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Octoplay Announces Major Partnership with LeoVegas Group

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Octoplay continues its impressive streak of partnerships by joining forces with LeoVegas Group. This strategic collaboration marks another milestone for Octoplay, following recent integrations with renowned operators such as Paddy Power, Betfair, Sky Betting and Gaming and Pokerstars.

Through this exciting partnership, Octoplay’s acclaimed online slot games will now be accessible to LeoVegas players in Sweden while United Kingdom players can enjoy Octoplay’s games through the operator’s BetMGM brand.

Octoplay’s captivating games, known for their fast-paced action and thrilling win potential, have been seamlessly integrated into the operator’s lobby via Octoplay’s proprietary remote game server.

For LeoVegas Group, incorporating Octoplay’s content into its offerings in Sweden and the United Kingdom enhances its gaming portfolio, elevating player experiences to new heights. This move reinforces LeoVegas Group’s market-leading position with its LeoVegas brand in Sweden and BetMGM brand in the United Kingdom.

This partnership further solidifies Octoplay’s ascent from a rising star to a tier-one powerhouse within the span of just two years. With numerous premium operator deals on the horizon, Octoplay is poised for continued growth and success in the industry.

The Malta-based supplier, committed to regulated markets, holds licences in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Malta and Ontario.

The Commercial Director for Octoplay, Nick Vuchev, expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating: “LeoVegas Group is a heavyweight operator and we are thrilled to bring our games to its players in Sweden and BetMGM players in the United Kingdom. Our mission is to create highly entertaining games that deliver innovative experiences and we are confident that players at LeoVegas and BetMGM will thoroughly enjoy them. Our games’ strong demand among players at the world’s leading online casino brands underscores our ability to secure partnerships with industry giants like LeoVegas.”

The post Octoplay Announces Major Partnership with LeoVegas Group appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Fast Track Celebrates Great Place to Work™ Certification for Second Consecutive Year

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Fast Track, a technology company in the iGaming industry, is proud to announce that it has once again secured two country-specific certifications as a Great Place to Work for 2023/2024. The prestigious certification evaluates companies through the perspectives of current employees, gauging their sentiments about their workplace.

Fast Track believes in the positive impact of high employee trust and engagement on business performance and chose Great Place to Work to gain valuable insights into enhancing the workplace culture and drive better business outcomes.

For the second year running, Fast Track has achieved a remarkable Trust Index™ score of 91%, earning certification for both its offices in Malta and Sweden. This impressive Trust Index score places Fast Track thirty-three points above the average work experience and amongst the very best workplaces in Europe and Sweden – a country with an earned reputation for its commitment to creating a supportive, balanced, and equitable work environment that values employee well-being, safety, and engagement.

The certification reinforces Fast Track’s position as a world-class employer, as well as its commitment to providing an exceptional workplace experience for all employees globally. Commenting on this achievement, Chief People Officer at Fast Track Jenny Arnell states;

“Building on last year’s exceptional Trust Index results was no small feat. We understood that maintaining such a high score during our rapid growth presented a real challenge. Since last year, we’ve navigated expected ‘growth’ challenges to our culture and organisation, and we have placed extra effort to keep our focus on our shared vision and values, as well as finding strategies to meet capacity needs. Although we have hired a lot of people and grown the teams significantly, the results remain incredible, highlighting the value return of our commitment to culture, trust, and employee engagement. We’re motivated to keep adapting our culture, maintain open communication, prioritise employee well-being, and focus on customer success while implementing scalable processes for our growing company.”

“Earning the Great Place To Work certification is a significant accomplishment which underscores consistent and deliberate commitment to providing an outstanding employee experience,” states Linda Löfman, senior consultant at Great Place to Work, Sweden.

“Achieving 91% on the Trust Index™ score is an impressive result which demonstrates unwavering dedication to creating an exceptional workplace experience. This remarkable achievement, coupled with their 100% response rate, is a testament to an exceptional level of employee engagement. Earning this designation means that Fast Track is one of the best companies to work for in Sweden and Malta.”

