Central Europe

Slovak Gambling Authority raided again! Secured were especially the so-called crypto-mining machines

Published

3 years ago

September 22, 2022

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Gambling Regulatory Authority seized 54 illegal gaming machines in a recent nationwide raid. This is the second successful move carried out by the Authority in the last four months to combat this type of illegal gambling.

Seized were especially the so-called mining machines and quiz machines. The majority were taken based on searches carried out by inspectors of the Office for the Regulation of Gambling (URHH). “As these gaming machines have not been issued or granted a valid licence, we consider them illegal. Our staff actively monitor these machines’ occurrence; most of them have been seized due to their diligent work. Some have also been seized because of complaints from the players,” said general director URHH, Dávid Lenčéš.

The recent seizures were carried out in all regions in accordance with § 81 article 11 of the Gambling Act in cooperation with the police force. According to the director general of the URHH, the role of the police officers was to maintain public order and security of the employees as public officials, as not every seizure went smoothly. “It has happened in the past that the office staff has faced physical attacks or had to remove some equipment by professional locksmiths. Illegal operators sometimes try to make the seizure impossible by fixing machines firmly against the floor or the wall.”

According to the Gambling Act, small operators, such as pubs, cannot operate gaming machines. The URHH must license each gaming machine since it is the only official body authorised to issue a licence.

However, some speculators try to bypass the law by operating machines that have been “authorised” by other entities or posing as knowledge competitions or cryptocurrency mining machines. In each case, URHH carefully investigates whether a gambling game is taking place on the device, regardless of its name, visual elements, or type of device.

The most significant number of machines was seized in the Bratislava Self-Governing Region, representing half of all. Nine machines were held in the Košice Region, 8 in the Banská Bystrica Region, 7 in the Nitra Region, 2 in the Žilina Region and 1 in the Prešov Region. Among the 54 machines seized nationwide, the majority were cryptocurrency mining.

A “mining machine” is a device that pretends to be used to mine cryptocurrencies, and a “quiz machine” seems to be a knowledge game. In both cases, the game played on these machines fulfils the characteristics of a gambling game. However, on these gambling games, the Authority is not granted an individual licence; if someone is operating them without a licence, it is undoubtedly an illegal activity.

Operating gambling without an issued licence is prohibited in Slovakia.

In many cases, these were premises where illegal technical equipment had been seized. “Their operators are unteachable, as they operate illegal machines again despite previous experience. On the other hand, there are more and more machines whose owners are persuaded by the vision of profit and place unlicensed machines on their premises. According to § 95 article 2 point h) of the Gambling Act, such operators are liable to a fine between 20 000 EUR and 250 000 EUR,” said Dávid Lenčéš. The penalty of up to 500 000 EUR faces the owners of the gambling machines if it is proven that they are operating gambling without an individual licence or a general licence. The sealed gambling machines have been taken to the URHH warehouse, from where they will go to further proceedings.

Belatra

Belatra set to unearth ancient treasures at SiGMA Central Europe

Published

11 hours ago

October 9, 2025

George Miller

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Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, is thrilled to announce its participation at the SiGMA Central Europe Expo in Rome, Italy. The event is being held at the Fiera Roma from November 3rd to November 6th, providing Belatra with the perfect chance to showcase its latest legendary slots and front-line solutions.

Belatra’s beloved Mummy will be visiting Rome as the character continues to strike a chord with audiences worldwide. Its unique blend of humour, mystery, and quirky antics has transcended cultures. The character made its debut in 2022 for the release of Mummyland Treasures and has since grown into an extensive multiverse encompassing various formats, special features, and spin-offs, which form the core of our very own flagship game universe.

At SiGMA Central Europe, visitors to Belatra’s Booth #4071 will be able to immerse themselves at the heart of the Mummy Universe. There will be a themed experience that brings the magic and the mystery of our beloved multiverse to life. Special prizes are also on offer from the Mummy’s own treasure vault.

Kateryna Goi, Belatra CMO said: “SiGMA Europe provides the perfect platform to connect with existing and potential collaborators. Our team is more than ready to present custom solutions, our robust technical infrastructure, and game designs to ensure player involvement and operator success.”

