Connect with us

Latest News

MECCA BINGO BRINGS CONTROVERSIAL V.A.R TECHNOLOGY TO BINGO WITH HELP FROM MIKE DEAN – DESPITE ONGOING V.A.R MEDIA STORM

Published

on

mecca-bingo-brings-controversial-var-technology-to-bingo-with-help-from-mike-dean-–-despite-ongoing-va.r-media-storm
Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

Despite the ‘V.A.R technology’ debate dominating football headlines across the UK, Mecca Bingo will seek to adopt the controversial technology for bingo – enlisting the help of inarguably the most iconic former Premier League official, Mike Dean.

With exactly 2,000 yellow cards and a record breaking 214 red cards issued in his Premier League career, the card-happy ref is helping Mecca Bingo trial B.A.R (Bingo Assistant Referee) – a state-of-the-art, cutting edge technology system designed to keep bingo players on track and verify jackpot claims.

Starting in the home of Premier League newcomers, Sheffield United, the Wirral-based icon has swapped V.A.R for B.A.R to train staff at Mecca Bingo on the Premier League standards.

Mecca Bingo’s B.A.R. technology will capture every moment in high-definition, allowing Mike’s trained Mecca officials to track every call and every dab to precisely identify any errors. Yellow cards will be issued to customers who make false claims. Get a red and he’ll suggest customers move to their own table to focus.

Captured footage shows Mike Dean training Mecca staff on player management, and how to use B.A.R to ensure that all bingo claims are verified and prizes are fairly awarded. And of course, the whipped cream used for Mecca’s delicious desserts now doubles as vanishing spray – used by Mike to keep any over excited players at bay whilst results are being checked.

Mike Dean, former Premier League referee, said; “It’s been tremendous fun bringing a touch of top-quality refereeing to Mecca Bingo. Like football, bingo is a beautiful game full of passion and excitement. In truth, I had never expected to swap footballs for bingo balls, but the launch of B.A.R made it an easy decision – a little bit extra officiating never hurt anyone. We’ll be double checking the next jackpot claim!”

Mike Sime, Head of Bingo at Mecca Bingo, commented: “It’s perhaps not been the best of weeks for VAR – but we remain undeterred. We’re really excited to be trialling the introduction of this impeccable technology into bingo. And we’re absolutely delighted that one of the greatest Premier League referees, Mike Dean, has switched play to Mecca. Good process.”

298/2026

New CMN and SPA rules reorganize the iGaming and sports betting landscape in Brazil

Published

on

new-cmn-and-spa-rules-reorganize-the-igaming-and-sports-betting-landscape-in-brazil

Rafael Brunati and Celso Basílio, lawyers at Silveiro Advogados specializing in regulated markets, corporate law, and competition law, analyze the recent measures adopted by Brazil’s National Monetary Council (CMN) and the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA/MF) and their impact on the iGaming and sports betting industry.

In this article, they examine how the new regulatory framework reshapes the boundaries between betting, financial instruments, and emerging digital market models, while reinforcing Law No. 14,790/2023 as the central pillar of regulation in the sector.

ByRafael Brunati and Celso Basílio

The set of measures recently adopted by the National Monetary Council (CMN) and the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting of the Ministry of Finance (SPA/MF) marks a new chapter in the regulatory consolidation of Brazil’s iGaming and sports betting market.

More than a targeted response to so-called predictive markets, these initiatives signal a broader effort to redefine the boundaries between authorized betting activities, financial instruments, and operations considered irregular in the country.

CMN Resolution No. 5,298/2026 prohibited the offering and trading of derivatives linked to betting, sports events, online games, and political, electoral, cultural, or entertainment themes without a financial-economic reference.

In the same direction, SPA/MF Technical Note No. 2,958/2026 classified predictive market platforms as illegal fixed-odds betting operations, leading to the blocking of dozens of platforms by Anatel.

The move clearly reinforces Law No. 14,790/2023 as the exclusive regulatory framework for fixed-odds betting in Brazil.

In practice, the government has begun to draw a sharper line around who can operate in this market and under what conditions.

Platforms that previously positioned themselves as financial markets, event-based contracts, or alternative technological structures are now being materially treated as betting operators.