Great Place to Work’s research has consistently shown that high-trust organizations with strong camaraderie outperform their peers and have lower turnover rates, making camaraderie not just a “nice-to-have” but a strategic imperative for organizational success. Fast Track’s remarkable camaraderie score is a celebration of the company’s ability to protect the vision, create clarity and provide direction to internal teams.

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DreamHack Winter 2023 Opens in Jönköping

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Dreamhack Winter 2023, presented by ESL FACEIT Group and partner Elgiganten, opened its doors at the Elmia Congress Center in Jönköping, Sweden. Taking place from today until November 26 (LAN November 23-26), 2023, DreamHack Winter is an immersive gaming lifestyle festival offering attendees an extraordinary experience where the gaming community comes to life.

Highlights from day one include the stunning opening ceremony welcoming attendees from across the globe to DreamHack Winter, bass-blasting live music acts, and nail-biting first tournaments across esports championships such as the Brawl Stars World Finals and ESL R1, as well as meet-and-greets, tabletop gaming, cosplaying, and much more.

DreamHack Opening Ceremony
Attendees for day one were treated to an eye-watering introduction to Jönköping, as a spectacular light show lit up the halls of DreamHack Winter.

The World Famous LAN Party Kicks Off
DreamHack veterans and newcomers set up their spaces ready to take part in the iconic LAN event, which will see attendees set up their computer (or console) for a weekend of non-stop gaming. Guests also have the opportunity to jump into the Fortnite Battle Royale Duos LAN tournament, which is set to run across all three days, with a $10,000 prize pool up for grabs.

Turn Up The Volume With Live Musical Acts
The first day of DreamHack Winter concluded with four stellar musical performances on the live stage, as guests soaked up the atmosphere and danced the night away. Opening with a jaw-dropping performance from Tiktok star Bell, the fun continued with electrifying LBSB and WastedPenguinz, and Frontliner wrapping up the first night of DreamHack Winter with his intense basslines.

ESL Challenger Begin With A Series Of Nail-Biting Matches
Eight of the world’s best Counter-Strike teams delivered their best performance during the first day of DreamHack Winter, with their eyes on a share of the $100,000 prize pool and qualification for the next EPT event: ESL Pro League Season 19. Monte and MIBR proceed to the semi finals, with 3DMAX the first to be eliminated.

Group A
1 Monte 2-0 26-13 13
2 Nouns Esports 1-1 21-24 -3
3 Eternal Fire 0-1 11-13 -2
3 TYLOO 0-1 5-13 -8
Group B
1 MIBR 2-0 38-31 7
2 GamerLegion 1-1 39-46 -7
2 Virtus.pro 1-1 35-34 1
4 3DMAX 0-2 42-43 -1

An Epic Clash Reigned Over The Brawl Stars World Finals
Day one of DreamHack Winter marked the introduction of the Brawl Stars World Finals, which saw Group Stage Part One commence. Attendees witnessed incredible performances from Reply Totem and Navi, as teams battled it out in the hopes of taking away a piece of the eye-watering $750,000 prize pool.

ESL R1 Fall Major Accelerates Off The Start Line
The top 24 drivers from the ESL R1 season took to the track, competing against one another in a series of nail-biting races before the final 12 drivers were selected to attend tomorrow for the final day of the Fall Major. All drivers showcased phenomenal performances, with Sebastian “Sebi” Job from G2 at the top of the leaderboard, securing a spot in the finals alongside the other top 10 drivers from the day.

 

Creator Hub Highlights
The Creator Hub returns to DreamHack Winter with all-new ways for fans to interact with their favourite stars. This year, the area will be home to numerous fun activities, each involving the audience and creators alike. Whether it be playing Red Light, Green Light with MatildaLindroth, LativeGamer & TuggoTacco, or Dodgeball with Nicoleboojie & RelicKris – you won’t be strapped for games and interactions to jump into. Here are just some of the creators attending DreamHack Winter:

  • Elajjaz
  • Kandyland
  • AnnieFuchsia
  • NymN
  • MissMikkaa

Exciting Events Still To Come At DreamHack Winter…
The fun continues across the weekend at DreamHack Winter, with a plethora of activities for attendees to dive into. Visitors can expect a catwalk competition at the DreamHack Cosplay Championship on Saturday, the chance to meet even more content creators such as f0rest, a reprieve from the show floor in the iconic Retro Arcade Area or Tabletop Arena, and much more.

