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Stanleybet Pays Taxes in Bid to End Block on Entering Italian Betting Tenders

Published

3 years ago

January 11, 2023

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Stanleybet Malta Ltd., the Maltese subsidiary of the Liverpool based Stanleybet Group, has announced its decision to pay Italian retail betting tax to the Italian regulator, Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM), for the first time ever in Italy. The first payment, made on 2nd January 2023, with the “F24” form under the same rules that apply to Italian licensed operators, refers to the revenue made by Stanleybet in its Italian retail shops for the period 1st to 31st December 2022, which by law is due for payment by 31st January 2023. ADM was informed of this decision on the same day of the payment, via letter sent to its General Manager and to the 2 top officials responsible for gaming and betting at ADM.

Four sentences of the European Court of Justice, later confirmed by the Italian Court of Cassation and, recently, by the Italian Council of State, ruled that Stanleybet had been discriminated against with respect to free access to the Italian retail licensing system: both in the initial experimental phase (1998), and with regards to subsequent public tenders: in 2000, 2006 – with the “Bersani” tender – and, lastly, in 2012, with the “Monti” tender.

In addition, ADM prevented Stanleybet from entering the 2015 and 2016 “amnesty” proceedings. In fact, with multiple trials initiated by the Italian Regulator between 2014 and 2017 against senior Stanleybet executives and against Stanleybet shop owners (CTDs), ADM effectively made Stanleybet’s participation in those proceedings impossible, due to a lack of fair and objective entry conditions. Those proceedings ended in December 2017, when the deadline for seeking participation in the “amnesty” expired.

It should be noted that Stanleybet has never actually filed a complaint against ADM – despite all the crime reports that have been filed against its business in Italy and yet were ultimately concluded in Stanleybet’s favour.

The company has always favoured the path of dialogue. In fact, around the time of the expiry of the Italian retail betting licensing system, on 30th June 2016, Stanleybet, which by then was officially recognised as a lawful operator by the Italian courts, formally asked ADM to allow it to start paying the Italian retail betting tax in the same way as the Italian licensed operators do, by being linked to the “national totaliser” (the centralised data control system for licensed operators). ADM ignored the letter for 3 long years, and then only responded when forced to do so by the Italian Ministry of the Economy, whom Stanleybet urged to intervene as a last resort.

ADM’s historical aversion to Stanleybet should come as no surprise. After all, how could ADM, the organisation which itself was responsible for the discrimination suffered by Stanleybet, then turn around and admit that Stanleybet’s activity was always lawful? In addition, as ADM is a government body should the Italian Government not share some of the responsibility?

With the 2011 Stability Law and subsequent amendments, the Italian legislator provided for payment of the retail betting tax, not only by operators licensed in Italy but also by operators that were not licensed by the Italian authorities. However, in the latter case the betting tax payable could instead be calculated by reference to shop revenue based on tripling the average betting shop revenue for the relevant province. ADM then chose to apply these “tripling” provisions to Stanleybet, thereby effectively admitting that it still considered Stanleybet to be an illegal operator. The result of ADM’s actions was a large and unnecessary tax dispute, which remains ongoing.

During 2022, Stanleybet proposed to ADM that it was prepared to immediately start paying the retail betting tax as a licensed operator, subject to a formal settlement agreement to deal with alleged historic liabilities, with the intention of drawing a line under the issue, once and for all. Although various meetings were held in “Piazza Mastai”, ADM’s headquarters, even with the initial participation of the ADM Director himself, ADM’s position remained totally against this proposal. Even numerous settlement proposals put forward to ADM in individual tax proceedings, often with the support of the relevant Judge, were met with an absolute refusal by ADM to reconsider the calculations and Stanleybet’s position as an Italian licensed operator.

