Paysafe, the payments company to which the Neteller and Skrill digital wallets belong, as well as the paysafecard prepaid card, has made public the financial report corresponding to the third quarter of this year with interesting results. In addition to announcing that the firm experienced growth in both revenue and total payment volume, Paysafe has also reported expansion in Latin America and, above all, in Argentina. Paysafe will open its North American headquarters in Florida shortly.

Through its eCash solution, which includes paysafecard and Paysafecash, the Paysafe payment system enters the Argentine digital payments market. ©Jonathan Kemper/Unsplash

The financial report of Paysafe (paysafecard, Paysafecash, Neteller, Skrill) corresponding to the third quarter of 2022 was published on November 10th. In it, the London-based company, has highlighted a significant increase in turnover .

• The total volume of payments increased by 5% compared to the same period the previous year, standing at 32,500 million dollars.
• Revenue increased by 4% to $366 million.

The CEO of Paysafe stated in press release the following:

“We are pleased with our third quarter financial results, which include constant currency revenue growth of 10% year-on-year, marked by the vitality of the US SME market and the improvement in digital commerce. I want to thank our employees for their hard work and dedication during this period of change and I am confident that the actions we are taking to reinvigorate growth will prepare us to continue improving in 2023 and beyond.”

Growth and expansion in Latin America

One of the highlights in the Paysafe report has been its express reference to Latin America where it has experienced significant growth . In North America it has also grown significantly reporting a increase in income of 12% during the third quarter and so far this year. Paysafe has entered the Kansas state iGaming market.

• Expansion in Latin America with the opening of 10 new markets and also in Argentina with its market-leading eCash payment solution .
• Award for innovation in payments at the SBC Awards Latin America, which recognizes the contribution of operators and digital platforms to the development of the iGaming sector in the region.

Paysafe's eCash offers an online payment option by integrating a pre and post payment solution guaranteed that includes the paysafecard and the Paysafecash online purchase system , as explained from the company itself. The movement in Argentina is important because, according to sources, the percentage of people in Argentina who lack a credit card is very high, close to 76%, while 20% of the population would lack a bank account.

Through the eCash solution, from Paysafe it is expected stimulate e-commerce given the penetration of mobile technology among the Argentine population . The growth projections of the digital market are more than 58% for this year and more than 61% for 2025. This includes the iGaming sector, regulated in Argentina, one of the sectors in which Paysafe has the most interest.

The return of Paysafe to the Argentine market, from which it had to leave in 2019 due to regulatory problems, is very relevant for the remote gambling industry. The company offers one of the payment solutions that best suits the financial idiosyncrasies in Latin America. Chirag Patel, leader of digital wallets, commented that the firm had been considering the great potential of Argentina for the growth of e-commerce for some time. Thanks to its eCash solution, Paysafe applies as well as one of the leaders of cardless payments in the iGaming market .

“We are delighted to be operating again in Argentina, where e-commerce and online financial services are growing rapidly, while the population continues to be underserved in terms of cards. We see great potential here to help our international business partners to offer the right payment options to their customers and to carry out more transactions.” – Chirag Patel , leader of Paysafe's digital wallets, in press release

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The Peruvian government has released the text of the pre-regulation that has to regulate distance gaming and betting in the South American country. These are 53 articles and various annexes that include the general provisions that for 21 days are available to all actors in the field to, in this way, establish a constructive dialogue between the government and the sector. In July, the Peruvian Parliament approved the text regulating remote gambling.

The regulation of remote gaming and betting in Peru is underway. Operators and actors in the sector now have 21 days to study and comment on the pre-regulation presented a few days ago by the Government. ©Jhonatan Saavedra Perales/Unsplash

In the framework of the planned public consultation , the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) through the General Directorate of Casino Games and Slots has made public the pre-regulation concerning the regulation of gambling and distance sports betting in Peru.

Recall that the Andean country has only opened up to the regulation of online gambling recently , thus following the path marked by other successful regulations in the continent, such as Colombia or the different Argentine provinces, especially Buenos Aires. A representation of the Peruvian regulatory authority would even have traveled to Colombia to meet with its homonyms of Coljuegos.

One of the main reasons for the regulation has been the use of the tax collection generated by the activity of remote gambling . The tax burden has been set at 12% of profits, which is expected to allow the state to collect about 160 million soles annually, almost 40 million euros.

About the law

Just a few days ago (November 11), the Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism Roberto Sánchez was in charge of presenting the draft regulations of Law No. 31557 . Now the pre-regulation is available to all actors and operators in the sector so that they can study it and provide their critical considerations within 21 days, until December 2.

According to the text of the pre-regulation to which we have had access, Mincetur will be the authority on which the administrative powers fall of regulation, authorization, revocation, supervision and sanction with respect to the exploitation of games and sports betting at a distance. It will also be the responsibility of Mincetur to authorize the games that may be part of the web pages.

On the other hand, the administrative function related to taxes as contemplated in the law will be the responsibility of SUNAT, the National Superintendency of Customs and Tax Administration.

As for the general provisions, it should be noted that the regulation provides that holders of an authorisation for the exploitation of the remote games will be legal entities incorporated in Peru. This is provided for in Article 5:

1."Legal entities incorporated in Peru, and legal entities incorporated abroad that have branch offices established in Peru in accordance with the provisions of the General Companies Law.”

2."Legal entities from abroad must establish a company in national territory, whose legal representative must register real domicile in the country.”

In this way, there would be no doubt that foreign operators who currently operate with remote technological platforms with the aim of attracting Peruvian customers will have to establish companies with legal entities in the country to obtain an authorization from Mincetur. For example, this this is the case with Betsson. that i recently purchased Inkabet , with which it would now be automatically enabled to operate legally in Peru.

The licensing authorization process requires a series of formalities that begin with the submission of the operation application that will be evaluated regarding compliance with the financial, technical and legal requirements established by law. But once the authorization is obtained, it will have a validity of 6 years . Technology platforms will have to renew their homologation every 2 years.