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Kindred Observes Safer Gambling Week

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Kindred has shown its commitment to responsible gambling during the Safer Gambling Week. During the European Safer Gambling Week 2023 (13-19 November), Kindred pushed stakeholder collaboration in Sweden, arranging two workshops on responsible gambling with a broad group of stakeholders. The company also participated in a responsible gambling seminar and hosted a start-up meeting for a match-fixing project headed by the Swedish Gambling Authority.

The European Safer Gambling Week was a busy time for Kindred’s Swedish team, continuing local outreach efforts following a successful RG roundtable discussion at the Almedalen political week earlier this year. During Safer Gambling Week, Kindred and the treatment centre Spelfriheten invited influential stakeholders to a follow-up session at the Kindred Stockholm office. The week coincided with the Swedish regulator’s bi-annual responsible gambling forum for public agencies and organisations, where Kindred and Spelfriheten had the honour to contribute by leading a workshop session.

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Delasport Partners with Bejoynd to Elevate Sports Betting in the Nordics

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Award-winning iGaming supplier Delasport is partnering up with Swedish B2B platform provider Bejoynd to elevate sports betting in the Nordics by introducing Delasport’s fully featured Plug & Play Sportsbook solution to local operators.

The iFrame solution will be integrated into the Swedish provider’s platform, supplying their existing and new customers with an intuitive ready-to-use sportsbook.

The two B2B companies plan on going beyond the Nordic market in the near future, pursuing other regulated jurisdictions as well.

 

Plug & Play iFrame Solution

Delasport’s Plug & Play iFrame solution is marking huge success this year, including winning awards on an international level. What makes it so well-recognized is the huge number of advantages it has for casino operators. They are able to add a fully featured sportsbook to their business with ease. It’s as simple as adding a slot provider and is the best fit for operators who want to enter the sports betting vertical fast. Moreover, Delaport’s distinctive approach of moving-beyond-content allows its licensees to stand out in the crowd by offering special features tuned to increase player retention, like Personalization, Engagement tools, and unique ways to bet.

This directly translates to new revenue streams and lower costs per acquisition. Additionally, operators can benefit from fully managed trading and risk management from some of the most experienced traders in the industry.

 

Opinions

‘Partnering with amazing professionals like Bejoynd is a great next step for us and a way to state our serious intentions for the Nordic market’, says Delasport’s VP of Business Development, Rosaire Galea Cavallaro. ‘We’re looking forward to entering even more regulated markets with them and help as many casino operators as possible to benefit from a brand new vertical, but more importantly entering markets where we drive the power of diversity in a space where the majority offer similar content.’

Bejoynd’s team shares the excitement. The Swedish provider’s CEO, Fredrik Cedell also comments on the agreement:

‘We are extremely proud of the robust platform we provide and how flexible it is in terms of integrations. The partnership with Delasport proves just that: we are always looking for ways to provide more opportunities for our customers. This is why we’re so happy to be able to offer Delasport’s Plug & Play iFrame solution to the operators who trust us with their business.’

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Ela Games Approved for B2B Sweden License

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ELA Games, a leading casino games provider to the regulated online gambling industry, is delighted to announce that it has been granted a B2B license in the key strategic market of Sweden.

Getting licensed by the Swedish Gambling Authority is another important stage in ELA Games’ strategic expansion across major European markets and the company looks forward to launching its casino games with the leading content aggregators in Sweden.

ELA Games will be building on this initial first step with new partnerships with licensed operators in Sweden.

