Leading sportsbook goes live with full multi-product offering across key market

Altenar, a leading sportsbook and iGaming software provider, has obtained a B2B licence in Greece, expanding its outreach across another established European territory.

The company, which already has an office in Athens, has secured a licence from the Hellenic Gaming Commission, boosting Altenar’s presence in the country and adding a Greek licence to its already comprehensive portfolio.

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Altenar’s expertise reaches more than 50 countries where gambling is legalised and the Greek licence, which is valid for seven years, paves the way for the company to offer its services in a new jurisdiction.

Since the introduction of the new regulatory framework, online betting in Greece has emerged as a success story, with the country undergoing robust growth, as market data shows tax revenues expected to reach €540,000,000 this year and the creation of numerous job opportunities.

Marina Zacharopoulou, Compliance Manager at Altenar, said: “The process of obtaining a licence for Altenar was rigorous, albeit familiar due to our experience with similar procedures in other jurisdictions. While we encountered typical challenges along the way, we navigated them smoothly.

“Achieving a Greek licence holds special significance for Altenar, as a considerable portion of our team is Greek, making it feel like a homecoming. Personally, I believe that Greece’s historical connection to games of chance, evident in the popularity of gambling in ancient times and the presence of deities like Tyche, adds cultural resonance to our licensure.

“Securing our presence in Greece through licensure not only demonstrates our commitment to regulatory compliance but also positions us to capitalise on the country’s expanding market.”

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Kaizen Gaming, one of the biggest GameTech companies in the world, announced the establishment of the Kaizen Foundation. The company will be the sole financial backer of the Foundation’s initiatives and programmes.

The Kaizen Foundation is a charitable organisation dedicated to supporting non-profit organisations and undertaking initiatives that will have great impact in every country Kaizen Gaming operates. Its projects will come to fruition in 2024, starting from Greece, Malta, Romania, Portugal and Bulgaria.

The first project of Kaizen Foundation is the extensive renovation of Penteli Children’s General Hospital in Athens, Greece. The total investment for the project is €3.8 million and includes the refurbishment of the hospital’s surgical rooms, first and ground floor clinics. It also involves the implementation of fire safety systems and the renovation of the outdoor areas. This renovation represents the most significant upgrade to the hospital facilities in the last 80 years, addressing crucial operational challenges faced by both staff and patients. Moreover, changes required by the national legislation will be made, such as relocating the pharmacy to the ground floor and ensuring seamless access for individuals with disabilities to all hospital areas.

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The Kaizen Foundation envisions to serve as a catalyst for positive change on a global scale. Its mission is to deliver initiatives with long-term impact that foster innovation and improve all aspects of people’s lives. Society, Education and the Environment are the three core areas around which the Kaizen Foundation’s initiatives are centred, working towards a sustainable and inclusive future.

The Greek Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis, said: “On behalf of the Greek state, I would like to extend my gratitude to Kaizen Gaming and the newly established Kaizen Foundation for starting its operation with the renovation of this children’s hospital, which is crucial for the residents of North Athens and the surrounding areas. Thanks to this initiative, medical professionals will be able to provide a better standard of care, while little patients and their parents will receive high-quality healthcare conditions. Penteli Children’s General Hospital will turn into a jewel of the National Health System.”

Kaizen Gaming’s co-Founder and CEO, George Daskalakis, said: “Since we embarked on Kaizen Gaming’s journey, we have seen a lot of our dreams turn into reality. We are a company with over 2,500 people across the globe. We have supported dozens of athletes trying to conquer their goals. Today we realize one more dream, through the establishment of the Kaizen Foundation, as we are now in the position to contribute to society in a more meaningful way than ever. The inauguration of the Foundation is accompanied by the largest donation we have ever made, which will drastically change for the better the lives of children, their families and the hospital personnel.”

Panos Konstantopoulos, President of the Kaizen Foundation, said: “From the moment it started operating, Kaizen Gaming has worked to make a difference in society. The creation of the Kaizen Foundation is a natural progression, the next step that allows us to implement initiatives on a larger scale, which will have an impact at an international level. We are very touched that we start from Greece and from the Penteli Children’s General Hospital. The renovation of this hospital is a step towards improving health care conditions for the children. We want to thank the Ministry of Health, its administration and the Hospital employees that embraced this initiative.”

Deputy Minister of Health of Greece, Marios Themistocleous, said: “The collaboration with Kaizen Gaming and the Kaizen Foundation shows how private companies can positively influence the improvement of public health services for our children. We sincerely appreciate their contribution and support in the ongoing endeavors of the Greek government to enhance the National Health System.”

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The project, currently in the engineering design process, will be executed in four distinct phases to ensure the hospital’s seamless operation, with the Foundation aiming to complete it by the end of 2024.

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Pragmatic Play, a leading content supplier to the iGaming industry, has expanded its partnership with bet365 in Greece by supplying its multi-product offering to the operator.

The deal sees bet365’s players in Greece gain access to Pragmatic Play’s award-winning Slots portfolio, which includes epic titles such as Gates of Olympus, Big Bass Bonanza, The Dog House Megaways™, and many others.

In addition, the provider’s leading range of Live Casino games, from classics such as Roulette, Baccarat and Blackjack to engaging game shows such as Sweet Bonanza CandyLand and Boom City, is set to go live with the operator.

bet365’s players in Greece will also be able to participate in Pragmatic Play’s industry-leading Drops & Wins promotion, which offers a staggering combined prize pool of €2,500,000 every month to players across participating Slots and Live Casino products.

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Greece becomes one of the latest regulated markets over the last year to see an expansion between Pragmatic Play and bet365, following similar product rollouts in the UK, Sweden, Spain, and Ontario.

Irina Cornides, Chief Operating Officer at Pragmatic Play, said: “Our partnership with bet365 continues to go from strength to strength. Greece is an exciting market with significant potential for Pragmatic Play Slots and Live Casino products to engage and entertain bet365 players in the country.”

A bet365 spokesperson said: “Pragmatic Play’s Slots and Live Casino products have cemented themselves as fan-favourites in every market we’ve launched them in so far, so logically the next step is to further expand the portfolio into another jurisdiction, Greece. It is a region that we are confident Pragmatic Play titles can have significant cut through with our brand, and we look forward to our latest collaboration.”