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Sweden has failed to protect the vulnerable players

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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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John O’Reilly

John O’Reilly Joins UK Tote Group Board as Non-Executive Director

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The UK Tote Group has announced the appointment of John O’Reilly as a non-executive director of its Board, effective from 1 May 2026.

John has over 35 years’ experience in the horseracing, betting and gaming sectors, having most recently served as CEO of the Rank Group PLC – the UK’s largest casino and bingo operator. He was formerly a non-executive director of William Hill plc and, between 2011 and 2015, Managing Director of Coral’s digital business. Prior to joining Gala Coral, John was an executive director on the board of Ladbrokes Plc. He has served as a non-executive director of Telecity Group Plc and Chair of the digital design and development business Grand Parade Ltd. He currently serves as Chair of Weatherbys and a trustee of the New Bridge Foundation, alongside his new position as a UK Tote Group board member from next month.

John Williamson, Chairman of the UK Tote Group, said: “We are pleased to welcome John to the UK Tote Group Board. As one of the most experienced and respected leaders in the betting industry, John will provide valuable support to the Tote team, particularly in relation to product development and customer experience. We are delighted to have John join the team, alongside Andrew Weir who joined the UK Tote Group board earlier this month.”

John O’Reilly said: “Like so many people deeply involved in gambling and horseracing, I have had many connections with, and fond memories of the Tote over the years. While the Tote has a century of history, I believe it has a very valuable role to play in the future of horseracing, both in the UK and Ireland and around the globe. The Tote has an impressive story to tell of innovation and growth in recent years, and through further enhancements to the pool product, alongside developing deepening international partnerships, I believe the Tote has its best days ahead of it. I am delighted to have the opportunity to join the UK Tote Group board and to support the Tote’s future success.”

The post John O’Reilly Joins UK Tote Group Board as Non-Executive Director appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Reflex Gaming Releases “Piggies Prize Party”

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Reflex Gaming, the UK’s largest independently owned omni-channel game supplier, has released its latest video slot “Piggies Prize Party”.

Powered by Yggdrasil, this vibrant video slot reimagines the arcade hit into a highly engaging digital experience designed to drive repeat play with broad player appeal.

Bursting with character and colour, Piggies Prize Party centres around a cheerful piggy bank party theme, combining low-to-medium volatility with frequent wins and smooth, accessible gameplay. Built on a familiar 5×3 reel layout with 25 paylines, the game delivers constant activity on the reels, while layering in a series of feature-driven moments that keep players firmly engaged from spin to spin.

At the heart of the game are four distinct Piggy Bank features, each linked to coloured coins that build anticipation in the base game before unlocking their full potential. Red Coins feed into Red Free Spins, where collected spins accumulate before being awarded in a burst of action. Green coins trigger Elimination Free Spins, stripping symbols from the reels to improve win potential and reshape gameplay. Blue coins power Prize Pot Free Spins, introducing increasing pots that enhance reward opportunities while maintaining a clear and familiar flow.

Adding another dimension, Yellow coins build towards the Wheel feature, where collected Piggies are transformed into a fortune wheel spin offering a mix of multipliers, Free Spins combinations or both. Designed to create standout moments, the Wheel cannot be triggered alongside Free Spins, ensuring each feature lands with its own distinct impact.

For players looking to accelerate the action, Bonus Buy options provide direct access to the Fortune Wheel, with Standard, Mystery and Super Free Spins configurations available depending on player preference and jurisdiction. Meanwhile, Golden Bet can be activated to increase the stake by 50%, boosting the chances of triggering one or more features while keeping all wins aligned to the base game paytable.

Mat Ingram, CPO at Reflex Gaming, said: “Piggies Prize Party has already proven itself as a standout performer on the land-based side, so we’re excited to bring it online.

“The different piggy bank mechanics give the game real variety, while the Wheel adds those big, memorable moments. It’s fun, it’s engaging and it’s built to keep players coming back.”

The launch of Piggies Prize Party further strengthens Reflex Gaming’s omni-channel strategy, delivering consistent, high-performing experiences across both land-based and online environments through its continued partnership with Yggdrasil.

The post Reflex Gaming Releases “Piggies Prize Party” appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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BetConstruct

BetConstruct AI offers operators three months free sportsbook access ahead of World Cup 2026

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The deal includes a fee waiver across its core suite plus setup and third-party integration discounts for the first three months.

BetConstruct AI has launched a World Cup 2026-focused commercial offer that waives fees for operators across its sportsbook and other core products for three months.

Under the terms published in the release, the company is offering “Complete fee waiver for the first 3 months across Sportsbook, CreedRoomz, Popok, Pascal, Choice, Virtual Sports, and Poker Network,” alongside a “SETUP DISCOUNT (50%)” for “all global market entry setups.” It is also applying a “3RD PARTY INTEGRATION (51%)” discount to “all 3rd Party Game Providers for the first 3 months.”

BetConstruct AI also included two complimentary add-ons it said would be available at “€0 cost” to partners. “Powerfull (Pre-Tournament)” is scheduled to run “8–10 weeks before kickoff” and is positioned around “weekly turnover challenges,” with prizes including “Free Bets (€1–€1,000) or a World Cup Final ticket,” which the company said are “100% funded by BetConstruct AI.”

The second product, “Bet on League (In-Tournament),” is described as an iFrame-based tournament hub that “requires no UI rebuilds,” with features including “an integrated module resembling a prediction market and personalized bet suggestions driven by AI.”

The company framed the campaign around operators preparing for what it called “the highest-concentration betting opportunity of the next four years,” referring to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

More data as follows:

The post BetConstruct AI offers operators three months free sportsbook access ahead of World Cup 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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