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German City to Shut All Betting Shops Amid Money-laundering Allegations

Published

3 years ago

July 29, 2022

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The German city of Bremen is planning to shut down all of its betting shops after the interior senator said their owners had failed to convince him that they were not fronts for money laundering.

Bremen, Germany’s smallest city-state, announced on Wednesday it had issued rejection notices to 32 establishments that had applied for betting licences under a new gambling law, meaning any bets placed on their premises would with immediate effect be deemed illegal.

The betting shops have until 5 August to legally challenge the decision or supply the senate with paperwork showing how they obtained their startup capital to open their businesses in the first place, such as a loan agreement with a bank.

Bremen authorities say they are tackling a problem that is not unique to their city but widespread across Germany. A 2019 report by the finance ministry and federal police said criminals were not only using legal gambling practices to launder dirty money but often directly investing money to buy up betting shops.

In some such cases, the entire gambling activity taking place on the shop’s premises was merely “simulated” and the profits showing up in the books came from illegal activities such as drug dealing, the report said.

Unlike in Britain, where most high-street betting establishments are run by large gambling companies such as William Hill or Ladbrokes, in Germany betting shops are mostly run by smaller businesses that buy a franchise licence from larger firms.

“At its core, this is about checking the reliability of these operators. We also want to guarantee that no money from dodgy businesses like drug dealing or human trafficking is being laundered here and thus flows into legal money cycles,” Ulrich Mäurer, Bremen’s senator for interior affairs, said.

Over the past few months, Bremen authorities approached four large betting companies that operate in the city, asking them to provide written evidence of how their franchise holders had acquired their startup capital, usually a sum of up to €120,000.

None of the betting shops had since handed in paperwork that met the authorities’ requirements, a Bremen senate spokesperson said. In one instance an application for a gambling licence had been rejected because the betting shop was located too close to a school, rather than because of the missing paperwork.

“Other states in Germany are looking with close interest at what we are achieving by taking this step. If we are successful, I expect many of them will follow suit,” said a spokesperson, Rose Gerdts-Schiffler.

The closures were criticised by Germany’s Sports Betting Association, whose president, Mathias Dahms, said the city’s actions were “arbitrary, legally questionable and completely out of proportion, motivated purely by political goals”.

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TrueLayer to Acquire Zimpler, Creating a European Pay by Bank Powerhouse

Published

4 hours ago

October 21, 2025

Adrienn Sarkany

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

TrueLayer, Europe’s leading Pay by Bank network, today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Zimpler, the fastest growing Pay by Bank network in the Nordics. The acquisition will bring together two of Europe’s most innovative Pay by Bank providers, further strengthening TrueLayer as a formidable force in the European payments industry.

This acquisition marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of Pay by Bank across Europe. By expanding TrueLayer’s pan-European network and deep expertise in payment technology with Zimpler’s strong position in the Nordic market, TrueLayer will be uniquely positioned to further accelerate the shift from legacy card payments to smarter, faster, and more secure payments via Pay by Bank.

The acquisition is another clear step forward for TrueLayer in its mission to build a powerful alternative to legacy payments in Europe, fostering greater competition, innovation and value for businesses and their consumers.

With some of the highest adoption rates of account-to-account (A2A) payments anywhere in the world, the Nordic region has been a proving ground for Pay by Bank. By acquiring Zimpler, TrueLayer will have more than 20 million users and will add coverage across key markets such as Sweden, Finland, and will add additional A2A capabilities through the Swish payment rail integration. This significantly strengthens TrueLayer’s pan-European network, accelerating the shift to smarter, safer, and more cost-effective payments.

Founded in 2012 by Johan Friis and Kristofer Ekman Sinclair, Zimpler has grown rapidly to become a Pay by Bank leader in the Nordics. TrueLayer is proud to welcome Zimpler’s founders and shareholders on this journey – joining the likes of Stripe, Northzone, and Tiger Global in backing its mission to transform the way the world pays.

“I am excited to welcome the Zimpler team to TrueLayer,” said Francesco Simoneschi, Co-founder and CEO of TrueLayer. “We’ve long admired their progress, and we’re excited to add such an incredible group of builders and payment experts to the TrueLayer team We’re not just expanding our footprint in the Nordics – we’re combining talent, technology, and scale to accelerate Pay by Bank adoption across the continent, and further strengthening Pay by Bank as a force of disruption that is changing how the world pays.”