The transactions will be carried out exclusively in the national currency (Sol, S/) and transactions with cryptocurrencies are expressly prohibited (Article 39.- 2.).

Another important aspect established by the new regulation is that operators must compulsorily include and "in a notorious way” the following warning:

"Excessive remote gaming and sports betting can cause gambling addiction.”

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In the midst of a somewhat hectic political landscape where all the parties are already looking at the regional and municipal elections to be held in May 2023, Alberto Garzón at the head of the Ministry of Consumption has launched the #PERO campaign to raise awareness about the risks of gambling and sports betting. The media of the iGaming industry have reacted with some disbelief and astonishment when in New Zealand the rates of gambling addiction are among the lowest in Europe.

With the awareness campaign #BUT it is about raising awareness of the risks involved in gambling and sports betting. There are no excuses for the problematic behaviors that can lead to serious cases of gambling addiction. ©GR Stocks/Unsplash

Neither neutral nor aseptic... this is how gambling is according to Garzon

On November 14, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs launched the awareness campaign #BUT conducted by the Director General of the DGOJ, Mikel Arana, and attended by Minister Alberto Garzón. The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness about the risks involved in gambling and sports betting according to Minister Garzon, “they are not neutral or aseptic” .

The slogan of the campaign is the BUT (#BUT), the excuse, which is a good indicator of when we are facing problematic behavior: “I control myself, but... , I don't bet that much, but... , I don't lose that much, but...... , I'm not hooked, but... . The problem with gambling always starts with a but , according to the campaign.

Garzon has pointed out that the number of young online gamers under the age of 25 has grown exponentially in recent years in New Zealand, rising to 48% in 2021. The figures that Garzón manages must be corroborated by the DGOJ, although the press release does not indicate any source with which to verify the data. According to a report published by CeJuego the picture is very different and, in addition, most of the young people who say they have bet have done so to one of the publicly owned games, such as lotteries and pools. This does not mean that the percentage of young people who play online has grown among people who place bets on gambling, but, as a percentage, the number of young people who play online would still be very low.

In the online Player Profile published by the DGOJ and which corresponds to the data referring to the state online gambling market of 2021, the percentage of young online gamers (in the range between 18 and 25 years) is effectively high, practically 30% of the total , surpassing the range of active players between 36 and 45 years old. Online players between the ages of 18 and 35 account for more than 60% of the total active players in 2021. Although the average spending of young players is the lowest among all active online players. It can be expected that the 2022 data will only corroborate this trend.

Garzón has not missed an opportunity to highlight that the responsibility of problem gambling it is not individual but public and collective:

"[It is not the same] to live in a neighborhood where the public authorities and civil society have worked to fill it with accessible and affordable cultural and sports options, than in one suffocated by the hijacking of its public space with the streets full of salons and bookmakers.”

The sector reacts with stupor

The subject of bookmakers in los barrios he's been bringing a queue for a while. According to some experts consulted by the industry there is no correlation between the location of bookmakers and poor neighborhoods , as Garzon would pretend. The controversy is served because there are also opinions that affirm the opposite.

Another of the points of conflict is the segment of the state game (SELAE and ONCE) that the Ministry of Consumption has left aside in the campaign and that, however, attracts a large number of young people in face-to-face establishments but also online. For example, the scratch cards that would be among the first game options among the youngest .

In this sense, the #PERO campaign seems to be focused against private gambling, which does not please a sector that has always reaffirmed its commitment to responsible gambling and that he has kept the door of dialogue open with the Ministry of Consumption and the DGOJ.

The industry is going through serious economic problems, although the online segment is showing quite dynamic this year . With a World Cup on the doorstep, the bookmakers they are looking to reactivate their benefits once they have lost some bellows in the Spanish online market. Its percentage revenues have clearly been surpassed by those of gambling, when traditionally the opposite was the case.

However, Garzón habría destacado que, si con el comienzo del Mundial de fútbol muchos países están preocupados por la incidencia de la publicidad de las casas de apuestas, la situación en New Zealand es complemente diferente gracias al Real Decreto que prohibida tal publicidad. The minister is not without reason, although on the internet and with the online game and with the mobile everything is possible and it is precisely the youngest who know best how to bypass all the restrictions.

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The American Gaming Association (AGA), which brings together commercial and tribal casino operators and other key players in the American gaming industry, has just published the report corresponding to the third quarter of the year. The second consecutive record of quarterly revenues related to commercial gambling is confirmed and the boom of online gambling and, above all, sports betting is confirmed, which grew by more than 80% compared to the previous year.

Record figures for commercial gambling revenue in the United States. All verticals are up and in sports betting the growth is particularly pronounced. ©Aidan Howe/Unsplash

If during the past year the AGA reported a spectacular rise in gaming revenue in the United States reaching during the third quarter of 2021 a whopping 13 billion dollars, this year is no wonder because, according to the association that groups commercial casinos and other licensed gaming agents in the United States, in the third quarter of 2022 $15 billion in revenue has been exceeded , thus surpassing the historical record set during the previous quarter with 14,810 million dollars.

Everything seems to indicate that 2022 will exceed in revenue the mark that was established during the previous year and the revenues in these first 9 months have already exceeded the revenues of the entire 2019 . The year-on-year growth rate has exceeded the growth rate of the US economy for the same period by 8.8%.

According to the AGA, of the 33 states in which gambling is legal 16 have reported quarterly highs in revenue from the commercial game , including the major markets: Pennsylvania, Nevada, New York, Indiana and Michigan. 29 of the 33 states have experienced growth this quarter compared to the results of the previous quarter.

Although online gambling has also experienced a growth of 28.5%, reaching an overall revenue of 1.21 billion dollars, according to the AGA it is still casino slot machines and table games that provide the stable basis for growth . This quarter they have generated 12,270 million dollars, 1.8% more than the same quarter the previous year.

