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WhichBingo Awards 2021 winner’s announcement

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The annual Whichbingo awards were held virtually in 2021 with twelve winners announced across the event which was held online for a second year in a row.

 

The awards follow one month of voting by bingo players and from submissions of nominations by bingo brands. The results are in for the WhichBingo Awards 2021 and there are some surprises.

 

The winner of the WhichBingo Award 2021 for Best Bingo Site is Sun Bingo – the first time it has picked up the main award since 2010. The good news didn’t stop there for Sun Bingo as it went on to scoop two more major awards – Best Bingo Chat Team and Best Playtech Bingo Site. The change in fortunes for Sun Bingo coincides with the appointment of Adam Scott as Gaming Operations Director at NewsUK in May 2020, having moved from competitor Gamesys, operator of multi-award winning sites Heart Bingo and Jackpotjoy

 

Another big winner was an unexpected name: PlayOJO. This brand also picked up three prestigious awards, snatching them from under the noses of dedicated bingo sites. PlayOJO is the proud winner of the awards for Best New Bingo Site, Best Pragmatic Play Bingo Site and Best Slots Site. Of all the casino sites that have adopted online bingo over the last 18 months it is PlayOJO that certainly put its heart and soul into the product, rather than just having it sit on site as an additional plug-in. They players on the site have certainly shown their appreciation of its efforts.

 

Wink Bingo continues to be the shining star of the 888 stable as it picked up the award for Best Dragonfish Bingo Site for the fifth consecutive year.The famous Foxy Bingo took the award for Best Entain Bingo Site and Rainbow Spins sitting on the Jumpman Gaming platform took Best New Slots Site.

 

The full list of WhichBingo Award winners 2021:

 

Best Bingo Site Sun Bingo
Best New Bingo Site PlayOJO
Best Dragonfish Bingo Site Wink Bingo
Best Entain Bingo Site Foxy Bingo
Best Pragmatic Play Bingo Site PlayOJO
Best Playtech Bingo Site Sun Bingo
Best Bingo Chat Team Sun Bingo
Best New Slots Site Rainbow Spins
Best Slots Site PlayOJO
Best Mobile Bingo Site (Judged) Mecca Bingo
Best Customer Service (Judged) mFortune
Most Socially Responsible Operator(Judged) Mecca Bingo

 

In the Judged categories mFortune came top for the second year for Best Customer Service, while Mecca Bingo retained the award for Best Mobile Bingo Site, but also added a second award as winner of Most Socially Responsible site.

 

Inbal Winner, General Manager Europe at XLMedia plc:

 

After an exciting month of voting, we’re delighted to congratulate the winners of this year’s WhichBingo awards. The awards are one of the annual highlights for the UK online bingo industry, and because the winners are mainly decided by players’ votes, they are particularly coveted by the brands lucky enough to be declared winners.

 

The popularity of online bingo has soared in the last eighteen months during the pandemic, so it was also pleasing to see that hosting our ceremony virtually hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm of players who voted, with another huge number of votes cast again this year. With the game continuing to attract a much wider demographic of players than ever before, these awards enable us to recognise the hard work of all the best UK bingo sites around today.”

 

The award winners were revealed in a virtual ceremony for the second time due to continued uncertainty around live events. They were announced by WhichBingo Social Media Presenter Charlie Shakespeare and filming took place at the beautiful Buzz Bingo venue in Tooting, London.

 

As the WhichBingo Awards are mainly decided by player votes they are highly regarded by the bingo brands and a coveted indication of many satisfied customers.

 

You can watch the full event here: https://www.whichbingo.co.uk/awards/

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Gamblers Connect has officially launched its iHub, a new dedicated page created to be your ultimate connection to the iGaming world

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Gamblers Connect, the award-winning iGaming media and affiliate platform, is proud to announce the official launch of the iHub, a new dedicated page created to be your ultimate connection to the iGaming world.

The iHub exclusively features companies that have an official partnership or verified collaboration with Gamblers Connect, ensuring that every listing meets our editorial, commercial, and quality standards. To achieve this feat, we have successfully organized the complex web of the iGaming industry into a single, centralized location.

The sole purpose of the iHub is to function as a comprehensive database that allows anyone in iGaming, whether it is affiliates, operators, or players, to find the right solutions in one place. Unlike open directories, the iHub is a curated environment, only trusted, officially partnered companies are included, with no self-submissions or automated listings. The iHub, just as the industry itself, is built upon four essential pillars that cover every facet of the iGaming realm, including Affiliates, Game Providers, B2B Providers and Payment Solutions.

Every company featured within the iHub is manually reviewed and onboarded through an official partnership with Gamblers Connect, ensuring accuracy, relevance, and long-term value for the industry.