“Joining forces with TrueLayer is a fantastic opportunity to build the leading Pay by Bank provider in Europe” said Johan Strand, CEO of Zimpler. “TrueLayer has a proven track record of innovation and a powerful network. Our combined strengths will allow us to offer an even more compelling proposition to the market. Joining TrueLayer will enable us to reach new heights and drive the next wave of growth in the industry. At the same time, we remain firmly anchored in Sweden, with our local licence and expertise ensuring continuity for our customers.”

The post TrueLayer to Acquire Zimpler, Creating a European Pay by Bank Powerhouse appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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SPORTRADAR AWARDED UNITED ARAB EMIRATES LICENSE

Published

7 hours ago

October 21, 2025

Adrienn Sarkany

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Reading Time: < 1 minute

Sportradar Group AG (NASDAQ: SRAD) has been granted a gaming-related vendor license from the United Arab Emirates’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), an independent entity of the UAE Federal Government with exclusive jurisdiction to regulate, license, and supervise all commercial gaming activities.

The license, operational with immediate effect, affords Sportradar the opportunity to provide its products and services to licensed operators.

Sportradar looks forward to bringing its 20+ year expertise and proprietary sports technology to operators and clients in the region.

The post SPORTRADAR AWARDED UNITED ARAB EMIRATES LICENSE appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Winlandia launches dedicated bingo offering in the UK

Published

8 hours ago

October 21, 2025

Adrienn Sarkany

winlandia-launches-dedicated-bingo-offering-in-the-uk

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Winlandia, the online casino with a Nordic twist powered by SkillOnNet, has expanded its offering by launching bingo vertical to players in the UK and Sweden.

Following the launch, players can now enjoy a range of bingo games from Pragmatic Play, including 90-ball, 80-ball, 75-ball, 50-ball, 30-ball and Speed Bingo, as well as themed rooms, including Big Bass Bingo, Drop Pots, Boom Box and a dedicated Jackpot Room.

They can also take part in the provider’s flagship Bingo Blast format, including spin-offs like Snowball Blast, as well as its hugely popular Diamond Dazzle and just-launched Reels Room.

To super-charge the launch, Winlandia has partnered with Gambling.com and its flagship Whichbingo.co.uk, which will exclusively promote Winlandia Bingo to its audience for several weeks.

To support the launch of Winlandia Bingo, the operator is offering an exclusive welcome bonus together with WhichBingo, consisting of: 100% up to £50 + 300 No Wagering Bingo Tickets + 100 Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza. To support the launch of Winlandia Bingo, the operator is offering an exclusive welcome bonus together with WhichBingo, consisting of: 100% up to £50 + 300 No Wagering Bingo Tickets + 100 Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza,18+, GambleAware and T&C applies.

Christoffer Grönlund, Head of Affiliates at Winlandia, said: “This launch highlights our commitment to long-term affiliate partnerships and strengthens our collaboration with Gambling.com Group.”

“Pragmatic Play’s bingo suite allows us to bring the Winlandia experience to a wider audience while maintaining our Nordic character and focus on entertainment.

We’re proud of how our affiliate relationships continue to drive quality traffic and sustainable growth in key markets like the UK.”

Malcolm Farrimond, Head of Bingo at SkillOnNet, added: “It’s great to see Pragmatic Play Bingo now live on Winlandia in both the UK and Sweden. The product offers a strong mix of bingo games, including Big Bass Bingo, Bingo Blast and Drop Pots, with something to suit different types of players.

“We’re also pleased to launch Big Bass Bingo exclusively for UK players – a new room inspired by the popular slot title. It’s a well-rounded bingo offering that supports Winlandia’s focus on entertainment and variety, and we’re looking forward to seeing how players in both markets respond.”

Corina Tanasa, Account Manager at WhichBingo.co.uk, said: “At WhichBingo.co.uk and Gambling.com are delighted to support the exclusive launch of Winlandia’s new bingo product. We look forward to showcasing this exciting addition to the market and delivering an engaging experience to players. This collaboration marks an important step in bringing innovative bingo content to a wider audience”

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