Industry News
SAZKA Group: COVID-19 update

SAZKA Group wishes to give an update to its stakeholders regarding the measures our companies and retail partners have taken with regard to the COVID-19 virus outbreak.
First and foremost, in order to protect the health and safety of our customers, employees, partners and the public, all our companies have fully complied with all the decisions and recommendations of the public authorities in the countries of their operations. We have successfully implemented contingency and business continuity plans with no significant impact to our business processes, and almost all our employees are currently working from home.
While all our digital channels continue to operate without interruption, our physical retail networks have adopted various measures to safeguard public health and the health of our employees.
We anticipate that these developments will impact our financial performance. The extent of the impact will depend on factors including the duration of the outbreak, how longer current restrictions remain in place, further measures taken by governments, and the extent of economic disruption.
Robert Chvatal, CEO commented: “Management are working on mitigating steps to minimise the financial impact for our companies, our employees, and our partners. SAZKA Group is in daily contact with its local operating companies to coordinate timely response to the developments in individual markets.”
Below is a brief overview of the current situation in our markets:
Greece
On Friday 13 March 2020, the Greek government published its decision to impose a temporary ban on the operation of a wide range of shops, indoor venues and other locations. As a result, all of the OPAP stores and PLAY gaming halls in Greece will be closed for two weeks, from Saturday 14 March until Friday 27 March 2020 inclusive. The horseracing facility at Markopoulo Park will also be closed.
Consequently, during this period, the company’s gaming activities will only be operating through its online platforms, which offer sports betting and certain other lottery games, and via the street vendor network of Hellenic Lotteries, which offers scratch cards and passive lotteries.
OPAP’s stores in Cyprus have been temporarily closed as of.
Austria
On Friday 13 March 2020, the Austrian government published its decision to impose a temporary ban on the operation of a wide range of shops, excluding those providing basic services such as food retail, pharmacies, post offices, banks, petrol stations and tobacco stores. The decision went into force on Monday 16 March 2020. The ban has so far had only a limited impact on the availability of Austrian lotteries products through its main retail channels, as more than 90% of all point-of-sales are excluded from the ban.
Austrian Lotteries’ online gaming activities remain available to the public during the entire period. They include draw based games (including Austrian Lotteries’ major products Lotto and Euromillions), instant scratch cards, online casino, poker, bingo and sports betting.
In coordination with the authorities, Casinos Austria has decided to close all its casinos in Austria and its subsidiary Austrian Lotteries has decided to close all its 19 gaming halls on March 13, 2020. The casinos and gaming halls will be closed at least until April 13, 2020. The Austrian government is introducing measures to support part time work, which may allow reduce Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries to reduce the financial impact of the closure
Casinos Austria International, which operates casinos and VLT businesses in multiple countries, is closely monitoring the situation and acting in accordance with the instructions of local governmental bodies.
Czech Republic
As of Monday 16 March, the State Security Council of the Czech Republic has decided to severely limit free movement in the Czech Republic in order to limit the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic. Citizens are allowed going to work and shop for supplies limited to food, vital supplies, fuel and medicine, as well as use of necessary financial and postal services. We estimate that 70% of SAZKA’s Czech retail network, including newsstands and post offices, continues providing their services to the public.
At the same time, we are actively promoting the use of online platforms for lottery products as well as digital-only offerings. In recent weeks we have seen a 25-30% increase in sales via digital channels compared to previous weeks.
Italy
Most shops, restaurants and cafes in Italy are currently closed as a result of a number of recent measures. Tobacconists, which are a key channel for LOTTOITALIA, are allowed to remain open, however traffic has declined.
About SAZKA Group:
We are one of the largest pan-European lottery operators. Our businesses operate lotteries in all the major continental European countries where lotteries are privately operated, including the Czech Republic, Greece, Austria and Italy, and in Cyprus. Our businesses focus on the lottery segment, including numerical lotteries (draw-based games) and instant lotteries (scratch cards), and also provide complementary products, including sports-betting and digital-only games. They sell their products both through various retail networks and through digital platforms.
Industry News
TaDa Compares the Market for Fishing-Shooting Games