Gjorgje Ristikj, Founder of Gamblers Connect, said: “The launch of the iHub perfectly reflects our goal to be the most transparent source of information in the iGaming world. It marks a new milestone in our history, as it represents a step forward in our ongoing mission to bring clarity to the industry. By launching the iHub, we unite the four essential pillars in a transparent and centralised manner, giving our community the ultimate resources to navigate the iGaming landscape.”

The post Gamblers Connect has officially launched its iHub, a new dedicated page created to be your ultimate connection to the iGaming world appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Gaming Titans

Gaming Titans Are Relocating to Malta to Save Millions in Taxes

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gaming-titans-are-relocating-to-malta-to-save-millions-in-taxes

The gambling industry is hitting hard on industry firms. A growing number of jurisdictions are elevating pressure on licensed operators by rolling out stricter rules and imposing higher taxes as part of the efforts to tackle illegal gambling. Amid mounting pressure, Malta quietly cultivated a reputation as the “Holy Grail” for gambling firms.

For more than a decade, Malta has become a magnet for gambling businesses regardless of size and activity. Even prominent gambling enterprises, giant firms long on the market, are leaving and relocating their headquarters (HQ) from unfavorable regimes known for exceptionally high taxes, like Germany and the United Kingdom. 

The math is mathing; businesses can save millions in annual revenue without compromising on the comfort of operating in a respected and stable regulatory framework. The most recent high-profile case involved one of the UK’s largest betting firms, Sky Bet, which has relocated a substantial part of its business to Malta, seeking to sharply reduce its tax bill.

The gap between tax regimes continues to widen, making it impossible to ignore for industry firms. Although the baseline UK corporate tax rate is set at 25%, the country has introduced additional gaming and betting duties, which are set to increase progressively, reaching up to 40% in the next two years. Subsequently, many small and large operators that have worked in the country for years reassess whether staying in the UK is still worth it.

Germany presents a similarly complex environment. Germany applies a 15% corporate income tax plus an additional levy of 5.5% on that amount, bringing the effective total to approximately 15.825% (together with other taxes, the rate may increase to approximately 28%-30%). The applicable gambling tax is 16.6% for lotteries and 5.3% for any other gambling activity. In Germany, therefore, securing positive net profit becomes the one with the stars for gambling businesses, thus driving many to reconsider their exposure and look elsewhere.

Malta, by comparison, looks like the missing piece of the puzzle. While the nominal corporate income tax rate in Malta is 35%, the country’s tax refund system allows one to effectively reduce the number to as low as 5%. Importantly, Malta does not introduce a UK-equivalent 15% gambling levy and instead applies a modest compliance contribution ranging from 0.5% to 4% per euro on the initial €2,000,000–€3,000,000 of company revenue, depending on the license class and activity.

For leading industry enterprises and groups of companies, securing a Malta gaming license and relocating to the jurisdiction can be truly transformative, potentially saving tens of millions in taxes each year.

Beyond the tax purposes, the Malta gambling license seal offers far more compelling advantages. The country has invested years in developing its gambling regulatory framework, with its licensing regime now widely respected internationally and recognized as “one of the most reputable licenses in the world,” according to Inteliumlaw, an industry-leading consultancy supporting firms during the license acquisition process.

Today, Malta has cemented a place among the world’s leading gambling hubs, with a regulator frequently regarded as one of the most experienced and well-respected. The island’s mature infrastructure and robust legal protection have made it extremely appealing both for innovating new projects and established enterprises seeking a reliable HQ base for growth.

As a result, gambling companies across Europe and other key regions are re-evaluating whether it still pays off to stay in their home jurisdiction, particularly where profitability begins to decline or no longer reaches desired thresholds. Ultimately, companies choose to leave higher-tax jurisdictions behind and move through mergers and acquisitions (M&A) or a complete restructuring.

Against this backdrop, gambling companies are debating whether relocation is worth it, but how to transition without any bottlenecks and compliance gaps while also keeping operations running seamlessly. Relocating a gambling business is not a simple maneuver; rather, it’s a high-stakes operation spanning re-licensing, corporate restructuring, and obtaining multiple regulatory approvals. Anything can go wrong, triggering compliance breaches and drawing regulator attention.

In this case, proceeding without strong legal support is akin to walking a tightrope with the eyes closed. Successful gaming business relocation to Malta typically hinges on professional guidance from firms like Inteliumlaw, who combine deep expertise in gambling licensing and corporate structuring. With proven know-how and a team of seasoned specialists, Inteliumlaw helps gaming firms navigate the Malta gaming license application process with confidence.

Malta’s rise as a premier gambling destination is neither accidental nor a mistake, but the effect of effective policy-making tailored to an in-depth understanding of the modern gambling business’s real needs. Yet, what appears to be a seamless relocation is often the result of meticulous work behind closed doors, where specialists create the right setup to truly stage the stage for successful long-term operations in the new jurisdiction.

