Baltics

Estonia’s Gambling Tax Revenue Falls in February

Published

4 years ago

April 21, 2020

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Estonia’s gambling tax revenue has fallen one third in the month of February.

Restrictions imposed due to coronavirus are having a significant impact on gambling tax receipts, to the extent they are paralysing activities of activities, including those related to social welfare, financed by the tax and under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Affairs, the ministry says.

“The fall in gambling tax receipts will undoubtedly put great pressure on the ministry to finance agreed projects,” Rait Kuuse, deputy secretary-general for social policy at the social affairs ministry, said.

“Our goal, in cooperation with our partners, is to find an opportunity to continue the agreed activities and, if necessary, to make new decisions together in certain places, if, for example, the implementation of what was agreed proves impossible due to the implemented restrictions. We have asked all partners to review the activities planned for this year and to reevaluate which activities it is reasonable to realize in view of the emergency situation and whether anything can be postponed,” Kuuse added.

Application rounds for small projects currently financed via the gambling tax and which would be difficult to implement as a result of the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and accompanying emergency situation have been suspended.

Gambling tax receipts in February had already fallen by one third; a larger fall is expected through the spring months.

“Payments for the second quarter of 2020 took place in April, according to the agreed payment schedule, and we are working to mitigate the negative effects of the crisis,” Rait Kruuse said.

“As a result it is important for us to decide how to proceed, to negotiate openly with our partners, and to provide adequate information about the situation. In doing so, we are considering all ways to ensure sustainable funding for partners to carry out the necessary activities,” he added.

The Tax and Customs Board (MTA) says that gambling tax receipts were distributed with 45% of the tax coming from lotteries, 34% from slot machines, 5% from casino gaming tables, 4% from toto (a type of lottery-ed,) and 10% from online and other remote gambling.

One percent of gambling tax was collected from tournaments involving games of chance.

Baltics

Lithuania’s Nese enters iGaming with a record sponsorship deal

Published

5 days ago

April 11, 2024

Wladimir P.

lithuania’s-nese-enters-igaming-with-a-record-sponsorship-deal

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Nese, Lithuania’s oldest land-based casino operator, has launched Twinsbet – a new iGaming and sportsbook brand with a focus on sports sponsorships. The company entered into a 3-year long, €7.5 million sponsorship deal with the Wolves basketball club and secured the Avia Solutions Group Arena naming rights.

Twinsbet enters the highly competitive Lithuanian market with naming rights to the largest Vilnius indoor arena, title sponsorship of the Wolves basketball club competing locally and in the Eurocup, and celebrity former basketball players, the Lavrinovic twins, as main ambassadors. This sponsorship deal is worth at least €7.5 million for the next three years and may increase to €10 million if certain conditions are met.

Such a sports and iGaming sponsorship deal is among the largest in Lithuanian history. Nese will seek further collaborations with various sports organizations, focusing on both professional and leisure sports activities.

According to Alvidas Paulikas, Nese’s CEO, the company aims for the leading position locally and seeks to become the first Lithuanian operator to expand internationally.

“Twinsbet is centered around the idea that we believe in sports. For this reason, we are heavily investing in and supporting sports, including the Wolves basketball club and the Twinsbet Arena, as well as other collaborations we are currently investigating and are always open to. We plan to support local teams and non-professional sporting activities in new markets that we will enter soon,” says Paulikas.

Andrius Ziauberis, the CEO of both the Wolves basketball club and the Twinsbet Arena, says that the deal with Twinsbet will strengthen both the organization and the entire Lithuanian sports community.

“We are the only top-tier Lithuanian basketball club operating without any support from municipalities, and so this sponsorship deal will pave the way for sustainable growth. Strong teams can inspire generations both on and beyond the court, and this deal builds a solid foundation for an engaging fan experience,” Ziauberis says.

According to the regulator, the total Lithuanian gaming market amounted to €222 million in 2023, a 13 percent increase from 2022. More than 65 percent of the market is online. The total amount wagered exceeded €2 billion for the first time in 2022.

The post Lithuania’s Nese enters iGaming with a record sponsorship deal appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Baltics

Hacksaw Gaming and TOPsport are on TOP of their game with new partnership announcement in Lithuania

Published

6 days ago

April 10, 2024

George Miller

hacksaw-gaming-and-topsport-are-on-top-of-their-game-with-new-partnership-announcement-in-lithuania

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Kicking off the month, it’s time to commemorate a brand new partnership with Lithuania’s leading operator – TOPsport! As of the 8th of April, Hacksaw fans will have the opportunity to enjoy the initial selection of our released games, with plans for further expansion in line with market regulations.

TOPsport was founded with humble beginnings back in 2002, they were in fact the first ever betting company to be established in Lithuania. Boasting an impressive collection of 62 betting locations and, of course, their online platform which is home to sports betting and live casino games from various different providers globally. They now welcome Hacksaw classics such as Wanted Dead or a Wild, Chaos Crew and Hand of Anubis to their growing collection.

