Latest News

Nordic Gambling Keeps GamingTECH CEE Posted on Nordic Updates

Published

10 months ago

August 2, 2023

Reading Time: 4 minutes

HIPTHER Agency and the #hipthers are delighted to introduce the Nordic Updates Sponsor of the upcoming GamingTECH CEE Summit taking place in Budapest, on 26-27 September, 2023!

Nordic Gambling is the only legal firm in the Nordic countries specialising in gambling related law such as licensing, compliance advice and public affairs.

Having extensive experience in the industry through successful collaborations with operators, suppliers, service providers and Government regulators, Nordic Gambling is the ideal partner to keep the CEE region posted on the latest news from the Nordics! Especially since they have been closely involved in the development of the law and regulation in a number of European jurisdictions, including Denmark and Sweden.

We caught up with Maria McDonald, Founding Partner at Nordic Gambling, to find out more about the firm that helped shape gambling regulation in the Nordics, get their expert opinion on the current status of the industry, and hear their estimations for the future.

Hi, Maria, thank you for joining us today! Can you please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a few things about your role at Nordic Gambling?

I am a Swedish lawyer and a founding partner of Nordic Gambling. I consider myself specialized in all legal matters related to gambling, including licensing, regulatory and general compliance matters. I also have worked extensively within media, sponsorships, dispute resolution, IT and data protection.

Previous experience includes roles as Head of Legal in Unibet and General Counsel Scandinavia in Lagardère Sports. I have also previously acted as Chairman of the Danish Online Gambling Association (DOGA) and treasurer of the Swedish Branschföreningen för Onlinespel (BOS).

How did the idea for a law firm specialising in the gambling industry occur? Did the founding partner(s) have any prior experience with the industry, or did they happen to spot a gap in the legal services market?

Yes, all founding partners have previous experience from the gambling industry. In addition to my own experience as Head of Legal for a leading operator, Morten Ronde has worked in the industry for more than 20 years, including for the Danish Gambling Authority and as head of the Danish trade group Spillebranchen (Danish Online Gambling Association). Furthermore Henrik Norsk Hoffmann has specialized in gambling law, corporate and commercial law and arbitration for over 14 years and has been the lead counsel for some of the most important court cases regarding gambling in the Danish market.

The idea to start a firm in the already re-regulated Danish market was originally founded between Morten and Henrik in 2017 and when the re-regulation in Sweden started to take shape, I decided to join the exciting opportunity to also offer an office in Stockholm.

Do the Nordic countries share a common legislative framework for gambling compliance and regulation, or are there notable differences among them?

Currently the Swedish and Danish markets are re-regulated and have a lot in common. The Swedish Gambling Act used the Danish Gambling Act as a starting point and even though there are some important differences these days, the similarities are striking.

Norway and Finland are currently markets with monopolies in place but as many will be aware, the Finnish market is moving and we can anticipate a re-regulation there in a not too distant future. It will be interesting to continue to follow these developments and you can rest assured that Nordic Gambling will be looking to provide services in Finland too.

What do you consider the most important legislative step for the gambling industry in the Nordics in the last few years?

Definitely the abolishment of the monopoly in Finland and hopefully eventually also Norway.

Hipther’s GamingTECH CEE that you are sponsoring, is the leading gaming industry event for the Central and Eastern Europe region. What are the fundamental differences (if any) between the legal framework and regulations of the Nordics and CEE for gambling?

I think it is very difficult to give specific examples. The European markets for online gambling are still so fragmented. The positive news and something that is a similarity is that more and more countries are moving towards regulated markets where there is not just one, state owned, actor in the gambling field. My hope is that the gambling markets will become more and more similar with common standards on e.g. how to counter problem gambling and that we will see implementation of best practices here.

Closing, what is your advice to the participants of GamingTECH CEE Summit, in terms of their operations in the Nordic region?

Make sure you have a good understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements. Sanctions are harsh, both under monopoly markets and the re-regulated Danish and Swedish regimes. A good start is to use Nordic Gambling for your legal advice 🙂

Outro:

Thank you very much for your time and insightful responses, Maria! We are thankful to Nordic Gambling for their continued support and for sharing their expertise with our readers.

For more information about the law firm, and to seek their legal advice, get in touch with Nordic Gambling here.

We look forward to seeing you in Budapest at GamingTECH CEE for the annual reunion of the best companies and professionals from Gaming and Technology in Central and Eastern Europe!

Join the #hipthers and Nordic Gambling in an event that will redefine the future of gaming in the CEE region! Get Your Tickets for GamingTECH CEE Now!

If you’re looking to contribute to the iGaming industry’s most established events and expand your network in the industry, Become A Hipther Event Sponsor!

Latest News

DigitalEjis and Exalogic: Pioneering Responsible Gaming in Italy

Published

1 hour ago

May 20, 2024

George Miller

Reading Time: < 1 minute

DigitalEjis, the pioneering software development company in responsible gaming, and Exalogic, Italy’s premier gambling platform provider, have joined forces in an exciting partnership.

This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the Italian gaming landscape when it comes to upgrading responsible gambling practices and addiction prevention.

Predictive Software for Safer Gaming

DigitalEjis has developed an unparalleled software solution that predicts the onset of gambling addiction before a player places their first bet. Unlike existing tools that identify addiction once compulsive behavior is already underway, DigitalEjis’ predictive software enables operators to customize the betting experience for each customer from day one. By doing so, operators can offer their players the safest and most entertaining environment possible.

