How to launch your own casino – Interview with A. Gabidullin, CBDO of Extendy

turned its spotlight on Jonas Warrer, the forward-thinking CEO of He discussed the company’s rebranding of GiG Media to Gentoo that involved a new name, logo and visual identity, while maintaining the same team and brands. The company is operating under the name Gentoo and aims to create a uniform identity and culture.

Warrer, (pictured above), with his extensive background in innovation and business development, is a leader who truly encapsulates the diverse aspects of modern-day leadership. He exudes a palpable enthusiasm that is infectious. His affable and approachable demeanour, coupled with an evident passion for the industry, not only makes him a likable figure but inspires those around him. This charismatic style is evidently a driving force behind Gentoo’s innovative strides in the industry.

The official separation of the company is scheduled for the latter half of 2024. The transformation is not just a change in name and logo, but a massive step to creating a cohesive identity and culture under the Gentoo banner. Warrer explained how despite these changes, the team and brands remain the same, ensuring continuity.

Jonas Warrer . It is a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening the business. He has had comprehensive discussions with partners and employees to identify the core characteristics required for the business. These values and attributes are now embodied in the new brand, which he believes will serve as a catalyst to enhance operations. Warrer is confident that this rebranding will make the business structure more robust, offering substantial advantages to shareholders and instilling confidence in the future prospects of Gentoo.

The balance between tradition and innovation is a key aspect of Warrer’s leadership strategy at Gentoo. He went on to share his approach to maintaining the company's authenticity while also encouraging innovation. He expressed his commitment to preserving Gentoo’s core values, which are rooted in humility, drive, and collaboration. Warrer said that he actively strives to engage with as many individuals within the company as possible, fostering collaboration both within and between teams. By adhering to these values and promoting teamwork, he believes that Gentoo can generate new ideas and propel the business forward.

Warrer further elaborated that the name Gentoo is a nod to the Rebel Penguin origins, embodying qualities of agility, resilience, and a trailblazing spirit. This heritage will persist in influencing the company’s ethos, promoting a climate of innovation, flexibility, and a defiant approach to industry obstacles. Gentoo’s business strategies will reflect these principles, with a focus on inventiveness, and a ceaseless quest for excellence. This harmonious blend of respecting the past while fearlessly embracing the future is a defining characteristic of Gentoo’s identity.

When asked how Gentoo is preparing for the challenges that may arise from the company split, Warrer indicated that the company has been preparing for this transition for a long time and that the two companies have already separated. However, he added, “it is of course vital for us to ensure a smooth transition and maintain high quality operations”. He agreed that the company will face many challenges, particularly in transitioning corporate and support functions from a centralized setup to the two new business units. Warrer carried on to say how, after parting ways with the Gaming Innovation Group, Gentoo now has a strategic plan to maintain its competitive edge. He acknowledged the effort and dedication required for successful rebranding. He also highlighted the significant support Gentoo received for its planned split from investors, partners, and employees. He believes it reflects the strong relationships and trust that Gentoo has nurtured over the years with its stakeholders.

The focus is on enhancing the company’s affiliate business and perpetuating the strong organic growth that the company experienced in recent years.

Warrer recognises the importance of technology and Business Intelligence (BI) in staying competitive. The company’s intention is to continue investing in these areas to strengthen proprietary media and the marketing platform, as well as unique BI. By increasing the understanding of data, Gentoo aims to deliver even more impressive results in the future.

Over the past 12 months, Gentoo made three significant Ask Gamblers, KaFe Rocks, and most recently, Casinomeister. These acquisitions were strategic fits, aimed at maintaining Gentoo’s pole position in casino affiliation and furthering its diversification strategy.

Warrer says that the Casinomeister acquisition, although it may have appeared unexpected, was too good an opportunity to pass up. Going forward, Gentoo plans to focus on integrating the last two companies it acquired and building on the progress made with Ask Gamblers.

Warrer also highlighted Gentoo’s impressive financial performance with 13 successive quarters of all-time high revenue. Specifically, on 7 May, 2024, for Q1, GiG Media reported revenues at an all-time high of €28.0 million, a significant increase of 52 percent (21 percent organic) from €18.4 million. The EBITDA for the same period was €13.5 million, up from €8 million. Furthermore, First Time Deposits (FTDs) for GiG Media were 125,100, up 13 percent year-over-year (YoY) from 110,800.

Warrer also discussed the company’s strategic plans. The business is operationally ready for the formal split of Media and Platform & Sportsbook. This split is expected to take place by Q3 2024, pending approvals and further demonstrating Gentoo’s commitment to transparency and shareholder communication.

Age: 46 years
Family: Wife and two kids age 10 and 14
Education: Master Science Management of Innovation and Business Development from Copenhagen Business School
Last holiday: Greece "(my favourite place to go)"
Best advice: Assume most people know more than you do
Relaxation: Fixing things in the house and garden

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A collaborative operation by police forces from Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau has dismantled a major cross-border illegal gambling syndicate. Macau Judiciary Police said the operation, which culminated in the arrest of 93 individuals, targeted a sophisticated network involved in online gambling activities. Among those apprehended were key figures and masterminds, with authorities seizing over MOP8 million (€925,507) in various currencies.  

The development follows China’s efforts to crack down on illegal cross-border gambling. Earlier this year, 93 people were in China’s southwestern province. According to local reports, the syndicate network had an operation from the Philippines, and it is targeting Chinese gamblers.  

According to local media reports, the syndicate which has been active since 2016, conducted transactions totalling at least MOP1 billion (€115.6 million). During the crackdown, police discovered that the syndicate utilised overseas servers to host websites for betting on football and basketball games, offering attractive odds to lure gamblers. The operation involved simultaneous raids across Macau, Cotai, and Coloane, resulting in the confiscation of significant amounts of cash, mobile phones, computers, and other evidence.  