The regulatory message is direct: if a product targets the same audience, uses similar economic logic to betting, and involves risk linked to future events, it is likely to fall within the SPA’s regulatory perimeter.

From a competitive and regulatory standpoint, this produces a meaningful effect for licensed operators. Companies that have invested in licensing, compliance, anti-money laundering controls, sports integrity, responsible gaming policies, and regulatory infrastructure are no longer competing with platforms operating outside these requirements under alternative legal interpretations.

This indirectly strengthens the economic value of the license granted by the SPA.

At the same time, this strengthening comes with a significant increase in operational and compliance obligations.

The recent measures also reopen an important discussion on the regulatory limits of so-called betting exchanges and peer-to-peer models.

SPA/MF Technical Note No. 2,958/2026 itself acknowledges that betting between users and the existence of dynamic pricing do not necessarily alter the nature of fixed-odds betting.

This interpretation is relevant because it brings predictive markets closer to exchange-style betting structures already contemplated under Law No. 14,790/2023.

This point could, in the future, open space for regulated betting exchange models in Brazil, provided they fall within the SPA’s authorized perimeter. However, operational rules for such formats have not yet been defined by the regulator, leaving a significant area of uncertainty for operators seeking product innovation.

From another perspective, these measures are also likely to generate substantial litigation.

There are important debates regarding the limits of the CMN’s authority to restrict certain types of derivatives, the SPA’s interpretative role regarding predictive markets, and even the blocking of platforms without judicial orders.

Regardless of the outcome of these disputes, the fact is that Brazil’s iGaming and sports betting market is entering a new phase.

Regulatory logic is no longer focused solely on formal authorization to operate, but increasingly incorporates issues such as financial integrity, protection of vulnerable users, data governance, payment traceability, and continuous operational supervision.

The sector continues to grow, but now within a significantly more sophisticated—and more demanding—environment. For licensed operators, this simultaneously creates a barrier to entry for unregulated competitors and increases compliance costs.

In an increasingly regulated market, competitive advantage is likely to depend less on the ability to offer bets and more on the capacity to operate with regulatory security, operational integrity, and rapid adaptation to new state requirements.

Rafael Brunati is a lawyer specializing in Corporate Law, Contracts, M&A, Private Equity, and Banking Law at Silveiro Advogados.

He holds a Law degree from Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, an LL.M in Corporate Law from INSPER, and is a member of the Banking Law Commission of the São Paulo Chapter of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB/SP).

Celso Basílio is a lawyer specializing in Regulated Markets, Telecommunications, Contracts, and Competition Law at Silveiro Advogados.

He holds a Master’s degree in Law from FGV Direito SP, an LL.M in Contract Law from INSPER, and a Law degree from Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie.

The post New CMN and SPA rules reorganize the iGaming and sports betting landscape in Brazil appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Continue Reading

HELL Partners

Every FTD Counts HELL Partners Launches €20,000 World Cup Race 2026

Published

on

every-ftd-counts-hell-partners-launches-e20,000-world-cup-race-2026

HELL Partners (IVIBET / Hell Spin) is kicking off its biggest affiliate competition to date — the World Cup Race 2026 — a two-month performance sprint running from May 15 to July 15, 2026, with winners announced on July 31.

The competition is open to all affiliates, new and existing, and is built around one simple idea: drive first-time depositors to IVIBET / Hell Spin Sportsbook (plus an additional brand that may be launched during the campaign), climb the leaderboard, and take home a share of a €20,000 prize pool — plus guaranteed revenue share bonuses on top.

How It Works

Affiliates drive traffic to IVIBET & Hell Spin Sportsbooks, generate FTDs, and get ranked on a live leaderboard maintained by affiliate managers. Rankings are based on FTD volume and traffic quality. The minimum threshold to qualify is 10 FTDs from Tier 1 or Tier 2 GEOs.

Prize Pool Breakdown

The top 10 finishers split €20,000 in cash prizes: 1st place takes €5,000, 2nd earns €4,000, 3rd receives €3,000, 4th and 5th get €2,000 each, and places 6 through 10 receive €1,000 apiece. Places 11 through 20 receive a limited-edition merch pack.

