Eastern Europe

Covid-19 Sets Back Romanian Gambling Industry by Five Years

Published

5 years ago

September 24, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Covid-19 pandemic has set back the Romanian gambling industry by five years, according to the data from the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

The Romanian gambling operators experienced one of the most severe declines of the last 30 years between March and May this year. The local gambling and entertainment industry fell by about 24% in March 2020 compared to the same period of 2015. The gambling sector’s March turnover was only 57 % of February’s. Then, in April and May, gambling businesses reported almost zero revenue.

“Given the situation, we made the necessary business continuity decisions and decided that the safety of our customers and employees was our main priority. We focused on the long-term business principles and we organized our activity so that we would be able to adapt as quickly as possible to the multitude of changes that occurred during this period. For example, over the past three months we went from ‘closed until further notice’ to being open round the clock and then back to limited opening hours (until 11 PM, later extended to midnight), and we hope to be able to return to our non-stop hours as soon as possible. During all this time, we’ve been focusing on communicating with our clients and employees, for whom we’ve taken extra health and safety measures. Maintaining communication with professional associations and the authorities for accurate information on the latest developments concerning gambling halls was equally important,” Attila “Otto” Török, strategy director at Game World Romania, said.

According to the latest data provided by the National Gambling Office (ONJN), 250 gambling operators are currently active on the Romanian market. They contribute about EUR 600 million to the state budget every year. At the beginning of 2020, there were about 45,000 direct employees of the local gambling industry and a few other thousand worked in related and dependent fields.

“According to Romslot data, for each RON the Romanian gambling industry generates, the upstream and downstream industries – HoReCa, IT&C, security – generate another 5 RON,” Török said.

He added that Game World currently has about 400 employees, while the parent group has a workforce of about 2000.

When talking about the biggest challenges the gambling industry is now facing, Török says these are related to the coronavirus pandemic and the health crisis, even though all operators have strictly implemented all the measures required by authorities to limit the spread of the virus.

Eastern Europe

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

Published

1 week ago

October 6, 2025

George Miller

soft2bet-unveils-romania’s-first-social-media-inspired-casino-and-betting-platform

Reading Time: 2 minutes

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.

888 Romania

Digitain Secures Strategic Partnership with 888 Romania

Published

2 weeks ago

October 1, 2025

George Miller

digitain-secures-strategic-partnership-with-888-romania

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Through this partnership, Digitain will deliver scalable sportsbook technology to enhance 888 Romania’s offerings.

Digitain, a leading sportsbook and iGaming solutions provider, is proud to announce a new partnership with 888 Romania, a key brand within the globally recognized Evoke PLC.

This partnership will see Digitain power 888 Romania with its award-winning Sportsbook, further elevating the betting experience for its players. The flexible, customizable platform allows for a tailored experience across channels and languages, underscoring Digitain’s commitment to delivering innovative and engaging sportsbook solutions to the Romanian market.

Vardges Vardanyan, Founder of Digitain, commented: “We are proud to partner with 888 Romania and provide them with our industry-leading Sportsbook. This collaboration reflects Digitain’s ongoing commitment to delivering innovative, flexible, and fully customizable sportsbook technology for leading operators across regulated markets.
By combining our expertise with 888 Romania’s strong market presence, we are confident this partnership will elevate the betting experience, offer unparalleled value to players, and set a new standard for sportsbook solutions in the region.”

Dragos Buriu, Founder and Director of NGS, commented: “Partnering with Digitain is a strategic step in enhancing our sports offering for Romanian players on 888.ro. Digitain’s bespoke technology, flexibility, and deep market expertise will allow us to deliver an even stronger and more localized sports betting experience. This partnership ensures that our platform remains competitive, innovative, and aligned with player expectations. We look forward to a successful collaboration that benefits both our companies.”

This agreement marks another milestone in Digitain’s growth strategy, strengthening its footprint in regulated European markets and advancing its reputation as a trusted technology partner for leading global operators. By delivering scalable and adaptable sportsbook solutions, Digitain continues to empower operators like 888 Romania to offer enhanced betting experiences, respond quickly to market trends, and remain at the forefront of innovation in the iGaming industry.

The post Digitain Secures Strategic Partnership with 888 Romania appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Compliance Updates

Ukraine’s PlayCity Begins Issuing Licenses to Gambling Operators

Published

4 weeks ago

September 17, 2025

Niji Narayan

ukraine’s-playcity-begins-issuing-licenses-to-gambling-operators

Reading Time: < 1 minute

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has adopted a resolution on licensing conditions in the gambling sector, which allows the state agency PlayCity to begin issuing licenses to gambling organisers and confirming previously issued ones.

“As a result, this will generate almost UAH 50 million (1.028.956,00 Euro) in additional revenues to the state budget from license fees in the near future,” PlayCity reported on Telegram.

It is noted that to obtain a license, impeccable business reputation, lack of ties with the aggressor state and implementation of all necessary mechanisms for responsible gaming are required.

PlayCity clarified that such requirements apply to both those who are only applying for a license and current licensees. Current licensees have two months to submit documents to PlayCity on compliance with the requirements.

The message emphasises that if the requirements are not met, sanctions in the form of fines or termination of the license may be applied to the organisers of gambling.

“The state will direct additional budget revenues to strengthen defense capabilities, in particular, to purchase drones for the Defense Forces,” PlayCity added.

The post Ukraine’s PlayCity Begins Issuing Licenses to Gambling Operators appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.