Press Releases

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

Published

6 years ago

April 9, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

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.”

Caspar Hobbs CEO of SWA

SWA, Sportradar Collaborate on First-of-its-Kind In-Play MMA Betting Offering

Published

48 minutes ago

January 14, 2026

Wladimir P.

swa,-sportradar-collaborate-on-first-of-its-kind-in-play-mma-betting-offering

SWA Ltd, a London-based frontrunner in live data and AI technology for real-time betting prediction systems, today revealed a new collaboration with Sportradar to introduce the industry’s first-ever in-play MMA betting model.

The innovative product is now accessible to Sportradar customers.

Utilizing the official data streams from the UFC and PFL, the updated model will offer extensive in-play markets for significant MMA events, with more promotions planned for integration in the following weeks.

The platform is created to provide hundreds of live betting markets, establishing the basis for an expanded combat sports package to be offered via Sportradar.

“Our science team has developed data driven bottom-up generative ai modelling that outputs tens of thousands of potential outcomes every second, pricing each one in real time.

This enables unlimited micro-parlay and social betting opportunities on the same platforms,” said Caspar Hobbs, CEO of SWA. “MMA has been one of the fastest-growing sports globally for many years, but its speed and complexity have made it difficult to model for betting. We are delighted to partner with Sportradar on this breakthrough MMA product and look forward to delivering wider combat offerings in the coming weeks, as well as expanding into additional sports.”

The post SWA, Sportradar Collaborate on First-of-its-Kind In-Play MMA Betting Offering appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Burst Games

Step into Royal Drop — Queen Lizzie’s Quest from Mirror Image Gaming

Published

48 minutes ago

January 14, 2026

Wladimir P.

step-into-royal-drop-—-queen-lizzie’s-quest-from-mirror-image-gaming

Are you prepared drop? That’s the dilemma players encounter when they launch Royal Drop, the newest Burst Game from Mirror Image Gaming, driven by FortuneEngine.io.

Royal Drop is a character-focused, high-octane “Burst Game” that aims to dominate online casino lobbies with its captivating and enjoyable gameplay.

Players team up with Queen Lizzie, who is bold, fierce, and fabulously untroubled, as she trades scones and biscuits for a twin-winged plane that drops her into one of the wildest online casino escapades.

Players trail behind Queen Lizzie as she zooms across the sky, flipping and twisting while gathering flags and collecting coins, all while providing witty remarks that expose her etiquette as far more vibrant than anyone could have anticipated.

The flags and coins serve as Prizes and Multipliers, accumulating as Queen Lizzie descends towards landing areas.

There are a total of five, which include:

Royal Palace – 5,000x Jackpot

Underground – 100x Payout Multiplier

Big Ben – 50x Payout Multiplier Royal Guard – Squares the Payout Multiplier

Royal Carriage – 5x Payout Multiplier

Following her is her nervous son and successor to the throne. He worries about their image, particularly Queen Lizzie’s dubious driving skills showcased in the Bus Multiplier feature.

This is activated by the Bus Scatter, which amplifies the ascent to as much as 11x.

Queen Lizzie is courageous and fearless, and she definitely shouldn’t perform her own stunts – yet she does them regardless. That’s the reason you can gain an additional 0.2x whenever Queen Lizzie performs a Flip or a Back Flip.

However, be cautious of the Dangers and particularly the Thunderheads that separate the amassed victory.

Players of the Royal Drop will soon discover that within the Royal Family, there is only one individual with nerves of steel.

Royal Drop features three RTP options – 96%, 94%, and 92% – and is positioned at the mid to high level of the volatility spectrum. The smallest wager is established at 0.10 with an adjustable maximum stake. The highest possible win is 5,000 times.

Gray Wagner, CEO at Mirror Image Gaming, said: “Our Burst Games have taken online casino game lobbies by storm and in Royal Drop we have a title that celebrates the magic and majesty of the royal family while allowing players to unlock regal wins.

“Our Burst Games are incredibly fun and put players on the edge of their seats as they ride out the drop and collect as many prizes as they can on the way down. Of course, where they land determines the ultimate size of the payout.

“The heir to the throne might be shouting “Slow down mommy” but players will be encouraging Queen Lizzie to go faster and scoop up more of those coins and flags as she dials in on the landing zone.”

The post Step into Royal Drop — Queen Lizzie’s Quest from Mirror Image Gaming appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Booming Games

Booming Games upgrades senior management to support aggressive growth strategy

Published

48 minutes ago

January 14, 2026

Wladimir P.

booming-games-upgrades-senior-management-to-support-aggressive-growth-strategy

Booming Games, a top supplier of high-quality gaming content, has today enhanced its C-suite by appointing a new Chief Operating Officer and establishing a new Chief of Staff position. The hires demonstrate Booming Games’ dedication to attracting and developing elite talent, as the company aims for significant growth in the next years and expands its international footprint.

Dan Paleu, who first entered the company as Director of Technical Operations, has been elevated to Chief Operating Officer effective immediately. Before joining Booming Games, Dan worked for 16 years at IGT PlayDigital, formerly iSoftBet, where he held multiple positions, with his latest role being Head of Games. In this role, Dan shaped the company’s overall gaming strategy and managed the production process for new games, from idea to release. He is considered a forward-thinker with an impressive history in the sector.

Dan’s substantial industry experience enables him to enhance Booming Games’ offerings effectively. His attention will center on enhancing operational excellence throughout game delivery, technology, and commercial operations, while guaranteeing regulatory compliance in every market. He will additionally assist in the ongoing growth into new regulated markets, with entries into Switzerland, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic set for 2026.

In addition, Ramona Petrina has been named Chief of Staff, a newly established role, effective immediately. In November 2022, Ramona became the Director of HR at Booming Games and brings more than 15 years of experience in the industry. Her promotion arrives as the company has definite intentions to strengthen its workforce and attract premier talent to enhance customer experience.

In her new position, Ramona will serve as a strategic ally, aiding in executive planning and decision-making. Her primary emphasis will be to create a distinct set of objectives that align with the broader leadership strategy and assist in implementing essential growth initiatives. In addition, Ramona will keep refining the company’s people strategy, making certain the organization is properly organized and ready for its upcoming growth stage.

Dan and Ramona will attend ICE Barcelona later this month, accompanied by several C-suite peers, to present Booming Games’ new titles and converse about upcoming plans for the year.

Max Niehusen, Founder of Booming Games, said: “We are pleased to announce these two promotions at a key moment in our growth journey. With extensive experience in their fields, Dan and Ramona have already made a significant contribution to the business, providing invaluable expertise. Their promotions reflect our longstanding commitment to retain and nurture top talent, in order to better serve our rapidly expanding customer base.”

Dan Paleu, Chief Operating Officer at Booming Games, said: “After joining Booming Games I quickly understood why the business has an unrivalled reputation in the industry for innovation. The business has set out ambitious growth plans and I am proud to be taking up the position of Chief Operating Officer to help deliver these. I look forward to continuing working closely with Max in the role, providing a market leading experience for our customers and players.”

Ramona Petrina, Chief of Staff at Booming Games, said: “Booming Games has built a powerful foundation, from its product vision and people to its ambition and execution. The scale we’ve achieved is the result of clear direction and strong leadership, and I’m excited to help shape the next phase of the company’s growth as we continue to expand and evolve.”

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