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Albania to Re-legalise Sports Betting from January 1

Albania is going to reintroduce legal sports betting as of 1 January 2023, four years after it, along with casinos and online gambling, was made illegal.
The decision, which has been on the cards since the summer, will bring much-needed revenue to the government, which faces a debt of over 90%, increasing pressure to subsidise rising energy costs, and calls to support the vulnerable amid the global crisis.
Effective as of the start of next year, sports betting games will now be legal, and it is estimated that some €17 million will be collected in tax each year.
All gambling, except a handful of licensed casinos, was prohibited as of 31 December 2018. Hundreds of betting shops and gambling sites were shut down, and efforts were made to block online sites.
However, gambling continued throughout the country in illegal betting and gambling shops, with arrests occurring almost weekly.
Momentum to legalise sports betting has been growing since August when a coalition of sporting stakeholders petitioned the government to ask for the reinstitution of regulated and supervised sports betting, arguing it can bring much-needed revenue to one of Europe’s poorest countries.
“We are not proposing to open the entire range of gambling, including electronic casinos or bingo halls. Our proposal includes total fiscal transparency, league-regulated online sports betting,” the petition states.
Stakeholders suggest that revenue generated from sports betting be used to support the country’s athletes. The petition specifies that betting should be allowed via certified operators, including local and international brands. In addition, they suggest an age limit and a maximum bet limit.
“The regulation of sports betting by law is a practice followed by many Western countries. In these countries, the income from sports betting is used to develop sports and sports infrastructure and to support the youth,” they argued.
Prime Minister Edi Rama commented on the push stating that if the decision goes ahead, extreme conditions will be imposed, and all revenue will go to sports, culture and youth.
“We will look at this very positively; we will set extreme conditions…these are guaranteed by large international companies, which operate worldwide and operate in the European Union area.”
He added: “I have been obvious that these revenues, which we calculate to be many times more than what we contribute every year, go to sports, culture and youth, but very clearly and dedicatedly, the lion’s share, the sport will take it.”
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UFC Champion Valentina Shevchenko Joins Stake as Global Brand Ambassador

Leading betting platform Stake proudly announces that Ultimate Fighting Championship (“UFC”) Women’s Flyweight World Champion, Valentina Shevchenko, has signed on as a Global Ambassador for the brand.
One of the most iconic and celebrated athletes in combat sports, Shevchenko currently reigns as the UFC Flyweight World Champion and holds the coveted No. 1 spot in the UFC’s Women’s Pound-for-Pound rankings. A Muay Thai specialist from Kyrgyzstan, Shevchenko has dominated the MMA world since her UFC debut in 2015, and continues to build her legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats. She will next defend her title on May 11 against top contender Manon Fiorot of France.
With this partnership, Shevchenko joins a championship roster of Stake ambassadors that includes UFC stars Merab Dvalishvili, Alexandre Pantoja, Max Holloway, Alex Pereira, and Israel Adesanya.
Speaking on the partnership, Shevchenko said:
“Stake has become one of the most important and exciting partners of the UFC, and I’m proud to now be a Global Ambassador for the brand. Stake is the home of champions, and I’m excited to work with its incredible team.”
Akhil Sarin, Chief Marketing Officer at Stake, added:
“We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Valentina to the Stake family. It’s rare to see a true legend of the sport still performing at the absolute highest level, and we’re excited to build a long and successful partnership together. We feel that the Stake brand is now synonymous with the UFC, and our relationships with the very best athletes in the sport helps us continue to grow in the MMA sphere.”
The post UFC Champion Valentina Shevchenko Joins Stake as Global Brand Ambassador appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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PlayOJO and other SkillOnNet brands add BF Games portfolio in UK rollout

Global entertainment brand SkillOnNet announced today it has launched BF Games’ portfolio of cutting-edge slots and dice games in the UK. Over 100 titles from the leading game provider are now available for players at SkillOnNet’s UK-facing brands, including flagship site PlayOJO.
The move represents an extension of the existing partnership between the two companies that saw the successful introduction of BF Games content to SkillOnNet brands in several .com markets.
These included Stunning Crown Cash Mesh™, which showcases BF Games’ acclaimed Cash Mesh™ mechanic. The feature allows players to collect special symbols to trigger instant cash rewards, imbuing every spin with anticipation and excitement.
The BF Games portfolio includes everything from classic fruit-themed slots to richly themed immersive video slots with cutting-edge features. Also popular are the studio’s dice games, which combine traditional slot mechanics with dice-based elements to offer a unique gameplay experience.
Jani Kontturi, Head of Games at SkillOnNet said: “We’re thrilled to strengthen our partnership with BF Games and bring their exceptional content to our UK players. Their games strike the perfect balance between classic appeal and cool, modern features, making them a great fit for our audience.”
Rok Hribar, CCO at BF Games said: “Our collaboration with SkillOnNet has already shown great results in international markets, and expanding into the UK is a natural next step. We’re excited to see our games reach more players through such a trusted industry big hitter.”
The post PlayOJO and other SkillOnNet brands add BF Games portfolio in UK rollout appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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HIGHLIGHT GAMES ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE DEAL WITH SERIE A1 FUTSAL

London-based video virtuals and instant win games specialist Highlight Games Limited today announces that it has signed an exclusive, long-term deal to create a range of virtual sports and gaming products featuring Italy’s premier 5-a-side competition, Serie A1 Futsal. Games will feature teams including Napoli, Roma 1927, L48 Torino and Came Treviso.
Highlight Games is the #1 virtual sports supplier in Italy and, since the launch of SOCCERBET in 2019, has grown the market by 78% in five years.
Steven Holmes, CEO, Highlight Games said: ‘‘I’m excited to announce this partnership with Serie A1 Futsal, and with it the introduction of a new fast-paced SOCCERBET game format. By cutting a series of five second clips we will create the first ever virtual sports product featuring twelve goals with outcomes ranging from 12-0 to 0-12. Highlight Games is incredibly proud to be the #1 virtual sports supplier in the biggest virtuals market in the world and our success only makes us more ambitious to create more engaging and innovative content for our valued partners.’’
The post HIGHLIGHT GAMES ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE DEAL WITH SERIE A1 FUTSAL appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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