Central Europe
EGBA Files Complaint with EC over Online Poker Tax in Germany
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), the Brussels-based trade union of online gaming and betting operators in Europe, has filed a formal state aid complaint to the European Commission (EC) about the German government’s move to fix a 5.3% tax on online poker and slots stakes.
According to the EGBA, the proposed tax violates the EU state aid rules because it is discriminatory against online operators. When the rule comes into force, online betting and gambling providers in the country will end up paying four to five times higher tax than their land-based counterparts.
Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA, explained:
“We have previously made our concerns about the tax proposal known to the German authorities but to no avail and they will now need to justify the measure under EU law. We appreciate the efforts made in recent years towards introducing a new online gambling regulation in the country and recognise that an appropriate tax will need to be paid by online gambling operators. However, the rate of the proposed tax is punitively high and will distort market competition and directly benefit Germany’s land-based gambling establishments over their online counterparts. We call on German politicians to rethink the proposed tax rate and bring it closer in line with the tax rate applied to online casino products in other EU countries.”
Powered by WPeMatico
Austria
Austrian Brand Value Study: NOVOMATIC Defends Top Ranking
In the 23rd edition of the Austrian Brand Value Study, the European Brand Institute (EBI) once again recognised the country’s most valuable and sustainable brands. NOVOMATIC continues its winning streak, ranking second behind Red Bull for the seventh consecutive year with a brand value of EUR 3.938 billion, up 2.0% from the previous year.
“This top ranking once again confirms the strong international appeal of the NOVOMATIC brand and the success of our long-term corporate strategy. We have succeeded in further strengthening the NOVOMATIC brand worldwide through continuous innovation, the expansion of our global presence, and a consistent focus on sustainable growth. The fact that we are once again among the leading companies in the Sustainable Brand Ranking shows that economic success and responsible business practices are inextricably linked at NOVOMATIC,” said Stefan Krenn, Member of the NOVOMATIC AG Executive Board.
This prestigious award highlights NOVOMATIC’s strong market position and sustainable growth. The company has consistently ranked among Austria’s most valuable corporate brands since 2020. The evaluation is based on international standards and considers factors including brand strength, brand potential, trends and economic performance.
NOVOMATIC’s renewed second place reaffirms its position as a leader in the Sustainable Brand Ranking. A key factor in this success is the Group’s corporate responsibility and ESG program, which firmly integrates environmental, social and governance aspects into the long-term corporate strategy. The effectiveness of these measures is regularly confirmed by independent ESG rating agencies.
The Austrian Brand Value Study is conducted annually by the European Brand Institute. For the 2026 ranking, 180 brand-name companies from 16 industries were analyzed, more than 45% of which are Austrian-owned. The evaluation is conducted in accordance with the international standards ISO 10668 and ISO 20671.
With its top rankings in both the Brand Value and Sustainable Brand categories, NOVOMATIC AG has once again underscored its position as one of Austria’s most important companies with international influence.
The post Austrian Brand Value Study: NOVOMATIC Defends Top Ranking appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Casinò Portorož
SYNOT Games Enters Slovenian Market with Casino Portorož Partnership
SYNOT Games continues its European expansion by officially entering the Slovenian market through a strategic partnership with the renowned Casino Portorož and its platform Casino.SI. This marks the provider’s first collaboration in Slovenia and a significant milestone in strengthening its presence across regulated European jurisdictions.
As part of the launch, SYNOT Games has successfully certified an extensive portfolio of 190 games for the Slovenian market – effectively making its full suite of content available to local players. The offering includes a comprehensive range of products, from top-performing slots to popular alternatives such as crash games and roulette, enabling Casino Portorož to deliver a diverse and engaging gaming experience.
The go-live will be supported by the introduction of a SYNOT Progressive Bonus with a €10,000 jackpot pool, designed to keep player engagement from day one. Looking ahead, the partners aim to further expand the integration by fully leveraging SYNOT’s proprietary ecosystem of promotional and engagement tools. The long-term plan is to introduce the full portfolio, including PEAK, Feature Free Rounds and Free Round Bonuses, enabling Casino.SI to maximise player engagement, boost retention, and deliver highly personalised, dynamic bonus experiences.
Martina Krajčí, Chief Commercial Officer at SYNOT Games, said: “We are very pleased to enter the Slovenian market through our partnership with Casino Portorož, a respected and established operator with a strong local presence. Bringing nearly our entire portfolio to Slovenian players demonstrates our commitment to delivering premium content tailored to regulated environments.”
Ksenija Bezek, Head of Online Operations at Casino Portorož, said: “We are delighted to partner with SYNOT Games and introduce their rich and diverse portfolio to our players. Their proven performance across regulated markets, combined with engaging features such as the SPB jackpot, aligns perfectly with our strategy to continuously enhance our offering and deliver innovative entertainment experiences to our customers.”
The post SYNOT Games Enters Slovenian Market with Casino Portorož Partnership appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Central Europe
Habanero goes live on Favbet Romania
Deal adds Habanero’s slots and table games to Favbet.ro as the supplier targets further growth in CEE regulated markets.
Habanero has gone live with Favbet Romania, rolling out its slots and table games portfolio on the operator’s locally focused platform in Romania’s regulated online market.
Under the agreement, Favbet Romania players gain access to Habanero’s full catalogue. The companies positioned the launch as part of Habanero’s wider push to add regulated operator partners across Central and Eastern Europe.
Toni Karapetrov, Head of Corporate Communications at Habanero, said: “Favbet Romania is a well-respected brand in Europe and exactly the kind of partner we look to work with as we deepen our presence in the market. Romania players have a strong appetite for our content and we are confident our games will resonate well with their audience.
“Romania is an important market for us, and going live with this operator is another strong step in our continued European expansion across high-growth regulated markets.”
Cristian Sapovici, Head of Casino, Favbet Romania, said: “The collaboration between Favbet Romania and Habanero has been strong from the very beginning, and this co-branded collaboration agreement marks an important step in strengthening our strategic partnership.
“Our shared objective is to deliver a more integrated gaming experience for players in Romania, supported by consistent visibility, dedicated campaigns, and a stronger presence of Habanero content within the Favbet.ro ecosystem.”
Habanero said it is now live in 22 European regulated markets, and counts operators including Entain, Sisal and Betway among its partners.
The post Habanero goes live on Favbet Romania appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
10bet4 days agoEllis Park Stadium signs five-year naming rights deal with 10bet
-
central asia4 days agoGroove confirms attendance at SBC Summit Tbilisi 2026
-
Bucharest3 days agoEeze opens 1,200 sqm Bucharest hub for technical teams
-
Caesars Rewards7 days agoRaise a Glass: The Vanderpump Hotel Celebrates $813,553 Jackpot Win
-
affiliate marketing4 days agoSEOBROTHERS’ Aleksandra Drigo flags higher barriers for affiliates in regulated Alberta
-
API integration3 days agoBelatra signs cooperation deal to distribute slots via VeliGames
-
Compliance Updates4 days agoKSA Updates Guidelines for Conducting Means Test
-
Big Bass Blast4 days agoPragmatic Play adds Big Bass Blast to Big Bass slot series