TaDa Gaming continues to raise awareness of its unique fishing-shooting games through its recently launched Fi/Sh Experience Campaign.
Combining fishing, shooting and gaming, the new vertical offers strategic gameplay, with players targeting specific fish based on their multiplier value. With each shot fired placing a wager, it is the equivalent to a spin on a slot game, making fishing-shooting games recognisable, RNG, casino entertainment products.
However, fishing-shooting games offer a completely different player experience to spinning the reels and so TaDa began its 2025 global roadshows at ICE Barcelona with the aim of demystifying these exciting releases.
A key takeaway is in understanding the difference between slots and fishing-shooting games. With no reels or paylines, players target and shoot fish or creatures to win rewards from successful hits.
Unlike slots, this requires strategic decision making as to: target choice based on multiplier value or facility to trigger a bonus game; choice in weapons used; and an understanding of how to benefit from the many exciting bonus features including Power Ups, Immortal Bosses and Awakening Events.
The option to choose one of three “rooms” based on different volatility and wager levels in the same game gives players choices that do not usually exist with slots and makes every experience more personalised.
Graphics and animations are comparable to video gaming while real time shooting mechanics, alongside multiplayer capability, ensure fishing-shooting games are not an alternative to slots but a whole new experience.
In-built tutorials, demo play options and on-screen tips alongside a detailed paytable to provide a clear roadmap for successful play mean TaDa games deliver a straightforward and safe experience for all types of players to try these new titles.
Ray Lee, Director of Business Development at TaDa Gaming, said: “Many players have gravitated to our fishing-shooting games looking for skill influenced gameplay, strategic choices, a more interactive and dynamic experience and multiplayer options.
“The flexibility in starting with a low volatility exposure and being able to change options within the same RNG game is very appealing. There is also the recognition that the wager process is similar to slots which makes players more comfortable.
“Furthermore, our releases including Bombing Fishing, Mega Fishing and Jackpot Fishing are localised for different markets and we have also optimised download times for superlight deployment making the games attractive across multiple demographics and jurisdictions.
“We are very excited about our fishing-shooting games and are delighted to be working to make them ever more accessible to players and operators.”
The post TaDa Compares the Market for Fishing-Shooting Games appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Industry News
ZEAL Network CEO Helmut Becker Will Not Extend His Contract Beyond January 2026

Dr. Helmut Becker, CEO of ZEAL Network, has informed the Supervisory Board of the company of his decision not to extend his contract, which runs until January 31, 2026. The 56-year-old has decided to pursue his own entrepreneurial activities in the future after many years as a top manager. Dr Becker will then leave the company after more than twelve years on the Executive Board of ZEAL Network SE, including more than ten as CEO. He will remain fully committed to ZEAL as CEO until the end of his contract term and will ensure a smooth transition of his duties to a successor.
“ZEAL is in an excellent position to continue to grow in the future. After almost ten years as CEO, I have decided that now is the right time to pursue my own entrepreneurial endeavours. This has been a difficult decision for me. I will especially miss our exceptionally strong team and the unique culture we have built together, characterised by innovation, customer focus and team spirit. I will continue to work hard until the end of my term to achieve the goals we have set together,” said Dr Becker.
Dr Becker informed the Supervisory Board of ZEAL Network SE about his decision at an early stage, and the Supervisory Board will immediately initiate a structured process for the succession of the CEO.
Peter Steiner, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, said: “The Supervisory Board of ZEAL Network SE has noted with great regret Helmut Becker’s decision not to seek a contract extension. Helmut Becker has played a decisive role in taking ZEAL’s business development to a new level. Under his leadership, ZEAL has established itself as a market leader in the online lottery market, significantly expanded its customer base and crucially broadened its offering through innovative product development. On behalf of the Supervisory Board, I would like to thank him for his outstanding commitment and strategic vision. We wish him all the best for his personal life and professional career.”
Dr Becker has been CEO of ZEAL Network since September 1, 2015, after serving as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for over two years. Prior to joining the Executive Board, he was a member of the Supervisory Board of ZEAL for two years. Previously, he served as Chief Commercial Officer on the Management Board of XING AG and held various management positions at eBay Germany and as a management consultant at McKinsey. As CEO, Dr Becker was responsible for the acquisition of LOTTO24 AG, the return of ZEAL to Germany and the expansion of the portfolio to include freiheit+, Games and Traumhausverlosung.
The post ZEAL Network CEO Helmut Becker Will Not Extend His Contract Beyond January 2026 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Affiliate Industry
Gamblorium Enhances Casino Reviews with Updated Rating System

Gamblorium, a trusted online casino affiliate platform, announces its new and improved casino rating system. This updated system is designed to give players even more accurate and transparent rankings for online casinos. Since 2020, Gamblorium has been known for providing honest and expert-tested casino reviews. With this updated rating system, Gamblorium continues to ensure players can easily find the best gambling sites.
The new rating system combines three key components: Gamblorium Score, Player Score and Market Score. These scores are based on a 100-point scale, providing players with a clear and reliable way to choose casinos that meet their preferences.
Main features of Gamblorium’s new rating system:
• Gamblorium score: The Gamblorium Score evaluates casinos based on over 100 criteria, including payment methods, game options, security and user experience. Unlike other platforms, Gamblorium uses a relative and flexible approach, meaning casinos are ranked based on their strengths within their market. This score also incorporates Expert Scoring, ensuring that the most important factors are weighted appropriately.
• Player score: The Player Score is based on feedback from real users. Players can leave reviews only if they have registered or played at the casino, ensuring honest and up-to-date feedback. This makes the reviews highly reliable and reflective of the actual player experience.
• Market score: The Market Score helps balance the overall rating by considering the views of other trusted gambling platforms. This adds another layer of objectivity and ensures that Gamblorium’s reviews remain fair and unbiased.
The post Gamblorium Enhances Casino Reviews with Updated Rating System appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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