Exalogic’s Role in the Partnership

Exalogic, renowned for its robust and reliable gambling platform, has chosen DigitalEjis as their only partner for predictive and antiaddiction product. This strategic alliance ensures that responsible gaming practices become an integral part of the Italian gambling landscape.

Embracing the Italian Market

Dr. Ian McLoughlin, Founder and CEO of DigitalEjis, expressed his enthusiasm: “It’s great to see how wholeheartedly the Italian market has embraced DigitalEjis through this agreement with Italy’s number one platform provider and value-added services partner to the gambling industry.” This collaboration positions DigitalEjis as a first mover in the Italian territory.

Responsible Gambling at the Core

Italy’s new decree on gambling, particularly Article 14, underscores the importance of responsible gaming. The Decree focuses on protecting players from the onset of gambling addiction also adopting software empowered by Artificial Intelligence. DigitalEjis’ product aligns perfectly with this initiative, providing accurate predictions and personalized protection for players.

The post DigitalEjis and Exalogic: Pioneering Responsible Gaming in Italy appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

Welder racks up over $69,000 from three back-to-back online casino wins

Published

1 hour ago

May 20, 2024

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

A 60-year-old welder has netted $69,850, following three consecutive victories at WinSpirit Casino.

“I’ve had some fantastic wins. The best ones were $26,550 and $25,300 during the bonus game,” the man shared.

The lucky winner, who decided to remain anonymous, caught luck by the tail in the Diamonds Power: Hold & Win slot.

“When I play, I follow a strategy. I start with bets of $5-10 and increase them after a few wins,” he said.

Following a string of consecutive wins, the man reached a $50 bet, which ultimately led to his coveted winnings.

“$50 spins go through my finds quickly, but if you get the bonus, the payoff is unbelievable,” the man added.

Diamonds Power: Hold & Win is a 3×3 slot by Playson featuring four fixed jackpots and a unique Hold & Win feature. The game offers a maximum win of 5,150 times the initial bet per round.

To celebrate his success, the man decided to dine at a local casino restaurant with his wife, with whom he had shared 27 years of marriage

“During dinner, we came up with the idea to test my winning strategy again, so we opened the familiar WinSpirit page on my phone,” he laughed.

The fortunate player stumbled upon WinSpirit Casino accidentally while searching for an online platform to enjoy slot games.

“During my search, I tried a few online casinos. But WinSpirit stood out for its ease of use and quick verification process,” he said.

The casino offers its new players a 100% bonus up to 200 USD+ 100 Free Spins and a 200% bonus up to 200 USD on their first and second deposits respectively.

The man also noted that the main reason he plays at the casino is to have fun.

“I play for fun. And big wins… They are like a pleasant bonus that you get while enjoying your pastime.”

The self-employed welder is living a peaceful life, enjoying outdoor activities like fishing, hunting, camping, and motocross biking.

The post Welder racks up over $69,000 from three back-to-back online casino wins appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

Skyesports Championship 2024: Counter-Strike 2 unveiled with $200,000 Prize Pool, Global Teams, and LAN in India.

Published

2 hours ago

May 20, 2024

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Skyesports, a premier global IP builder for gaming and esports, has announced the return of its longest-running esports IP, the Skyesports Championship, for its sixth edition in 2024. The Counter-Strike 2 esports tournament in the Skyesports Championship 2024 will feature an impressive prize pool of $200,000.

Teams from around the world will converge in India for an intense on-ground event to compete for the prestigious title. The Skyesports Championship 2024: Counter-Strike 2 Main Event is set to happen from July 23 to 28 in India with eight teams competing for the title. Five of these will be directly invited while two will secure their slots through the Europe and India Qualifiers, respectively. The final slot is reserved for the champions of the previous Skyesports Counter-Strike 2 tournament, the Skyesports Masters 2024.

The list of teams is as follows:
● Aurora Gaming: Serbia (Skyesports Masters 2024 champions)
● Mongolz: Mongolia
● BetBoom: Russia
● Eternal Fire: Turkey
● Furia Esports: Brazil
● TBD (5th invited team will be announced at a later date)
● EU Qualifier Champion: TBD
● India Qualifier Champion: TBD

Commenting on the Skyesports Championship 2024 Counter-Strike 2, Shiva Nandy, Founder and CEO, Skyesports, said, “The Skyesports Championship has been our premium IP which was founded in 2018 as a regional esports tournament in Chennai. Now, after five continuous editions, the tournament is back for its sixth year and is bigger than ever featuring the top teams from around the world in the Counter-Strike 2 esports tournament. Due to unfortunate circumstances, we couldn’t host the Skyesports Masters as a LAN in India. This time, however,we are thrilled to bring some of the world’s most distinguished Counter-Strike 2 teams to the Skyesports Championship 2024 Main Event.

Details for the India and Europe Qualifiers will be announced soon. The Skyesports Championship 2024 is the third tournament in the Skyesports $1 million Counter-Strike 2 esports roadmap. Earlier this year, Skyesports successfully hosted the Skyesports Grand Slam in Pune, India, and the Skyesports Masters.

Furthermore, the Skyesports Championship 2024 is a multi-game esports IP. Besides the Counter-Strike 2 tournament, the IP will feature several other gaming titles catering to different gaming communities. These will be announced at a later date.

The post Skyesports Championship 2024: Counter-Strike 2 unveiled with $200,000 Prize Pool, Global Teams, and LAN in India. appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.