‍Michael Cini, Business Owner at ELA Games, commented: “Being licensed in Sweden is a tremendous opportunity to continue our expansion across Europe’s regulated markets. We look forward to providing our games to Swedish players and working in close cooperation with the SGA and the many top level operators as we position ourselves as a key content provider in the market.”

As a games development studio, ELA Games focuses on producing high quality products that are stacked with strong gamification features, quality design and animation such as Vikings Wild Cash and Cash of Gods. They have already received amazing feedback from Swedish stakeholders and the studio looks forward to signing more partnerships and launching more games in the coming months.

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BOS approves equalization of AML fines if set at lower level

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In a referral reply, Swedish BOS approves the Ministry of Finance’s proposal that AML fines should be equated with fines according to the Gambling Act. To date, AML fines have been significantly lower than fines for other violations that gambling companies may be guilty of. BOS points out, however, that in the future, according to a decision in the Supreme Administrative Court from last spring, fines related to gambling companies must be based on Gross Gaming Revenue and not turnover, which should lead to fines imposed being determined at a significantly lower level than until now.

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The Mill Adventure Awarded New Swedish B2B License

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The Mill Adventure secured the new B2B license required by the Swedish Gambling Authority (SGA), enabling the company to continue supplying its iGaming platform to licensed operators in Sweden.

The application process for the new licenses — strengthening SGA’s efforts to combat illegal gambling and increase the protection of the industry and its consumers — has just opened for B2B suppliers on the 1st of March 2023. Acquiring the new license not only further solidifies The Mill Adventure’s competitive edge in regulatory compliance, but significantly boosts its influence across iGaming’s most dynamic markets.

Commenting on this key development, Bjørnar Heggernes, Commercial Director at The Mill Adventure, said, “As more markets move towards increased regulations, we take pride in our team’s compliance expertise and our platform’s adaptability to ever-evolving laws and requirements across jurisdictions.”

“We already have a strong presence in Sweden. This new license, together with our in-depth experience in the market, opens up bigger opportunities for us to help enrich the Swedish iGaming landscape, as well as step up our strategies for growth there.”

The new Swedish B2B license joins The Mill Adventure’s current licenses and platform certifications in highly-competitive iGaming markets such as Germany, Georgia, the Netherlands, Romania, and Malta, with further market entries set to follow.

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Lady Luck Games Successfully Obtains Swedish Supplier License

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Lady Luck Games, a renowned provider of captivating and innovative casino games, is delighted to announce that it has been granted a Swedish gambling license by the SGA Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen).

This significant achievement marks an important milestone for the company as it expands its presence in the Swedish market and reinforces its commitment to providing exceptional gaming experiences to players in Sweden.

With the newly-acquired Swedish gambling license, Lady Luck Games can now offer its exciting portfolio of casino games to players in Sweden. This regulatory approval showcases the company’s dedication to compliance and responsible gaming practices, ensuring a safe and secure environment for Swedish players to enjoy their gaming activities.

“We are thrilled to receive our Swedish gambling license, enabling us to bring our innovative and immersive casino games to the Swedish market,” the Chief Executive Officer for Lady Luck Games, Mads Jørgensen said. “This license is a testament to our dedication to compliance, responsible gaming and delivering top-notch entertainment experiences to our valued players.”

Lady Luck Games is committed to upholding the highest standards of player protection, responsible gaming practices and regulatory compliance. The Swedish gambling license enables the company to offer its cutting-edge slot games including popular titles like Popeye, Astro Anna, Spinjoy Megaways, Treasures of Tizoc and many more to Swedish players. With a diverse range of themes, exciting features and engaging gameplay mechanics, Lady Luck Games provides an unparalleled gaming experience tailored to the preferences of Swedish players.

