Relax Gaming debuts in Italy with major PokerStars launch

The panel discussion at the BIS SiGMA Americas Summit's Jardins stage kickstarted the event with a deep dive into the . Led by industry experts, the panel  offered a comprehensive view of the sector's potential for growth and innovation, emphasizing the key role of digital marketing in pushing the industry on the right track amidst a rapidly evolving landscape.

The engaging session started with Manuel Matos, CCO at Super Afiliados, highlighting BIS SiGMA Americas’ significance as a leading Latin American gathering. The discussion revolved around the evolution of online betting in Brazil, emphasising the shift from an unregulated to a thriving market. Júlia Boianovsky Rios, Customer Success Manager at Optimove, noted Brazil's rise to the top of the market for online betting, surpassing the UK in generating revenue.

Gabriel Moreira, CEO of Influx Solutions, underscored the rapid growth and evolution of the industry, attributing its success to various professionals' contributions and the pivotal role of marketing in driving conversions and brand visibility. Natalia Nogues, Partner & Director at ControlF5, emphasized the industry's evolution towards data-driven marketing strategies for enhanced customer acquisition and retention.

Fernando Garita, CEO of Betsul, discussed the challenges faced by operators amidst changing regulations, highlighting the importance of effective marketing strategies within a regulated framework. The panelists delved into the significance of responsible marketing practices and adherence to regulatory guidelines, particularly focusing on restrictions related to advertising content and audience targeting.

Brazil's gaming sector stands at the brink of significant change, with the Ministry of Finance establishing a roadmap for the ongoing regulatory procedures. A recent development, Ordinance SPA/MF nº 561, has laid out the regulatory structure for gaming activities in Brazil.

The gradual rollout of the regulatory plan, encompassing sports betting and iGaming, is set to begin this month and extend until July. The newly established Prizes and Betting Secretariat (SPA) will take charge of supervising this domain. The SPA has been assigned the responsibility of laying the foundation for sports betting, which will be introduced through a carefully planned four-stage process.

In conclusion, the panel laid a solid foundation for understanding the dynamic landscape of Brazil's online betting industry, emphasising the need for strategic marketing approaches, regulatory compliance, and continuous innovation to be on the right track in this rapidly expanding market.

Yesterday's Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, passed the first reading of a bill aimed at strengthening the state’s oversight over the gambling business. The bill, backed by 272 lawmakers, was introduced in May 2023 and is now one step closer to becoming law, pending a second reading and the president’s signature.

The proposed legislation comes at a time. A petition demanding restrictions on online gambling reached the president’s table in March, reflecting growing societal concern.

The bill proposes significant changes to the current regulatory framework. It suggests abolishing the Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries and transferring its responsibilities to the Digital Transformation Ministry. This move is expected to streamline the regulatory process and enhance oversight.

The legislation also includes measures to further restrict online gambling games and impose a ban on advertising. It outlines tools to safeguard particularly vulnerable categories of the population and proposes tightening business control measures. These steps are seen as crucial in mitigating the potential harm caused by gambling.

Moreover, the bill provides guidelines and conditions for cancelling licenses and proposes other measures to raise the standards of gambling enterprises. These provisions aim to ensure that businesses operate responsibly and adhere to the highest ethical standards.

The gambling landscape in Ukraine has seen significant changes over the years. Gambling was officially banned in 2009, but it was legalized again in 2020. Despite the controversy surrounding the industry, it has made substantial contributions to the state’s revenue. In the first two months of 2024 alone, the gambling business in Ukraine paid Hr 2.2 billion ($56 million) in taxes, and Hr 10.4 billion ($267 million) in 2023, according to Danylo Hetmantsev, the chairman of the parliamentary Finance Committee.

In a related development, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree on April 20 aimed at counteracting the negative effects of online gambling. The decree bans online gambling for the military until the end of martial law. This move underscores the government’s commitment to addressing the potential harms of gambling and protecting its citizens.

The passage of this bill in the first reading marks a significant step towards a more regulated and responsible gambling environment in Ukraine. As it moves towards the second reading, it will be interesting to see how the proposed changes are received and what impact they will have on the future of gambling in the country.

Gambling regulations differ across countries, with varying degrees of restriction or regulation.

Italy implemented the Decreto Dignità (Dignity Decree) in early 2019, imposing a comprehensive ban on gambling marketing. This action followed a study revealing that 3% of Italians were experiencing gambling-related harm.