CEO of TOPsport, Gintaras Staniulis, expressed “TOPsport is excited about the partnership with Hacksaw gaming, which marks a significant step forward in our commitment to providing unparalleled experiences for our customers. We are confident that this collaboration will further enhance our offerings and solidify our position as a leader in the industry.”

TOPsport players can expect exciting narratives, captivating artistic design and an overall gaming experience that will leave them searching for more Hacksaw content. Confident that this will be the case, Hacksaw Gaming CEO Marcus Cordes wanted to say a few words on the new partnership – “A top operator in the Lithuanian market teaming up with a leading provider of innovative games—what a match! We’re thrilled about this collaboration and are optimistic that TOPsport players will soon become familiar with the Hacksaw name.”

Only time will tell, but we’re pretty sure that TOPsport Casino users will find Hacksaw games at the ‘top’ of their new favourite lists.

The post Hacksaw Gaming and TOPsport are on TOP of their game with new partnership announcement in Lithuania appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Baltics

HIPTHER Invites You to Recognize Gaming Excellence at the Baltic & Scandinavian Gaming Awards 2024 – Online Voting Session is Now Open!

Published

6 days ago

April 10, 2024

George Miller

hipther-invites-you-to-recognize-gaming-excellence-at-the-baltic-&-scandinavian-gaming-awards-2024-–-online-voting-session-is-now-open!

Reading Time: 3 minutes

HIPTHER, the One-stop Agency and leading Event Organizer for multiple GameTech industries, is excited to announce the Online Voting Session for the Baltic & Scandinavian Gaming Awards – BSG Awards 2024. The BSG Awards recognizing Gaming and Tech Companies’ achievements in the Baltic and Nordic regions, are held annually under HIPTHER’s pioneering Baltics conference series “MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit”.

The Online Voting Session for the Baltic & Scandinavian Gaming Awards – BSG Awards 2024 will be open between 8-26 April 2024. Following the Nomination Period that took place between 8 January – 15 March 2024, the Online Voting Session now features all Nominated Companies.

Professionals from the entire spectrum of the iGaming industry are invited to cast their votes to determine the Shortlists for BSG Awards 2024. Your voice matters! Start voting now and until April 26 for your favorite and/or your own teams and companies, to highlight their achievements in the Baltic and Scandinavian regions.

Cast your Votes across streamlined categories covering the entirety of iGaming operations per region (Baltic and Nordic), including:

Operator Categories
B2B Sports Betting Categories
B2B Casino Categories
B2B eSports & Fantasy Sports Categories
Payments & Certifications

Full list of Operators and B2B Categories, offered for Vote separately per region (Baltics & Nordics):

Operators Categories:

Best Online Casino
Best Sports Betting Operator

B2B Categories:

B2B Providers (Sports): Best eSports Service Provider
Best Fantasy Sports / Virtual Sports Provider
Rising Star in Fantasy Sports / Virtual Sports
Rising Star in Sports Betting Technology
Best Sports Betting Provider
B2B Providers (Casino): Best Online Casino Provider
B2B Providers (Casino): Best Slots Provider
B2B Providers (Casino): Best Live Casino Provider
B2B Providers (Casino): Rising Star in Online Casino Technology
Connected Services – Best Payment Service Provider
Connected Services – Best Testing Laboratory Provider
Connected Services – Best Hosting Provider

The Baltic & Scandinavian Gaming Awards series has been celebrating the success of the best iGaming companies operating in the Baltics and Nordics since the inception of the MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit in 2018. HIPTHER’s Co-founder, Zoltán Tűndik, commented about the Awards and their Voting System:

“As we enter the online voting stage of the BSG Awards, I want to extend my heartfelt wishes for good luck to all the nominated companies. Your innovation and dedication have brought you this far, and as the community casts their votes, may your efforts be rightfully recognized. Here’s to making it to the shortlists—may the best contenders rise to the top! Let the spirit of excellence lead the way”.

Rebranding Excellence: The Brand-New Logo of the Baltic & Scandinavian Gaming Awards

As the gaming industry and technology evolve, so do HIPTHER events! Following our vision to honor the Baltic countries as the home of our pioneering MARE BALTICUM Summit through the conference series’ branding, we apply the same inspiring principles to the Baltic & Scandinavian Gaming Awards. We are thrilled to reveal the new logo of the BSG Awards for this year’s magnificent host, Tallinn, Estonia, and we look forward to it gracing both the online stage and our conference!

Make your Voice Heard & Your Company Shine!

What are you waiting for? Visit HIPTHER’s BSG Awards 2024 page, view all Nominated Companies across Categories for both regions, and start voting to decide the Shortlists!

The Final Vote will take place at MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit by the participants of the event on 4 June 2024.

Please note that you need to select one company in each category before submitting your vote, and you are only allowed to vote once per day, as the voting system refreshes 24 hours after your vote has been submitted.

Vote Now for the Baltic & Scandinavian Gaming Awards Shortlists!

The post HIPTHER Invites You to Recognize Gaming Excellence at the Baltic & Scandinavian Gaming Awards 2024 – Online Voting Session is Now Open! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.