Wire EMEA
French MP Tables Online Casino Bill
A five-year moratorium has been proposed which would preserve the sovereignty of French casinos, before opening up to competition in 2030.
While French casinos have been demanding the legalisation for several years through their unions, MP Philippe Latombe is looking to make it happen.
FRANCE LEGISLATION
Sweden - Altenar granted B2B licence Altenar has been granted a B2B licence by the Swedish regulator. The announcement sees Altenar extend its footprint in a European market and demonstrates Altenar’s global reach as it adds a Swedish licence to its licence portfolio.
“We’ve undergone a rigorous evaluation process and have demonstrated our commitment to upholding the highest standards of quality, security, and responsible gaming,” said Marina Zacharopoulou, Technical Compliance Manager. “Altenar remains dedicated to maintaining its reputation as a trusted and reliable provider of gaming software.”
UK - Betsson integrates SIS esports SIS has agreed a deal with Betsson to supply its esports betting product, Competitive Gaming, to the operator. The operator has integrated the supplier’s full end-to-end solution.
SIS’ Dave Richardson said: “We are delighted that our esports offering is being trusted by another highly respected operator, which is a testament to the hard work that has gone into developing such a robust product proven to drive engagement.”
Holland - PopOK set for iGB Live! event PopOK Gaming is heading to IGB Live! in Amsterdam from 11-14 July with several new novelty games and solutions on Stand M70. The main highlight of PopOk Gaming’s catalogue is the first-ever episodic slot game, KingCraft, which sets a new standard in the industry. It places a strong emphasis on storytelling and engages players to unravel the plot.
UK - Merkur acquires Rainbow Casino Merkur has chosen Scotland to open its first casino in the UK after completing the acquisition of an existing venue in Aberdeen. Its purchase of Rainbow Casino on Summer Street has been hailed as a milestone for the group and will safeguard around 40 jobs in the local area. The casino is still in full operation and will officially reopen to the public on June 23. Merkur already runs 225 bingo and gaming centres across the UK.
Mark Schertle, Chief Operating Officer for Merkur Casino UK, said: “We’re really excited to be opening our first casino venue in the UK and what better place to choose than Aberdeen. The city has a vibrant night-time economy, provides the perfect location to launch this new arm of our business and will successfully complement our portfolio of over 225 high street bingo and adult gaming centres across the UK.
“It will also be a welcome addition to our existing Merkur Slots venue on Union Street in Aberdeen, safeguard jobs and reinforce our continued investment in the local high street.”
P12 WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS
Te deputy for the first constituency of Vendée, MP Philippe Latombe, has tabled a bill aimed at authorising casino operators to offer online casino games. Quoting the ANJ, which estimates between 1.4 and 2.2 million players use illicit online casinos, the MoDem deputy suggests a five-year moratorium which would preserve the sovereignty of French casinos by allowing them to set up an innovative offer before opening up to competition on January 1, 2030.
“Online casinos exist, but have no legal status in France, while our compatriots play there, these sites are operated abroad and therefore carry out their activity outside of any control,” explained Mr. Latombe.
“Tus taking into account the current evolution of the gambling sector and the fact that the French are indulging in online betting anyway, this bill makes it possible to establish a legal framework which secures the players, the game and ensures State control over the resources it can draw from it. It thus contributes to filling a legal void that encourages abuses.”
Under the proposed bill, the marketing, commissioning and maintenance would be
carried out under the responsibility of supply and maintenance companies.
Te two employers’ unions of casinos remain cautious on the proposal, which they know is slippery. Te president of ACIF is not hostile to the five-year moratorium surrounding the proposal tabled at the Palais-Bourbon and offers operational exclusivity for this period to land operators with a licence in the territory, noting that ‘the market offers a preponderant place to the first arrivals. It’s always more complicated for new entrants, however powerful they may be.’
Philippe Bon, General Delegate of Casinos de France, the other employers’ union, is more circumspect. describing the period as ‘too short’ before adding that many members consider the taxation associated with the ‘project’ unappropriate, rendering it unprofitable.
With regard to the bill and its parliamentary course, Philippe Latombe was cautious: “A text of law, however good it may be, is dependent on the legislative calendar where it can find its place to be discussed. Above all, I tabled this bill to give visibility to the proposed system.”
Belgium Betsson acquires betFIRST in Belgian push
Betsson has bought Belgian sports betting and gaming operator, betFIRST. Betsson has agreed to acquire all shares in the betFIRST Group with a total up-front consideration of the acquisition of €117m on a cash and debt-free basis, payable in cash. In addition, Betsson may pay up to €3m as earn out, subject to delivery on certain agreed financial targets.
Te initial consideration for the acquisition is equivalent to a multiple of 10.0x betFIRST’s estimated EBITDA for the financial year 2023. Established in 2011, betFIRST is a leading B2C operator in the locally regulated online gaming market in Belgium, offering sports betting and dice games. In addition to the online business, the company also operates across approximately 450 points of sale in Belgium and also owns a gaming arcade.
Simultaneously, Betsson and Groupe Partouche, the publicly
listed French casino operator, have announced a new strategic partnership in order to offer online casino services in regulated markets.
A first joint online casino offering should be launched in Belgium during 2023, subject to officially obtaining the required licenses. Tese two strategic initiatives are fully aligned with Betsson’s ambitions to deliver profitable growth, with a preference for growth in locally regulated markets in the long term.
Both moves provide Betsson with significant access to the competitive Belgian market, a further diversified geographical footprint and an increased share of revenue from locally regulated markets. Betsson intends to continue operating the betFIRST sports betting business as it is today whilst also exploring potential synergies in the mid-to- long term.
Holland
Greentube, the NOVOMATIC Digital Gaming and Entertainment division, has taken its games catalogue live in the regulated Dutch market with operator bet365.
Te portfolio now available to players at bet365 Games includes a range of casino classics, including Book of Ra deluxe, Sizzling Hot deluxe and Always Hot. Tese titles complement digital conversions of AWP titles which have proven popular in the local market, while players seeking a new experience can enjoy Random Runner 15, Simply Wilder and Super Random Flashback.
Te direct integration of content into the bet365 Games platform represents the latest milestone within a long-standing agreement with the operator and serves to further increase Greentube’s presence in the Netherlands.
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