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Wallonia is Game – Belgium Incentivizes Video Game Studios from Around the World with Tax Shelter

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The European Commission has given the green light for a tax shelter for Belgium’s gaming industry, the Commission said, opening the door for new success stories in the industry as investors obtain tax exemptions through a virtually risk-free investment; whilst the Belgian state gains from increased economic activity and spend.

Wallonia, the southern region of Belgium, is already a hotbed for gaming companies thanks to an excellent ecosystem of dynamic game development studios such as Fishing Cactus, Appeal, Wild Bishop and Abrakam that are driving the sector forward and a large talent pool whose quality is recognized internationally.

Intro

The tax shelter in the AV industry has met with uninterrupted success to the tune of over 200m EUR/year since its introduction in 2003, valued at nearly 2.4bn EUR so far. The volume of audiovisual (AV) productions filmed in Belgium has more than doubled, while since 2017 the mechanism has been extended to include the ‘performing arts’. From 2023 onwards, the tax shelter has now been expanded to include the gaming industry.

How Does it Work?

The Belgian tax shelter is a government-approved tax incentive designed to encourage the production of gaming productions in Belgium. The system is open to Belgian productions as well as international co-productions with Belgium that meet certain criteria.

“All three parties benefit from this arrangement; the producer is offered a very attractive way to finance projects, the investor obtains tax exemption through a virtually risk-free investment and the Belgian state gains from increased economic activity and spend,” Jean Greban, Coordinator of the regional Wallonia Gaming Association (WalGA) said.

Based upon the amount of qualifying investment costs the production will spend in Europe and upon the amount of direct and indirect Belgium-eligible expenses, the Ministry of Finance can provide tax shelter certificates to investors. The investor must make its full payment within three months of signing the framework agreement. Through the system, the investor pre-finances the production and/or post-production costs in return for tax benefits and a possible fixed return on investment.

What’s the Advantage for the Producer?

The tax shelter allows to finance up to 33.7% gross (27.2 % net) of the eligible production budget of the total qualifying expenses in the EEA. All expenditure in the European Economic Area (EEA) for goods and services related to video games is eligible for the tax shelter. This includes all European Union countries as well as Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland.

Success to date shows that the expansion of the tax shelter is a huge opportunity for gaming studios and their investors, Michela Ritondo at the Fiscal Department for Foreign Investments of the Federal Finance Ministry said: “From 2003 until 2022, more than 2,000 audiovisual works financed through the tax shelter for a total of more than € 2.4 billion in tax shelter Investments. We encourage gaming studios and their investors to check in with us and get traction fast here.”

More Information

Federal Finance Ministry
Fiscal Department for Foreign Investments
Michela Ritondo
Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 33 (North Galaxy)
BE – 1030 Brussels
Phone: +32 (0)257 938 69
E-Mail: Michela.Ritondo @Minfin.fed.be
Website: www .fin.belgium .be

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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Fast Track releases new AI Player Churn Model

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Fast Track has announced the release of a new AI-driven Player Churn Prediction Model, now available to all partners within its CRM platform. The model enables operators to identify players at risk of churning as early as the first day of inactivity, supporting more proactive and efficient retention strategies.

Built on Fast Track’s proprietary machine learning platform, FTML, the model uses seven sub-models to analyse player behaviour and make accurate predictions tailored to each operator’s player base. The system continuously trains itself on live data, ensuring predictions remain relevant and effective over time.

The Churn Model is already in use by several Fast Track partners and is fully integrated into the platform’s core workflows. Once activated, operators receive clear, actionable insights into which players are likely to churn, along with data-informed recommendations on timing and incentive levels for re-engagement.

“Churn is one of the most impactful use cases for AI in player engagement,” said Simon Lidzén, Co-Founder and CEO of Fast Track. “With this model, operators can focus their efforts where it matters most; targeting players who are truly at risk with the right offer at the right time. It’s a smarter, more cost-effective approach to retention.”

The Churn Model addresses a common challenge in the industry – overuse of reactivation bonuses – by helping teams deliver more relevant and timely incentives based on predictive insights, not guesswork.

To support the launch, Fast Track will host a live webinar on Thursday, 10 July 2025 at 16:00 CEST, offering a walkthrough of the new Churn Model and its practical applications. Save your spot at app.livestorm.co/fast-track/save-your-players.

