Africa
South Africa: Tribunal Grants Lottoland Interim Relief – Orders Google to Grant Lottoland Access to its Advertising Platform
The Competition Tribunal (“Tribunal”) has issued an interim order directing Google Ireland Ltd and Google South Africa (Pty) Ltd (collectively, “Google”) to permit Lottoland South Africa (Pty) Ltd (“Lottoland”) to access its advertising services known as “Google Ads”, for so long as Google permits any firm in South Africa to utilise Google’s Ads Services to advertise fixed-odds betting on the outcome of lotteries. The Tribunal’s order applies for a period of six months from its date, or the conclusion of a hearing into the prohibited practices alleged by Lottoland, whichever is the earlier.
This platform enables advertisers to display ads to users who utilise Google search, with Google Ireland acting as the service provider for Google Ads in South Africa.
The Tribunal’s order follows an interim relief application by Lottoland, a licensed bookmaker, which, inter alia, offers fixed-odds bets on the outcome of various lotteries around the world, including the South African national lottery, sporting events and other betting contingencies. Lottoland competes with other licensed bookmakers in South Africa such as Hollywood Bets, World Sports Betting, Betway, Betfred (which owns Lottostar) and Netbet (which trades as Sportingbet).
In summary, Lottoland alleged that Google terminated its access to Google Ads without justification while allowing access to its competitors, causing it financial harm and distorting competition in the market that Lottoland operates in, to the detriment of consumers.
Google contended that Lottoland’s offering of fixed-odds bets on the outcome of the national lottery in South Africa contravenes sections 57(1) and 57(2)(g) of the Lotteries Act. It submitted that in terms of its online advertising policies, which are designed to protect users, restrictions are placed on the promotion of certain gambling activities. Of particular relevance, the promotion of lotteries is limited to state-licensed entities and that this restriction is in place to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Lotteries Act.
Reasons for Decision
A non-confidential version of the Tribunal’s reasons will be published in due course once any confidentiality claims in relation to the reasons have been finalised with the parties involved. In deciding the matter, the Tribunal considered the following three factors holistically, balancing each factor against the other to determine what is reasonable and just:
• Evidence relating to the alleged prohibited practice;
• The need to prevent serious or irreparable damage to the applicant (Lottoland); and
• The balance of convenience.
The post South Africa: Tribunal Grants Lottoland Interim Relief – Orders Google to Grant Lottoland Access to its Advertising Platform appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Leading sportsbook provider prepares to debut in African market after rigorous certification process
Altenar, a leading sportsbook and iGaming software provider, has successfully obtained a licence from the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board (WCGRB), marking a significant milestone in its expansion into the burgeoning South African market.
Altenar is now a registered and licenced National Manufacturer in the thriving jurisdiction, following a rigorous process. During the initial stages, several stakeholders were required to complete detailed KYC and compliance checks, as well as fill in significant paperwork to demonstrate the provider’s suitability.
This latest market debut demonstrates Altenar’s position as a sought-after partner with a flexible and localised solution. The opportunity opens up the doors to further expansion on the African continent and demonstrates its appeal to operators across multiple continents.
Sam Hill, Sales Director at Altenar, said: “Altenar is delighted to receive our licence to supply our sportsbook solution into South Africa. It is another significant step for us globally and is a key target market for us to further establish our product. We’re confident we have all the necessary product features and quality to offer the best solution on the market. This is across core sports such as football and racing, as well as offering customers the ease to prioritise key local content and sports via our highly flexible UI/UX.
“There are also a variety of ways that we support seamless cross-sell between products, which in a market such as South Africa, with the popularity of all verticals, will stand us and our customers in good stead. We are looking forward to the future in South Africa and the wider African market.”
The post Altenar obtains National Manufacturer licence in South Africa appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
SYNOT Games, a leading global casino game developer, has announced its expansion into the Nigerian iGaming market through a new partnership with betBonanza.
As a result of this collaboration, betBonanza players will have access to SYNOT Games‘ acclaimed portfolio of over 150 unique and engaging titles. The initial launch will feature ten highly popular games, including Aztec Jaguar Megaways, All Ways Queen, Forest Maiden, and Rio Mystery Night. The operator will continue to expand its offering, adding five new games each week until the full portfolio becomes available.
By joining forces, SYNOT Games and betBonanza aim to meet the growing demand for premium gaming content in Nigeria’s thriving market, setting a new standard for entertainment and innovation.
Unity Nwanze, Business Operations Manager at betBonanza, said: “We are excited to expand our Casino game portfolio with the addition of SYNOT Games! It’s a great opportunity to present our players with fun games and thrilling ways to win. We look forward to a rewarding partnership.”
Kristína Ďaďová, Sales Manager at SYNOT Games, added: “Our goal is to provide the highest level of entertainment and by partnering with betBonanza, we will be able to offer top-quality games to a whole new audience. I believe this cooperation will strengthen our position in a market as demanding as Nigeria.”
The post SYNOT Games Expands to the Nigerian Market Through a Strategic Partnership with betBonanza appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
888bets has launched in Malawi, expanding the online operator’s presence across Africa.
The brand, which is a joint venture between 888 owner evoke and 888Africa, unveiled a television advert to support its entry into its latest market.
888Africa co-founder and CEO Christopher Coyne said: “Delighted to announce that 888Africa has now launched into our seventh African market with Malawi. We are live from today [Friday, November 29].
“I’m so proud of the work of the outstanding 888Africa teams, too many to mention in the run to get us live, but I will note Alex Rutherford [888Africa chief growth officer] for his work on licensing, and I’ll mention also Andrew Lee [chief revenue officer], Steven McIntosh [VP product] and Zeljka Perkovic for their massive contributions on the project side.”
The post 888bets Goes Live in Malawi appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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