The post Belatra set to unearth ancient treasures at SiGMA Central Europe appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Central Europe

Pamela Klockenbrink Becomes the New Managing Director of Merkur Casino

Published

1 day ago

October 8, 2025

Niji Narayan

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Pamela Klockenbrink has become the new Managing Director of Merkur Casino GmbH. This subsidiary of the Merkur Group operates over 700 gaming venues in Germany and Europe. Pamela Klockenbrink succeeds Meik Sellenriek, who was appointed to the Executive Board of Merkur.com AG on January 1, 2025, and is now handing over his current management responsibilities to new hands. Together with Benjamin Bredenkamp, who will remain part of the management team, the 52-year-old will lead the company’s fortunes in the future.

With Pamela Klockenbrink, Merkur Casino is strengthening its leadership team from within its own ranks. The Bad Oeynhausen native began her career at Merkur in May 2015 as coordinator of national and international controlling at Merkur Casino. Most recently, Klockenbrink served for almost ten years as Head of Controlling at the Merkur subsidiary. Before joining the group, she shaped the finance and accounting departments of international corporations in various management positions, leading projects in the areas of international accounting and international taxation, among others.

Meik Sellenriek, Executive Board Member for Merkur Operations at Merkur.com AG, said: “We are delighted to have recruited Pamela Klockenbrink as our new Managing Director. Thanks to her many years of service with the company, she has a considerable repertoire of in-depth industry knowledge. This diverse experience will form the foundation for successfully developing Merkur Casino and leading it into a promising future.”

Pamela Klockenbrink said: “I greatly appreciate the trust placed in me by being appointed to the management team. My goal is to play a key role in shaping and further driving the successful development of Merkur Casino GmbH together with my colleague Benjamin Bredenkamp and our dedicated team.”

The post Pamela Klockenbrink Becomes the New Managing Director of Merkur Casino appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

booth 5028-2

Redefine the Rules: GR8 Tech’s Heavyweight Rulebook Lands at SiGMA Central Europe 2025

Published

2 days ago

October 7, 2025

George Miller

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

GR8 Tech is stepping into SiGMA Central Europe 2025 with a new playbook for iGaming leadership: The Heavyweight Rulebook. Built on the code of champions, the Rulebook defines the discipline, consistency, and relentless drive it takes to dominate the toughest arenas in iGaming. To create it, GR8 Tech gathered insights directly from iGaming’s top performers—the industry’s real heavyweights—turning their winning principles into a set of Champions’ Rules.

From November 3–6 in Rome, operators will find GR8 Tech at booth 5028-2, ready to share the rules and the technology that makes champions.

The Champion’s Rules: Heavyweight Results, Proven Standards

Attendees will see Heavyweight rules in action through demos, experiences, and conversations designed for operators who refuse to settle for average. Every Champion’s Rule translates into measurable business results with GR8 Tech.

Champions don’t wait. They launch first, and it shows: ULTIM8 Sportsbook can go live in as little as 7 days via iFrame integration.
Technology is the champion’s armor. Strong tools deliver strong results: +30% engagement uplift powered by AI-driven personalization, +50% GGR uplift with advanced sportsbook features and cross-vertical engagement tools.
Success belongs to the consistent. Resilience is built in with 99.99% uptime across global markets and the biggest world events, ensuring performance under pressure.
Partnership multiplies strength. With a revenue-share alignment model, GR8 Tech’s success is directly tied to that of its clients.

“In an industry as volatile as ours, no one wins alone. Champions don’t let one crisis consume everything—they keep moving, adapting, and performing under pressure. At GR8 Tech, we see partnership as the ultimate rule of the game: it multiplies strength, resilience, and results. That’s how real champions are made and that’s exactly what we’re bringing to SiGMA this year,” said Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech.

ULTIM8 Sportsbook: Two Paths to Victory

At the center of GR8 Tech’s SiGMA Central Europe showcase is the ULTIM8 Sportsbook, a high-performance solution designed to help operators rule new markets and dominate existing ones. In Rome, attendees will see the dual power of its integration modes:

iFrame — For lightning-fast launches with customizable branding. Get to market in days without compromising speed or margin.
API — A new addition for operators who want to build their own champion’s frontend. Unlock maximum flexibility with GR8 Tech’s rock-solid trading, risk, and data systems.

No matter the path, the result is the same: precision, performance, and profitability at scale.

The next chapter of iGaming is written by champions who play by the Rulebook.

Meet GR8 Tech at booth 5028-2, SiGMA Central Europe 2025 in Rome, November 3–6. Discover how the Heavyweight Rulebook can help you scale, localize, and dominate with confidence—and add your own Champion’s mark to the hall of fame.

The post Redefine the Rules: GR8 Tech’s Heavyweight Rulebook Lands at SiGMA Central Europe 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.