Given that any attempt to get ADM to accept a reasonable solution to the dispute seemed futile, Stanleybet proposed during a Group Board Meeting of its Executive Directors in Liverpool, held on 15th December 2022, to start paying the Italian retail betting tax, exercising the right to pay taxes in Italy like any other licensed operator. The decision was formally approved, after further deliberation and planning, at a further extraordinary Group Board Meeting of its Executive Directors held on 28th December 2022. Stanleybet hopes that ADM will consider this proactive decision not as a challenge, but as an act of common sense made in good faith and in the best interests of the Italian State. The Maltese gambling regulator (MGA), which is well aware of Stanleybet’s history in Italy, fully understands Stanleybet’s decision and the reasons behind it, and was officially informed at the same time as ADM. Whilst Stanleybet Malta Ltd.’s aim is for full participation in the Italian regulated system, it remains and wishes to remain, a licensee of the MGA – which it thanks officially, and with deep gratitude, for its continued support.

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Get into the holiday spirit with Christmas Megapots from Big Time Gaming

Published

24 minutes ago

December 2, 2025

Adrienn Sarkany

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

Players can jingle their way to jackpot joy in Christmas MegapotsTM from Big Time Gaming.

Step into the snow-dusted world of Christmas MegapotsTM where every spin is brimming with holiday cheer and jackpot potential.

This festive slot brings Big Time Gaming’s legendary Megapots mechanic to life with seasonal sparkle, giving players the chance to unwrap Mini, Midi or Mega Jackpots with each spin.

But there’s more… When six or more Gold Coins land anywhere on the reels the dazzling Hold & Spin feature bursts into life.

Players get an initial three Re-spins, with each symbol transforming into a mini reel of wonder, revealing shimmering Coins that carry Cash Prizes, Multipliers or those glorious Megapot icons.

Keep your sleigh in motion as every time one or more new Coins appears, Respins reset to three, keeping the Christmas cheer alive and twinkling.

When the Respins fizzle out, it’s time for the Prize Reveal – the total Coin value is Multiplied by all revealed Multipliers – ho, ho, ho indeed.

But the real joy comes during the Hold & Spin feature when you collect three matching MegapotsTM icons to score one of the jackpots. Better yet, if every reel glitters with a Coin symbol, the entire bonus is doubled.

Looking for more stocking fillers? You get them with the Free Spins bonus.

The reels jingle with joy when three or more Golden Bells chime, unlocking 12 Free Spins with two Extra Spins for every Scatter beyond the third.

Once the Free Spins get underway, the excitement snowballs as the win Multiplier starts at 1x and climbs higher with each Coin that lands.

If the Hold & Spin feature doesn’t trigger, each Coin remains frozen in place like a snowflake, building anticipation for what the next spin might unwrap.

Feel the festive cheer soar when three or more Golden Bells jingle again during the Free Spins as they award four additional Free Games plus two more for every extra Scatter that lands.

Want to head straight for the turkey? Tap the Bonus Buy icon to trigger the Hold and Spin bonus for just 35x the bet or unleash 12 merry and bright Free Spins for 100x the bet.

Nik, Robinson at Big Time Gaming, said: “It’s the most wonderful time of the year and with Christmas MegapotsTM, players can get into the festive spirit and get the chance to unwrap truly epic wins.”

“MegapotsTM is one of our most popular mechanics of 2025 but we wanted to add some extra cheer by putting at the centre of this year’s festive slot from BTG.”

“Throw in the Hold and Spin feature, Multipliers, Free Spins and Bonus Buy and you have a speaking seasonal slot that captures the magic of Christmas with massive potential rewards.”

The post Get into the holiday spirit with Christmas Megapots from Big Time Gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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October is the global peak of iGaming activity, new Blask data shows

Published

1 hour ago

December 2, 2025

Adrienn Sarkany

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October marks the pinnacle of global iGaming activity, according to new data from market intelligence ecosystem Blask.

The survey, which draws upon data from 107 countries tracked by Blask, found that October was the industry’s biggest month in 37 different markets, including Italy, Mexico and the Philippines.

The peak in activity is credited to the football season, which is in full swing during the month including two Champions League rounds, the latter stages of the Copa Libertadores, international fixtures and the usual domestic fixtures.

