partner of an esports team within the Riot Games ecosystem. MIBR features some of the most talented and visible players in Latin America, and together we aim to strengthen VALORANT’s presence across the LATAM region, elevate its appeal internationally, and deliver a unique fan experience for audiences around the globe.”
Raphael Castanheira, MIBR’s Director of Marketing and Partnerships: “Being the first organization in the entire Riot ecosystem to obtain approval for a betting sponsorship is a direct result of how MIBR operates today, as an organized company with robust governance, clear processes, and protected by policies that put competitive integrity at the forefront. ”
The post 1xBet Becomes the First Official Betting Partner of MIBR’s VALORANT Team appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
ComeOn Group climbs to 21st place in the EGR Global Power 50 following a year of strategic growth
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Leading iGaming operator ComeOn Group has secured the 21st position in the 2025 EGR Power 50 rankings, reflecting a year defined by expansion, product innovation, and strengthened regulatory presence across Europe.
In 2025, the Group broadened its footprint in the regulated European markets with the launch of its casino-first brand Casinostuen in Denmark. The Group also advanced its activities in the Netherlands through the operation of Evoke’s 888 brand within the regulated Dutch market.
ComeOn Group continues to benefit from its strategic focus on locally regulated jurisdictions, which is powered by its own technology platform including an in-house sportsbook platform, proprietary games studio SpinOn, and unique, innovative jackpot products have been key contributors to differentiation and growing market share in core territories.
Juergen Reutter, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Our proprietary technology is powering our products and services, giving us a strong competitive edge in highly dynamic and regulated markets. This foundation allows us to innovate faster, deliver differentiated experiences, and scale with confidence.
At the same time, artificial intelligence is transforming how competitive we can operate. We’ve equipped our teams with the tools and governance to experiment boldly and apply AI where it creates the most value. At ComeOn Group, we want to learn faster than our competition, because speed, agility, and innovation are essential to staying ahead in this industry.”
The Group closed the period with strong financial performance, demonstrating consistent growth across all key indicators for the 12 months ending 30 June 2025. Combined with the company’s increased market reach and accelerated innovation initiatives, ComeOn Group enters the coming year with robust momentum and a strengthened market position.
The post ComeOn Group climbs to 21st place in the EGR Global Power 50 following a year of strategic growth appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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