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Sweden has failed to protect the vulnerable players
The Ministry of Finance has proposed that the temporary restrictions on the online gambling market, that were introduced on July 2 this year, should be extended to June 30, 2021. The proposed restrictions are a weekly deposit limit of a maximum of SEK 5,000 and that bonus offers are limited to a maximum of 100 SEK.
The Ministry of Finance claimed during the spring that the gaming on online casino was strongly increasing during the pandemic and that the government needed to protect the Swedish consumers.
The minister stated that there where an increase in problem gaming during the spring, but that statement was not based on facts. Neither The Swedish Gambling Authority nor other authorities did see that as a fact.
Scientific studies
This is also something that later on was proofed by scientific studies conducted. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2020.554542/full
“Results: Total gambling activity decreased by 13.29% during the first phase of the outbreak compared to forecast. Analyses of online gambling data revealed that although betting decreased substantially in synchrony with a slight increase in online casino gambling, there was no increase in likely problematic, high-intensity gambling and neither did total online gambling increase.
Conclusions: This first, preliminary study revealed no increase in Swedish gambling activity, total or specifically online, in the first phase of the covid-19 outbreak. Future research should examine whether pandemic-induced transitioning between gambling modalities and/or increased participation in gambling, leads to long-term effects on prevalence of problem gambling.”
Moving to the unlicensed market
Setting a deposit limit of 5,000 SEK per week does not solve the need to help people who have a gambling problem as it is always possible to gamble at different companies. Alternatively, you can play at the unlicensed companies. The effects will instead be that the individual gaming companies cannot follow the individual players’ behaviour and, if necessary, support it.
7 out of 10
It is an extremely worrying development in Sweden that 7 out of 10 of those who seek help for gambling problems have banned themselves from playing breaks and still continue to play. The idea of a game break is good, but there is a lack of power against the unlicensed gaming companies that target Swedish players and then the problems remain. A first step in resolving this is to prevent the possibility of paying with a number of well-known Swedish payment services at the unlicensed gaming companies. We have to close the holes! (https://www.spelfriheten.se/ Pelretin, organization for gambling addiction.)
This means that the blocking service Spelpaus (Spelpaus enables Swedish gamblers to paus them from all gambling on licensed operators https://www.spelpaus.se/ ) does not fulfil any major function as long as a number of different gaming companies without a Swedish gaming license are allowed to flourish freely. Several help seekers have also told us that these gaming companies provide the opportunity to pay with a number of well-known Swedish payment services
Lack of tax revenue
In 2019, the licensed companies in Sweden paid SEK 3.6 billion to the Treasury. An amount that is now steadily declining in step with the shift to the unlicensed companies.
Focusing on those who try to behave
No unlicensed company or person linked to unlicensed gaming activities has been fined or prosecuted since 1 January 2019, at the same time 26 fines have been issued for a total of 236.4 MSEK against the licensed gaming market.
The government’s mission should be to protect consumers and that should be their priority. On the contrary, the effects have been that they have shifted vulnerable players to the unlicensed companies. Sweden has failed to protect the vulnerable players and the extended regulations will not protect them.
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Time to power up your spins and collect big wins with Hippo’s Lock
in Mexico. The new slot adventure launched by FBM® has Super Hippo as a hero, delivering entertaining gaming sessions with the Lock Feature, the Power Spins and Extra Spins accumulators. The game is available to play on the Auria, Galaxy II and Shadow III casino cabinets and is set for a fast expansion in the Mexican gaming market.
Hippo’s Lock is the latest slot title developed by FBM and brings a new theme with a charismatic hero, equipped with gadgets and special powers which will attract and engage slot players in Mexico.
The 30-lines game works with 15 independent reels, and the main action happens around the central position with Super Hippo’s intervention. The purple hippo guides the game narrative, taking players on an exciting gaming journey with non-stop action, suspense, and compelling animations.
The “X” effect of Power Spins joins the lucrative Extra Spins
Every time Super Hippo lands on the central reel, he bites the lock symbols and creates the chance to open the bonus mode with Power Spins, Extra Spins or the two accumulators combined.
When the Hippo’s Lock bonus starts with one accumulator, players guarantee five free spins. This number increases to ten free rounds if Super Hippo triggers Power Spins and Extra Spins at the same time. Each one of the accumulators has a special power:
- Extra Spins – Super Hippo uses its backpack to shoot lasers, increasing the number of free spins displayed in the counter.
- Power Spins – Super Hippo multiplies all coins, bags, Mini and Minor jackpots by 2, 3 or 5, leading players to a significant prize.
Super Hippo remains in the central position during all bonus rounds, and the special powers of the accumulators activated may repeat several times until the bonus rounds are over.
A kit of jackpots and gadgets to achieve big wins!
The bonus ignited by the Lock feature concentrates Super Hippo’s main powers. However, the game character has more tricks and resources to captivate and involve players:
- Jackpots – Hippo’s Lock offers access to four jackpot levels – Mini, Minor, Major, and Grand – through the vault symbol, which may appear on the reels during the main game or bonus rounds.
- Rewind – What if a gadget could change the symbols on the reels and lead players to bigger wins? That is the magic of the Rewind Feature activated by Super Hippo using its bracelet.
- Luck Has Arrived – Super Hippo announces a special flight on the screen with a message and takes off anticipating a lucrative game round for the player.
