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Promotional strategies of gambling operators: what points of vigilance has the ANJ identified?
Meeting in plenary session on January 21, the members of the National Gaming Authority (ANJ) examined the 2021 promotional strategies of gambling operators, both in competition and monopoly, with particular regard to the objectives of prevention of excessive or pathological gambling and protection of minors. In view of the points of vigilance that were identified during this review, such as increased advertising pressure and the targeting of young audiences, the approval of these strategies is in most cases subject to conditions in their implementation.
Reminder of the legal framework
Since the reform of gambling regulation in 2020, all operators must submit their promotional strategies to the National Gaming Authority for approval each year. The latter examines it in the light of the objectives of the State’s policy on gambling and chance, and more specifically, the prevention of excessive or pathological gambling and the protection of minors.
This first exercise of approval of promotional strategies should allow the ANJ to progressively build its analytical grid to maintain a recreational game and for operators to become familiar with these new provisions. It is also on the basis of this analysis grid that the ANJ will be able, if necessary, to mobilize its power to withdraw from a particular advertising campaign that encourages gambling by minors or that contains excessive encouragement to gamble.
The ANJ’s analytical grid takes into account the balance to be struck between the legitimate use of advertising by operators to promote the legal offer and differentiate themselves in a highly regulated market, and its necessary channelling to counter the risk of problem gambling and protect minors. It will be regularly updated in the light of the observations or developments observed by the ANJ and the work carried out with the CSA and the ARPP, in the framework of the implementation of an observatory on gambling advertising.
It is in line with the reference framework for the prevention of excessive and pathological gambling and the protection of minors published in December 2020, which proposes an operational manual for operators in the implementation of their new obligations.
Points of vigilance common to operators for the 2021 strategies
The ANJ conducted a comparative analysis of the promotional strategies of the 14 licensed operators and the 2 operators under exclusive rights (FDJ and PMU). This analysis revealed points of vigilance, common to all these operators, which justify attaching conditions to approval decisions:
- A substantial increase in advertising budgets of 26% compared to 2019*, with large-scale campaigns around major sporting events planned for this year (notably the Euro Football Championship and the Tokyo Olympic Games);
- A reinforced targeting of young people with the use of digital marketing strategies on the social networks Snapchat and TikTok particularly followed by minors;
- Active stimulation of the player with the effect of intensifying gambling practices and the recruitment of new players (bonuses, personalization of the offer).
The particular case of monopoly operators (FDJ and PMU)
An examination of the promotional strategies of these two operators under exclusive rights shows that the Authority has serious concerns about them, particularly in light of the case law of the CJEU and the Conseil d’Etat, which reminds us that the monopolies’ advertising efforts must remain measured and strictly limited to what is necessary to channel consumers towards controlled gambling networks. Moreover, in connection with this jurisprudence, the ANJ will be vigilant to ensure that any advertising or promotional campaign by these operators does not hide behind arguments of general interest to give a positive image of gambling or to justify it.
The ANJ will be very attentive to ensure that the points of vigilance it has identified are the object of particular attention on the part of operators with regard to their obligations in terms of prevention of excessive gambling and protection of minors.
*Since the 2020 budgets are not significant, 2019 will be the last fiscal year carried out under normal market conditions.
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game-launch
From Game Launch to Player Discovery: Why the Slot Market Has a Distribution Problem
The online slot market has no shortage of new content. The harder question for suppliers and operators is whether players will ever find it.
Game studios continue to release new titles at a rapid pace, while aggregators make it easier for operators to add broad portfolios through a single technical integration. The result is a market where access to content is becoming less of a differentiator, but visibility inside increasingly crowded casino lobbies is becoming far more important.
Recent launches illustrate the scale of the issue. Caesars Entertainment became the first online casino operator to introduce a group of Aristocrat Interactive slot titles in West Virginia in March, bringing games including 5 Dragons and Fu Dai Lian Lian Panda to several Caesars-operated products in the state. Elsewhere, Spinmatic has expanded its content on Stoiximan in Greece, while suppliers continue to announce new Hold&Win releases, jackpot formats, branded games and feature-led titles across regulated markets.
