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Stanleybet Pays Taxes in Bid to End Block on Entering Italian Betting Tenders
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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The future of safer gambling: The power of advanced monitoring systems and data-driven strategies to monitor player safety
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SkillOnNet Safer Gambling and AML Risk team manager Loizos Theodosiadis on using behavioural tracking systems and analytics to enable proactive risk management.
The future of safer gambling is rooted in predictive analytics and personalised protection. At SkillOnNet, we identify risks of gambling-related harm through both proprietary and third-party software. The third-party system, developed by Neccton and called the MENTOR player-tracking system, enables early detection of behavioural risk long before issues manifest.
These systems analyse vast amounts of data to identify subtle behavioural changes, enabling us to intervene proactively. As I often say, the most exciting developments are around predictive analytics and personalised protection. We’re working on better behavioural modelling to spot risks even earlier and guide players towards sustainable behaviour based on actual patterns, not fixed limits.
Our platform, incorporating Neccton’s system, exemplifies this approach. It continuously monitors player behaviour, flags higher-risk activities, and provides real-time alerts through popups, messages, and dashboards. This allows our teams to act swiftly, offering support or guidance precisely when it’s needed most. Automation supports us by supporting the players, delivering tailored messages about long sessions or risky spending habits.
This move towards personalised, behaviour-based interventions marks a significant shift from traditional, one-size-fits-all thresholds. The future of safer gambling tools lies in advanced monitoring systems and data-driven behavioural analysis profiling players.
Safer Gambling Week and the Role of Industry Collaboration
I believe that Safer Gambling Week is really important. It gives everyone in the industry a chance to pause and focus on the same priority, keeping players safe. We talk about safer gambling all year, but the week helps us amplify everything.
As well as just bringing together our own brands such as Slingo, the official site for Slingo games, and Spin Genie, a leading slots casino in the UK.
Throughout the year, our commitment doesn’t waver, but the week serves as a catalyst for greater awareness and collaboration. It’s an opportunity to reinforce that safer gambling should be a normal, embedded part of our operations and not just a regulatory checkbox. Creating an environment where players feel supported, informed, and empowered is fundamental.
Responsibility is at the core of everything we do. We believe that what sets us apart is how proactive we try to be. We don’t rely on generic thresholds; we focus on behaviour, spotting subtle changes, and acting early even before anything becomes obvious. This proactive stance involves significant investment in staff training, leveraging technology, and fostering a culture of empathy and care.
Our teams are trained to recognise behavioral cues whether in retail or digital environments – such as agitation, long play sessions, or mood swings. With Genting Casino for example, we use algorithms to identify risky behaviours early. Both environments present risks; the key is awareness, communication, and a duty of care. GentingCasino.com offers a premier gaming experience with top-tier slots and we want to offer top-tier player safety.
This proactive approach ensures that support is delivered before problems escalate, emphasising early detection and compassionate intervention. Our strategy is built on the understanding that safer gambling is discussed at senior levels and built into our strategy, not just treated as an add-on, reinforcing a genuine cultural shift within our organisation.
Strengthening Governance and Industry Standards
As online gambling becomes more accessible, I advocate for stronger governance frameworks to protect players effectively. Online environments have more accessibility, so we need a stronger governance framework. Retail needs trained professionals who understand behavioural cues.
I support the implementation of industry-wide standards for affordability and financial risk checks. I support an industry-wide standard for affordability and financial risk checks – applied consistently across all operators. It requires government clarity, data sharing standards, and a balance between consumer rights and harm prevention. Consistent application of these standards, combined with data sharing and regulatory clarity, will ensure that safer gambling practices are effective, fair, and respectful of players’ privacy.
The Ongoing Journey for Operators
While our industry has made significant progress, I believe the journey is ongoing. The industry is on a journey. Many operators, including us, are genuinely committed to embedding safer gambling into their culture. While responses have been reactive in the past, that’s changing.
Today, safer gambling is recognised as a core business priority – about sustainable play, long-term loyalty, and safeguarding reputation. Safer gambling is now a core business priority – about sustainable play, long-term loyalty, and reputation. As we look to the future, I am confident that companies investing early and embracing transparency will set the standard, shaping a healthier and more responsible industry.
