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.”
Codere Online
Codere Online Launches iOS Poker App in Mexico, Advancing Its Multi‑Product Expansion Strategy
Codere Online Luxembourg, S.A. a leading online gaming operator in Spain and Latin America, today announced the launch of its new iOS Poker application in Mexico, reinforcing the Company’s strategic objective to provide customers with access to a complete suite of online gaming products. As part of this multi‑product roadmap, both Bingo and the Android Poker app will form the next steps in expanding the Company’s offering in the country.
Developed in partnership with Playtech, one of the world’s most established gaming technology providers, the new iOS Poker app integrates directly with Playtech’s player‑vs‑player (P2P) Poker network. This allows Mexican users to compete in real time with players across multiple operators, ensuring deeper liquidity, a more dynamic environment and a superior competitive experience.
Codere Online continues to observe strong demand for Poker in Mexico, with more than 1,300 unique active users per month already engaging with the vertical across existing channels, a clear indicator of the product’s relevance and potential as mobile availability expands.
“Launching the Poker app for iOS in Mexico is a key step in delivering on our commitment to offer customers all major online gaming categories,” said Alberto Telias, Chief Marketing Officer at Codere Online. “Poker has quickly emerged as a highly attractive vertical for our users, and through our partnership with Playtech, we are bringing them a premium, high‑liquidity platform that elevates their experience.”
The new app offers a stable and intuitive interface with access to cash tables, multi‑table tournaments, Sit & Go formats, and fast‑paced modes. It also incorporates Codere Online’s robust responsible gaming tools to ensure that customers can enjoy Poker in a safe and controlled environment.
“This release reflects our strategy to broaden our product offering and enhance the user experience across all key gaming verticals,” said Ran Licht, Head of Product at Codere Online. “Playtech’s P2P network enables us to deliver a feature‑rich Poker environment connected to a broader operator ecosystem, and we look forward to expanding our product suite with additional verticals currently in development.”
“We are proud to partner with Codere Online and bring our P2P Poker network to their players in Mexico through their new iOS app,” commented Marat Koss, Playtech Chief Interactive Gaming Officer. “Codere Online players will now boast access to one of the most liquid and competitive poker networks in the entire industry.
The post Codere Online Launches iOS Poker App in Mexico, Advancing Its Multi‑Product Expansion Strategy appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Akhil Sarin
Akhil Sarin Joins Bet It Drives: Stake’s Growth and What iGaming Gets Wrong About Marketing
Season 4 of Bet It Drives is back, and Episode 2 features Akhil Sarin, CMO at Easygo and the marketing and partnerships mastermind behind Stake.
Sarin dives into the realities of iGaming marketing, sharing how some of the most cost-effective campaigns can deliver massive impact—including a low-budget idea that went viral with over 16 billion impressions.
Key insights from the episode include:
-
Stake’s most valuable partnerships and why they worked
-
What sets their sponsorship strategy apart
-
Common mistakes iGaming marketing teams make
-
The one thing Sarin wishes teams focused more on
-
Biggest red flags and warning signs in partnerships
-
Leadership lessons and internal trust challenges
The episode also features a fun “Confess or Call” segment, highlighting a late-night call to a senior exec about a high-stakes, unconventional idea—a true test of trust and creativity.
“This season is about open conversations, and Akhil was straight with us,” said Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech and host of Bet It Drives. “iGaming marketers will rethink spend, partnerships, and what truly drives growth after this episode.”
Season 4 also includes a CEO debate with Cedomir Tomic (Founder, Alea) and Oleksandr Feshchenko (CEO, GR8 Tech), along with upcoming insights on crypto payments in iGaming and esports betting strategies.
Watch or listen to Season 4, Episode 2 on:
The post Akhil Sarin Joins Bet It Drives: Stake’s Growth and What iGaming Gets Wrong About Marketing appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
ELA Games
SiGMA Eurasia: ELA Games MD Marharyta Yerina Talks Progression Milestones in Dubai
At SiGMA Eurasia on February 11, Marharyta Yerina, Managing Director of ELA Games, joined the panel “Progress Paths: Making Milestones Matter” to discuss innovative approaches to player retention and engagement. The session, moderated by Tim French (Commercial Manager, Greco Fast Track), explored how studios can design progression systems that go beyond conventional loyalty schemes.
Marharyta emphasized that maintaining player interest often comes from subtle design choices rather than overt progress bars. She highlighted how optimizing volatility and feature frequency creates natural anticipation, keeping players engaged through gameplay rhythm. She also advocated for micro-goals—short, intra-session milestones—and stressed the importance of audio-visual feedback to make moments feel rewarding in real time, rather than relying on long-term VIP systems alone.
The panel featured diverse perspectives from the industry, including Alena Tsuranova (CCO, Megafair) and Bulat Fakhrutdinov (Head of Partnerships, Betronic Software), who discussed how commercial strategies and partnerships shape the player journey.
Marharyta’s participation underscores ELA Games’ commitment to player-centric design and demonstrates how the studio’s “For Players, By Players” ethos translates into creating games that keep audiences coming back, while fostering long-term value in partnerships.
The post SiGMA Eurasia: ELA Games MD Marharyta Yerina Talks Progression Milestones in Dubai appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
Amusnet6 days agoWeek 7/2026 slot games releases
-
Brino Games6 days agoQTech Games integrates more creative content from Brino Games
-
Aphrodite’s Kiss6 days agoLove on the Reels: Slotland Introduces “Aphrodite’s Kiss”
-
Alex Malchenko6 days agoEvoplay Strengthens Canadian Presence with BetMGM Partnership
-
3 Oaks Gaming6 days ago3 Oaks Gaming Enters Spanish Market
-
Latest News6 days agoRed Papaya Presents: Lucky Rainbow Rush Adventure
-
AMLA6 days agoAMLA Launches Public Consultation on Three Draft Regulatory Acts
-
app launch Feb 20267 days agoVibra Solutions Powers Betxico Mobile App Launch in Mexico — Scalable iGaming Platform