 

The post Fast Track releases new AI Player Churn Model appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Evolution and Hasbro sign exclusive online live casino and slots partnership agreement

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Evolution today announced it has signed a multi-year agreement with Hasbro, a leading games, IP and toy company, to be their exclusive licensing partner for online live casino and slot games for MONOPOLY and other Hasbro Games titles.

The worldwide deal, including the USA, covers online content from all Evolution brands, including Evolution, Ezugi, NetEnt, Red Tiger, Big Time Gaming (BTG), Nolimit City and Livespins.

The new exclusive partnership for MONOPOLY and other Hasbro Games titles builds on a highly successful working relationship between the two companies. Evolution has already developed MONOPOLY Live and MONOPOLY Big Baller, two innovative online live casino game shows based on Hasbro’s world famous board game. Both are at the top of Evolution’s game line-up and are two of the best-performing games in all of online gaming.

As a result of the new partnership, Evolution will be the exclusive licensing partner for online casino games based on much-loved Hasbro Games properties. New games will launch from January 2026 onwards and will be showcased at ICE Barcelona 2026. Amongst the new Hasbro-based titles from Evolution brands will be Game Night, MONOPOLY Filthy Rich, MONOPOLY Roulette (all live online games with live presenters), and a number of online slot titles.

At Hasbro, we’re all about play—whether it’s classic board games or casino experiences. After a thorough RFP process, we’ve chosen Evolution as our exclusive partner for online live casino and online slots for Hasbro Games titles,” said Claire Hunter Gregson, Director Gaming Relationships. “We trust them to bring our brands to life in fresh, exciting ways for our adult fans and look forward to our partnership.

Todd Haushalter, Evolution’s Chief Product Officer, commented: “The combining of Hasbro and Evolution just feels right — we will make magic together! The bidding process was extremely competitive, but showing our commitment to innovation and excellence with MONOPOLY Live and MONOPOLY Big Baller, really helped! The team and I are incredibly excited to bring the Hasbro Games brands to all our various brands. I think MONOPOLY is the world’s best casino game brand, and we can do so many great things with it, and, of course, with many other Hasbro Games brands. It is hard to believe, but these are still the early days of online gaming, and with Hasbro we will forge a new chapter in our industry.”

 

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Expanse Studios (GMGI) Obtains Croatian iGaming Certification

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Expanse Studios, the B2B game development division of Golden Matrix Group Inc. (NASDAQ: GMGI), has received official certification from Croatia’s Ministry of Finance for its flagship game Super Heli, with additional titles in the company’s 56-game portfolio expected to receive approval in the coming weeks for the EU member state.

The certification marks a strategic entry into a market that generated US$484.70m in 2024, with projected growth at a CAGR of 8.4% during 2024-2030. Super Heli, Expanse’s most popular crash-style game, becomes the first of the studio’s titles approved for the Croatian market, paving the way for broader portfolio distribution.

Tapping Into High-Growth European Market

Croatia represents a compelling opportunity for B2B gaming suppliers, with the Online Casinos segment alone projected at US$218.10m in 2024. According to iGamingToday’s latest market research, Croatia’s gambling market will reach €720.42 million by 2025, making it one of Europe’s fastest-growing regulated markets.

Among the key market benefits are:

  • Accelerating digital adoption – Internet penetration jumped from 76% in 2020 to 83% in 2023
  • Over 20.6 million tourist arrivals in 2023 following Schengen Zone entry
  • Over 500,000 Croatians expected to engage in regular online gambling by 2027

Strategic Value for the Company

The certification strengthens Expanse Studios’ European footprint at a critical juncture. With 56 proprietary titles and 500+ B2B partners globally, Expanse is expected to capture a meaningful share in the growing EU market.

“Croatia certification is more than market access—it’s validation of our content quality and compliance capabilities in demanding EU jurisdictions,” said Damjan Stamenkovic, CEO of Expanse Studios. “With our flagship title Super Heli already approved and more games in the pipeline, we’re very excited for the opportunities this markets brings us”

Competitive Advantage in Regulated Markets

Croatia’s regulatory framework favors established, compliant B2B providers. Operators must obtain licenses requiring significant capital investment, and only licensed casino games operators who have at least one brick-and-mortar casino can offer online gambling. This creates high barriers to entry and positions certified B2B suppliers like Expanse as essential partners for operators.

The post Expanse Studios (GMGI) Obtains Croatian iGaming Certification appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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