Press Releases
Swedish online casino shutter would cause instant ‘black-market boom’, says BonusFinder MD
Government considers ‘extreme measures’ as activity rises amid COVID-19 restrictions but closures would drive more players to unlicensed sites instead of protecting them
9th April, 2020 – The Swedish government’s threat to temporarily shut down licensed online casinos would have a disastrous effect on the industry and drive thousands more players to the black market, BonusFinder.com has warned.
The minister in charge of gambling policy, Ardalan Shekarabi, this week warned that “extraordinary measures” would be implemented if operators do not take action to slow the increase in igaming activity seen in the last two weeks, as people are told to stay at home because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
According to new data from Sweden’s gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen, there has been a 33% increase in registrations and logins to play online casino games with 17 of the 60 licensed operators in the country in the last 14 days.
Last month, Swedish market research carried out by BonusFinder.com found that almost a third of Swedish online casino players are searching for ‘unlicensed casinos’, with growing numbers turning to black-market brands due to the market’s restrictive gaming regulations, introduced in January 2019.
Instead of protecting players, a shutdown of online casino brands, however, is likely to lead to thousands more players searching for and depositing funds on unlicensed sites, as well as causing further financial damage to licensed operators, according to BonusFinder.com.
Fintan Costello, Managing Director, Bonusfinder.com, said: “The Swedish government will make a colossal mistake if it chooses to temporarily close down online casino sites in an attempt to protect players. As our research has shown, almost a third of online casino players are already looking to the black market for a more attractive offering since restrictive rules were imposed in January 2019. These latest plans would create an immediate black-market boom.
“Swedish legislation requires operators to have strict responsible gambling procedures in place, therefore the right measures are already there. The focus should instead be on ensuring these are adhered to rather than taking a knee jerk reaction to close down all legitimate brands and forcing even more players to unprotected sites.”
Awards
Dplus Kia sweep Karmine Corp 3-0 to win League of Legends at Esports World Cup 2026
Dplus Kia won League of Legends at Esports World Cup 2026 on July 19 in Paris, sweeping home team Karmine Corp 3-0 in the Grand Final. The result gives the South Korean roster its first LAN tournament win of the 2026 season and, per the event, its first major international trophy since 2020. Dplus Kia earned $600,000 and 1,000 points toward the Club Championship.
Dplus Kia’s run started in the Group Stage lower bracket after a loss to AG AL. The team then posted consecutive best-of-three sweeps over FURIA and G2 Esports to reach playoffs, followed by a quarterfinal upset of Bilibili Gaming and a semifinal win over Esports World Cup 2025 winners Gen.G.
Karmine Corp reached the final after a comeback win over T1 in the semifinals, setting up an all-underdog championship match on home soil. In the final, Dplus Kia controlled game one, edged a close game two after a late Karmine Corp mistake, and closed out the series 3-0.
“It’s been five years since the international stage, and I’m so proud of myself, and I’m just so excited right now,” said Heo “ShowMaker” Su following the grand final.
Sin “Smash” Guem-jae was named SONY MVP and received an additional $25,000. The 19-year old finished the tournament with an 8.1 KDA (kills/deaths/assists) statistic. “I’m so excited right now, I’m so happy,” Smash said, after receiving the award. “It’s also my birthday in Korea, this is a phenomenal birthday.” Earlier on July 19, Gen.G secured third place over T1 with a 2-1 win, collecting $220,000.
The post Dplus Kia sweep Karmine Corp 3-0 to win League of Legends at Esports World Cup 2026 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Artificial Intelligence
Pay4Fun integrates payments into Betconstruct AI ecosystem for Brazil
Integration adds Pix, account validation, fraud controls and compliance tools for operators targeting Brazil’s regulated betting market.
Pay4Fun has integrated its financial infrastructure with Betconstruct AI’s platform in Brazil, giving operators connected to the ecosystem access to payments and compliance tooling built for the country’s regulated betting market.
