Press Releases
Swedish online casino shutter would cause instant ‘black-market boom’, says BonusFinder MD
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.”
crypto sports betting
Mash.fun Expands Crypto Sports Betting with Player Props, Hits $1 Million in Trading Volume
Mash.fun, the innovative crypto-powered sports trading platform, has officially launched its first player props markets, giving users a new way to trade the performance of individual athletes.
The move comes as Mash.fun celebrates a major milestone, surpassing $1 million in total traded volume.
The new player props feature enables users to speculate on metrics like the aggregate minutes of goals scored by a specific player. For instance, if a player such as Erling Haaland scores in the 61st and 82nd minutes, the market settles at 143. This approach allows traders to long or short individual player performances, offering a more precise and interactive betting experience compared to traditional match outcomes.
“Player props are a natural evolution for Mash.fun, allowing our users to engage with sports betting in a more nuanced way,” said a spokesperson for Mash.fun. “Hitting $1 million in traded volume within weeks highlights strong demand for this innovative trading model.”
Mash.fun combines the user experience of top Gen Z trading apps with sports betting, featuring unique scalar markets, leveraged positions, and dynamic crypto charts. Built on the Solana blockchain, Mash.fun merges the speed and transparency of crypto with the excitement of live sports trading.
In addition to player props, Mash.fun recently introduced Shirts markets, where users trade indices based on the aggregate shirt numbers of goalscorers, further expanding its creative and engaging market offerings.
For more information, visit Mash.fun and explore the future of crypto sports trading
The post Mash.fun Expands Crypto Sports Betting with Player Props, Hits $1 Million in Trading Volume appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Alternative Payment Methods
Paysafe and Pay.com Launch Strategic Partnership to Revolutionize Payment Orchestration
Paysafe (NYSE: PSFE), a global leader in payment solutions, has announced a landmark strategic partnership with Pay.com, a premier payment orchestration platform. The collaboration positions Paysafe as a recommended acquirer for card transactions while integrating its full suite of alternative payment methods (APMs) into the Pay.com ecosystem.
This partnership is designed to empower online merchants by combining Paysafe’s 30 years of processing expertise with Pay.com’s intelligent orchestration technology to maximize transaction success rates worldwide.
Enhancing Checkout with Intelligent Orchestration
Pay.com’s platform leverages advanced orchestration and a centralized risk engine to optimize every transaction. By including Paysafe as a core acquirer option, merchants across e-commerce, travel, regulated iGaming, and financial services can now access seamless credit and debit card processing.
Key benefits for merchants include:
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Increased Authorization Rates: AI-driven routing ensures transactions are sent to the acquirer most likely to approve them.
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Reduced Friction: A centralized risk engine filters out fraud without slowing down legitimate customers.
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Global Reach: Access to Paysafe’s extensive processing network covering 48 currencies and 260 payment types.
Expanding the APM Suite: Skrill, Neteller, and paysafecard
To provide consumers with total flexibility, Pay.com has integrated Paysafe’s flagship digital wallets—Skrill and Neteller—as well as the paysafecard eCash solution.
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Skrill & Neteller: Boasting over two decades of heritage and availability in 130 countries, these wallets are “trust-marks” for high-value players in the iGaming and trading sectors.
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paysafecard: This voucher-based solution enables the cash-focused and privacy-conscious consumer to transact online safely, effectively bridging the gap between physical cash and digital commerce.
Strategic Vision for 2026 and Beyond
The partnership is already operational, with several Pay.com merchants currently processing live transactions through Paysafe. The roadmap for 2026 includes onboarding 20+ additional major merchants by year-end, signaling a rapid scaling of the joint offering.
“Our collaboration will likely be a game-changer for online merchants,” said Rob Gatto, Chief Revenue Officer at Paysafe. “By optimizing payment routing and enhancing approval rates, we are helping merchants strengthen their checkouts and, ultimately, their customer relationships.”
Nicholas Banerjee, Chief Revenue Officer at Pay.com, added: “Integrating Paysafe into our platform enhances the advanced orchestration capabilities we provide, helping merchants optimize every transaction. This partnership ensures our customers benefit from greater flexibility across card payments and a wide range of alternative payment methods.”
About Paysafe and Pay.com
Paysafe is a leading payments platform connecting businesses and consumers across 260 payment types. Its core purpose is to enable seamless transactions through industry-leading capabilities in processing, digital wallets, and online cash solutions.
Pay.com is an innovator in payment orchestration, offering merchants full control to route transactions optimally using a self-service rule engine and a centralized token vault.
For more information, visit the official Paysafe website or explore the Pay.com platform.
The post Paysafe and Pay.com Launch Strategic Partnership to Revolutionize Payment Orchestration appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Continent 8 Technologies
Continent 8 and CEO Michael Tobin claim number one spot in GamblingIQ’s global ‘Security 10’ rankings
Continent 8 Technologies, a leading provider of cutting-edge managed IT solutions designed for the global iGaming and online sports betting industry, has been named number one in GamblingIQ’s prestigious ‘Security 10’ global rankings. CEO Michael Tobin is recognised as the top industry leader in security, trust and data integrity.
This accolade reinforces Continent 8’s position as the trusted provider of data centre services, cloud hosting, private connectivity, and cybersecurity solutions, underscoring its commitment to safeguarding operators, suppliers, and players in an increasingly complex and regulated digital landscape.
Continent 8 is the partner of choice for hundreds of leading operators, suppliers, and platform providers worldwide. From tier-one brands to emerging innovators, these companies depend on Continent 8’s secure, compliant, and resilient infrastructure to power their businesses and protect their players. Customers include FanDuel, Kambi, Sportingtech, Playtech, DraftKings, Alea, BetMGM, and more.
GamblingIQ stated: ‘Michael Tobin is one of gambling’s rare figures who combines respect with genuine popularity: a feat almost impossible in an industry as volatile and scrutinised as ours. His reputation isn’t built on flash or hype, but on steady, practical leadership, curiosity about technology, and an ability to make complex challenges seem manageable. Operators, regulators, suppliers and colleagues value his clarity, his evidence-backed thinking, and his long-term approach to partnerships. After nearly 30 years, his standing signals more than success: it reflects consistency of character, reliability and a human touch in a sector that often forgets both.’
Michael Tobin, CEO and Founder of Continent 8 Technologies, commented: “Security and trust are the cornerstones of iGaming – they are the principles on which I founded Continent 8. This recognition from GamblingIQ is a testament to our team’s relentless focus on safeguarding the industry and enabling our customers to innovate with confidence. Congratulations to all the other companies listed in the Security 10.”
The post Continent 8 and CEO Michael Tobin claim number one spot in GamblingIQ’s global ‘Security 10’ rankings appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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