Investigations revealed that four members of the syndicate are currently incarcerated for a money laundering case, while another four are suspects in an illegal gambling case. Evidence from a 2022 money laundering investigation linked these imprisoned members to ongoing illegal gambling activities, prompting further scrutiny and intelligence gathering. authorities also arrested 42 syndicate members, seizing RMB80 million (€10.2 million) in cash and freezing over 90 bank accounts.  

Meanwhile, Hong Kong police arrested a man in Tuen Mun who played a significant role in the syndicate, helping it receive over HKD8 million (€954,220) in wagers over nine months. Investigations revealed that during the Euro 2024, the syndicate received over MOP72 million (€8.3 million) per week through peripheral betting.  

Further investigations led to the discovery of a physical illegal gambling den in the commercial area of Areia Preta, Macau. Disguised as a coffee shop, the den operated irregularly to avoid detection, offering games like Texas Hold'em and mahjong, with dealers manipulating card arrangements. 

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Singapore, in its efforts to fight terrorism financing, is implementing stricter regulations for casinos. The updated measures, announced by the country's gambling regulatory body on the 1^st of June 2024, include a significant reduction in the threshold for conducting due diligence checks on cash deposits.

Under the new regulations, casinos in Singapore must now conduct due diligence checks for cash deposits of SGD 4,000 (approximately 2,744 euros) or more, down from the previous threshold of SGD 5,000 (3,430 euros). The Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) stated that this adjustment aligns Singapore’s requirements with those of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global watchdog on money laundering and terrorism financing.

The revised National Strategy for Countering the Financing of Terrorism, jointly published by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Ministry of Finance (MOF), and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), defines measures to identify, monitor, and mitigate terrorism financing risks.

Singapore's strategy focuses on key threats from terrorist groups such as ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and Jemaah Islamiyah, as well as potential impacts from conflicts. Authorities point out the risks posed by self-radicalised individuals and far-right extremism: “far-right extremism is also a growing security concern in many countries,” the authorities observed.

A few days ago, K. Shanmugam, Minister of Law and Home Affairs, declared that Singapore is "a very important target" for terrorists, citing recent attacks and arrests in the neighbouring country of Malaysia.

Lowering the due diligence threshold is a proactive step to align Singapore with the (FATF) standards. FATF, head-quartered in Paris, sets international benchmarks for combating money laundering and terrorism financing.

Singapore's adherence to these guidelines is essential to maintaining its reputation as a robust financial hub with high standards of financial integrity.

In December 2023, Singapore demonstrated its commitment by imposing a significant fine of SGD 2.25 million on Resorts World Sentosa for inadequate checks, marking the largest penalty ever imposed by GRA on a casino operator.

Singapore's updated National Strategy for Countering the Financing of Terrorism includes the Terrorism Financing National Risk Assessment, which provides a detailed analysis of current and emerging threats. This assessment identifies critical risk areas such as money remittance services, online fund-raising and new cross-border payment systems, as well as potential vulnerabilities in non-profit organisations and digital payment token services used for terrorism financing. The report stresses the need for ongoing vigilance and collaboration across sectors to effectively address these risks.

Judge Shepherd has upheld the Kentucky ban on popular "grey machines", skill games that offer cash payouts and were operating in a "grey" legal area. Some argue that these machines are games based on skill, but others declare that the element of chance present in these games ultimately makes them gambling machines or disguised slot machines.

The controversy around these machines peaked when Governor Andy Beshear signed House Bill 594 into law in 2023. This legislation ended the blurred distinction between games and gambling, making the operation of these devices illegal and imposing substantial fines on businesses and manufacturers that did not comply.

The legal battle began when Pace-O-Matic, a major operator with 2,500 machines in the state, challenged the law, arguing against its constitutionality and seeking to overturn the ban. While the company's machines across the state remain in small businesses, they are disabled, pending a final decision to remove them.

Pace-O-Matic argues that the ban is unconstitutional for several reasons, including violations of free speech, due process, equal protection, and separation of powers. It also claims the ban constitutes taking property without fair compensation.

The complaint states that skill games are a form of expression that communicates ideas through unique literary features and should be protected speech under the Kentucky Constitution.

Additionally, it contends that the ban unfairly targets certain electronic video-style skill games while allowing similar devices used in e-sports or .

Judge Shepherd's decision sided with Attorney General Russell Coleman, who vigorously defended the law as necessary to protect Kentucky's families and children from potential social harms associated with unregulated gambling. Coleman praised the bipartisan effort of the legislature in passing the bill.

The ruling addressed several key arguments from opponents of the ban, including claims that the law violated free speech rights and unfairly targeted specific industries. Judge Shepherd's comprehensive 52-page ruling dismissed these claims, affirming that the legislature had the authority to regulate gambling activities to protect public welfare.

Supporters of the ban, including House Speaker David Osborne, celebrated the decision as validation of the legislature's intent to fight illegal gambling practices. They argued that allowing these machines to operate without oversight could have led to expanded gambling across the state, potentially undermining existing regulatory frameworks.

In contrast, opponents of the ban, such as Pace-O-Matic and its legal representatives, expressed disappointment with the court's decision and indicated they were considering an appeal. They argued that the law unfairly targeted their industry and advocated for recognising these machines as legal "skill games" rather than gambling devices.

Earlier this year, in March, Virginia legislatures voted to unban skill games machines and regulate the market, stating that the tax revenue was much needed (grey machines are taxed at 25%) and that many small businesses depended on these machines to survive.