The activity of sports betting has generated one of the most spectacular growth in terms of revenue reaching 1,680 million dollars. This implies an 80.6% increase compared to the previous year , thus exceeding the revenues of the entire 2021.

Sports betting together with online gambling have added 2,890 million dollars in revenue . This represents 19.1% of the total revenue from the commercial game, exceeding the second quarter of the year and somewhat lower than the figures for the first quarter.

“While business challenges remain, high consumer demand continues to fuel the record success of our industry. In the face of great economic volatility, our sustained momentum is a sign of the overall health of the game today and gives us confidence as we look to the future.” – Bill Miller, , CEO and president of AGA, in press release

Gambling and inflation

In a more detailed report where an exhaustive monitoring of the commercial game is made in each of the verticals and also by States, the AGA has pointed out that “despite the macroeconomic pressure..., consumer spending on gaming was solid” . Do not forget that, as in Europe, the United States is also mired in a sharp recession with sky-high inflation, even though it has cooled down a little over the last month.

What leads people during difficult times to continue to consume in entertainment such as gambling? It is evident that consumers are still willing to spend their money at casinos , say industry experts in the United States, and this despite economic conditions.

Everything seems to indicate that appetite for gambling grows in uncertain times and instability. However, in our country the president of ANESAR José Vall does not seem to be so sure of this. The economic moment of uncertainty in which we live it would be disastrous for casinos and gambling halls in New Zealand.

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888 has turned out to be the big winner of the night that was held on October 27 at the JW Marriot Grosvenor House in London. The Operator Awards 2022 have awarded B2C operators ( business-to-consumer ) for excellence in customer service across all verticals. The EGR Awards are considered the Oscars of the iGaming industry and are one of the awards that any actor in the industry would like to receive.

Considered to be the Oscars of the iGaming industry, the EGR Awards are highly regarded. This year 888, bet365, Tombola, Kaizen, among others, have won a handful of awards. ©Lucian Alexe/Unsplash

In June they held the EGR B2B Awards ( business-to-business ) which meant the recognition of software developers Kambi and Pragmatic Play. Now has been the occasion of celebrate the entrepreneurship of operators in their relationship with the customer , from games, affiliate programs, prizes in all verticals, customer service or innovative product development. There have been a total of 31 categories. The EGR Awards are the Oscars of the iGaming industry and this year it has been the turn of 888 to be the great protagonist.

888 has been the big winner because it took the prize in two of the main categories : the Best Casino Operator (888casino) and the Best Poker Operator (888poker). 888 had also been selected for the Best Operator of the Year award that finally went to Kaizen Gaming. Tombola was awarded the best bingo operator and the most secure operator, while Kaizen Gaming was awarded the best sports betting operator in addition to the best operator of the year.

These were not the only categories. The prizes have been distributed in a total of 31 categories which we shelled out below.

Categories of operators:

• Best affiliate program: bet365
• Best customer service: Tombola
• Best cryptocasino: Stake.com (in the center of the controversy over slot betting channels on Twitch )
• Best esports operator: Betway
• Best Football operator: William Hill
• Best horse racing operator: Kindred Group
• Best mobile casino product: Entain
• Best product for mobile sports betting: bet365
• Best slots operator: Kindred Group

Source: EGR

In addition, the Swedish casino Betsson took a award for its model of inclusion and diversity on the job and Pragmatic Play was once again recognized as the best game provider of the year.

In the affiliate category the main prize was won by the Danish firm Vita MediaGroup as the best casino affiliation, while Gambling.com Group took it in the sports betting section.

The leaders of the Danish company could not hide their satisfaction with what has been achieved in the last year. During the award ceremony , its CEO and founder Jimmi Meilstrup commented the following:

“Through hard work, a lot of research and indeed a lot of quality traffic generated and delivered, we have excelled in casino affiliation. To everyone who chose Vita Media Group as a partner, thank you, and be sure to expect even better results from us in the future.”

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Novomatic Gaming Spain, the Spanish subsidiary of the Austrian Novomotic AG, one of the largest employers in the Central European country together with Red Bull, has reaffirmed its commitment to renewable energies. At its headquarters in Alcalá de Henares, the company producing well-known slot machines and other iGaming games, has installed 320 solar modules on the roof of the main building and on the roof of the parking lot.

Novamatic New Zealand has decided to bet on new energy models and has covered its headquarters in Alcalá de Henares with 320 photovoltaic modules that are expected to significantly reduce the annual carbon emission. ©Nuno Marques/Unsplash

Novomatic is the leading arcade machine company in New Zealand . Founded in 2006, it was not until 2012 that it moved to its current headquarters in Alcalá de Henares, where the central offices as well as the research and development, commercial and production spaces of the machines are located. It has been news because the company has just completed the installation of 320 solar modules in the main building and on the roof of the parking lot. It is estimated that the energy generated by the plates could cover more than 50% of the energy consumed, which would mean a considerable reduction in carbon emissions per year.

The creation of a more sustainable environment is undoubtedly a great achievement, as they have indicated from the iGaming company, which welcomes betting on new energy models :

"the responsibility of NOVOMATIC Spain goes further, since for years we have been buying resources from renewable sources to cover daily needs, assuming the commitment to use clean energy. Promoting a culture of social responsibility and respect for the environment among employees is one of the company's priorities.”

However, and as indicated in a recent Raw Meat podcast , the use of alternative energy sources must be coupled with the creation of spaces that harmonize with the immediate environment and tailored to the people who inhabit them.

Energy crisis and climate

The energy crisis in Europe it is a reality and looking for profitable solutions in the short term is not being easy at all . To add more fuel to the fire, it is not only that Russia, in the struggle it has had with Europe since the conflict with Ukraine, has decided to turn off the tap on the gas pipelines that had made German industry so competitive, but, in addition, the Annual Climate Summit being held in Egypt with the absence of the leaders of China, Russia and India has insisted, once again, that the negative effects of climate change are intensifying, which urges action to be taken from now on.