SkillOnNet is a leading casino operator that offers a diverse range of online gaming brands. They offer cutting-edge technology, premium content and solutions for some of the industry’s most recognisable names.
They operate a wide range of successful brands including premium online GentingCasino.com, Prime Casino who offer a diverse selection of games as well as Slingo who offer a premium Bingo experience.
Throughout its extensive game catalogue from top-tier developers, SkillOnNet ensures players enjoy a safe, engaging and entertaining environment. They continue to lead the market with its flexible platform, localise expertise and strategic partnerships to offer best-in-class casino entertainment.
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Room 8 Group partners with Pragma to strengthen online game development capabilities
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Room 8 Group, an end-to-end strategic partner in external game development, has announced a partnership with Pragma, a company providing tools that help studios build online games faster, connect with players, and grow their communities.
This partnership enables Room 8 Group to integrate Pragma Platform, the game industry’s leading backend solution for connected games. Pragma delivers a comprehensive suite of cross-platform services, including authentication, social, commerce, player data, matchmaking, and telemetry, empowering developers to manage every stage of a game’s lifecycle, from launch to live ops and growth.
Room 8 Group always takes a consultative approach to co-development – making every technical decision based on what brings the greatest value and efficiency to the client, rather than relying on predefined service offerings.
“We partner with leading technology providers to ensure our clients have access to the most effective solutions. Pragma’s platform brings clear benefits in scalability and player engagement, and we see real potential in implementing it within future projects.”
Anna Kozlova, CEO at Room 8 Group.
As online functionality and live services have become a part of many modern games, Room 8 Group continuously explores new tools that reduce time-consuming and costly custom development while preserving each game’s unique character.
“Room 8 Group’s deep technical expertise and proven ability to integrate our solutions across different client needs and technology stacks makes them an ideal partner for Pragma. Together, we’re enabling studios to deliver connected, high-quality gaming experiences faster, more efficiently, and at greater scale.”
Eden Chen, CEO at Pragma
Together, Pragma and Room 8 Group are building the infrastructure that helps studios ship faster, operate smarter, and deliver better player experiences.
The post Room 8 Group partners with Pragma to strengthen online game development capabilities appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Continent 8 promotes David Brace to Executive Team
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Continent 8 Technologies, a leading provider of cutting-edge managed IT solutions designed for the global iGaming and online sports betting industry, announces the promotion of David Brace to its executive leadership team.
In his new role, Brace will serve as practice lead for AWS solutions, spearheading the company’s continued expansion and innovation within the Amazon Web Services (AWS) ecosystem.
The news follows Continent 8’s selection as an official AWS Solution Provider under the Solution Provider Program (SPP). This has enabled Continent 8 to augment its AWS portfolio, including Managed AWS Workloads, Managed Hybrid Network and AWS Cloud Migration.
Michael Tobin, CEO and Founder at Continent 8 Technologies, said: “Over the past eight years at Continent 8, David has consistently demonstrated a deep and nuanced understanding of technology, infrastructure, and the regulatory landscape – both on industry panels and directly with our customers. His expertise is widely respected, and this promotion is a well-earned recognition of his contributions.
“David’s elevation to the executive team comes at a pivotal moment for our business, as we sharpen our strategic focus on cloud innovation. He is the ideal leader to drive our AWS practice forward, bringing vision, experience, and a customer-first mindset. With continued investment in this area, we’re committed to delivering AWS solutions that are secure, scalable, and tailored to the unique demands of the iGaming sector.”
David Brace, Chief Alliance & Partnership Officer, AWS, at Continent 8 Technologies, added: “I’m honoured to join the executive team and lead our AWS practice. The iGaming industry is evolving rapidly, and cloud adoption is central to that transformation. Our goal is to simplify the journey for our customers – whether they’re launching in new markets, navigating regulatory frameworks, or scaling their operations globally. With AWS and Continent 8’s combined capabilities, we’re uniquely positioned to deliver.”
Continent 8 has vast experience in delivering AWS solutions to the industry. The company has already delivered 90% of AWS Outposts in the industry to major brands in the regulated betting and gaming market, including FanDuel, Fanatics Betting & Gaming, and Hard Rock Digital.
Meet David Brace and members of Continent 8’s AWS practice at AWS re:Invent 2025, 1-5 December in Las Vegas.
The post Continent 8 promotes David Brace to Executive Team appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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