Latest News
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.
Powered by WPeMatico
Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by Eastern European Gaming
BGaming has released Clash of Gods: Anubis vs Hades, a new 5×5 slot developed in partnership with Golden Goat Gaming. The title pits Anubis against Hades and centres on a dueling multiplier mechanic.
Amusnet has released Golden Tiger 1000, a visually striking title that blends joyful gameplay with high win potential, set against a breathtaking cherry blossom mountain village in full bloom. The game invites players into a lively Asian-inspired world where every spin feels like a celebration of fortune, movement and surprise.
Hölle Games has released its latest video slot Himmel & Hölle. This 3×3 title positions an Angel on one side, and a Demon on the other with a tight 5 paylines for that medium-high volatility. A couple of nifty features are included too: players can win Respins with the Expanding Wilds feature.
Million Games has released Coco Rush, a feature-driven video slot combining Cash Collect mechanics, RushReel bonuses and fixed jackpot functionality. Developed in collaboration with Million Stars partner studio Yugo Workshop, Coco Rush introduces a vibrant island theme centred around the Golden Mask, a character that reflects the game’s dynamic and unpredictable gameplay.
Pragmatic Play has opened the doors to the sorcerer’s showroom in Mr Null’s Wicked Wares, where a catalogue of mystery symbols and multipliers conjure up 5,000x win potential. The magical Mr Null watches over the grid in this 3-4-4-4-3 slot, where mystery symbols on reels 2-4 transform into random paying symbols, carrying 2x-10x multipliers.
Play’n GO has released its latest online slot, Wrappin’ Gold, where a newly roused mummy pursues stolen treasures from the tomb to the heavens. Rudely awakened from centuries of silence, the long-lost mummy of the greedy Pharaoh Khufu discovers his precious gems have been taken by Queen Cleo and her pillaging minions.
R. Franco Digital has launched Squad Royale, a new 6×5 medium volatility slot that combines cascading reels with a survival-themed bonus structure. The Spanish iGaming supplier said the title is set in a competitive arena and uses a grid-based format where wins trigger cascades and bonus features progress toward a grand prize.
Spinomenal has released a new slot title, 3 Magical Genies, expanding its content portfolio with an Arabian-themed game built around a Hold & Hit-style Bonus Game. The supplier said the game’s Wild symbol substitutes for all symbols except the Bonus, Boost, Collect, Multi and Jackpot symbols, with five Wilds on a winning line paying x10 the bet.
Evoplay has launched Ultra Reels Fruteria, a new fruit-themed slot set in a market-style environment. The game uses familiar fruit symbols and wilds, with Bonus icons appearing on reels one and three carrying random values alongside fixed jackpots labelled Grand, Major, Minor and Mini.
Gaming Corps debuted its newest slot, 4 Gym Pigs: Porky Power, on May 7, presenting an energetic new title that replaces treasure-seeking with workout accomplishments, larger-than-life characters, and fitness-inspired excitement in the summer warmth.
Games Global has released Candy Combo 2 Power Combo
, developed with exclusive studio partner Slingshot Studios. The 5×3, 20-payline game is set in a pastel candy theme and uses five “candy jar” characters above the reels to collect matching symbols and trigger Link&Win modifiers.
ELA Games has released Spirit of Savanna, a new online slot that introduces a player-choice bonus mechanic alongside Hold and Win, Free Spins, and three jackpot tiers. Spirit of Savanna runs on a 5×3 reel grid with 10 paylines and is rated volatility 4 out of 5, according to the supplier. RTP is listed across two ranges: 93.98-94.16% and 96.01-96.12%.
Aviatrix has launched its third game, Aviatrix Fruits, as the iGaming Metaverse keeps expanding its increasing collection of interconnected titles. The 5×3 slot featuring 10 fixed paylines presents a well-known structure that is augmented by the mechanics of Aviatrix’s iGaming Metaverse ecosystem.
Booming Games has launched Berserkin’ Buffalo Power Hit, a new buffalo-themed slot that adds the supplier’s Power Hit mechanic to its Buffalo Series. The game uses a 6×4 grid with 4,096 ways to win and a stated maximum win potential of 5,000x. Booming Games said the title is set on a buffalo backdrop and is built around the Power Hit feature.
The post Weekend Reels | Week 19: Slot Drops & Trends appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
FanLabel
SCCG Management Partner and Portfolio Company FanLabel Launches FanLabel SongPicks App, Bringing Skill-Based Music Contests to Fans Nationwide
FanLabel also submits comment to the CFTC outlining a responsible framework for music-oriented prediction markets
SCCG Management, a global leader in iGaming advisory, business development, and strategic growth with more than 33 years of experience in the gaming industry, today congratulates its partner and portfolio company FanLabel on the official launch of FanLabel SongPicks, a paid-entry, skill-based music contest app that lets fans use their music knowledge to compete for cash prizes.
SCCG Management is a shareholder in FanLabel and has supported the company’s growth as a strategic partner across business development, market positioning, and industry relationships. The launch of FanLabel SongPicks represents the latest milestone in FanLabel’s expanding music gamification and prediction market entertainment ecosystem, and further validates SCCG’s investment thesis that interactive, data-driven fan engagement represents a significant commercial opportunity across entertainment verticals.
