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Anticipating Gambling Legalisation in Ukraine, Hilton Kyiv Plans to Open 2 Casinos

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Photo Source: hospitalityonline.com

 

Hospitality giant Hilton has announced its plans to open two casinos on the premises of its Kyiv hotel, anticipating gambling legalisation in Ukraine.

The co-owner of the hotel’s Ukrainian branch, who has also co-founded the 1+1 Media Group, Boris Fuchsman, plans to invest $30 million in the project.

The project’s start date remains unknown amid ongoing efforts to legalise gambling in hotels.

A draft bill legalising gambling in hotels has to undergo a few more steps before it comes into effect: while it was passed in the first reading on January 16, parliament still has to vote for it in the second reading before Ukraine’s president signs it.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has pushed for legalising gambling in Ukraine: he ordered a new gambling bill in September 2019 and supported it in December when parliament votes for it in the first reading. As a result, 260 lawmakers voted for the draft law.

Ukraine’s Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk echoed Zelensky’s support for the bill. The easiest way to eliminate the vast network of underground illegal gambling spots would be to legalise the activity, which could also bring over $120 million in tax revenues to the state budget, Honcharuk said during a briefing in November 2019.

Meanwhile, the head of the parliament’s committee on finance, taxation and customs policy, Danylo Hetmantsev estimates the tax revenue could be as high a $190 million.

According to the draft, casinos will be only be permitted in five-star hotels in designated tourist areas.

The government’s ambition is to ensure that “gambling will be conducted exclusively on the territory of hotels” while removing “gambling halls and slot machines from streets,” Honcharuk said.

In Kyiv, only hotels with more than 200 rooms will be eligible, while in smaller cities such as Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Lviv, hotels will be allowed to install casinos if they have at least 120 rooms.

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Bragg Gaming Group

Bragg Rolls Out Premium Content Suite with Napoleon Romania

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Bragg Gaming Group has expanded its reach in Eastern Europe with the launch of its premium content suite with Napoleon Romania.

The company took to social media to declare that the move, as well as strengthening its presence in Romania, “expands our already fantastic partnership with the Superbet Group brand.”

“Napoleon Romania players now have access to a rich portfolio of Bragg’s exclusive online casino content and aggregated online casino content, featuring hit titles like Golden Gal’s Cash Towers, Almighty Pegasus and Big Roar. We’re also celebrating the launch of fan-favourite Royal Seven Deluxe,” the company commented.

The company particularly singled out Linda Zaumane, head of account management and Neill Whyte, Bragg’s chief commercial officer for thanks.

“Their hard work and leadership were instrumental in securing and executing this important launch!”

The post Bragg Rolls Out Premium Content Suite with Napoleon Romania appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Compliance Updates

Romania Bans Polymarket Over Illegal Cryptocurrency Betting Activities

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Romania’s National Office for Gambling (ONJN) has officially blacklisted Polymarket, a prominent prediction market that allows users to bet on future events, citing its operation as an unlicensed gambling platform. The decision comes amid heightened concerns over crypto-based betting during recent election cycles, where Polymarket reportedly saw trading volumes surpassing $600 million.

ONJN asserts that Polymarket’s “counterpart betting” model – where users wager against each other on future outcomes – falls squarely within the scope of Romanian gambling regulations. The regulator clarified that regardless of whether bets are placed using fiat currency or cryptocurrencies, they are legal gambling activities that require appropriate licensing. ONJN President Vlad-Cristian Soare emphasised that the issue is about compliance with the law, not technology, stating, “It’s about the law, not the platform’s blockchain foundation.”

Although Polymarket promotes itself as an “event trading” platform, ONJN concluded that its operational structure – where users place bets on the outcomes of unpredictable events and the platform earns commissions – meets the legal criteria of gambling. Consequently, Romanian internet providers are now mandated to block access to the platform.

The post Romania Bans Polymarket Over Illegal Cryptocurrency Betting Activities appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Eastern Europe

Soft2Bet Unveils Romania’s First Social Media-Inspired Casino and Betting Platform

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Soft2Bet has launched Swiper, Romania’s first online casino built around the swipe-driven design of social media apps. Designed for mobile users, Swiper blends intuitive navigation with casino gaming, making it easy for players to browse, choose, and enjoy thousands of titles with a simple swipe.

The product embraces a rising trend that brings together the best of casino entertainment and mobile gaming dynamics — fast, engaging, and tailored to today’s digital habits. At the heart of the project is short-form video content, a format familiar to all mobile users, which enhances interactivity and keeps the experience dynamic and immersive.

With over 75% of global users engaging with mobile applications for entertainment, Swiper meets players where they already are. Its interactive interface replicates intuitive gestures from known social apps, enabling users to effortlessly explore and customize their gaming universe, while the design caters to the mobile-native generation and reflects a keen awareness of evolving digital user behavior.

Fully powered by Soft2Bet’s proprietary MEGA (Motivational Engineering Gaming Application) technology, Swiper redefines user engagement, creating immersive, personalised interactions with every swipe. MEGA, developed entirely in-house by Soft2Bet, represents an independent and innovative technology dedicated to enhancing traditional gaming experiences with missions, challenges, and quests that encourage players to stay engaged for longer, increasing screen time and LTV.

The launch in the Romanian market builds upon Soft2Bet’s recent success with Don.Ro, a brand that was recently recognised as the “Best Launch of the Year 2024” at the 12th Meeting of Gambling Professionals by Casino Inside magazine. Leveraging the same powerful technology stack that propelled Don.Ro to prominence, Soft2Bet again demonstrates how its platform excellence consistently translates into compelling new market entries.

“As a leader in the iGaming industry, we know how to build strong brands, understand what our players truly want, and deliver products that resonate,” highlighted Yoel Zuckerberg, Chief Product Officer at Soft2Bet. “Our B2C launches serve as proof of concept for the strength of our technology, data-driven insights, and market knowledge. Swiper is a clear example of this approach in action, offering a standout experience tailored to Romanian players.”

Swiper introduces several key features to local players :

  • One-handed swipe navigation for rapid game discovery
  • Over 3000 Games, 50 Roulette tables, 120 Blackjack tables, table games, and live casino offerings
  • Over 85,000 live and 70,000 pre-match sports betting events covering diverse sports markets with competitive odds
  • Localised promotions tied directly to Romanian events and holidays
  • The design is adapted to local player preferences and cultural context

Zuckerberg further commented, “Customer experience is our top priority. We know what today’s players want—they value speed, simplicity, and familiarity. With Swiper’s social approach, we’re excited to see how this fresh UI/UX impacts engagement and loyalty.”

Operating under a Class I licence from Romania’s National Gambling Office (ONJN), Swiper, powered by Soft2Bet’s expertise across 19 licences and 11 jurisdictions, guarantees a regulated, safe, and responsible gaming environment that meets stringent international standards. This strong regulatory foundation not only builds credibility for Swiper but also reflects Soft2Bet’s commitment to redefining modern gaming through scalable, innovative, data-driven solutions that enhance player retention across regulated markets, as evidenced by the success of brands like Betinia, CampoBet, QuickCasino, Don.ro, ElaBet, ToonieBet and others.

Launch video:

The post Soft2Bet Unveils Romania’s First Social Media-Inspired Casino and Betting Platform appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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