Pay4Fun said Betconstruct AI clients will be able to use Pix payment processing, account ownership validation, transaction monitoring, fraud prevention, and compliance tools aligned with Brazil’s regulatory requirements.
According to Leonardo Baptista, CEO and Co-Founder of Pay4Fun, regulation is pushing operators to look beyond basic processing. “The Brazilian market has entered a new phase of maturity. Today, operators require solutions that go far beyond payment processing. They need partners capable of delivering security, compliance, and operational efficiency in an increasingly demanding regulatory environment. By integrating our solutions with Betconstruct AI, we are expanding access to a financial infrastructure specifically designed to meet the needs of the Brazilian market.”
Betconstruct AI said the integration strengthens its Brazil-facing offer for clients operating in the country or planning entry. “Pay4Fun was selected based on the expertise and industry knowledge the company has built within the Brazilian betting market. As the industry continues to evolve, the importance of working with specialized partners capable of delivering security, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance continues to grow,” said Beatriz Lopes, the Brazil Regional Director.
Pay4Fun said it was the first payment institution serving the betting industry to receive authorization from the Central Bank of Brazil, and that the company’s infrastructure combines monitoring, identity verification, fraud and anti-money laundering controls, and compliance processes tailored to regulated iGaming operations.
The post Pay4Fun integrates payments into Betconstruct AI ecosystem for Brazil appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Artificial Intelligence
BetConstruct AI hosts Harmony Predictstreet event in Yerevan
Eighth Harmony edition runs July 8–9 and spotlights ADI Predictstreet collaboration ahead of the FIFA World Cup Final.
BetConstruct AI held its Harmony Predictstreet event on July 8–9, 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia, bringing together more than 300 guests for two days of networking and company updates.
The eighth edition introduced the “Predictstreet” branding to reflect BetConstruct AI’s strategic collaboration with ADI Predictstreet, described in the release as “FIFA’s Official Prediction Market Partner.” BetConstruct AI said the partnership includes integrating ADI Predictstreet’s prediction market solutions and official match streaming rights into its platform, timed for “the most important commercial moment in the four-year sports calendar, with the FIFA World Cup Final just days away.”
Day 1 was hosted at Garni Temple for an evening reception, including a live performance by the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra, a mapping show and music from DJ Leblanc.
Day 2 began at SoftConstruct headquarters with an office tour and networking session, before moving to Dvin Music Hall for the Harmony Predictstreet Gala Dinner. BetConstruct AI said founders and executive leadership presented updates on Eventbook, the ADI Predictstreet partnership, Betting Mate, The Last Battle Universe, Betbuilder & Powerbank, Softgates, and “the latest updates driving Vivaro.me and Open Stake forward.”
The company positioned the event as a forum for discussing future direction across its ecosystem, and confirmed plans to continue the series with a ninth edition.
The post BetConstruct AI hosts Harmony Predictstreet event in Yerevan appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
Canada7 days agoDraftKings Set to Launch its Online Sportsbook and Casino in Alberta
-
Canada7 days agoAltenar Joins Alberta’s New Regulated iGaming Market
-
ESPN Networks3 days agoTHE 57th ANNUAL WORLD SERIES OF POKER® CONCLUDES AN EXTRAORDINARY SUMMER OF GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT AND ELITE COMPETITION
-
Latest News6 days agoEveryMatrix’s Fantasma Games launches three-reel slot Bonus Bullets
-
Latest News4 days agoBooming Games launches Tasty Bonanza Max Scatter slot
-
Latest News5 days agoSCCG Management Launches Dedicated SCCG Brazil Division with Local Partner Thomas Carvalhaes
-
Latest News6 days agoBlokotech adds Wicked Games slots in new content deal
-
Latest News5 days agoEsportes Gaming Brasil takes two ClienteSA Awards 2026 wins; exec named Personality of the Year