December came in second place, topping the ranking in 22 markets – including France, South Korea and Denmark – buoyed by the holiday season and a busy schedule in the Premier League.

Sixteen markets, including Spain, Nigeria and Malaysia, recorded September as their markets’ busiest month, driven by enthusiasm at the start of the new football season.

Max Tesla, co-founder and CEO of Blask, said: “Seasonality has always influenced player behaviour, but seeing it mapped across more than a hundred markets gives the industry a much clearer picture of how demand ebbs and flows. October’s dominance shows just how central football is to global engagement. This kind of insight helps operators plan smarter, time their campaigns better and ultimately understand their customers in a more meaningful way.”

The ranking comes from Blask’s new Seasonality widget in Blask Index Trends, which aggregates monthly market activity and visualizes daily and hourly “heat maps.” The data covers the period from early 2024 to today.

The post October is the global peak of iGaming activity, new Blask data shows appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Springbok Casino Unveils ‘The Great Wild Gift Exchange’ for a Festive December with 25 Free Spins on Hot Pots Master

Published

1 hour ago

December 2, 2025

Adrienn Sarkany

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

SpringbokCasino.co.za is launching a uniquely wild celebration this December! South Africa’s premier online gaming destination unveils its festive feature, “The Great Wild Gift Exchange,” and is giving players a double gift: a heart-warming adventure and 25 Free Spins to join the fun. As the theme goes, “When the wild decides to give, surprises are guaranteed,” and this promotion is no exception.”

This Christmas, the bushveld is buzzing and the animals are embarking on a grand gift exchange, but with their own wild flair. From a lion gifting mirrors, to a penguin with a cool pair of shades, each creature’s idea of the perfect present is as unique as they are. This celebration is a charming tale of connection, kindness, and the joyful chaos that ensues when the wild decides to give.

To make the festivities more exciting, Springbok Casino is giving every player a gift to kickstart their own fun: 25 Free Spins on the popular game, Hot Pots Master!

“We wanted to capture the magic and sometimes hilarious misunderstanding of gift-giving, but with a true South African spirit,” said Daniel Van Wyke, Springbok Casino Manager. “The Great Wild Gift Exchange is a light-hearted story that reflects our community, and the 25 Free Spins are our way of saying thank you to our players and inviting them to join the party.”

Unwrapping the Weekly Tales

The story unfolds over five weeks, with a new chapter of festive fun and a reminder of the 25 Free Spins offer.

Week 1: The Lion’s Mirror
The proud lion believes he has found the most valuable gift of all: a mirror showing the “king of the jungle.” This tale explores the surprise of receiving a gift meant for oneself, teaching a lesson in self-reflection.
Week 2: The Penguin’s Shades
A penguin, having visited distant shores, returns with stylish sunglasses for his sun-drenched friends. This humorous story highlights how the most thoughtful gifts can sometimes be the most impractical, yet are given with pure love.
Week 3: The Elephant’s Feather
The mighty elephant carefully presents a delicate, beautiful feather to his friend. This chapter celebrates the beauty of a gift that is light as air but carries the weight of true friendship and consideration.
Week 4: The Meerkat’s Mystery Box
The ever-inquisitive meerkat doesn’t give a gift, but an experience—a mysterious, unmarked box that causes both tension and excitement, proving that anticipation can be the greatest present of all.
Week 5: The Great Wild Gift Party
All the animals come together to exchange their wildly mismatched presents. In the resulting chaos of mismatched gifts, they discover that the real gift was the laughter and connection they shared all along.

Join Springbok Casino this December for “The Great Wild Gift Exchange”. It’s more than just a promotion; it’s a celebration of community, surprise, and the season of giving.

DECEMBER FREE SPINS (No Deposit Required)
25 Free Spins on Hot Pots Master
Coupon Code: GIFTEXCHANGE

The post Springbok Casino Unveils ‘The Great Wild Gift Exchange’ for a Festive December with 25 Free Spins on Hot Pots Master appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.