Latest News
SportingWin opens €1m funding round
Operator seeking investment ahead of its imminent launch in Bulgaria where it plans to become the second largest brand in the market
SportingWin, the fast-growing online sports betting brand, is actively seeking investment ahead of its imminent launch in the regulated Bulgarian market.
The Malta-licensed operator is offering up to €1m in equity for investors keen to leverage the huge potential it sees for the business in regulated markets across Eastern Europe.
The investment will be used to ensure that SportingWin is well capitalised and that it can build out the required infrastructure in Bulgaria to deliver a superior player experience.
SportingWin has identified Bulgaria as being the most significant market in the region and believes it will increase from a market value of €300m per year to €500m per year over the next five years.
The operator is in the final stages of securing its licence from the National Revenue Agency and will become only the fifth licensee in the market when it goes live.
On entering the market, SportingWin believes it will quickly become the second largest brand thanks to its cutting-edge proprietary platform and marketing leading customer support.
SportingWin, which is part of the Sporting Group, will also be the first to launch an exchange betting product in the market through the Betfair Exchange.
In a recent report, Nielsen valued SportingWin brand equity in Bulgaria at €1m.
Mark Chakravarti, Head of Investment and Board Director at SportingWin, said: “In SportingWin we have a brand, platform and product that has everything it needs to succeed in Bulgaria and beyond.
“We are seeking investment as we want to make sure that we are well capitalised and can deploy our expansion plans efficiently and effectively.
“We see huge potential in Bulgaria and other regulated markets we have lined up for launch and believe we will be able to deliver a 13x cash-on-cash return to our shareholders within three years.
“We have already had considerable interest in our funding round, and I look forward to speaking with potential investors keen to share in what will be a hugely successful journey for SportingWin.”
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BIS
Legality of Brazil’s betting platforms to be a central theme at BiS Brasília
Betting sector moves forward amid regulatory debate and reinforces the need for clear rules and a safe environment in Brazil
The advancement of sports betting regulation in Brazil has placed the sector at the center of important discussions regarding legal certainty, tax revenue, and economic development.
Amid recent debates over possible market restrictions, the postponement of new projects such as the launch of Caixa Econômica Federal’s betting platform, and the ban on prediction markets, specialists continue to emphasize the importance of consolidating a regulated, transparent, and sustainable environment for the industry.
More than just a trend, the legalized betting market is increasingly being viewed as a strategic opportunity for the country, with the potential to generate jobs, attract international investment, and significantly boost public revenue.
Regulation is also seen as an essential path toward ensuring consumer protection and combating informality.
In this context, BiS Brasília, confirmed to take place on June 2 and 3, positions itself as the leading discussion forum for the sector in Latin America.
The event will bring together authorities, operators, regulators, and experts to debate the future of the industry at what is considered a decisive moment for its consolidation in Brazil.
“It is not simply about allowing or banning betting, but about how to structure a responsible market that creates value for the entire chain—from operators to consumers—while remaining under effective public oversight,” said Alessandro Valente, chairman of BiS Brasília.
“Legality brings predictability, attracts serious companies, and creates more effective control and enforcement mechanisms.”
Another key point is the role of regulation in promoting responsible gaming. With clear rules in place, it becomes possible to implement stronger policies to prevent risky behavior, while also ensuring greater transparency in operations.
“Brazil has the opportunity to build one of the most relevant regulated markets in the world. Events such as BiS are essential to align expectations, share international best practices, and accelerate this process responsibly,” he added.
Held in Brasília, the center of the country’s main political and economic decisions, the meeting reinforces its strategic role by bringing together the different stakeholders involved in shaping this new scenario.
Expectations are that this edition will go down in history as a milestone in the maturing debate over the legality of betting in Brazil.
BiS Brasília
Now in its second edition, BiS Brasília is an iGaming and betting industry event dedicated to fostering dialogue between the private sector, government authorities, and society on the development of the regulated gaming, casino, and lottery market in Brazil.
