Latest News
Several markets remove covid-19 restrictions – Sweden are doing the opposite
Authorities in Spain and the UK are now choosing to remove the temporary covid-19 restrictions. The restrictions on these markets were introduced two months ago and were linked to the marketing of games. In Sweden, new restrictions are now being introduced instead.
“These are examples of two regulated markets where authorities and players in the gaming market work together to achieve a sustainable and healthy gaming market in the long term. The fact that both Spain and the UK now return to the normal regulatory framework is in line with how the outside world relieves previous restrictions in connection with covid-19. We now also see that many sports competitions are resumed, and the football leagues start again,” says Gustaf Hagman, Group CEO.
“Unfortunately, despite criticism from several directions, Sweden is moving in the opposite direction and facing temporary restrictions. There is a great risk that this will erode Swedish regulation even more. Copenhagen School of Economics has carried out an independent report which indicates that the black market can amount to as much as 50 percent when introduced. It is far from the authorities’ goal that wants to limit the black market to 10 percent“, Gustaf Hagman, Group CEO continues.
Spain
Spain has for a time introduced a temporary marketing ban on gambling.
UK
For a period of six weeks, the largest gaming companies in the UK (those that are BGC (The Betting and Gaming Council) members) have voluntarily opted to restrict advertising on TV and radio to only feature a safer gambling message rather than promote their products. Advertising restrictions are now being lifted, however there is still a voluntary agreement for operators to dedicate a minimum of 20 percent of their advertising on TV and radio to safer gambling throughout the period up to and including 31 August 2020.
Sweden into temporary restrictions
As of July 2, Sweden will impose temporary restrictions on, among other things, online casinos that extend until the turn of the year 2020. The restrictions include a deposit limit of SEK 5,000 per week and licensees, and only one bonus, in the form of a welcome bonus, which may amount to a maximum of SEK 100.
Responsible Gaming
Regardless of the world situation and business cycle, LeoVegas puts its customers’ safety first. LeoVegas works with several customer tools that are used in the form of setting deposit and loss limits. The company actively helps customers with this and continuously informs them about playing responsibly. In a digital world, everything is measurable and LeoVegas works proactively, using algorithms, to detect trends in unhealthy behaviour at an early stage – before gambling becomes a problem. During the covid-19 period, LeoVegas see no tendencies for problem gambling to increase.
“The Swedish Gambling Authority notes that Spelberoendegruppen (the Gaming Addiction Group) has not noticed any change in the number of contacts and the Spelberoendes förening (the Gaming Addict’s Association) notes an increase in people who state trot as a source of problem gambling,” concludes Gustaf Hagman.
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asia-pacific
Groove shortlisted for Best Aggregator at SiGMA Asia Awards 2026
Groove has been named a finalist for Best Aggregator 2026 at the SiGMA Asia Awards, with the ceremony scheduled for 2 June 2026 at the SMX Convention Centre Manila during the SiGMA Asia Summit.
The shortlist was announced by Global Gaming Insider, according to the company. Groove said its platform aggregates more than 15,000 games from over 150 providers via a single API.
Giusy Campo, Business Development Director at Groove, said: “This shortlist is external recognition of a truth we already feel internally: Groove is moving at a different pace. Asia is not a single market, it is a collection of distinct regulatory environments, player behaviours, and partnership opportunities”
Campo added: “Our platform is built to respect that complexity, not smooth it over. Being named a finalist for Best Aggregator tells us that our approach; deep integration, localised content strategies, and commercial precision; is resonating with the operators who matter most in this region. We are not just bringing games to Asia. We are bringing a roadmap for sustainable growth.”
Yahale Meltzer, Co-Founder and CEO of Groove, said: “The aggregation space is crowded. Differentiation is everything. This nomination confirms that our vision, transforming aggregation from a commodity into a strategic growth discipline, is taking hold.” He added: “Operators across Asia are no longer asking for just volume or speed. They are asking for structural resilience, data intelligence, and a partner who can execute across fragmented regulatory landscapes with precision. Groove delivers that. To be recognised alongside the best in Asia is a privilege, but the real work continues in Manila and beyond. We are here to win, not just awards, but the trust of the operators who build their businesses on our platform.”
The post Groove shortlisted for Best Aggregator at SiGMA Asia Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
data providers
DATA.BET reports 168% turnover growth from virtual content in Q1 2025–Q1 2026
DATA.BET says turnover from its virtual content grew 168% between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026, with the supplier reporting the product accounted for 39% of total virtual sports turnover and 45% of profits over the period.
The company said the content is developed fully in-house and delivered through automated bot-vs-bot matches that run 24/7 without dependence on real-world fixture schedules. DATA.BET positioned the format as a way to provide continuous events and reduce operational overhead for operators.
Across the same period, DATA.BET reported +299% active users, +129% across clients GGR, +246% events per quarter, and +218% bets placed.
DATA.BET also said the audience profile overlaps with live football bettors, which it believes supports retention during seasonal breaks. The supplier added that the algorithm-driven format “carries no fraud exposure,” supports In-Stream Betting overlays, and provides near-zero latency between broadcast and market updates.
“Over the past year, our bot-vs-bot virtual content has delivered consistent, measurable results across every operator deployment. Building e-Football in-house gives us the flexibility to configure it to what each operator actually needs — whether that is a specific league structure, a particular mix of bot and player content, or a branded competition format,” mentioned Rostyslav Likhtin, Head of Product at DATA.BET.
The post DATA.BET reports 168% turnover growth from virtual content in Q1 2025–Q1 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
content studios
155.io makes fintech debut with Coverd partnership
155.io has signed a partnership with US-based fintech platform Coverd, marking the content studio’s first move into fintech. The deal was announced Thursday 21st May 2026.
Under the agreement, 155.io’s real-world games will be integrated into Coverd’s platform. Coverd said the integration is designed to turn everyday transactions into interactive experiences where users can win the chance to have purchases covered through 155.io gameplay.
Sam Jones, Founder & CEO of 155.io, said: “This partnership gives us the opportunity to bring our content to a completely new audience. We share a philosophy with Coverd around disrupting and modernising industries through more interactive experiences. They understand that younger audiences expect entertainment and engagement across every digital touchpoint, including finance, which is exactly how we think about design.”
Albert Wang, Coverd co-founder, added: “Today’s consumer is actively embracing gamified products across every category, so there’s no reason personal finance should stay in the stone age. We’re excited to work with 155.io to make financial experiences more interactive and give everyone a chance to live big by winning back their purchases. 155.io’s next-gen content fits perfectly with what we’re building at Coverd.”
155.io said the integration will bring its interactive content—built around live-action footage and real-time mechanics—to Coverd users. The studio’s portfolio includes Rush Hour from its CCTV Game
library, alongside Ducks.io and Snow Run.
The post 155.io makes fintech debut with Coverd partnership appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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