Online gambling regulations published in Peru

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

 Summit powered by Soft2Bet, will take place in Budapest from 2-4 September 2024.

(SGHC), the company behind and Spin casinos, announced on 27 June 2024 that they will start paying cash dividends to their shareholders. 

The company plans to pay at least $0.10 per share on 17 July 2024. To qualify for this first distribution, shareholders must have held stock as of the close of business on 8 July. 

“Declaring a dividend shows our confidence in the company and our ongoing strength. We are especially pleased to be able to return capital to our shareholders, while looking to maintain our opportunities for growth.” - Super Group's CEO Neal Menashe.

Super Group committed to shareholder returns by pledging a minimum annual dividend of $0.10 per share from this year forward. However, the board of directors may approve higher payouts based on the company’s performance. This approach allows Super Group to balance rewarding shareholders and allocating resources for other strategic growth activities.  

Super Group is actively considering an upgrade to its dividend programme. The company is evaluating the transition to a quarterly dividend structure by the beginning of 2025 (subject to final board approval). This potential shift would allow investors to receive dividend payments four times a year, significantly increasing the frequency of payouts.  

A move to quarterly dividends could significantly enhance the attractiveness of Super Group stock, particularly for income-oriented investors seeking a steady flow of returns. This potential change emphasises Super Group’s long-term commitment to maximising shareholder value and confidence in generating consistent profitability.  

The launch of this dividend programme shows a significant event for Super Group. This strategic decision strengthens investor relations by demonstrating a commitment to sharing the company’s success with their shareholders. Additionally, the potential shift to quarterly payouts could attract new stakeholders to participate in Super Group’s ongoing growth. Overall, this announcement marks a positive development for Super Group and their stakeholders. 

WHAT’S NEXT: powered by Soft2Bet, happening in Budapest from 2 – 4 September. 

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has recently released a comprehensive guidance manual for reporting Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) proceedings. This equips licensees with detailed instructions on the requirements and procedures for submitting monthly ADR reports via the on the MGA website.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is a process that allows disputes to be settled outside of court with the help of an impartial entity. This process includes methods such as mediation, arbitration, and conciliation. ADR is particularly valuable as it offers a less formal, often more expedient, and cost-effective resolution mechanism compared to traditional court proceedings.

In 2018, the Malta Gaming Authority issued the Alternative Dispute Resolution Directive: iGaming companies operating in Malta are required to inform players about the procedures for filing a complaint and how to escalate it to an ADR entity that will assist them free of charge.

Operators are also mandated to report each dispute referred to an ADR entity, along with the outcomes, to the MGA. The MGA's newly released manual on reporting states: "The Authority shall be notified that a dispute has been referred to an ADR entity by the 20th of the following month together with the monthly report on player funds and details the information that shall be submitted to the Authority, including the details of the parties involved as well as the subject matter of the dispute. B2C licensees are also obliged to notify the Authority of the outcome of the dispute with the submission of the following monthly report on player funds."

SiGMA has launched its own platform to assist players with gambling disputes involving licensed operators. The service is offered free of charge to players, while operators pay a fixed monthly fee. Using its extensive experience in the iGaming industry, SiGMA was able to develop an user-friendly and trustworthy platform to help players with their disputes.

Mex Emini, CTO of SiGMA Group and MD of SiGMA Play, explains: "During our efforts to assist players with their gambling disputes, our main goal is to connect them with operators and contribute to the creation of stronger relationships. This is also what we do during our events — connecting people. This is our biggest mission."

 Summit powered by Soft2Bet, will take place in Budapest from 2-4 September 2024.

Macau's gross gaming revenue (GGR) for June dropped to MOP17.7 billion (€2 billion), marking a 12.4 percent decline from May's MOP20.19 billion (€2.34 billion), according to the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ). This represents the lowest monthly total since November 2023.  

Despite the month-on-month decrease, June's GGR reflected a 16.4 percent increase from the same period last year. However, it is still significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels, showing a 25.7 percent decrease from the MOP23.8 billion (€2.76 billion) reported in June 2019.  

In the first half of 2024, Macau's casino GGR reached MOP113.8 billion (€13.20 billion), a 41.9 percent increase compared to the previous year. However, this figure remains 23.9 percent below the MOP149.50 billion (€17.35 billion) recorded during the same period in 2019.  

Analysts attribute the decline in June's GGR to several factors, including the seasonal post- “May Day” holiday slowdown and the impact of the UEFA Euro 2024 football tournament. Additionally, a low VIP win rate in Macau's casinos contributed to the lower revenue.  

Meanwhile, in June, brokerage firm CLSA its GGR forecast for Macau to MOP239.9 billion (€27.8 billion) in 2024.  

June only had the Dragon Boat Festival on June 10th as a public holiday, insufficient to sustain higher gaming revenues. Investment banks have also pointed out that the ongoing Euro 2024 matches influenced the decrease in gaming activities.   

Last week, Macau’s set a goal to attract 33 million visitors in 2024, marking a nearly 17 percent increase from 2023. Helena de Senna Fernandes, Head of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), said this optimistic projection is driven by China’s expansion of the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS), which now includes 10 additional Chinese cities.  

While Macau's GGR shows signs of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the monthly fluctuations highlight ongoing challenges. The significant year-on-year increase is a positive indicator, but the revenue is still below pre-pandemic levels, underscoring the need for continued monitoring of market conditions and external factors. 

Upcoming SiGMA event: Click  to find out all about SiGMA East Europe powered by Soft2Bet happening in Budapest, September 2024.