Central Europe

A Q&A session with Endorphina’s Head of Legal!

Published

3 years ago

June 11, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Recently, Jakub (Head of Legal at Endorphina) had an interview and dropped some professional insights and thoughts about Germany, their new regulations, the treaty, and more.

So, big things are happening in Germany, right?

Yes, Germany was always a rather complicated market. The need for new gambling legislation to fully legalize online gambling was very urgent. Finally, there is hope when the new legislation has been introduced in 2020. And in spring 2021, the number of states to approve the new gambling treaty was met and Germany’s State Treaty on Gambling aka “Der Glücksspielneuregulierungstaatsverag” will become effective from the 1^st of July 2021.

The Treaty on Gambling becomes effective in July, does that mean that starting from July all operators must have a respective gambling license issued by German regulator?

No, it does not mean that. Germany is not that far in the process and the new regulatory body must first be established. Work to establish this body is underway, and sources suggest it will be fully operational by the end of 2022.

When the regulatory body is not established yet, how will Germany apply or enforce new rules introduced in the Treaty on Gambling?

The transitional regime has been introduced and does stipulate guidelines that certain online gambling offerings, namely those of virtual slot machines and online poker, which are actually not yet permitted under the current Interstate Treaty on Gambling, will be exempt from enforcement if operators meet certain requirements that are recognized as technically feasible. Basically, it is some sort of “gentleman agreement” between operators and the government saying: “follow the rules and we will leave you alone”. However, such “guidelines” cannot be mistaken with an effective law!

What requirements must be met in order to comply with the guidelines of the transitional regime?

It is a set of various rules. For example, for virtual slot games, the maximum bet must be 1 euro, the spin duration must be at least 5 seconds, no jackpots or auto-spins are allowed, reality checks must be triggered after 60 minutes session of un-interrupted duration and after that, the player must take a 5-minute cool-down break, where they are unable to place a bet, etc. As you can see, the new Treaty on Gambling really focuses on player protection and preventing gambling addiction.

Are there any problematic parts of the new regulation?

There are always some problematic parts and challenges from the regulatory point of view. On one side, the regulator tries to protect players but on the other side, games still must remain attractive compared to other markets. So, we can see those lacking jackpots, spin duration, and EUR 1 maximal bets could potentially cause some issues with the attractiveness of games and that is even before we will get into taxes.

What is wrong with taxes?

There is a proposal of new taxation of poker and online slots in the amount of 5,3% from all stakes. Considering that the average RTP (return to player) rate from slot games is 96%, such taxation would mean that the operators would be losing money on slots. Actually, to make the revenue from slots equal as without the proposed tax, the RTP of the slots would have to be reduced. And here we come back to the attractivity of games for players. Why would you play a game with a lower RTP when, just a click away, you can play the very same game with a higher RTP, only in an unregulated casino? This is why many experts are afraid that such taxation would drive players to the black market, which is very risky, especially if the jurisdiction is just opening. This taxation is still not yet agreed upon, but unfortunately, there is a high probability that it will actually happen. Even with bet limits or spin durations, Germany is still a very interesting market so we can only hope that the German parliament will reconsider their tax proposal.

Central Europe

BGaming enters Slovakia in partnership with state-owned operator TIPOS

Published

3 days ago

May 29, 2024

George Miller

bgaming-enters-slovakia-in-partnership-with-state-owned-operator-tipos

Reading Time: 2 minutes

iGaming content provider BGaming has made its debut in Slovakia after penning a landmark content agreement with state lottery operator TIPOS.

As part of the deal, BGaming has integrated several licensed games, such as Alien Fruits, Wild Cash, and Bonanza Billion with TIPOS’ online casino platform.

Founded in 1992, TIPOS currently offers lottery, sports betting and online casino in Slovakia. As a result of its collaboration with BGaming, the former government-owned monopoly will strengthen its slots game offering in an increasingly competitive market.

Following its market launch, BGaming has bolstered its leadership credentials in Europe. The studio continues to deliver on its promise to create the best iGaming experiences for players in regulated markets worldwide.

Marina Ostrovtsova, CEO at BGaming, said: “Slovakia is a market we have been working to enter for two years. It has plenty of potential and we are thrilled to partner with TIPOS to deliver BGaming’s unrivalled proposition to the players.

“The titles we have integrated are greatly varied and will appeal to a broad range of player preferences. We look forward to seeing how this partnership develops.”

Štefan Hrček, Casino Brand Manager at TIPOS, said: “We are delighted to strengthen our portfolio with a handpicked selection of BGaming’s most iconic games, including its first-ever cascading reel game Bonanza Billion.

“BGaming has established a strong reputation as one of the leading suppliers in Europe and it is a pleasure to add them to our list of partners.”

