The Azerbaijani Parliament (Milli Majlis) has officially cleared the first reading of a bill to heavily increase criminal penalties for organising and operating illegal gambling.

The proposed amendments to the Criminal Code were discussed during an extraordinary parliamentary session.

Under the bill, organising gambling in virtual formats-including via the internet, mobile communications, social media platforms, electronic communication tools or other internet- and mobile-based applications-would carry tougher penalties. The same applies to offenses involving minors, crimes committed by a group acting in prior collusion or activities generating substantial illegal income.

Such offenses would be punishable by a fine of up to twice the amount of the income obtained through the crime, restriction of liberty for a term of two to four years, or imprisonment for the same period.

The proposed amendments also introduce stricter penalties for offenses committed by organised criminal groups or criminal organisations, as well as those generating large-scale illegal profits. These would be punishable by restriction of liberty or imprisonment for a term of three to five years.

The bill would also change the way fines are calculated. Instead of the current fixed range of AZN 10,000 to AZN 15,000, courts would be able to impose fines of up to twice the amount of the criminal proceeds.

In addition, the legislation proposes harsher punishment for repeat offenses involving the organisation or operation of gambling activities or gambling venues, particularly where minors are involved or where the offenses generate substantial, large-scale or especially large-scale illegal income.

Under the current legislation, repeat offenses are punishable by restriction of liberty for four to five years or imprisonment for four to eight years. The proposed amendments would make imprisonment for five to eight years the sole penalty for such offenses.

The post Azerbaijan to Impose Tougher Penalties for Illegal Online Gambling appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Amusnet has released Golden Snake, a captivating new video slot that blends the timeless appeal of Asian symbolism with innovative mechanics and high-impact gameplay. Designed for players who enjoy immersive themes and thrilling volatility, the title delivers a fresh interpretation of one of the industry’s most enduring and successful game styles.

Set in a world inspired by prosperity, luck and ancient Asian traditions, Golden Snake immerses players in a vibrant atmosphere filled with glowing money bags, firecrackers, blue envelopes, golden coins and the majestic Golden Snake. Rich visuals, authentic sound design and a fully animated snake companion create a lively experience that reacts to every spin, adding personality and emotion to the gameplay.

Moving beyond the traditional slot layout, Golden Snake introduces a distinctive 3x4x3 reel configuration that offers a fresh gameplay dynamic while remaining intuitive and engaging. The excitement builds with the Respin Feature, which can trigger randomly on any spin by selecting a paying symbol – or even the Wild – to set a chain of consecutive respins in motion. During the feature, the second reel could be locked with stacked Wild symbols while the first and third reels spin exclusively for the chosen symbol. Еvery new Wild symbol or matching symbol could be extending the action and increasing the anticipation.

The game’s momentum is further amplified by a powerful multiplier system. During the base game, multipliers of 3x, 5x and 10x can instantly enhance winning combinations. When the Respin Feature is activated and the middle reel fills with stacked Wild symbols, it expands to unlock multiplier values of up to 20x, creating exhilarating moments with a maximum win potential of 5000x the bet.

Beyond its engaging mechanics, Golden Snake has been designed to encourage longer play sessions through responsive character animations, dynamic win celebrations and continuous respin opportunities. Combined with its culturally inspired theme, the title is well positioned to appeal to audiences across Asia, LATAM and other regulated markets where Asian-themed content continues to perform strongly.

With Golden Snake, Amusnet reinforces its commitment to creating premium gaming experiences that combine recognisable themes, innovative mechanics and outstanding production quality. The new release provides operators with a compelling addition to their portfolio, helping them diversify their offering with content designed to drive player engagement and long-term performance.

Respin Feature

Watch the excitement build as stacked Wild symbols lock the second reel and matching symbols trigger consecutive respins, creating thrilling opportunities for bigger payouts.

Multiplier Feature

Base game multipliers of 3x, 5x and 10x evolve into enhanced Respin multipliers of up to 20x when the middle reel expands with stacked Wild symbol.

Gamble

Play the game and multiply the winnings through the Gambling feature.

Jackpot Cards

The Jackpot Cards bonus game is triggered at random during the gameplay to allow players to win impressive jackpots.

The post Amusnet Releases its Latest Video Slot “Golden Snake” appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Brightstar Lottery PLC announced that it has signed an exclusive five-year extension agreement with Sony Pictures to continue developing and distributing Ghostbusters-themed omnichannel lottery games globally.

“Ghostbusters is an iconic global franchise with lasting popularity, and Brightstar has been instrumental in helping us connect with both lifelong fans and new audiences. We look forward to continuing to collaborate on dynamic, high-quality lottery experiences that resonate with players worldwide,” said Stacey Kerr, Sony Pictures Entertainment Senior Vice President, Global Licensing.

“Brightstar has been a proud licensee of Sony Pictures’ Ghostbusters since 2015, and we’re excited to continue bringing this fan-favorite franchise to life for players in new and engaging ways. To date, this collaboration has launched more than 25 games with over 20 lotteries globally. The variety of games includes traditional instant tickets with high-definition symbols, Brightstar’s patented Infinity Instants lottery tickets, Fast Play games, and an exclusive eInstant game. With this contract extension, we’re focused on expanding the Ghostbusters franchise through new, immersive omnichannel experiences that push the boundaries of fan engagement,” said Matthew Whalen, Brightstar Senior Vice President, Global Instant Ticket Services.

The post Brightstar Lottery Signs Five-Year Extension with Sony Pictures for Exclusive Omnichannel Lottery Licensing Rights to Ghostbusters appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.