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EGBA: Swedish Government Risks Driving Online Gambling into the Black Market

Published

6 years ago

December 17, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Gambling Market Inquiry, established to consider additional measures to those set out in Sweden’s Gambling Act which re-regulated the country’s online gambling market in 2019, has presented its long-anticipated report to the Ministry of Social Security.

The report proposes, among other things, further restrictions and limitations for Sweden’s licensed online gambling companies, including a new customer risk classification and additional marketing restrictions.

While there are proposals in the report which are welcome, including the introduction of gaming supplier licenses for game developers and suppliers, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is concerned that the frequency and scope of regulatory changes in Sweden jeopardises the overall success of the country’s online gambling regulation and its ability to provide Swedes with a safe, attractive and regulated online environment where they can bet.

EGBA supports well-regulated online gambling markets but the constant proposals to change Sweden’s regulation, which was established less than two years ago, is creating policy instability for the country’s licensed companies. EGBA has previously outlined its concerns about the government’s introduction of temporary deposit limits for online casino in Q2 this year, which are now set to be prolonged until next summer. Generically imposed deposit limits, despite being well-intentioned, encourage many customers, including those experiencing problematic gambling behaviour, to exit the regulated market and play on black market websites which allow them to circumvent the limits.

The risks to consumer protection from black market gambling are very real, particularly for vulnerable customers: these websites are readily available, easy to access and do not apply any limits or responsible gambling measures, e.g. self-exclusion registers such as Sweden’s Spelpaus scheme. According to a recent study, 40% of Sweden’s online casino customers, and 34% of sports betting customers, already gamble on unlicensed and black market websites or would consider doing so in future. Given the risk of black market gambling, EGBA, therefore, encourages Swedish policy makers to consider the need for a delicate regulatory balance and the potential cause and effects of further restrictions on the licensed and regulated market in Sweden.

“EGBA members, including BOS, accept their shared responsibility to protect customers, and we are continuously considering what we can do more, but, fundamentally, the best way to protect customers is to ensure they play inside the regulated market with companies who are licensed in and apply the consumer protection laws in Sweden. The cumulative effect of more restrictions on the Swedish market will be less channelling and more unregulated black market gambling. Despite being well-intentioned, this would be clearly counter-productive and will damage the safety of the consumer,” Maarten Haijer, Secretary-General of EGBA, said.

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Lottomart launches S Gaming slot Dragon’s Rage as permanent UK exclusive

Published

24 minutes ago

June 23, 2026

Wladimir P.

lottomart-launches-s-gaming-slot-dragon’s-rage-as-permanent-uk-exclusive

Lottomart has launched Dragon’s Rage, a new S Gaming slot available as a permanent exclusive to Lottomart players in the UK.

The release follows the partnership’s previous exclusive title, Fisherman’s Fortune, and adds another game to Lottomart’s exclusive-content portfolio.

Set in a dragon’s treasure lair, Dragon’s Rage uses a 1,024-ways-to-win format. Features include the Coil Collect mechanic, choice-led Free Spins, and Rage Spins. The game also includes three fixed-level jackpots: Inferno, Flame and Ember.

Chris Ruddock, Commercial Director at Lottomart, commented: “We’re delighted to launch Dragon’s Rage as a permanent UK exclusive. Developed in close collaboration with S Gaming, the game combines a strong fantasy theme with engaging features designed with our players in mind. We’re looking forward to seeing how our customers respond to the launch.”

Charles Mott, CEO of S Gaming, added: “Dragon’s Rage is the latest title developed through our close collaboration with Lottomart. It has been a pleasure working together on the concept and development of the game, and we’re proud to bring this new fantasy adventure exclusively to Lottomart players in the UK.”

The post Lottomart launches S Gaming slot Dragon’s Rage as permanent UK exclusive appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

DATA.BET

DATA.BET reports 39.7% GGR growth in year one of sports betting vertical

Published

24 minutes ago

June 23, 2026

Wladimir P.

databet-reports-39.7%-ggr-growth-in-year-one-of-sports-betting-vertical

Supplier cites 147.6% active user growth and increased bet activity across football and basketball in the first 12 months.

DATA.BET has published first-year performance results for its sports betting vertical, marking 12 months since the product’s official launch. The supplier said results from newly acquired clients show 39.7% GGR growth and 147.6% growth in active users over the period.

The company also reported turnover up 30.7% quarter-on-quarter. It said betting activity increased, with the number of bets and stake volume up 83.5%, while combo bets rose 160.5%.

By sport, DATA.BET said football led engagement, with bet counts up 107.5% and active users up 173.1%. Table Tennis saw a 172.5% increase in its player base, while tennis posted bet counts up 33.6% and active players up 35%. The supplier pointed to basketball as the strongest commercial contributor, with turnover up 83.7% and its user base up 96.8%.

DATA.BET attributed performance to product features including Bet Builder (football, basketball, baseball, and American football), streaming within the betting interface, and widgets for match and player data. The company also highlighted official data partnerships with Infront (tennis), Odds Composer (basketball), Genius Sports, and BETER.

At tournament level, DATA.BET said the England Premier League was the most profitable tournament over the full year, with event count up 45.7% and “close to half of total betting volume” generated through the 1X2 market. The supplier added that top-tier tournaments outperformed low-tier disciplines across turnover (102.7%), profit (187.2%), and bet count (196.6%).

“Taken together, the first year demonstrated that scale and stability are not opposing forces — broad coverage, official data, and engagement-focused features directly contributed to growth across turnover, player numbers, and betting activity”, said Yevhenii Ilchenko, Head of Sports at DATA.BET. “We built the vertical on the right foundations from the first, and the numbers reflect that. “

The post DATA.BET reports 39.7% GGR growth in year one of sports betting vertical appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

GGPoker

GGPoker adds Kick support to Streamer Mode

Published

24 minutes ago

June 23, 2026

Wladimir P.

ggpoker-adds-kick-support-to-streamer-mode

Approved creators can now stream directly to Kick via the desktop client, alongside Twitch and YouTube.

GGPoker has expanded its Streamer Mode feature to support Kick.com, enabling approved creators to broadcast directly to Kick through the GGPoker desktop client.

Streamer Mode is GGPoker’s in-client streaming feature for approved broadcasters, offering tools and rewards while they stream. The company said benefits include up to 100% cashback on poker games played while actively streaming, automatic hole-card hiding to reduce stream sniping, and a dedicated Streamer Panel for managing open tables.

GGPoker also said Streamer Mode includes streamer-exclusive in-game cosmetics and the option for a live stream to be showcased within the main lobby of the GGPoker software.

“Our streamers are the heartbeat of the modern online poker community, sharing the thrill of the game with audiences worldwide,” said Sarne Lightman, Managing Director of GGPoker. “We are constantly looking for ways to empower these creators. Integrating a dynamic, creator-friendly platform like Kick into our Streamer Mode gives our players even more ways to build their brands, engage with fans, and maximize their rewards. We can’t wait to see the incredible content our community brings to Kick.”

To use Streamer Mode on Kick, YouTube, or Twitch, players must apply to become an approved GGPoker streamer. GGPoker said applicants who have streamed poker consistently for the past three months with an average of 40+ concurrent viewers are encouraged to contact its talent team at [email protected].

The post GGPoker adds Kick support to Streamer Mode appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.