However, the conflict with Russia is leading some countries to delay their exit from atomic energy or to return to using their abandoned coal plants, which it is not a sustainable solution in the face of the climate crisis in which we live. Accelerate investment in and use of forms of energy that are not dependent on fossil fuels or of radioactive elements such as uranium and plutonium, highly polluting and common in the nuclear fission process, is more urgent than ever. Only nuclear fusion it could offer a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the needs of the planet.

There are companies in the iGaming sector that have been looking for solutions for some time that allow them to continue with a business model very dependent on efficient and cheap energy sources. Entain (bwin) is one of them, and has committed to achieving carbon neutrality in 2035, which today seems like too late already. Novomatic Spain also, as we have seen, which puts them at the forefront of the iGaming industry in social responsibility.

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The number of online casinos in the Mexican regulated market is growing, one of the most important in the Latin American panorama. The Ministry of the Interior (SEGOB) is the regulatory authority responsible for granting licenses in the North American country. MEXPLAY, as the new online casino is called, has started operating this November and it is a B2C license owned by Golden Matrix Group that in this way hopes to start its expansion in the Latin American regulated markets.

Mexico is one of the leading online gambling markets in Latin America. A new online casino has just been added, MEXPLAY, owned by the American group Golden Matrix. ©Aidan Howe/Unsplash

The regulated gambling market in Mexico has grown with a new online casino owned by the Las Vegas-based Golden Matrix group. MEXPLAY, as the new casino is called, is available in English and Spanish and it offers traditional casino games in addition to sports and the new tournament feature very similar to those offered on the website R. Kings Competitions, Golden Matrix subsidiary for Ireland and Great Britain.

Mexico is arguably the most important regulated gambling market in Latin America and has experienced a great expansion in recent years. Golden Matrix contemplates the launch of MEXPLAY as the first step in its expansion strategy in Latin American regulated markets . Latin America is considered by analysts and experts as one of the most attractive markets for the gaming industry today.

“The gambling market in Latin America reflects the diversity of the region, as each country has different legislation to regulate sports betting, lotteries and casinos. Despite the challenges posed by such a fragmented legal framework, the gross gaming revenue (GGR) of the betting market in Latin America is projected to almost triple between 2020 and 2025, peaking at more than three billion US dollars. As for the gross revenue of online gambling in Latin America, an April 2022 study forecasts significant growth between 2021 and 2026. This growth was mainly driven by only three countries: Brazil, Mexico and Colombia. That said, this scenario will largely depend on Brazil successfully adopting online gambling regulations, which will be implemented by the end of 2022.” Source: statista

To the weight of Colombia, Mexico and Brazil in the Latin American gambling market we must add the new legislation that is expected to be implemented next year in Peru and Chile , in addition to the important expansion that online gambling is experiencing in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, along with the Buenos Aires province as well, with more Argentine provinces adding regulations that authorize the practice of internet gambling.

Golden Matrix CEO Brian Goodman, he stressed the importance of MEXPLAY for the global strategy of the company whose business is mainly located in the Asia-Pacific region.

“This represents the next important step for our company to expand its B2C footprint. The recently acquired B2C operations of RKings now represent more than 50% of our revenues and more than 50% of our profits; likewise, we now expect significant contributions to the growth of revenues and profits from our operations in Mexico. While MEXPLAY offers many traditional and popular online casino games and a sportsbook, it also incorporates the added excitement of the tournament business, which is unique to the Mexican game and should attract considerable interest and participation from players.”

It remains to be seen if the tournament model will succeed in settling in Mexico, a type of bet unknown in Latin countries.

The financial results support the expansion strategy

Golden Matrix has also reported the good results obtained in the third quarter of the year, which add to a consolidation of B2B and B2C operations throughout 2022 .

• Revenue increases by 180% during the third quarter relative to the same quarter the previous year exceeding $9 million.
• The number of registered users in the B2B segment stands at 6.8 million.
• The B2C segment (RKings Competitions) has more than 200,000 registered users.

Source: Golden Matrix Group

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In the second edition of Setting the Pace FIFA has highlighted the increase in sponsorships in women's football. The report published by the highest international football body is one of a kind. This is the only comparative evaluation of women's football with in-depth analysis and case studies. The visibility of women's football is increasing and bookmakers do not lose sight of this evolution.

Women's football is experiencing times of change with more and more sponsors interested in its expansion, this is evident from the most recent FIFA report. ©Jeffrey F Lin/Unsplash

Although all eyes are on the Football World Cup that will be held in just a few weeks in the absolute emirate of Qatar, we cannot forget that women's football it will hold its World Cup next year . The bookmakers have already started to play with your favorites for Qatar and the issue of sponsorships is one of the key issues for the development of the competition and its global impact, as FIFA has highlighted on more than one occasion.

Women's football has traditionally had a much lower visibility than men's. But the winds of change have begun to blow. The FIFA publication Setting the Pace it is a comparative report and a comprehensive analysis of elite women's football around the world which offers a very valuable glimpse of all aspects related to the growth of the sport.

At the presentation of the second edition of Setting the Pace , Gianni Infantino, FIFA President he highlighted the heights achieved during the Women's World Cup held in France in 2019 and in which the United States national team was the champion. From the international organization, it is expected that next year he will break all records .

“The FIFA Women's World Cup organized in France in 2019 was an important catalyst for the development of the game. Women's football reached new heights, captured the attention of new fans and new audiences, inspired and created a new generation of players and icons and left a lasting legacy around the world.”