The post Gaming Titans Are Relocating to Malta to Save Millions in Taxes appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Gaming Titans

Gaming Titans Are Relocating to Malta to Save Millions in Taxes

Published

on

gaming-titans-are-relocating-to-malta-to-save-millions-in-taxes

The gambling industry is hitting hard on industry firms. A growing number of jurisdictions are elevating pressure on licensed operators by rolling out stricter rules and imposing higher taxes as part of the efforts to tackle illegal gambling. Amid mounting pressure, Malta quietly cultivated a reputation as the “Holy Grail” for gambling firms.

For more than a decade, Malta has become a magnet for gambling businesses regardless of size and activity. Even prominent gambling enterprises, giant firms long on the market, are leaving and relocating their headquarters (HQ) from unfavorable regimes known for exceptionally high taxes, like Germany and the United Kingdom. 

The math is mathing; businesses can save millions in annual revenue without compromising on the comfort of operating in a respected and stable regulatory framework. The most recent high-profile case involved one of the UK’s largest betting firms, Sky Bet, which has relocated a substantial part of its business to Malta, seeking to sharply reduce its tax bill.

The gap between tax regimes continues to widen, making it impossible to ignore for industry firms. Although the baseline UK corporate tax rate is set at 25%, the country has introduced additional gaming and betting duties, which are set to increase progressively, reaching up to 40% in the next two years. Subsequently, many small and large operators that have worked in the country for years reassess whether staying in the UK is still worth it.

Germany presents a similarly complex environment. Germany applies a 15% corporate income tax plus an additional levy of 5.5% on that amount, bringing the effective total to approximately 15.825% (together with other taxes, the rate may increase to approximately 28%-30%). The applicable gambling tax is 16.6% for lotteries and 5.3% for any other gambling activity. In Germany, therefore, securing positive net profit becomes the one with the stars for gambling businesses, thus driving many to reconsider their exposure and look elsewhere.

Malta, by comparison, looks like the missing piece of the puzzle. While the nominal corporate income tax rate in Malta is 35%, the country’s tax refund system allows one to effectively reduce the number to as low as 5%. Importantly, Malta does not introduce a UK-equivalent 15% gambling levy and instead applies a modest compliance contribution ranging from 0.5% to 4% per euro on the initial €2,000,000–€3,000,000 of company revenue, depending on the license class and activity.

For leading industry enterprises and groups of companies, securing a Malta gaming license and relocating to the jurisdiction can be truly transformative, potentially saving tens of millions in taxes each year.

Beyond the tax purposes, the Malta gambling license seal offers far more compelling advantages. The country has invested years in developing its gambling regulatory framework, with its licensing regime now widely respected internationally and recognized as “one of the most reputable licenses in the world,” according to Inteliumlaw, an industry-leading consultancy supporting firms during the license acquisition process.

Today, Malta has cemented a place among the world’s leading gambling hubs, with a regulator frequently regarded as one of the most experienced and well-respected. The island’s mature infrastructure and robust legal protection have made it extremely appealing both for innovating new projects and established enterprises seeking a reliable HQ base for growth.

As a result, gambling companies across Europe and other key regions are re-evaluating whether it still pays off to stay in their home jurisdiction, particularly where profitability begins to decline or no longer reaches desired thresholds. Ultimately, companies choose to leave higher-tax jurisdictions behind and move through mergers and acquisitions (M&A) or a complete restructuring.

Against this backdrop, gambling companies are debating whether relocation is worth it, but how to transition without any bottlenecks and compliance gaps while also keeping operations running seamlessly. Relocating a gambling business is not a simple maneuver; rather, it’s a high-stakes operation spanning re-licensing, corporate restructuring, and obtaining multiple regulatory approvals. Anything can go wrong, triggering compliance breaches and drawing regulator attention.

In this case, proceeding without strong legal support is akin to walking a tightrope with the eyes closed. Successful gaming business relocation to Malta typically hinges on professional guidance from firms like Inteliumlaw, who combine deep expertise in gambling licensing and corporate structuring. With proven know-how and a team of seasoned specialists, Inteliumlaw helps gaming firms navigate the Malta gaming license application process with confidence.

Malta’s rise as a premier gambling destination is neither accidental nor a mistake, but the effect of effective policy-making tailored to an in-depth understanding of the modern gambling business’s real needs. Yet, what appears to be a seamless relocation is often the result of meticulous work behind closed doors, where specialists create the right setup to truly stage the stage for successful long-term operations in the new jurisdiction.

The post Gaming Titans Are Relocating to Malta to Save Millions in Taxes appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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