Gamlinked September
By Thadeus Geodfrey
Welcome to the September edition of Gamlinked, your go-to source for all things gambling! We cover the latest trends, news, and insights from breaking stories to in-depth analysis, whether from top online casinos or minimum bet sportsbooks. The global gambling market is fast approaching a staggering $200 billion, and we’re here to keep you informed every step of the way.
Here’s what’s making headlines this month. Evolution is making waves with an $85 million move to acquire Galaxy Gaming. In New Zealand, a court has ordered a man to give up $600,000 he gained from illegal gambling and money laundering. Still of laws, Montenegro is proposing a 15% tax on gambling winnings as part of its new fiscal strategy. More exciting news: Play’n GO is breaking into the South African market with its Mafia Gold Slot launch. Also, new games are coming for Netbet UK, thanks to a fresh partnership with BF Games. Elsewhere, JackpotCity makes a significant move into the South African low-deposit casino market. And in sports, NFL players must now attend in-person gambling education and training sessions. Stay tuned for all the details!
Evolution moves to acquire Galaxy Gaming in $85m deal
Evolution has agreed to acquire Galaxy Gaming. The deal will cost approximately $85 million, payable in cash. This new acquisition will give Evolution Gaming the industry edge.
Galaxy Gaming develops and distributes casino table games and gaming technology. It will add Galaxy Gaming’s solutions to its already extensive portfolio, strengthening Evolution’s position in the US as it aims to be a global leader in casino games.
Evolution is a leading live casino solutions company celebrated for its professional dealers and high-quality streaming. 2010, it was the winner of the EGR Live Casino Software Supplier of the Year award.
Its game collections serve online casinos and land-based gambling venues. They include live table casino games like roulette, blackjack, and baccarat, which stream live from studios in Riga and other European cities. These games play on both PCs and handheld devices like smartphones.
Evolution holds licenses from the UK Gambling Commission and Alderney Gambling Control Commission. The game provider is undoubtedly among the top, ensuring high-quality, compliant content.
Martin Carlesund, CEO of Evolution AB, expressed excitement about the acquisition.
“We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of Galaxy Gaming,” Carlesund was quoted as saying. “It is a significant milestone in our mission to provide unparalleled gaming experiences to our customers.”
He noted that Galaxy Gaming’s exceptional products and technology complement Evolution’s portfolio and strengthen its strategic position. He further confirmed that Evolution will retain Galaxy’s management and employees. The companies will not merge operations. Instead, they will continue to operate independently as separate business units.
President and CEO of Galaxy Gaming, Matt Reback, also shared his enthusiasm.
Reback said the transaction offered a chance to unite two world-class, customer-focused teams. According to his assessment, this deal benefits all stakeholders. He identified Galaxy Gaming’s successful land-based business. On Evolution Gaming, he acknowledged its global reach and online gaming leadership as key strengths.
The deal, approved by Galaxy Gaming’s Board of Directors, offers a 124% premium on Galaxy’s stock price as of July 17. Only regulatory approvals and stockholder consent remain to close the deal.
We can’t wait to see how this acquisition will transform Evolution Gaming and its future of games and services into the best online casinos.
NZ man forced to forfeit Illicit gambling wins of $600k
The court in New Zealand has ordered Thomas Mackay Taniwha, a man from Lower Hutt, to give up over $600,000. The investigators proved he earned the money through illegal gambling and money laundering activities. This decision comes after a two-year investigation, coined ‘Operation Ace’.
This operation, conducted by the New Zealand Police and the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), uncovered that Taniwha had been running high-stakes poker games in person and online. In April, the court fined him $16,500 for this offence. In addition to the fine, Justice Peter Churchman has now ordered him to surrender $619,692. New Zealand laws, under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act, allow authorities to seize profits from criminal activities.
Detective Sergeant Sam Buckley noted that a search of Taniwha’s property in February 2022 uncovered $25,700 in cash. Their investigation also revealed significant deposits in Taniwha’s bank accounts. They linked the funds to the illegal gambling operation, with Taniwha funnelling some of the money into a car dealership’s business account. They also identified a room specifically designed for hosting poker games.
