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Ireland’s New Gambling Regulator to Begin Work on Phased Basis Next Year

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Ireland’s new gambling regulator is likely to begin overseeing betting businesses in the Republic midway through next year, industry figures predict.

President Micheal D Higgins recently signed the new Gambling Regulation Act, which overhauls licensing and creates a new authority to govern betting firms, into law. Industry figures forecast that the new regime should begin operating midway through next year, a key point for many businesses as they will have to renew online betting licences by that time.

Government also has to pass several milestones before the new Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland can start functioning, including appointing the seven people the body requires.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee appointed senior civil servant Anne Marie Caulfield as chief executive designate of the authority in summer 2022. Her office has 11 staff. According to the Department of Justice, the State’s Public Appointments Service will shortly begin recruiting the authority’s seven members.

The Minister will appoint the candidates the service recommends.

The department could not say when the authority would start regulating but noted this would happen in a phased “timely manner” after its establishment.

Jack Chambers, Minister for Finance, earmarked €9.1 million for the authority next year in this month’s budget. That includes €4 million for technology.

Ms Caulfield wrote to industry organisations last week confirming that her organisation would begin its work on a “phased basis” but pointing out that it has already completed many preparations. In a statement she said that the authority was committed to keeping the industry fully informed so businesses can “plan for the new regulatory regime”.

Meanwhile, the Public Service Appointments Service last week advertised for someone to head the authority’s social fund. Under the new law’s provisions, betting businesses will contribute to this fund which the authority will use to tackle problem gambling.

Betting businesses regard the fund’s establishment as one of the key steps towards establishing the new regime.

Alongside that, they say that the authority will also have to set up its new licensing system. The law demands that all gambling businesses operating in the Republic be licensed and makes it a criminal offence to operate without a proper permit.

Lawyers at Arthur Cox recently noted that current permits are preserved until licensing sections of the act come into force. Existing high street and online bookies’ licences will have a run-off period, but lawyers said that how this would work in practice depended on how the regulator developed the new system.

Betting businesses are keen that the authority works on a national self-exclusion register for customers who voluntarily ask bookmakers not to take their bets. Currently, most individual bookies have systems where customers who fear they have a problem, or are at risk, can exclude themselves in this way.

The post Ireland’s New Gambling Regulator to Begin Work on Phased Basis Next Year appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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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Soft2Bet recognised as Innovator in iGaming Entertainment by SBC Awards 2025

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Soft2Bet has won the Innovation in Casino Entertainment award at the SBC Awards 2025 for its MEGA (Motivational Engineering Gaming Application) solution, recognising the product’s impact on player experience.

Soft2Bet is continuously reshaping the industry through its cutting-edge technologies, bridging the gap between casino and casual gaming. Rather than relying on bonus-heavy acquisition, Soft2Bet unites rigorous compliance and AML policies with fast-moving product innovation and a start-up spirit, bringing leadership and talent together behind MEGA to deliver compliant growth and stronger retention.

iGaming Powered by Entertainment

In 2024, Soft2Bet was recognised for innovation across its platform, including its casino and sportsbook products. This year, Soft2Bet has demonstrated that gamification is entertainment, offering players meaningful progression, real choice and localised experiences. In challenging European markets, Soft2Bet’s brands act as a proof of concept with their successes, demonstrating higher retention, stronger engagement, and sustainable performance, achieved responsibly and without having to rely on excessive bonus offers.

One gamified system for market growth

Gamification in iGaming has evolved from a simple marketing add-on to a core design philosophy that shapes the entire player journey. The Innovation in Casino Entertainment Award recognises this industry-wide shift and sets a clearer standard for the sector. Soft2Bet’s MEGA gamification engine transforms this concept into a unified engagement layer across the casino, fully configurable by market and grounded in missions, seasonal events, and transparent rewards. The result is not only better entertainment and stronger loyalty among players, but also a sustainable model that aligns with local licensing requirements and supports long-term growth.

Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, commented: “Soft2Bet is a shining example of innovation in action, so massive congratulations on winning the Innovation in Casino Entertainment award. Their MEGA product is a true benchmark for innovation, and their role in leading the Gamification Academy, which we introduced this year at SBC Summit, shows that they are not only innovators but also knowledge leaders who willingly share their expertise with the entire industry. Their work continues to raise the standard for what entertainment can and should be, so big kudos to the team.”

Oksana Tsyhankova, CCO at Soft2Bet, said: “Soft2Bet team accepts the challenge of delivering the best customer experience and bringing new entertainment to the iGaming industry. We are proving it by aligning leaders and talent across product, compliance and B2B, and by applying strong design, localisation and brand-building expertise”.

Beyond its award-winning product innovations, Soft2Bet also supported the Legends Charity Game, helped to facilitate the Gamification Academy that managed to gather the full audience hall of operators, and judged the inaugural First Pitch competition to bring a fresh layer of interactivity to the event and create something greater, contributing to the industry.

The post Soft2Bet recognised as Innovator in iGaming Entertainment by SBC Awards 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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BOS welcomes proposal to expand criminalization of unlicensed gambling companies

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BOS – the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling – comments on the inquiry into the so-called scope of application of the Gambling Act that was submitted to the Ministry of Finance today. The inquiry proposes that passive acceptance of Swedish gambling consumers shall be illegal for gambling companies that do not hold a Swedish gambling license. Gambling companies without a Swedish gambling license must therefore take active measures to exclude Swedish gambling consumers.

BOS welcomes the proposal and has been working towards such a change in the law ever since the reregulation of the Swedish gambling market in 2019.

This is an important contribution to the possibility of strengthening the Swedish gambling license market, which is now proposed to criminalize almost all unlicensed gambling in Sweden. I foresee the government shortly submitting a bill to the Riksdag in accordance with the investigation’s proposal. Good job Mr. Investigator and with the hope of equally good job from the government and the Riksdag to now proceed with legislation on the matter. Unlicensed gambling in Sweden must be smoked out,” says BOS Secretary General Gustaf Hoffstedt.

The post BOS welcomes proposal to expand criminalization of unlicensed gambling companies appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Midnite Express: UK sportsbook laying on free coach travel for football fans

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Midnite, Southampton’s official training kit partner and Sheffield United’s principal partner, will be putting on coaches – free of charge – for Saints fans for their 460-mile-round trip to Bramall Lane next Tuesday

UK sportsbook Midnite will be supplying free coach travel for Southampton fans for their trip to Sheffield United on Tuesday, September 30.

Midnite is the official training kit partner of Southampton and the principal partner of Sheffield United for the 2025/26 season, has created The Midnite Express to cover the near 500-mile-round trip to and from Bramall Lane.

The lucky Saints fans will be joined on The Midnite Express coaches by three Southampton legends, with one being none other than Matt Le Tissier.

Le Tissier, who scored 100 goals in 270 top-flight appearances for Saints, said: “With the cost of living crisis that we’ve got going on in this country at the moment, with the train services, it’s really difficult for fans to get to and from these away games.

“And I think The Midnite Express initiative of putting coaches on for the fans to get up to Sheffield United is absolutely brilliant.

“I’ve never been to an away game on an official coach with loads of other Saints fans, so I’m really looking forward to it and looking forward to engaging with the fans on the bus.

“I’m sure we’ll have a good laugh and we’ll have an interesting journey, that’s for sure!”

Andrew Mook, Head of Brand Marketing at Midnite, added: “We’re absolutely delighted to launch The Midnite Express and to be able to offer Southampton supporters free coach travel to and from our principal partner, Sheffield United.

“It’s hugely exciting for us to support the fans in this way and to give them the chance to follow their team without worrying about transport costs for a long midweek journey. It means more Saints fans can focus purely on supporting their team.

“We hope this makes the journey feel a lot closer, and the matchday even more special.”

The post Midnite Express: UK sportsbook laying on free coach travel for football fans appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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