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Sweden has failed to protect the vulnerable players

Published

5 years ago

November 13, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

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.

ELA Games

ELA Games launches King and Flame slot with Hold and Win coins and Bonus Wheel

Published

43 minutes ago

April 23, 2026

Wladimir P.

ela-games-launches-king-and-flame-slot-with-hold-and-win-coins-and-bonus-wheel

The 5×3, 20-payline fantasy title includes expanding wild events, Mystery Chests, Free Spins, and a 5,000x max win.

ELA Games has released a new fantasy-themed slot, King and Flame, built on a 5×3 layout with 20 paylines.

The game includes a Hold and Win-style coin mechanic where coins “paying exactly their visible face value,” according to the company. ELA Games also highlighted “Queen’s Mercy” and “Mystery Chests,” which it said can deliver instant prizes or trigger the Grand Jackpot.

On the feature side, ELA Games said the “Tamed by the Crown” event can turn the Dragon Queen into a full reel wild. A “Bonus Wheel Coin” can also appear to unlock a bonus wheel with extra prizes, jackpots, and Free Spins.

The Free Spins round is triggered by three Scatter symbols. During Free Spins, ELA Games said any coin that lands expands to cover the entire column. The title’s maximum win is capped at 5,000x, with a stated maximum exposure of €250,000.

King and Flame is rated mid volatility (2/5), according to the company.

The post ELA Games launches King and Flame slot with Hold and Win coins and Bonus Wheel appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Inside GEO

Inside GEO: Slovenia As the Next Emerging Goldmine

Published

43 minutes ago

April 23, 2026

Wladimir P.

inside-geo:-slovenia-as-the-next-emerging-goldmine

Slovenia is definitely one of the most promising GEOs for the iGaming niche.

That is why the N1 Partners team has collected insights that will help to work more accurately with the audience, increase ROI and build effective advertising campaigns for the GEO.

Let’s look at the big picture to understand the potential of the region better. Slovenia is a small country in Central Europe with a population of about 2.1 million people and its capital in Ljubljana. The official language is Slovenian, the currency is euro, and the time zone is CET (UTC+1).

With the background of a high living standard and a stable economy, the market creates favorable conditions for online gambling: the iGaming sector is already showing steady growth, and its volume was estimated at about $497 million by 2025.

Reasons to test Slovenia

Slovenia is a promising region, but it often turns out to be underestimated in the iGaming niche.

Top 3 reasons to drive traffic to Slovenia right now:

Low competition.
Slovenia is the country with a low share of online gambling in the market. For partners, this is a signal: with proper localisation and strategy, you can enter a less competitive environment and make a long-term profit.
Solvent players.
The GDP per capita in Slovenia is about $35.3 thousand, which confirms the high level of audience solvency and the potential for stable LTV.
High potential.
Slovenia is not an overheated online market: in European comparison, the share of online gambling in the overall revenue structure remains relatively low. This means that the market has not yet fully realised its digital potential and there’s a room for growth.

Players’ behaviour

Slovenian users are more likely to choose online platforms due to their convenience, wide choice of games and accessibility from mobile devices.

In this region, smartphones account for the majority of iGaming traffic — 86.45%, which requires the adaptation of all funnels to mobile devices.

Gender and age

Men — 63%, average age 31-35 years
Women — 37%, average age 26-30 years

According to N1 Partners, the iGaming market remains predominantly male, which is confirmed by external research: the main audience is men aged 25-44. At the same time, the proportion of women is gradually increasing, expanding the segment’s potential.

Top 10 slots Among N1 Partners Players in Slovenia

N1 Partners team notes that players prefer slots with recognizable series, bonus features and adventure themes — this directly affects retention and LTV.

Legacy of Dead
Book of Dead
Heist Stakes
Book of the Fallen
Gates of Olympus Super Scatter
Lucky Lady’s Charm Deluxe
Magic Apple 2
Rich Wilde and the Tome of Madness
Gonzo’s Quest II: Return to El Dorado
More Magic Apple

Conclusion

Slovenia is a GEO with strong and sustainable potential and a high share of mobile traffic, as well as a growing iGaming market, ideal for those working with gambling traffic.

N1 Partners analytics confirms that with the right localisation strategy and taking into account the characteristics of the audience, this market is able to bring stable profits and long-term growth within the framework of iGaming partner programs.

Wanna scale and increase your income? Work with N1 Partners!

N1 Partners is a multi-brand affiliate program and direct advertiser, bringing together 14+ casino and betting brands with high conversion (CR) and Reg2Dep across Tier-1 GEOs.

N1 Partners offers competitive terms for top partners, including CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 55%, ensuring stable and scalable performance.

Trusted by 14,000+ partners, N1 Partners stands out for its transparency, flexibility, and focus on long-term partnerships, supported by a strong product portfolio and advanced retention systems.

The post Inside GEO: Slovenia As the Next Emerging Goldmine appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

3 Oaks Gaming

3 Oaks Gaming adds Must Drop JACKPOT mechanic to 4 Pots of Egypt slot

Published

43 minutes ago

April 23, 2026

Wladimir P.

3-oaks-gaming-adds-must-drop-jackpot-mechanic-to-4-pots-of-egypt-slot

New variant pairs Hold & Win gameplay with two daily progressive jackpots designed to drop before a capped maximum value.

3 Oaks Gaming has released Must Drop JACKPOT 4 Pots of Egypt, extending its Must Drop JACKPOT series by adding the time-limited jackpot mechanic to its 4 Pots of Egypt slot.

The 5×3, 20-line title uses a Hold & Win format and a four-pots bonus structure, with a progressive jackpot that the supplier says is guaranteed to drop before reaching a defined maximum value. 3 Oaks Gaming said two progressive jackpots are available daily.

According to the company, the Must Drop JACKPOT prize is set at network level within the game, meaning operators can deploy the promotional feature without additional administrative setup.

The game is built on the original 4 Pots of Egypt, with three smaller pots—Boost, Collect and Multi—and a fourth pot that can add Mini to Major jackpot values on up to three random symbols during the Bonus Game.

Victoria Vashukevich, Acting CCO 3 Oaks Gaming, said: “Must Drop JACKPOT 4 Pots of Egypt builds on the strength of proven Hold & Win gameplay with the added excitement of our Must Drop JACKPOT feature.

“The game’s layered bonus features, engaging Egyptian theme and progressive jackpot functionality make it a valuable addition to our portfolio and an attractive proposition for operators seeking high-performing content.”

The post 3 Oaks Gaming adds Must Drop JACKPOT mechanic to 4 Pots of Egypt slot appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.