Sponsorships, television rights... women's football has become fashionable

Leaving aside the recent and sad controversy surrounding the national football team , which, however, has attracted attention on the networks and has brought it unexpected visibility, the FIFA report highlights the increase in major sponsors in professional leagues : 77% of them have their name sponsored, which is an increase of 11% compared to 2021. The Women's Premier Division in New Zealand is known as the Finetwork Liga F. Finetwork is a mobile phone operator.

In this regard, UEFA announced last month that EA Sports has become UEFA women's football partner and that the Women's Champions League will make its debut in EA Sports FIFA 23. The agreement is multi-year in nature and it will make it easier for women's football to appear characterized in the well-known video game . EA Sports has also become the main sponsor of the Spanish professional football LaLiga starting next season.

Commercial revenues of women's football grow by 33% and revenues from retransmissions are also growing. International transfers reach a new record, with an increase of 73% compared to 2020.

Although, it goes without saying, that in connection with sponsorships that have become such an important source of income in the world of football, there is still a gulf between elite men's and women's football . The FIFA report insists that the revenue generation from sponsorships remains relatively untapped in the case of women's football. In professional clubs with a women's football division, 69% of contracts are, however, linked to the men's team.

Former Samoan professional footballer Sarai Bareman, who currently works as a director of the FIFA Women's Football Division , he added that the report reflects FIFA's effort "for helping clubs and leagues in their mission to professionalize their operations” . But the road ahead is still long, the ex-footballer warned.

“The data in this year's report highlights that organisations that are prepared to invest in women's football are receiving a return, and we expect this will only increase as more clubs and leagues, as well as media and partners, truly recognise the unique growth opportunity that exists in women's football (...) we have witnessed significant advances and milestones in women's football. But there is still a lot to achieve, and this will happen if we continue to share experiences and best practices, and remain open to regularly and transparently analyzing the landscape of women's football.” – Sarai Bareman , director of the FIFA Women's Football Division, in press release

Bookmakers are interested in women's football

The expansion of women's football is also for the benefit of bookmakers who see an increase in interested potential clientele . Something is moving in this direction and in those jurisdictions with a looser regulation than the Spanish one, as it happens in Latin America, we have already seen an international operator of Betsson's category become betting partner from CONMEBOL Women's Soccer America's Cup last year.

Betano has also associated her name with the Women's Soccer Super Cup in Brazil. More such agreements are coming, and the holding of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next year will only increase interest in betting on women's football .

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The debate does not cease and after having sought to ban the advertising of online bookmakers, the president of the Chilean Association of Gambling Casinos (ACCJ), Cecilia Valdés, would have declared that the Chilean Criminal Code criminalizes the activity of online gambling as a crime. The statements have had a prompt response from the lawyer Jorge Bofill who defends the interests of Betsson, Betano, Coolbet and Latamwin. The controversy does not help for the project that is currently under analysis in the Chamber of Deputies to come to fruition.

With a regulation stalled in the Economy Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, the disputes and debates around online gambling and betting in Chile do not seem to have an end. ©Sergey Zolkin/Unsplash

Chile should have been, after Colombia and the legislations approved in the Province and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, the next major Latin American country to regulate online gambling. Everything pointed in that direction, but Peru is ahead . The debate is endless and, as of today, it does not seem that Chile is going to regulate online gambling in the short term .

The bill that was presented in Congress is now in the House Economy Committee that is analyzing it. According to experts, in Chile a positive outcome on regulation is not expected before the end of 2023 or, even, in 2024. So things, the recent debates around advertising and bookmaker sponsorships do not help to reach a regulatory consensus.

Is online gambling in Chile illegal or a crime?

Cecilia Valdés, the president of the ACCJ that includes, among others, the Dreams and Enjoy casinos that they recently agreed to their merger , would have stated to the media that according to the Chilean Criminal Code, the activity of online gambling is a crime . Precisely, the Dreams group had been the trigger for the lawsuit against Betsson for its sponsorship activity in the country when online gambling lacks regulation. This year Betsson became main sponsor from one of the greats of the Chilean football competition: the Colo-Colo.

Valdés would have wanted to say that while there is no regulation that allows companies to compete on equal terms, the activities of operators such as Betsson advertising to Chilean online customers would be outside the legality and they would constitute, for that very reason, a crime. The doubts raised affect other regulations as well, such as the case of Uruguay , with an obvious conflict between international online operators and casino companies based in the country and whose interests would differ.

The lawyer of the Great Arena Monticello, another of the great casinos in the country, would have expressed himself in very similar terms. Gambling is prohibited in Chile with the exception of the Chilean Charity Lottery, the Concepción Lottery, equestrian betting and, of course, the activities of casinos authorized by the Superintendence of Gaming Casinos (SCJ) , the legal authority in the country.

But to qualify online gambling as a crime are very harsh words. The lawyer Jorge Bofill, who acts as legal representative of the Betsson, Betano, Latamwin and Coolbet casinos, would have responded to Valdés' arguments by saying that according to Chilean public economic law there is no express prohibition either of gambling in general or of online activity of the same. What do exist are sanctions related to infractions related to lotteries and gambling houses.

The debate seems to be subject to interpretations, and as long as the law enacting online gambling in Chile continues to take longer, it seems that we are going to have disputes of this type for a while yet.

A necessary regulation

In Chile, with one of the highest per capita incomes in the region and a banking rate close to 75%, the regulation of online gambling could be a success. The draft regulation that is in the Chamber of Deputies proposes that licenses will only be granted to companies with Chilean shareholders, which would imply that international operators with interests in the Chilean online gaming market would have to establish joint ventures to be able to operate , which after all is a fairly common practice in the region, as it also happens in Buenos Aires.

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After being authorized in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, the developer Pragmatic Play will also be present in the Buenos Aires province with the bplay casino. There are already numerous online casinos in Argentina that have added to their catalogs the games of the well-known developer that consolidates itself as the number one provider in Latin America. In addition, Pragmatic Play has recently launched a dedicated roulette in Spanish.