Detective Sergeant Buckley emphasised that this should serve as a reminder. He added that the police will continue targeting those profiting from criminal activities, including those investigated by other enforcement agencies.
In NZ, the Gambling Act 2003 prohibits gambling and regulates only a few accepted gambling activities. Despite these efforts, illegal gambling activities are still surfacing, like Taniwha’s case. It highlights the urgent need to reconsider how the country controls gambling. Underground operations such as this flourish when there are no legal and regulated avenues but there’s persistent demand. The best route is always legalisation with stricter regulation.
Unregulated gambling often causes severe social harm, like addiction and exploitation. There is also little protection for players. But, if regulated, players access new NZ online casinos and are better protected, and the government can tax the gambling revenues to benefit the community. So, in the end, the harmful practices of underground gambling are also reduced. Stricter licensing, monitoring, and education can prevent illegal operations and promote responsible gambling.
Play n Go enters South Africa with the launch of Mafia Gold Slot
Play’n GO continues to strengthen its presence in South Africa. The latest news is that Betway announced that they will be the exclusive hosts of Play’n GO’s legendary gaming portfolio. But what does that mean?
South African customers can now enjoy some of the best casino games available, all in a secure and responsible environment. Exclusively through Betway, they can enjoy the top game in the ‘Book of’ series, Book of Dead by Play n Go. Other exciting titles include Legacy of Dead, Fire Joker, Reactoonz, Gemix, and Moon Princess. In addition, there are Rise of Olympus, Viking Runecraft, Wild Falls, Agent Destiny, and more.
One of the latest additions to Play’n GO’s catalogue is the Mafia Gold slot game, which immerses you in the world of crime. Rival gangs fight for control over a city’s riches. It follows the path of other popular Play’n GO titles like Mission Cash and Cash Vandal. Mafia Gold offers an engaging narrative and exciting gameplay. It includes the Feature Reel, where you can score multipliers by landing the High-Paying Mafia Boss symbol. There’s also the Drive-By Feature, which adds an unpredictable twist to the gameplay. You also get up to 20 Free Spins if you trigger them and battle rival mafia members to unlock the Cash Hit Feature, where the ultimate prize awaits.
Mafia Gold offers six reels, four rows, and 30 paylines, with high volatility and a maximum win potential of 6,000x. Its RTP configurations range from 84.2% to 96.2%, allowing for tailored gaming experiences.
What do you think of this partnership? At Gamlinked, we can’t wait to play this Mafia Gold and explore its new features.
Montenegro proposes 15% tax on gambling earnings in new fiscal strategy
Montenegro’s government is moving toward monetising its gambling industry. The plan is in the adopted Fiscal Strategy for 2024-2027. This paper focused on ensuring macroeconomic stability and responsible governance. It introduces substantial reforms to the country’s gambling framework, which will overhaul the current concession system. These reforms have led to the upcoming Law on Gambling, which introduces newer standards for operators.
The new law mandates greater oversight of the Gambling Administration and Inspection Department. It aims to reduce grey area operations, emphasizing safer gambling practices. It also outlines new rules on advertising and protecting minors. It mainly addresses distancing gambling establishments from schools. Additionally, it allocates part of the gambling revenue to addressing social impacts.
The Fiscal Strategy also proposes amendments to the Law on Personal Income Tax. It outlines that operators must withhold and promptly remit a 15% tax on gambling profits. In essence, it excludes players’ initial investment.
The proposed plan seeks to generate an additional €5 million by levying taxes on gambling winnings, to earmark the funds for various initiatives aimed at addressing and preventing issues related to gambling addiction.
The country expects these reforms to be in place by the end of the year. They are part of Montenegro’s broader efforts to enhance sector integrity and increase public revenues. As noted by Karanović & Partners, operators and investors should stay alert to these changes and aptly adapt.
New games coming to Netbet UK with BF Games partnership
NetBet Casino UK has expanded its game offerings by collaborating with BF Games. It allows UK players to access BF Games’ entire portfolio, including popular titles such as Raiders of the North, Stunning Crown, and Book of Gods.