“We look forward to serving our customers in Sweden and extending our warmest welcome to all players who are fans of Lady Luck Games,” the Chief Commercial Officer for Lady Luck Games, Julian Borg-Barthet, said. “Our Swedish gambling license opens up new opportunities for growth and allows us to deliver exceptional entertainment to a wider audience. We are dedicated to continuously enhancing our games and providing innovative experiences that captivate and thrill our players.”

the-swedish-igaming-industry-in-2030:-the-experts-predict-the-future

The Swedish iGaming Industry in 2030: The Experts Predict the Future

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It has now been five years since Sweden re-regulated its online casino market. In this qualitative study, Jonas Virtanen at Slotsoo interviewed people with different roles in the industry. From a researcher, an operator and an affiliate, to a writer and a veteran player. Here is how the experts think the Swedish iGaming Market will look like in 2030.

The participants in the study:
*         Romix Limited – Casino Operator
*         Anders Nilsson – Gambling Researcher
*         Pelle Rylander – Veteran Player
*         Johan Hansson – Expert Writer
*         Maria Johnsson – Affiliate Marketer

The participants were selected to get as wide perspective from Sweden’s iGaming industry as possible. The study, Den Svenska Spelbranschen 2030, was conducted in Swedish and the interview questions were sent out via e-mail in May. The selected were given one month to answer and the participation rate for the study was 35%. Here is a translated version of the study for the international audience.

The Channelization Rate Highly Dependent on Government Actions

The industry agrees that the government’s actions is what will affect the channelization rate the most. Although opinions differ regarding what direction the development will go.

The casino operator Romix Limited says that everything depends on whether licensed operators will be given the opportunity to compete under the same conditions as operators without the Swedish license. By easing the requirements for casinos with a license and giving the Spelinspektionen more muscle to fight unlicensed alternatives, the state can get more and more players to stick to the local license.

Some respondents such as the writer Johan Hansson are optimistic that this will happen. He highlights that it will always be easier to play on Swedish casinos, thanks to familiar payment methods and Swedish-language support, and therefore believes that the channelization rate will be at least 80% in 2030.

Game researcher Anders Nilsson points out that there are two different ways of calculating the degree of channelization (turnover or people) and that it is important to distinguish between them in discussions. According to him, there will always be people who want to play at foreign casinos but with the right strategy there can be a marginal improvement.

Other respondents believe that it is more likely that gambling at casinos without a Swedish license will increase in the next seven years. This is how Pelle Rylander, who has been an active casino player for many years, answers:

“The fact that about 75% play at Swedish licensed casinos is said to be because they choose safety over bonuses and loyalty programs, which I think is pure propaganda from the state. Were Mr Green, Betsson and the others less reliable when their license was from Malta? When people realize that ‘unlicensed’ casinos are as safe as the Swedish ones, more and more people will turn to them.”

The Majority Believe that Sweden Will Have More Relaxed Bonus Rules in 2030

Only gambling researcher Anders Nilsson believes that Sweden will not let go of its bonus restriction (one bonus per player per license holder). Maria Johnsson, Johan Hansson and Pelle Rylander instead predict that the state will have to relax the rules in order to keep the players.

Romix Limited, which operates Betinia, Campobet and YoYo Casino, is critical of the current limitation of ‘one bonus per license’. The rule is not good for the gaming experience and causes Swedes to search for new sites. Since this bonus restriction does not exist in other countries, it also gives foreign sites a big advantage.

Many players are also unaware that the limit applies per license holder and the operator often receives complaints from disappointed customers who thought they could get a welcome bonus per site despite the company being clear about the limitation in its bonus terms.

Romix Limited is asking politicians and decision-makers to review the bonus restrictions and develop a continued responsible, but less restrictive, model. More bonuses, with reasonable restrictions on, for example, wagering requirements would improve the players’ experience.

Johan Hansson goes along the same lines and reminds that not all casino bonus types are equal from a responsible gambling perspective:

“It’s not the bonuses that create gambling addiction, it’s the VIP and loyalty programs. It would be good to review the system so that Swedish casinos have the opportunity to offer more deposit bonuses but not based on how much you played for. I think we will see more bonuses in 2030 to keep Swedish players on the Swedish market.”

The Swedish Casino Drought Is Predicted to Continue

It has been a long time since Sweden saw new casinos being launched and the respondents agree that this drought will continue. Johan Hansson does not believe that there will be any significant difference in the number of licensed gambling companies before there are relaxations in the bonus rules.