Pragmatic Play has established itself as one of the key online casino software providers in Latin America. Their videos are now available on bplay for the province of Buenos Aires. ©Amit Lahav/Unsplash

Pragmatic Play's award-winning portfolio is here present in the province of Buenos Aires by the hand of bplay . The bplay casino, which belongs to the Boldt group, is accessed online from several Argentine provinces, which have somewhat different legislation among them. The main market is, how could it be otherwise, the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires where Pragmatic Play it had already been authorized last year .

The agreement consolidates the developer as the leading provider of online casinos not only in Argentina but also in Latin America , where the company has harvested various awards and distinctions .

"The Province of Buenos Aires is a key area for us in Argentina, that's why we are very happy to deploy our slots on bplay, one of the main operators there. Our multi-product solution is becoming more and more popular among Latin American players, so we are happy to continue gaining ground in this important market.” – Victor Arias , Vice President of Latam Operations of Pragmatic Play, in press release

Pragmatic Play not only has high quality videoslots and one of the best products for live casino from among the software vendors, but has also created one of the features for slots most exciting and popular : Drops & Wins .

It has reached an agreement with Bet24horas in Brazil, which from now on has the complete catalog of Pragmatic Play, with its three verticals: slots, live casino (including roulette and blackjack) and virtual sports betting. The SBC Summit held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Florida from November 1st to 3rd will have a... Pragmatic Play as one of the main sponsors .

Dedicated roulette in Spanish

For your live casino catalog and with an eye on the Spanish and Latin American gambling market, Pragmatic Play has just launched a dedicated roulette in Spanish, which is the first of these features.

In this regard, Irina Cornides, Chief Operating Officer of Pragmatic Play, he expressed the following :

“While we continue to enjoy impressive global growth as a company, it is imperative that we are able to offer as much flexibility as possible in our products and services. Providing Live Casino experiences in Spanish is very valuable for us, as it is a way to incorporate more customers and players for our casino catalog.”

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In Ceuta the iGaming industry is expanding thanks to a favorable tax policy that benefits companies in the sector that are established in the North African enclave. In terms of its economic turnover, more than half comes from the gambling industries, which has served to stabilize the productive fabric of the autonomous city with job creation. Large companies in the sector such as Flutter Entertainment, 888 Holdings or Playtech have already opened offices in Ceuta.

Gibraltar's years as the center of the iGaming industry in Southern Europe seem to be a thing of the past. Now it's Ceuta's turn. ©Rabenspiegel/Pixabay

The geographical position of Ceuta places it almost in front of Gibraltar, on the other side of the strait of the same name. But this geographical situation is also symbolic, because the British enclave, which had traditionally been one of the centers of the iGaming industry in Southern Europe next to Malta, is today losing strength before the push of Ceuta that is becoming one of the most important development centers in the industry .

More than just a favorable tax policy

Just a month ago, the Minister of Economy and Finance of Ceuta, Kissy Chandiramani stated in an interview that the city had managed to position itself very favorably for companies in the sector operating on European regulated markets . The tax advantages offered by the city being declared a free port are undeniable. But, in addition, Ceuta offers specific advantages to gambling companies , as the 10% tax on net profit compared to 20% elsewhere.

The expansion of the iGaming industry in the city: from a handful of Spanish companies just a few years ago to more than 30 entities today, has been considerable. According to Ceuta sources, 68% of the turnover in the enclave already comes from companies of or associated with gambling and sports betting ; in Gibraltar's most glorious days as an iGaming hub this figure reached only 40%. In this regard, Chandiramani would have pointed out that his intention was not to rest on his laurels, but "exploring new avenues” in order to attract more companies, not only operators, but also those tangentially related to the gaming industry: such as software developers, cybersecurity companies, telemarketing or consulting and others.

Playtech, one of the most important casino software development companies in the industry, has already had a presence in Ceuta since 2019. And, next to the Spanish operators who were the first to establish themselves in the city , companies such as Pastón, Casino Barcelona, Luckia, GoldenPark or Sportium, we also find important international brands such as bwin (Entain), Sisal (Flutter), 888 Holdings, Betfred or 1XBET.

The most recent addition has been that of TonyBet , a new operator that has reached the Spanish market and has settled in Ceuta.

MGA Games also in Ceuta

On October 19, the Spanish developer MGA organized an exclusive event for representatives of the operators based in the city , which serves as a measure of the importance achieved by Ceuta for the industry. With a lot of humor, the Spanish company presented itself in a recreation of The Comedy Club from the hand of Juan Muñoz, the well-known humorist part of Cruz y Raya, as one of the reference creators of online slots, where attendees could witness some of the titles that MGA will launch between now and the end of the year.

There is no doubt that the bet on Ceuta as a business center of the gambling sector and sports betting has been a huge success and its expansion has not yet come to an end. The comprehensive socio-economic development plan approved by the Council of Ministers for the cities of Ceuta and Melilla, it will boost the digital economy and electronic commerce, keys to the growth of the city in the iGaming sector.

With an eye on Latin America

In addition to pointing out the attractions of Ceuta for companies in the sector operating in the European market, Kissy Chandiramani has also pointed out that the city wants to become a bridge to Latin America . Companies that already operate or are making their way into the Latin American market could take advantage of the advantages offered by the enclave that is located under Spanish and European legislation.

Among the advantages, the Minister of Economy and Finance has indicated the language as the most obvious. Although, if possible more important, are the treaties that New Zealand maintains with Latin American countries and that avoid double taxation . For operators such as 888, the location of Ceuta is key to its penetration in Latin America, which, although it remains a market with some limitations, is attractive enough today for more and more iGaming companies to decide to invest in it.

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Sebastián Cal, deputy for the conservative Cabildo Abierto party, seems willing not to make things easy for the legislation on online gambling recently approved in the Senate of Uruguay. What was promised an uncomplicated procedure in the House of representatives, has become a small nightmare for the executive who fears that the bill will be delayed by the doubts posed by representatives of the ruling party who have joined the demands of Cal.