For operators, adding games is relatively straightforward. Ensuring those games are discovered, understood and played is more difficult.
A typical online casino lobby can now contain thousands of titles from dozens of suppliers. Players may arrive looking for a specific provider, a familiar mechanic such as Hold&Win or Megaways, a progressive jackpot, a themed release, or simply the game they saw promoted elsewhere. Most will not browse through a catalogue at random for long enough to find a newly launched title.
That creates a distribution problem for game studios. A launch can be technically successful, reach multiple operators and appear across several markets, but still struggle to gain meaningful attention once it enters a live casino environment.
The challenge is not unique to slots. Streaming platforms, app stores and digital marketplaces all face similar issues when supply outpaces the attention available to any individual product. In iGaming, however, the situation is complicated by market-specific certification, different operator partnerships, responsible gambling rules and the commercial importance of keeping players engaged without overwhelming them.
Aggregators sit at the centre of that process. Their original value proposition was simple: give operators access to large volumes of casino content through one integration. That remains important, particularly as operators seek faster launch cycles and broader supplier coverage.
However, portfolio size alone is no longer enough. An operator that adds hundreds of additional games does not automatically create a better customer experience. Without effective lobby design, filters, recommendation tools and promotional placement, a larger library can make discovery harder rather than easier. The issue becomes one of curation: which games should be surfaced, to whom, and at what moment?
That is increasingly shaping how operators think about game launches. Featured placements, provider takeovers, seasonal campaigns, jackpot races and personalized recommendations are now part of the commercial path between studio and player. A new slot may need more than a prominent position in the “new games” section to gain traction, particularly when it is competing with established titles that already have recognition, search demand and a record of player engagement.
Slot tournaments have become one useful part of that visibility mix. A tournament can give an operator a reason to place a particular title, supplier portfolio or game mechanic in front of players for a defined period, while creating an event around the release rather than relying only on standard bonus messaging.
The format is not a replacement for game quality. A weak title will not become a lasting success because it appears in a leaderboard campaign. However, tournaments, prize drops and network promotions can help solve the initial discovery problem by directing players towards games they may otherwise never encounter in a crowded lobby.
Suppliers are also responding by building more recognisable product identities around their releases. Rather than marketing every new game as a completely separate proposition, studios increasingly develop recurring mechanics, sequel formats and branded families that give players a reference point before they enter the casino lobby.
Hold&Win games are a clear example. The mechanic has become widely used across the market, but suppliers continue to differentiate their versions through theme, volatility, jackpot structures, bonus features and visual presentation. That gives operators more ways to group, promote and recommend games, while giving players a clearer idea of what to expect.
Land-based recognition can play a similar role in regulated online markets. Caesars’ Aristocrat Interactive launch in West Virginia showed how established retail brands can become part of an online product strategy, with familiar titles providing an immediate reference point for players who already know the games from physical casino floors.
The same principle applies to supplier brands. Where players recognise a studio’s catalogue, a provider page or promoted collection can become more useful than a generic list of newly added games. For smaller developers, however, that makes distribution more difficult, because the strongest lobby placements often go to suppliers that already have a record of performance.
This is where operators, aggregators and affiliates increasingly overlap. Operators control the live product environment. Aggregators influence how easily content can be integrated and managed. Suppliers need commercial pathways for their games to reach the right audiences. Affiliates and comparison platforms, meanwhile, often shape discovery before a player even reaches an operator’s lobby.
On the consumer side, this has made independent sources covering online slots increasingly relevant. Players are not only comparing welcome offers; they are looking at provider coverage, game libraries, promotions, payment methods and whether a platform actually carries the types of slots they want to play.
That does not mean every game launch requires a major promotional campaign. Some titles will gain momentum through strong performance data, word of mouth or a place in a popular provider catalogue. However, as the supply of games continues to grow, the market is likely to reward operators and suppliers that treat discovery as a product discipline rather than an afterthought.
