Central Europe

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

Published

4 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

TaDa to Round Off Exceptional Year at SiGMA Central Europe 2025

Published

14 hours ago

October 14, 2025

Niji Narayan

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

TaDa Gaming is anticipating its final show of 2025 at the SiGMA Central Europe Expo this 4-6 November. Taking place for the first time at Fiera, Rome, Stand 4062 will host the innovative provider’s full teams from Account Management, Business Development and Marketing.

With a 200+ portfolio of innovative games including TaDa’s unique fish-shooting titles, the team’s focus at SiGMA will be on regulated European markets and slots.

Successful licence applications include MGA; Hellenic Gaming Authority; Romania’s ONJN; Sweden’s Spelinspektionen; and the UKGC. With certification for multiple markets now including Portugal, TaDa’s signature localisation, innovation and future-proof approach to iGaming is paying dividends.

Multiple new integrations are ongoing across Europe, enhanced by TaDa’s most recent distribution agreement with Light & Wonder Inc. With an existing presence in Italy, Belgium and Portugal, TaDa’s reputation for engagement and retention has been reinforced with its new trademarked series Hit the Cash.

The interplay of Multipliers, Lock & Respin and Jackpots as the Hit the Cash signature, added to the random triggering of the jackpots and additional multipliers including Wilds, has meant players cannot get enough of these titles.

Visitors to the TaDa’s Experience Zone at Stand 4062 are guaranteed a winning experience. Hit releases Joker Coins and Fortune Coins 2 will be the headline slots, alongside the industry changing fish-shooting games such as the vampire rock’n’roll led Ocean King Jackpot and new release Fortune Zombie 2.

Ray Lee, Director of Business Development at TaDa Gaming, said: “SiGMA Rome is looking to be a fantastic final show in a year full of highly professional and profitable exhibitions for us. As we continue to build our name for safe, immersive and innovative gaming across Europe, we’re excited to reconnect and connect with clients and future clients to show how we deliver significant differentiation for their operations.”

The post TaDa to Round Off Exceptional Year at SiGMA Central Europe 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Belatra

Belatra set to unearth ancient treasures at SiGMA Central Europe

Published

6 days ago

October 9, 2025

George Miller

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Reading Time: < 1 minute

Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, is thrilled to announce its participation at the SiGMA Central Europe Expo in Rome, Italy. The event is being held at the Fiera Roma from November 3rd to November 6th, providing Belatra with the perfect chance to showcase its latest legendary slots and front-line solutions.

Belatra’s beloved Mummy will be visiting Rome as the character continues to strike a chord with audiences worldwide. Its unique blend of humour, mystery, and quirky antics has transcended cultures. The character made its debut in 2022 for the release of Mummyland Treasures and has since grown into an extensive multiverse encompassing various formats, special features, and spin-offs, which form the core of our very own flagship game universe.

At SiGMA Central Europe, visitors to Belatra’s Booth #4071 will be able to immerse themselves at the heart of the Mummy Universe. There will be a themed experience that brings the magic and the mystery of our beloved multiverse to life. Special prizes are also on offer from the Mummy’s own treasure vault.

Kateryna Goi, Belatra CMO said: “SiGMA Europe provides the perfect platform to connect with existing and potential collaborators. Our team is more than ready to present custom solutions, our robust technical infrastructure, and game designs to ensure player involvement and operator success.”

The post Belatra set to unearth ancient treasures at SiGMA Central Europe appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Central Europe

Pamela Klockenbrink Becomes the New Managing Director of Merkur Casino

Published

7 days ago

October 8, 2025

Niji Narayan

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Reading Time: < 1 minute

Pamela Klockenbrink has become the new Managing Director of Merkur Casino GmbH. This subsidiary of the Merkur Group operates over 700 gaming venues in Germany and Europe. Pamela Klockenbrink succeeds Meik Sellenriek, who was appointed to the Executive Board of Merkur.com AG on January 1, 2025, and is now handing over his current management responsibilities to new hands. Together with Benjamin Bredenkamp, who will remain part of the management team, the 52-year-old will lead the company’s fortunes in the future.

With Pamela Klockenbrink, Merkur Casino is strengthening its leadership team from within its own ranks. The Bad Oeynhausen native began her career at Merkur in May 2015 as coordinator of national and international controlling at Merkur Casino. Most recently, Klockenbrink served for almost ten years as Head of Controlling at the Merkur subsidiary. Before joining the group, she shaped the finance and accounting departments of international corporations in various management positions, leading projects in the areas of international accounting and international taxation, among others.

Meik Sellenriek, Executive Board Member for Merkur Operations at Merkur.com AG, said: “We are delighted to have recruited Pamela Klockenbrink as our new Managing Director. Thanks to her many years of service with the company, she has a considerable repertoire of in-depth industry knowledge. This diverse experience will form the foundation for successfully developing Merkur Casino and leading it into a promising future.”

Pamela Klockenbrink said: “I greatly appreciate the trust placed in me by being appointed to the management team. My goal is to play a key role in shaping and further driving the successful development of Merkur Casino GmbH together with my colleague Benjamin Bredenkamp and our dedicated team.”

The post Pamela Klockenbrink Becomes the New Managing Director of Merkur Casino appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.