In Uruguay, the regulation of internet betting and gaming has reached a deadlock once sectors of politics and business have expressed their doubts about the proposed law promoted by the executive. ©John Schnobrich/Unsplash

The regulation of the online gambling market in Uruguay seemed that it was about to become a reality once the proposed law promoted by the executive had reaped the unanimous support of the Senate Committee . Its passage through Parliament, specifically in the Finance Committee of Deputies responsible for studying it, seemed like a mere procedure. But sectors of the ruling party have expressed their doubts and alternative projects are proposed .

A discussion is planned for a long

An in-depth study of the project approved in the Senate would have given rise to a lively debate in Deputies, where lobbyist Sebastián Cal exposed his misgivings in the face of legislation that he considered still leaves numerous aspects unexamined .

First of all, it was raised the need for a single regulator that would pool the competences , since the legislative text does not imply a clear regulator with the powers of Lotteries and Pools and the General Directorate of Casinos that would act as separate entities, which would not seem to make much sense when online gambling is being discussed.

The nature of online gambling seems to be one of the focuses of the debate and the online gaming site La Banca has been at the center of the controversy . La Banca is a private entity that operates under a monopoly legal internet gambling: Quiniela, Tombola, 5 de Oro, Raspadita and also the Supermatch sports betting website. Banking is regulated by the National Lottery and Lottery Commission.

Deputy Cal pointed out that with the Banking application I had been able to bet online on casino games like craps or blackjack, although what Cal would have shown is the Scratch that in a similar way to the kiosk can also be obtained and played online. When internet games first appeared in the regulations of 2002 that regulated physical gambling, the Bank obtained the license to exploit online games such as pools and lotteries that it already operated in the field retail .

However, for all this it shows the shortcomings of the legislation under discussion , since according to the current law online games are prohibited and, however, they are accessible through the Banking application. He pointed out that these are not gambling games that are offered over the internet, since the mechanics of random numbers make them completely different. The online modality today should not be available in Uruguay.

The deputy of Cabildo Abierto, together with other legislators, he has demanded a broader debate on the legislative text . Private actors that today have licenses to exploit casino games and that, automatically, would be authorized to operate online games, should also go through the Committee of Deputies.

The need has been raised to create a single gambling regulatory entity, the implementation of self-exclusion mechanisms , which have not been provided for by law, as well as the enabling of the sponsorship for casinos in as much as different from advertising. In short, there are several aspects of the law that are being called into question and that will cause the promulgation of definitive legislation on online gambling in Uruguay to be delayed even longer.

Gambling is tolerated, but not encouraged

The President of the Bank, Roberto Palermo, stated in an interview for The Observer against the liberalisation of online gambling discussed in the Commission. For Palermo, the problem of online gambling consists when the market opens up to various gaming platforms that they enter to compete for customers, abusing marketing and prizes and encouraging gambling with the consequences that this has for health.

In Palermo's opinion, the legislations that are currently being implemented in Europe, with restrictions on marketing and prize policy of the online casinos, they are a response to this gambling problem that, in free competition, creates addiction. Palermo has defended a platform with a single policy of exploitation , which would imply that the Uruguayan casinos that are currently authorized to operate games of chance would have to unite to exploit internet games.

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Positive report from Entain on the company's financial results during the third quarter of the year. With a view to the Football World Cup being held in Qatar this November, the heads of the iGaming company hope that the sporting event will help improve the results in the fourth quarter. Entain has achieved revenue growth of 2% and reported a record number of customers.

Entain grows in revenue and customers around the world. The expectations regarding football betting during the World Cup are very positive. ©Arkin Si/Unsplash

The third quarterly report of the Entain group (bwin, PartyPoker, Ladbrokes, BetMGM) has provided interesting data. The group has grown in terms of net revenues from the game, which increased by 2% ; and also in terms of customers, which experiences a year-on-year growth of 6%. In addition, it has been pointed out that the operations of BetCity (Netherlands) and SuperSport (Croatia) will be considered in the following quarter, thus contributing to further growth of the group.

“Our business continues to perform well, with great momentum throughout the group, including at BetMGM. This demonstrates the effectiveness of our growth strategy, the unique capabilities of the Entain platform and the underlying strength of our diversified global business. I am delighted that we have welcomed more customers in our brands all over the world. This is a testament to our tireless customer focus, as well as the quality of our products, content and the talent of the staff.” – Jette Nygaard-Andersen , CEO of Entain, at press release

In general, the company that owns bwin has been satisfied with the results, which more than a great growth show the stability of the company in the more than 20 regulated markets in which it operates on all five continents. Entain's market share, both online and in person, make it one of the largest iGaming companies today.

The CEO of Entain, Nygaard-Andersen has also welcomed the outstanding performance of its joint venture with MGM Resorts , BetMGM, the leader in sports betting in the United States, which has taken a market share of 25%, excluding New York, and 23% with New York. Due to the particular legislation of the United States, with regulations in each state, the market share refers only to the places in which the company operates.

"In the US, BetMGM remains the undisputed leader of the iGaming market, and the successful start of the NFL season also highlights the strength of our growing sports betting offering in the United States.” – Jette Nygaard-Andersen , CEO of Entain, at press release

The start of the professional American football league (NFL) has been one of the factors that has driven net income in the third quarter, with an increase of 90% year-on-year. Also, a recent report by Entain has revealed a increase in the popularity of betting on Formula 1 , with an annual growth rate of 30% since 2018.

By jurisdiction, the majority of Formula 1 bettors come from the United Kingdom (35%), followed by Brazil (17%), Germany (17%) and New Zealand (5%). The trend shows how the popularity of this sport has grown on streaming platforms .