Held in the federal capital, the event gathers business leaders, authorities, and experts to discuss strategic topics such as regulation, integrity, innovation, taxation, and responsible gaming.
BiS SiGMA South America is part of the SiGMA World group’s portfolio of events, a global leading brand in organizing B2B events and a business platform for the gaming and betting ecosystem worldwide.
The post Legality of Brazil’s betting platforms to be a central theme at BiS Brasília appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
iGaming
PokerStars sets $50m+ guaranteed Anniversary Series for May 10–June 3
Online festival spans 461 tournaments and includes three Main Events on May 24 plus a $500,000 GTD Sunday Storm PKO final on May 10.
PokerStars will run an online Anniversary Series with more than $50m in guarantees from May 10 to June 3, 2026, the operator said on April 27. The schedule includes 461 tournaments and is positioned to mark PokerStars’ 25th anniversary, alongside the 15-year milestone for Sunday Storm.
The festival’s buy-ins range from $5.50 to $15,000, with qualifiers starting at $0.55, according to the company. PokerStars said it will also distribute more than $650,000 in Anniversary Series Lucky Dip tickets during the series.
PokerStars is headlining the series with three Main Events on May 24:
- a $109 tournament with a $1.5m guarantee,
- a $1,050 Main Event with a $2.5m guarantee,
- and a $5,200 Main Event with a $2m guarantee.
Weekly Sunday events include Sunday Million, Sunday High Rollers, and Mystery Bounty specials, with Second Chance Main Events (PKO) scheduled for May 31.
The operator is also running a Sunday Storm 15th anniversary Progressive Knockout tournament with a $500,000 guarantee for an $11 buy-in. Phase 1 events are underway, with Phase 2 set for May 10.
“We’re proud to celebrate 25 years of PokerStars bringing big money poker tournaments safely to players around the world,” said Steve Clarricoats, Associate Director of Online Scheduling. “Putting $50 million up in guarantees shows our focus remains on bringing the best of PokerStars to more players in a variety of tournaments.”
More relevant data as follows:
- PokerStars: https://www.pokerstars.com/ Official operator site for tournament schedule and eligibility by market.
- PokerStars Blog: https://www.pokerstars.com/poker/news/ Company’s news hub where the full Anniversary Series details and formats are typically published.
- PokerStars Power Path: https://www.pokerstars.com/poker/promotions/power-path/ Source for information on the $0.50+ qualification routes referenced in the announcement.
The post PokerStars sets $50m+ guaranteed Anniversary Series for May 10–June 3 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Conferences
Alea shortlisted for two SBC Awards Europe categories
The supplier is nominated for Game Aggregator of the Year and Employer of the Year ahead of SBC Summit Malta on April 29.
Alea has been named a finalist in two categories at the upcoming SBC Awards Europe: Game Aggregator of the Year and Employer of the Year. The company announced the nominations on April 28 from Barcelona.
Founder Alexandre Tomic said the double shortlisting reflects a link between product delivery and company culture. “If people don’t care about what they’re building, it shows immediately. In the product, in the details, everywhere. Reliability can’t be bolted on later, it’s a consequence of that care.”
“We’ve spent years building a team that takes ownership and holds a certain standard. Seeing both nominations together just tells me we’re doing something right.” Tomic added.
The news comes ahead of SBC Summit Malta, where Alea said Tomic and COO Ramon Glieneke will take part in conference sessions on April 29. Tomic is scheduled to appear on “Casino vs Sports: Can Gamification Truly Cross Over?” while Glieneke is due to join “The COO Horizon: Challenges and Opportunities in 2026/27.”
Alea said its wider team will be onsite throughout the summit at Booth D22.
More relevand data as follows:
- SBC Awards: https://sbcevents.com/sbc-awards/ Primary source for the awards programme, categories and shortlisted companies.
- SBC Summit Malta: https://sbcevents.com/sbc-summit-malta/ Event page for agenda context and verification of sessions and timing.
- Alea: https://alea.com/ Company website for background on the supplier and its product offering.
The post Alea shortlisted for two SBC Awards Europe categories appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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