A slot game compatible with several casino cabinets and layouts!
Hippo’s Lock combines a fascinating game mechanic with an appealing feature set exhibited by an intriguing character through cutting-edge graphics, animations, and sound effects. This blend captures the interest of first-time players, delivering enjoyable gaming sessions that encourage them to return for more.
Hippo’s Lock reinforces the Lock product line FBM debuted this year with the Croc’s Lock theme launch. This new game title introduces a new hero, a new accumulator, and new thrills to the gaming sessions delivered by the global gaming brand’s slots portfolio.
Available on the Galaxy II, Auria and Shadow III casino cabinets, Hippo’s Lock starts its expansion journey in Mexico and intends to surpass the high expectations of local slot fans with long-lasting gaming sessions filled with prizes and adrenaline. The following plans include a global expansion having the US as the next showcase market for this FBM casino game.
The post FBM® adds a new hero to its slots collection with Hippo’s Lock™ launch in Mexico appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Compliance Updates
SOFTSWISS Compliance Expert Shares Knowledge on AML in iGaming for Sumsub Academy
SOFTSWISS, a global tech provider with over 15 years of iGaming expertise, announces that its Head of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) team, Eleni Panagiotopoulou, has been invited to deliver a lecture for AML Fundamentals, the newly launched training programme by Sumsub Academy. The course, which goes live on 15 September 2025, offers free online access to compliance professionals worldwide.
AML has become one of the most pressing topics for a wide range of highly regulated sectors. Regulators are intensifying oversight, and companies face increasing responsibilities to safeguard their operations and the wider financial system. Against this backdrop, Eleni’s participation underscores both SOFTSWISS’s expertise in compliance and its commitment to supporting the iGaming industry.
Drawing on her experience across operators, regulators, and compliance leadership roles, Eleni participates in the iGaming-focused module of the six-part course. Her sessions explore how money laundering risks manifest in casinos, betting platforms, lotteries, and online gaming environments, and how operators can strengthen their frameworks to meet evolving regulatory expectations.
Speaking ahead of the course launch, Eleni Panagiotopoulou said: “iGaming is one of the fastest-paced and high-risk sectors when it comes to financial crime. In countries where gaming is a cornerstone of the economy, AML compliance isn’t just a regulatory requirement; it’s a business imperative. Through this course, I look forward to sharing practical, industry-specific insights that compliance teams can put into action straight away.”
Natalie Buraimoh, Head of AML Product at Sumsub, added: “We’re pleased to be working with leading partners like SOFTSWISS to bring additional iGaming expertise into this course, helping professionals address some of the sector’s most complex AML challenges. After ten years of helping businesses navigate compliance, we know how quickly AML requirements evolve, and our aim is to deliver accessible training that professionals at every level can apply in their daily work.”
The Sumsub Academy AML Fundamentals course brings together leading experts from across the financial crime prevention space, including specialists in fintech, payments, and crypto. Participants who complete the programme will receive a shareable AML certificate.
For SOFTSWISS, this appointment highlights the company’s growing influence in global compliance conversations, while reinforcing its deep roots in Malta’s iGaming ecosystem.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 35,000 casino games, Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Platform, and the Jackpot Aggregator. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
The post SOFTSWISS Compliance Expert Shares Knowledge on AML in iGaming for Sumsub Academy appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
World’s largest online casino operator is first to introduce Animo’s live-action, animated hosts designed specifically for iGaming sector
Animo Studios, founded by top livestreamer and Fortnite champion Harley Fresh, has launched a suite of live, animated characters for live online games, exclusively on Stake for a limited time.
Through a combination of advanced motion capture, live broadcasting, machine learning, and proprietary software and hardware, Animo allows human hosts to transform into live-action characters with unique names, storylines, and personalities. These characters have been created to provide an incredibly immersive experience for online gamers and bettors.
Animo’s proprietary technology is also designed to scale, with ambitions to extend beyond table games and into live game shows, with other products in development. This partnership unlocks vast potential for IP and branding in the live sector, where Animo’s team have joined forces with IP veterans, who have executed campaigns with Netflix, Warner Bros and Universal Studios, among others.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLe-iZdD0Sw
“Animo is set to reshape table games, game shows, and beyond, reimagining how we play, connect, and engage online,” said Animo CEO Fresh, who boasts almost 8 million subscribers on YouTube. “The live entertainment space has stagnated for too long, and we see enormous potential to bridge the gap between gaming and iGaming.”
Real-time interaction
Animo’s animated hosts interact with physical objects in immersive environments. Players can communicate directly with their hosts, creating a new level of engagement and trust.
Animo will also offer celebrities and influencers the opportunity to insert IP-based characters into platforms, game shows, and other formats – bringing their profile to a wider audience.
“Animo’s innovative use of software and hardware pushes the entertainment experience to the next level,” said Brais Pena, Chief Strategy Officer of Easygo, the Melbourne-based tech powerhouse behind Stake. “It’s exactly the type of project we want to support.”
Animo is positioned to attract entirely new audiences and bring online players back to live table games. It has partnered with some of the world’s largest iGaming operators and aggregators, starting exclusively with Stake after going live for the first time on Monday 8 September.
The post Animo Studios debuts virtual hosts for live table games starting with Stake appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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