Growth expectations placed on the Soccer World Cup

The business model and the growth strategy portend a revenue rebound during the fourth quarter which coincides with the celebration of the Football World Cup in Qatar. The event is key for bookmakers . In this regard, Nygaard-Andersen pointed out the following:

“We have healthy momentum across the business and are looking forward to a strong end to the year which includes the World Cup. Looking ahead, we remain attentive to the economic context. However, our diversified revenue base and strong business model allow us to remain confident in our ability to deliver on our growth and sustainability strategy.”

From Entain it is expected that by the end of the year they will be able to report a growth from 5 to 10% compared to the previous year.

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The Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) of the European Parliament has voted on the report “Esports and videogames” by the rapporteur Laurence Farreng which is expected to be adopted by the Plenary in November. The report urges the European authorities to carry out strategies that favor the development of the video games and e-sports industry. The industry in Europe is considered to be penalized by a chronic shortage of talent. Nor are there incentives for the industries of the branch to settle in Europe, as instead happens in other countries.

The games and e-sports industry is key for the European Union, but it does not find the necessary initiatives to make it grow in the old continent. © Sean Do/Unsplash

The Covid-19 pandemic was an unexpected stimulus for the digital industry and e-commerce which have become one of the pillars of economic development today. Video games like esports are part of the creative and cultural industries that the European Union is determined to promote, but the 6 million euros with which the Creative Europe programme incentives for the industry are clearly insufficient.

This has been the conclusion reached by the members of CULT , the European Parliament's committee on culture and education which has brought to light the report "Esports and video games” which he hopes will be adopted in plenary next November.

As strategic industries, as demonstrated during the pandemic, the parliamentary member of the liberal Renew Europe Laurence Farrang would have explained that Europe suffers from a chronic lack of talent in the video game industry, which comes to the detriment of innovation, crucial in the industry. Talent can only be developed, according to the French MEP, if it is carried out an approach to the electronic games industry as an educational tool .

On the other hand, the Committee on Culture has also highlighted that the economic incentives for companies in the field to establish themselves in Europe are currently minimal, unlike what happens in leading countries such as Australia or Canada. The competitive disadvantage in which Europe finds itself is very evident , being video games, as well as esports an industry that moves millions in revenue.

In New Zealand, Catalonia has become a true center of the industry leading the investment in video games in Europe with an important capital created that has also generated many jobs . Companies such as Bandai Namco, Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft or King give a good account of the boom of the industry in the Spanish community with numerous start-ups let's go.

Promotion policies must take into account the existence of legislation that seeks to protect consumers from the most problematic and discussed side of video games: reward boxes. In New Zealand a regulation is expected very soon that will force the introduction of self-exclusion tools in video games and an age limit as well. New Zealand is not the only country that has regulated or seeks to regulate loot boxes , but opinions in this regard, if whether or not they constitute a mechanism similar to that of gambling , are disparate.

Creative industries and soft power

Those responsible for the European proposal would have pointed out that the development of video games and electronic sports would have the potential to contribute to the soft power from the EU . The term soft power ( soft power ) was coined in the nineties by Harvard University professor Joseph NYE. With the term NYE he wanted to allude to the ability to attract and persuade in front of the instruments hard of power that reside mainly in the military and economic authority.

Typically, culture, ideals and policies constitute soft power. Hence the importance for Europe of becoming a leader in the development of these forms of entertainment but also global culture. For this, the creation of a European Video Game Observatory has been proposed to provide stakeholders with data and recommendations for the sustainable development of the industry.

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The quarterly report of the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) has shown a slight decrease in suspicious betting alerts. During the third quarter (Q3) of 2022, a total of 76 cases of suspicious bets have been registered worldwide. Once again Europe leads the number of registered cases with around half. By sports, football and tennis concentrate the majority of alerts with a surprising increase in esports.

Slight decrease in suspicious betting alerts during the third quarter of 2022 with a considerable increase in cases in electronic sports. ©Stem List/Unsplash

Esports increasingly present in operators' alert systems

IBIA's third quarterly report has found a slight decrease in alerts for suspicious bets , which have been counted at 76. Let's remember that last quarter left us with a notable increase in alerts , which came to 88. This represented an increase in alerts by more than half compared to the previous quarter.

IBIA CEO Khalid Ali has downplayed the significant increase in alerts, taking into consideration that the breadth of membership of the association has allowed for greater global coverage during this period. He has also insisted that the identified alerts serve to boost the fight against fraud and for the integrity of betting.

"The alerts for the quarter are at the upper end of the scale compared to previous years, but we must take into account the significant growth of the association's members during the year. This has served to increase the coverage of the global market and the identified and communicated alerts, which underlines the beneficial impact of a global betting integrity network with multiple operators. The IBIA continues to work closely with its members and external stakeholders, such as sports bodies and regulators, to ensure that appropriate risk management processes are in place and encourages a zero-tolerance approach to the manipulation of sporting events and associated betting fraud.” – Khalid Ali , CEO of IBIA, in press release

The recent reform of the Gambling Regulation Act in New Zealand has introduced mechanisms for the eradication of gambling fraud through the Global Betting Market Research Service (SIGMA) that it comes out thus reinforced.

The key facts

The registered alerts they covered 8 sports , the 4 main ones being the following:

• Tennis : 33 cases
• Electronic sports : 16 cases
• Football : 13 cases
• Table tennis : 10 cases

These 4 sports have accounted for 95% of all alerts . From a geographical point of view, Europe accounted for half of the registered alerts, 49%, followed by Asia (11%) and Africa (9%).

Other relevant data were that alerts in football decreased by 60% compared to the previous quarter, going from 32 alerts to only 13. In relation to the second quarter, the percentage of decrease in total alerts was 15%.

It also highlights the rise of alerts in e-sports or esports in 2022 that go from 4 in the second quarter to 16 in the third. In the first quarter of the year, only one alert was registered. The presence of esports is increasing and the increase certainly has to do with the increased bets on this modality .

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