Compliance Updates
SPRIBE WINS UK COURT INJUNCTION AGAINST AVIATOR LLC TO PROTECT SPRIBE’S ICONIC AVIATOR CRASH GAME
In a key ruling, on 1 August 2025 the UK High Court granted SPRIBE an interim injunction preventing a Georgian company, Aviator LLC, from launching or marketing its copycat crash game in the UK. The order was granted to protect SPRIBE’s award-winning Aviator game.
Speaking today, SPRIBE’s founder, David Natroshvili, said: “I am pleased that the highly respected UK Court supports our position and has granted an injunction preventing Aviator LLC from launching and promoting its copycat game. SPRIBE created the Aviator crash game in 2018 and is the sole owner of the game globally. We will continue to take all necessary steps globally to protect SPRIBE, our partners and players from any third parties who seek to undermine or infringe our rights.”
Granting of UK High Court injunction
SPRIBE obtained a UK gambling licence for its Aviator game in December 2020 and has been very successful in the UK market. A Georgian company, Aviator LLC, recently stated its intent to release a copycat game in the UK, also branded Aviator, and has engaged in promotional communications targeted at SPRIBE’s UK customers.
This copycat game is not authorised by SPRIBE. It blatantly infringes the copyright works which SPRIBE owns in its game and seeks to misappropriate the goodwill which SPRIBE has created in its Aviator brand. To prevent the clear risk of reputational and financial damage from any unlawful action by Aviator LLC, SPRIBE has sought, and now won, an interim injunction preventing Aviator LLC from launching or marketing its copycat game in the UK.
Throughout these proceedings and elsewhere, Aviator LLC has provided conflicting and contradictory evidence. At the hearing Aviator LLC sought to evade responsibility for this matter, including attempting to misdirect the UK Court by obscuring its role through the creation of a shifting network of licensing entities, denying previously stated plans to enter the UK market and refusing to provide key evidence. This led to Aviator LLC’s conduct being described by the Court as ‘childlike’ and ‘petulant’.
Further information relating to bad faith actions by Aviator LLC
This activity by Aviator LLC forms part of a continuing chain of bad faith actions by Georgian businessman Temur Ugulava, who is behind Aviator LLC and a series of connected companies, aimed at exploiting the commercial success and international reputation of SPRIBE’s brand.
Unfounded and opportunistic claims were launched in the Georgian courts last year by Aviator LLC, seeking to expropriate – for the territory of Georgia only – the Aviator branding and logo used by SPRIBE. The flawed Georgian ruling followed an unusually rapid and procedurally flawed legal process in a jurisdiction where concerns around judicial independence and transparency have been widely documented.
SPRIBE continues firmly to reject these claims brought by Aviator LLC, which related solely to the use of a specific logo and branding in Georgia and did not concern ownership of the Aviator game itself. SPRIBE’s trademarks remain valid and protected outside of Georgia, including in the EU and UK.
SPRIBE is aware that Aviator LLC and companies affiliated to it (such as Aviator Studio Group or AviGroup) have directly contacted SPRIBE customers, falsely claiming to be the owner of the intellectual property rights in the branding of SPRIBE’s Aviator game, whilst at the same time promoting their own copycat version of it. These claims are bogus. The Aviator game, including its features, branding and intellectual property, are entirely created and owned by SPRIBE. SPRIBE will continue to take all necessary steps to defend its rights against any third parties who seek to undermine or infringe them.
Aviator LLC has also sought to use the flawed ruling in Georgia to launch spurious proceedings elsewhere. Such claims are without merit and will be vigorously defended.
The post SPRIBE WINS UK COURT INJUNCTION AGAINST AVIATOR LLC TO PROTECT SPRIBE’S ICONIC AVIATOR CRASH GAME appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Compliance Updates
Dutch Regulator Outlines 5 Key Supervisory Priorities for 2026 Agenda
The Dutch Gambling Regulator (KSA) has announced that it will place a greater focus on combating illegality and player protection in its oversight in 2026. The regulator outlined its priorities for 2026 in five key themes.
In 2026, the KSA will pay extra attention to the following topics:
• Combating illegal gambling offers
• Protection of vulnerable groups: minors and young adults
• Supervision of the duty of care
• Supervision of advertising
• Supervision of compliance with the Wwft
Additional capacity is being freed up to combat illegal gambling, primarily to frustrate and disable the infrastructure of illegal parties. This could include closer collaboration with payment service providers, hosting providers and social media companies.
The increased priority on protecting vulnerable groups and enhanced oversight of advertising and duty of care aligns with the Ministry’s renewed vision, which places a greater emphasis on player protection. A separate player protection department has been established for this purpose within the KSA’s new organisational structure, effective from January 2026.
The post Dutch Regulator Outlines 5 Key Supervisory Priorities for 2026 Agenda appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
ADG
Arizona Department of Gaming Names Juan Carlos Estrada as Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Executive Director
The post Arizona Department of Gaming Names Juan Carlos Estrada as Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Executive Director appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Compliance Updates
Cyprus Betting Authority Deploys 150 Secret Agents to Conduct Raids on Betting Agencies
The Cyprus NBA is significantly ramping up its regulatory oversight for 2026. Raids on betting agencies are being carried out by “undercover” agents as part of stepped-up checks by the NBA to ensure compliance with the law.
The NBA has procured inspection services from the private sector, deploying 150 undercover agents who pose as customers and enter betting premises unannounced.
While on site, the agents monitor staff conduct, check whether illegal bets are being placed and verify that minors are not present.
Alongside these surprise visits, NBA officers also carry out on-site inspections and monitor betting websites used by hundreds of players, while inspections are also conducted to identify potential money-laundering activity.
The issues related to the violations of rules were raised during a meeting of the House Finance Committee, where an NBA representative said the Authority imposed fines totalling €46,000 last year.
Of that amount, €26,000 related to breaches linked to the lack of required licences, with the remainder stemming from the presence of minors on premises and other violations of the legislation.
At the same time, data submitted to parliament showed that bets worth €1.3 billion were placed last year, with players receiving €1.17bn in winnings.
Against that backdrop, and following an increase in the betting tax, state revenue from betting rose to €6 million, up from €3.2m a year earlier.
During the discussion, it was also noted that a draft bill has been pending at the Ministry of Finance for around a year.
The bill provides for new products and services, as well as enhanced safeguards for responsible gaming and the protection of minors.
A representative of the ministry clarified that there are no plans to introduce online casino games.
Expected revenue from betting activity is projected at €71.85m this year, an increase of 28.03 per cent, or €15.73m, compared with 2025.
Revenue is forecast to rise further to €75.27m in 2027 and €78.59m in 2028.
Breaking down the figures, betting tax is expected to generate €53m, licence fees €8.2m and betting activity contributions €10m.
Class A and Class B licence holders pay tax at a rate of 10 per cent on net betting earnings, with Class A covering land-based betting and Class B online betting.
In addition, €32m relates to betting tax on Opap’s Cyprus’ gross profits under the new contract, while licences for Class A and B operators, authorised representatives and premises are expected to bring in €2.8m.
A further €5m concerns Opap’s Cyprus’ licence fee and €0.4m its supervision contribution, also under the revised agreement.
The post Cyprus Betting Authority Deploys 150 Secret Agents to Conduct Raids on Betting Agencies appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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