Pelle Rylander predicts that the number of casinos will decrease slightly around New Year’s when many of the operators’ licenses expire. He guesses that in 2030 there will only be 45 to 50 operators left (in June of 2023 the number was 57). Maria Johnsson follows a similar train of thought and mentions that so far only one new casino has been launched in 2023 and that was from Svenska Spel.

Romix Limited sees two trends that even out the numbers. On one hand, more and more operators choose to obtain separate licenses for their various casino sites. But on the other hand, there is a continued consolidation of the gambling market happening through mergers and acquisitions while the fierce competition is forcing some players to leave the market.

Anders Nilsson also does not believe that many completely new players will appear, either on the operator or supplier front, precisely because of today’s competitive situation with some very strong players.

The industry is sceptical of the new license requirement for game providers, which the government introduced with the aim of making unlicensed casinos less attractive. Johan Hansson believes that it could have the opposite effect in case many game providers choose to skip Sweden in the future. Maria Johnsson also predicts possible loopholes to escape the requirement:

“It all depends on how well Spelinspektionen will ensure that the rules are followed and how far the Swedish law’s tentacles extend to foreign casinos that do not target the Swedish market. Perhaps game providers will create separate subsidiaries so that they can continue to offer everyone’s favorite games abroad without having to fear sanctions.”

The Sale of Svenska Spel Is Unlikely but Not Impossible

The industry has long pressured the state to sell Svenska Spel’s online casino and sports betting division. The mood ahead of 2030 is cautiously hopeful among the study participants. Romix Limited mentions that everything is for sale at the right price but that there will not be a deal in the near future given that Svenska Spel delivers a steady income to its owners.

Pelle Rylander also believes that the state will stick to its cash cow. He replies that a sale seems remote given that in the Spring they launched the new brand Momang casino. Maria Johnsson agrees and believes that Svenska Spel will maintain its position as number one for many years to come.

Johan Hansson believes that it is problematic for the state to run its own online casino operation at the same time that they are legislators and rule makers. He therefore believes that Svenska Spel will sell its competitive operations before the end of the decade. Anders Nilsson believes that much depends on the winners in the next general election:

“Whether parts of Svenska Spel are sold or not depends largely on political priorities. It is, after all, a profitable state-owned company whose income must then be taken from somewhere else. If the current constellation continues even after the next election, it is probably not at all impossible that it will be sold.”

The Industry’s Final Warning: Don’t Regulate the Market Too Hard

In the study’s final open question, the interviewed were allowed to come up with free speculations about how the gaming industry will change by the year 2030.

Anders Nilsson guesses that Spelinspektionen will be more eager to hand out fines in its fight to improve the channelization. He also believes that lawmakers will look more closely at affiliate advertising and other areas not currently covered by gambling laws. In addition, he mentions that in the future we will see more research based on actual data from the casino operators.

Maria Johnsson also believes that the gambling affiliate business will be put under the microscope in the coming years. Her prediction is also that LiveSpins will be launched in Sweden. (This new way of playing involves joining a live streamer’s game session and then you can spin slots and chat together).

Pelle Rylander speculates that the licensed gaming companies will find new ways to sneak around the bonus restrictions, similar to casino exclusive jackpots and free tournaments that some companies already offer today. He also believes that we will see artificial intelligence (AI) used to a greater extent to interpret and analyze player habits.

Johan Hansson, in turn, predicts that more rules will be introduced against AI. He also says that there is a risk that the state will regulate so hard that the companies choose to leave Sweden. Romix Limited has similar predictions and urges policy makers to think carefully before imposing even more restrictions:

“We would imagine that given the current, somewhat negative, political climate surrounding online gambling that can also be observed in other countries could lead to further restrictions being introduced. For example, when it comes to restrictions on the marketing of gambling. We do hope that policy makers will see the benefits of encouraging having an attractive, competitive and vibrant market that seeks to retain players within the safe and stable license system.”