This partnership is strategically symbiotic. NetBet.co.uk’s extensive online gaming platform will benefit from BF Games’ cutting-edge slot content. The online casino will offer access to various quality games, including innovative and engaging slot games, which will likely attract and keep more players.
On its part, BF Games gains access to NetBet.co.uk’s large and diverse player base. With a significant platform for its game content, it gets exposure and increased visibility. Player engagement for its games could also shoot up, especially for its slots. The partnership has effectively expanded its reach in the competitive online gaming market.
Claudia Georgevici, PR Manager at NetBet, expressed her excitement.
“BF Games are a fantastic provider and we’re delighted to offer their incredible games to all our loyal customers.”
This partnership supports NetBet’s commitment to delivering a top-rated UK online casino experience.
Rok Hribar, Commercial Director at BF Games, echoed the enthusiasm.
“Partnering with NetBet is a great opportunity for us to grow in the UK market.”
The NetBet-BF Games deal follows an earlier partnership with former English Premier League star Ray Parlour. The Arsenal legend became the company’s brand ambassador for the 2024 season.
The partnership strengthens both companies’ positions in the online gaming industry. By combining NetBet.co.uk’s broad market presence with BF Games’ creative game development expertise, they form a formidable alliance. This new move further enhances NetBet’s visibility in the UK.
JackpotCity expands into many countries around the world
JackpotCity Casino has significantly expanded its global footprint. with the most recent one being in South Africa. The move is part of its global expansion, offering exciting opportunities for new players.
This allows this low-deposit casino to reach a broader audience and cater to a growing international player base. Some of the newest countries where JackpotCity has launched include India and Brazil. It has also gained traction in several European markets, such as Finland and Ireland.
This best online casino offers a variety of gaming experiences, from online slot collections and table games to live dealer games.
A key aspect of JackpotCity’s expansion is its focus on providing a safe, secure, and user-friendly platform. It believes such an environment guarantees players access to top-tier gaming content. With multilingual support and acceptance of various currencies, JackpotCity positions itself as a platform offering a tailored experience for players worldwide.
JackpotCity Casino began operations in 1998 and has since become a household name in the industry. The casino offers deposit limits and self-exclusion options to ensure players have control.
NFL players obligated to attend in-person gambling education and training
The NFL has ramped up its commitment to responsible gambling. It’s now mandatory for players to participate in gambling education and training, which has enhanced gambling policy education and integrity monitoring efforts.
As of August 2024, the NFL has not suspended a single player for gambling violations in over 13 months. The policy change, which made in-person gambling education mandatory for all players, could already yield results.
Like many sports, the NFL prohibits players from participating in NFL games. But it has taken a step further, and no player can participate in any form of gambling while at team facilities or on road trips. To enforce this, it has procured the services of retired FBI and law enforcement officers to keep a hawk-eye on game days for any suspicious activity. It not only protects the league’s integrity but also ensures the wellness of athletes. After all, the NFL is doing this in collaboration with the NFL Players Association.
It’s not just the rule. The NFL has also extended its efforts to partner with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). It recently renewed a three-year partnership, giving the charity a $6.4 million grant.
Anna Isaacson, NFL Senior VP of Social Responsibility, emphasized the league’s history of supporting societal issues and its commitment to responsible gambling.
Executive Director of NCPG, Keith Whyte, said the NFL’s funding had been critical. Such funds allow the charity to enhance its resources to combat gambling addiction, including the national helpline and educational initiatives.
Indeed, the NFL is making strides in fostering a responsible gambling environment. Are these efforts enough to combat problem gambling?
Closing Remark
This edition has seen partnerships, game releases, and progressive policies across the industry. As we head into the final quarter of 2024, we look forward to more exciting developments and innovations. We hope these changes, innovations, and developments will continue improving the gaming experience. Stay at Gamlinked always for more updates and insights. It’s a wrap-up from us. But before we go, let’s know what you are most excited about from the above developments.