RevShare Boost — Guaranteed on Top of Prizes

Every qualifying affiliate also unlocks a guaranteed RevShare boost based on their FTD count — independent of their final leaderboard position. Affiliates who bring in 10 to 19 FTDs receive a +5% RS boost for one month. Those reaching 20 to 50 FTDs get +10% RS for two months. Affiliates who hit 51 or more FTDs earn +10% RS for three months. The logic is straightforward: the stronger the performance, the longer and more profitable the terms.

Built for Every Affiliate, Not Just the Top

The campaign is designed to reward volume at every level. There is no all-or-nothing mechanic — earnings scale directly with output, the rules are transparent from day one, and the playing field is genuinely open. Whether you’re an established partner or just joining the network, the structure is built to make participation worthwhile.

For more information or to join the competition, reach out to your affiliate manager or visit the HELL Partners website.

▪Oleh Affiliate Manager [email protected]

▪Max Affiliate Manager [email protected] 

The post Every FTD Counts HELL Partners Launches €20,000 World Cup Race 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

HELL Partners

Every FTD Counts HELL Partners Launches €20,000 World Cup Race 2026

Published

on

every-ftd-counts-hell-partners-launches-e20,000-world-cup-race-2026

HELL Partners (IVIBET / Hell Spin) is kicking off its biggest affiliate competition to date — the World Cup Race 2026 — a two-month performance sprint running from May 15 to July 15, 2026, with winners announced on July 31.

The competition is open to all affiliates, new and existing, and is built around one simple idea: drive first-time depositors to IVIBET / Hell Spin Sportsbook (plus an additional brand that may be launched during the campaign), climb the leaderboard, and take home a share of a €20,000 prize pool — plus guaranteed revenue share bonuses on top.

How It Works

Affiliates drive traffic to IVIBET & Hell Spin Sportsbooks, generate FTDs, and get ranked on a live leaderboard maintained by affiliate managers. Rankings are based on FTD volume and traffic quality. The minimum threshold to qualify is 10 FTDs from Tier 1 or Tier 2 GEOs.

Prize Pool Breakdown

The top 10 finishers split €20,000 in cash prizes: 1st place takes €5,000, 2nd earns €4,000, 3rd receives €3,000, 4th and 5th get €2,000 each, and places 6 through 10 receive €1,000 apiece. Places 11 through 20 receive a limited-edition merch pack.

RevShare Boost — Guaranteed on Top of Prizes

Every qualifying affiliate also unlocks a guaranteed RevShare boost based on their FTD count — independent of their final leaderboard position. Affiliates who bring in 10 to 19 FTDs receive a +5% RS boost for one month. Those reaching 20 to 50 FTDs get +10% RS for two months. Affiliates who hit 51 or more FTDs earn +10% RS for three months. The logic is straightforward: the stronger the performance, the longer and more profitable the terms.

Built for Every Affiliate, Not Just the Top

The campaign is designed to reward volume at every level. There is no all-or-nothing mechanic — earnings scale directly with output, the rules are transparent from day one, and the playing field is genuinely open. Whether you’re an established partner or just joining the network, the structure is built to make participation worthwhile.

For more information or to join the competition, reach out to your affiliate manager or visit the HELL Partners website.

▪Oleh Affiliate Manager [email protected]

▪Max Affiliate Manager [email protected] 

The post Every FTD Counts HELL Partners Launches €20,000 World Cup Race 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Continue Reading

Trending

Get it on Google Play

Fresh slot games releases by the top brands of the industry. We provide you with the latest news straight from the entertainment industries.

The platform also hosts industry-relevant webinars, and provides detailed reports, making it a one-stop resource for anyone seeking information about operators, suppliers, regulators, and professional services in the European gaming market. The portal's primary goal is to keep its extensive reader base updated on the latest happenings, trends, and developments within the gaming and gambling sector, with an emphasis on the European market while also covering pertinent global news. It's an indispensable resource for gaming professionals, operators, and enthusiasts alike.

Contact us: [email protected]

Editorial / PR Submissions: [email protected]

Copyright © 2015 - 2024 - Recent Slot Releases is part of HIPTHER Agency. Registered in Romania under Proshirt SRL, Company number: 2134306, EU VAT ID: RO21343605. Office address: Blvd. 1 Decembrie 1918 nr.5, Targu Mures, Romania