The slot market’s next competitive advantage may not come from who can add the most games. It may come from who can help players find the right ones.
The post From Game Launch to Player Discovery: Why the Slot Market Has a Distribution Problem appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
CS2 tournament
LEON announces LEON.bet Masters, a new CS2 tournament in Portugal
LEON continues to strengthen its presence in esports with the launch of LEONBET Masters, a new Counter-Strike 2 tournament set to take place from September 24 to 27 at the SAW Esports Arena in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
The tournament will bring together 16 teams competing for a €30,000 prize pool and valuable VRS points, which play a key role in qualification opportunities for major international events, including the Singapore Major later this year.
LEONBET Masters will feature a group stage with four groups of four teams, followed by playoffs that will determine the tournament champion. The event is expected to attract some of the strongest Tier 2 and Tier 3 teams looking to improve their rankings and continue their path toward the highest level of professional Counter-Strike competition.
The launch of LEONBET Masters marks another step in LEON’s long-term commitment to esports. Over the past few years, the company has actively supported the competitive gaming ecosystem through partnerships with prominent organizations and by hosting its own tournaments across multiple disciplines. Previous initiatives include the LEON Masters Dota tournament, the LEON Masters Deadlock competition, and the LEON Esports Cup Free Fire, further demonstrating the brand’s investment in developing competitive gaming.
LEON currently partners with German esports organization GamerLegion, supporting both its Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2 rosters. The company also partners with teams such as SAW, one of Portugal’s most recognizable esports organizations, and FlyQuest, further strengthening its presence across key international esports markets.
By creating LEONBET Masters, LEON aims to provide emerging teams with additional opportunities to compete at a high level, gain valuable ranking points, and showcase their talent on a larger stage.
Additional information about the participating teams, tournament format, broadcast talent, and where to watch the event can be found on the official tournament page here:
About LEON
LEON is an international sportsbook and online casino brand with over 17 years of industry experience. The company actively supports esports through strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and competitive gaming initiatives, working with organizations and communities across multiple regions worldwide.
The post LEON announces LEON.bet Masters, a new CS2 tournament in Portugal appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Asia
The UAE Lottery joins SAGIP outreach with Philippine Consulate and Infinite Communities
The UAE Lottery, operated by The Game LLC (a Momentum Group company), participated in the SAGIP community outreach initiative on 28 June, 2026 at the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, alongside the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai and Northern Emirates and Infinite Communities.
SAGIP—“Rescue” in Filipino—was positioned by organisers as an immediate support programme for Filipino community members navigating difficult circumstances. The session combined career coaching, counselling and wellness assessments, alongside distribution of essential grocery packs.
The programme also drew voluntary support from local Filipino businesses, HR practitioners, medical and healthcare professionals, psychologists and community volunteers, according to the organisers.
Consul Aleah Marie Gica said: “The Filipino community in the UAE has always demonstrated resilience and unity during difficult times. Community outreach programs such as SAGIP reflect the strength of collaboration between institutions and community organisations working together to support those most in need.”
Elena C. Cruz, Founder and CEO of Infinite Communities, said: “Through our Good Neighbour initiative and our collaboration with The UAE Lottery and the Philippine Consulate, we hope to create a safe and supportive environment where individuals feel seen, supported, and empowered to move forward with dignity and confidence.”
Suzan Kazzi, Associate Director of CSR at Momentum – The UAE Lottery, added: “At a time when many members of the Filipino community are facing various challenges, we aim to provide not only immediate relief through grocery pack distribution, but also pathways toward resilience and renewed opportunities. Through our HR specialists who volunteered their time and expertise, the career coaching sessions were designed to help beneficiaries navigate uncertainty, regain confidence, and reconnect with employment opportunities through practical advice and guidance.”
The post The UAE Lottery joins SAGIP outreach with Philippine Consulate and Infinite Communities appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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