A New Way for Music Fans to Compete
FanLabel SongPicks builds on the company’s FanLabel Classic app, which lets music fans compete in free fantasy-sports-style music challenges. With SongPicks, players put their music knowledge to the test by ranking songs, predicting streaming trends, and competing on leaderboards for real cash prizes. The app currently features two contest modes: Ranker, where fans rank songs from most to least streamed, and Best of Five, where players pick the top-performing song from a group.
FanLabel’s products are powered by real-world music data and backed by direct licensing agreements from major and independent record label groups and rights holders. The company has partnered with Luminate as its official stream and chart-data source and Tuned Global as its metadata infrastructure provider, ensuring contests are built around objective data rather than subjective fan voting.
FanLabel also works with Approvely, another SCCG partner company, to support KYC (Know Your Customer) and identity-verification functions, alongside Plaid for banking services. The Approvely integration reflects SCCG’s broader strategy of connecting its partner ecosystem to create end-to-end solutions for emerging entertainment and gaming verticals.
“Our team is very proud to have FanLabel SongPicks officially out in the world,” said Jeff Sloan, Founder and CEO of FanLabel. “We believe that the SongPicks experience will provide music enthusiasts with a new way to engage in their love of music while at the same time benefiting the industry by driving music discovery, consumption, and an entirely new way to generate monetization.”
FanLabel’s CFTC Engagement Signals Regulatory Leadership
FanLabel recently submitted comments to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) outlining its position that music-related event contracts can create new opportunities for fan engagement, price discovery, and future risk-management tools for rights holders when tied to objective data and designed with appropriate safeguards. The filing was one of the few music-focused submissions in a docket dominated by sports, gaming, crypto, and regulatory comments.
In its comments, FanLabel drew a distinction between music contracts tied to objective, third-party metrics such as streams and chart rankings, and more speculative contracts with outcomes that may be influenced by a small group of insiders. The company argued that responsible music prediction markets should be developed in coordination with rights holders, data vendors, and regulated exchanges.
FanLabel holds five issued U.S. patents, with additional applications pending, covering music gamification and the use of music-based contract formats in prediction markets. Several label groups hold an ownership interest in this intellectual property through their equity in FanLabel.
SCCG’s Strategic View
Stephen Crystal, Founder and CEO of SCCG Management, commented: “FanLabel represents exactly the kind of company we look for in our portfolio: a team that combines deep domain expertise, defensible intellectual property, and a responsible approach to regulation with a genuine understanding of fan behavior. The music prediction market space is at a pivotal moment, and FanLabel’s CFTC engagement, combined with the SongPicks launch, positions them as a category leader. As a shareholder and strategic partner, SCCG is proud to support FanLabel’s growth and to help connect their platform with the broader gaming, entertainment, and prediction market ecosystem.”
The post SCCG Management Partner and Portfolio Company FanLabel Launches FanLabel SongPicks App, Bringing Skill-Based Music Contests to Fans Nationwide appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Octoplay has gone live with bet365 in the United Kingdom, adding the operator to its roster of tier-one partners in the regulated UK market.
The supplier said the bet365 rollout follows recent UK launches with Virgin Bet and BetVictor as it expands distribution with major local brands.
Outside the UK, Octoplay pointed to recent go-lives with Paf in Finland, PokerStars in Spain and Italy, and Superbet in Brazil.
“Our partnership with bet365 represents another step in our accelerating UK expansion,” says Ralitsa Georgieva, CEO at Octoplay. “Working with one of the industry’s most recognized operators validates our approach and builds on the momentum we’ve established through successful integrations with leading UK brands throughout 2025.”
“We are pleased to partner with Octoplay and introduce their game portfolio to our UK players,” says Clement Le Scanff, Head of Gaming at bet365. “Their focus on quality content and player engagement aligns with our commitment to providing the best entertainment to our customers.”
Octoplay said it holds active licenses in 17 jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, Malta, Romania, Sweden, Slovakia, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Greece, Spain, Finland, Brazil, New Jersey, Michigan, Ontario, and Georgia.
The post Octoplay launches with bet365 in the UK appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
apuestas7 days agoBrasil: gobierno prohíbe los mercados de predicción, avanzan las reformas de integridad y crece el debate publicitario
-
Africa4 days ago
Springbok Casino Presents “Wild Galaxy Month” with 25 Free Spins on Prosperity Pots
-
Asia4 days ago
NOVOMATIC to Debut New Linked Progressive Innovations and Expanded Portfolio at G2E Asia 2026
-
affiliate marketing4 days ago
CasinoCanada partners with FortuneJack to expand crypto casino coverage
-
Baltics4 days ago
Kanggiten: From B2C Insight to B2B Performance in iGaming
-
Alex Fonseca4 days ago
Superbet expands football presence with naming rights deal at Bahia-based club
-
Canada4 days ago
CasinoCanada announces partnership with FortuneJack casino
-
BGaming4 days ago
BGaming launches Clash of Gods: Anubis vs Hades slot with Golden Goat Gaming