BGaming is a fast-growing iGaming content provider converting gambling into gaming. Thanks to an expert team and a player-driven approach, the studio creates innovative and engaging products featured on reputable platforms and 1,100+ online casinos worldwide. BGaming is the world’s first to support cryptocurrencies and offer Provably Fair games. Today the brand’s portfolio includes 150+ products with HD graphics and a clear user interface for every device. The studio is also known for its brand exclusives created in partnerships with leading operators in the industry.

The post BGaming enters Slovakia in partnership with state-owned operator TIPOS appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Central Europe

Amusnet Expands its Portfolio to Czech Republic with Tipsport

Published

1 week ago

May 22, 2024

George Miller

amusnet-expands-its-portfolio-to-czech-republic-with-tipsport

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Amusnet, a leading gaming provider, is expanding its reach in the Czech market through a brand-new partnership with Tipsport, one of the country’s top operators. This new launch represents a significant extension of a successful collaboration in Slovakia, where the company’s game portfolio has already gained popularity and has been available on the operator’s site since 2023.

“Collaborating with Tipsport extends our presence in Europe and emphasises our ongoing dedication to delivering exceptional player experiences worldwide. Joining forces with a recognised leader with a rich history demonstrates reaching a new level of excellence focused on continued growth and mutual prosperity”, shared Irina Rusimova, Chief Sales Officer at Amusnet.

The player base of Tipsport in CZ can enjoy plenty of new slots such as Shining Crown, Amazon’s Battle, Bulky Fruits, Great 27, Burning Hot, Supreme Hot, and Cocktail Rush, which have already proven to be highly acclaimed in the market, along with the chance of winning one of the four levels of the attractive Jackpot Cards Mystery Jackpot.

Bulky Fruits is among the most popular video slot games of Amusnet in the Czech Republic. It offers a mixture of juicy wins in its traditional fruity variety of lucky symbols and lots of entertainment. Its high-quality graphics and epic sound effects complement the vivid gameplay, guaranteeing an engaging experience for all fruit slot lovers.

Cocktail Rush, one of the newer additions to Amusnet’s Online Casino portfolio, takes players on a getaway to a tropical island and a holiday to remember. This dream-come-true adventure is garnished with plenty of enjoyable cocktails and amazing prizes scattered across the game’s 5 reels and 10 fixed lines thanks to its beautiful graphics, enchanting music, and easy-to-operate user interface.

The post Amusnet Expands its Portfolio to Czech Republic with Tipsport appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Central Europe

Playtech Expands iPoker Network into the Czech Republic in Partnership with Fortuna Entertainment Group

Published

3 weeks ago

May 10, 2024

Niji Narayan

playtech-expands-ipoker-network-into-the-czech-republic-in-partnership-with-fortuna-entertainment-group

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Playtech announced the expansion of its iPoker network into the Czech Republic, in partnership with Fortuna Entertainment Group (Fortuna), marking the first introduction of Playtech’s iPoker network in the Czech market.

This launch represents a significant milestone for both Playtech and Fortuna, as it introduces poker into the Fortuna Entertainment Group for the first time. Through Playtech’s iPoker network, Fortuna’s players in the Czech Republic will now have access to a diverse range of poker games, benefitting from a strong international liquidity pool of players from all around the world, plus a high-quality player experience and state-of-the-art poker product.

The iPoker network has experienced explosive growth over the past few years, and the addition of Fortuna will contribute to the continuation of this trend. The Czech Republic is a prominent hub for live poker tournaments in Europe, with prestigious events held year-round in cities like Prague and Rozvadov. By joining forces with Fortuna, Playtech aims to tap into the potential of this vibrant market, bringing an unmatched online poker experience to the Czech audience.

Marat Koss, VP of Interactive Gaming at Playtech, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Fortuna to expand our iPoker network into the Czech market. Playtech is committed to providing a high-quality player experience through its cutting-edge poker product and continuous innovation and together with Fortuna’s continued success and significant growth trajectory as the leading betting and gaming operator in Central and Eastern Europe, this partnership will offer a modern, seamless, and engaging user experience for Fortuna’s players.”

Myke Foster, Group Head of Gaming & Commercial Strategy at Fortuna Entertainment Group, said: “Poker has a significant presence in the Czech market with an established player base and we are impressed by the quality of Playtech’s poker product. We see tremendous potential in this product and are confident it will deliver an exceptional and modern user experience to our customer base. We have had a very successful partnership with Playtech over the years and we look forward to watching this partnership continue to grow from strength to strength.”

The post Playtech Expands iPoker Network into the Czech Republic in Partnership with Fortuna Entertainment Group appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.