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Swedish online casino shutter would cause instant ‘black-market boom’, says BonusFinder MD

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Government considers ‘extreme measures’ as activity rises amid COVID-19 restrictions but closures would drive more players to unlicensed sites instead of protecting them

9th April, 2020 ­­– The Swedish government’s threat to temporarily shut down licensed online casinos would have a disastrous effect on the industry and drive thousands more players to the black market, BonusFinder.com has warned.

The minister in charge of gambling policy, Ardalan Shekarabi, this week warned that “extraordinary measures” would be implemented if operators do not take action to slow the increase in igaming activity seen in the last two weeks, as people are told to stay at home because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

According to new data from Sweden’s gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen, there has been a 33% increase in registrations and logins to play online casino games with 17 of the 60 licensed operators in the country in the last 14 days.

Last month, Swedish market research carried out by BonusFinder.com found that almost a third of Swedish online casino players are searching for ‘unlicensed casinos’, with growing numbers turning to black-market brands due to the market’s restrictive gaming regulations, introduced in January 2019.

Instead of protecting players, a shutdown of online casino brands, however, is likely to lead to thousands more players searching for and depositing funds on unlicensed sites, as well as causing further financial damage to licensed operators, according to BonusFinder.com.

Fintan Costello, Managing Director, Bonusfinder.com, said: “The Swedish government will make a colossal mistake if it chooses to temporarily close down online casino sites in an attempt to protect players. As our research has shown, almost a third of online casino players are already looking to the black market for a more attractive offering since restrictive rules were imposed in January 2019. These latest plans would create an immediate black-market boom.

“Swedish legislation requires operators to have strict responsible gambling procedures in place, therefore the right measures are already there. The focus should instead be on ensuring these are adhered to rather than taking a knee jerk reaction to close down all legitimate brands and forcing even more players to unprotected sites.”

 

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Backseat Gaming

Hub88 integrates Backseat Gaming and Clutch Gaming in double supplier deal

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Aggregator adds high-volatility slots including Hades Harvest, Deep Sea Mafia and Radiate to its operator network.

Hub88 has added Backseat Gaming and sister studio Clutch Gaming to its supplier network via a double integration deal, expanding the content available to operators on its aggregation platform.

The integration makes a number of titles available through Hub88, including Hades Harvest, Deep Sea Mafia and Radiate. Hub88 positioned the move as a way to broaden its catalogue with high-volatility content.

Ollie Castleman, Managing Director at Hub88, said: “Backseat Gaming and Clutch Gaming bring a level of craft and personality that stands out.

“By choosing both complementary studios run by the same team, our partners gain the flexibility to reach different player preferences. With both brands already making a splash in the industry, we’re sure this content will become an unmissable addition to lobbies.”

Debbie Cooper, Head of Commercial Operations at Backseat Gaming, said: “Partnering with Hub88 marks an exciting next step for Backseat Gaming and Clutch Gaming as we look to expand our reach across the iGaming industry.

“Hub88’s proven aggregation platform and extensive operator portfolio give us the ideal network to get our content in front of new audiences quickly and efficiently. We’re excited to work alongside their team and bring our game content to their partners.”

The studios said they plan to release one game per week from each provider, with both brands managed by the same team and positioned to target different player tastes.

The post Hub88 integrates Backseat Gaming and Clutch Gaming in double supplier deal appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Africa

Mancala Gaming signs QTech distribution deal for emerging markets

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Mancala Gaming has struck a distribution deal with QTech to roll out its slots and crash games to operators across emerging markets, the companies said on 21 July 2026.

Under the agreement, QTech will add Mancala Gaming’s catalogue to its aggregator platform. Mancala said its current portfolio includes more than 80 games, spanning slots and crash titles such as Panther Legacy, Coin Craze: Supercharged, Diego’s Spicy Truck, Cheese Chase, Beer Halla and Muscle Tussle.

Mancala Gaming CCO Emiliano Sanchez said: “We’re thrilled to have partnered with QTech to boost our reach and relevance across emerging markets, seamlessly offering our premium slots and crash content to a range of previously undiscovered operators. We now look forward to elevating our ambitions through the sprawling reach of QTech’s platform, particularly in Africa and LatAm where the crash-gaming genre is in such high demand. Mobile-first consumption and speed are the consequential keys to success in these two continents where players want instant entertainment, short sessions, and quick results, even when mobile connectivity is not optimal.

QTech CEO Philip Doftvik added: “Mancala Gaming’s content brings a level of gameplay and interactive engagement that keeps players coming back for more, improving retention and dwell-time metrics. Their growing gaming suite of slots, instant-win, and crash games is built for rapid deployment across any market. So, we’re confident that our operator partners will soon see strong performance courtesy of some multi-layered gameplay experiences which appeal to both seasoned and casual players.

The companies did not disclose commercial terms or name operator launch partners.

The post Mancala Gaming signs QTech distribution deal for emerging markets appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Avanti

Avanti Studios names former Evolution executive Steven Tabone as Commercial Director

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Tabone joins from Evolution, where he served as Head of Region, as Avanti targets new operator and aggregator partnerships.

Avanti Studios has appointed Steven Tabone as Commercial Director, hiring the former Evolution Head of Region to lead its commercial strategy and partnership growth.

Tabone spent two years at Evolution, where he worked on commercial strategy, sales and account management, and supported operator relationships, according to the company. Avanti said his remit will include building operator and aggregator partnerships and developing a scalable go-to-market strategy focused on international expansion.

The supplier also pointed to recent activity in Spain and Brazil, citing partnerships with Entain and Bet365 as it scales operations in those markets.

Steven Tabone, Commercial Director at Avanti, said: “I firmly believe Avanti is the most exciting thing to have happened to the iGaming industry for a very long time, so I’m obviously delighted to be joining as Commercial Director during what is undoubtedly a pivotal period for the company.

“What drew me to Avanti is having the chance to build something genuinely different. The team has a clear vision that will disrupt the industry with its innovation and quality, and as an operator, you can either jump on the train with us or be left standing at the station. Being able to shape that journey from the very beginning is a huge opportunity, and one that I’m really looking forward to.”

The post Avanti Studios names former Evolution executive Steven Tabone as Commercial Director appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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