In contrast, Germany introduced the State Treaty on Gambling in June 2021, regarded as one of thecountries that recently revised their gambling laws.

Many European countries generally have more lenient casino and gambling laws. However, these laws can also apply to offshore gambling companies that enable customers to interact with overseas gaming firms.

Gambling regulations usually encompass all forms of gambling within a country, such as lotteries, bingo, sports betting, and casino games. They establish taxation rules and consider market development and preferences. As societal needs, community progress, and technological advancements evolve, so do active gambling legislations.

It’s crucial to distinguish between gambling regulations and gambling jurisdictions. Regulations refer to the laws governing gambling within a sovereign state. In contrast, jurisdictions oversee the business operations of the operators within the country issuing licences for global iGaming operations.

's state-owned horse race betting operator, Norsk Rikstoto, reported a 4 percent decrease in gross gaming revenue (GGR) for the year 2023. Despite this decline, the operator managed to contribute NOK516 million (€44.0 million) to Norwegian equestrian sport.  

Turnover from racing products experienced a similar 4 percent decrease, amounting to NOK3.14 billion (€268.8 million). Notably, NOK1.75 billion (€149.8 million) was generated from betting on foreign horse races, highlighting the diverse nature of Norsk Rikstoto's offerings.  

After paying out NOK2.19 billion (187.5 million) in winnings to players, Norsk Rikstoto's GGR stood at NOK952.2 million (€81.5 million), reflecting the overall decline compared to the previous year. Despite this, the operator's net operating income surpassed NOK1.0 billion (€85.6 million), albeit still down by 4 percent year-on-year.  

Norsk Rikstoto emphasized its commitment to responsible gambling and operational efficiency under 's new gambling law. The operator reduced total operating expenses by 6 percent, focusing on cost optimization while maintaining a solid foundation for its operations.  

Despite the revenue decline, Norsk Rikstoto continued its significant contributions to equestrian sport in Norway. The operator paid NOK515.8 million (€44.1 million) to good causes in the sector, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the community and creating positive societal impact.  

In a Gaming Intelligence report, Norsk Rikstoto's managing director, Camilla Garmann, was quoted highlighting the importance of equestrian sport in Norwegian society, emphasizing its role in inclusion, health, and job creation. The operator remains dedicated to supporting equestrian activities and distributing profits to various stakeholders within the industry.  

While facing a revenue decline in 2023, Norsk Rikstoto maintains its focus on responsible gambling, operational efficiency, and supporting Norwegian equestrian sport. Despite challenges, the operator continues to play a vital role in contributing to the welfare of the community and promoting the sport of horse racing in the country.  

Upcoming SiGMA event: SiGMA Asia 2024, 3 – 5 June. Find all the details .

Macau's international visitor arrivals have shown a remarkable recovery, reaching 68.2 percent of 2019 levels in the first quarter of 2024. 584,026 foreign tourists visited during this period, signifying a robust resurgence in tourism activity. 

Data from Macau’s shows that the Philippines emerged as the leading source market for the Special Administrative Region’s (SAR) international visitors, with over 114,000 tourists arriving in the first quarter. This represents a substantial 23.7 percent increase compared to the same period in 2019. The proximity of Macau to Hong Kong may have contributed to this surge, given the significant number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong. 

Visitor numbers from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand have also rebounded significantly, reaching 70.8 percent, 89.2 percent, and 89.2 percent of their respective 2019 levels. This resurgence underscores the gradual recovery of tourism from Southeast Asian countries to Macau. 

However, visitor numbers from Northeast Asian markets, particularly South Korea and Japan, have lagged. Macau received only around half of its pre-COVID levels of Korean visitors and around 40 percent of Japanese visitors in the first quarter of 2024. 

In long-haul markets, visitors from the U.S. have shown a moderate rebound, reaching 66.5 percent of the 2019 first-quarter level. While not as robust as some regional markets, this recovery indicates a gradual resurgence in long-haul tourism to Macau. 

Overall, 's visitor arrivals surged by an impressive 79.4 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2024, totalling 8,875,757. This recovery represents 85.7 percent of the figure recorded in the same quarter of 2019, highlighting a significant step towards pre-pandemic tourism levels. 

Upcoming SiGMA event: SiGMA Asia 2024, 3 – 5 June. Find all the details .